BV70

MSC Cooking School in either Thong Lo or Ekamai has a good reputation for training Thai chefs and issues formal qualifications certified by the Thai Ministry of Labor.  The school specialises in Thai, as opposed to Western, food. Maybe a worth a try?

Great.  Thanks for the replies.  It's not so much the leaving Thailand but the return, with an overstay stamp, that concerns me..

I've just extended my tourist visa at immigration, which gives me until 13 September.  My flight out of Thailand is on 16th.

Should I do a border run to get the extra days to see me through to 16th September, or will immigration be OK with a 3 day overstay?

I come back to Thailand in October and don't want any problems returning.

Thanks in advance..

Lucky you. I'm on my 2nd refusal of extension. "More photos and paperwork needed." And I use an experienced and now exasperated lawyer. It's costing me a small fortune to return to Hong Kong for a new non b every 3 months.

The original post was about sending mail from Thailand, rather than deliveries to Thai addresses from abroad. Either way it appears that, unless you use the tracking service here, you may aswell not bother.

Spend a couple extra THB and go with EMS for all posts internal or outside LOS.

This poster has not had any problems since they enacted that service.

how much extra do you pay for EMS? On enquiry I was told that, if I wanted my mail to arrive within 7 days, I'm looking at around 1300b- 2000b, as opposed to 50b for 2 weeks.

I should also mention that I've never had problems with post cards, only sealed envelope cards.

Interesting replies, thanks. I've been warned of potential confusion between the UK and Ukraine, so I've always written out United Kingdom in full although never Great Britain. Perhaps I should try this next time.

Regarding cost, the 2 week delivery option costs around 50b but when I've asked the cost of a weekly service the price quoted has always been just short of 2000b. One poster says about 1300b which sounds likely.

Having lived and worked in Thailand for the last 3 years I've sent a number of birthday cards, Xmas cards, etc to the UK via Thailand's postal service. That is, I've paid for a stamp and confirmed the cost will cover postage to the UK over the counter, paid, observed the stamps being stuck on the envelope along the with airmail sticker and left my mail with the service staff to do the rest. For smaller items such as cards I've refused the tracking service which bumps the cost up from around 50b to 2000b. Who could lose a card in the mail I thought?

Well of all the mail I've sent, a grand total of 2 birthday cards have arrived at their destination. None of my Xmas cards arrived, I'd say approximately 8 birthday cards similarly have not reached the UK. The final straw was last week when I discovered my electoral registration form (in printed addressed envelope) had not arrived after 6 weeks. I've tried 3 different post offices to eliminate the possibility of one office mishandling mail. It's made no difference.

What's going on here? Have I been unlucky? Is the international mail service a waste of time? I understand I could and maybe should have paid for a tracking service for more important items but, for a simple birthday card...

On the flip side, mail from the UK to my home address in Thailand tends to arrive in one week. I've never had a lost item coming from the UK, only when attempting to mail something out of Thailand. I can't believe there's the possibility of a postage scam for a few baht savings.

I got a single entry from Phnom Penh last week. It was a really simple process. I used an "agent" (actually one of the security guards) outside the embassy to speed up the process and got my visa in 24 hours.

They asked me for my outbound ticket (leaving Thailand). I didn't have one (said something about traveling overland to Singapore) so instead they asked for proof of finances. Luckily I had my up-to-date bank book with me that they photocopied. Similarly they wanted proof of my address in Thailand, which I also had with me. It's a good idea to get your documents photocopied in advance as they'll charge you a premium to do it there. Same as getting your photos done in advance. It's also probably worth saying that my passport is full of Thai visas stretching over 3 years. They didn't bat an eyelid at them. But I did use the guy outside to help speed up the process and make sure my application was accepted on the day. He wanted US$10 and a cigarette for his services, which I thought was good value. Collected my passport the next day as advised, no problems.

I've always found the Kai Bae area has a good mix of expats and locals and makes a useful base from which to explore the island. Personally I'd avoid the crowds and expense of White Sands and the backpacker vibe of Lonely Beach. Kai Bae is central to both locations. You can reach White Sands by scooter for a night out as the island is easy to navigate. The only reason I'd visit White Sands is to go to the famous Oodies Bar for some great live blues music though. The Eastern coast is much quieter and has limited accommodation but worth a day's bike ride through the hills. You can find cheap but basic long-term rentals around Kai Bae from around 5000b a month and most 'local' expats in this area have all the contacts you'll need for a more permanent base.

If the OP told us what country issued his passport then we just might be able to recommend getting additional pages for his current passport

The UK mate, thanks.

I'm on a triple entry tourist visa and have just entered Thailand for the second time on my current visa. I've been traveling throughout the SE Asia region for the past 18 months and the haphazard approach issuing visas in the various immigration ports means my passport now only has 1 blank page at the very end, although several if you count the pages that immigration officials have skipped before sticking in their respective visa and stamps. I have visas from Cambodia (x3); Laos (x2); Vietnam (x1) on top of the 4 Thailand tourist visas. I also have stamps from 2 visits to the US,2 for Barbados, one for St Lucia and one for Cuba. My question is, am I going to struggle when I do my third entry, baring in mind my final page will be taken up by the visa from the next country I plan to visit (possibly Burma). Will officials be sensible and start to use the odd pages that have been left blank, or will they expect to use fresh pages each time? I realise I will have to apply for a new passport soon, even though it has 4 years to run, but while my current visa is valid I don't want to nullify this by having my current passport voided during the application process in getting a new one. Any ideas on how I should play this to avoid immigration complications? Thanks in advance.

I second Apoteka, Soi 11

News of a decline in the euro and virtual crash of the rouble appears to have taken attention away from the declining value of sterling against the thai baht.

Sterling appears to be in free fall, declining from 55b/£ to around 48b today.

I'm no currency expert but I'm hoping for advice from anyone with a bit of knowledge of the exchange markets in regards to whether to hold on to the sterling I've brought into Thailand and wait for an improvement, or bite the bullet and cash in now.

I have taken my mom and my eldest sister around Thailand. Both of them were physically fit.

Wouldn't do it again. The heat, the food, the toilets, the traffic... Too much of a challenge for the elderly who prefer NOT to leave their comfort zone.

Give them a stay at a nice comfy resort instead of travelling to ruins.

Thanks but no. They would hate a resort holiday. They usually take walking or driving holidays in the US and Europe and like to be active, this will be their first visit to Asia though. They're not into beaches and dig culture, nature and good food and are pretty sold on a trek north having researched their options, which will hopefully be cooler, have less traffic and decent food. Toilets are likely to pose problems but they've spent a lot of time in France, which also have squat bogs, and the bum gun is just a rudimentary bidet to most.

My parents came here at 84 w/many physical problems… we hired a van - and they didn't seem to compalin any more than on a usual day… Are your parents particulalry infirm. I have had visitors in their mid 70s and they have no problems w/anything at all… if they are reasonably fit, a bus trip from Bkk to Sukhothai will not be a problem… there are some ruins in Kamphaeng Phet if they are history buffs…

Thanks. No, they are both fit and healthy and quite young for their age, although time is catching up with them (as it is with us all!!). Their only problem with be boredom on a journey over 4 hours - and stiff backs.

Dear Viewer - Take a look at my posts under my " Traveling by Train " section here on Thai Visa! I have done this train journey and its fab!

Brilliant. Thanks. Will do!

Sorry for not responding sooner but I trust you've all had a relaxing Xmas break. Thanks for your answers guys, all are useful and I'll try and respond to those that ask specific questions...

1.your prime Qs are answered in guidebooks.

2.there are No trains nor station at Sukh-(see1), so its bus anyway for last part from Phitsanuloke, or hirecar

3.even trains-but not all, have AC, extra fee payable, to get them out of heat

4.to circumvent all that and to give service to the many who also do not [1], there are tourist minivans (maybe only in hi season) between the 2-they will offer (bar a hirecar) the fastest connection, followed by the proud of Thailands roads: the VIP class 1 intercity coach

5.no, there is nothing really of interest for normal tourists on the rail between the 2, maybe except Lopburi, which is famous for rambling monkeys and thus not very visitor friendly Lopb other sites are quite far out of town and seasonal-the lake and the sunflower fields

6.alternative for those who value assumed noproblems more as money, is to fly on BKKair-but alas for this, they still use BKK=Swampy and not easier DMK. But hey-think roundabout-do it reverse then and get off at Ayut.

7.double think again: why go to see 2 towns which fame consist only of old but renovated= make look like new ruins?

Thanks for this. I'm aware that guidebooks offer solutions but a quick glance at, say, Lonely Planet, shows there's no information for this area. Similarly a google search returns very little as you suggest in point 5 of your reply, so I thought this would be a good fall back option with real people responding in real time, so to speak... As regards the purpose of visiting two similar towns, it's a case of breaking a train journey up and the idea is to head east from Ayutthaya to Khao Yai NP for a few nights, before returning by train to take to head north. But, as you say, if there's nothing interesting to see or do along that line then Ayutthaya and Sukothai appear to offer the best options before continuing up to Chiang Mai. I think my Mum would freak out at the sight of so many monkeys in Lopburi that the plan is to give that place a wide berth. They don't want to fly and have read a lot about the train journeys in Thailand and are pretty set on this mode of transport.

I'm accompanying my elderly parents to northern Thailand next month and I'm looking to break the train journey up into manageable sections.

I had thought initially of going from BKK to Ayutthaya and then onto Sukothai but I'm concerned that the long journey between Ayutthaya and Sukothai will be too much for them. Is there anything worth seeing and stopping off for en route? I've looked at places such as Nakon Sawan but, from what I've read, there really doesn't appear to be much there to keep them interested. I'm wondering if anyone here had any advice or ideas of things to see and do on the way to Sukothai, baring in mind I'm travelling with a couple in their mid-70s who I would imagine will already be struggling with the heat.

Thanks in advance...

Thanks for your replies guys, which I'm going to print off and show him. Sounds like the Laos trip and O visa is his only option but that at least gives him some time to try and find work. We all know how difficult that can be though, right? I've read here that even with teaching opportunities are fewer once you're pushing 40 (he's 44) and is educated.

He's not the arrogant type in my opinion, just someone who would fail to get his head around any individual or authority that doesn't display a compassionate side when it comes to kids. And yes, I'm sure he'll want to make 100% sure the child is his but I understand said lady is keen to marry before giving birth, so as not to lose face with her family. This obviously involves a huge amount of trust on his side for, as far as I know,there's no way of establishing the child's father in the womb.

I originally posted this in the Marriage & Divorce forum but have since been recommended to repost this in the Visa forum. Thanks.

Posted 2014-12-10 16:06:07

Get married and visit on Non-Imm Multi-O visas. AFAIK you don't need the 400k for these but have to bounce borders every 90 days and can't work on that.

If he wants to work, pickings are small (basically teacher) and he'll have to get a Non-Imm B and work permit for that, as well as requiring at a minimum a TEFL cert.

For a non-immigrant O visa, doesn't he have to be earning in excess of $2000 per month over a minimum period of one year though?

So I know this guy. He's been holidaying in Thailand on and off for the past 5 years. Has a girlfriend here that he 'takes care' of. On his latest visit she drops the pregnancy bombshell. Now this guy is a decent sort. He wants to do the right thing - get married, raise the kid, settle in Thailand, be a grown up. No problem in that, except, he currently doesn't have a pot to piss in. I've told him that, as far as I know, he needs at least 400k in the bank before he can get the necessary paperwork that allows him to stay here as a married man. He barely has 40k. He's adamant that the authorities here will not break up his relationship/marriage and leave the child fatherless and will allow him to provide for his new family by allowing him to earn an income here as the recognised father and husband of Thai nationals. He believes it would be inhumane if he was refused the ability to provide for them based solely on his lack of savings. He puts up a good argument to back his case and thinks what I'm telling him is illogical. He's the honest type who's had a mishap and genuinely wants to make things work for the best but doesn't have the 400k to allow him to remain here and do the right thing.

I genuinely feel for the guy but also feel that he's in for a shock. What are his options?

It's a tourist attraction.

This is about all there is to it.

I've worked as a GRO for a number of smaller hotels/guesthouses and run safe 'tours' to the infamous parts of towns for foreign visitors. There tend to be more straight Western women than men wanting to join in lately, although still a high number of Western lesbians visiting go-go bars. The straight girls prefer the ladyboy bars but want to see the bars that have made Bangkok famous for the last 50 years too.

Also the massive decline in numbers of visitors to Nana/Cowboy/Patpong an BKK in general over the last 12 months makes Western ladies stand out more than before.

Chiang Rai is one of he most beautiful provinces in Thailand. Unfortunately the government spends it's time promoting Chiang Mai. Chaing Mai has become flooded with girly bars and junk stores. The Chinese see to like it. With a million people down in one hole in Chiang Mai my desire to go there is about nil. I do like fishing for the big ones in Bo Saeng.

Let's keep it a secret eh? You just know it will only head the way of the more popular provinces should it receive too much attention from TAT.