Jimbolai

I wince at how Westerners fail to anticipate the likelihood of situations like this developing when they decide to buy into a local family in return for shagging one of the younger female members.

The OP's not a buffalo; more of a cash cow

Sorry, but being a farang doesn't guarantee respect anymore and it never should have in the first place

Since the locals got internet and social media - a hell of a lot more of them know exactly what old Western men marrying younger women are all about . . . thank God

Last time I checked, Asian men do the same.

If they have any real money they will have a wife, concubine, their daughters age. They know how to keep control of the money though and that is what respect is all about.

Falang has to be simile to 'legally' marry a young girl and expect respect.

5555555 all emoticons apply to that senile Falang

no no no I am not bozo!

it is now the procedure at jointiem not to fill any form tm 47, just to hand over your passport for the 90 day report,

wbr

roobaa01

Yes, the paper they staple in your passport is bar-coded so there should be no need for any other paperwork. Surprised the O/P, assuming he's been doing regular 90 day reports, didn't already have the bar-coded receipt.

I've always found doing the 90 day report, and even the annual extension, was pretty much hassle-free and quick at Jomtien. With the bar-coding it's even better.

You would only have to show anything if you have moved during your last 90 day period.

I love visiting Vietnam. I would go more often but the tortuous and painful visa process is not worth it anymore, especially when it costs $65 for a couple of nights in Saigon or Vung Tau. Throw in the SGN airport VoA chaos, with waits up to and past two hours, well, forget it. I'm not resentful for not winning the free-visa lottery, just announced. OK, maybe a little bit. Guess us North Americans just don't cut the mustard with the Party bosses.

I was in Vietnam for 8 years on 6 months visas. it used to be easy. Now it is getting ridiculous so no more VN for me. Just stay in Thailand on a retirement visa. I miss the place VN but who needs to put up with 4 times the price and far less service.

The outbound ticket requirement is a real pain. Indonesia now does not require a visa. Does it mean one can just get a ticket from Bangkok or Saigon to fly to Bali? Does one have to purchase a ticket from Bali to somewhere else? Or can one go to Bali and before the entry stamp, 30 days, expires while in Bali buy a ticket for the next destination. All those rules get complicated and make me just stay at home.

They want to check that the owner is paying tax on the rental income. Kind of like in any country.

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^^^ An International Driver's PERMIT (not license) is only valid for 1 (one) year in pretty much every jurisdiction in the world.

Not exactly. IDP from many countries following the 1968 convention have a 3-years validity.
Mine is from France: 3 years validity and can be extended (stamped) once for 3 more years.

Example of French IDP: (see dates: 2005-2008)

French or not you are subject to local laws and most require you to get a local license anywhere from 3 months to 6 months no matter what you international license indicates. beside it may not be valid at as it is in French and hardly any other country uses French anymore. Sorry if this does not help but the subject was about International drivers licenses in Thailand, not the hundreds of variations there would be in falang land. The Subject title should have indicated "obtaining an international drivers license if you live in Pattaya etc" But hey, it did not fit in the title box.

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Price of such international drivers license? Valid for how long?

After all that running around the price was immaterial. I forgot just how much so it was not much. As to validity, there is none for the International license at all. It is only valid when accompanied by a valid original country license, in my case Thailand and the International license is null and void after one year. However, the 'other' country has their own rules and the one I am in now will only recognize the IL for 6 months after which you must obtain a local license.

Of course some countries issue an International License for longer periods but that has no value at all ones they leave the home country.

Know the laws of the country you'r in or pay the price.

As a side note International licenses are a money making opportunity for some and have very little value in other countries. So why did I go thru all the pain to get one. It may just help a little bit and sometimes a little is a lot.

Almost posted this before but then whamo, a power dip. Sorry if it turns into a double post. Please delete the previous one.

What a trip. Was it worth it? For me? Yes! For you? You decide! This could save you 140 KM and untold frustration if you feel you need an International Drivers license(s)

One must have a five year license to obtain an international license in Thailand for use outside Thailand..

Going from a one year to a 5 year was relative easy. In Bang Lamung that is.

Getting the residence certificate at Jom tien was quick and easy. I asked for and paid for 2 original copies. One for a 5 year car drivers license with a photo copy for my motorbike license. One original for an International license. With the required Dr. clearance and the expiring 1 year licenses and residence certificate new 5 year licenses were obtained in the Pattaya Bang lamung office about 7 KM from Pattaya. No sweat.

Surprise surprise. The Pattaya office does not issue international drivers licenses, any more. An intentional license must be applied for in Chonburi city, the capital of Chonburi province, some 60km from Pattaya.

Same paperwork is needed in Chonburi for the International licenses as for the 5 year licenses.

I went to Chonbury on my motorbike, well prepared with an original residence certificate and medical cert. as well as the two 5 year licenses. After 2 hours being send from window 3 to window 4 and back to the reception desk I was informed that the residence certificate issued in Jom Tien was addressed (in Thai) to the Bang Lamung office in Pattaya. Nothing I said did persuade them to accept it for what it was, proof of my residence in Pattaya. They told me, all I had to do was take the document back to the Jom Tien immigration office and they would stamp it for use in Chonburi. It did not bother them at all that it would be an extra 140km round trip to correct an obvious but very minor item.

Hot, bothered, dangerous are some adjectives that come to mind. There are many more hidden behind a masking smile on my face when accepting defeat and climbing on the bike for the long haul back to Pattaya. This was on a Friday. they even told me to come back early Monday morning. I asked if they will be open on Monday, a Thai holiday and they said, No, come Tuesday. Thank you very very very grrrrrrr.

Tuesday morning, the man in the Jom Tien immigration office just smiled, after I told him my sad tale, stamped the residence form, and assured me that all is well. Just take it back to Chonburi city, no problem.

The same day, after Jom Tien immigration I rode to Chonburi city again and guess what.

No sweat. i left 2 hours later with a Thai issued International drivers license that I may never need but could come in handy in some place some time for who knows what and save me untold grieve.

I am now in another country far away from Thailand and driving on the Thai issued International drivers license.

Don't you'all just love a happy ending? drinking coffee to stop from going bunkers or get drunk

OMG, Sherlock. Does the word MUSLIMS mean anything. Its what they do, No?

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I wonder why is USPS or other government courier services are never in this sort of situation ? Anybody had a bad experience with those also ?

with my experience non-courier services (normal post) a lot of the times the parcels simply come in under the radar, occasionally I do get stung for import taxes and duties but that is rare.

With companies like UPS, they always do the customs calculations and also do the collecting.

Yeah these companies are hideous. Lesson is don't ever use any of those big courier companies to get stuff from abroad into Thailand.

Not into Thailand or any other country. Use the government postal system on both ends and have no problems. I too learned that the hard way. Having said that, UPS is ok from one USA starting point to a USA destination.

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"...If they [international community] won't accept it [the new charter], they will claim that our country has no democracy, similar to what they think about Article 44 under the interim charter..."

...lives in a fantasy world...he really thinks all Thais are with him.

Article 44 is 100% anti-Democratic. I also see the Charter as shaping up to be skewed towards keeping the Bangkok elite in office and all others either can't or won't be able to compete.

Any change he will realize that the last election elected a PM? That PM must be restored, apologized to and reimbursed by the people that robbed the government at gun point. it would be the only way to restore democracy.

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And the problem is? In New Guinea they created a new language when they accepted Pidgin! In VN during the war if you didn't speak Vietglish you just didn't communicate as Vietnamese is more difficult to pronounce than Thai!

It's pretty boring trying to speak perfect Thai when the locals don't even try! alt=thumbsup.gif> alt=wai.gif width=20 height=20>

The problem is I sound a complete t.wat speaking tinglish. Anyone does

You got that right, a complete t,wat . One such t.wat , about 60 comes her 3 months a year and babbled like that to me. He claims he speaks like that when back in the UK but he can not help it. Yep, complete idiotic .

Of course everybody knows it is much safer to leave Gem stones on that Pleasure Boat, the Miracle Island 3, and travel back to the Bali Hai Port from Larn Island. Can not trust a hotel safe. The stones will come back by magic carpet when left on any boat.

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So a criminal being fleeced by criminals. Where's the story? This is standard practice under Thainess. They deserve each other.

The woman is no criminal trying to make a living selling at a small profit items she bought and paid for. The police are the criminals extorting money at the wrong end of the deal. Arrest the illegal copy makers and the police and get the country civilized.

Oh, on second thought arrest the illegal occupants of offices belonging to elected officials. What a concept.

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Rules out Cha Am for retirement!! Running out of places awfully quickly

I'd probably look into Antarctica if that's your criteria. Not because there's no chance of violent death, simply because there are so few human beings down there. Up until 2002, Norfolk Island was looking good then some idiot Kiwi had to go and ruin that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janelle_Patton

So is the jerk in prison in Sydney or on Norfolk Island?

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Should n't be all that need help register, Those working don't need help are working. So why would someone who dose'nt need help register? Is it me or dose the world spin in different direction in Thailand?

different direction but same same

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Reading this forum I am often overwhelmed by the negativity of these people, and the they're all out to get you sort of attitude. Often leaves me wondering: what the <deleted> they are doing here. Or am I still wearing rose colored glasses after 24 years in Thailand?

Yes you are but you will get over it if you stay long enough.

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Of course you mean

Remember Amanda Knox found innocent and released and returned home? How many times do they get to torture someone by dragging one into court and when found innocent just start it all over again. The Italians are showing they have not become civilized since they had innocents thrown to the lions in the colluseums. What a disgusting lot. Boycott Anything Italian. No more Italian anything .

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Adul said police suspected that the man might suffer from depression because he had chronic illness.

This is always what the police say, even before any autopsy.

More like he had no home to return to, was broke, and started "teaching" to put food on the table.

Sure would be nice if some organization could become a TV "sponsor," and make TV members aware of a number for a help line.

I, for one, would contribute to the cost of repatriating guys like this. The incidents are getting closer and closer.

I also believe that the US embassy will repatriate a citizen. They will try to recover the money but it seems so much better than jumping.

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This is very sad. I don't know if this frequent jumping habit speaks more of Thailand or Western counties.

It speaks to the demographic of middle aged males who commit suicide. The two age groups (for EU, Canada, Australia) males with the most pronounced suicide rates are 80 years+ and 45-49 years. It comes as no surprise then that these 45-49 year old males figure prominently in foreigner suicides in Thailand.

When I lived in Niagara Falls there were an awful lot of jumpers over the falls as well. There were so many that the media stopped reporting them as a matter of policy.

I met one of them. he went to commit suicide but changed his mind just before going over the edge. He went down and started swimming like hell. He did survive, of course, I met him. He had a small portable display station with pictures of the falls, himself of course and magazine stories and news reports. He was a nice chap. Good to talk to so I left him a nice tip. So now you know, out of work, go over the falls and tell people about it. No need to jump of a building. Just a nice vigorous swim in July or August. Make sure many tourist are watching and place an anonymous call to the police and news media.

PS, when his gig runs its course I am sure he can get a job as a swim instructor.

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The laws are too strict, too protectionist and too open to interpretation and abuse. On some cases they are just ridiculous such as people flying in for s board meeting needing a permit. It is anal.

Why can't Thais stand on their Own merits with the competition rather than need mother Thsiland to protect their useless asses. They have a huge advantage living here, local contacts and so on. Do they really need quite so much protection for every silly little thing?

Above all, china falang must understand Thai language = beautiful language. China photographer no understand Thainess is the most best.

Good Thai solution, let china photographer stand next to Thai photographer but only pay Thai photographer. Is the Thai solution. everybody happy because Chinese come to Thailand to give money to Thai.

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I am assuming in this case the photographer is supposedly living and working in Phuket and didn't just come over with the wedding party.

Can anyone tell me what the situation is for freelance photographers, lets say you do travel photography and you want to do a piece on Phuket for a magazine. You are not a Thai national. Can you come over for the assignment and do you get a work permit?

No, you can not come over for the assignment and get a work permit. You must leave your equipment and money at the airport and get on the first flight back.

And you are cautioned to write only favorable text about your Thai experience or you can never come back. Its the Thai way and the quicker you learn the better for you.

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Hmm, when I first heard of this I thought he was filming inside the venue, now I hear he was outside.

These security people seem to think they have a right to tell people what they can and cannot do in a public place.

Boy did this guys life get messed up.... but the Thai guard died!

So true. It happened outside at 12:30am. Not a good time to start filming controversy outside a night club. When asked to stop filming the best response would have been to comply. Starting an argument and brandishing a knife leads to a predictable outcome. One man is dead and the other has perhaps the biggest problem on his hands that he has ever had or ever will have. The security guard was doing his job. He has family thatt will miss him sorely. Us, expats better think before asserting some dubious rights.

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3-4 a year on same spot, sound suppernaturel, something about that place , like the bridge in scotland or england where the dogs always jump off.

need to be investigated, not by the thai police offcourse

Soon they will have to collect a jumpers cleanup fee to be paid in advance but in the currency of the jumpers choice.

RIP.