Morty

Yep just another foreigner that think he knows it all after living a few years in Thailand.

Gimme a break, OK?

This is about people that do not know about bribery and such, like me before.

Is that understood?

Alex, I loved yor story, but don't be a prune, writhe up the ###### thing and release our tensions

Post the whole story Man!

the suspension is killing me.

Morty

waining with bathed breath

I take it this will also apply to the parliament building and surrounding area?

:D :D

I take a look around me and I just can't see any crisis, the GROWTH rate is slower than some previous years. but its still growth - I think there's still plenty of room for the Asian economies to nearly catch up to for example Japan.

Rubbish

IMHO you can't compare Japan and Thailand.

Just wait until the repo guys shows up, and then you have your growth. A country relying on 70% export and foreign investment, only has two choices: take their losses, or start their print presses. In other contries that is called a crise, with a capitol C

Buy both the hose and the regulator, that's what I did, and now I have the original model should it ever be needed.

PS!

They sell the sets at all the shopping malls, and anywhere they sell gas cockers.

hope this helps

Morty

Anyone else had problems with the electricity today?

Mine worked, it just wouldn't run anything powerful, like my washing machine, computers and stuff . Paranoid as I am, I thought someone stole my electricity, but appearently it's the Banglamung "power monkeys" at work. A good thing it doesn't happen to often, the working that is

Morty

I understand that Thai politicos want to cull out farang 'undesirables'...

Personally, based on my admittedly limited insight into the way the Thai government operates, I believe it is not so much the politicians, ie the government in a narrow sense (cabinet members, ministers, deputy ministers), but the bureaucratic apparatus, ie the administration, that deserves credit for visa policies and the rules for extension of stay.

The bureaucratic apparatus keeps growing over time and the ever-increasing number of higher level officials, desirous to justify their existence, play at modifying old rules and creating new ones. These officials, ie in the present case the officials of the Royal Thai Police or, in a narrower sense of the Immigration Bureau, are not the ones who will have to implement these rules at the entry points, and for this reason the rules are not always very practical. The rule of maximum 90 visa-exempt days within six months is a good example, and some of the extension rules could also have been written more clearly.

--

Maestro

Samran

I regard you as a knowlegable person, witch I tend to agree with most of the time. but this time time I regard your coomment as utterly crap, just to not make any misunderstandings, I'm here on a one year visa (non O on the strenght of being married) and I make 4 times the minimum required to qualify for a one year ext. Still I have problems getting my visa, they will give it to me in the end, but I have to jump to all sorts of hoops to make it happen. So saying that as long as you have the right documentatation, you would be fine, is at least an understatement, or you not beeing knowlegdeble of the current situation.

But each to their own I guess

Driving in Thailand isn't that bad, but you need to grasp the fact that Thai drivers seems to think they're alone on the road. I'm driving here every day, and I have adapted the mindset I think everyone who operate a vehicle here should have, I always look at the cars/moto's in front of me, and try to figure out the most dangerous and stupid thing that could arise from from the situation. I then, simply, prepare for that to happen, and more often then not, it saves my day.

What really makes Thai traffic bad, is everyones determination, especially when it's combined with lack of driving skills, to get to their destination (often with unsecured goods loaded into their pickup). It seems that no one cares about the other traffic, since their "mission" is more important than anyone else's (like the motorcycle guy, driving wrong way, on the highway). One more thing to be learned, is that road signs, are mere suggestions, an example of that is the Suhkumvit in Pattaya, when you come southbound towards Pattaya klang, the signs suggest you should be in the far right lane to do the turn, interestingly, the turn can also be done from the next lanes as well, but there the sign suggest you should drive straight .

We also have the U-turns, a U-turn is a wonderful invention, with a surprisingly wide range of uses (eating,sleeping, selling things etc.), they seems to be the starting point for "wrong way" drivers on Suhkumvit. Here in Pattaya we're blessed with U-turns with an accelerating lane, so that you can get your car up to traveling speed before you cross in to the fast lane. Again this is just a suggestion on how to access the highway , the preferred method here in Thailand, is to stop your car, preferably in a manner that blocks the cars behind you, so they won't be allowed into the acceleration lane. You then wait....... wait for the four lane highway to be clear of traffic. When this eventually happens, you cross all the lanes, and when you reach the "snail" lane, you choose your direction (right way or wrong) .

If one can adapt to these things, driving in Thailand is "easy" .

Are they "Good Or Bad Drivers?" It depends on who the judge is, in a Thai setting, I would say that they drive pretty good, from an international point of view, they are a disaster. But then again, if you're going to drive here, be prepared to adapt to the Thai way, cuz it ain't gonna change anytime soon methinks

Morty

As a Norwegian myself, I guess the "crab" did a big miscalculation, she could just have waited until the guy was finished with his drinking and he would have managed the passing out by himself Probably wouldn't have remembered anything and just written of his losses due to his bender.

Waisting drugs on someone who probably would voluntarily knock themselves out, and getting in trouble with the police as well, seems like a blunder to me .

Hopefully she stole his rose tinted spectacles as well, but I guess he have spares, or he knows where to get new ones .

Morty

My take on this is you've been suckered big time, or you are a troll. If you're not a troll, my advice to you is, don't look for wife material on a online dating site. If you want to find a Thai GF/wife the only option is to go to Thailand and spend time here. If you're not a total jerk, you will eventually meet someone that matches you, and vice versa.

Back to your current situation, since you've been scammed I would think immigration in your country will take appropriate action if you explain your situation to them. I wouldn't for one moment think about your "wifes" situation since she did what she did only to get the benefits of your country's immigration laws, and using you as a tool to succeed. Get her out of your life ASAP, and take this experience as a lesson on how not to get involved with women, regardless of nationality.

Regarding her loosing face.... well, she deserves that for what she did, and that's not your problem anyway.

As a last note, without necessarily rubbing it in, what the hel_l where you thinking?

I want to get a TV extension from Bangkok Immigration. The problem I have is that I will not be in Bangkok at the time when my visa runs out, so was wondering if it is possible for someone to get it for me, or is this a definate no no! I've tried looking on the Thai Immigration website and I only found what you need.

If anyone knows the score, let me know, cheers!

Go to the immigration office closest to where you will be, you don't need to do this in bangkok.

See the sticky topics, there you will find a complete list of immi. offices in the kingdom.

All immi. offices are enabled to extend a tourist visa on the spot. If you have a 60 day visa you will get an additional 30 days, and the fee will be 1900 baht .

Hope this helps

Morty

Look I may be wrong here, but I am sure "Lopburi" mentioned that if your income is earned abroad and it meets the 40,000 baht per month criteria, and you have the embassy letter, plus evidence to back that up if the immigration ask for it, then that should be sufficient. I do not know of any requirement to monthly transfer 40k to a Thai bank account. That is not my reading of Police order 606/7.17 anyway.

On 22 May I am going to Soi Suanplu for annual extension armed with my recent embassy letter, so will let all know. Thanks

I can assure you that you are correct, but the immigration officers might see it differently, and they're the ones stamping your PP. so be prepared for some extra hoops to jump trough. For me it turned out OK in the end, but there seems to be all sorts of misinterpretations at the local immigration offices around the kingdom. Since you're going to Suan Plu I think you will get what you want, Pattaya, on the other hand, seems to enjoy making problems even though all the papers are in order

Good luck

Morty

When the topic is gore and nudity on frontpages of Thai newspapers, TV members want the government to get rid of it. When the government tries to do something, it's being ridiculed.

Their methods might be laughable but their goals aren't.

Telling teenagers that their sex lives should not be restricted is also education in morality, it's just an opposite lesson.

You can't leave people to themselves either, human nature is degrading without uplifting social pressure.

We need more "don't drink and drive" campaigns and more anti gambling campaigns. Those are not personal problems, and neither is teenage sex, unwanted pregnancies and abortions. No man is an island and society has a right to protect its members from vice.

I think you're missing the point here, morals in Thailand are defined different than in the west. I don't think this has anything to do with sex. what they are saying is: "It will place more importance to moral values and merit making than wealth and power. " witch I understand to be: poor people don't try to be rich, poor people don't try to get power, leave that to us, the unelected government. basically accept your fate and don't try to change it.

I, for one, think that is scary.

Morty

Regarding the embassy letter, I can report that it is not enough to satisfy immigration. ATM they want to see you transferring the same amount that is mentioned in your embassy letter, read my post regarding this earlier. To me it's obvious that they are increasing the requirements, but they are doing it step by step. My extension was rejected even though I'd transferred 1.5 mill. baht last year, and the reason: my embassy letter stated that I made more money then I actually had transferred. The officer in charge was the lady mentioned in an earlier post here at Pattaya immigration. So my conclusion is that we should all be concerned, since the immigration officers seems to be trying their very best to misinterpret their orders, or generally place hurdles in our way. And believe me, it has nothing to do with excluding the so called undesirables. My guess is that we, as foreigners with our foreign income, are capable of taking better care of our "poor" families and educating our kids to a better degree than the establishment in Thailand, and it pi$$es them off.

I hope I'm wrong but the signs are there.

Morty

Bingo why don't you go for a walk with your sandwich board. " the end of the world is nigh" all you seem to post are the same and now boring links and messages.

I think we get your point of view. Why do I get the impression by the persistence of these posts that you would dearly love to see these things you consantly harp on about come to pass?

If it does a lot of people are gonna get hurt and it'll be mostly the poor, as usual. And yes I do think Thialand are going to have problems but I won't be happy about it or shouting I told you so.

Why are you posting here if you don't understand/care. The issues discussed here is purely the result of a non elected government driving the Thai economy down the drains, it's not someones "point of view" , expats who work and do business in this country need this information to make their decisions. belive it or not, there are people out there considering investments in Thailand, and for them, this information is vital. if you, on the other hand, get your income from abroad, you should be happy about the state of things. The downside is increased unemployment and rising crime, and that should worry us all. If you think that is boring, you sir, are blatantly ignorant because it will effect you too.

just my 2 satang

Morty

My live-in GF has a Son back in the Village. He is 14yrs old. Three months ago she loaned him her New Meo so that he could get to school on time.

When she got it back last week is was in a he-ll of a state ie Panels Missing. Rear Brake not working. Kick starter missing. Mirrors missing. Damaged forks. Engine Valve burned out etc etc.

Now she wants me to pay for the repairs!

I say no-way. Am I right?

I would have had a "chat" with the GF and told her that we pay, but I would also tell her that the consequence is that we have to reduce our spendings to be able to. That way the GF will understand that giving money to her son will impact her monthly spendings, and hopefully she will relay that message to her son. what I'm trying to say is that not paying will make you look bad, and paying unconditionally will make you look like a fool. the main point is to get the GF to understand that money has to be allocated from somewhere. I'm sure that when the GF sees that the repair will hurt her ability to spend money, she will demand an attitude adjustment from her son, and you will be coming out of the situation as a person of good heart, and willing to help. Hopefully this would also solve future money problems with in laws.

just my 2 satang

Morty

Hi all, im looking to buy a large stainless steel BBQ.

Where is the best place to start looking?

Im not too familiar with pattaya, any help would be much appreciated. Cheers

You could try HomePro on suhkumvit, located on the south side of Big C, Pattaya tai. I saw some nice ones there a while ago

I wish people would get it into their thick skulls that most of this Thai losing face is boll@ocks and it doesnt apply in ALL circumstances. If someone is ripping you off - you can make them lose face. It doesnt matter.

What are you going to do when someone puts a gun to your head, fool? Nothing in case they lose face?

What about making ME lose face by ripping me off. If its so much part of Thai culture then it works BOTH WAYS !

I wasnt being confrontational sitting on a songthaew. I paid my fare up front. HE stopped the bus after a few kilometres and DEMANDED more money from all the passengers. I was just sat there minding my own business ! And digging my heels in about something that is plainly wrong and ILLEGAL didnt get me into more trouble - i didnt pay more. But all the scando's did.

Look i live in Phuket, in high season it's full of Scandinavians. I know loads of business owners as my g/f and her extended family are involved with the tourism business.

Mate - they are laughing at you! They know they can rip the Scandinavians off the most because they dont complain. The people i know compare notes and play this as a game! AT YOUR EXPENSE BUDDY. They know you wont compain because you read in the lonely planet that you shouldt make a fuss.

. But they darent try it on with the Russians. Thats because the Russians just wont accept it.

Work it out yourself mate.

What's wrong with you pal? did someone pee on your breakfast this morning. I couldn't care less about how you behave yourself in Thailand, but again you are blaming me personally and ALL Scandinavians in general for your trouble. As I have said in an earlier post, I live here with my wife and kids, I don't go on holidays to Phuket, and I don't get ripped of either. As far as I can understand, you sir, are an accident waiting to happen. And if you don't think face is an issue, you can tell that to the poor Welshman, who was attacked by a tuk tuk driver in Phuket, for trying to do what you suggest is the "proper" way of handling the situation. As for you not grasping the face factor, is a totally different issue.

BTW. the OP was asking advice on being ripped of at a restaurant, not about what nationalities he should blame for it.

If you can't contribute to that, I respectfully suggest you <deleted>, and crawl back under your rock.

Morty

I was over-charged once in thr Farang Connection in Surin. I didn't know anything about it till the next day when the governor, Marty, gave me 100 baht back and explained the girls had made a mistake the night before. Such is life.

I felt kind of cheated as well, when I was there, I had come up from Pattaya, driving all night, to attend in a funeral, the following evening I decided to go over there to say hallo to Martin, and he was not there Anyway since I hadn't slept for a good 30 hours, and had my share of the customary Lao Kao in the village during the day, I got royally pissed in there. So bad I had to get my brother in law to come and pick me up and drive me to Thong Tarin but as far as I know there was no overcharging, except me "overcharging" myself. Well I will try it again, maybe I will be luckier next time .

I just bought a filter coffee machine from Home World next to Big C Sukhumvit, makes a pot of up to about 10 cups.

The lady told me it was 2000 baht with a free Electrolux toaster.

I then noticed they were for sale for 1500 baht without a free toaster, but I still went for the free toaster gig

I had noticed the same Electrolux coffee machine for sale in Carrefor at 1300 baht but couldn't be bothered to go all the way back, and anyway, they never offered a "free" toaster

what have happened to you kurgen, I thought you only drank Tiger beer

With the new 180/90 day rule I'm keen on sorting out a Visa that will allow me to stay in the Kingdom all year round.

If I can't sort out a Non-Imm O visa, I then have 2 options:

To set up a company and get a Non Imm B visa or marry the missus!

Since you don't need to work, it seems marriage is the least of two evils

good luck

Morty

To get an extension on a non. immi. O will depend on your age, and reason it was granted. If you got it for visiting a wife that is a Thai national, you could get it extended by showing 40 000 baht family income (you or your wife, or combined) If you're over fifty years old you can get it extended by showing 800 000 baht in a Thai bank for three months prior to application or showing proof of 65 000 in monthly income, and no need for wife. If you go for the income, it has to documented by your embassy if it's foreign income, or by tax receipts if it's generated in Thailand.

If/when you get the extension your old visa is void, and you have to apply for a reentry permit at your local immigration office, these comes in single or multiple entries. I don't recall the prices but I think a single entry is 1000 baht and multiple is 3800 baht

to bee 100% sure wait til Lopburi3 answers, he's the wizard on visas

Morty

Thanks for painting all of us with that broad brush!!

For your information, I'm scandinavian, Norwegian as a matter of fact, and rest assured I don't pay "anything they want"

But then again I don't act like a tourist, I live here.

My experience is that if you get ripped of, it's because your behavior indicate you are not familiar with the "Thai" way of doing things.

BTW I have never threatened anyone with the police to get my way, and I can assure you that's not the "Thai" way of doing things .

Not anti-scandinavian and not tarring you ALL with the same brush, but it's just the pound for pound, you guys probably earn the most money in Europe, so when you come here, paying an extra 40 baht each time over the odds is ABSOLUTELY nothing to you! It's not worth arguing over. When i was travelling, i was limited to 500 baht a day. For everything. Getting ripped off for 40 baht was a big deal for me.

The reason i said call the police is that the song thaew in Lanta, with stated prices painted on it ( i think 40 baht), stopped on a jungly track in the middle of no where, the driver got out and said, Ok, you pay me 80 baht now. All the scandinavians paid up straight away. I dug my heels in and refused. The driver and co-driver started to get aggressive. I said call the police then and he backed down. And i dont give a <deleted> if you think it's not very Thai. I'm not Thai. And what the driver and co-driver did wasnt very Thai either. Frankly i'm sick of people saying this isnt the Thai culture or whatever. Thai's are human beings - they dont act as one, they act as individuals. And there are bad apples amongst them.

Sorry - i dont get ripped off anywhere. And if someone gets aggressive with me in a remote area then i'm gonna fight back when i know i'm in the right.

My point is that this guy has done this probably hundreds of times. It's because people keep paying up that he keeps doing it. And suddenly the official price will rise up to meet the rip-off price, and the rip-off price will go even higher.

Well, I don't want to get into an argument with you about how you solve your problems with songteows in Thailand, there has already been a lot of good advice on this site explaining how to get out of these situations without making someone loose face (witch you might know is more important to Thais then us), but being confrontational will get you into those situations. Digging when your are in a hole won't get you anywhere but deeper into the cr@p. But then again each to their own I guess

And please stop blaming other nationalities for your misery

PattayaDavid

Since you know more or less what you want, I recommend you go to Tukcom since all the shops in there are competing for your biz. Shop around, and have some "fun" I've bought several computers there the last couple of years, that I've put together myself, and the quality of the parts are as good as you'll get them in the west. By that I mean that they have all the big brands, and they have ppl. to put it together for you if you don't mind doing it yourself. If you choose this option check that they actually put in the parts you bought , other than that you should have nothing to worry about.

buying an OEM in Thailand is worthless, since they come with all sorts of substandard components, and as you might know, warranties are not what they seems to be in developed countries.

good luck

Morty

But it would be much cheaper for me that way instead of taking a Boat from Koh Tao to Koh Samui, spending one night and paying for a room in that shithole and taking a boat back the next day...

If money is your concern, take the boat from Koh Tao to Chumpon and jump on a bus to Surat Thani. It's longer but it might be cheaper than going to Koh Samui. Since you have to stay one night anyway. I've also experienced immigration on Koh Samui, and they used to have their own "pricelist" for extensions. I've been charged 5000 baht one time, for a 30 day ext. at the immi. office in Nathon.

Look, for example, at tourist places with lots of scandinavians who will just pay anything if you want evidence. They tried it on with me once in ko Lanta. Songthaw full of scandinavians paid the extra 20 baht each. I said call the cops and paid the agreed and advertised rate.

I dont like getting ripped off ANYWHERE.

Thanks for painting all of us with that broad brush!!

For your information, I'm scandinavian, Norwegian as a matter of fact, and rest assured I don't pay "anything they want"

But then again I don't act like a tourist, I live here.

My experience is that if you get ripped of, it's because your behavior indicate you are not familiar with the "Thai" way of doing things.

BTW I have never threatened anyone with the police to get my way, and I can assure you that's not the "Thai" way of doing things .