fire and ice

Last time I tired to get a taxi in France it was about 8million euro for a 2km trip. And that was over 10 years ago.

I’m BITTERly disappointed. Clearly our “Don’t Sack Moyes” campaign was sabotaged.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2609744/Manchester-City-fans-plead-United-not-sack-David-Moyes-Etihad-Stadium.html

Who’s with me to get him reinstated with a “Moyes In” Campaign?

As a Chelsea fan I'm well in favor of reinstating Moyes - he was great.

The one thing I like to see (apart from Chelsea winning) is to see Man U do really badly.

Thanks Moyes for a great season!!

If she was at the gate or past ecurit sreneing then then there would be security footage from about a dzoen cameras that would have cuaght the theif. Outside the security zone only 6 or 7 cameras coverign every angle. Surely the authorities woud first have looked at the footage? Or TiT?

I agree that its unconscionable for the US Govt to tax people for when they are living abroad, but if you both lived in the USA the taxes are very low. The USA has the 3rd lowest taxes in the Developed World. Americans complain they pay too much tax but in reality they pay less than almost anyone else. Its 3rd lowest in the OECD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_tax_revenue_as_percentage_of_GDP ....And the tax level is almost identical to South Korea. You can't compare it to developing countries, Thailand may pay less % of GSP as tax but look at the lack of Govt services & infrastructure you have to live with!! In your shoes I'd rather pay US taxes and get a US Govt services than pay Thai taxes and Thai Govt "services" (if you plan to have kids think hard about this).

Did I read this wrong or was it his SON that was underage, NOT the prostitute (not that Thailand has any of those!). If so, how can the sex tourism law apply?

The offence occurred in Thailand and so the Commonwealth legislation made under its powers of Section 52 of The Australian constitution apply. Regardless of the age of the young lady, the father arranged for a child to engage in a sexual act in an overseas country - end of story - conviction in place.

In Australia (in every state I believe) the age of consent is 16 - note that its called the age of consent - menaing you cant have sex with parental consent under 16...but i think you still need to be at least 14 ??

Does anyone know the actual law (any AU state's law will suffice)?

Or is it only u16 combined with getting married?

Generally within Australia no one would take any legal action if two under age kids screw each other b/c BOTH partied and both parents woudl be equally to blame. The possible absurdity of this law is that:- if he had done this at home (okay not with a prostitute) then would any action have been taken?

* lets just speculate the prostitute was 13 - although she was likely 16 or 17.

Ill bet they never bother to advertise how many lucky tattoos and lucky amulets the dead had on them in accidents. Even if they did people woudl make excuses that it was the wrong tattoo or the wrong amulet or it that amulet should not be worn on a Wednesday etc.. But such advertising certainly cant do any more harm than good....

Firslty no country anywhere ever needs anyone to have a return ticket. For visas & countires that require anything like this then they want to see an onward or return ticket (air. land, sea). This is not the same thing as implying you must go back where you came from or even (more absurdly) have a "return ticket" which implies its one ticket both ways on the same airline - what would be the point of this as it woudl rule out having a ticket home or eslewhere on a different airline, or even on a train?

My Thai mother in law vists us frequently (she is on her 3rd 12month m/e visa now) and she has usually flown in with no onward or return ticket of any kind (I usually book one for her to go home after she gets here).

OK crocken ... your title asks ... "Visa For Wife To Australia Do I Need Return Ticket"

The Australian government don't care if you have a return ticket or not. ... (howls of protest I hear ... but that is what you actually asked).

If, however you are asking does your wife need a return ticket or not ... well ... no. Though the Immigration Officer might request to view it (knowing that the maximum length of stay is 3 months, unless you have a single entry 6 month Visa)

Essentially there are 3 types (length of stay) tourist visas.

• Single entry valid for up to 3 months

• Single entry valid for up to 6 months ... requires a medical clearance

• Multiple entry valid for up to 12 months. Each length of stay is to be no longer then 3 months. The entry is valid up till 12 months ... but if you push it and the tourist arrives up to the the day before (or the day ... but can't confirm that) the Visa expires can stay 15 months. 12 + 3 months

Remember though ... a valid Visa does not automatically equate to entry into Australia.

The Visa is (electronically) in the Passport ... the Immigration Officer assesses the Visa and allows entry into Australia.

Does New Zealand count as leaving Australia? ... last time I looked, it's another country, unless you live at Manly Sydney ... then it might appear as home ...

So yes ... a Visa Run does qualify ... but you run the risk of the Immigration Officer contest your wife's validity as a genuine tourist.

Let me know if that helps you.

.

Since you do NOT need an onward/return ticket to enter Australai and there is therefore no reason why any immigraiton officer would want ot see it unless they are turnign you away upon entry.

Because its not required, the airline checking you in to fly into Australia does not need to check if you have an onward/retun ticket.

Having lived in Manly for 10 years (2000-2010) I rarely encountered any Kiwis, and dont recall any I met who actually lived there (although I'm sure there are some). There are however a lot of Brazillians and Englsih backpackers on extended stays (ie: working holiday visas), plus a fair number of English who have migrated, but the vast majority are regualr Aussies. There are not many Brzillians in Austrlaia but when most of them congregate in Bondi & Manly so they account for a lot in those places.

Perhaps 35 years ago there were a lot of Kiwis in Manly but it is an expensive suburb now & Kiwis dont tend ot move to anywehre in particular within Sydney these days.

You are correct about the visa run comment.

If you are refused entry to Australia for some reason,it is the airlines reponsibility to get you out of Australia.If you have no return ticket,they foot the bill.Now they don't want to do that do they.The airlines are very discrimitry as they never pick me(caucasion)but always pick my partner.This is flying from Bangkok to KL.

No its NOT the airline's responsibility UNLESS the airline has let you fly in without a valid visa (or passport applicable for visa waver etc). Alternatively if the country you are flying into requires an onward or return ticket AND the airline failed to check this then the airline could be responsible to fly you back. If the airline has done their job correcltly then they cannot be asked to fly you back for free as it woudl be an arbitraty decision by imigraiton at the destination.

get your ticket to KL (eg: air asia flight from HKT/ BKK / etc - KL ??) now and print it off so you have proof you can legally enter Thialand on a 30day stamp. Plus you will aloreayd have your visa run flights pre booked.

Whilst 4 tillion yen roughly equals US$405 million - but I think they left a zero off both these figures.

Fess up please!!

You admit to being a "typical kiwi" so we all can see though this:-

Only reason he had to remove the toilet was to remove the sheep you had tried to flush down there in a hurry (yes, you remember that day: the one your wife unexpectedly came home early while you were enjoying your wooly friend).

I presume by "smart" they mean those who dress "smart". ie: they were careful but ambiguous wiht the translation

Someone once told me (when i was frustratingly trying to fill up a rental car) that there is some restriction on where fuel can be sold within Bangkok (ie: not too close to the centre or a school(?) etc) due to the fear of an explosion.

Not sure how/if it relates to 91 or 95 versus Gasohol b/c Gasohol would be just as flammable.

Unlike diesel which will not burn - only the wax within diesel will burn. Diesel is extremely safe by comparison to petrol.

AFAIK Centreline will never issue any cheques and will only pay into an Aussie bank accounts directly?

Besides who in Australia uses cheques these days? I thought the only developed country that still uses cheques was the USA (and they call them "checks"); they are almost obsolete in Australia.

I have a Toshiba Satellite A665 (about 2 years old), it has a USB port hardware problem that it wont boot with anything plugged into the RHS USB ports! I have to disconnect them to boot it up but then I can plug in - also the LHS USB ports occasionally stuff up (but its rare) and just stop working mid stream. It also had overheating issues that cause the CPU to overheat which auto-triggers an instant power off although I have it sitting on a base fan 24/7 so it never happens.

My experience with HP products in general ( no laptops though) is that they make great hardware, but their software is so god-awful and infesting its worse than having spy-ware and a virus on your system!! I will never get an HP printer again as the software infects my system and you cant get rid of it!! Typical programmers who think THEIR software is what your whole life will revolve around.

If buying in foreign name must be transferred in foreign currency (do not convert to Thai baht and then send over - must send over as foreign currency and Thai bank then converts to baht. I have done a little research on this and best to state when transferring that the purpose is to buy condo. A far as I am aware there is no time limit as you could be buying off plan which could involve instalments and actual hand over may be a few years into the future.

Only an utter IDIOT would let their home bank convert to Baht in any case.

Non-Thai banks will rob you blind with the exchange rate.

Thai banks will give you a great rate.

Unless I see a Diploma, I'm going to assume that everyone here is an amateur. Sure, we all have life experiences, but there is a point where people need to seek real help from professionals - that remains my advice to the OP. I dont want to turn this into a to-and-fro : this isn't a discussion about the evils of Pattaya.

No, I don't need a shrink. I'm not in the mood to waste my time and money, sitting in some office playing mind games with some shrink. Could use some seratonin though, which I think I might do. I actually slightly know a doctor at one of the clinics in town -- educated in Australia, and she seems to love the chance to practice English. Will go see if I can get some mild SSRI off her.

But yeah, this is bad. And I already know it's not going away easily.

Sounds like existential angst.

we all know why they are getting refused, too many go there for immoral purposes and it ruins it for the rest

Immoral in your eyes, a living to millions worldwide !!

I am not in charge of SIN immigration, they are and in their eyes prostitution is immoral, hence the problem.

No, it's illegal. Not immoral

Considering its legal in Singapore (in Geylang & as long as they are not on the street - although most are) I dont think the Singapore Government sees its as immoral either - they just dont want a foreigner working illegally (as a prostitute or otherwise) on a visa waiver that does not permit work.

I think it is related to the ROTE education system that most of those workers would have studied under. They aren't allow to ask questions or think for themselves in class, it is a repetitive system of teaching the one thing I have been told.

I have no educational experience so will be corrected if the above isn't right, just repeating a comment from someone who would know.

Thailand's ROTE system may be guilty of many things but simple times tables are supposed to be learnt as a ROTE system - that's the case for everyone no matter what country they are from, so no idea why some of them as some hopeless at simple arithmetic like 7 x 8 = 56 ??

To force everyone to think alike about these institutions will only turn our country into a big cage of like-minded people.

?? turn into??? Shouldn't it read something like: "Make us even MORE of a bag cage of like-minded people (if that's even possible)"

Lot's of investigating going on but not much action so far.

The solution is so simple. Institute 10B songtheaws across the island like in so many other tourist areas in Thailand. The taxi's and tuk tuks will all go away. I will even help with the route planning:

Coastal route: Kata to Surin.

Rawai, Nai Harn, Chalong, Kata loop.

Phuket town to Patong.

Phuket town to the airport.

Sorted.

Are you taking the piss? Or did you leave off the bit about each songthaew requiring 4+ armed guards with AK47s (or better) and 24/7 armed guards (several) escorting each driver & their family members? A turret or two on top of each songthaew wouldn't go astray either.

Learn to be a man and politely decline for starters...

But how without causing any offence to the offering party?

I don't like making other people feel bad in any way.

Grown up and realise you are not responsible for how other people feel (especially when you are honest with them).

at risk of going off topic: if only Thai's realised this they could do away with the whole 'face' thing. It seems Buddhism has taught them little about personal responsibility.

Just activate global roaming on your Thai SIM card - I use my DTAC card in Australia purely to get OTP on it. I have it in a spare phone and only turn it on (to get the OTP) when I do banking. Some SIM Cards will even let you activate global roaming online.

Everybody has their panties in a wad about this default. It won't happen. It is against US law to default. The US has more than enough regular tax income to pay for the interest on it's loans.

Well there are many things that are against law and still they do happen.....

If they default its not like people will lose money (as was the case with Greece), the US will simply have to pay the money back late with extra interest. of course this is a serious issue for those relying on the cash on the correct date but not as if they will lose their cash.

Incidentally IMHO Greece should not be allowed to default and not pay - any nation that does this and cannot pay shoudl be forced to CEDE LAND. Yes I mean sell territory to another country (so they can pay) or cede land to the creditor.

"Surprise undercover visit". I really wonder how a large group of suits accompanied by the usual entourage of BIB, (in this case Brown Nosers in Brown) be considered as undercover. They might as well had the massed bands of HM Royal Marines marching in front of them !!

***ANY*** Thai male even walking near an a-go-go with nudity sets of all the alarm bells inside the club, as if these guys wouldn't! Of course they wouldn't dare use undercover female officers [ie: "I'm looking for work"] or they might actually catch them in the act.

Thai sex show owner arrested after Rihanna visit

BANGKOK, October 14, 2013 (AFP) - Thai authorities said Monday they had arrested the owner of a sex show visited by pop icon Rihanna -- the latest crackdown inadvertently triggered by the singer's tweets.

The bar owner on the island of Phuket has been charged in connection with the lewd performance, local district chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol told AFP.

"It was the result of the visit by Rihanna. The authorities will be more strict towards inappropriate shows or wildlife attractions," he said.

Thai tourist officials were left red-faced after Rihanna's tweets underscored the kingdom's seedier side.

"Either I was phuck wasted lastnight, or I saw a Thai woman pull a live bird,2 turtles,razors,shoot darts and ping pong, all out of her pu$$y," she wrote in a message on September 20 to her more than 32 million followers on Twitter.

Last month two men were arrested for possessing a protected slow loris after Rihanna posted a picture of herself with the primate on a night out in Phuket during her "Diamonds" world tour.

Use of the slow loris and other protected species for tourist snaps -- while common in Thai tourist resorts -- is officially illegal.

According to wildlife protection campaigners, mother lorises are often killed while the young are stolen. The primates' teeth are also removed due to their toxic bite.

Foreign diplomats have urged Thailand to crack down on scams and crimes against tourists in Phuket.

Local tourist police volunteers warn against venturing into strip clubs offering "ping-pong shows" due to the risk of overpriced drinks and threats of violence against people who refuse to pay.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-10-14

In one tweet Rihanna significantly boosted Tourism to Thailand far more significantly than any hairbrained TAT idea, and yet its all treated as BAD news by the Thai media-?? Go figure.

..or perhaps deep down they were actually trying to promote her tweet??

But yet of course they need to stamp out this "blight" on tourism and continue to completely ignore the activities of jet ski scamsters and both illegal and the even more problematic legal taxis, not to mention the #1 scourge: tuk tuks.