bottledwater

Thanks. Im not too familiar with CR city. Is that anywhere near the clock tower downtown? Google didnt help

Hello! Any places in cr city these days where you can have an evening "tea" or "coffee" and hang out for a bit? Thanks!

Hello! A friend has a big above ground cement water storage tank. Ill guess 4 x 4 meters, maybe 1.2 meter deep. Keeps red tilapia in there as pets. A lamyai tree shades the water. Recently there was a big fish die off. Also the the tree has a lot of fruit coming this time of year. 

So a thai worker walking past looked at the dead fish, looked at the lamyai tree and said "lamyai fruit kill fish." 

He seemed absolutely confident about it, like it was a fact. 

I researched this and came up with nothing. I also have a lamyai shading a pond, but have never had a problem.

Anyone on the forum ever hear of this issue? Thanks.

Looking for a hand held device for hiking in the mountains. Phone signal drops out in the bush. I have a 20 year old garmin unit i use out there. Really old school. No maps or anything like that. A topo map overlay would be so sweet! I'm ready to join the 21st century! 

Hello all. Looking for a garmin gps seller in CM. Looked through the old threads already, but i couldnt find those places because i dont have a gps. . . . . JOKE.

Seriously, i did go through the old threads. A shop at pantip plaza seems to be gone now. Also, a shop in a small strip mall just outside tesco lotus kam tieng is gone now. Lazada is probably kicking thier butts. Id like to see the gps units for real. Anyway, anybody knows a place, please pm me. Thank you

Ah i see, star visa is an advert. Thank you briggsy. As for an unnecessary waste of money, sure there are other cheaper ways. And relatively easy if over 50. But a 20 year multi entry elite visa for 1,000,000 costs a bit over 4000 baht a month, 50k baht a year. (Pay up front of course) The good part: usually when you have a valid visa, your good for that time period. Immigration changes the rules on NEW visas and extentions. Ive never seen or heard of immigration changing the rules on a valid visa before the exp. date of that visa. Bad part: kiss 1,000,000 baht goodbye.

A retirement visa: now its show 60-something k a month or 800k in the bank. For how long? They could raise those numbers anytime they want. 

 20 years ago id never belive getting a visa would such a pain in the backside. It would be a nice feeling to know your visa situation for the next 20 years wouldnt it? Of course, TIT. No sure things. Cheers all!

Thanks for the input! Yes. I agree, why use an agent?  Im just gathering info now, but it seems if you want to talk to "someone" about the elite visa program and you are in Chiang Mai, or anywhere in the north, you go through star visa service.

Who told me? The thailandelite.com website told me:

We, Star Visa Service are appointed as an Authorized General Sales and Services Agent of Thailand Elite in the northern part of Thailand and our offices are located in Chiang Mai. We processed every step of applying for Elite Visa including other visa services.

This is from the elite website, not the visa service. Does it seem wierd to me? Yes. Thats why im asking the CM expat community if anybody has info. Also doing other research of course. The elite visa is an expensive long term investment . . . .

Hello all, Im looking into an elite visa here in CM. I'm told star visa service handles elite visas for the north of thailand. (They have an office in the biz. park behind Big C extra off the super highway).

So my question: anyone have experience with the elite visa and/or star visa service here in cm? If so, and your willing to share your experience, feel free to pm me. Thanks!

Hello,

I'm hoping some members out there would like to share recent experience obtaining a SETV in Vientiane, or any embassy/consulate in the region for that matter.

Did you have trouble? Did you have many past Tourist visas in your passport? The "usual questions" I suppose.

Also, when you arrived at the Thai border, by land or air, how did it go with the immigration officials? Did they want to see a "follow on" travel plan?

I'm wondering, under the current climate, right now, how long you might be able to stay in Thailand using SETVs from the local embassies/consolates?

Thanks in advance for any input . . . . any positive input

BW

Hi!

I think Stallions (any model) are really cool looking bikes. But, like many, I'm afraid of non-Japanese brands as far as quality goes. Stallions has had the 150cc models out for a couple years now, and I'd really like to hear from an owner of one as to what they think about the quality. Have you put many kilometers on it? I know Stallions is "made" in Thailand, are the engines made in Thailand as well, or are they made by Lifan or some other big Chinese company? Are parts hard to get?

Any time now Stallions is coming out with a 400cc (there is a thread on that) motorcycle. Its look and price, make Stallions mighty interesting. The 150cc models are about 60k baht, the 400cc will be about double that, I guess.

Thanks in advance

These language visas are used to much as a way to stay legally in Thailand for other purposes then learn the language. With all the tens of thousands language school students in this country you have to seriously questioning the purpose of learning the language. Yes you have a partner there and like to be able to communicate with them or you like to open a business or get a legit job. In Pattaya for example there are a high amount of Russians attending schools. On the side they work as guides, in bars at walking street etc. all this side business will soon make it very difficult for serious students that like to learn the language to get a proper visa the same way the visa runs have affected the land border crossings. It's to easy to get a visa to study in Thailand, most countries would only give visa for 20 or 40 study hours a week, that's including home work. And they would also require tests on the way to see that you are a legit student. Try to study in China, Australia, Philippines and you would see the real world. If you go 2 hours a day 4 times a week and can pass a test I would think you are a legit student. The one that goes 2 times a week and skip classes regularly their behavior will soon contribute to stricter visa rules. I can personally don't understand the desperation to stay in a country that you have to constantly find a way to get a visa. The use of student visas should be solid for seriously students.

This is a rhetorical question, but if foreigners are here on an ED visa and working, why not just walk down walking street, ask a foreigner for his work permit, which needs to be on his/her person, and then arrest them? Why attack the ED visa money making machine? This is rhetorical because I know the answer: this is Thailand.

To be fair, ED visas used to be easy to obtain and extend. Most foreigners I know are too lazy to work, that's why they are here. Now those same people have lives here and want to stay. If the powers that be decided 65 was a good retirement age and not 50, or if they decide people over 65 are a "burden" on the medical system and need to go home (I know that is crazy but just suppose this great country made a decision that was flawed) how many of us would desperately want to stay? Any of us could be the next undesirables . . .

I am wondering, under the current climate how long can one expect to be permitted to stay in Thailand on an ED visa. I understand you need to extend every 90 days currently. Does immigration now have a set "no more extensions" time frame? 1 year, 2 years?

Is there anyone out there who has been at their language school more than say, 1 or 2 years, and are still being granted extensions? I understand this varies wildly based on many factors.

I have friends who want to kick back for a year or so in the LOS, study a little Thai, so I'd like to know peoples current experiences.

Thanks in advance

If you have 1 2 call: Dial 00500 then the country code for USA which is 1, 1 baht a minute pretty clear signal. Rates vary by country but USA is 1 baht a minute. Comes out to about 1 dollar for a 10 minute call.

So there's a 90 cents connection charge?

That is a good question. No, no connection charge that I could see. But I lied earlier, its 3 baht a minute. 10 minutes IS about 30 baht, or one US dollar. But it is 3 baht a minute, not 1 baht. Sorry.

But the first time I called, I checked my balance (pay as you go plan) called the USA, and checked the time against my new balance. It was very close, if their was a connection charge it was only 1 baht or so.

Here is the link where you can look up any country for this service. The rates vary dramatically from country to country. http://www.ais.co.th/00500/en/service-rate.aspx

If you have 1 2 call: Dial 00500 then the country code for USA which is 1, then the area code like normal. 1 baht a minute pretty clear signal. I use it all the time. 1 2 call has a website about it someplace. rates vary by country but USA is 1 baht a minute. Comes out to about 1 dollar for a 10 minute call. In fact I have 00500 together with my USA numbers stored in my cell phone so I can dial direct from my address list just like a local call.

great info guys, thanks a bunch! I'll be hitting the shops this weekend, to see about the price. Got a quote in the village for 10 meters of 1.8 meter 1690. . . . which is not so good . . . .

I am learning that with chain-link it is all about the tension, similar to my ex-wife . . . . . .

Thanks guys!

Hello,

Wondering if anyone can recommend or know of a chain link fence supplier, somewhere in the greater Chiang Mai area. Looking for 5 feet high. I've been told roofing material suppliers often sell chain link, but this I don't know. Also, price per meter would be great to know.

Thanks,

bottled

Sanpatong Saturday Morning Market. Down by the buffalo/cattle area I saw a few turkeys for sale about a month ago. There is a little area with many kinds of fowl for sale.

Maybe things have changed but I dealt with several Saudi embassies (not as a teacher) and they were pretty much standardized. Some took longer than others to process applications.

If you have a proper application, a proper invitation letter and a contract, I don't see a problem. I always used an agent.

Are there agencies in Thailand that deal with processing Saudi visas??

Thanks everyone!

Hi All,

Is it possible for a foreign teacher living here in Thailand to do the (Saudi) visa and required reports (for a teaching job) at the Saudi Embassy in Bangkok?

I was wondering if any teachers out there have had experience with the Saudi visa process and the Saudi Embassy in Thailand.

Thanks in advance,

Bottled

Thanks for the advice.

I had contacted Peter at AA and he got back to me right away both times which is nice. Still looking though, no rush.

I'm American and have no medical coverage back in the USA, sooooo, if you know anything about the state of health/ care/medical costs in the US you know I'm not worried about being "evacuated" back the the USA. Nothing there for the uninsured except bankrupsy (and I AM currently covered in every country on earth EXCEPT the USA . . . .)

Hi, I know there is a similar thread going right now, but its not quite my question.

I'm thinking about changing insurance providers. I'm in my 40's, fit as far as I know and I am in Thailand 99.9% of the time (mostly in CM). I'm looking for insurance to cover a major medical issue, should one arise.

I'm looking at AA Insurance (forum sponsor) and BUPA Thailand so far. Anyone out there have other recommendations for insurance and its ease of use in a CM area hospital?

The other half of this question: What hospital would you recommend going to in the CM area? Accepting insurance is important, cost is important, and not dying in the hospital is important also.

Thanks in advance!

Interesting . . . . . thank you all for your insights.

Hi, I ran across งดงาม (ngot ngaam) in my Manee Mana 2nd grader's book. thai2english.com says it is a commonly used word. But I am not familiar with it, or more likely didn't understand it when someone used it.

Normally I hear สวย (suay) all the time for beauty. It would be nice to have an alternative. Is งดงาม really that common? and if so, when would it be appropriate to use?

Thanks,

Bottled

Thanks guys!

I think I get it now. I need something to amplify the signal/sound coming out of the audio outputs. I suppose a headset with built in volume control would be the easiest solution at this point.

Do they sell wireless headphones in Thailand? I had a pair in the USA but the power for the plug in charger was incompatible here.

Thanks again!

Jason