gezginrocker

yes, you are red, a socialist, but would never admit it because in modern political discourse (which was imposed by US) socialist is a synonym of enemy (came from McCarthy's witch-hunt in 1950s). now your political values are called - liberalism (but it's nothing like a true liberalism in it real meaning), tolerance, multiculturalism etc. but they are truly socialist. and not just socialist, but trotskyist.

LOL, this is hilarious indeed. I especially loved the "and not just socialist, but trotskyist" section. What is this, some kind of accusation? Then why you accuse him of being a trotskyist? Would it be better if he was a stalinist or a maoist for example ? What are you, some kind of hillbilly expert on marxism that can point our if you are a trotskyist, leninist, maoist, stalinist etc?

This paragraph reminds me this quote: "The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." Bertrand Russell

Just the right timing! I'm heading to Ranong tomorrow to do a border run so that I can activate my 2nd entry. But because I have a Turkish passport, I'm pretty sure the immigration officer will give me hard time.

Those morons in my home country don't think that their actions will affect the Turks here in Thailand as well. Vandalism never brings anything good, when'll they learn that? I'm afraid never...

I am Turkish and I'm ashamed of those animals. Those people belong to a hardcore Islamist-Nationalist group. They are very small in number, their political wing didn't even get %1 vote at the latest elections. But this group is known to be very violent and aggressive. So their number is very very small, but because they are a bunch of ignorant islamo-fascists, they sometimes make high profile violent protests like this one. So they are similiar to the hooligans found in every nation. For more info about this group, look at this wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Union_Party

But unfortunately our islamo-fascist government under Erdogan gives those animals courage. When leftists try to organize a protests, it is immediately crushed by the police. But when islamists organize a protest, it is allowed, like this one. The police should have been protecting the consulate, there is no excuse for that.

I know the latests trend is blaming Turkey as a whole, but please do remember that a large number of us hate Erdogan and his islamic government. Latests elections were the first defeat for Erdogan in a long time, and I hope my beautiful country gets rid of those islamists completely in the future.

I was in Savannakhet last week and getting a 2 entry tourist visa was super easy.

did you go alone and do visa by yourself in thai embassy or you go with company for visa run ?

I went alone. Because of my nationality I can't get Laos visa on the border. So first I went to Khon Kaen to get a Laos visa. Then I went to Mukdahan by bus and then continued to Savannakhet with special border bus. I stayed at Leena guesthouse. Because this is probably the most popular guesthouse, many visa runners stay here. Usually shared songthaews come here in the morning and take people to the consulate. Although, I rented a bicycle and went by myself, it was cheaper. Consulate is about 2 km from guesthouse.

Around the consulate, there are loads of places that can help you with the forms, pictures & photocopies. You apply for the visa until 11.00 am, and then collect it the next day at about 14.00 pm.

I haven't been to Vientaine embassy, but from what I heard Savannakhet consulate is much more relaxed and problem free.

I was in Savannakhet last week and getting a 2 entry tourist visa was super easy.

As ubonjoe said, it is only needed at Nong Khai crossing. I used another Laos crossing, Mukdahan to Savannakhet a few days ago with a valid ED extension and no question were asked, it was totally problem free.

Same old story. I earn minimum wages. I have wife and children to feed. Cost of living is too high to support my wife and kids on minimum wages.

Yes we all know. But why are you still earning minimum wages? Why do you not aquire more knowledge or skill to be productive and climb the wage ladder?

And why do you get married and have children when you can barely support just yourself?

Should society be responsible for you and your foolish acts?

This is such a horrible and arrogant way of thinking. And I'm shocked that it has the most likes at this topic. Wait, this is Thaivisa, home of the ignorant and arrogant, so I'm not really shocked.

Yeah, like it's just too easy to acquire the skills and climb the wage ladder, keep on dreaming. And blaming someone because he got married and had children?

Again, it is just sick to blame the common working man and woman. The government should be blamed, because they don't provide better minimum wages and social security.

The main factor for the huge sex industry is low wages and lack of social security. If I was a Thai who had to take care of his/her elderly parents who have no social security, instead of working at 7-11 for minimum wage, I'd have probably become a sex worker as well.

For many people Thailand is synonymous with sex tourism. If government really wants to improve this bad image, they should start by increasing minimum wage and provide social security for retired people.

Sorry to ask again, but because Malaysia border is problematic and I can get only single entry at Penang, now I'm also considering going to Vientiane.

My ED extension expires on May 10. If I go to Nong Khai on May 9 or 10, do I still need a cancellation letter?

Thanks

Only Nongkai is asking for the cancellation letter. You should not have a problem.

Sadao is not very friendly. On return I would use another crossing.

Thanks a lot for the info.

Yes I'm aware of Sadao, that is why I opened the Penang to Padang Besar topic recently. But a user wrote that sometimes they ask for bribe at Padang Besar as well, and it is more difficult to reach than Sadao. So I haven't made my decision yet, maybe I'll return by plane if I can find a cheap ticket.

ubonjoe,

My ED extension expires on May 10 and I will go Penang to get a tourist visa. I'm planning to leave Thailand on May 7 from Sadao. Is there going to be a problem if I don't have cancellation letter from school? If there will be problem, I can leave on date of expiry as well.

Thanks

I think I found the asnwer. According to Wikitravel, there is a direct bus from Penang to PB:

"Direct express buses linking Padang Besar directly with Kuala Lumpur and Penang or Butterworth (the latter RM14, Aug 2012) are operated by Plusliner Bus Services and perhaps Transnasional (though it's not one of the towns on the Transnational website)."

If they are also asking bribes at PB, I don't know if it is worth it though.

you can do a minibus between PB and Alor Setar, then get one of the big coaches for the Freeway trip South

Thanks but I asked how to go from Penang to PB, I think you are telling me the opposite direction, PB to Penang.

Hello,

Last time I was traveling from Penang to Thailand, I had problem at Sadao crossing, I was asked for a bribe.

So this time I want to try Padang Besar border crossing. Are there any minibuses or buses going to Padang Besar from Penang?

Also, is Padang Besar problem free these days, or is there a chance that I might experience similiar problems as in Sadao?

Thanks

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I asked Pro Language, and it is 3900 baht for 70 days.

All extensions of stay cost 1900 Bht.

Those willing to pay more are a definitive part of the problem.

Whatever, I'm sick of this bulls..t and I'm going to Indonesia for good. Corruption is so deep in this country, and I'm powerless against it. PL was blacklisted long time ago, but this s..t is still going on. They are still punishing real students and nobody can do anything about it.

I have found some decent Thai learning material, I'll study on my own. I'm learning faster this way than school anyway. I'm only sad about the 23,000 I paid for 1 year, half of it is wasted now.

And my suggestion to anyone thinking of studying Thai in Thailand: Don't. Immigration is just so unpredictable, there will always be the stress of whether they will give the proper extension or not. You want to learn Thai, there are hundreds of learning material that you can study on your own. You want to learn in Thailand, just get a tourist visa. It is really not worth going through all this bulls..t. They want to make my stay here harder, fine. I'll go and contribute another country's economy.

I asked Pro Language, and it is 3900 baht for 70 days.

If the "extension" is more than 1900 baht/90 days refuse the offer and leave the country to obtain a tourist visa.

Continue your studies using the TV

According to this report, only people who can read & write Thai gets 90 days. I can't, because they didn't teach us the alphabet at Pro Language.

I think 1900 baht for 70 days is still acceptable though. But if it is 3900, I may think of getting a tourist visa.

Btw, does anyone know what is the situation for Pro Language students these days? For my first extension, I paid 1900 baht for 70 days. Then someone reported that he paid 3900 baht for 70 days. I'll go for my 2nd extension soon, so I'm wondering what is the deal now.

Although TVF members have tried hard to scare people away from Ko Tao, it clearly didn't work. Rant "Death Island", "Murder Island", "Rape Island" as much as you want, nobody cares about you people. You are just a bunch of grumpy old men.

I'm writing this from my bungalow in Ko Phangan, which is also on your target list. I know that you people are waiting for a suspicious death to happen in Phangan, so you can attack this paradise as well. I know you hate backpackers and places they hang.

All the gulf isands are full of people who are having fun, so get used to it. You don't have any power to keep away people from here with ridicilous namings like "Death Island".

Hi,

I was staying at The Contemp before, which doesn't require a 6 month/1 year contract. Rent was 8000 baht.

I'll return to Bkk in a month, and I'm looking for a similiar place that doesn't require contract. I was happy with Contemp, but their rooms don't have kitchen, this time I want to stay at a place with kitchen.

So does anyone know a similiar place with a similiar price range?

Thanks

Easy. The Central Food Hall on the first floor of Central Chidlom. They have a whole case full of olives and pickles over by the bakery. You can even ask the girls to let you sample different types. They are expensive though!

Thanks a lot.

I have a question. As I told before, I got 70 days for my first extension. So how many days I will get for my 2nd one? 20 days? Does it have to be completed to 3 months in total?

Hello,

I'm interested in buying pickled cucumbers and black/green olives is Bangkok. I didn't see any pickels in supermarkets yet. There is a Spanish brand olive sold in some supermarkets, but I tried it some years ago and didn't really like it.

So, does anyone have any idea where to find decent and not too expensive pickles and olives?

Thanks

That is correct. I was told about ProLanguage's decision, when I first applied, to register me as a Silom branch student although I wasn't as a way to speed up paperwork with the Min of Ed. This was a win win for them until this year. They said paying the middle man would ensure me at least 70 days.

I got my 70 day extension 2 weeks ago and paid the usual 1900 baht. I didn't pay a single baht to the middleman. Mr. Angel was there, and he handled everything. I'm from Sukhumvit branch btw.

The OP said he was in BKK and so am I.

I still get 3 months for 1900 and so does students in Pattaya branch of my school.

Sorry you picked the wrong school

You ara very active at ED related topics, and I I find this "I picked the best school, you all picked the wrong one" attitude very annoying. Also, you act like you are an expert on this issue, but you are not. According to you, if a school gets blacklisted eventually it would be closed down. But this is not the case, Pro Language was blacklisted and everything is returning to normal for them now. I just got a 2.9 extension.

Also if I remember correctly, you seriously believed that they would give a 1 year tourist visa for 3000 baht. Are you surprised that it is definitely off the table? Cause I'm not, I wasn't naive enought to believe that nonsense.

Looks like Pro Language is "white listed" again. Today I went to Chaeng Wattana to get my first ever extension. There was a PL staff who handled all of our documents, we didn't get interviewed. And all of us got extensions until 10th of May for 1900 baht. That's 2 months and 9 days I think, I saw that they had written "2.9" on the documents with a marker.

I was so stressed by this nonsense and I'm really glad that it is finally over.