richard10365

July 26, 2005

I downloaded the program. It's a lot of fun to play with.

You probably already know this feature but I'll mention it anyway in case others don't know.

In the bottom right corner of the screen you have the option to place pins on the map marking a specific location. The pin marks the exact latitude and longitude of the place where you put it.

Using my GPS, and the stored places on it, I am able to pin point my exact location on the Google Earth program. The latitude and longitude are editable features.

This feather helped take the guess work out of wondering, "is this my house?" I live in the country side and it was a little confusing where it was exactly.

Another nice feature I like is the elevation feature. As you move the pointer over the map, the elevation of that area is show in the bottom left corner. As you move the pointer across the map you can see the changes in elevation.

This feature could be helpful when studying places to build a dike or dam for the hot/dry season. I looked at an area close by which the government is going to build a dike and I was able to see why they chose the area.

It's a great program and I think in the future the resolution will be even better.

Good ideas start out rough around the edges sometimes but soon take on a life of their own.

Take the internet, for example. Orginally designed by the US Govt and now look at the monster it has grown into.

July 25, 2005

After reading most of the comments of the farang women it became obvious why I prefer Thai women to western women.

I think for many men, the totally self confident, outspoken, career minded, sucessful, educated, and liberated western woman is about as much fun to be with as a mouse is with a hungry rattlesnake.

I would much rather have a woman concerned with taking care of her family than taking care of the store, getting her 2nd degree, working for that big promotion, having meetings with the mayor (who is probably a woman), and worrying if her a$$ is too big from sitting in the office chairs all day.

As fed up as you are of hearing about why we prefer Thai women over western women, we too are tired of hearing Western women complain.

You can't be happy being the center of the universe in the west. You want to come here and control our lives too. Forget it. As far as men are concerned, this is a mans country. Leave us one corner of the world to be happy. Why do you think we are here?

I know some other men will comment on what I have said. Some will say, "I don't agree" or "your opinion stinks". I understand how some men feel they need to be "Politically Correct". So they will side with the females on this subject to appear conservative and nice.

But deep down inside they do agree with me. If they didn't, most would have their wifes former last name as their current last name.

In my opinion, the majority of farang men in Thailand feel this way. Since most of us come from a free country and live in a free country, Thailand, we can think they way we want to think.

If you don't like it, you can always return to the country you came from.

July 25, 2005

Xchange/Dubliner

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Did they say expats or tourists?

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I have a tourist visa but I have been here for a year and a half. Am I a tourist or an expat?

July 25, 2005

I can't think of anything that I really miss from the USA. Thailand has everything here. The only thing I have problems getting is grits. I still have one box left out of 3 that a friend brought over for me. I am sure I can live without them too.

July 25, 2005

I have read a lot of the information about work permits on this forum and other websites. From what I understand, if you don't have a work permit you really can't do much more than breath.

What if I have one of them dependency visas and I want to fix up my home like painting it or building a fence. I am also wondering if I can plant a garden or grow vegtables for food for my family.

Would I need a work permit for this too?

July 24, 2005

Richard, If you don't find any let me know and I'll bring a box into town. I get a friend in Hawaii to bring them in for me. I prefer the Quaker instant variety and have some of those but I do have a couple of boxes of the long cook kind and could bring in one of those. Let me know if you can't find them.

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Thanks Mr. Kringle! I might need to take you up on your offer. Villa Market in Bangkok does not have grits. I went there 2 days ago.

I was hoping to bring some up to northern Thailand with me when I visited my wifes family (longgran season). No luck this time, I will stick to traditional Thai breakfast's of sticky rice, fish, and pork until I get back to my bungalo in central Thailand.

As far as my favorite style of grits, I like the slow cook type but I am not picky. Southern boys love their grits. Let me know when you get here!

Is your first name Chris?

July 24, 2005

Here is my 2 cents!

NOTE: Don't forget your extra pictures for your Visa application

OPTION 1 - If you only need a 60 day visa stamp

Go to the Mo Chit Bus station. Tell them you want to go to Aranyapreth in Sa Kaeo province. That should cost you around 200 baht.

When you get off the bus in Aranyapreth, take a motorcycle taxi to the border crossing at Poi Pet. Don't try to walk, its 5km away. I paid 40 baht for that.

When you get to border, follow the crowds to Poi Pet. Process out of Thailand thru the border check point. (Building on the left). Chances are you will be met by someone offering assistance with your paperwork. It's up to you if you want to let them help you. If you do, I wouldn't give them more than a 100 baht (thats being very generous) to walk you thru the process.

Then get your Cambodian visa (1000 baht) and return to Thailand getting the necessary exit stamp from Cambodia as you do.

Then process back through Thai immagration where they will stamp your visa and charge you nothing.

Then take the motorcycle taxi to the bus stop and the bus back to Bangkok. Total cost is less than 1200 baht.

OPTION 2 - Your visa expired and you need a new one.

I like going to Laos for my visa. The Thai embassy in Vientian, the capital, is right across the border from Thailand.

From Bangkok, I usually take 2nd class train with air conditioner over night to Nong Khai. Cost is about 700 baht one way.

Then you need a Laos visa to get into Laos. I think its about 1500 baht.

I usually stop at a visa service and let them walk my paperwork through the border at Lao Immagration. I also get them to negotiate a taxi from the border of Lao Immagration to Vietnaine (25km). that usually cost about 200 baht.

To apply for a Thai visa you have to get to the embassy in the morning. The afternoons are only for picking up your visa.

If you are good with reading maps, you can take your chances and rent a motorcycle in Vietnatine for about 200 baht. Then see if you can find the Thai embassy on your own.

If not, use a tuk tuk service. Or, you can ask your taxi driver who got you to the border to take you to the embassy the next day.

When you get to the embassy, there will be people out there asking you if you have your application done. Ignore these people.

Go past the guard shack and follow the sidewalk to the left. There will be some chairs and 2 embassy officials processing applications in a covered outdoor office. Ask them for the application. Fill out the application and give it back to the embassy personnel.

After a certian number of applications are processed, they will call everyone inside to pay for their visa. Give them 1000 baht and they will give you a reciept and tell you to come back the next afternoon.

Return the following afternoon to the place where you filled out the application, give them the reciept, and they will give you your passport back with your new Thai visa.

Then finish your stay in Laos, return to Thailand immagration, then continue on with your business in Thailand.

A few things to remember,

1. Thai embassy closed on the weekend. So if you go on a Friday, you still have to wait to Monday to fill out your visa application.

2. Carry pleanty of them tiny visa application photos with you. You will need them going into Laos and when you apply for your visa.

3. Book your train to Nong Khai a few days in advance because they might not have any seats avaliable the day you want to leave.

4. Food, alcohol, and such is sold on the train but at airport prices. It is ok to to take beer, juice, soft drinks, and food on the train with you.

OPTION 3 - Your not going to stay longer than 30 days more in Thailand.

Go to Bangkok immagration and get a 30 day extension for 1900 baht.

July 23, 2005

im really starting to believe the south is being ignored....

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Why would anyone put Micky Mouse's life in danger by moving him to a dangerous place like the south of Thailand?

Dosen't the south have Phuket?

July 20, 2005

Thanks for the info guys. I didn't think about doing a forum search for grits.

The only reference I saw on where to buy grits was the Villa Market.

Where is that?

July 20, 2005

Does anyone have any expirence volunteering for free in Thailand?

If so, what were/are the major pros and cons?

July 19, 2005

Did you get your blood and Thyroid checked yet?

July 19, 2005

Doctorman.....your 61 years old. What in your right mind made you think you can get a girl to marry you who is 30+ years younger than you. A girl who dosent have children yet.

Lets say you and her have a baby in 5 years. Your 65 and she is....25. When the baby is 10 you will be 75. When the baby is 15 you will be 85. Do you see where this is going?

You probably have grandchildren older than she is.

What do you have in common with her, the grand children and her could be in the same grade together? Or maybe, her grand mother and you are the same age?

At your age, if you want a young girl, don't expect to keep her. The most you can expect is a short term lease.

If you want a true love relationship, start looking for someone in their mid to late 30s. In Thailand, a single woman that age does not expect to get married again. It is possible that woman will treat you better than any woman has ever treated you and make your golden years, truley golden.

July 19, 2005

I must be a really selfish person. As far as a dowery goes, I'm not paying to get married.

Mostly because, I don't have the money.

I'm not planning monthly support either. I'll help from time to time.

My dowery is going to buy my house that my future wife and I will live in.

After that, we need a truck. Thats going to take about 2 years of savings to get.

Then after that, with no bills, I will be able to take care of her family.

But, at this point, I don't see how going into debt to pay a dowery is going to help my marriage much.

I plan on living in Thailand.

Virgil seems like he has pleanty of money to pay the dowery and if he trust her, then pay it and forget about it.

If I had it, I would pay it as well. More for her mom than her father. Her mom is nice but dads a little alcoholic. He did offer to give me a house if I marry her. Her mom is so nice, I would move her in with us if she wanted.

In your case Virgil, I think, if possible, you should live with your girlfriend in Thailand before you marry her. You can see if anything strange pops up.

But thats just me.

July 19, 2005

hmmm....when I asked my GF how to show me how to make sticky rice she said the rice you pick is as important as how to cook it.

The rice most people in Thailand use for sticky rice is not the same as the rice you add to water when you want rice as a side dish to your pot roast and corn.

It even looks different. The rice most farangs are use to has a clear quality to it, as if, light can pass through it.

Sicky Rice many Thai people cook is white like an asprin.

Look at the photo I attached and you can see what I am talking about.

I asked her if you can make sticky rice with the regular rice and she looked at me like I was asking a question about some "taboo" subject.

To put it in terms a farang can understand, its like trying to make a really good hamburger, using pork and not beef.

July 19, 2005

Does anyone know if/where I can buy grits from here in Thailand?

Some of us "good old boys" from the American south like to have them from time to time.

July 19, 2005

"It's My Life" by Bon Jovi!

July 19, 2005

Rap in Thailand is like a black man in a KKK outfit....it just dosent look normal.

July 18, 2005

Sorry about the confusion.

I wish I could get another visa like that (6 months) in Laos.

Is it possible to get a tourist visa like that in the countries around Thailand?

July 18, 2005

If your just going to stay 30 more days and then leave Thailand I would pay the 1900 baht and get the extension. If you plan to stay a few months longer I would get a new visa.