OMGImInPattaya

If it's anything like the U.S., one would have to go throught the immigration and nationalization process like anyone else...starting at the back of the line.

What do they do the rest of the day...sleep?

2 hours ago, FredNL said:

There was no reason for denying the extension at all. 

It is at the discretion of the immigration officer. 

 

My wife has done some research and probably it was the passport photograph that was included with the application. I was wearing an orange t-shirt. They said to my wife that it looked like a prison shirt. That might have been the reason.

I wouldn't  be surprised...cheeky passport photos like that may fly in Europe but will often cause offense in Asia. If you intend  to spend much time in this part of the world, I'd advise getting some proper passport-size photos to keep on hand.

Sometimes these washers "short circuit" because of unbalanced loads or other things and if your not there to correct the problem the  they just shut-off so as not to damage the machine. As someone said, to reset/start the machine unplug it and replug (or just power it back on) and do the cycle again (usually you can just select the rinse function) to complete the wash. Have a look inside the drum to check that the clothes are evenly spread about. That should do it.

I have a couple "washer" toads who have taken up residence in the drain pipe, however, they're not so big that they block it and usually get flushed out with the dirty water...cleaner but a little shaken up I'd imagine 

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

 

BKK has about 8.3 mil, so yeah, NYC is the only US city that's close.  LA is around 4 mil, Chicago under 3. 

Greater Bangkok maybe 10M...greater LA and Chicago the same (LA actually more).

5 hours ago, ukrules said:

It's way cheaper over here. There's only 1 city in the entire US which is anywhere near the size of Bangkok and that's New York.

 

How does Bangkok compare in price to New York ?

 

Never heard of Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, or the SF Bay Area...and people say Americans don't travel.

For the op...you were likely living as a tourist so things seemed expensive. The major expenses of accomodation (rent let's say), food, transportation, and utilities three of the four can be significantly cheaper in Bangkok, while the forth (food) as you found, is often the same or more if eating a Western diet.

It's pretty f-up for me too...especially canceling a reply after I've opened the reply box  

I don't think it would be an issue...as long as your clothes weren't also psychedelic colours...muted tones of black, grey, blue, or white will do nicely.

Consider it tuition expense in Thailand 101 and move on wiser if a bit poorer.

8 minutes ago, Diplomatico said:

 

  So you suspect money laundering, then?

Good one ?

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

This is not a misprint - just a damaged bill.

You nailed it Lop...I took the bill to a bank where they examined it under a blue-light and promptly exchanged it for an undamaged note. As you say, these are apparently just vinyl strips on the paper (not embedded) and can become detached from the underlying paper.

As I noted, the bill felt like it had been through the wash.

As regular readers of this Forum are aware, in general, I have no problem with falsies when it comes to beautiful women...when it comes to something important like money, it's a different story.

I was paying for my morning cup-o-joe at my regular this morning and the clerk went all funny at one of my bills. When I asked her "pen arai," she handed me back one of the two 100 baht notes I had given  her and said to me that it was missing the security strip and holograms on the right side of the face page of the note.

She was right, where these features should have been was just a plain white strip. Everything else about the note seemed genuine, with the main double portraint water-stain holograms (front and back) and thin security thread on the obverse left side of the note being present. The note did have a bit of a strange hand-feel to it, like maybe it had been through the wash; and was a bit lighter in colour than a new note.

In any case, I exchanged the note with another and we both examined the questionable note more closely. I said I would take it to the bank when it opened for a definitive analysis. I have to give kuddos to the sharp-eyed clerk for spotting it; and I'm glad it's only a 100 baht note.

Has anyone else come across a note this and do you think it's a fake or just a misprinted note?

Possible counterfeit note on bottom.

Front portrait hologram seems ok...

Reverse hologram and security thread are present.

3 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

Good Night!      "screaming colors and famous brands."

Maybe I should just consider my Orange shoes as an investment destined to increase in value over time.

 

 

Go on You Tube, there's a whole subculture of idiots who collect and "invest" in sneakers.

4 hours ago, lumply said:

To answer your question and to be brutally honest....because there are plenty of people out there who are willing to pay ridiculously high prices for top branded products and manufacturers know this, simples.

I think it's more the opposite...that the cost to import high-end merchandise in relatively low quantities and then sell them at high-rent mall shops is expensive and hence the higher prices.

It's curious, however, that it's not always the case. The last time I bought an Apple product (iPad), it was cheaper to buy it in Thailand than the USA (albeit not by much) and the soap I buy, L'Occitane, is $ 15 a bar in the US and the same baht equilivent at Central Department in Thailand. The Hagen Daz ice-cream bars and pints that I love are almost tripple the cost, however (though I sometimes find them at 2 for 1 prices),...go figure. 

41 minutes ago, baansgr said:

I just bought 2 pairs of Adidas trainers in the UK from sports firect, cost 1,400 each, same here almost 4,000. Lonsdale, everlast and levi t shirts UKcost 130-160 baht, here 900 baht or more. some things sre defonatly cheaper with more choice in western countries....Sports direct will deliver to Thailand for about 15 pounds

Are those prices factoring in the airfare?

46 minutes ago, YeahSiam said:

 

Yeah, if you're 80

Works if one is 50 too  

It's daft to pay more than 1k-2k baht for shoes in Thailand, as the rain, heat, and sun UV will turn them to rubbish in short order. Just buy whatever's on sale at Power Sports or a name-brand store at Central (Camel Active and Ecco have nice stuff) or whatever looks and fits good at Bata Shoes.

Oh, and always some good sales going on at the Central Department Store shoe department (the Dr. Shools range is always nice).

On 5/11/2559 at 4:48 AM, connda said:

I married the year that I came to Thailand, well before I understood the inflexibility of the immigration system.  Since then, it's been a learning process. Now I'm looking at this thought the lens of basic human rights.  International human rights organizations view families as "institutions to be protected", which is to say that a family, once established, should not be under the constant threat of being broken apart.  And yet, here we are. 

Maybe file a petition with the United Nations Human Rights Council or their Special Rapporteur; if that fails, there's always the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

Hey there Brian...welcome and jump on in...the water's warm. And if you need the low-down on Thailand's ladyboys, I'm your member, feel free to PM me  

4 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Key word: supposedly.

 

Time ain't the issue.  To see what it's going to take, look at Singapore, Taiwan and S Korea.  In each case, their transformation started with a strong man, with enough cajones to put a limit on the free-for-all at the trough.  Thailand's problem is that nobody has been strong enough to do that and stay alive and in power.

 

In Taiwan, S Korea, Singapore, the guy took power and kept order at the trough and forced stability for decades, allowing more money for the country to grow, and left it in strong financial shape with a rule of law (setting his heirs up for multiple generations in the process ).  It was ugly and it was often brutal, but that's what it took in those cultures.  Cultures similar to Thailand.

 

Duterte may be that guy for the Philippines, but thousands of people will die before we know whether he's the guy, or just another thug.  Their citizens seem to think he's the guy and who am I to second guess them?

 

Besides, it's downright arrogant to think we have a lock on the best form of government for every country, everywhere in the world, regardless of culture, customs, history, or state of development.

I take issue with some of your arguments. However, to further develop my points might touch on sensitive topics and issues which I decline to do. Therefore, I'm leaving our discussion as it stands.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

And Thailand's equivalent of the Magna Carte, which started the centuries long change in the rights of citizens and the responsibilities of the rulers is?    They've still got to build a legal system where the rule of law trumps money and connections.  Otherwise, they're just voting for crook de jour, with no checks and balances.  Which is what the USA would have if not for the Judicial Branch.

 

Edit:  And at the time of the Revolution, the colonies had more land and resources to bargain with than they thought at the time they could ever need.  Look at population density and tell me how much Thailand can expand.

The country has supposedly been a constitutional monarchy, under a democratic constitution, for almost 100 years...how much time do you think they need?

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

Democracy in the west required centuries of building a foundation of the legal system and the relationship between the citizens and the rulers.  Even so, it's a very inefficient way to govern- which is marginally okay if you have money to burn.

 

Some cultures haven't built that foundation yet.  They're more accurately referred to as kleptocracies.  And they don't have the money to burn.

 

I would say the standard of living and purchasing power parity is much higher in today's Thailand, and has been for decades, than what was prevailing in the US at the time of the revolution...and certainly in England at the time of Magna Carta...so I don't you can waive around the "democracy is un-affordable" flag.

7 hours ago, The Dancer said:

I am ashamed and embarrassed by fellow citizens who claim to be ashamed and embarrassed by what's going on in the US and yet are too lazy to get off their backsides and do something about the situation. Like exercise their right to vote.

Many members don't like democracy...witness the many pro-junta posts on the Forum.

17 hours ago, coppywriter said:

 

Thailand has a much better infrastructure but the Philippines actually wants the foreigner and they make it easier to live and work long term.

Most of the expart traffic goes from PI to TH rather then the other way 'round...make of it what you will.