patrickq

Does anyone have the address and directions for getting to the Ministry, what hours it is open, how long it takes to get a translation certified and any other useful info?

I've been told the Ministry charges 800 Baht to certify the translation of a Thai birth certificate.

I've been quoted 2,000 to have a translation done and to get certification from Ministry, which takes a couple of days.

Does anyone know of an efficient translation service, preferably around the Ploenchit/Sukhumvit area which can do the whole thing for less than 2,000 and preferably within 24 hours, or say drop off in morning, collect next afternoon?

Interesting topic, can you clarify something ... if the birth registration is submitted by the hospital, with both parents named, and collected from the registrar's office by the father (with passport/signature supplied for doing so) does this mean he is, or isn't, legally recognised?

Thanks.

Normaly, no the child will not have been legalised as it was the hospital that registered the birth.

You can check the birth certificate. A birth certificate lists four names:

- name of the child

- name of the mother

- name of the father

- name of the person registering the birth

If the name of the father is not the same as the name of the person registering the birth the child was not legalised.

Mario, thanks so much for this information, would never have known about this without your thread.

Just checked the certificate and it was registered by someone unknown to us, presumably from the hospital. Extraordinary that they undertake this procedure without explaining the implications. I am somewhat annoyed, but this is Thailand, so unsurprising. I'll now have to check with the UK and Australian embassies regarding whether this has any implications.

Raro, thanks for additional info you posted ref shipping, for some reason hadn't received email notification of recent postings, so haven't been on this topic. Thanks to others for words of appreciation, makes it worthwhile

I decided to submit quote requests to the majors (except AGS, as I knew they'd be comparable to Allied from the past), interesting to find they were all in the same ballpark, with some differences in detail. I'm inclined towards Allied, they have been by far the most efficient/professional in response, not to say that necessarily reflects their service, or that of the others.

I'm seriously considering using a Freight Forwarder, as suggested by Raro, will have to see if the price is much better - as the above quotes have been high!

Krading, suggest it would be worth your while starting topic on car export, as it's altogether something different to the shipping of personal household effects. I made some enquiries a year or two back and decided it wasn't worth it now, partly because of exchange rates, I believe that Australia is quite complex once vehicle arrives there. Allied quoted us before for shipment in a 20' container, so I guess that side of things is straightforward.

Interesting topic, can you clarify something ... if the birth registration is submitted by the hospital, with both parents named, and collected from the registrar's office by the father (with passport/signature supplied for doing so) does this mean he is, or isn't, legally recognised?

Thanks.

Hi All I am looking for anyone selling a Car seat for a newborn.

Cheers

Hi, have just sent you a PM, have an as new Graco seat available, if you still need one ... or anyone else does.

I'd avoid Tamiflu, there is far too little known about potential long-term side effects (it hasn't been tested properly) and already too many reported problems. Swine-flu is like a mild flu, the hype is due purely to the fact it spreads easily. Our baby, under a year old, caught this when we arrived in the UK, temperature was running high, doc wanted to jab with Tamiflu, we let his body tackle things, while keeping a very close eye on things and cooling him with damp flannels when necessary, a day later he was recovering, it takes 10 or so days for the chesty cough to go, which extends period of worrying, but far better than now having to live with potential Tamiflu reactions.

Not to be rude but I hope helpful, click on Search on the bar above and type in tailor. The threads will let you browse responses to this oft asked, but reasonable, question.

Regards

Fine in theory, but near useless in practice - pages of irrelevant threads appear, as I've just discovered

Well, we parked in the short term car park for 26 days, pick-up was dustier buts still there! 6,500 Baht total and no suggestion we should have parked elsewhere.

Entered the first short term car park entrance, parked vehicle on 4th level of car park, within a few bays of the stairway/lift. The car park levels don't relate to the terminal ones, so a bit confusing, if I recall correctly the 5th floor of car park takes you across to 3rd floor departures in terminal, maybe someone can confirm. Make sure you note down the precise location you park and the entrance number in the terminal, so that when you get back half asleep you don't wander for hours in search of your 'lost' vehicle.

Just finished compiling info on shipping out of Thailand and have posted at this link www.thaivisa.com/forum/Shipping-Uk-Australia-also-Plac-t288760.html - includes contact details for Crown.

I've spent a day looking through threads here and elsewhere to try and gather information on shipping personal effects/furniture out of Thailand to either the UK or Australia, by sea. This isn't for sending items by post etc, more for those who have decided they want a complete door to door service, to try and keep the topic focused. Many of these companies would also cover shipping in the opposite direction.

I'm Pattaya based, but most of the info here is relevant to Thailand as most are Bangkok based. There are of course lots of smaller local outfits, that will probably be cheaper and often adequate, but they're unlikely to give you the same service through to final destination. I've sent stuff from Chiang Mai to my London address many years ago, perfectly safely and without hassle using one of the many smaller companies. However, there is an advantage to using a company that handles shipment all the way, in that if there is any problem you just go to them, rather than being pushed from one company to another, neither of whom admits responsibility.

Here are the results so far, for anyone else who needs to find out the same thing, but have better things to do! If anyone wants to add further useful suggestions, good or bad experiences with any companies, recent shipping costs, or to correct any information below, it would be great. I've put the original source for some of the less commented upon companies.

Crown Relocations:

www.crownrelo.com/thailand

Crown Relocations

116/90-91 SSP Tower II, 24/F,

Na Ranong Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok, 10110

Tel: 02 249 0219

Fax: 02 249 9036

Email:

Have seen several good reports on this company, they have offices all over the world and I presume therefore handle everything to final destination.

AGS Four Winds:

www.agsfourwinds.com/e-branch.php?branch=133

AGS Four Winds International Moving Limited

55 Biohouse Building, 5th Floor, Soi Sukhumvit 39 (Prompong),

Kwaeng Klongton-Nua, Khet Wattana, Bangkok, 10110

Tel: 02 662 7880

Fax: 02 662 7881

E-mail:

This company has varied reports, some quite negative, others positive. They just handle the Thai end of things, so a lot depends upon the company at the other end. We received a quote from them a year or two back, when thinking of moving, and they weren't much different to Allied Pickfords.

Allied Pickfords:

http://th.alliedpickfords.com

Allied Thailand

50/808 Moo 3 Soi La Salle 34
Sukhumvit 105, Bangna, Bangkok, 10260

Tel: 02 361 3961

Fax: 02 361 3962/3

They have offices all over the world and handle everything themselves. From personal experience, knowing friends who have used them, they are efficient, pleasant and reliable.

United Relocations:

www.united-relo.com

United Relocations (Thailand) Co. Ltd

360/21-22 Moo-Ban Sri Krung,

Rama III Road, Yannawa

Bangkok 10120, Thailand

Tel: 02 285 3974/5

Mobile: 08 9665 2050

Fax: 02 285 3976

Email:

The Bangkok based office of this company is managed by Europeans.

( Source: www.thaivisa.com/forum/Moving-Costs-Australia-Thailand-t280476.html&p=2872588#entry2872588 )

In-Tend:

www.in-tend.net

In-Tend International Co., Ltd.

77 Tanakul Building, 2/F, Rm 205, Rama 9 Road,

Huaykwang, Huaykwang, Bangkok 10310

Tel: 02 246 7883/4

Fax: 02 246 7885

Highly recommended by a forum member.

( Source: www.thaivisa.com/forum/Moving-Costs-Australia-Thailand-t280476.html&view=findpost&p=2872768#entry2872768 )

Asian Tigers Transpo:

Asian Tigers Transpo International Ltd.

www.asiantigers-thailand.com/outbound_services.shtml

3388/74-77 Sirinrat Building, 21st Floor, Rama 4 Road,

Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok, 10110

Tel: 02 687 7888

Fax: 02 687 7999

E-mail:

This looks like an efficient company, has anyone any experience/knowledge of them?

Logo Trade:

www.logo-trade.com

I had seen a few posts on here recommending getting in touch with 'raro' a Thai Visa member, which I did. His company is Pattaya based and specialises in transportation around inner-Asia/Europe/Russia. They don't pack, the main business is freight forwarding, but they will be able to offer storage from September 2009. The website should be up and running properly shortly, so thought I'd include it.

V. Pack & Move:

www.vpackmove.com

V.Pack & Move (Bangkok) Co. Ltd.

90/1 Moo 4 Bangchalong, Bangplee,

Samutprakan, 10540

Tel: 02 750 9555 or 02 744 9600-8, not sure about the numbers

Recommended by one member, but the website is useless, so you'll have to phone and find out more. Anyone have any experience?

( Source: www.thaivisa.com/forum/Shipping-Europe-Pattaya-t246546.html&p=2567433#entry2567433 )

I Buy Asia:

www.ibuyasia.com

Tel/Fax: 038 730 422

Mobile: 0870 330 404

Skype: paulibuyasia

Email:

Pattaya expat run company.

( Source: www.thaivisa.com/forum/Shipping-Europe-Pattaya-t246546.html&p=2567857#entry2567857 )

Transpeed:

www.transpeed.biz/index_en.php

Transpeed Co. Ltd.

3360/6-8 Soi Manorom, Rama 4 Road, Klongton,

Klongtoey, Bangkok, 10110

Tel: 02 249 9001-10, ask for Beer who speaks English

Mobile: 081 614 8836

E-mail:

Recommended by one member, but from a while back, so maybe no longer valid. Another company that needs to sort out it's website and email gets returned as over quota!

( Source: www.thaivisa.com/forum/Int-l-Shipping-Company-Wanted-pers-t239426.html&p=2518916#entry2518916 )

Further possibilities:

http://moverworldwide.com/movers/Thailand/Thailand.htm

This link has a list of international moving companies, which includes Crown, AGS and Allied, so could be worth checking through the others.

I used In-Tend International Co Ltd (contact Hawk Cheng M.D.) a couple of years back for Bkk to Sydney - excellent service. Today I contacted them and got the local agent in Sydney

Elton McKay

Accord Logistics Pty Ltd

Alexandria

9669 2333

I can highly recommend In-Trend in Bkk - no non-sense on-the-ball organisation - www.intend.net

Thanks for this info, the correct link to the Bangkok shippers is: www.in-tend.net

In-Tend International Co., Ltd.

77 Tanakul Building, 2/F, Rm 205, Rama 9 Road,

Huaykwang, Huaykwang, Bangkok 10310

Tel: 662 – 246 7883-4

Fax: 662 – 246 7885

Tango 7, would you post contact details for Crown (haven't heard of them) and tell us how much it cost for the short container (door to door)? I guess the fumigation is a UK requirement, rather than the shippers, I recall importing some wooden products to UK from Chiang Mai many years back and it had to be sprayed.

We have just flown UK return on Thai, baby about 1 year old. Even if you have a bassinet, it isn't used during take-off landing, you just hold your baby (up to 2 years old) unless you buy a seat and take a suitable car type seat to use.

On outward flight we had 2 bulkhead seats, we sat in the forward bulkheads, next to galley, which was slightly disturbing from noise/light, but doesn't have the huge movie screen in front of you, this isn't such a problem on night flight as they only show one movie. On return the Thai aircrew asked passenger to move, so that we had spare seat between us. Bassinet might be more restricted by length than weight, we just hold our little one. Just request the bulkhead seats now, maybe go into a Thai office and request them, although we did this and still had them mess up initially on Heathrow check-in, had us spread around the aircraft, took a word with Thai customer service to sort out (very helpful). Worth getting to airport early and being one of first to check-in, in case the seats are allocated to others, so that means at least 3 hours before flight, you could try using the Royal Orchid priority check-in and say you have baby so didn't want to queue too long :-) The Thai are fairly sympathetic to babies.

Thanks for the replies and links. Can't see any restriction on length of parking in Short Term, so will do that and hope someone sleeps in the back for security

I'll post here again, after I get back.

... swiftly, back to packing etc.

I know this topic has been covered in various ways, over the past months, but wanted to get the latest info. I read that the max time in the short term parking is 24 days, but can't see that mentioned on the airport website. It's a convenience thing for me, will travel with a baby and don't want to hire a taxi to/from home - we don't live in Bangkok - just want to get in our Vigo, stop if/when we want and not be at the mercy of a Thai driver at the wheel of our taxi, bad enough having to deal with the others out on the road :-) When we return, a quick walk over the bridge and into our own vehicle. It will cost around 6,000 Bt, but is worth it, providing vehicle should be safe in the covered car park and we can park for 25/26 days. Any tips on where is most secure area, level to park?

I've been looking for organic (sweet) mangos and been unable to find them, has anyone seen any? Have tried places like Villa/Foodland/Central, as well as local market etc, but they don't have them. Asked several Thai friends and they have no idea, even the ones growing organic produce, they reckon just about all mango farms spray. I'm sure there are some that don't, so if anyone knows a farm, or market that has mango specifically organic, not just maybe organic, then be glad to get info.

Thanks.

Villa Market? They stock it in the Pattaya store, so I guess it would be in the Bangkok one.

Just as an aside, I have taken flaxseed oil before, but (after looking at facts) now consider it to be unhealthy to take in fats like this, worth checking sites like Dr Doug Graham's which seriously undermine the health claims for things like flaxseed.

One more suggestion for an excellent program Speed Download. I find it invaluable here in Thailand, as I'm using Edge via mobile connection, which is fairly slow and disconnects often. It enables the successful download of large files (eg 50Mb, 300Mb) which previously I could never manage.

I was using the version 4 on free trial, about to buy the version 5 ($25), think you can trial it for a week or month.

It is written for Mac

I'll support 1st Class Visa runs as being excellent. They are now running from The Queen Vic in Soi 6, although I think you can still book your run at Witherspoons until the end of September - sorry don't have a number to hand.

I've used a couple of other firms and for last 3 runs been with 1st Class.

Plus points for me are that they set off, on time, from The Queen Vic, without having a trip around Pattaya picking up passengers. Every driver so far has been safe (certainly by Thai standards). They show a couple of DVDs each way, with a short pee/fag/coffee break half way. The movie soundtracks play through personal wireless headsets, so you don't have to listen to a movie that you're not interested in. There are 6 large comfortable seats, so really no worries about being cramped, wherever you sit. The breakfast before and meal on return are added bonuses, that I don't use. I reckon it is worth paying the extra few hundred baht over some other companies to go with them.

+ 1 on the shop next to Foodland worth a try or the place opersite pattaya land

Being a heathen i just got a load of ikea 'seconds' from the big barn of a shop behind Big C pattaya nua.

With all due respect, I know the shop next to Foodland, and I feel it will fall far below the OP's requested standards.

As I said, Index on Sukhumvit has a large selection of quite pricey, quality dinnerware, some of it very nice. In fact I bought quite a bit there a few years ago and it set me back a bob or two.

But the best fine boneware china is in the major upmarket stores in Bangkok, and if that doesn't meet the Op's expectations then I doubt he will find it anywhere in LOS.

Would have agreed with you, but a few weeks ago the store was revamped and they have a few bone china services that are respectable. However, they are to order and I think they expect you to buy complete sets or multiple items, probably targeted at the classier hotel/restaurant trade. Worth taking a look I think.

patrickq, did you end up finding out more information about how to refuse vaccinations in Thailand, or did you get any personal experience with it in the meantime?

Still don't have definitive answers, but as Sheryl says I think they can be legally refused. As I understand it, the hospital may ask you to sign a form confirming your decision. We're hoping to have a homebirth, but this seems far more unusual in Thailand and it is very difficult to find a midwife, so we won't have to worry about an unrequested vaccination being given. However, if you're having a hospital birth I should be extremely careful, as I think there is a fair chance your wishes might be ignored, so you'll need someone else there to watch what goes on. I did read one comment saying that they would want to see vaccination certificate for child if you leave Thailand, which seemed very strange, so probably just an error, but still need to check this.

We visited Samitivej hospital to see facilities for having a natural/water birth and this inclined us even more to have a homebirth if possible ... seeing rows of newly borns lying in a room together, separated from their mum's, it was like some surreal scene from a futuristic sci-fi movie, where children are cloned and manufactured in a laboratory. At first, we thought these must be babies with problems, but 'no' they were all perfectly healthy and just being monitored, how far we have moved from having any understanding about what it is like to be born into this world, I find it tragic.

Thanks everyone, heading into Pattaya today, so will check out the one near Foodland first, as it sounds best and is much more convenient location for me. Will report back

One to definitely avoid is the AUTOGLYM one on Third Road, think this may be the one that has been suggested a couple of times, near the Carrefour back entrance turn-off.

It may be alright for a wash, but never, ever trust them to polish your car

Some months ago I had a full wax job done on the car and the idiots went and waxed the windscreen, so first time out at night a few days later when it rained, I could barely drive 20 KPH due to smearing.

I returned to them a few days later, the next time I'm in Pattaya and to cut a long story short decided to leave before I was thrown out. A polite request, to see what could be done about it, interested the moronic manager less than seeing how quickly he could turn nasty. All sweetness and light of course when you book the car in.

So, avoid at all costs unless you fancy the potential for fisticuffs with them.

I'd like to buy some art materials in Pattaya, preferably acrylic, but also considering oil/watercolour. Has anyone discovered sources for good quality materials?

HI I also want natural delivery but I am afraid to do it at home it is not most pleasant place for me since I am just a guest of my mom's what are my options??? I am now looked at in Bumrungrad where I delivered my first baby but with second one I really want it to be as soft and natural as it can be for me and my baby.

I've heard from a couple of sources that Samitivej is the best you'll find in Bangkok - for closest to a natural birth. So worth looking at I think, to see what you feel. When are you due?