gomangosteen

This occurs all down the eastern coast - similar here in Chanthaburi all it takes is a strong wind to mess up otherwise clean beach - I'm going swimming today at Chao Lao and expect there'll be a line along the high tide mark of squid boat lights, buoys, bits of net, plastic bottles, and always a shoe - usually encrusted with little shellfish they've been at sea for some time. Up to the resorts and restaurants along Chao Lao beach to clean up, but the other main beach at Laem Sing has council workers who 'sweep' the beach every morning, not even a windblown leave escapes their attention.

Agree with you on that one! For around six years until Aug 2022 I was working in NZ on 3mth and 6mth contracts, return flights varied from under NZ$1000 (best was $899 - so good I bought two) to NZ$2200 depending on how much in advance I could book, and seasonal fare increases, never gave a thought to not flying here to try and save a few $. I like the national park example. Read a review of the National Maritime Museum where the farang said he did remain in his car 'on principle' because family paid 40 baht and it was 100 for him. Must have been a fun ride home with a sulky old git at the wheel. Back to the NZ Embassy fee and service change - disappointing they will no longer accept in-person applications as I always found them exceptionally helpful (convenient as I was working in Wellington), business was quiet enough that the last time I was there the person at the counter went through my documents, put ticks and initials on each page while i waited and confirmed all OK and it would be approved, pick up in two working days, and received an email the day after, confirming I could collect the following morning.

Even Batman showed up for yesterday's screening of Dune 2 in English with Thai subtitles at Major Cineplex, Central Chanthaburi

The Chinese New Year dragon was still there last Wednesday, but removed when we were there yesterday 3 March 2024

Local fun at a temple fair yesterday, Wat Khamong, Sunday 3 March 2024

Our wild area we've chosen not to develop too much, I cleared some of the medium height scrub/trees, thinned the larger trees and removed all the vines and their ongoing regrowth. Provided more sunlight and clean air flight paths around a pond about 15x10m. Over time the wildlife has increased, various water birds, two white egrets, racquet tail drongos, coucals, various other little ground birds who seem to prefer walking to flying. And your mynahs (prefer the h ones) birds. Add squirrels who help themselves to bananas and papaya. One water monitor about 1.2m set up residence mid last year I'm less fond of, though I won't mind if it takes out the wandering cats, or the pigeons.

Are we just lucky? Six years old next month our Samsung 10kg gets used every night - four adults. In that time just one repair, a solenoid last year, cost 400b to repair. Before that a Samsung 6.5kg which was very overworked, died after seven years. Good enough to stay with same brand.

There's a motorbike in there . . . mobile beach clothes and toy sales at Laem Sing Beach Chanthaburi, 24 Feb 2024

Went along to watch two races each on Saturday and Sunday; ideal conditions for racing on both days.

Photos of the accident scene from Facebook; not on one of the steeper sections; rolling like that it's almost a surprise more than one didn't die. Back on its wheels showing the passenger seating

I'd like to send one there We have one over the wall in our 'jungle' area, about 1.2m / 4ft. Knew we had a visitor - heard splashes in the pond - it's quite bold and doesn't scare easy (well, not as easy as I scare). Just as long as it stays over there and doesn't decide to take up residence in the garage.

No, not another one. Already:

Mine on Wednesday (Chanthaburi) Passport, completed TM47. The tear-off TM30 receipt is stapled in back of my passport, don't know if he looked at it, just noted in computer and I was on my way at 8.32am (first customer of the day).

I was just 'surprised' ... It's quite a percentage from a population just over 5m. We're not in a high overseas tourist area, the only NZer I've met in Thailand since Covid was last year - at the NZ Embassy (a likely place!). We've hosted various NZers over the years, mostly here on extended stopovers to or from UK/Europe; all were short stay visa exempt, there's no numbers I can't find any figures on how many actually visit on longer SETV or METV.

Swim Cycle Run. Yes, a former triathlete. Yesterday completed a February 1000km cycle challenge - reached 1012km on my hybrid MTB (ie not a 'road' bike), over 8200km on these wheels since buying in May. We (+ wife) did two running events in February, that's six since November, have three more booked through to May, a dead spot in April with just one but missed out on that one as the max entry number limit was reached. Evenings we'll often be walking at the local park / sports complex while daughter uses their gym. Swim at local 25m pool and more often in the sea as a break on cycle rides, beach is a nice 36km loop ride from home. No gym, prefer simple outdoors exercise.

From NZ's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: "From January to July 2023, 46,925 New Zealanders entered Thailand. Extrapolated to a full 12 months, this will equate to around 80,000 visitors in 2023, down on the 112,680 who entered Thailand pre-COVID in 2019."

^ open eight weeks each year, open Feb 10, closes April 9 2024. Bookings required online, reserve a queue number in advance via the KCKQue application, done in blocks of six hours with limits of 6,000 per 6hr, yes that's right maximum capacity is 24,000 per day. Most popular is midnight to 6am to see the sunrise before descending. There is a fleet of 4wd pickups to shuttle people up/down. We first went in 2012 it was relatively quiet midweek. Would like to go again it's only 30km from us, but daughter went last year her experience enough to put us off, hours of waiting, overcrowded as multiple coach tours arrive from Bangkok and beyond, and crazy pickup drivers hurrying to collect their next load of passengers.

Singapore is not "a Muslim country"

I handed in a new TM30 to the local immigration office, hasn't been any problem with me doing my ongoing 90-day reports here.

My in-person 90-day report at Chanthaburi Immigration this morning, had other things to do in the city also. Too big a queue at nearby Amazon so went straight to the office 8.20 before they were open; #1 in the queue which had stretched to three when the door opened 8.29. Completed, and exited the building 8.31, a new 'personal best', back on the motorbike at 8.32am. Painless.

From the NZ Thai embassy site: Currently NZ $60 for SETV, and NZ $270 METV Proof of funds $2000 (44,000b) and $9000 (198,000b) respectively. SETV must have proof of outgoing flight not more than 60 days after intended arrival - bothersome for someone intending to apply for a 30 day extension. But still the option of 30 days visa-exempt. Minimal impact, more interesting is whether they intend to increase fees from other countries by a similar %.

Safe swimming zone for groups of visiting school children between Chao Lao and Laem Sadet beaches, Chanthaburi Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Temple festival at Wat Khamong (amphur Tha Mai, Chanthaburi) on the weekend of 2-3 March 2024 featuring longtail boat races Wat Khamong: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DjKnGnQDCuUkc9qX7

No boats permitted on the water today, still many to arrive when i was there this morning. Course marked out, good visibility from along the beach and looks to be ideal racing conditions.

This weekend at Laem Sing beach Chanthaburi, two days racing Race schedule