TTom911

Why on earth would Thai authorities "kill" such a service an p... off the for Thailand most attractive repeat tourists they can imagine? That is a risk very close to zero, in my opinion. Even the Thai government understands that...

If one will always get the "privilege quality service", well, that may or may not be the case, impossible to predict and maybe better don't count 100% on that one, but as far s the visa service is concerned i don't believe that any Thai government will screw their paying elite visitors on that.

The only real risk I is if some "well-off visitors" venture out and misuse the system (like, conducting business without license/proper visa status/employment pass). But that would be those particular individuals personal screw-up, not a "system failure" and would lead to only these "visitors" possibly being denied visa's on renewal, if "something is wrong"... Just paying 500k will certainly not come with the permission for anyone to act at one's own discretion in Thailand, that's for sure (and fair, I guess... !). It will sure be expected that other rules are followed (again, conducting business with license/proper visa status/employment pass, etc.).

In 500k why not u get 16 years visa as a Student? no nees to go out from thailad at all

In 500k why not u get 16 years visa as a Student? no nees to go out from thailad at all

because it does not look cool if you pitch up at the school in your Mercedes, well above retirement age, with a beer belly, flip-flops and your 18+1day year old GF and then, after 10 of the 16 years still can't spell "sawadee..."

In 500k why not u get 16 years visa as a Student? no nees to go out from thailad at all

because it does not look cool if you pitch up at the school in your Mercedes, well above retirement age, with a beer belly, flip-flops and your 18+1day year old GF and then, after 10 of the 16 years still can't spell "sawadee..."

The Elite Card includes multi-entry visa as well?

Yes, OP, you would be correct. I read that same thread this morning and found it odd that people were trying to help this guy break the law. If an expat is working in Thailand, he/she must have a work permit. Does not matter if the work is related to Thailand or not. From the Thai Embassy website:

"Foreigners entering Thailand are not permitted to work, regardless of their type of visa, unless they are granted a work permit. Those who intend to work in Thailand must hold the correct type of visa to be eligible to apply for a work permit."

I don't think the above post is correct in this blanket kinda way...

Neither having checked the law nor being a lawyer, but common sense suggest that the deciding factor is if or if not you generate business in Thailand (i.e. have customers here) or interact in any other way commercially with Thai businesses (e.g. "hire" some people, here, even if freelance) or get paid into a Thai account.

In THAT CASE one would be regarded as doing business in Thailand and would have to comply with all the Thai regulations.

If however, which is perfectly possible with an online business, if ALL business activities have NO Thai connection (e.g. customers are in Europe, the US, Singapore, wherever, no Thai staff contractors are used AND NO MONEY IS PAID INTO ANY THAI ACCOUNT for ANY of the works, then in most countries this would NOT fall under "doing business in the country/Thailand". Then of course the (tax) rules of whatever other country the business activity is happening in would apply. Some tax man will always be waiting somewhere... !

But if it is really the case that you just happened to choose to conduct your completely "out-of-Thailand business" while sitting on a Thai beach with a laptop on your knees (like, as an example, doing "3D animation for Hollywood" or "AutoCAD design for UK architects"), then I doubt VERY much that any work permit is required, any company needs to be registered or any tax to be paid here. Just make sure there is really NO BUSINESS CONNECTION to Thailand in any way, and best have proof that you have a properly registered business for what you are doing in "that other country".

If there is any commercial business relationship with Thai customers or suppliers then of course all Thai laws would apply.

In doubt, check with the relevant authorities, of course...

as it looks I'll probably try the Logitech (http://www.invadeit.co.th/product/smartphone-tablet-accessories/logitech/ultrathin-keyboard-cover-for-ipad-p010255/) with some stickers via ebay

Hi.

I am considering to buy a Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the iPad Air, but that (like any other quality keyboard I am aware of) have an "English only" layout (with no Thai characters as well).

I used a few years back on a laptop some keyboards stickers to add Thai characters so that "the locals ;)" can also type.

Should work fine when used while the language settings are switched to Thai on the iPad!?

Next question would be where to get some good quality (e.g. 3M) stickers here that also fit the presumably smaller keys, smaller than a laptop for which these stickers are usually made...

Has anyone experience with that using the Logitech keyboard?

===

Well, otherwise someone might have to make due with a Windows Surface - saw one today for as little as 11.900 THB, INCL excellent bi-lingual keyboard (either the one with "real keys" (Type Cover) or the "flat one" one (Touch Cover), one can choose, either is included in the price!). Not bad for someone who mainly surfs the internet, does the odd email but likes a (Thai) keyboard when typing... (sorry for the "off topic remark" on the "Apple forum"..

What about being a programmer?

you must be joking..... the odds are 99.99% against you

Better to err on the side of caution, but it does seem like the situation is escalating. Maybe time for a trip outside of Thailand for a while.

45 minutes from the Laos Border... Staying put in Udon, but my gal is flying into Bangkok in 6 days (Don Mueang). She had her tickets since last month. I sure am worried about traffic..but she is staying close to Don Mueang. Prison visit for a relative. Flies in at 10am and leaves by 5pm.

Should we cancel ???? It is a twice a year deal where she gets to hug her daughter in the prison.

are u f.... serious???

I sometimes buy DVD's on Sukhumvit and will overhear the guy charging the other foreigner 100 baht, Indians 120 baht, per DVD, while I get one for 80 baht.

Then again I've been told Thais get one for 50 baht but have never witnessed that at that particular spot.

yeah, that's a very clever example... as all together we rip (literally) off someone else... not much to complain for anyone paying "a little more" in THIS case, right...?!

It is a clever example because it encompasses a lot of the examples and reasons given in the posts so far: charge extra because a person is not Thai, charge extra because a person is a tourist not a person working here (which they know that I do), charging extra because one doesn't like a certain person (rude curt Indians), charging extra because the buyer is ignorant of the price etc.

Now when a rude Indian interrupts while I am talking with the vendor and just cuts in between (which is how it usually goes), then yeah, I will be the last to point out to him that he is being overcharged.

No, its a BAD example, because in that case the buyer and seller informally agreed already that ripping someone off is perfectly fine. Why else would one buy a ripped DVD otherwise (I am not pointing fingers, I am guilty myself sometimes...). But once we agree to that rule then it's plain silly to complain that the other guys just was cleverer in playing that card...

I sometimes buy DVD's on Sukhumvit and will overhear the guy charging the other foreigner 100 baht, Indians 120 baht, per DVD, while I get one for 80 baht.

Then again I've been told Thais get one for 50 baht but have never witnessed that at that particular spot.

yeah, that's a very clever example... as all together we rip (literally) off someone else... not much to complain for anyone paying "a little more" in THIS case, right...?!

my experience is that the more the product you are looking to buy is "normal everyday Thai local stuff" the more likely you as a farang will be charged fairly the same (low) Thai local price. Most of the vendors who sell such goods are "normal decent people", feel almost honored that a farang buys their local goods and would feel ashamed ripping someone of just because he is a farang. That is (NOT only because its cheap !!) the truly existing "land of smiles" kinda Thailand.

The more the products caters for tourists or the more "upmarket" the goods are, the steeper the "extra" will be you have to pay (unless you have Thai "companion" with you, who "speak on your behalf", then you MAY have a better chance).

Bottom line:

- buy noodles around the corner or at the local market and in 99% you pay what everyone else pays, no more

- go and build a fancy swimmingpool... and you WILL pay extra as a farang...

my experience is that the more the product you are looking to buy is "normal everyday Thai local stuff" the more likely you as a farang will be charged fairly the same (low) Thai local price. Most of the vendors who sell such goods are "normal decent people", feel almost honored that a farang buys their local goods and would feel ashamed ripping someone of just because he is a farang. That is (NOT only because its cheap !!) the truly existing "land of smiles" kinda Thailand.

The more the products caters for tourists or the more "upmarket" the goods are, the steeper the "extra" will be you have to pay (unless you have Thai "companion" with you, who "speak on your behalf", then you MAY have a better chance).

Bottom line:

- buy noodles around the corner or at the local market and in 99% you pay what everyone else pays, no more

- go and build a fancy swimmingpool... and you WILL pay extra as a farang...

the whole "blood donation system" functions in essence on the basis of "mutual solidarity" where the objective is that, while "your" donation is given to someone else, someone else would have donated if "you" would needed it. Rather than "storing blood as a service" for individual use. But to keep such "solidarity based systems" going is not easy for a host of reasons. In some parts of the world it works well, in others it does not so well. Hence all the "many words" in this forum to raise awareness and instill a bit of motivation...

thats my point. even if thailand had a decent system, my O- would still be a problem by the look of it.

still, as the saying goes: "many drops make an ocean"... and if potential donors would see the faces of the real people who REALLY need it, they would see what a difference they can make with very little effort...

the whole "blood donation system" functions in essence on the basis of "mutual solidarity" where the objective is that, while "your" donation is given to someone else, someone else would have donated if "you" would needed it. Rather than "storing blood as a service" for individual use. But to keep such "solidarity based systems" going is not easy for a host of reasons. In some parts of the world it works well, in others it does not so well. Hence all the "many words" in this forum to raise awareness and instill a bit of motivation...

Blood consists of a variety of different "valuable assets" ("liquid" and "cells" in the blood) and donated blood would normally be "processed" to separate these "assets" and use/store them separately as needed.

- "red blood cells" which make blood look red and carry oxygen can be frozen in a special process and be kept for up to around a year

- "platelets" are blood cells which help to stop bleeding and are often needed by severely ill cancer/leukemia patients can effectively be used only for less than a week

- "granulocytes" are blood cells which help fight infections and are often needed by cancer/leukemia and other severely ill patients can effectively only be used for a day and hence are used only in highly specialized hospitals

- "fresh frozen plasma" is the "blood liquid without the cells" and contains chemicals helping to control bleedings and can be kept for apt to around a year.

So, we see that one single donation will usually help more than 1 patient in often dire need...

I would say "yes" if you feel you want to do something good. We all see here now that some patients really have "a problem" with their rare blood type...A healthy person can easily donate blood minimum once, also no problem to donate twice per year, but to be on the safe side you might want to have a basic health check done first.

I personally never had any health problems myself in my life, feel being in good health and hence I just donated without a checkup. But that was my personal choice (also, being an MD myself). See a doctor first, if you want to be on the safe side !

.

Being an O- myself it always make me feel sad when I read requests for Rh negative blood

Decades go I received blood. This alone factors me out as a donnor.

Now I am a diabetic with CHF under heavy medication.

Before I set out try and clarify some further "blood donation myths/misunderstandings", including some in khrab's post, I want to make clear that these clarifications do not intend to instill a sense of "heightened responsibility" or even "guilt" into anyone. Everyone must be free to make his/her own decisions, which may include not to donate for some personal reasons. My only intention is that my clarification helps people to make BETTER INFORMED decisions.

With that being said:

If an O- recipient (like khrab) got a transfusion decades ago this in itself does BY NO MEANS prevents such a person per se from becoming/remaining a blood donor. While people with blood type "O-" are "perfect donors" because in an emergency their blood can be given to anyone (hence "O-" called "universal DONORS"), these people, who are such immunologically such "perfect donors", if they need blood themselves are in a tough spot because they can only be given the exact same blood type, "O-". Because of this, if a person like khrab received blood decades ago it will certainly have been an exactly matching "O-" blood transfusion. And unless the donated blood was infected with things like hepatitis or HIV (which is unlikely a this would have become transparent after so many years) THERE IS NO REASON why such an "O-" person with a transfusion history could not be a donor today !!!

Also, diabetes by itself is NOT a reason to be excluded as a blood donor. But it has to be checked on an individual basis if the diabetic patient is healthy enough or has developed risks for his own health (heart diseases, etc.) which could put him at further risk if blood would be donated. But if diabetes is well managed most such diabetics would in most developed countries be eligible for blood donations !

Hope it helps to shed some light on a matter which many (even some doctors.......) confuses. Yes, too much logic can be confusing...

P.S.: given the length of the post already I refrain from explaining, but I just mention that while an "O-" person is the "universal DONOR", on the other side a person with "AB+" is called a "universal RECIPIENT" as these lucky fellas can get any blood there is ... (broadly speaking)

I don't know why either, but the mother was asked, in Thai, and the question rephrased in different ways to be sure she understood why she was being asked, whether she was certain that the doctors could not use O- or A- (the types which would seem to match in my household), and she said she has asked him many times, because many people had been calling wanting to help with those blood types but he had said no. Medically why that would be, I have no idea, not being a doctor, just someone with a basic college bio education. Perhaps if someone were to call the hospital itself and ask the medical staff in charge, the answer could be confirmed and explained better?

As Sheryl pointed out in her previous post, the serious issue ("serious" because it s really beyond our control) is that "rh-" or "-" is very rare in Asia (99% are rh+ (NOT suitable for you), less than1% are rh- (which is what you need)). In Europe and the US it's a little better (around 15% are rh- as opposed to 1% here). I am just trying to give you some facts to help you understand what people are talking about (sorry, I know that "answers" would be even better that "facts" for a patient/relatives in need, I know that...).

Absolutely surely, it does not HAVE to be "AB-" !! I explained in my post, Sheryl added further to it. The biggest hurdle is that the donor HAS to be "rh-", unfortunately very rare here in Asia... But if any donor is available who is "rh-", he/she could help big time, weather the donor is A or B or AB or O, it does not matter too much, it has a good chance to work with an AB recipient.

Bottom line: anyone who is "rh-" (whether it is A or B or AB or (best) O), whatever, should donate and the doctors should consider it, in particular in emergency situations !!

Honestly hoping for the best !

An AB- patient can receive A neg, B neg, AB neg and O neg blood.

The problem is that RH negative is very rare in Asians.

I have no idea why the doctors would be saying it has to be AB neg.

A neg blood has the A antigen, which an AB negative patient also has, so no problem.

B neg blood has the B antigen, ditto

O has no antigens as poster above explained.

There is no reason why it HAS to be "AB-", as simple as that... other than $$$$$$.......

fingers x-ed and hoping for the best for the little patient

Yes, while an exact blood type match is always preferred (and while a clear mismatch is NEVER allowed when it comes to transfusion/transplantation) O negative can be given to anyone, in particular if it is a case of serious emergency where NOT get getting any transfusion carries big risks (as it seems the case here). I am an MD, but I of course don't know the specifics which makes other doctors at the hospital may make to think differently... Hope they have a VERY good reason...

Background:

Blood carries "stuff" (antigens, i.e. blood groups A/B/AB/rh+) which makes people who don't have the same "stuff" (antigens) in their own body/blood fight it badly if they receive "stuff" which their own body does not know (rejection).

But donors with blood type "O-" means they "have nothing" (they dont have A, dont have B, and dont have AB and they also dont have rh). That means "they ((O- donors) have nothing to fight against" if their blood is given to donors of a different blood group.

This is just the short version, google for details, but it reflects the essence. In case of an emergency I would happily take O- myself (myself being B+)

As far as I can see here you have two options:

1) Fight, kick, scream, consult laywers, private investigators, and lose even more money on them, have sleepless nights, perform an emotional rollercoaster ride from hope to despair to "perhaps and maybe tomorrow", feel deepest sorrow, have highest hopes and finally suffer defeat.

2) Hold your head high, cut your losses, walk away and start a new life.

Third option would be to put a bullet in your head or jump off a cliff, but I hope you are clever enough to not do it for your son's sake who will - eventually - try to find you when he grows up. Then, for him it will be better to visit a living dad that was unable to spend a good portion of his life with, instead of a tombstone.

Believe me - been there, done all that, it's not just some brainless babble, it is life experience I share here with you, even though it might be ridiculed by some members here. But there, it's up to you to separate the wheat from the chaff...

Good luck and all the best to you!

If things are as they seem (from what you wrote) then catweazle's "option 2" may unfortunately well be the best advise (if there is anything like "best" at all in such case...). It would probably be the best for YOU personally and your own sanity in such case, as there is a HUGE chance that any "fighting" will only lead to some sort of escalation with an even worse outcome - here in Thailand even more so.

The drama of course is that a child is involved and that makes it really a tough call... Here unfortunately only you can decide if there is really an honest chance for an amicable resolution, as unlikely as it looks, which would be worth the risk of being dragged into a possibly very unpleasant tit-for-tat.

But if you "do something" it is paramount to keep a very COOL HEAD, as hard as that is, of course. It's important for your own sanity, dignity and your own protection, being a "farang in Thailand..." ! `You really need a cool head to properly realize what is going on around you in such situation. Talking to someone you trust, instead of becoming caught in one's own "circle of thoughts" might be helpful. Helpful to be able to step back every once in a while and do some "reality checking" and see if there is some progress along the way, or if the time has come at some point for "option 2"if you think you can't resort to option 2 just yet...

Good luck

without going over the top (in terms of costs and "procedures"), but getting a private investigator to establish some basic facts about the whereabouts etc. is probably very prudent, also as a precaution before things (hopefully not, but who would know) might get even more difficult. And probably a good idea to keep quiet about what you find out so that people don't "change tactics". At least this way you are not totally at the mercy of people who by would only talk to you if they want something from you... GOOD LUCK

P.S.: But also be careful not to really "spook" your wife and her family (of course they should never know of a private investigator). I heard from others (luckily not my experience) that Thai families can get pretty irrational if they have nothing better to do than to ganging up against a "disposed of farang". Dependent on the people involved, an aspect not to take too lightly !