Hugh Jarse

Official closing in CM is 11pm for Thai bars, mid-night for tourist bars.

Been that way since the new Mayor took office.

RUBBISH

The time on the license is 1am

So legally its 1am but of course if the cops tell a bar owner to close at 12 they have to but it ain't legal since their license clearly states the times of closing.

Sunday tonight and all will be back to normal

I beg to differ, but closing time is when the policeman at your door says it is.

(Unless you want your bar mysteriously burnt to the ground with you in it.)

...'burnt to the ground' What evidence do you have to support this?

What a ridiculous farce. Does this man really believe that we buy this crap!

He doesn't care what we think, but he does expect ALL Thais to accept what he says, sadly many will.

I think that the vast majority of Thai people believe him to be a 'loose cannon' and they will never forget the shocking scenario involving his son at the 20 20 club, c.10 years ago, in Bangkok and how the latter walked away from justice.

Route restructuring and, as you say, not having onward destinations or 'fly-through' options at BKK, changes the whole game. Air France/KLM totally reworked their global schedules around this time last year to the same effect that BKK is now a turnaround destination and the BKK-CDG and BKK-AMS flights are both daylight flights. Could also be to be more competitive with the mid-east based carriers on certain time slots and get flyers away from those lucrative stopovers that Qatar, Emirates and the others enjoy.

The downside is no more cheap as chips local hops on big, empty planes to Saigon, Phnom Penh or Taipei. Swiss dropped their Singapore hops ages ago and AFAIK, only Ethiopian, Egypt Air (daily), Royal Jordanian and Lufthansa do Kuala Lumpur these days but Turkish (daily) filled the gap when Lufthansa dropped Saigon after they went to 3-days/week FRA-BKK.

TG will be maintaining their 2 London flights for now and next Fall will have the A380 on one of those flights so that should soak up any of the dischuffed BA fliers... unless they are THAI haters of course.

I can't say the '5PM rush hour' argument holds much water when there's also a 7AM one (once you clear Immigration and Customs). I use the KLM route and find leaving BKK late morning and arriving in ABZ same evening (totally avoiding LHR) is easier.

Never flown into London.

But was wondering if the rush hour would still be in effect by the time you collect your baggage and clear customs and immigration?

Yes it is! The tubes (underground trains) are now packed throughout the day in and out of Heathrow as indeed all over the network in London. One of the most unpleasant modes of transport in the UK with poorly designed carriages, little room for baggage and poorly ventilated.Also, poor value for money and watch out you dont arrive at an underground station, such as Victoria,(in central London) where there is not even an escalator to take you (your baggage, prams, wheelchairs etc) up to the main station concourse).

Try one of the swimming pool suppliers shops.

Presumably they will also be closed this month on Friday 24th May (Visakha Bucha Day)?

Presumably Immigration Offices at the airports will be open for re-entry permits, on these dates?

Good idea to ask about competent lawyers. A long time ago I had to deal with the transfer of a land lease on behalf of the daughter of a friend who had health issues and died suddenly. I took some time to ask various Thai business people for recommendations. I settled on a particular lawyer and proceeded. Whilst I am in no way implying that he he was negligent, all I can say is that the case is still in process over 12 years later. In the early days I tried to question him about his strategy, but was firmly told that it was none of my business (and I was paying his fees), I felt like a schoolboy in front of the headmaster.

Trouble with Thai professionals is that they seem to live in some sort of ivory castle and have no need to communicate with the peasants. At least my experience and these day I have little confidence in any Thai lawyers. I wish you the best of luck.

See my response below.

Good idea to ask about competent lawyers. A long time ago I had to deal with the transfer of a land lease on behalf of the daughter of a friend who had health issues and died suddenly. I took some time to ask various Thai business people for recommendations. I settled on a particular lawyer and proceeded. Whilst I am in no way implying that he he was negligent, all I can say is that the case is still in process over 12 years later. In the early days I tried to question him about his strategy, but was firmly told that it was none of my business (and I was paying his fees), I felt like a schoolboy in front of the headmaster.

Trouble with Thai professionals is that they seem to live in some sort of ivory castle and have no need to communicate with the peasants. At least my experience and these day I have little confidence in any Thai lawyers. I wish you the best of luck.

I would suggest you rent rather than buy anything in Phuket There is just so much monkey business in the property sector that you could come unstuck and as a foreigner you are not regarded too highly by lawyers and spivs alike!.

In my experience you have to state what the money is for BEFORE you transfer money from the UK. Bank of Thailand requirement. Suspect it is sloppy administration on the part of Bangkok Bank.

30K is a large amount, they may have put a temporary block on it and you may need to explain to the bank what it is for etc..

This happened to a friend of mine some time back (also from UK) but with Kasikorn Bank, and he just told them it was for a condo purchase and they released it right away (instantly).

It may be something to do with money laundering regulations.

Maybe others have experienced this..

And which company built this pool? They deserve to be custard-pied, put mildly.

Problem solved. Just get a pair of THESE Speedos and tell them to f*** off.

These baggy old things look like Victorian bloomers!

A simple authenticator (either as a keyring device or as a free app on your smartphone) will do the trick. Add biometrics if you're paranoid.

- Something you have

- Something you know

- Something you are

One of my banks have them, but if you lose it, have it stolen, or it gets broken, you're in some trouble.

No, you simply get a new one.

Great. I'm sure you do get a new one.

How do you get a new one when your bank is in Russin/UK/America/Europe etc and you are on holiday on Phuket for 10 nights????????

How do you get your money out for your holiday?

Even if someone is back home and gets your post and gives you the code over the phone, you are still waiting 3 days to access your money.

Good point, suggest you get travelllers cheques as a back-up and ideally a second or third ATM account, as well as a cash reserve.

Agree with Anto, 800 is the cheapest deal anywhere. Why not consider a 125cc Wave or similar. Good fun for the Samoeng Loop and to Pai and back.

Low pressure here too in Nong Kwai. Sounds like there is massive water leakage under ground there in K 9. What does the management say when you report this? Would be interested as friends thinking of moving there.

ha ha yea my wife for sure will be there with me, but i need a copy of her ID too, i just wanted to be sure they hadent tagged any more requirements on to the existing ones as last year they added family photos and map of where my house is.

We were asked also to prove that the marriage was subsisting (genuine) and had to sign a statement to that effect. Apparantly this office is /was concerned about a number of bogus renewal applications for Non O s based on marriage.

Try The Atlanta, at the bottom end of Soi 2 Sukhumvit, very family friendly, with a pool and travel shop.

I want to clarify that I don't actually find any objection to being charged for a PROFESSIONAL consultation being done in a professional manner by a well qualified medical professional. Such a consultation should not be limited to a price quote, it should include an individual evaluation of the patient and their suitability for the procedure in question. A doctor's visit isn't the same as going to an auto mechanic.

I have no idea what would have followed if I indicated to the Doc that I was interested in having the procedure done at B-P hospital. At the clinic where I will have it done, I was administered an electrocardiogram and have had to submit a blood test. But, as I said, for the 750 baht I was charged at B-P, the Doc never left his chair and did nothing but look at me from his chair.

A shocking story and having such an obnoxious doctor deal with a simple enquiry, You MUST report this to senior management of the hospital. Hope you have a Thai friend who can help you with this . I have heard far worse stories about this hospital chain.

Yes. Substitution for Chakri Day (April 6).

Full list here:

http://www.bot.or.th/English/FinancialInstitutions/FIholiday/Pages/2556.aspx

-Mestizo

Thanks for this, most useful.

It's not that hard if you think about it. The ugliest woman (or man) in Thailand has got to be totally repulsive period.

But, then beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

If she is confident enough, especially if she speaks reasonable English, then there is no reason why she should have any problems. If she can't read English and so can't follow the signs, just tell her to follow everyone else!

However, if she is not confident enough to do this alone, most airlines are more than willing to meet a passenger off the flight and escort them through immigration and customs until they meet you; some will do this for free, some will charge.

When my wife's sister, who speaks virtually no English, visited us she flew direct with EVA and they did this for free.

She should ask for it when purchasing the ticket and confirm when checking in.

Whether on her own or escorted, she should carry the supporting documents from her visa application in her hand baggage as well as your mobile number, just in case she is stopped and questioned.

Edit:

If she is questioned by immigration, remembner what theoldgit said to you here when you asked if she could stay longer than the 4 weeks she said she would be in her application

You will probably be aware that a visa doesn't give the holder automatic entry into the UK, the IO at the UK Border will still need to be satisfied that the visit is genuine and that the holder will leave the UK within the length of the visa. The IO could well ask for sight of return tickets, though she is not required to hold them when entering, she could also be asked for the reason and duration of the trip and even her ties in Thailand, if the IO believed there was a material change since the visa was applied for, or indeed the visa was obtained fraudulently, ie say she was returning to work in four weeks when she had no intention of doing so, then entry could be refused, the IO has the facility to pull up the original application. I have to say that this is a worst case scenario, but it could happen, chances are it wouldn't.

Try and be at the airport to meet her and if she encounters any difficulties with Immigration Officials, ensure she gives them your cell phone number ,so they can call you for clarification.

There is a Swimming pool Forum, full of useful information from people who have built pools, the problems encountered and other input. Check this out before proceeding any further. Next, talk to the major contractors and then view their workmanship during and after construction. The cheapist quote is never the best! Good luck.

Yes and no, I noticed today there was a paper outside the office about residency certificate which ended with: no fee have to be paid. It also said it can be done at police stations and the tourist police office. There is no such thing as cashier stamp for this certificate anyway because it is a free document.

I have to come back to pick mine up on 11 april, one of the most crowdy days, for my residency certificate needed for a yellow book.

I wonder why?

Good news to hear this and that the Tourist/ Police can also issue these. Do you have to fill in a form, if so where can this be obtained beforehand?

Thank you .

This would be major cluster fk.Other than that I like the Idea.

Happy April Fool's Day

"However busses, trucks and taxis will be exempted as they are driven by professional drivers who can handle their vehicle safely."

That is one of the better jokes in the article!!!

Its Also April (Fools day) 1st!!

Try The Olde Bell in Loi Kro Rd.

My Thai doctor told me if I have Dengue fever once this has an innoculation effect if I catch the disease again.

The second time is not so bad.

But I read a journal that said the second time is worse and you can be seriously ill.

So who do I believe?

And what symptons should we be looking out for?