Traveling Sailor

Maybe good news at last on the corruption front but it has to be done across the board.

Not just the top tier like the government officials but with the lower ranks such as the police and school teachers.

Heard one such case only last week. My wife has neices and nephews who are aged between 6 and 8 who go to the local village school.

The pupils are 'encouraged to save money' with their teachers, normally about 5B a day.

The neice came home the other day asking for my wife to now keep any money she saves as she does not want to give to the teacher.

This action was sparked when the nephew was told he had accumaleted savings with the teacher of 400B but he could not have it back as the teacher had no money to give him.

Some of the children were given back the money they saved by some teachers, but other teachers would not give back at all.

5B a day for 30 children in a class is a lot of extra cash to top up one's wages.

The parent's however are afraid to go and see the teacher or tell their children not to give the teacher money as they fear the children will be victimised by the teacher.

This is the sort of corruption that should be stamped on before the children except this as a way of life, and do similar when they grow up.

My wife has been a government teacher for 26 years and has never received any money from any corrupt act. Now school directors are a different story. But if she wanted a transfer to another school she would have to pay 200,000 baht to get it. I think teachers are at the bottom of the ladder in terms of corrupt government officials with little or no opportunity to jump on the gravy train.

Whilst i do not doubt the sincerity of your post doing the maths it does seem a lot of work for a small return and a lot of potential hassle from parents.

30 children x 5 baht a day x 180 days a year school is open = 27,000 baht a year that's assuming every child pays and the teacher returns nothing.

It is too bad the teachers do not get to enjoy some of the benefits of the school scams that are going on. I agreed to pay for the education of a five year old. The school where she is now enrolled just charged me 600 THB for "internet access". I was told that every student in the school gets charged the same amount. There are about 400 students in the school. 600 X 400 = 240K THB. I doubt very much that any internet provider is charging the school 240K THB per year for internet access. So where is the extra going??

From the picture, it looks like "tea time" to me. Are the 3 officers sitting at the table working for the "boss"? Great photo op.

Great answers....thanks. The wife is Thai but is a US citizen. Also, I don't meet the 65K per month pension.

Thai Immigration requires you to show either/or/combination. I'm an American on a retirement extension. Depending on the exchange rate, my monthly income meets the requirement or not. I keep a small reserve in another account, just in case the exchange rate dips too low. 65K THB per month (the monthly income requirement) works out to 780K per year. Immigration requires 800K per year. So, if your monthly income is say, 50K a month, to be on the safe side, you would need to have 200K in another bank account.

I hope this helps.

This is maybe the third of forth post I have read on TV recently that states that the proof of income letter, notarized by the US embassy was not accepted as proof of income.

Since I have been here on a non O (marriage ) visa, the notarized income letter from the US embassy is the only proof of income I have ever had to provide.

I understand that expats from most countries have always been required to show bank records or some other proof as well. But for Americans, the letter from the embassy has always been sufficient in the past..

I am starting to wonder if this is a change in policy / attitude toward US expats ot if these are just isolated incidents.

Have any other US expats been having this problem?

If so, what office have you had the problem at?

I am due to extend again in early July and have my letter already.......but it sounds like I may be asked for more proof this time???

Willy, I am an American expat, here for 5 years on a retirement extension. I go to Koh Samui Immigration and, as well as the letter from the American Embassy, I have always been required to make signed copies of every page of the Bangkok Bank account that receives my monthly income from America. My guess is that the reason for this is because, just because an amount of income is stated, that is not proof that you are actually bringing the money into Thailand to use here. I hope this helps.

Confirming once and for all that under Pheu Thai there will be no law and order, applied fairly, across the board. Merely pick-and-choose justice, guilty if you doubt the Shin regime, innocent so long as you kneel down and give sweet buccal caress to the Shin elite. Quite sickening.

Yes! Will someone please grab this redshirt and provide him with a couple of months of "attitude adjustment"? Pretty please?

So whats been happening over the past 12 months... Oh planning the war.

Sent from my c64

I guess corruption is so deeply routed in this country that it was better to prepare a good strategy and wait until this government had enough time to survey and get their position strong enough because heavy resistance has to be expected.

I wish the general good luck and success.

Did any other government before take any real step against corruption? What did the shin gang governments do against corruption?

They refined the art.

Big smoke no fire

And mirrors.

I would venture to say that this result does not show the true IQ of the kids.

I suggest that it shows the result of lazy brains...brains that have not been nurtured at home because dumb parents think it's the government's responsibility to teach their kids, and brains that have been mollycoddled at school/early childhood learning. It's all about being cute or spoiled or sanuk.

Hugs are not the answer.....in fact hugs is a dangerous suggestion as far as getting a better result. Hugs are very good....but suggesting that hugs will make the kids smarter will only perpetuate the problem.

So true. And, not surprising that there is no mention of diet. Rice that contains pesticides and toxic furtilizer, cooked with polluted water and served with deep fat fried pork, etc. doesn't do much for stimulating brain cells. Add to all this, the fact that most rural parents supply no incentive or discipline or direction, it's no wonder IQ is low and dropping. Now, I don't know for sure, but I suspect that there are not too many geniuses born to dumb parents.

Thailand, big on promises, short on delivery. We shall see what happens next year but probably

the same as every year and there will be a couple of months of no lifeguards.

Yup! Same as, "We'll fix it so there won't be any flooding next year", "We'll fix it so there won't be any {fill in the blank} next year". Smoke, smog, drought, corruption, road deaths, etc. ad nosium.

Can anyone suggest a good shoreline vewing spot?

when will they stop giving this shameless criminal moron opportunities to appear in the media?

When at last will they arrest him and put him to prison - where he belongs?

I fail to understand why an excellent sniper has not been able to do what many people seem to want done.

Call in the Waco PD, they will show you a thing or two on dealings with gangs.

Bring back the stocks and public humiliation for these dirt bags. That ought to change things in a hurry.

".... killing a homeless man in a 2002 hit-and-run after a night out drinking...."

13 years before justice is served. Is India competing with Thailand?

No! In Thailand there would never be a trial. A brown envelope would change hands and the police would lose all the evidence. The prosicutor would say that there is not enough evidence to go to trial. No comparison whatsoever.

I wish the Thais deported Farangs for slagging off Thailand and Thais.

If they did, there wouldn't be any more Thai Visa forum.

Knee jerk ? closing the gate after the horse has bolted ? too little, too late ? a day late, a dollar short? that ship has sailed ? a bit late in the day ? better late than never ? late bloomer ? a bit late in the day ?

Just pick one and apply it to this BS order. Ordinary people killed daily but if any of his compatriots are in the car then it's of vital importance.

Yes! All true!

For a leader, he does not seem too bright.

As most of us here on TV know, the way to stop all this senseless murder is to ENFORCE THE LAWS 24/7/365. It does not take a rocket scientest to figure this out.

You will not be able to get a license , so don't bother. The Health Dept would require proof that you are a registered pharmacist (licensed in Thailand) or employed by a registered pharmaceutical company, and also want to see a work permit. This regulation is aimed at commercial import.

Technically, one does need an import license to bring in any pharmaceutical (inc. vitamins), even for personal use, unless it comes into the country with you (and in that case there is a 30 day supply limit). However most of the time customs lets small quantities for personal use through (especially if sent by regular air mail and not courier).

How have you been receiving this? If by courier, my suggestion is to just switch to normal air mail and keep the quantities small, and hope for the best.

Thank you Sheryl. I have been using the US Postal Service, not a courier. That is why I was really surprised by the attitude of the Samui Customs people.

Edit: Upon reading your reply several times, I finally "got it". So, it looks like I have to find a pharmacy that has an import license and work a deal with them. Do you think this is possible?

Possible provided the items are approved for user in Thailand - basically what would have to happen is that you would arrange for the pharmacy to import the items for you and then you buy them. But it would be a huge hassle.

Are you certain these items are not available in Thailand or nearby e.g. Cambodia?

no, I am not certain. I purchase them and have them sent by a California friend of mine who is a distributor. These suppliments are designed for and used by "alternative medicine" practitioners so I'm guessing they are not known in this part of the world. I have one more resource I will try. Thanks for all your help and advise. Very helpful.

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Suppliments for personal use. Nothing that requires a prescription in America.

without knowing exactly what you are bringing in , perhaps its now classified as a drug here ...if it is then forget it ...

You may be right, cdmtdm. After all, TIT, and they can do anything they want to do.

The suppliments I receive are from a company called Premier Research Labs and I get them through a company called Total Health Secrets. Each container is labeled 'Dietary Supplement". It seems to me that anyone who uses logic would not classify these as a drug. But, again, TIT. alt=whistling.gif> alt=facepalm.gif>

Thank you for your input.

Seems many so called manufactures/distributors of "Dietary supplements" end up in trouble with the American FDA !

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2014/default.htm?Page=8

Suppose the Americans can do anything they want to when chasing down the Quacks Charlatans and Snake Oil Salesmen !

Yes, nzexpat, same as every government in the world, I suppose. And, I am sure there are scams in most countries, including NZ. However, I have been taking these suppliments for over 10 years now and they work quite well for me. They have kept me off heart medicine, with all the side effects, and safe from type 2 diabeties for a very long time.

Have a good day.

Suppliments for personal use. Nothing that requires a prescription in America.

without knowing exactly what you are bringing in , perhaps its now classified as a drug here ...if it is then forget it ...

You may be right, cdmtdm. After all, TIT, and they can do anything they want to do.

The suppliments I receive are from a company called Premier Research Labs and I get them through a company called Total Health Secrets. Each container is labeled 'Dietary Supplement". It seems to me that anyone who uses logic would not classify these as a drug. But, again, TIT.

Thank you for your input.

You will not be able to get a license , so don't bother. The Health Dept would require proof that you are a registered pharmacist (licensed in Thailand) or employed by a fregistered pharmaceutical company, and also want to see a work permit. This regulation is aimed at commercial import.

Technically, one does need an import license to bring in any pharmaceutical (inc. vitamins), even for personal use, unless it comes into the country with you (and in that case there is a 30 day supply limit). However most of the time customs lets small quantities for personal use through (especially if sent by regular air mail and not courier).

How have you been receiving this? If by courier, my suggestion is to just switch to normal air mail and keep the quantities small, and hope for the best.

Thank you Sheryl. I have been using the US Postal Service, not a courier. That is why I was really surprised by the attitude of the Samui Customs people.

Edit: Upon reading your reply several times, I finally "got it". So, it looks like I have to find a pharmacy that has an import license and work a deal with them. Do you think this is possible?

Suppliments for personal use. Nothing that requires a prescription in America.

Thanks for your info, indeed they'll probably know at Krungsri too. Now what's left is to photoshop a Google map, i'll manage that

Greetings. I remember you asking about what the letter from embassy is about, don't remember seeing a response. Please correct me if I am wrong. The letter from the embassy is a "proof of income" letter. Being American, I go to Bangkok American Embassy every year, the month before my retirement extension is due. It costs $50 and it is a notorized letter stating your yearly income.

Best of luck with your first extension. They do get easier except for the "yearly surprise". Every year the Samui Immigration office seems to require something that was not required the year before. Last August it was a map and doctors certificate, this year it is the owner's blue book. Well, there are still about three months to go until August. Who knows what the requirements will be by then? Makes life interesting.

Cheers!

For 4 years now, I have received a box of suppliments from America almost every month. Most of the time the package comes to the post office, I go to the post office and pick it up. Sometimes I have had to pay a fee, most often not.

Three or four times I have gotten a notice saying I must go to Customs House to pick up the package. At customs house they have me open the package, show them what is inside, pay a fee and be on my way.

In late March I received a notice saying I should go to Samui Customs House in Nathon. When I showed up on 1 April, I was charged a 30% import tax and told that before I received another package I must obtain an import license. I was handed 2 sheets of paper, almost all in Thai. There was a web site listed which I accessed on the web. It was 100% Thai so no help to me. I showed the papers to a pharmacist I know and she said I have to go to the Health Department in Surat Thani, fill out forms to get license.

Has anyone else experienced this?? Does anyone know what I should expect in Surat Thani??

Any information or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Power also called on countries in the region, particularly China, to stop sending North Koreans seeking asylum back into the country, which was one of the inquiry's concerns. China did not allow the commission of inquiry to visit China for its work.

So our good Chinese friend dare to send back the poor North Koreans seeking asylum. What an incredible shame!

Yes. Is this the kind of friend that is really good for Thailand?? Perhaps, for the current government it is. How truly sad.

So will anyone notice one less taxi?

It seems that these Thai quasi-governmental organizations have an ossified culture frozen in time from the 1970s, resistant to change, and staffed by bureaucrats who have jobs for life.

They need an injection of proactive professionals who can keep up with the times, with independent directors who ask the right questions.

It seems you are not familuar with the Thai education system. Thai children are taught not to question. In fact, if a Thai school child has the audacity to question a teacher, there are sometimes dire consequences. The only way that a director will be comfortable asking questions is if (s)he has spent time studying outside of Thailand and has learned that it is OK to ask questions and enguage in critical thinking. I don't think that Thailand has produced too many people who are comfortable with being proactive. I don't know, but I would guess that being proactive is against "Thainess". To put it another way, "proactive" and "ask the right questions" is not a sheeple trait.