Nautilus05

Without question, the nature. That, and skiing. Thailand doesn't have any Rocky Mountains.

When I tell Thais there's no mountains in the country, they get all perplexed and point out the "mountains" in Chiang Mai. Compared to Canadian standard, those are tiny foothills, not mountains.

1. Yes, Thai men are judged.

2. Same concept as a woman in the West would prefer to marry a lawyer than a Walmart clerk.

Wouldn't worry about clearing the overstay at a border crossing. I cleared a 3+ year overstay at Nong Khai a while back, and everything was fine. Just dress and act respectfully.

Only thing I would worry about is the emergency passport. No idea about yours, but I know for Canada an emergency passport allows you to get back to Canada once, and that's it.

If I were you, I'd just scream at the top of your lungs at the Laos immigration officer, and let them know you refuse to have them take up a page in your passport. I'm certain that would work well in your favor.

Or you can just do like the rest of us, and grab a new passport once yours is full. Up to you,

I had a longer overstay than you, and I just went to the Nong Khai border, and paid the 20,000 baht. Managed to get to the Thai embassy that morning, next afternoon I was in possession of a new double entry VISA, and was back in Thailand. I took a taxi to the Nong Khai border though, as I was too scared to take a bus, train, or plane.

How did you dress?

Seriously. The way you look smell and dress has a lot to do with acceptance still in the region.

How you dress has a lot to do with acceptance all over the world. For example, you wouldn't show up to court in Canada wearing flip-flops and a wife beater. I'll agree though, it does seem to mean more in SE Asia though.

I don't know, I have a passport full of Thai visas, and never had an issue.

How do you look, and were you dressed appropriately? Or were you in flip-flops, shorts, and a short-sleeved shirt?

Spa gift certificate!

What age are some of you living in? Thousands of used items are bought and sold each and every day in Thailand. It's called Facebook! There are dozens and dozens of different Facebook user groups for almost every city in Thailand. Some real bargains to be found. Many items are bought and sold within an hour of being posted.We have found some amazing deals there.

Yes, because spending days on Facebook to sell dishes for 5 baht, a toaster for 50 baht, toaster oven for 500 baht, TV for say 2000 baht, and so on.... just sounds like so much fun.

I think a yard sale is a better and easier way to go. It's all gone in a day. What isn't gone, get's a "for free" sign put on it. If anything is still left after another 24 hours, it gets thrown in the commercial dumpster I'll have sitting in front of my house. Got quite a bit of stuff I can't sell in that house too.

Depending on where you live and how much traffic goes by.....did same thing once....put it all out on the driveway so easy to see...put prices on everything and big sign in Thai....everything was gone in a couple of hours...of course I did make the prices very attractive and I suspect a few of the first buyers who bought a lot of stuff maybe resold it later but who cares....

not sure why thais don't seem to do same thing but just don't see it like in usa ....but it can work....

Awesome, thanks! So crazy person option it is!

Then whatever doesn't get sold that day, I'll just put a "for free" sign on it, and I'm sure it'll magically disappear.

Planning a move soon, and have a house full of things to get rid of. Just the standard stuff -- furniture, couple TVs, tables, couple wardrobes, kitchen stuff, etc.

I'm just curious, are garage / yard sales common in Thailand? After several years of living here, I can't remember ever seeing one? Just move everything out front of the house, put price tags on it, and some signs around the area letting people know there's a yard sale going on that day / weekend.

Is this done in Thailand? Or is everyone going to think I'm a crazy person if I do that?

I'm not sure about the conflicting reports, so can only report my own personal experience. Went for a 3+ year overstay to the Nong Khai border at the end of February, and everything was fine. I spent 3000 baht on new pants and shirt before showing up at the border, and was more than respectful and apologetic. The officer asked why I overstayed so long, to which I just replied, "no excuse, totally my fault, and just the way life took me". That was enough for him to let me through with just the 20,000 baht and no problems.

Since then, have gotten two double entry tourist VISAs from Vientiane without problem. Not a single word spoken or question asked throughout all border checkpoints or trips to the Thai embassy. The only question asked was that I was willing to pay 2000 baht for a double entry VISA.

Be polite, respectful, and apologetic though. One guy at the Nong Khai immigration office showed up, and the officer politely said, "put your passport here, and take a seat". Instead, the guy started rambling on about whatever because he didn't understand something. The officer got pissed, slapped his hand on the desk, and with a firm voice said, "PASSPORT, SIT DOWN!", while pointing in the directions of where his passport and himself should go. The foreigner may have been new to the overstay rules, but the immigration officer definitely wasn't. Obey what they say.

Learn how to make money online, and triple your budget.

Comes from the guy who's moaning about people moaning.

Those who object to the Thai Government rules should attempt to gain entry to the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand based on some mad cap "freelance" concept.

Come back and let us all know when you succeed !

Don't be so dense. That could easily be turned around to say try to get a retirement VISA in USA, Canada, Aus or NZ. Or try to get a spousal VISA or education VISA as easily as in Thailand. And so on.

It's not 1960 anymore, and both globalization and communication technology have taken its effects. Immigration laws just haven't yet caught up, but I'm quite certain they will sometime in the coming years.

I'm in two minds re this as 1, - If Offshore oil workers and retirees can spend all their time in Thailand, why can't those wanting to work?; but on the other side of the coin as you've mentioned before you're open to any Tom, Dick and Harry with their laptop coming over.

I don't personally see an issue with that either, as long as the self-employment VISA is structured properly. In order to be eligible, you must prove a) an income of say 80k/month, the income is derived from outside of Thailand, and c) you're paying Thai income tax on that income. Then who cares if they're lying about actually working online or not, as long as they're paying taxes on minimum of 80k/month. It's either that, or they sit around on tourist and ED visas without paying any taxes, so might as well get some from them.

Are you one of those crazy people I hear about?

Sorry, that's us. We invented a new drinking game, and needed those timers for it. Come on by, it's a great game!

j/k btw.

So the Americans forced the Thais to build and staff these places? And to allow them to do everything openly and brazenly?

In a way, yeah. Thousands of young, horny, swinging dicks showed on the beaches of Pattaya with loads of money in their pockets, because after all, there isn't much to spend it on in the jungles of Vietnam. Then they said if you want my money, you're going to do A, B and C, so that's exactly what loads of impoverished Thais did.

Granted, it was the Thais who built it up as well, but you can hardly say the white man is blameless.

The problem is, that the in your face prostitution is for farangs and the way it's integrated into the everyday scene of life..big difference from the Thai element..this has been caused by farangs and there lack of sensibility to there Thai surroundings, in that every Thai is "easy" perception..

Let me get this clear: the fact that the sector of the sex industry catering to and patronized by Farangs is in your face (leaving aside the a great deal of that which is for the Thais is as well) is caused by the Farangs?

Well, somewhat, yeah... Pattaya was a sleepy fishing village until the Vietnam war, when it became a hot bed for soldiers on R&R.

You might want to check with customs of your home country first. You might be able to walk off the airplane with a bunch of fresh fruit, but there's a decent chance you won't be walking out of the airport with it.

Ok, so don't dress up for a night out with uni-girls in a wife beater, then while grabbing my crotch proceed to say, "hey baby, you like? how much for short time?". Noted, and gotcha!

Thanks for the advice, as don't think I would have figured that one out myself.

I like how he even provided change to the first guy on the motorbike. Efficiency at its best!

Guess I should have really been paying attention more the last time I was there. Last time we took a taxi from home up to Nong Khai, and he dropped us off at the small bus station before the bridge. This time around I'm looking to do an immediate u-turn, will already have both a Laos and Thai visa, so no need to apply for anything. Just need to say hello to the immigration officers, and get my stamps. Afterwards, I need to immediately head to the Udon Thani airport to catch a flight.

I'm wondering, is it possible to do this with one taxi? My apologies, but I can't really remember the layout of the border. Obviously, the taxi driver won't be coming into Laos with me, so first, is he allowed to drive me all the way up to the Laos border? Then after I cross the Laos border, how far away is it to the Thai border? Is it walking distance? Or maybe a quick bus ride, and the taxi can meet me there? Is there any restrictions on which taxis they allow into these areas, so close to the border crossings?

Would prefer to stick with the one guy if possible. We know each other, he's local, honest, etc. Saves me from dealing with any hustlers I find at the border, and gives an honest man a little extra money.