sandyf

41 minutes ago, alanrchase said:

The flu kills an average of 1,000 people a day. No one seems too concerned about that. Malaria kills more. 

Quite. Both SARS and MERS were a coronavirus and both new at the time. MERS has a higher mortality rate than SARS and possibly the current virus but hardly ever mentioned. The Arabian peninsula is not as densely populated as China so the outbreak was more contained. It was thought to have come from camels but camels are nothing new to Arabs.

Disease has been around for centuries and will always be a potential threat particularly as long as poverty exists around the world.

14 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Not in my case. The standard bank letter (which was a week old) kept him happy. And obviously so were the rest of those up the chain. As I am on a marriage extension, my documents had to go up to the regional HQ (Khon Kaen) for approval so it obviously passed their scrutiny as well.

Different office, different requirements.

Couple of years ago at Sri Ratcha I had a problem with my visa ref extension and immigration sent me to the MFA. I asked about the bank letter and she said it would be ok, if back by this time tomorrow. This was about mid day and MFA closes at 15.30, it was tight.

It really is time there was some sort of uniformity across the offices.

11 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

The IO asked if they were original and I said they were, which in my view was quite true. I do not know whether a downloaded statement looks any different to one obtained from my Krungsri bank branch. But neither does the IO.

Mine are certainly different but that would be academic. Immigration wants to see a stamp and signature from the bank on the statement dated within the last 24 hours.

9 hours ago, vogie said:

The point was addressed,

Garbage.

Just to remind you here is the point again.

That could only come from someone that believes that all in favour of the brexit referendum were strong supporters of the conservatives.

It may come as a surprise to you but national interest and party politics are not one and the same.

12 hours ago, fauxie said:

 

Cheers for the reply. How about the financial requirements though? If 400k in a Thai bank is required does that need to be in the account for a certain period prior to applying for the visa? I can absolutely do this, though of course it's a bit of a faff. I have no account here as things stand so I guess I'll need to open one well before July in order to be ready. I'll need it if I get the single entry while in the UK, right? I've long since booked up a trip to Vientiane in April, and was then due to return to the UK in July, so don't really see myself going up to Laos again between those trips, though do take your point about it easing some worry if I were to get the multi before going back to the UK.

I was in a similar problem and back in Nov went to HCMC for a multi non O and it was all very straight forward and no financials required.

I would suggest you book a flight to HCMC before going to the UK and plan to go before the visa exempt expires. As a Brit you do not need a visa for Vietnam and for me the 3800 baht for the flight was a lot easier and cheaper than going to Laos.

I have non O based on marriage and on Thursday went to Padang Besar to get another 90 days. Got off the train in the morning and back on again in the afternoon, no problem.

If you want to go to Langkawi it is about 500 baht in taxi from Padang Besar to the ferry at Kuala Perlis.

21 hours ago, vogie said:

What other interest has the SNP got other than breaking up our union, that's correct, none. It is about time they put the interest of Scotland before their own selfish goals. They are a total disgrace and it gets better by the day.????????

Try addressing the point made, not your own paranoia.

6 hours ago, fhickson said:

im still wearing on flights. if the sicko in the seat in front of me has a coughing problem i want some sort of barrier available. i dont care what the news says or recommends, im not breathing that s**t without at least putting up some sort of defensive effort.

Exactly. I had to come across Bangkok the other day and took the same view with MRT and BTS, with other faces only a couple of feet away it is a bit of a concern.

About 75% of the passengers were wearing masks and the majority that were not were westerners.

19 hours ago, Wullie Mercer said:

What about the BIO-METRIC PADS at airports, everyone puts their hand on them, an ideal means to spread the virus no matter how often you wash your hands on any flight. 

I went through Thai immigration on Thursday at Padang Besar station and there was a guy at the immigration desk window wiping the scanner after use with the alcohol gel. He was also asking people to put the gel on their hands.

You would think that if it is done at one immigration desk it would be done at all, but you never know here.

Go over to Langkawi for a couple of days, the Skybridge there is something else. You can get a taxi from the border at Padang Besar to the ferry at Kuala Perlis for about 500 baht and is just under an hour. If going best to look at the Cenang beach area.

You need to stay 48 hours if you want to benefit from the duty free.

On 1/22/2020 at 6:56 PM, wotsdermatter said:

Instead of muddying the waters why not provide reasons why the information is incorrect instead of leaving things dangling because you  give the impression that you know all about the trains and the procedure.  We try to help when people seek assistance and do not like or appreciate those making requests for help then "knocking" what has been provided without them providing anything to back up their statements.

'nuf sed.

Everything I posted has been proven to be correct.

'nuf sed.

On 1/22/2020 at 10:42 PM, torrow said:

However, coming from Malaysia. Everybody walks up the the hill and crosses the border there... then takes the bus to Hat Yai.

 

Wrong, many just go downstairs and catch a train to Thailand.

On 1/20/2020 at 2:10 PM, SpanishExpat said:

Crossed that border last year in September. After getting off the train, you walk over the bridge to the Malaysian border. Stamp out, walk 5 min trough no-mans land, until you get to the Thai border. I know that there`s also a train on the Thai side, but no clue from where it departs.

 

You only walk over the bridge if going by road. Train to Thailand goes from the same station, you go downstairs to platforms 1 & 2.

On 1/19/2020 at 2:56 PM, recom273 said:

Be warned you now have to go over the bridge and walk through up to immigration, through no-mans land, it’s a bit of a trek, there used to be a desk in the platform. 

Incorrect information.

On 2/5/2020 at 11:20 AM, vogie said:

The 3 or 4 worst complainers on here just happen to be strong supporters of the SNP, a coincidence, I think not.

That could only come from someone that believes that all in favour of the brexit referendum were strong supporters of the conservatives.

It may come as a surprise to you but national interest and party politics are not one and the same.

On 1/21/2020 at 9:41 AM, ubonjoe said:

I would say this is good proof of it. What are your sources that say otherwise.

 

You go to the train station on the Thai side of the border.

You were wrong to take something said as some sort of proof.

I arrived at Padang Besar yesterday morning on train No 45 from Bangkok and can confirm that the immigration facilities at the station operate in exactly the same way as they have done for many years, apart from the introduction of fingerprinting and X ray machines.

I got off the train and walked the few yards into Thai immigration, they have 3 desks and all were manned but everyone had to queue at the same desk. Down the passage to the Malaysian desks and stamped into Malaysia, luggage through the X ray and then over to the men in white suits for thermal imaging and passport check. I have a Chinese visa that they picked up on until they saw it was 6 months old, getting on for an hour to get into the station concourse.

I went back to the station a few hours later and bought a ticket for the Hat Yai shuttle, preferred to wait a bit in Hat Yai than at the station. Formalities were effectively the reverse of arrival, Malaysian immigration does not open for departing passengers until inbound passengers have been processed. You are then stamped out and pass through to Thai immigration and then on to the platform where officers ensure you go straight on to the train. The train doesn't leave until all passengers have cleared immigration.

It is fairly obvious that some that have travelled by road from Thailand to Padang Besar, or from Padang Besar station to Thailand by road, have failed to grasp the procedure for rail travellers and have been disseminating false information.

Surprise surprise, we want out of the EU and then just cherry pick the regulations that are perceived as beneficial. Those that were unknowingly beneficial don't come into it.

“But even so, around two-thirds of them on mobile phone roaming and on flight compensation, say yes we should follow the European Union rules.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-trade-deal-brexit-news-eu-public-support-a9316511.html

4 minutes ago, rwill said:

I've seen some cardboard police with cameras set out on the road too, like those cardboard cars they use too.

The technology is quite amazing, they can lean in the window, show you pictures of your vehicle and write down the details.

Cardboard or not, you still get the fine through the post.

1 hour ago, canuckamuck said:

The good news is that once you know where they are, then you only have to slow down in that area.

And the bad news is that there are police at the side of the road with hand held cameras. We were stopped near Laem Sing beach just a couple of weeks ago.

18 hours ago, chilly07 said:

Can we get the Thai Government to enter into a reciprocal agreement including pensions? Can we get the 5000 frozen UK pensioners to lobby this Minister. Worth a try!

The UK government have no intention of any new reciprocal agreements, other than with the EU. Apparently it was the contribution by the expats in Europe that put the great in Great Britain.

3 hours ago, nauseus said:

Another bunch of gripes grapes.

One day the reality of the bunch will sink in.

Most strikingly, one third said they would consider moving either their businesses or themselves across the Channel to remain part of the EU and its huge market.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-boris-johnson-small-businesses-leave-uk-eu-market-a9310356.html

PS Not holding my breath.

19 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

Basic state Pensions are NOT benefits

I would agree with the sentiment but I think that you will find that every government document regarding state pensions refers to it as a benefit.

The contributions made over the years were immediately paid out so unlike a private scheme there is no fund that you can claim on.

It is highly immoral that people paying the same contribution over the same number of years get a different pension based on where they live, unfortunately we are all well aware that morality is sadly lacking in Westminster.

23 hours ago, BritManToo said:

In the last 4 years, the compound effect would have been 1,000 pounds/year.

Hardly peanuts!

That is not true. I got state pension in 2012 when it was £107, currently £129 so about 8 years to create £1150 differential.

But I would agree, no longer peanuts.