BigOm19

Thanks very much for all the responses so far. Ya, I agree. Teaching hospitals would probably be the best bet - Ramathibodi seems to have done the most transplants. Statistics for lung transplants are much the same internationally. They don't look great. Sixty % mortality in the 1st 1-5 years after transplanation. Enquiring for a family friend outside Thailand. 

Am in touch with Ramathibodi cardiovascular-thoracic department but doctor has not got back. Will go down in person.

Please recommend surgeons by name and/or hospitals.

After being given the runaround by the EMS office/Thai customs which seems to be the same body on a parcel that was absconded to their office in Chaeng Wattana on 6.9.17 (it is 26.9.17), it was just "clarified" to me TODAY by the original number I first rang two weeks ago that there would be a 5-7% customs charge + THB50 rental PER DAY on a parcel that went over the $100 limit (at the time the order was made on the iHerb site) by $2.

I was also just told TODAY, the parcel would NOT be sent back to the USA because it is a "food and drugs" item. When I was given the impression it would be if it is not collected.

My question is: WHY THE EFF wasn't I told this the first day I rang? This is WRONG and designed to EXTORT the maximum amount of money from urgently needed items. Nutraceuticals ARE medicines to people who need them. 

Parcel value approximately THB3,384
 

Estimated costs

Customs at 7% THB 237

Parcel storage "rent" at THB50/day THB1,000

Taxi fare to and from Chaeng Wattana from central Bangkok THB700
TOTAL THB2,000

 

I've been to Mae Sot, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Sukhothai etc at other times of year.

Question was specific to Loy Krathong. Just didn't like the idea of jostling with PRC masses at the more obvious places for Loy Krathong but would still like to be somewhere with a more local, still festive atmosphere. That's all. 

I was ordering under $100 ($90-something mark) per parcel until August 2017 with no duties.

Until the last order which was $102. It's now sitting in customs in Chaeng Wattana (I'm in central Bangkok) and no one on the chain of telephone numbers I was passed along can tell me how much customs or re-delivery will cost. 

The P.O. website says 60% of value of the parcel???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: Where are the good gathering spots on the river to see krathong?

Anyone resident in Mae Sot? What is Loy Krathong there like? 

Do you also release sky lanterns like in Chiang Mai? (I guess it may not be traditional to this area)

Alternative plan suggestions please from anyone who's been?

Is it worth staying in Nong Khai and songthaew it to Phon Phisai with traffic tailbacks?

Thank you in advance.

On 3/6/2017 at 9:17 AM, BigOm19 said:

 

 

On 3/4/2017 at 2:07 PM, Evilbaz said:

 

All of these conditions have obvious physical manifestations.

A competent physical examination should be sufficient (I've had 3 OAs from Australia - no blood tests but require "a doctor from the country you are applying in")

I actually went back to Singapore for 2 nights but did not have time to apply for the O-A then.

Just to share my experience in Singapore: I only had time to see the GP at Faith Family Clinic in the nearest housing estate. He requested a blood test for 1st stage syphilis. If positive, there are tests for more advanced stages. TB requires an Xray in Singapore and I had to go to a government clinic in Chai Chee for that. In his medical opinion, only leprosy, elephantiasis and "drug addictions" on that list have obvious physical manifestations. 

On 3/4/2017 at 4:32 PM, chuang said:

Being a Singaporean all medicals, police cert, bank statement whatever stated on the application forms must be from Singapore.

Also be prepared to write a short dossier of yourself...good luck.

Hi chuang, what did you write on your "dossier" ("applicant's personal data" on the requirements page http://www.thaiembassy.sg/non-immigrant-visa-o-a-long-stay)?

Did you apply using the electronic application form? I thought I would upload some documents first in order to get a case number so I could get the last requirment (Certificate for Clearance which requires a letter from the embassy - I can't make a fingerprinting appointment without one) but they wouldn't 'take' even after compressing to well under 5MB.

 

I went to J & B hair salon supplies between Phetchaburi soi 31 and 33 on the main road  - they didn't have natural dyes but I managed to get a few odds and ends like large sectioning clips and claw clasps.

I browsed a few other items like hairdressing capes for customers and hairdresser aprons as I saw someone else asking. I'm not a hairdresser at all but I thought a customer cape might be useful for my little project but at THB450 it is not cheap. Better off buying off Aliexpress if in bulk.

I eventually got 100% henna powder and indigo powder in a shop called "Jay Dee" in the little lane that runs alongside India Emporium, Pahurat. Jay Dee is directly in front of the India Emporium car park ticket booth. It was THB70 for a 150g packet of 100% henna and THB70 for a 50g packet of 100% indigo. Natural henna without additives will give a red tint - any other shade will contain toxic chemicals like PBB.

It's amongst a few dry foods grocers (rice and spices). There must be others but Jay Dee was the second shop after the first Indian grocers I tried (they were out of henna and indigo).

The proprietoress' is a friendly lady called Simmy and she shared how she prepares henna. However, I'm going to follow more precise instructions I found online which is closer to what it says on the packets. I'm giving the henna paste I made with green tea about 12 hours covered in clingfilm for the dye release. Since it will involve considerable time, mess and cleaning up afterwards over 2-3 days, I'm not taking chances of getting it wrong the first time. Want to make sure it keeps at least 4-8 weeks. In the meantime, I will be working on the endocrine dysfunction that's caused this sudden onset of grey hair in a short period of time.

For darker brown and black hair, henna and indigo should be done in a two-step process. Henna is what makes indigo bond with the hair. 

Where can I find these products? Shop name and address would be very helpful.

Amla (Indian gooseberry) powder would be good as well.

With thanks.

Singaporean here in Thailand atm, not "trying to use Singaporian [sic] residency to short circuit the system". I know you're trying to help but you've got the wrong picture.

Lots of things are automated and done online in Singapore. Just that I've been away a few years and haven't kept up with tech developments. There's been some delays as waiting for things like a SingPass password reset plus 2FA token key. 

The only thing I can't seem to be able to get online is a letter from the Thai embassy as the Singapore Police will not issue a CoC without a Thai embassy visa application "case reference file". That's partly automated. Will give it another go. 

Thanks very much, Anthony Loh. Jiak lak, man. Wan this, wan that. Headache. So sian oreddy leh. Haizzz. Not applying on basis of work or marriage. Retirement visa just for a year or so. Not permanent.

On 3/4/2017 at 2:07 PM, Evilbaz said:

 

This is more complicated than I anticipated - it looks like I have to make at least 2 trips to Singapore.

In order to apply for a CoC certificate of clearance from Singapore Police, I need a letter with "a case reference" from the Thai embassy but no one is picking up phones or answering emails?

I have created a visa application account on the Thai embassy website but without all the required documents uploaded (including the CoC), I can't create an application with a "case reference"?!? So bizarre. What am I missing??

Help?!

On 3/4/2017 at 2:07 PM, Evilbaz said:

 

All of these conditions have obvious physical manifestations.

A competent physical examination should be sufficient (I've had 3 OAs from Australia - no blood tests but require "a doctor from the country you are applying in")

Evilbaz, thank you very much! 

Just bumping this post up in the hopes that any Singaporeans who may have applied for an O-A in Singapore recently will see it.

When did you apply and did the embassy accept a medical certificate from Thailand?

Been calling all week but no answer.

Thank you to the respondent who came answered the question about the criminal record.

I've been ordering from iHerb before and since I moved to Bangkok end 2013.

For a good stretch last year, orders took around 7-10 days to arrive but since late last year, they've gone back to bad old days of 14 or more days. At first I thought it was the Christmas backlog but it's end February now and they're getting slower. I have always kept orders under $60 - the one time I went over by about $2, I was charged something like THB450 tax. This was likely in 2014.

I only just saw this notice on the checkout page. Is this correct? Has anyone ordered above $60 THIS YEAR and not been charged customs?

Yes, Singaporean here.

Medical certificate PDF bottom of aforementioned page requires a doctor to you are "free from the following":

Leprosy

Tubercolosis

Elephantiasis

Drug addiction

Third step of syphilis

.... Most of which require a blood test? 

I'm currently in Thailand and will only be returning to Singapore for the purposes of applying for the retirement visa. I just tried the embassy in Singapore but there was no one picking up.

I refer to this page:

http://www.thaiembassy.sg/non-immigrant-visa-o-a-long-stay

Under "required documents":

5. Criminal record: I assume I can get this from my neighbourhood police station in Singapore?

6. Medical certificate: It says "issued from the country the application is submitted". Would they accept a medical certificate from Thailand? For the blood tests they require, it may take a week to longer to get the results. 

I would be grateful for any input from any Singaporeans who've applied for the O-A visa in Singapore recently. Btw how long did the application take? I have a home in Singapore but will be staying in a hotel.

Has anyone got the latest Pakse to Ubon Ratchathani bus schedule? When did you last travel?

Trying to schedule to fly from Ubon to Bangkok. Thanks in advance!

Hi all, considering a run to HK next month for a SETV. Has anyone been asked for an exit air ticket out of Thailand recently?

A parcel of it I ordered from J Crow's went astray due to a series of bad luck. I've ordered a replacement parcel but it will be next week before it arrives if I'm lucky. Can anyone help please?

BobTH, thank you very much. Rang, asked about prices, made an appointment.

I'm interested in zirconia, no metal.

Thank you in advance.