andrewrooney

Depends on the park, who's working the gate, and what kind of mood they're in that day. There doesn't seem to be a firm policy one way or the other, but showing a long term visa or driver's license seems to help. I carry around a little laminated copy of my work permit and tax card, I've usually been able to get into Sai Yok National Park and a few others at the Thai price. Some other places, though, Wat Pra Kaew, for example, will have none of it.

As far as other benefits, you can open a bank account, get a driver's license, and register a vehicle in your own name (some will say you can do some or all of these on a tourist visa, but with an ED visa it will be a lot easier).

My favourite is 'Darlie', or 'Darkie' as it used to be called, before the Thais realised that the name was pretty much internationally non-PC! I think they also changed the logo of a guy in a top hat from black to white. Funny old thing, this political correctness. I wonder who put pressure on the company to make the change? Or if they would have done so if the toothpaste had been called 'Falang' instead of 'Darkie'?

A lot of my Thai friends still call it Darkie.

I think the logo is still supposed to be a black guy, but he looks a lot nicer now. The old logo was pretty bad... big lips, beady eyes, all that.

It's actually made in Taiwan, and sold in lots of Asian countries, so that might have had to do with the name change.

Pretty good toothpaste, though, and cheap. I use it all the time.

Maybe where you live, OP. Get outside of tourist areas and it's a lot less common.

Also, if that shop continues to try to overcharge you, why do you give them your business? Plenty of shops selling beer.

I know OP said besides family and food, but....

that's really about it.

Family/friends

Pizza

Good beer

I believe home brewing is illegal and also difficult in Thailand .Its too hot for fermantation to take place it seems .

Illegal, yes, but so is prostitution, pornography, selling alcohol after midnight, riding a motorcycle without a helmet, littering, opening a food cart on the sidewalk, smoking in a restaurant, etc.

The temperature may present a minor challenge but plenty of people seem to be doing it.

Pushed back until 2 September, there was another thread about it. Can't be bothered to find it and link it right now.

That other news site we're not supposed to link to had a pretty comprehensive article on this. Basically the legislation will allow them to raise the tax up to a pretty massive amount, but won't do so immediately. It will allow the tax board to raise the taxes at their discretion.

So, no 165 baht bottles of Chang just yet... but maybe in the future?

At that time it may well be worth looking at some homebrewing equipment...

Apologies Blther I forgot to mention 'Burning Issue?'

All it ever did was burn a hole in my pocket, as I spent 90% of my money on wine, women and song.

The remainder I spent foolishly.

I had a "burning issue" once. Thankfully the local pharmacy had a cream that cleared it right up.

I received both my one year and then five year licenses at MOT, near Mo Chit. Documents required:

1. Passport + copy

2. WP + copy

3. Completed Application Form

4. Doctors Certificate (100 baht)

5. Current Australian Drivers License

Neither time was I asked for a letter from my embassy. I know of one case where an american went to his embassy and got the letter and the MOT didn't want it.

No written test. Just the vision and reaction tests.

Total time each time less than 45 minutes. Five year license fee was 505 baht. Quick efficient service, no hassles.

Even though I live a lot closer to the Taling Chan MOT office I was told only go there if you speak thai or take a thai who can translate for you.

Re: language skills, I had an interesting experience at the Nong Jok office. Nobody there spoke English, but they were all very helpful and very patient with my Thai. In fact, when I told them I could speak Thai but not read it, they filled out the application form for me (all I had to do was sign it).

No western music before 2006? I kinda doubt that. Try playing some Cranberries or some Eagles, I bet she'll recognize it.

The question, OP, is how much Thai music made before 2006 you would know if the shoe was on the other foot?

Out of curiosity I checked YouTube... and there are tons of Wile E Coyote videos.

You wouldn't be putting us on, would you?

Clicking around on Google Maps satellite view I found this: http://goo.gl/maps/1Zmd6

Looks to be the only thing resembling a border crossing in that area.

There's even an old picture of the crossing if you drag the little guy onto the map.

Hopefully they've upgraded it a bit if it's going to be a full crossing

this is here:

http://www.flightsinmyanmar.com/latestnews/?p=193

just ask my aunty - her name is www.google.ch

Interesting! It mentions that it's on an "under construction" Dawei-Kanjanaburi road.

Wonder just how "under construction" it is? No through road shows up on Google maps, but looking at satellite view it seems there is something there.

The prospect of a bike trip from Kanjanaburi to the Burmese coast is pretty intriguing...

My girlfriend's dad is a policeman out in Nakhon Pathom. When I go out there I hang out with the police and drink with them in the evenings, they're all great people.

I once taught English to some police officers at the Minburi police station for a few weeks. That was fun, most of them could barely speak English so I was teaching mostly basic phrases. Their level of interest varied quite a bit... the older one star lieutenants two years from retirement didn't really seem to care much. Some of the younger officers were really into it, though, they were really friendly and enthusiastic. There was one really weird guy there (Senior Sergeant Major something or other) who could actually speak quite a bit of English. He told me he had previously been a cop in lower Sukhumvit and would take exorbitant bribes from all the farangs. He kept calling me "mother" and asking bizarre off topic questions.

As far as getting pulled over/asked for money I've been pulled over on my bike probably half a dozen times, mostly in Bangkok. Only had to pay money once, 200 baht for driving in the right lane. It's a rule that I tend to ignore completely (and to be fair I was speeding also), so I guess I can't complain about paying.

Whenever I hear stories about police extorting foreigners, it's always in a major tourist or expat area. Seems perhaps the police in those areas have come to view foreigners as ATMs, but outside of those areas most of them are pretty reasonable people.

Don't forget to take a doctor's note when you go in for the license.

It can be from pretty much any clinic, just tell them you're going for a driver's license and they'll know what you need.

Should cost about 50-100 baht depending on where you get it.

If you've got that, your passport, driver's license, and work permit, there shouldn't be any problems.

Maybe you ought to look to Nancy Reagan for advice on this one.

A smile from a Thai person can be genuine or phony.

It depends on the circumstances...

Just like anywhere else in the world

Anyone got a translation of the song, I'd like to have a look what it says before I stand up for it again

Wikipedia's got you covered:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_National_Anthem

It's ok, Allyn Craig (Craig Allyn?). I have a confession to make as well. I've been saying nasty things about you behind your back. Untruthful things ... hurtful things.

Some of them were mild criticisms of your personal dress and general demeanor. Other things... well, let's just say you shouldn't go to any of the pubs in Thonglor for awhile as there are currently some pretty vicious rumours circulating about you, three middle eastern gentlemen, a kilo of Bolivian flake, and a mallard duck. My bad! I was way out of line with this one.

Also if you step withing 100 meters of the Albanian embassy there is a very good chance you will be arrested on sight. Again, I apologize! I should have known better.

If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I know time will heal these vicious wounds.

Well, I don't have any money...

so I can only assume it's true love

My girlfriend can drive a scooter but not a car. She drives the family's Honda Wave a bit, and her Aunt's Fino etc. She doesn't have a license, she mainly just drives around town and her dad is a cop so she's never seen the need to get one. She actually surprised me by successfully driving a beat up Kawasaki KR150 I bought a while back. I wouldn't have guessed she could drive a bike with a clutch, but she did just fine.

In a car on the other hand... not so much.

Here is a related issue: how do you get the server at a restaurant (not one you frequent) to understand that you want your food with the same level of spiciness as they would produce for a Thai customer?

I've had the experience of being in a restaurant, speaking only Thai, requesting the Thai language menu, and being served dishes that would ordinarily be made somewhat spicy, but without any chili at all?

I've learned one trick that works at least some of the time. I say (in Thai), something like: although I have a Western face, I eat spicy like a Thai person. Still not foolproof.

Why do you request the menu in Thai? Do you read Thai?

555555555

One would assume that if he's requesting the Thai menu, he can read Thai. Wouldn't make much sense to do so otherwise, right?

This is some og the sites that I found after "5 min. work". And they all say the same thing. It's no doubt that you need a non-immigrant visa to obtain a thai drivers license. But how can I prove it when my friend doesn't believe what it says on these sites? He says that he has some friends in Pattaya and that they have gotten theirs drivers licenses on a tourist visa so what I'm saying is only "bullshit".

http://driving.information.in.th/driving-licence.html

http://driving.information.in.th/extending-drivers-license.html

http://phuketdir.com/pkttransport/

http://www.nzembassy.com/thailand/nzers-overseas/living-in-thailand/requirements-for-obtaining-a-thai-drivers-licence

http://www.siam-info.com/english/driving-licence.html

http://thailand.angloinfo.com/transport/driving-licences/

http://www.keyvisathailand.com/our-services/thai-drivers-license/

http://www.knowphuket.com/drivinglicense.htm

http://www.pattayaretired.com/license.html

http://www.thailand50.com/pages/obtaining-a-driving-license.html

Well, if he's convinced, tell him to go down to the DLT and try for himself. Either he'll get a license, or you'll get to say, "I told you so."