LoveDaBlues

Lite Beer & Thaiphoon - thanks - that's exactly the info I need. I'll pass it on to my nephew. He doesn't travel much so now he'll know exactly what to expect.

okay, thanks for the replies so far.

So, my nephew should go to the VOA desk? He has a passport and plane ticket to USA.

Does he need anything else; like his photo to attach to a form or........?

Sorry for the questions but I've always had a non-imm. 'O' visa and I don't know squat about the tourist visa rules.

From the Royal Thai Embassy website (Washington DC, USA):

Nationals of the United States of America and 40 other countries are eligible to travel to Thailand , for tourism purpose, with the exemption of visa and are permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not exceeding 30 days. Therefore, you do not need a visa. However, please make sure that you are in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months, a round-trip air ticket, and adequate finances equivalent to at least 10,000 Baht per person or 20,000 Baht per family. Otherwise, you may be inconvenienced upon entry into the country.

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My question: My nephew (American, 23 years old) is flying into Swampy from Tokyo late on May 6. According to the above he DOES NOT need a visa. He will be staying for less than 2 weeks. Will he be required to pay a tourist visa fee or whatever fee at the airport? If so, how much?

Thank you. LDB

All promising stuff, it would be interesting to find out if the average size of 'Asians' is increasing, if so the manufacturers will need to enlarge their models to suit. I still can't quite bring myself to buy just yet, I no longer have any issues regarding longevity of Auto's. If a had some way of making any of them 25% bigger, or me 25% smaller, we'd have a match.

I presume new models are launched towards the end of year?

Just get a Yamaha 500 TMax. I love the auto on this one 555.000 baht in LOS a bit steep though

Did you get/have a price quote for the Suzuki Skywave 650? I've been reading a lot about it lately. Seems to be a pretty decent combo scoot for around town/long cruise. I *think* they are roughly the same as the TMax.

The only business I'd start here would be a small one and grow it. To invest millions of baht at the start to me is foolish. This is an unstable country, anything can and does happen.

Lost all hope of the governement freeing up the airport , it will only be free when the PAD decide

This round goes to the PAD

my feeling is that next year Thakisin is going to try all out to reclaim government in Thailand , thats when things will

really get messy , for now thougth the PAD have won,

Thailand's main airport is closed 'indefinitely'. Where's the army?

The closing of the airport is a total affront to Thai people. How come the PPP is not confronting PAD protesters out at the airport?

Where are the police?

PAD - BIG - BIG - WINNNERS THIS WEEK - ME THINKS -

PAD will win in the long run and Thaksin will lose. Money behind them and the military supports them. Hard combo to beat methinks.

It's my humble opinion that eventually the PM will resign. PAD has too much money

Normally you might be right, but ever heard of a guy called Thaksin?

yea, he's evil but not stupid. He spent 100 million to buy the Issan vote; key to winning.

70% of 40 (Issan) = 28 votes

40% of 60(rest of Thailand) = 24 votes

28 + 24 = 52%.........congrats you're the PM

OK, now I disagree and you are being stupid.

Well, I've been living in Issan for a while now. Long-timers here who are friends with some of the Thaksin connected people

tell me this is the absolute truth. Money was paid in my wife's village for votes; verified by her and the family. Doesn't it make sense to spend 100 million baht when you can then steal billions?

BANGKOK – With its faithful followers now occupying Suvarnabhumi Airport, grounding all flights and bringing the tourism industry into a catastrophic standstill, the People’s Alliance for Democracy has mysteriously ordered 10,00 gallons of Kool-Aid, a US-made fruit-flavored soft drink.

woah- another jonestown massacre???

it's a joke......just not a good one.

$$$ was getting stronger without this current situation. Now it will just go up quicker. 40 by August 2009.

They (PAD) really haven't showered themselves in glory. It's a shame, as I thought some of their issues were worth airing. Now they have negative press, minority national support. Even smaller international sympathy. Not the way to get things done chaps.

Maybe they did have some issues worth airing but they are certainly not the answer to Thailand's problems. According to the CBN website

"The PAD advocate the scrapping of the one-man-one-vote system in Thailand and say only 30 per cent of parliament's members should be directly elected by the people. The remaining 70 per cent should be chosen from various occupations and professions and be appointed".

Hardly the stuff to impress the free world.

George Bush was elected. Twice. Perhaps PAD is on to something......

It's my humble opinion that eventually the PM will resign. PAD has too much money

Normally you might be right, but ever heard of a guy called Thaksin?

yea, he's evil but not stupid. He spent 100 million to buy the Issan vote; key to winning.

70% of 40 (Issan) = 28 votes

40% of 60(rest of Thailand) = 24 votes

28 + 24 = 52%.........congrats you're the PM

It's my humble opinion that eventually the PM will resign.

You could be right but do you think the PAD would back off then?

That really depends on Thaksin. He's behind everything. With his ego there's only one way he'll go away IMHO......use your imagination...........

Why would the army move against PAD when they support PAD? The police, yes, but not the army.

So what does it mean that they just replaced the police chief? I am guessing the new one is more likely to strike against the PAD?

I don't know about that. My understanding of the way things are is this. The sorry police who really don't want to do anything but strut around and collect their tea money; will basically side against PAD. The military on the other hand is a different story. Without going into a long-winded history lesson there are many military leaders with broad support from the rank-and-file who HATE THAKSIN. Also, there are monied civilians who HATE THAKSIN and are working with the military. The police here are chicken-shit. I watched them stand by while the red shirts with clubs beat an un-armed PAD supporter. Even after he was helpless on the ground and not moving the police DID NOTHING when a guy walked up and hit him in the head full-force.

It's my humble opinion that eventually the PM will resign. PAD has too much money and the military sides with them; I don't see how this combination can be beat. But, I don't really spend that much time on this issue as I don't have a say in this country. I'm sure others will disagree and tell me how stupid I am.

PAD have said they will not move voluntarily from the airport. If they do indeed hold their breath it will present the army with a various serious dilema.

Should the army be used to forceably move PAD from the airport - my guess is it will make '76 and '92 both look like tea parties. Poachinda knows that, which is why he is so desperate to avoid the confrontation.

What does it mean for ex-pats? Good question: leaders on both sides I think will be desperate to convey the message that it is a Thai issue and that ex-pats are not the target.

Can ex-pats rely on that? My personal opinion is that so long as the cause does not become one of ultra-nationalism, ex-pats should by and large be safe if they keep a low profile.

Why would the army move against PAD when they support PAD? The police, yes, but not the army.

I don't think you should be the person throwing around accusations like that seeming as you're loyties are very anti-PAD. If you have proof then show it. I don't like nonsensical claims.

PAD supporters have been at my Soi's market all evening offering up to 700 Baht a day for anyone coming to protest at the airport. And they have pick-up trucks waiting to be loaded with people before they drive off. They offered it to my wife and her friend while I was standing besides them. Proof enough? Come see it for yourself if you're still ignorant.

Can you please provide a weblink to your proof.

Rainman is a reliable source and poster and he if says that his wife and her friend were offered money -with him present- I have no reason NOT to believe him.

Apart from that, do you think this kind of 'proof' is put on PAD's or anyone else's website ? I'm sure the PAD doesn't hand out receipt tickets for Baht 700 ....

If one realizes that almost 50% of the Thai Labor force -18.5 Million people !!- still works in agriculture and that the AVERAGE wage/salary is less than Baht 3,500/month it's maybe better to understand that it is relatively easy for ANY party to find ''protesters''....willing to jump on a truck for Baht 600 or 700/day.

http://thaicrisis.wordpress.com/2008/04/03...m-2002-to-2007/

LaoPo

When the redshirts were busting yellow heads in Udon Thani they were only paid baht 200. lol shows the price disparity between Issan and the City!

^Perhaps, but the PAD are a bunch of criminals, so what is the difference???

The difference is.....no one else wants to step up to the plate. If not PAD then who?

No one wants to be a garbage man. But someone has to take out the garbage.

Remember, it was ordinary citizens in the US who initiated the fall of Nixon.

I'm actually affected by this. My mom is scheduled to fly into swampy on Dec. 3

for my baby's first birthday. That looks iffy now. I still support PAD.

Read my lips.

The PAD dare not stand for election because they have no popular support.

This isn't about PAD taking over. It's about removing the Thaksin puppets. Thaksin cares

not one bit about this country. Thaksin is for Thaksin. He'll watch people die rather

than just staying out of politics and enjoying his billions.

I am still waiting a explaination of this video. 1. Two armed PAD guards firing. (Peaceful?)

2. Burning motortaxi 3. Holding knife to the throat of motor taxi.

Can we get a clarification from PEACE loving PAD?

So if 1% of all the white people in America are bigots then all of them are bigots?

BRILLIANT LOGIC!!!!!!!

The vast majority of PAD supporters are non-violent.

In America, when McCain had a rally his supporters would show up. Obama supporters would not show up armed with weapons to disrupt the rally.

When PAD had a rally, why was it necessary for thugs dressed in red to show up and start busting heads? Perhaps they didn't want the PAD message to be heard?

Kick a man enough he will fight fire with fire. Not hard to figure out, really.

well what do you think about this condo sales pitch?

You forgot one very important item (for the sales pitch):

5) The Market Is Healthy (copyrighted)

We are going to laugh, endlessly, at all the sweet daydreamers who were unable to understand the word crisis : political crisis, financial crisis, global crisis etc.

I know it's not fair play to laugh... but I can't stop.

And the best is : they will probably continue. Over and over. It's basic human behaviour. They can't acknowledge their owns mistakes.

George Bush is buying in Thailand?

I have a flight to Singapore scheduled. (6+K Baht) down the toilet.

You paid for a service. If they can't provide that service you get a refund.

Of course, you paid with a credit card so you're protected anyway; right?

I live in Udon Thani. A while back PAD had a planned rally here. PAD set up tables, had literature, and scheduled speakers. All peaceful, just a rally to explain their point of view. Anti-pad thugs (paid of course) invaded and assualted people. It was reported 2 people killed but I could never confirm that. I did talk to a Thai lady I know and with pride she told me how her nephew made 200 baht for beating up PAD people with a stick.

I knew then that sooner or later PAD would respond with violence if they had to. You can only be kicked so many times before you fight back.

You stick with what u elected for better or worse - once every Thai realizes this then we can move forward. However until then we have to deal with instability and this circus like environment.

Richard M. Nixon was forced to resign in disgrace. Once the person you elected proves to be a criminal

you don't let up on him or his cronies. Perhaps the Thai's realize a little more than you think.

I don't recall a storming of JFK. Did I miss something in this comparison?

Yes, you missed something. Nixon resigned and quietly went away. Thaksin is trying to hold onto power at all costs and the results of his ego are easy to see.

^Perhaps, but the PAD are a bunch of criminals, so what is the difference???

The difference is.....no one else wants to step up to the plate. If not PAD then who?

No one wants to be a garbage man. But someone has to take out the garbage.

Remember, it was ordinary citizens in the US who initiated the fall of Nixon.

I'm actually affected by this. My mom is scheduled to fly into swampy on Dec. 3

for my baby's first birthday. That looks iffy now. I still support PAD.

You stick with what u elected for better or worse - once every Thai realizes this then we can move forward. However until then we have to deal with instability and this circus like environment.

Richard M. Nixon was forced to resign in disgrace. Once the person you elected proves to be a criminal

you don't let up on him or his cronies. Perhaps the Thai's realize a little more than you think.

My 79 year old mom is scheduled to fly into swampy on Dec. 3 at 10:15pm. She's coming for the baby's 1 year birthday on Dec. 5.

This problem goes deeper than PAD, Thaksin, etc. It's the Thia's willingness to accept corruption with a laugh and

a 'mai pen rai' attitude. My wife and her family have this attitude. They don't understand what this can lead to in the long run.