watgate

I have to do a border run to Mae Sai sometime in the first week or so of February to implement my 3rd entry for my tourist visa. I was wondering if anyone is going up there during that time period, and if so, I would gladly share expenses for the ride up there. My gf has never been up there so she has expressed an interest in going to.

Okay all you back ache sufferers, Does anyone know where you can possibly buy an inexpensive eggcrate or foam rubber padding for my bed. I am having some lower back problems and the mattress I am sleeping on is very hard. Back in the U.S I have an inexpensive eggcrate foam rubber padding that I put on top of my mattress and I am looking for something similar in Chiang Mai. I went to Kad San Kauew Mall and Robinsons Dept Store had a memory foam mattress but I don't want to spend 7000 baht. In the U.S eggcrate or cheap foam rubber 1 inch or so padding can be obtained very inexpensively and if anyone knows who might carry them my back and me would be most appreciated.

Is their a free shuttle to the promenada mall,and if so, do you know the times and pick-up places? Warorot Market area would be the most advantageous for myself. Thanks for any info.

I have 2 questions regarding my tourist visa. The first is " How many days extension can you get if you go to immigration and pay 1900 baht"?. I always thought it was 30 but someone told me you only get around 7 days? The second question is a little complicated so I will try to explain as best as possible. My tourist visa is valid for 6 months and was issued on October 10,2013. I arrived in Thailand on November 6, 2013. I am planning on flying to Cambodia and will be departing on December 14,2013 and arriving in Siem Reap the same day. I will be flying back to Thailand on December 17, 2013. My second question is " do I count December 17 as the first day back in Thailand since I will be needing at some point to either depart the country again or go to immigration to extend my time in Thailand before I depart Thailand on March 6, 2014"?

So I know the fireworks will die down after Loy Kratong but I was wondering why the fascination and seeming obsession for fireworks by the Thais during this celebration. Is it because of an ingrained culture, the thrill of the explosions, the need to eventually cause impairment or loss of ones hearing. I would like to get some other opinions as to why fireworks are so prevalent into the wee hours of the morning by the Thais.

chiang mai- I am not wooloomooloo. You have been very gracious to me and went out of your way to help me when I first arrived in Chaing Mai. I am very thankful for your help. watgate

I am writing this as I am on hold with yahoo customer support. I am hoping they can fix my inability to access my yahoo mail account but in case I can't...... I am on this forum seeking advice. It has been a couple of days now and when I log onto my yahoo mail account I can get into the account but I can not get into my inbox to check my messages. I unfortunately don't have any backup and this is my primary mail account that I utilize to get messages and alerts etc.. I created this outlook account primarily to access Thaivisa. Does anyone have any ideas what needs to be done to enable me to access my yahoo mail account. All my contacts are there and I receive assorted emails and alerts, some of importance through this yahoo mail account. I need some good sound advice as to what needs to be done should I need to change to another provider. I am hoping yahoo customer service will be able to fix this problem such as maybe needing to change my password or maybe there is currently a problem with yahoo mail on there end. Thanks for any info or advice.

Actually, we had a slightly modified version then BillyBodthai's in that if their was someone we didn't like, we would also fill up a paperbag with dog poop, lite it and place it on the front door step and ring the front door bell. We would run like hell around the house and wait for the bloke to get dog poop all over his shoes and feet, and then we would start banging loudly on his rear door. By then he was so pissed off, he would run like a crazed man through his house to the back door all the while spreading dog poop all over his floors and rugs. It was spot on and another victim fell prey to our wicked ways.

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?