frimu

I also saw a restaurant that served alcohol. You could spot the beer bottles easily when you came closer, just not from the soi. :-)

I also have a Dutch passport and about the same amount of visas and visa exempts as you.

I did not get a new passport, as I was too lazy to get a visa in Europe.

I was stamped in at Suvarnabhumi without any questions, discussions, not even a suspicious look from the officer. :-)

i got one. parents with a brain.

That's unfair.

In the most recent case the parents didn't do anything wrong.

You can walk from the corner of the Lumpini park next to the exit of the Ruam Rudi Soi all the way to that artificial lake between Asok and Queen Sirikit centre on an elevated way for bicycles and pedestrians. This is the only enjoyable walk I ever found in Bangkok.

I guess you speak German?

Then check out this helpful website: http://wirelesslife.de/

Immigration and police dont seem to be following what was said about Passports , This is one main reason i left Thailand it is becoming very clear they have adopted a western approach i have only searched in Bangkok but 5 times in one week has turned me off the country , great bloody holiday

Are you saying that you were stopped and searched 5 times in one week ?

I have been going to Bangkok frequently for 15 years now and I have never been stopped and searched.

Maybe he walked around naked? Happens every now and then, as other reports confirm. :-)

Airport taxis are <deleted> arrogant!! especially when your trip from the airport is just 12kms or less,,, they drive like hell and they just throw luggages out of the taxi when you reach your stop!! and 2000 baht for a penalty and 1 month in prison,,, that scumbag will be back at the airport in a month!!

Can we keep the proportions please!

From about 20 rides with taxis from Suvarnabhumi in the last four years I had one really bad experience. The rest of the drivers is nice, helpful and turns on the meter without even asking.

Cool story!

That shitty bar area was a disgrace and he did a public service ripping it down and replacing it with a park

Do you mean Clinton Plaza? The brainchild of a Dutchman and an American, began as a collection of beer bars in 1998. The following year it was named after then U.S. President Bill Clinton. A number of lively go-go bars appeared in 2000. Many of the names were tongue in cheek jabs at the president, including Monica Beer Bar, Bill's Coffee House and the White House.

I doubt any of you fellows ever saw the place.

Oh yeah Mr Doubtfire.

I quite vividly recall my boss telling me in March 2001 to book my ticket to BKK as the East Asia rep for our company, so you are off by about a year.

As best I recall, the place was built and destroyed in 2001, not 2000.

Checking my archive and yahoo-ing a bit I come to January 2003 (probably the night of 25th to 26th) for the demolition of Sukhumvit Sq. on the corner of soi 10. Opposite was Clinton Plaza building with a few bar around it. Still standing for one (or two?) years longer before demolished to make space for yet another magnificent hotel.

Yes. The Sofitel hotel, which is actually quite nice with a decent rooftop bar. :-)

Australia is plenty companionate when it comes to helping people on the fringes of life,

and sometimes too willing to come to the rescue and extend a helping hands...

so if his Visa was rejected, I'm sure they had a good reason for it, and just because

he was dying that doesn't make it ok for people not to adhere to the immigration rules

of the Australian government...

... just because he was dying ... ?

Have you got no feelings whatsoever inside you? I feel so sorry for you. If not even imminent death is ok for an exception, what is?

Let's hope you will never personally have to face a problem like this.

Thai price is a myth created by a TV poster and then repeated so many times that it became true.

I went with GF whilst she was condo shopping to at least a dozen projects and nobody offered her a " thai" price. Is there a secret nod or wink or something?

Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk

The Thai price system believers would tell you, that since you were with your girlfriend you two got offered the foreigner price. If you really want to test it, send here off alone with a Thai friend and then later you go to the same places with a Thai person and then compare. :-)

I would imagine he won't be traveling to Russia for that little question and answer session. Keep up the good work Mr. Khodorkovsky.

He should be careful. He may find himself "disappeared" like the Chinese political critic living in Thailand. Though I imagine the Swiss government will do a much better job of protecting him...hopefully, if Putin's henchmen come after him.

I guess he can afford more security than that poor Chinese guy.

Appalling ! A sad tragic death for the two lady passengers, who must have been absolutely terrified while the three vicious monkeys in the front seat flippantly gambled with their lives.

I think they were having a nap. I was absolutely terrified in those vans several times while the Thais were all napping or sleeping.

Don't use the vans anymore. Better take a bus or plane and be safe('r).

I'll bet they won't charge a flat rate of 180 baht for all withdrawals like they do for foreign bankcards. It will probably be 10 baht for local (Thai) cards and I wouldn't be surprised if they lifted the 180 baht to 200. Double pricing once AGAIN.

it has happened already. :-)

I don't live in a luxury house in Pattaya.

That's a shame. But, at least, nobody wants to kill me.

It's nice to hear some good news every now and then.

The more foreign restrictions placed on thais the better Imo...

I hope they will farang countries will adopt xenophobia towards thais, dual pricing and our immigration should treat them like criminals and make them jump through hoops.... Changing the hoops at least every year....

Bla Bla Bla

By the way: The Schengen visa in Europe does pretty much of that jumping through loops stuff already. And US immigration also does not have the reputation of being too easy going. :-)

I just called my bank and they told me, that Visa Plus debit cards now seem to be blocked from making withdrawals in Thailand. Al least for those two banks: I tried with Citibank and Krungsri. On both it did not work.

With the Maestro card it still works. Tried with Citibank last Friday.

I was at the Savannakhet consulate on Monday, November 16.

No more double entries available. I asked to make sure.

The rest is still the same:

Visa form, two photos, copy of the personals page, 1000 Baht and on the next day you'll get the visa.

Additional information:

A Japanese gentleman before me, who had three triple entry tourist visas in a row before, was refused the visa, because he could not produce a bank statement.

They have spent a fortune on Yod Piman near the flower market.

One of the biggest wastes of money, imo, ever.

The place is deserted.

And there's one more down the river towards Saphan Thaksin just as deserted. :-)

Our condo neighbours like to do it. My girlfriend, fortunately, does not. :-)

Very strict indeed for my Swedish neighbours!

Here from the embassy in Norway http://www.thaiembassy.no/wordpress/blog/announcement-about-visa/

So now it depends on the personality type of the embassador in your home country. :-)

Do you speak about Royal Thai Embassy Bern? I heard Basel or Zurich would be friendlier.

In Zurich they are NOT friendlier. I won't ever go there again!

200baht and then my home bank hits me up for additional 150baht.. Sucks when I want to take out more than the 20,000 transaction limit.

Citibank doesn't have a transaction limit. I regularly withdraw 35k there. This is of course only useful if you're in Bangkok regularly.