sandyf

Fairly common policy in many countries, repair the roads and then the drains, subject to repairs even being considered. Don't start the work in the first place, problem resolved When it comes to dysfunctional government departments, Thailand has been taking lessons from a world leader.

One has to assume you would have the same answer for every other country, not being a bigot or anything.

Quite, my TM30 slip is dated 2015. Before any untoward comments, I did a new extension a couple of months ago with new passport and new visa, NO new TM30 required.

The talk of hotels being strict is to a certain extent a bit hypocritical, they have in fact an obligation under the law to report foreigners staying on the premises. Is it the view that hotels should break the law? I as much as anyone don't like the regulation but it's there and normally my wife will check in and they just ignore me, now and again there is a jobsworth. Hotels have 2 separate reasons or checking ID, either for immigration or hotel security policy. If it is the latter they will normally accept DL or pink card, the former however requires they check the permission to stay date.

Years ago the water in Pattaya was often turned off this time of year. Toilets were closed or became unusable, those with their own water were in high demand. The Golden Crab in Soi 13 was owned by an English guy and when he built the new block around 2003 he put a large underground tank under the building so there would always be a reserve. In those days we would go from late Nov till April, sometimes as late as June, without any rain. In the last 5/6 years we have had some rain in the early months and this year more than I have known. Bob Dylan got it right.

Quite obvious the second sentence was outside your comprehension. "However with the increase in foreigners it is almost certain there will be some starting on the 11th." "True to tradition" would mean starting on the the 13th, but Thai tradition means nothing to foreigners who seem to think they can change things to suit themselves.

Twenty odd years ago when I used to knock about Pattaya it always started on the afternoon of the 12th. However with the increase in foreigners it is almost certain there will be some starting on the 11th. The activities in Pattaya pale into insignificance compared to the last day in Bang Saen. It is well worth a vist afterwards to see the sand sculptures on the beach. During the Songkran festival every year, Chonburi Province will hold a Lai Bangsaen Day event, which every year falls on 16-17 April. It is a tradition that the people of Tambon San Suk have practiced since ancient times, formerly known as the Wan Lai merit-making ceremony, which means that villages have come to make merit together. On the occasion of Songkran Festival, or Thai New Year's Day, monks are invited from every temple in Saen Suk Subdistrict. People come to perform a ceremony, make merit, offer food to monks, and pour water. Then, there are activities to build sand pagodas, splash water, play games and local sports, and more activities. https://www.thailand.go.th/issue-focus-detail/011_048

When I had my house built the majority of the builders workforce were Burmese. My wife asked him about it and he said the Thai labour available were generally from the north and at certain times of the year they would disappear to help with the rice. Made it very difficult to plan the workload.

I would agree. Wok cooking is intended to be done on high heat and can be a bit messy. Separate gas would be a better option.

I was only pointing out how I thought the comment I replied to had been a misinterpretation, no need for the rant. I have all the documents stored on the computer and just print them out for various requirements in various countries. Probably another office variable and a bit meaningless unless my office take the same approach. Glad my office doesn't want an original document for every copy, that really would make life difficult. Living in the sticks very unlikely that every original for financials would ever reach Thailand.

No TV only heard about it from those that had been down south, didn't come to north of Scotland till around 1954. Used to sit around radio and listen to Radio Luxemboug, then send off for free samples. Today the miniature Mars bars we used to get have been resurrected in multi packs.

Pre brexit I had my pension paid straight to account in Thailand. When it all went pear shaped I changed and had money paid to UK account. Glad I did, when the letters stopped I had control of when transfers were made. I am with HSBC and they only charge £5, was £4 until a couple of years ago.

Indeed, I would normally have the information but as it is not requested on the application, never seen the need to provide it. it is only about 6 months since I did the last one, and I had the visa within 48 hours of application. With all the varying comments I suspect there is a certain amount of discretion being exercised by the embassy and some factors may carry more weight for some. Nothing more than an observation, but my applications have a letter from my wife rather than just an address and I use the Thai account rather than my UK account for proof of funds.

I think you are missing the point. I suspect what was meant is they just want straight photocopies of an original, not a print from image that has be scanned into a computer, which could have been digitally altered. It would be fairly obvious that many of my docs are prints rather than photocopies.

I always book flights well in advance as they are normally at a better price, but I have never provided the booking details on a non O marriage visa application, may be different for a tourist visa. On page 3 of the application they ask for the flight number landing into Thailand. You can get that quite easily from the internet, normally the same for a route and time. I use Emirates and have changed date and time of the flight without charge. Different story if you want to change destination.

This has come up a few times in the past. If you are looking at an e-visa site then the amount would be the local equivalent of 400K, for the UK this would be £10,000. If I remember right it was queried with London and the answer was that the £10K was for the ME visa, when they were available, and that for a SE Non O anything over £1,000 would be acceptable. If I remember right the application has 2 financial questions, Q4 & Q10, the latter being a bank statement for £10K. I think I answered Q4 and for Q10 uploaded a reference to Q4.

If you are from a country that can get a letter, you only need to meet the annual requirement. If it comes to transfers that may depend on which office you would use. The requirement is that you transfer at least 40K a month over the 12 month period. I only ever transferred just over the 40K, with additional transfers if necessary. Some offices like mine also wanted to see where the funds came from but I have seen posts from some saying that only a statement showing the deposits was required. Maybe worth checking with someone using the same office.

Your point highlights how those from so called advanced economies are deluded into thinking they make better use of tax payers money than Thailand. Your way of thinking should mean free healthcare and zero poverty in the US, but then comes reality.

Since 1971, but nobody is interested until the topic arises, then the stupid and racist comments flow in abundance.

Confirming previous comment on context.

Good distraction, obviously context is not a strong point.

Quite. Twenty odd years ago I was talking toa guy in a bar and he called check bin, I said you off somewhere, he said no just pay regularly to reduce the risk. It used to be quite common for someone to be seeing a girl working the bar and she would slip some chits into other bins. Prime targets were those in a group or the intoxicated. Back in those days there were no forums making out it was unusual and only Thais being the perpetrators.

"only answer" You need to get out a bit more.

Yes and No, the criminals weren't imported, at that time the UK couldn't see much use for the country other than a place of incarceration, forcing them on the Australian colony. Following WW2 an independent Australian government looked to increase the population through an assisted passage arrangement.

It obviously was, or the countries concerned wouldn't have felt the need to claim independence. Before 1914, the UK exercised authority over one fifth of the world's entire population with the British Empire made up of 88 million subjects. In 1939, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand were the first to be given independence within the Commonwealth. Since then a total of 62 countries have gained independence from the United Kingdom. This is followed by France with 28, Spain with 17, The Soviet Union with 16, Portugal with 7 and the USA with 5. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-countries-to-have-gained-independence-from-the-same-country#:~:text=In 1939%2C Canada%2C South Africa,and the USA with 5.