watgate

So I just got a pre-authorization for an implant from my dentist in the U.S. for a future implant to tooth #14 which, one of these days or years, will need to be extracted. It is really hard to get an estimate from the oral surgeon because their office will tell you that based on the amount of bone grafting that is needed, as well as various other sundry things, the cost could rise substantially. With that said, I was able to at least come up with a ballpark figure as to what I am looking at to have an implant done, as well as a crown placed over the implant. Now, I am hoping that some of you fine expats or world travelers might have had an implant done in Chiang Mai and what was your total costs to have it successfully completed. The implant, as well as the crown. Thanks for any info.

I need to have my blood levels checked on a weekly basis and my Coumadin doseage modified by a doctor if need be. Please, if anyone knows Hospitals or labs in Chiang Mai where I can get this done, it would give me some peace of mind before I depart for Chiang Mai in 2 weeks.

If I go to a lab to have my blood checked and find it is out of the prescribed range, what type doctor would I see, a hematologist or a regular doctor, to correct my doseage? This is all new to me and I am trying to be prepared for any eventuality when I arrive in Chiang Mai. Thanks for any info.

I am from the U.S and thanks for the replys. They are very informative and have encouraged me to not give up the fight nor my trip.

I was just diagnosed with another blood clot and am due to depart for chiang mai in approximately 2 1/2 weeks where I will be residing for 4 months. Since I will only have been on Coumadin for a short while, I am going to have to have my blood levels checked periodically while I am in Chiang Mai. Does anyone know if Sriphat Medical Center performs this service, and if so, what floor it is done on? Also, does anyone know what the cost is to have this blood test done? Thank you for any information. I really want to come to Chiang Mai again this winter and don't want to have this checking my Coumadin level prevent me from coming this winter.

Whew my head is spinning. After reading all the replys I have another question and, mind you, I realize eating is very subjective, and everyone has their opinions about what is beneficial and good for you. With that said, as a bloke who is only in Chiang Mai for the winter months and is not privy to being able to prepare his own food due to his living arrangements, I would like some ideas as to how and try to eat healthy considering this bloke has to primarily eat out at various establishments. Actually, since I am single, part of the appeal of wintering in Chiang Mai is not having to cook everyday like I do when I am back in my country. I try to eat salads and was planning on eating at various vegetarian places which seem to be plentiful throughout Chiang Mai. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.I also will be going to the Holiday Inn and the other hotel off the super highway for their buffets on occasion because I found their selections to be quite appealing and seemingly healthy.

I was wondering what kind of oil is predominantly used for cooking in Thailand. I have to watch my cholesterol and am interested in what oil is used for cooking. I do realize that if you eat at the street food carts, their is the inherent risk of the proprietor not replacing the oil in a timely fashion and continually using the same oil way beyond the point when it should be discarded for new oil. When I eat Pad Thai or various other dishes I would like to know the kind of oil that is used and is it beneficial, say like Olive oil, or is it known to spike your cholesterol and your LDL levels if eaten a lot?

First off thank you for all the invaluable info. I knew I could count on you guys and gals to come through. Part of the enjoyment of coming to Thailand every winter for 4- 6 months is the great hospitality received by knowledgeable and friendly ex-pats. Yes, I must find out where exactly in Buriram her familiy lives. Since we will be departing from Chiang Mai,then first class on Nakhonchai Air Bus Co is how we will travel. I will be on a 6 -month tourist visa with a triple entry so a re-entry permit need not be a concern to me. Cardholder thank you for your pm and offer of advice. I will have to sort though the trip options and may very well book a tour instead of taking a bus to the border and then taking a taxi to Siem Reap. Thanks again for all the info and I will be in touch as I decide the best way to proceed.

I am looking to take a bus from Chiang mai to Siem Reap this winter with my gf. We are planning on visiting her parents who I think live in Buriram. Then we are planning to visit Siem Reap in Cambodia for a few days. I know very little of this area so any info would be appreciated. Any info such as reliable and safe buses to make the long trip to Khorat where I understand we have to switch buses for the final leg of the trip to Buriram, Any reasonable and clean places to stay in Buriram. Also, any tour companies to use to plan a trip to SIem Reap for a few days. Maybe it is better to just take a bus to the border,if their is one, and after crossing, then taking a taxi to Siem Reap. If anyone has made this trip and has any first hand information as to what is involved, I would appreciate it. Is it fairly easy to cross the border at Chong Chom/ Osmach and should I be aware of anything beforehand? I realize I am asking for a lot but any tidbits of information to help plan this trip would be most appreciated.

Thank you for the invaluable info. I knew I could count on you folks to give me some good info. Kudos to you.

So I read on one of the forums that the Green Bus Company was supposed to be a more reliable and safer bus albeit a little more expensive. I have read repeated stories of carnage and mayhem throughout Thailand of travelers utilizing various buses througout Thailand. I am hoping some of the long-stay folks can recommend a bus company or two who are known for not skirting costs on maintenance and have a good performance and safety rating. I am planning on traveling to Isaan this winter by bus departing from Chiang Mai and am hoping to arrive in one piece, thus my inquiry into the best bus companies to achieve that goal. I don't care if the bus company is more expensive. I am more concerned about their safety record and upkeep and the skill of their drivers. Any information would be appreciaited.

Is their a bus you can take from Chiang Mai to SIem Reap Cambodia? If so, how often do they run and how much does it cost? Also, are their any procedures once you get to the border in terms of visa requirements?

So if you leave Thailand, whether on a border run or fly back to your country, and re-enter Thailand while the first year of your multiple-entry non-OA is still in effect, then with the new entry stamp acquired either by doing a border run or returning back to Thailand from your home country before your visa expires will give you a second year?

maestro- When I arrived back in the US last year I received a stamp at JFK with the date of arrival surrounded by an oval circle with the faint wording of homeland security so I guess that is an arrival stamp. P.S I am not sure if I will be sending my application for a triple entry tourist visa with a validity of 6 months to LA or Washington DC. I don't have a good feeling about either one. I hope I am wrong but all this uncertainty really makes proper planning more difficult and creates more stress. It is very frustrating.

So maybe I am missing something here but it would appear that if you can obtain a non-immigrant visa O before leaving for Thailand then upon arriving in Thailand you apply for a retirement extension, you don't have to supply a medical or police report at any point during this process. Is this correct or am I missing something?

In applying for a retirement extension in Thailand, say you already entered on a non-O, what documentation do you need to supply at Immigration in order to get approved for the retirement extension?

So to obtain an O visa you don't have to supply a police or medical but just financials in your country to the Thai consulate and once in Thailand you would somehow convert the O visa to a retirement visa?

I am not sure how this visa works. Someone said you can apply for this visa for the purpose of traveling to Thailand to apply for successive one-year extensions of stay for the reason of retirement. Is this correct? Also, in order to get a multiple entry non O-A visa you have to furnish all sorts of documentation at the Thai embassy in the US to get this type of visa but it sounds like with the single-entry non-O visa you don't have to supply the required documentation that is needed for the multiple non O-A such as police report, health form, bank statement etc. I know I am missing something here thus my posting to get these two visas straightened out in my head. Do you need to supply the same required documentation for a retirement visa for the single-entry non-O as you do for the multiple non-O-A visa, and if so, when do you need to submit this documentation, before or after you are in Thailand?

Alleluia Saints be preserved. I 'll probably forget all this but at least I have it written down in the form of emails. A big thank you to you and all your mods and admins who have helped me try and understand the complexities of navigating the Thai visa requirements. It provide a great service and I am very appreciative of your service.

So if i leave Thailand after the expiry date of the visa but with a valid permission to stay stamp for the second year, then I should obtain a re-entry permit prior to departing Thailand which would be valid for the length of my permission to stay. Correct?

So in scenario #2 I should get a re-entry permit before I left Thailand? If so, how long is the re-entry permit valid for? Also, if you leave Thailand and return very near but befoe the visa use before date you get an additional year of stay at no cost? Then the only cost for the second year would be if you want to travel while in Thailand and need either a single or multiple re-entry permit?

What is the usual turn around time to get a tourist visa in Vientiane Laos? Can one be obtained in a few days?

I need a strong drink. With that said #1-" So with a multi entry immigrant O-A visa you do a border run one day before the visa expires and you get another year permitted to stay stamp. Also would you pay the 1900 baht at the border for the second year? Yes or NO? #2- Now if you leave Thailand after the expiry date of the visa but with a valid permission to stay stamp for the second year, then a re-entry permit from the local immigration office within Thailand would be required. So if flying to Thailand, upon arriving you have 30 days to go to immigration to obtain a re-entry permit. The cost is 1000 baht baht for a single re-entry permit and 3800 baht for a multiple re-entry permit Yes or No? If no to any of these questions please elaborate as simply as possible. #3- If you leave Thailand and return very near but before the visa use before date you will receive an additional year of stay without having to get an extension of stay. Yes or No? #4- Would you pay the 1900 baht at the airport when you arrive in scenario #3 for the additional year? Yes or No?

Do you know if Luang Prabang Laos has a Thai embassy or consulate where you can apply for a visa? If so, since I am going to be there for not more then a week, do you know if I can get a visa in that short of a time period?

I am still struggling with this issue so if some of my questions sound illogical it's because I am still trying to grasp the essential elements of this visa.I am sill confused about the multi-entry non-immigrant visa O-A. Am I correct since this visa will be valid for one year,if I leave and re-enter Thailand one day before the visa expires then I would get another one year permitted to stay stamp so essentially I get 2 years? Another question, if I leave Thailand after the expiry of the visa (but with a valid permission to stay stamp) then a re-entry permit form local immigration office within Thailand would be required. How would I be able to re-enter Thailand without the re-entry permit which I could only get if I was already in Thailand? Another question,if I left and re-entered Thailand one day before the visa expired, I take it I would have to pay the 1900 baht fee at the border to get the additional 12 month extension ( another one year permitted to stay stamp) ?