glenmohr

On 7/19/2021 at 7:06 PM, La Quenta said:

No i'm not joking. You get educated ( https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/freedom-index-by-country) - there is a difference but it's negligible. Considering Thailand never had colonialisation or extended war time to deal with, it's interesting that Thailand still ranks so poorly.
On Corruptions index, they are totally identical (https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020/index/tha) 

 

Nothing I have said about Thailand is untrue. If you think so, prove it.

And I like Thailand as well - im not sure why you think i'm attacking Thailand just because I happen to prefer Vietnam.

You've arced up massively for some reason, and it is really not warranted. 

 

Really not sure what this means.

 

Because i've lived in Vietnam for years and I like it. I'm still here.

 

Wat?

I see you've clearly never visited or lived in Vietnam. So you clearly aren't qualified to comment at all. 

Not sure Mr La Quenta why you are responding Doesn't the name " Madmen " give the show away? Otherwise your points are good ones made to some one who refuses to listen 

On 6/20/2021 at 1:27 PM, LongTimeLurker said:

 

Source please.

 

You're basically saying that they are requesting people who have illegally stayed to leave?

 

And as for needing an exit visa? Sounds BS to me,you just leave when your current entry visa expires.

 

Similar BS has been posted in this thread.

Often the final extension in Vietnam is issued and described as an "exit visa" . that is a form of notice that it is not an extension but a notice to leave by a certain date. As a matter of total irony and contradiction I had an "exit visa" that was renewed as an inflagged extension the day before my exit. No more  requirement to leave, This is why it is harder to be dogmatic about Vietnam immigration as it is not consistent. I understand I am not the only one  

 

 

1 hour ago, dave moir said:

It certainly looks like Thailand don't want regular visitors to Thailand! Within a few years there's going to be no westerners visiting Thailand at all. ????

The former justifications for visiting and staying in Thailand are quickly evaporating.

However the one remaining advantage is that some medical care and almost all dental treatment is worth coming for.

Are there any visa categories that allow regular visits for medical/ dental reasons?

is there any limit on the number of 60 day visas issued per person in one calendar year?

...

Do I understand that if there was a problem I would get a warning? Is the "warning" stamped in the passport? In that case obviously a new passport would be the solution.

Yes, at Laos they have historically put a "blue stamp" on the last visa they will issue. Back in the days of double-entry visa, they only issued you a single-entry, at that time.

The blue-stamp says "... will need to provide proof of address and income next time..." - but no reports verified of anyone meeting those requirements and getting subsequent visas - so we have no idea what the "income" requirement actually is, or how it is verified.

I do not know if this policy has / will-be continued into the "new era" where double-entries no longer exist. Let us hope so.

Good service you are providing Jack, I will rotate the embassies and consulates, spend a few days out each time and hope to avoid the radar for the time being.

is there any limit on the number of 60 day visas issued per person in one calendar year?

Not by Immigration rules, but consulates will limit how many they will give you, based on how many they count in your passport.

My interpretation of what to do about this long-term is here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/870343-what-are-my-options-to-stay-longer-in-thailand/#entry10118023

Thank you Jack Thompson, your interpretation is very easy to follow.

I have entered Thailand about 16 times in the last 4 years, usually arriving by air.

Have only used the VE twice and 60 day tourist twice in that time. The other 10 arrivals were covered by an Apec Business Travel Card, now expired. I have subsequently retired and spend 9/10 months of the year in Thailand. At present the 60 days visa is my preferred option and will try for my 3 rd one early next year.

Do I understand that if there was a problem I would get a warning? Is the "warning" stamped in the passport? In that case obviously a new passport would be the solution.

Cheers and thanks.

is there any limit on the number of 60 day visas issued per person in one calendar year?

Not sure how long you have been in Thailand Beechguy, certainly where ever you have been has made you very grumpy.

Just checked the wording on my visa issued by the Thai Consul, Auckland, New Zealand and he used the wording " Must be utilised by..." They do not all use the same terminology or even the same rules.

If you knock around the region a bit you will find not everything is logical or the same.

Certainly border crossings can be a vastly differing experience arriving in Thailand, some give a lot of leeway and others don;t. It all depends. I have never been caught out here but can understand and sympathise with those who do.

Although the Chiang Khong / Huay Xai crossing is very user friendly they normally only give 14 days re entering Thailand if it is a tourist visa being refreshed.

Uric acid through the roof , next stop gout! HIV negative.

Went to McCormack Hopsital today.

Had blood tested for uric acid and HIV.

Waiting time 3 hours for result.

Cost for two items 610 baht.

Result delivered in sealed envelope.

Needed to produce passport.

Overall good procedures in a professional setting.

Yes exactly Why Bother. Well said " Courts are functioning normally " which I was trying to say. Ms Yingluk has no chance to sue someone in a normally functioning Thai court.

Hey Ian F. Just a moment, Ikke may come from Israel but on the other hand he may come from Glasgow. If he is from Glasgow we will need an interpreter. But it is possible that trow pronounced as in true may mean trouser, he may wish to throw mud with his trouser but sh*t would be more likely in the trouser than mud.

In any case Ikke may not be a native speaker so we should cut him some slack.

Khun Ken, You are better with words than I am. I salute you.

" Flaws exist and the culture, mindset & law enforcement are different & imperfect."

That is what I was trying to say in my original post re the book. However you have said it much better than I could ever.

Have a good day.

Clearly Khun Ken you do not understand the concept of Martial Law.

Martial Law means the suspension of human rights. The Chinese have made it clear to the Hong Kongers that voting is not a human right, but I refer more to the freedom of speech situation here which precludes a full discussion, that is the removal of a human right by the junta and in the long run harmful because no one knows what is going on.

The courts and everything else are answerable only to the junta. This is the way it works. I have seen Martial law in many countries and that is the way it works. I have not met your MR Amsterdam nor any wish to. Now that Thaksin is long gone not sure what his relevance is.

The courts for the time being are answerable to the current ruler, not the former rulers.

Yes I concede that you may have the personal connections to proceed for a favourable case in the Thai courts but the average Thai person and certainly members of the previous administration will not have your rights because they no longer have the connections and Martial law will be the superior force against them.

I repeat from my original post in case you missed it, the courts in Thailand are not courts in the normal sense, they are the enforcement agency of the Bangkok establishment. There are thousands of examples but probably the best known one is the young man from the establishment who drove a Ferrari over a policman, killed him , failed to stop and render assistance, blamed one of his employees and 2 years later does not have to even attend the court nor spend any time in jail. There is a much more horrific case of the teenage daughter of an establishment family who as an unlicensed driver killed a number of people, no jail time. Compare that to your homeland where ever that may be. I make these points to illustrate some knowledge of the Thai legal system.

Hey Baerboxer, With respect Ms Yingluk cannot sue anyone, at this time, in Thailand because her political party was removed from power. Who is Amsterdam? We are not discussing Holland, we are discussing Thailand and its peculiarities. I do not support any political group in Thailand, read my post!!

Also you need to understand what is happened in Thailand, there is a military ruler therefore the courts will be only answerable to him.Have you never seen a military government before? Martial law my friend maybe new to you but the net result is that all activities are ruled on by the Junta leader.

hahahahaha, here come the apologists trying to stop the truth from being told, what a bunch of desperados. As this is a book if there are any untruths in it, yl can simply take the author to court, the lawyer says its not fair then says it doesnt matter, seems the ptp/reds are more worried about the voters finding out the truth then deserting the ptp/reds in droves so they have set the apologists up in their pathetic attempt to change everyones view, after all, we cant have the truth about yl/the ptp coming out can we.

Hey Mr Sea Jay, with respect Ms Yingluk could not take the author of this book to court.

The courts in Thailand are not courts in the sense that we experience courts in other countries.

In Thailand the courts exist, as does the military, to enforce the word of the Bangkok elite.

Ms Yingluk is not a member of the Bangkok elite and therefore has no recourse or remedy if there are untruths published about her.

You also refer to the voters deserting in droves. You may be unaware that only 194 people in Thailand are allowed to vote so it is impossible for voters to desert in droves, 194 is not a number that could be described as a " drove" of voters. To be totally realistic, there are in fact no voters in the normal sense in Thailand as the above mentioned 194 voters only had one candidate, therefore I submit no real politician in Thailand has any voters who can then desert him/her in droves.

I am not a Yingluk supporter but like to point out errors of fact.

As the poster below happens to be unaware there is a total news black out with regard to the question of people being held or people having just disappeared. We suspect that has already happened here in the north of Thailand but with the restrictions on the media it is anyones guess. I am walking the streets every day. The soldiers here are dark skinned people from the South. There is absolutely no doubt that the look on their faces mean we will shoot first and ask questions later. They are strangers here and you can see that by the blank and nervous looks on their faces. There is no doubt there will be a shooting war break out and the military are just delaying it .

Unfortunately the Western media all hear the word 'coup' and throw their hands up and gasp in horror, HP being just another bad example of this.

Unfortunately, you really have to have lived here some time to understand the blatant corruption and inept mis-management here - Westerners really SHOULD NOT judge by their standards.

In fact, at a stroke, the country is pretty well pacified, life goes on as normal and the inept and corrupt politicians have been grabbed by the military and put in safe houses after which, they will hopefully be made to answer for their actions.

Butt out all you hand-wringing Yanks UK, Frogs and appeasing pinko Amnesty International, etc - all the General wanted to do was restore peace and order and he's been magnificent at it so far.

Only time will tell what happens next - if it's bad, THEN you can complain ..

Maybe they gasp in horror because Human Rights violated? Curfew? No freedom of speech? Threats if speak against Junta? Arrests without any explanation given? No mention of when civilian administration will be restored?

Do you think is good to complain once people will be killed, silenced forever, or detained for years unjustly?

A question for you: do you live in Thailand?

I think that question should go to you - as you have just used your freedom of speech and voiced against the Junta - anyone knocking at your door right now? No? Strange that! Curfew? Happens in many democracies following a mass breach of the peace - does that stop them being democracies? Sometimes some rights have to be curtailed either individually (such as imprisoning someone) or en masse (such as a curfew so innocents are not hurt and insurrection can be limited). Who was arrested without explanation? Everyone so far announced as arrested or having reported, has either been released already (just where is YL now?) and/or the reason is known well to all. How can they announce when order will be restored unless they either have a crystal ball - or use severe measure to achieve it - neither likely. the latter hardly desirable! People have been killed - and many more were going to be killed - complaining was not getting very far now was it? How many have been killed by the junta since then? Well, erm, that would be none then - even from those 21 self proclaimed terrorists caught yesterday! Yes, if someone is detained unjustly for years, then complain - if someone is executed extrajudicially - then feel free to complain - hasn't happened yet though has it?

They gasp in horror for what you say, BECAUSE they do not live here and have no idea what a coup means here - or why it was necessary.

_{A diversion.}

_{When the Japanese colonised Thailand c. 1941, Field Marshal Phibunsongkhram was appointed over all commander of Thailand.}

_{With the power of Japanese backing he commanded that all people living in Thailand adopt the mainstream Bangkok based culture and all regional dialects were banned.}

_{This was very successful and until the end of the 20 th century was effective, Thainess was the order.}

_{To the extent that many folk are completely unaware that the Thai Lanna had their own Kingdom for hundreds of years and the Thai Isaan were Lao people forcibly removed from Laos and re settled in North East Thailand.}

_{Phibun died in exile in japan. He was tried by the Allies for war crimes but actually removed from power here in Thailand by a military coup. ( Do you mean to say they tried this move before??)}

_{The new generations of Thai Isaan and Thai lanna want their identity back. The Bangkok based rulers of Thailand have been very rude to them and sadly they are now turning the tables and being rude back.}

_{At the last census 34 % were Thai Isaan and 19% were Thai Lanna.}

_{There is no way in any future election those 53% of peoples will return a Bangkok based political party. That 53 % closely mirrors what has been happening every time an election is held since the turn of this century.}

_{It has nothing to do with Thaksin any more. It has been written that he paid the voters. It has also been written that if he had not paid the voters the result will be the same.}

_{So remove Thaksin and his family from all this. If he calls me I will tell him I am busy.}

_{So what to do about this majority group who has no self determination at this stage.}

_{The ideal would be the British model of 4 separate regions ( Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England) with a common head of state and monarch. The United States of Thailand}

_{The only other option would be ethnic cleansing on a massive scale. As they read this from below I can see Pol Pot grinning, Stalin rolling his eyes, and Slobodan actually slobbering at the mouth.}

_{Disclaimer: I am not British, I do not have Thai wife or girlfriend and there is no local influence on my thinking.}

It is well known that the Thais invented corruption.

It is the duty of every Thai leader to feed as much of the ill gotten gains to his family and followers as he/she has the chance to do..

To think that corruption can be reduced here ( or punished) is pissing into the wind, hope you have your mouth closed.

I hate it , but local rules are local rules anywhere we choose to go..

Well nothing will change with that kind of attitude. Better to try and fail than not to try, at least some progress may be made...

Ting Tong, it is only the international community who wish to change Thailand

The Thais accept corruption .

The question that exercises the Thai mind are do we have the corrupt Thaksin or do we have the corrupt Suthep. That is the question.

Off and on I have done business here over a span of 30 years.

Early on I was taken by a Thai associate to a government official.

My Thai friends advice went like this:

1) Breath through your nose.

2) Do not raise your voice

3) Do not be angry

4) Pay the man

This is Thai culture . It is only us foreigners who would like it to change. I am not sure that I agree that we have any right to interfere.I am not comfortable but who am I? It is their country and they do not wish to be colonised, that is their choice.

A Short history.

Once upon a time there was a country called Thailand.

The people lived in 3 regions: North East (Thai Isaan) North ( Thai Lanna) and south ( Thai Bangkok Phuket)

Like the former Yugoslavia these diverse groups got on quite well for a very long time.

But then a major commercial dispute arose which led to blood on the streets of Bangkok.

The leader of the nation came from Thai Lanna ( Thaksin) The Bangkok Phuket Thai took him to the courts on the basis of the fact that he was practising corruption as leader whereas the Thai Bangkok Phuket argued they had had the copyright rights on corruption since before Thaksin was even born.

These legal procedings went on for several years and people started to hate each other South to North. Then the hatred spread, Foreign expats who had married southern ladies started to hate foreign men who had married into Thai Isaan families.

Sadly the hatred spread and spread because no one in Thailand at that time had read the words of Nelson Mandela: "If I hate, I am no longer a free man"

In the meantime Thaksin was sentenced to jail for breach of the corruption copyright laws.

But he developed a cunning plan in leaving the country before the lock could be turned.

He never returned, he was no simpleton and had studied the history of the Philippines and knew when the highly charismatic Benigno Aquino returned from exile he was shot getting off the plane. to make sure he was really dead they shot him again. Thaksin knew all this. So he asked his sister to act as his agent.

Then a great leader arose in the south. He decided that the Thai Lanna and the Thai Isaan should not be allowed to vote.The reasons were that it would waste their time which should be better spent tending the rice crop. There was also a suggestion that he would command them to plough up the ricefield and plant palm trees.

Finally the people of Thai Isaan and Thai Lanna became bored, frustrated and angry. Rather than listen to speeches against them and their former leader they packed their bags and decided to start their own country. It was hard work at first but they thought it better to work hard than spend the time shooting at their neighbours. However luck was to arrive in the form of peace treaties and trade agreements with China which by then had become the world's economic superpower. Touriism, agriculture, casinos and industry flourished, seeing all this the Shan State of Mynamar seceded and together with the country of Laos formed the United States of North Thailand. The people were unified, prosperous and happy.

Prof,

1. Thaksin isn't Lanna. He's Thai-Chinese and can hardly speak a word of Kam-Mueang.

2. Bangkok is part of the Central region, not the South.

Correct Trembly. My submission was too long and fictitious therefore for brevity and simplicity the detail was short circuited, thank you.

It is well known that the Thais invented corruption.

It is the duty of every Thai leader to feed as much of the ill gotten gains to his family and followers as he/she has the chance to do..

To think that corruption can be reduced here ( or punished) is pissing into the wind, hope you have your mouth closed.

I hate it , but local rules are local rules anywhere we choose to go..

A Short history.

Once upon a time there was a country called Thailand.

The people lived in 3 regions: North East (Thai Isaan) North ( Thai Lanna) and south ( Thai Bangkok Phuket)

Like the former Yugoslavia these diverse groups got on quite well for a very long time.

But then a major commercial dispute arose which led to blood on the streets of Bangkok.

The leader of the nation came from Thai Lanna ( Thaksin) The Bangkok Phuket Thai took him to the courts on the basis of the fact that he was practising corruption as leader whereas the Thai Bangkok Phuket argued they had had the copyright rights on corruption since before Thaksin was even born.

These legal procedings went on for several years and people started to hate each other South to North. Then the hatred spread, Foreign expats who had married southern ladies started to hate foreign men who had married into Thai Isaan families.

Sadly the hatred spread and spread because no one in Thailand at that time had read the words of Nelson Mandela: "If I hate, I am no longer a free man"

In the meantime Thaksin was sentenced to jail for breach of the corruption copyright laws.

But he developed a cunning plan in leaving the country before the lock could be turned.

He never returned, he was no simpleton and had studied the history of the Philippines and knew when the highly charismatic Benigno Aquino returned from exile he was shot getting off the plane. to make sure he was really dead they shot him again. Thaksin knew all this. So he asked his sister to act as his agent.

Then a great leader arose in the south. He decided that the Thai Lanna and the Thai Isaan should not be allowed to vote.The reasons were that it would waste their time which should be better spent tending the rice crop. There was also a suggestion that he would command them to plough up the ricefield and plant palm trees.

Finally the people of Thai Isaan and Thai Lanna became bored, frustrated and angry. Rather than listen to speeches against them and their former leader they packed their bags and decided to start their own country. It was hard work at first but they thought it better to work hard than spend the time shooting at their neighbours. However luck was to arrive in the form of peace treaties and trade agreements with China which by then had become the world's economic superpower. Touriism, agriculture, casinos and industry flourished, seeing all this the Shan State of Mynamar seceded and together with the country of Laos formed the United States of North Thailand. The people were unified, prosperous and happy.

Officially Rob under the free trade agreement the duty on honey is down to 9% and phases out to zero in a couple more years.

If you airfreight small quantities you may be under the radar.

We have tried importing into Thailand commercially but the customs officers here do not recognise the free trade agreement . That is the Thai way.

Therefore, although we have some stocks available in Chiang Mai , will probably not stock again because our experience has been high freight and no duty for small lots and high duty with low freight for larger lots. Neither way is very economic .

I have provided details of my experiences with the Trade section of the NZ Embassy in BKK but they are powerless to intervene in the duty situation as this is Thailand , a sovereign country which can break international agreements with immunity! I have also provided copies of the Free Trade agreement to Dept of Customs in Bangkok and was told it is tough luck that that agreement does not apply for every importer !

Hence we are concentrating our manuka honey exports into China, a much more regulated economy where all tend to sing from the same sheet of paper.

Cheers and Kia Ora to you .

Is there any import tax/duty on honey?

I could bring 8 x 250g of Manuka in for ~ 600 bt each if sufficient interest. Airfreight is major cost

I suggest with the greatest respect that with horses , trainers and jockeys from far and wide , too many unknowns for any tip to be helpful;close your eyes and guess !