flyingdoc

R.I.P the fiancee. Sad affair all round.

Not only can tinted windows cause a problem at night, but more so the soft light policy in Thailand. Only 1% of cars have bright lighting one would expect in Europe, and often it is difficult to even ascertain whether headlights are switched on or not ! Then there are all the others as mentioned with inadequate lights or none at all, driving or riding on the wrong side of the road just to take a short cut to their turn-off, animals on the road and a myriad of other hazards!

R.I.P.

I always use Agoda, and have nothing but praise for them. They usually offer prices lower than the hotels themselves, and a mass at an extra 50% off on Fridays!

Totally arbitrary now as I see it! For someone who comes to LOS quite often and never stays more than 30 days, could pass straight through at Suvarnabhumi yet be grilled at such places

as Phuket, who seem to have their won agenda!

As Ubonjoe remarks, the whole issue is riddled in ambiguity and confusion. Even those people who have never stepped a foot out of place but come to Thailand quite often on a Visa exempt

30 days, are now being challenged with monotonous frequency; not at Suvarnabhumi but at entry airports like Phuket. Why? The idea for limiting a number of entries within a 6 month or

12 month period was scrapped some time ago, but is being implemented by some immigration officials on a completely arbitrary basis. For what reason? If the persons concerned are retired, they cannot be accused of working in LOS, surely?!! On the one hand LOS is always wanting to increase tourism and its related income, then on the other hand they are making certain entries feel most uncomfortable.

Some superb ideas emerging at last !!!

I agree! Windyty features more!

Not only escalators but lifts too! My last hotel had a maintenance certificate clearly posted - valid until Dec. 2007 !

Puggaddon, I know that you are intelligent! Of course you are allowed to talk nonsense from time to time!

Errant mathematics somewhere!!

How tragic! Such a beautiful area.

I didn't think that any Thai issued sim cards lasted for a year? Maximum of 4 months nowadays, and many only a month?

What about the capital sum method?

Take the ferry from Koh Phangan to Donsak and the minibus to Surat Thani then the direct flight to K.L. No problem at all ! Far cheaper too ! 1600 hrs flight with Air Asia.

When someone in my family had their passport stolen, they obtained a replacement within a week, through the efforts of the British Consul, who helped in every way.

Mud and straw buildings are commonplace in places like Ukraine and can last well, giving the option of external cladding at a later date, or I suggest you go to one of the banks, such as Kasikorn, and ask them for lists of their repossessed properties. Otherwise you will get a house you will be disappointed with and not even reach your specifications!

Puggagddon,

You talk a lot of sense and I agree with you in principle!

Ubonjoe, advice is needed!

Unlike other arrival points in LOS, Phuket decided to give several people the third degree on arriving on an international flight. In most cases, they were querying why the passport holders were wanting to come to Thailand so often, despite the fact that no-one had got any overstays or had any problems previously. I thought that the 'many Visa exempt stamps' within 6 months idea had NOT been implemented, only talked about? Why this sudden change of attitude and why only at Phuket? No-one was working or wanting to work in Thailand, and some were well beyond retirement age!

PDaz and HooHaa have hit the nail on the head!

What a really cynical lot of replies - some of you should be ashamed of yourselves/

I agree that the research is flawed, and as a Medic, would you want it to employ double blind protocols?!!!

However, the trend that has been identified, is actually correct in essence, and will continue in this direction, until attitudes with SOME of Thai males changes! The initial stigma will be overcome

more and more readily as middle class Thais have their horizons broadened and see the world for what it is !

I take my exchange rates from Exchange Bureaux charging no commission, then one knows exactly where one stands!

You cannot run a profitable airline with so many freebies being handed out. End of story !

Just how big is big?

I have certainly found English is spoken less and less in the 30 + years I have been coming to Thailand. The main problem appears to be employing non-native speakers who are often unintelligible themselves!

Bendare!

Why not a good surveyor, particularly an official one from the local area?