Beachcomber

If you are looking for an easy option go for the double or triple entry tourist visa. Either way with extensions at any immigration office you can stay in country for 6 months at a time.

Then go to any Thai overseas embassy (Penang) and start over again. You can do this about 5 times before they start to ask questions that gives you over two years as a tourist.

No money to show - no hassle - easy!

Update!

First thanks all for all suggestions. I have been “boxing” with computer for the last week trying to solve the problem. As mentioned earlier the problem seems to have started after I did a clean install on a new HDD. Before this I never had any problem with using Ghost.

Well the problem seems to have been fixed. I would like to take credit for the fix and pass on what I did to fix it as the fix may be useful to some one else in the same fix to fix in the future.

Unfortunately I don’t know which particular thing I did to solve the problem as by this time, instead if trying one solution at a time which was very time consuming, I just threw everything at it.

The problem “seems” to have been in the registry. I got hold of Norton System Works Utilities checked for all updates on the Net then ran anything to do with Disc and Windows clean-up, repair or doctoring.

Norton did pickup on a couple of registry errors that RegClean had missed so I’m guessing that was the problem as I did a back up and integrity check that was “Successful” and was recorded on the log.

Phew!

Serious reply.

I’ve seen window film for sale in some department stores including Tesco. It comes in rolls with various patterns. Don’t remember seeing plain dark shade.

I had a quick look at the instructions and it seems easy enough to apply, just like regular car window film. Soapy water and a squeegee.

I’m thinking of getting some to strengthen the glass front of a bookcase so baby Beach won’t crash through it.

Hope this is of some help to someone.

As others have said can confirm getting multiple entry one year Marriage “O” visa at Penang just a couple of weeks ago.

Only had to give copy of marriage cert (though I had taken original and copy of wife ID). No money or income to show – cost 500Rm (5000Tb)

Next day service – No problem.

Hi

Yea! Come to think of it the new hard drive is the only real main difference from before when the back-ups would work.

Think I shall have to have a look through my utilities collection and run any discscan and repair programs I can find.

Thanks for your help and if any one else would like to add some helpful hints it would still be appreciated.

Thank’s All.

Thanks HaHa for your reply. I have NTFS on both my drives and like you both my drives are partitioned giving me in effect 4 drives.

I only back up drive “C” and like you delete all unnecessary files and use Clean UP – RegClean - SpyBot – Ad-Aware – run disc Error Check and Defrag, AVG, MS anti-spyware and anything else that happens to be handy before back-up.

I don’t use any of the other Norton utilities you mentioned; maybe I should as it they may catch something that is being missed.

As I said in my original post the set-up is the same as before when I had no problem with back-up and restoring a Ghost image.

Instead of back-up I tried the “Clone” option and the same error message came up and still nothing in the log file which seems odd. I did a repair install of Ghost but that did not fix the problem.

As a thought instead of a ”Clone” back up couldn’t I just copy all of “C”. Is a copy the same as a clone?

Once I'm out of Thailand, do I need to enter Laos in order to get my 30 days visa when I come back in Thailand, or can I just do some shopping in duty free shops, and come back, without entering Laos ?

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Tried that once they check for the other countrys stamps so to answer your question you do need to enter the other country.

I use Johnson “OFF” comes in orange spray can and is available almost anywhere, price between 90-120bt.

Have at some time tried practically all the repellants available in LOS. The best I found was in a slim white/palegreen bottle, forget the name, with roll-on dispenser. Very effective and you don’t have to cover all the exposed skin, a few dabs here and there, but very expensive.

Beachcombing ain’t what it used to be and find OFF good value for money and easy to apply just spray no messy fingers.

Yes I go along with spray the room every evening. We usually do it just before going out so the smell is gone by the time we come back.

Beachcomber.

Hi

Wonder if someone can give some help or advice with Norton Ghost 2003. I run XP Pro with SP2 and get the regular updates and patches.

I have two hard drives and used to back up to my second drive with no problem. Some little time ago I bought a larger hard drive as my main drive. I took the opportunity to do a clean install on the new drive and installed all the same programs hopefully without all the junk and untidy bits that seem to collect on a computer.

The trouble started when I tried to do a back-up of my now beautifully clean setup. Norton goes through all the motions then does an integrity check which throws up the message “Task completed with errors” with something like “do an integrity check” which again throws up the same error message.

When I try to see the log file get message “Cannot access the file it is being used by another program” What program? If I click “View log file” from the Ghost basic screen the file comes up empty, surely there should be something on it – all my failures to do a back-up with errors.

If I open and explore the back-up disk it all seems to be there - but is it?

As I said my set up now is practically the same as with the old hard drive but obviously something is disagreeing with Norton.

Any ideas and helpful advice will be welcome.

Does anybody use Nero back-up and like to share their opinions on it.

Beachcomber.

KHUN BOB - Hope the map is OK I used the lowest resolution still keeping the detail to keep the size down. Shows well in Paint.

Most of the interesting area is round the grey shaded streets on the left up from the railway station.

The minibus office for Padang Besar on the street second on the right up from the station past Cathy Guesthouse on the right. Its not so much an office as an empty shop with desk and few chairs. There is a sign outside and usually a couple

of waiting minibuses so you cant really miss it.

As for places to stay there is the Cathy Guest house for the really budget conscious, backpackers mostly, at about 190bt for room with shower and fan. The Montien and Kings Hotel are right next to each other, first right up from the station, are not bad, hot water, fridge, AC and cable TV about 400bt. The Sakol, forth on the right up from the station, better than the Montien and Kings at about 650bt. Lots of Malay business men with their Thai girlfriends but nice friendly place.

For those seeking “entertainment” there is the Pink Lady (www.pinkladyhotel.com) which is hotel, massage, sauna, relax karaoke bar all in one, all in the best possible taste! There are plenty of places Pubs, live bands so take a look around.

In the same area there are several department stores and a maze of small streets selling mostly cloths and electrical goodies anything from vibrators to Tazers.

Beachcomber

Sorry Posted twice

Beachcomber

Could anyone advise me of a decent and reputable visa consultancy company in Bangkok?

I believe that there are a number of these located on Wireless Rd close to the British Embassy.

Basically, my partner requires a little assistance in completing and submitting her UK spouse visa application and as I am in the UK I want to ensure that everything is done correctly.

A website, email address or similar would be great if known.

Thanks all 

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I’m no authority on Visa agents as I’ve only used one for when we got married but I would certainly recommend these people. They did a really good job of getting all the relevant papers and necessary translations and it really saved us a lot of hassle.

They were very nice people as you would expect but what really sold me was that they gave us a 500bt refund because some of the papers were not ready the next day as promised. Now you don’t get that every day in LOS.

They obviously do all sorts of visa consulting apart from marriage and are right near the UK Embassy.

If you come out of the UK Embassy cross over the road toward the Swiss Embassy turn right heading towards the junction with the skytrain, take the footbridge straight over to the other side of Wireless road then as you come of the stairs at the other side on the left you will see a whole row of visa/translation shops. Between the first and second shop is a set of stair leading up to offices above the shops. Mind your head as you go up. Go to the very top and there they are. And it is definitely higher than the second floor, or was it just me, there aren’t many sets of stairs on the beach.

The name is Visa Word Consulting Co. Ltd. At 112 Maxim House Building 2nd floor Room #200 Wireless Road.

E-Mail:- [email protected]

Mobile:- 01-425 0151 - 01-689 0039

Fax:- 02- 650 8398

Hope this helps.

If you travel by train to Hat Yai arriving in the morning you can get the mini-bus to Padang Besar for about 50Bt (may change for fuel price increase) The mini-bus will take you to the border which is just outside Padang Besar the driver knows you are there for a visa run and drops you off.

At the border there are motorcycle taxis for the sole purpose of visa runs and I would suggest taking one of them. For 50bt (maybe more now) he will help you stamp out of Thailand drive you to the Malay border to get stamped in, round the roundabout stamped out of Malay back to the Thai border to stamp back in again and then take you into town to the mini-bus office for your return to Hat Yai.

You can get back in plenty of time to Hat Yai for lots of shopping and catch the night train back without having any hotel expenses.

If you want more details I can scan and post a map of Hat Yai with mini-bus office and some reasonable hotels.

As a side note Hat Yai has a higher percentage of beautiful girls than any place I’ve been.

Hope this helps.

I'm on a high speed internet connection. So....

Troll Definition

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Thank you kind person

Ms Beach informed me of a flat on the motorcycle by stating “No wind in the wheel"

you see that red search button at the top?

OK I hear what you are saying but would it not have been more polite to give an explanation instead of making me do a search? Not all of us are on broadband fiber optic high speed connection. Some of us still have to use the old steam dial up system.

Anyway apart from all that I thought the whole point of posting was to create discussion?????

No offence meant and I hope none taken.

Is Jack's Golf back up and running? Is there anywhere in Malaysia to go?  Gotta go in a few weeks

Thanks

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Erm! Not sure what you are asking but Penang is the place for visa in Malaysia!

Troll

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What "Troll" mean???????

If you get a program especially DVD’s with English dialoged and English subtitles it is for the hearing impaired.

Thought that would be obvious

she has a relentless thirst for money and will not back off until she's licked every bit of flesh clean off the bone. now she's pregnant and I feel she has got me well and truly over the barrel. help! can someone throw me a lifebuoy?

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Are you crazy or just a little “Ding-Dong” Do not fall for the pregnant story - could be anybodys DUMP her NOW!!

Just retuned from Penang with one year marriage “O” multiple entry visa

No problem at all. I went prepared with Marriage certificate and baby Beach birth certificate as well as copies of these and copies of Ms Beach ID card and my Thai bank book and copies of that as well.

Went to my usual guy at Parvez Book Store and all he wanted was a copy of the marriage certificate. I showed him the other papers I had prepared but he said not necessary though he did take a copy of baby birth certificate and wife ID but said did not really need them.

As for the money in the bank he was not interested. Not necessary! So I don’t know about all the different stories of proof of financial means. I did some time ago inquire at my local immigration office about Marriage visa and was given the usual got to have money in the bank (800K) and or proof of income

I’m UK passport holder and near retirement age so don’t know if the same will apply to other nationals and age groups, guess I should have asked to pass on but can’t think of everything

As an extra the guy at Parvez told me that if I left the country and returned just a day before the visa expiry date I would get an additional 90 days thereby making the visa valid for one year and 3 months.

The visa cost 500RM (5k TB) with just a couple of hundred TB for the service which took one day and half.

Hope this info is helpful

Cheers

Unfortunately the written word sometimes comes across the wrong way. What one would say in normal conversation and possibly generate a debate can seem to be carved in stone when written down.

Having said that I would like to emphasize that any views expressed by me are my own personal views based on my own experiences and observations. I fully appreciate that not everybody would agree with me but that’s what can make it interesting.

I stand by my earlier comments, sorry if they upset some people and just hope that their ideals will never be put to the real test.

Dump her double-double-double quick.

Trust me I know about this.

Hi

Reading through the posts on this site I do get the impression that most of the posters are ex-pats with a colonial type attitude.

All this talk about getting a Remington or “Dirty Harry” handgun or buckshot shotgun is a load of c***.

We are barely tolerated visitors in a foreign land that has never been colonized.

As a foreigner even having a weapon of ANY kind will get you in a load of trouble. If you want to protect your home and yourself sure get a weapon and use it but DO NOT let ANYBODY know about it.

A Thai neighbor of ours recently got into an argument with a fellow worker whom he stabbed to death. Our neighbor after spending a couple of days in jail and paying 10k is now free again. Can you imagine this happening to any Farang who killed a Thai no matter what the circumstances?

Beachcombing neighbors ain’t what they used to be.

Hi

Been in Thailand many years also a couple of visits to Koh Chang. Never taken any malaria medication.

Rainy season, mosquitoes love it. I use Johnson OFF! Aerosol easy to apply, and also spray my room each evening.

Have known some friends die from malaria over the years but this was their own fault for not seeking medical attention in time. These days as the medication side effects can be severe I think it is worth the “risk” not to take the medication. If you actually get malaria it is curable.

Enjoy.