bangkok19

I thought it was something we were used to! I just walk away from the 'refusing' taxi driver and hail the next one. I actually had a win once... got in a taxi from Swampy to go to Sukhumvit Soi 19 during the '2014 Blockade'... driver quoted me 500 Baht which I accepted because I knew of the traffic schmozzle we were going to encounter when we got closer to downtown e.g. Asoke Intersection closed. Tollway was as slow as... He got off and ended up on Petchburi Rd and turned left into Sukhumvit Soi 3. He kept the meter running (for whatever reason) and as we turned left from Soi 3 to take the zig zag back way to Soi 19 the meter was showing 560 Baht... the driver was getting quite angry... at the last part of the backway between Soi's 15 and 19 he drove down the wrong side of the Soi then got stuck facing oncoming traffic! Meter was showing well over 600. I slipped him the 500 note (we agreed on) and disembarked with my small bag... laughing all the way to the Honey Hotel.

YES ! You aren't a structural engineer. In fact, quite often when a Forum member here makes a completely sensible post, Diamond Member LIVERPOOL LOU is the first one to his keyboard to ridicule the post... usually a snide 'one sentence' comment without any basis.

Since EMIRATES stopped doing the SYD-BKK route I've been flying TG Business. I did notice last month that the staff are actually "trying" to be better. The flight attendants went up to each individual passenger (in the business section) and thanked them (by their name) for 'coming back' to THAI. I thought that was a nice touch. For my choice of seating... I just chose the seat on their website after purchasing the ticket. What I didn't like was the breakfast's MUSHROOM OMELETTE... which was just the old SPANISH OMELETTE rebranded. Powdered eggs????????

I tend to disagree... I applied for my current tourist visa ONLINE first time ever. I found the whole experience simple and fast. I got the 'approval' within 12 hours and the following day I trotted into the Sydney Consulate with my Passport, filled-out Application form with Reference number. Re the Immigation on arrival at Swampy last month... all they wanted to see was my Passport and boarding pass.... so, don't leave your boarding pass in the seat pocket on the plane!

A nice little sidewalk along there would be nice... unpleasant walking along there at present getting splashed by cars close by when it is raining.

I remember when they built (what is now) The Hilton Millenium Hotel on the Chao Phraya River. It was originally going to be a Sofitel Hotel. For a couple of years it stood there empty. One afternoon I was having a few beers in THE BAARN, an old (long gone) Bar in Patpong 1. I was talking to an engineer who was working on the (then) construction of the Baiyoke Tower, the tall bldg with the turret skywalk. He was teling me the Sofitel on the River has been officially "condemned" because of unstable footings/foundations. A few days later I took a ferry across the River, and the ferry exit up to the main road went right past the "condemned bldg. There were already cracks in the concrete walls at ground level. An accident waiting to happen? The building stood empty for quite a while. Some time later (maybe 1 year) I was doing a Dinner Cruise along the river at night and as we cruised passed the hotel I could see lights on in some of the rooms. Long story short.. it was supposedly repaired and rendered 'safe' for habitation and rebranded The Hilton Millenium. These days when I'm having a quiet Chardy up in the 360 Bar, looking around at all the 'other' construction... my mind wanders back to the late 90's and what I'm sitting above. There are strict regulations regarding building height v ground level footings sq metres. The engineer was telling me that (because of unsafe ground subsidence in Greater Bangkok) the lower floors (at ground level and below) have to have a greater area (sq m) as well as depth (foundation /footings) in relation to building height. When you look at that building, (Baiyoke) your attention is drawn to the height... however the bottom floors take up a very large area. Which reminds me of a new Apartment bldg completed early this year in the Ratchadapisek area, very close to the new Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. It's close to 32 levels and built on a very small block. Neighbours tell me it's development application was continually knocked back until one day... the concrete mixer trucks turned up. Payments involved????? Me hopes the building doesn't come down during the upcoming APEC Conference across the road... not a good look!

Last month at Sydney Airport TG Check-in I was asked to show my Covid Travel Cert. with the large QR Code... she just looked at it, nodded her head, and proceeded to tag my bags. At Swampy Airport the only contact with any officialdom was Immigration... all they looked at was my Passport and boarding Pass (no more Arrival/Departure card),,,, the quickest I've ever been through Swampy ever!

Probably the 2 greatest fears I have when staying in BKK are being involved in a road accident or a fire. I can remember seeing the FIRST HOTEL (Petchburi Rd) fire back in the mid 80's and it left me shaken for a few days. Then a few years later (around '91) just up the road at the intersection near the overpass, a rigid table top truck with a transi-tank of LP gas collided with the safety barrier sending the tank down onto the road below exploding and spraying the cars and bikes (waiting at the intersection) with burning liquid propane. Around 80+ deaths there. And I was in Soi Cowboy celebrating NYE when we heard news of the Santika nightclub fire in the early hours. It, of course dominated all the newspapers for the next few months... the blame game. When staying at a hotel ANYWHERE in Thailand I check where the fire exits are and hopefully there's a fire exit map on the back of my room's door. It's a bit of a worry when your room is directly above the hotel's Coffee Shop/Restaurant. It appears over the years LESSONS AREN'T LEARNT. The authorities "knee-jerk" reaction to anything is 'over-regulation' to everything... but the enforcement is quickly forgotten (until next time).

Surely it's wise to have some form of Health Insurance.. who knows, you could end up having an 'unplanned' stay at the Bumrungrad Hotel Hospital. Accidents are never on our planned holiday intineraries!

Just apply for a Non Immigrant O-A Visa (1 year) and leave after your 6 months. Just remember to do your 90 day report.

QANTAS were keeping their telephoning customers on 'hold' for 4 hours+ and then disconnecting in recent months. Dunno whether things have improved or not. You don't hear much about it now... although Alan Joyce (CEO) has announced that he's giving all the staff that he didn't sack (during the peak of the Covid lockdowns) a $5,000 bonus each for the 'inconvenience'.

I'm a tad over 65yo and recently had my jab #4 plus the flu shot. Methinks it'll be wise to keep my mask (at hand) to wear on the train and crowded station and supermarket... there are so many people coughing around me. Probably the flu, who knows? When I'm in BKK in 3 weeks time I'm doing the same, even though the temperature will be 20 degrees warmer than here in Oz.

Get onto Ebay and look up BONVIT Soy drink powder. It's 100% dehulled Soya Beans and you can mix it with either milk or water. It's about $10 per half-kilo bag and tastes great once you're used to it. Dissolves easy in the liquid as well. I've been on it since the 80's.. excellent source of Protein

Thanks mate... She has Oz Passport, OZ Drivers Licence.. Guess we'll just get the IDP and carry photocopy of Passport as well as original Oz licence. She's driving in rural Thailand in the daytime and doesn't drink so the chances of a problem are miniscule me thinks. Cheers!

My Thai wife (with an Aussie passport in her married name) will be driving her sister's car in rural Thailand for 6 months later this year. She wants to get an "International" drivers licence but it would have to be in her married name to match her Oz drivers licence obviously. However, her Thai ID card is in her maiden name. Question is .. Does she really need an "International" drivers licence to drive in rural Thailand? If she was 'pulled over' she would show her Thai ID and cops would assume she is Thai citizen driving without a licence. She doesn't want to change her Thai ID to her married name. I've told her to forget the Int. Licence and just cop the fine (if she was to be pulled over). Are you's with me?

I found that applying for the Tourist visa online was quite a satisfying (if I can use that word) experience.. especially getting the visa approval less than 24 hours later. It has sort've streamlined the service! With the Tourist Visa application, they never asked for proof of address here in my home country. They used to always want a copy of my Drivers Licence. Also, they never asked for proof of confirmed accomodation (in Thailand) which I had to do in the past. I uploaded a copy of my plane ticket but I don't recall being asked which form of entry i.e. land, sea or air.... just a confirmed ticket.

I think my OCD may have contributed to me getting through the worst of the COVID period unscathed. When I dine out I hate seeing a fingerprint on my knife, or sitting at the table with upright wine-glasses there (gathering airborne dust and germs). I never dry the dishes with a kitchen tea-towel, rather I'll use a paper towel. I always have the banknote$ in my wallet with the denomination in the top RH cnr. When I lock doors, I have to go back and check I've locked them a minute later. I always wash my hands (discreetly) after shaking hands with someone. I always leave the toilet roll with a square or two hanging down (from the roll) to make it easier for the next person to grab. I always leave the toilet seat DOWN (when I've finished) in case the next person is female or ?????? Framed pictures hanging on the wall MUST be straight, I get irritated if they're not and must straighten them, either at home or elsewhere... Plus I have many many more peculiarities. Call me a "germophobe", "neat", "considerate", "fastidious" person.. others close to me say OCD!

With airlines prices skyrocketing, it would not surprise me if Premium Economy will cost the same as 'Business' did a cuppla years ago. Business fares (currently) have become obscene.

Wow! That's great news.... hopefully it's the same 'route' they stopped back in June 2019, i.e. Christchurch / Sydney / Bangkok / Dubai / London. Loved the A380 Bar, great way to meet people, make the flight time go faster and by standing up at the bar... a sure-fire way to reduce the chances of getting D.V.T. A fantastic feeling whilst standing at the bar on your umpteenth glass of Red, the P.A. announces for you to return to your seats.. we're about to descend to BKK airport. Time flies when you're having fun! Dammit.. I'm flying TG next month.

What's the earliest I can apply for my ThaiPass before my arrival date? Call me cautious but I want to allow a bit of time for any stuff-ups or delays.

My Doc gave me a referral for the appropriate blood tests, the results were what we were expecting... She then signed and stamped the Medical Certificate. It's not a big deal. Try another doctor.

Whatever.... Other people may have had different experiences, some may think I sent unnecessary or wrong documents but I got my visa approved the day after I uploaded the (so called) wrong documents and after submitting my passport to the local Consulate, I picked up the passport with visa sticker 3 days later.

I prefer the O-A as I don't want to stuff around with 'officialdom' once I arrive in the Kingdom. (except for the 90 day report).

On the Non Imm OA ONLINE Application they ask for BOTH... if you don't upload the Foreign Ins. Certificate you are unable to 'submit'. (I never tried uploading the one Policy Certificate in BOTH categories as I didn't want to take the chance)... It's worth noting that the 'text' on the F.I.C. is arranged very similar to the actual Policy Certificate. The Thai Insurer had no qualms about adding the 3 names, signatures and rubber stamp... and I have my Visa now so I'm happy. The (e-visa) online platform also means I didn't have to supply certified copies of original documents. They've definitely simplified the process....

I had the same problem with Medibank Private Health Insurance Company in Sydney. They said that they don't sign anything (and don't have a rubber stamp). I went with a Thai Insurance company on the Consulate website list. They were good and their price was similar to the Sydney price. After payment they email you the Insurance Policy Certificate. You then copy the details from the emailed Certificate to the FOREIGN INSURANCE CERTIFICATE, scan and email it to the Thai Insurance company. They will add the 3 names and signatures and rubber stamp it. Then they'll email it back to you. Submit both forms on the online OA VISA application.