thanchart

Ha ha ha...

Yesterday's article "Internet is bad for morality" - Today the government give free internet to the people

Anyway it's a good idea, as actual mobile internet in Bangkok is the worst I ever see anywhere in the world. In fact there is no mobile internet in Bangkok, just an H sign on my mobile but no access (or as slow as GSM data was 20 years ago!)

worst I ever see anywhere in the world?? Really? Which part of the world have you used yr mobile internet? What technology are u using? Would be nice to know

,,,, must calculate lost revenue, from the 1000's of businesses that were nearly put out of business by the flooding, the billions lost from companies that do not want to rebuild,.....

Do u have statistics on what is a good estimate of the number of companies? 1000's is a big and rather vague range. How many are local Thai companies; how many are foreign?

From my own experience going through the floods at Pathum Thani, where the entire industrial estate was totally submerged, the Thai company I belong to is recovering at a remarkable pace, and we are now confident we will emerge leaner but stronger. Taking this chance to re-engineer, and innovate. How many are doing like us, I don't know but what's happening now s very real. The floods have ironically given us new reasons & urgency to do what we know we need to do to progress to the next lap.

I am sure there are plenty of companies, both Thai and Foreign who are doing the same

There is a fee for a tourist visa, what they mean that is free is that there is no fee for a visa exempt entry.

The fee for a tourist visa is 1,000 baht per entry in local currency.

That is not for the Visa Exempt Entry, which does not need to be applied for at the embassy. Whether the Tourist Visa Fee is waived because both countries are in ASEAN I am not sure. anyway we shall see when we go to the embassy to make the applucant early January

That requirement for a ticket can be imposed by a Consulate to issue a visa - it is not required for travel or entry if you have a visa. Manila is well known for being very hard on visa applicants and currently believe getting tourist visas is more difficult for Philippine nationals to obtain anywhere so staying a year may not be viable using them.

I too heard of that and the 1st time I was at the embassy, I was apprehensive and even met a UK national with a Filipina wife, and his application for a tourist visa (w/o his wife accompanying) was rejected. I was not able to find out if he was successful the 2nd time.

The pleasant reception I got from the embassy came as a surprise, and I am not sure if it is because I was invited by a Thai company under the BOI scheme or somehow I was lucky as I faced absolutely no problems as told by the Thai during time of application.

I hope the embassy's latest advice to get my Letter of Invitation, and proof of employment, Bank statements will be sufficient

Is your wife working in Thailand on a non-B visa with an extension of stay for 1 year from immigration. In that case, if the mother is older than 50 years old, she might be able to apply as the dependent of her child.

Unfortunately my wife and baby are with me on a Non-B (or non-O?) Dependents Visa and her mum is not entitled to that. So her only option is a Tourist Visa, with supporting documents from me, as advised by the emissary. Wife was also told that there is no fee for the tourist visa, as her mum holds a Filipino passport. I am not sure if that is correct, but I guess we will find out once her mum collects her passport in a few days, and they make the trip to the embassy to apply.

Actually the Thai guy at the embassy is pretty nice to me, and he even remembered my wife when she went with me to collect our Passports. Hope he will be as nice this time as I will not be with her. My Non-B visa was also free of charge but my wife and baby had to pay for their 90days dependents visa (29999pesos each). I

To answer yr question, no, I just started working here and do not have that kind of money sitting around, although annual salary should cover that. She is 54, but I do not see a point to apply for a retirement visa for her. We;ll just help her to stay as long as possible and then perhaps get a Thai maid to help my wife as we intend to bring our other 2 schooling kids (grades 5/3 now) here. Need to source for good but cost-effective school in Pathum Thani by then. Their advantage will be that English is not a problem, plus I spend time in guiding them in learning. Which is why I want them here. I just cannot trust the Filipino school boys with my fast growing daughter without daddy being (physically) with her to lead by example.

hi,

from what i gather if you don't have a visa in your passport with some airlines they may not let you check in if you don't have an onward ticket with in 30 days.

if you have a visa no onward ticket needed.mthai immigration wont look into your flights they may ask what flight you were on and where you maybe staying if your new to thailand.

it's just some strict airlines on long haul flights that may ask about your onward ticket, some people who have been not allowed to check in have had to buy a cheap ticket from say bkk to KL at the airport.

if your planning to stay a long time in thailand better to get a visa before from your home country, maybe can get a triple entry with 6 months validity so you'll be able to stay a max. of 270 days.

even if you get a visa you don't have to use it straight away you can use the 30 days on arrival first by not putting the visa number on the arrival card then use the visa after 30 days but you'll have to do an extra border run.

I'm having my wife's mother (both from Philippines) join us here for a long visit and she is applying for a 60day Tourist Visa. My wife (who is back for Christmas holidays) went to inquire at Thai Embassy in Manila and she said a return/outbound ticket is still needed for Tourist Visa, unlike our Non-B visas.

Seems I will have to extend the 60days by another 30 days and then she has to do a visa run to get another 60days? Or what would be the most cost effective (within reason) to allow her to stay for 1 year or more? Is there a possibilty of a 60day visa? is that a Tourist visa?

Can anyone clarify?

Two things you will always see posters of a certain ilk doing on this forum: (1) paying lip service to better education; (2) Criticising each and every attempt to improve education by any political party other than the Dems as unrealistic and just another attempt at corruption .

Ever thought that minds too can be corrupted? Not necessarily in the monetary sense. Sometimes being closed and therefore not being able to see a wider perspective or both sides of the coin maybe bad enough

The point being is she SHOULD have bigger things to deal with than this wallpaper and distraction from serious problems . Not getting caught up in the trees while dealing with the forest, is called delegation of authority, but she didn't learn that at home obviously. Micromanagement of the little stuff, and ignore the big difficult stuff, and make sure no one notices that inaction.

Disagree. Setting of milestones is what the CEO has to do, and guiding his/her team towards it - and in this case, she is doing it. It is not her role to solve every problem. Her team has to come in. Whether the right members exist is another question and I am not in a position to answer that.

As usual we have the yellow brigade who posts according to party line without even considering (understanding ?) the subject at hand.

Because what's wrong with establishing benchmark for the eduction system ? Everybody complains about the dire strait of the education system, trying to improve it should not be a priority ? And the PM should not put her weight behind such action ?

For reminder No Child Left Behind was one of the priority of George W. just after he took office. What is good for the USA is not good for Thailand ?

You are absolutely correct.

While I am not a supporter of any particular political party as I judged each policy on its own merit, what PM Yingluck is attempting here is fair and has foresight - setting of milestones that the Thais should achieve at the minimum. Of course how she can guide her team to cross these milestones successfully remains to be seen, but surely we all agree that the "Longest Journey begins with the First Step?"

Many of the more advanced countries that this country can learn from have done that - Singapore included. In fact Goal 2020 was originally set by the Founder PM of Singfapore (Harry Lee KY) many years ago - for Singapore to be considered a Developed Country by 2020 (hence losing the "privileges" developing countries often get in terms of trade policies). Over the years, this Goal has morphed and been improved/refined by later generations of Ministers implementing it (this one in 2 July 2010 - Minister Sets Goal 2020 - Higher Income, Better City). Even as I write, the recent the MRT system failures in Singapore has caused the Govt to re-examine what has gone wrong with the system - not just the MRT but system-wide. It will be a challenge but I am they will wake up and address the root of the problem - probably a culture that has developed loopholes and find solutions needed. One cannot deny the Singapore's progress was largely planned and then worked hard at. and it is not by chance that the country has come thus far. When I was still a kid in grade school. we used to look up to the Philippines - but where is that country now? So mch for a so-called "democracy" that did not work.

I can't help noticing that some members here can sometimes get rather "tunnel visioned" - anything done by some people they don't like are always deemed as bad. stupid or whatever. Hope we can be objective and lift ourselves above such a mindset. It is when we can recognize the positive in those we dislike or even hate that will see real changes - in those we dislike and also in ourselves. I've done that and the results has been far reaching, if not life changing.

Encourage what is right and honorable, irregardless of who proposed/started it. That is the way to the future. There is always a silver lining in every cloud. Let not past disappoints/frustrations destroy you - its not worth it to lower yourself to that state. For instance, Opposition politics in Singapore was dead for a long long time, until a new generation of opposition rose up and started a totally different approach from the old style, which has been "Opposition for the sake of opposition". This new generation saw things are they are (good and bad) and spoke up against the bad and supported the good policies by the ruling party. Over the years, this approach is gaining the confidence of the voters and today you see a lot of opposition voted into parliament than what could be in the past.

"Police said due to heavy traffic congestion in the area, cars are often stuck on the rail crossing during the red light."

Tells you something - admit: we knew for long - about the police....

Cars DON'T get stuck on the rail crossing during "due to heavy traffic congestion" .but due to a total lack of brains and/or manners.

Call it unrivalled selfishness, if you will.

Somnamna indeed.

agreed -

its not the fault of the train driver who is probably distressed - its the car drivers and the Police

I second that, The train driver should never have to apply brakes in the 1st place !!! Let's say it like it is. The police did not enforce the rule as they should.

Last year i went to Phuket to visit friends for a week and hired a motorbike , the day before i was to go back to Bangkok i (stupidly ) put my wallet in my back pocket and went out riding . When i returned to my room i realized i had lost the wallet containing 3500 baht, Credit cards Ect . I had only coins left and had to pay for the room , taxi to airport ect .

I have thai friends who i have been visiting on Phuket for about 20 years and they lent me 5000 baht to get me back to Bangkok .

A week after i was back in Bkk a letter was sent to the hotel i was staying at and in it was my C/Cards , papers ect and letter saying these were found , but no money or wallet .

I was happy to receive my cards ect and consider the loss of the money as a lesson to be careful where u put your wallet .

This has also happened to be before - guess where? In Singapore! I got my wallet back in my mailbox. everything else intact but no more cash. Like you, I too felt thankful at that time.

There are thieves everywhere in every country. Here in Thailand, the thieves work harder. They have stolen my wife's peanuts out of the ground and have stolen the fish out of her pond.

I read sometime back that a guy in the US had a refrigerator he wanted to give away. He set it beside his garage with a sign that said "Free for the taking". No one took it. He later put up a new sign that said "For Sale - $50,00". It was stolen that same night.

Well, there will always be thieves, here in Thailand or anywhere else. But I guess u have not lived in a place where even Trash cans (dustbins) get stolen, resulting in people throwing trash all over since there are not trash can? I;m not saying this place is perfect but that there are many many things that are really good and not found elsewhere or not as widespread.

Question is - what are we doing where we are, to make a difference? Where I used to be in, I can complain about the squatters, despise them and never go near those areas (after all I'm told by well-meaning friends it's dangerous), or I can be helping in areas I can contribute. I used to tell stories to the poor kids (who have a lot of bad influences from the adults around, even parents) and showed them there are better ways to do things. And I've seen some of them (not all) changed for the better and have become more thoughtful of others and the environment they are in.

Interestingly, yr 2nd story is from USA - jut my point, there are good and bad folks everywhere

Unfortuntely their are those who still erroneously cling to the idea of failure, and consequently try to apply the concept to all sorts of things - this is contrary to the very essence of education.

If you study something for a year and learn a little as opposed to a lot - how is that "failure"? It's still more than you started with. In fact employers certainly don't look to pass or fail they look to suitability for the job in hand which might require rather 'low" achievements in some areas.

I for one, when I hire people, am not interested in results/grades. All I care is they have graduated from a reasonable University (& don;t even have to be the top ones) and they have studied the relevant subjects that will give them sufficient basis to start the "real learning". I look for things beyond academic results to select interviewees.

And it is at the interview that I will decide if the guy/gal is worth a second look and be shortlisted. I have seen how grads with great scores know so little when it comes to doing real work. They are well-schooled,. not necessarily intelligent. I look for something different beyond good academic grades - leadership, initiative, courage to effect change and do things differently - more of rule breakers than followers. We've often heard, "think out of the box" - I actually look dor those who will challenge this and ask "what Box? Why should there even be a box?" These I seldom find in the "top" students though of course they exist and are rare. In fact I am planning to hire a scholar who use to work for me and bring him here. Others I am bringing here are not exactly top students but they are the best people I can bring here to train the locals

For me academic results only come into play if I have 2 literally "equal" candidates and I;ll probably take the one that had something "extra"

After >20 years of hiring, the above method of selection has not proven me wrong - at least not yet.

Ohhh please guys come on, a whole thread about amazing Thailand and its 30 bht refund

A whole thread all about one USA dollar?

You all think shop owners are so desperately poor that this is front page news? good grief..

Just some thoughts..

• Little Things means A LOT
• If you cannot be trusted with Little, you cannot be trusted with much..
• It's not the value that means so much, but the principles behind the actions..

Nice story, Davey. I have many, but here is one. A while back, I was trying to find a new battery for my old cell phone but could not find it anywhere (outdated). Finally went to this small cell phone stall and at first, the guy and gal told me they didn't carry it (nor was it being manufactured anymore). Anyways, the guy said "wait a minute" and found a similar phone to mine, took out the battery, and just gave it to me. I tried to pay for it but he wouldn't have it. Said it was a used phone anyways. Like your story, we're not talking a huge amount. But nice gesture nevertheless, and from folks who aren't exactly swimming in money.

I had a somewhat similar experience last week, though in a different way. I had bought some take-out food from a cafeteria and after collecting the food, I paid and walked off without collecting the change, In fact I don;t even realize that I did not get my change. A few days later when I went back to the same place to buy food again, I was told that I don't have to pay and in fact even got some change back after collecting the order.

In many places, this probably would not happen. Yes there are honest people here, many more than the few dishonest ones I have met.

Say what you want, but the locals are amateurs compared to the Republicrats and Demicans. Those guys solved the problem(s) of corruption by simply passing laws legalizing it.

No doubt corruption in Thailand is a drag on the economy, but it didn't collapse the economy like collusion between Big Banks and the western pols.

I'm pretty sure lobbyists alone in the US dole out more in cash than the combined "corruption" of every crooked local Thai- and all absolutely legal.

Agree, it is not hopeless nor as bad as some think. No excuses though. I 1st cane to visit here and Philippines in 1992 At that time, Manila was way ahead of BKK. Now, its completely the opposite. This allow tells me something - if corruption here is bad, imagine over there, The progress here and the lack of it there tells a clear story

Yes it is obvious, but it should be news everyday even if it is repetitive.

Sweeping it under the carpet (even below the table) will not make it go away.

Hunt it down, make it news, highlight the details and teach the masses that corruption is wrong by making punishment harsh!

Am I dreaming?

Spot ON

Well Singapore is the place to visit to fine tune the art of nepotism.

Sorry this may b e off-topic but may I ask what do you actually meant by this statement?

Corruption is a much more rampant and deep problem than you indicate. For example, certainly you don't imply that the only corruption revenue in the police department is derived from collecting 100 baht notes from traffic violators. Police have very large projects as well where the policians (most) dont dig in their grubby hands, resulting in high personal wealth of police top brass much more than what their measly salaries would afford them.

Corruption is a broad problem (in the public and sectors) and if anyone is serious about getting rid of it, a broad open approach will be required. We cannot continue to say it's only at the politician's level. It's everywhere.

To eliminate Corruption to an insignificant level, it has to start from the Top - and filter down. Will Thailand ever have a PM strong enough to to this? With the support of the King I suppose? The people need to give the PM such a strong mandate that he/she can do the unpopular things that will benefit the country in the long run. Can the Thais see the future and bear with the unpleasantness in the short run - for the sake of their kids and their kids' kids?

And at the lower level, to reduce eliminate petty corruption, the govt has to 1st increase the salary of the working class in the public service, and do it by a significant amount. Takes guts/money and political will to do that.

Take squeaky clean Singapore as an example - would anyone believe if I tell you when I was a kid, the policemen were also corrupted? Accepting (even demanding) petty bribes like those in Philippines and Thailand (and may other countries) today? Try to do that today and u will land in jail or get fined heavily at least.

What Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of modern Singapore put in place was a big increase in salary for the police force - TOGETHER with very heavy punishment and Jail terms if the policemen are caught for accepting bribes And he can forget about working in the Govt after that. And to enforce the new rules. there are actually plain clothes enforcement officers sent out to act as civilians to offer bribes to police. Woe to those who get caught!

Its' a total system put in place to eliminate corruption and at all levels. Even Cabinet Misters are not spared. there was one (very few around) caught and in the end, he ended up commuting suicide to escape the shame - for a few hundred thousand S$ bribe.

An older Filipino Chinese friend (who has passed away 5 yrs ago), told me this and I sincerely believe him)- What Thailand (just like Philippines he was referring to) needs is a Democratic Dictator like Singapore's LKY was when he "ruled" Singapore during her formative years- voted in by the people and acted like a dictator to make things happen - not for himself but for the good of the country. His methods no longer work today as the people have matured and expect more say in the running of the country. But during his time, people were willing to bear with unpopular policies because they see a better tomorrow. Else they would have voted him out at the next election.

The key question is - will the Thai people see far enough to except the sacrifices of the near term to realize the benefits in the next generations to come? Only if the answer is YES, will there be real hope and Fast change. Of course, there has be a PM like LKY, who literally lives for his country. Ultimately his results proved him right. Singaporeans owe what they have today to this man and the team he put in place

thanchart above.

I'm really sorry to hear about your distress but as you know It's caused by unpredictable nature which we have no control over. But what are these people on about. Thailand is expensive compared to where?? Considering all Thailand offers in normal times (when not flooded) it's very cheap. The cost of living is going up massively all over the world. Including China and India. Can anyone give positive alternatives to Thailand. It's not all just about saving a bit of money. Lifestyle in Thailand is great too..Anyway .I hope things improve for you quickly so you can start to enjoy life in Thailand again...Best wishes

Thanks I am already seeing the possibilities. I can do far more here with a given sum of cash than I can ever do back in Philippines. I just got a 20" Acer LCD monitor to complement my notebook for < 3000k baht. Back there I have to pay about 7~8k pesos for the same model. Even if I take into account exchange rate, the numbers there just don't add up. Most things (if not everything) tell the same story - from food to medicine to electronic gadgets, even cost of borrowing. If I am here for a holiday, I could be buying things here and and selling them at a profit back there - if the Phil immigration don't try to milk me, hehe. So even if I come as a tourist, I''m 100% sure I will get good mileage for my money and would not get rip off big time, as I am not into those places where rip-offs occur.

By the way I am not a Filipino. I come from a country mentioned on this thread and I know how expensive things are back there. There's just the way things are, but the standard of living of course is high there.

Also, I;ve been to Thailand many times since 1992 (not just BKK) and yes,I noticed prices have gone up but its the same almost everywhere. I've just not had the chance to live here till now.

Thailand is not the 'cheap' holiday destination that it used to be, it's more of a rip off destination now.

Agree 100%.

Thailand is now very expensive. Many people do not want an expensive holiday

Many people will not come to Thailand now because too expensive and too many rip offs

Gee, Dorothy, you aren't in Kansas anymore? Get real, is any place like it was? Thailand is too expensive and too many rip-offs? Go to the Philippines or Peru, or Mexico, or Egypt if you want to see rip-offs. Expensive, compared to where, the UK, the US, Germany, Japan? It's more expensive for the same quality of housing and food in the Philippines than here in Thailand. Sure there are cheaper places, but do they have all the amenities? I am not just talking wet and warm and fuzzy things. If it's so bad, don't get that return visa. Thailand would be much better without all us falangs--we are a major cause of price increases and the rip-offs. Get out of the tourist traps, where the vast majority of falangs hang and where the majority of expense and rip-offs occur, and see for yourself.

I just came from the Philippines where I've lived for 6 years and I can't agree more. Cost of Living in Philippines is significantly higher than in Thailand and what's worse, with a lower Standard of Living to match. Yes you pay more and get less there.

I was here for barely a week when the floods came to Pathum Thani and I had to shift out of my condo & had to pay another 2 months despite/1 month rental for another apartment where fortunately the flood did not hit. I had the 3 months rental deducted from my 2 weeks October salary and you can imagine how my Filipino wife and I (with a baby to boot) had to be careful with our spending for the month of November. If this had been the Philippines. there is no way we can last the full month (2 weeks is more like it, given our cash balance after the deduction), but much to our pleasant surprise, we still managed to have a tiny bit left over by end November, and we did have a higher standard of living than we've had in Philippines for this past 6 weeks.

So how does one say Thailand is a "rip-off' place? Maybe it depends how and here one goes to spend the money? Guess what? After 6 weeks here in Thailand, I felt I was "ripped-off" in Philippines. My Filipino wife and I do not often frequent "Touristy" places back there - It was the everyday cost of living there that ripped us off. My incumbent Home Minister of Finance is of course very happy now

I would like to Load Thai Fonts for SMS into the Nokia X3-02

Can anyone tell me where I can do this in the Chaengwattana area? For me its the best way to learn and remember Thai script

Very sad to hear about this when the country is in need of the good Thai spirit.

I think the good guys far outweigh the bad guys in the floods right now

I see thousands of people helping out and volunteering everyday but in a country this large you are bound to get some bad with the good.

I arrived in Pathum Thani with my Filipina wife and 19 month old baby early morning 15 Oct; started work the next Monday and by Thursday, the Floods arrived at Bangkadi Industrial estate + my condo (up to 3m in some areas in the estate.

Amidst the events that happened from that Thursday till now, many incidents touched the hearts of my wife and I - things that we cannot expect in in the country I came from (where I had lived for 6 years).

Here are just some examples:

• On the Thursday night the floods were starting to come in, I was asking a motorcyclist I had never met how to get to a place where II can buy something my family/baby needed. He patiently gave me directions and I may have to walk some distance as taxi was getting scarce. I thanked him and walked on, Imagine my surprise when he came up from behind me (against the flow of traffic) and offered to fetch me there. Even wanted to send me back but I refused to accept his offer (just as he refused to accept my offer to compensate him for the ride) as I was already thankful enough, What kindness! I doubt this will ever happen where I came from - if I get any help as all, it would be a chance for them to ask for money. as they know I am a foreigner (somehow their minds become greedy the moment they see a foreigner)
• As I helped the company I just started to work for to retrieve materials from the flooded factory to another factory located in Cheangwattana that was not flooded, I cannot helped being impressed by the many (all in fact) BOATMEN/WOMEN who were transporting materials (WITHOUT escort) we had managed to retrieve from the Factory to Tan-tet (spelling?) landing point where people were waiting with vehicles to get the materials to the factory. These boat people worked hard and tirelessly and were honest, At the same time, the company cared for them, Where I came from, more likely than not. one can expect to kiss the goods goodbye.
• I can't help noticing the many many vehicles parked along bridges and other higher grounds. They are mostly still safe after so long. Compared to where I came from, where people even break into vehicles stranded (partially submerged) in floods to steal.
• When I was relocated to an apartment (temporarily) in Chaengwattana I was not sure if I will have enough cash to last till end of the month to get my 1st salary, given the possible increase in prices for everything (something I can expect from where i came from) and had expressed this to the owners of the provision shop at the apartment, They offered that if I ever got to that state, I can just take what I need from their shop and pay them later! This is the real "Thai rak Thai" spirit in action. Till now, I have yet to see an increase in food prices here, except for very few items. Mostly Items just go out of sock a and will be priced the same when stocks are replenished. This is unknown where I came from where vendors will take every chance to increase prices and it takes long time for the prices to come back to normal.
• Ive gotten many small voluntary help from people - in ways I did not expect/ And little things mean a lot,

Of the bad experiences I;'e had so far - with 1 taxi driver who to tried to overcharge (foreigners) and gave my wife less change than should be, or the 1 who claimed to know our destination and yet took the longer route - seemed to have gotten lost for a while (but this may be due to misinterpretation of my limited Thai vocab). But these are tiny irritations compared to the good I have received

I hope the warmth and hospitality of the Thai people shown to us thus far will continue. If so, my wife and I have made the right decision to leave her country to come here.

Passports done, Visas obtained (so don't need return tickets) and we are ready to fly off to BKK tomorrow. Hope it won't be pouring and Bangkapi area fo where I am going is not flooded

Update: Collected our Passports at 4pm today with the Visas stamped. No queue - same as during application time so it was easy.

Remember that the Thai Consular Officer who had attended to me the 1st time I came to inquire and was not very forthcoming with information and did not want to speak Thai? Today he decided to attend to me personalty and took over from the Filipina attending to us, , He was really nice and friendly this time and we spoke in Thai 555. He even talked with my wife (in English) and we talked about whats happening now in Thailand, esp the floods.

He asked if the area that I will be in is floooded and asked me to take care.

Explained to me the validity duraion of our visas and remininded me to ask the company to apply for my work permit and aslo match the Dependents Visas. He also advised me about my 2 older step-kids (left in Philippines for the moment with the parents of their late biological father cos of schooling They are attending the schoi where Grandma is the Vice-Principal and I know they are in good hands)

So it was a good day today at the embassy.