franck1972
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Posts posted by franck1972
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Koh Chang is quite nice and relaxing, but not too boring at the same time.
White Sand Beach is the most active part of the island.
Avoid Koh Tao for sure, many uncleared murders lately, something strange's going on there. -
49 minutes ago, JaiLai said:
Nice report from OP, what day of the week did you go, was it busy?
Thanks.
Was there on a thursday last month, was quiet, wednesday even better.
Avoid applying monday for sure. -
Next time pay your Lao Visa in USD
They request 1500 THB or 30 USD, not quite the same. Saves you 4-500 THB by paying in USD, depending on your nationality.- 2
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Getting a new one should be ok, especially in Vientiane.
But expect some problems when crossing the border.
If i'd be you, i'd have 20 000 THB in cash in my pocket, and also a story to tell explaining how you finance your stay.
They are after people working illegally in Thailand, so, as long as you can show money and have a credible story to tell, you should be ok.Wearing decent clothes, and looking clean could help a bit too.
Let us know how it went
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On 10/18/2017 at 11:04 PM, BritTim said:
I am pretty sure those on checkpoints can figure out the nationality of the passport, and can read Thai entry stamps should they elect to do so.
In my experience, at most checkpoints, they are looking for migrant workers on overstay, and usually not at all interested in Westerners.
Indeed, the only two that were checked on the bus last time were Laotians.
You would really need to look like to look like a dirty bagpacker to be checked on these checkpoints.
The surprise can be more at the bus station at Mukdahan.
The immigration was checking any passenger getting off the bus, and were looking for overstayers.
Also interesting, the checks occur only on buses from BKK to Mukdahan.
Never seen a bus being checked on the way back to BKK.- 1
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Been on the bus last night to Mukdahan.
First police check, he just checked my passport first page quickly, and gave it back immediately without even bothering at the last stamp.
Second police check, didn't even want to see my passport.- 1
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I have my emails all redirected to a hotmail account, takes care of the problem.
If it goes on, it could also be that somebody subscribed you up to some websites just to annoy you.
You didn't mention the type of content of the email ? All same kind of content ? -
I don't think the dual citizenship will cause any problem.
I once requested a visa at french embassy in Lyon, I sent them my german passport, no problem.
I also do passport switches from time to time. When one passport is too full, I fly out and come back with my second nationality.Arrived in Kuala Lumpur, flew back same day to BKK, no problem.
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Also got 200 THB yearly fee last october, seems normal.
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I did this last year, flew mornings to KL, came back late afternoon, no problem.
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At Mukdahan, take the bus to Savannakhet, 50 THB.
Make sure you don't leave later than 8 30 from Mukdahan, because leaving with the 9 30 bus doesn't guarantee arriving on time at the consulate (opens at 9 AM, closes at 11 AM for applications)
Forget about walking from the bridge to the consulate, it's quite a walk, with luggage and heat, you'd arrive drenched.
Tuk Tuk or Van, 100 THB if you are alone, maybe 50 THB if you share with others.If you are fast enough at the Lao immigration, you might also have a chance to catch the bus that goes on to Savannakhet.
From Bus station, it's do-able by walk, approx 1 Km.
You get your visa the next day at 2 PM.
After, take a tuktuk to the bridge, pass lao immigration, and take a bus ticket to Mukdahan.- 1
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I paid yesterday one for an Air asia flight, just small fee around 60 THB.
Just print the invoice and they scan the bar code,
Be quick to pay after booking though, since it was a booking 1-3 days before the actual flight, I had to pay within 3 hours. -
3 hours ago, MartinL said:
If anybody finds a version of this article in Thai, please post a link.
This is a concern for my wife and myself re. our 2 year old grandson. His parents give him their phone then he screams the house down and hits them when they want it back.
The parents won't listen to our worries - my wife's, primarily, since I'm the step-grandad - no matter how often they're repeated.
Maybe the words of a prominent doctor will open their eyes a bit.
This article is definitely available on thai, but don't know where. I know because my gf read is some days ago, and it finally opened her eyes.
We have a 5yo son, and he totally fits into this category.
The way you described your grandson reminds me exactly my son when he was 2yo, this is when the big problems started.
Shouting like an animal, screaming, hitting people, running against the wall to injure himself (yes really..).It was to the point we thought he had a severe case of autism.
On top of this, he didn't talk a single word before the age of 3yo.
Now, everything is almost ok, he was followed by a pediatrician and we fixed the issues step by step.
But all of this could have been avoided if he wasn't addicted to this iphone.
It's tough to make them switch off from the phone but it's possible, step by step.
The sooner you do it, the best it will be for them. -
Happened to me last month at a Kasikorn ATM.
If you can't get help directly from GSM, call Krung Thai Bank hotline.
Usually the card will be sent to the nearest branch of the ATM.
So, check what's the closest GSM outlet and ask them if they have it.
You will need your passport of course. -
1 minute ago, impulse said:
Thank goodness. I thought it was just me and my old(er) age catching up with me. Electric bill was almost double a typical month, but I did have company so the A/C was running pretty much 24/7 instead of just after work for the entire month.
I don't set the aircon any colder during humid days, but I switch the fan to 2-3 instead of 1, keeps you dry.
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What I think gets you here is mostly the humidity, not the heat.
I've learned to cope with heat pretty well over the last 6 years, to the point I have to set the aircon not less than 29-30 or i'd feel cold.
But as soon as the humidity strikes, any temperature makes me sweat.
I feel it especially evening when I do my daily 4 kms walk.
During the dry season I might start to sweat after 1.5 - 2 Kms, but it's reasonnable.
Now, even if I shower cold before walking, after 5 mn I sweat, and after 10 mn i'm totally drenched, it's running down my forehead, arms, all upper body.
It's gonna be better from June on, stay tough:-)
And always remember, it's better 1-2 months of heat here than 4-6months of ugly cold humid weather like in most western countries. -
1h30 that's quite fair indeed.
Sometimes you get lucky if you don't go with the flow.
My fastest 30 days extension was on a wednesday, got it within 26 mn, yes, 26 mn between queue ticket and getting passport back. -
17 hours ago, ubonjoe said:
Not for a non-o based upon marriage at Savannakhet.
For being 50 or over to get a single entry non-o you need to show 800k in the bank with proof of retirement (a income letter works for that) or proof of 65k baht income or a combination of the 2 totaling 800k baht.
Actually i'm not married yet, just father of a thai child. Does that change anything about funds or onward ticket ?
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Do you know if there is any new specific requirement for a Non 0 Single Entry ?
Any proof of funds or onward ticket requested ? -
I used to have a room same size as yours, 24 hours a day, set at 28 degrees, used to cost me 3000 THB a month during hot months.
Average was rather 2000-2500.
I had big windows and sun was shining all afternoon on my side of the building, so 3000-3500 is really the worse you could expect. -
Another advice would be to locate your power counter when you move in.
In some condos it's accessible, could be inside the room, could be in the corridor just next to your door.
Always a good thing to make a picture of your counter when moving in, saves you from unfair tenants.
If you can locate it, then just check it after a week, multiply the amount of units used by 8 THB, then it'll give you a good idea of what to expect at the end of the month. -
I run a 18 000 btu unit in a 22 sqm room, and I estimate the cost at 1500 THB, set at 30 degrees, 24 hours a day, with a unit price of 4 thb
During the hot months, expect a power bill of 2000 THB, max 2500 THB if you set it at 25 degrees
When it gets cooler in july, maybe 1800, max 2000 THB.
This estimation includes the aircon, fridge and kettle.
My advice to save a lot on aircon : don't set it to 25 degrees, way too cold compared to outside temperature, especially in march-april, you'd only end up with a cold.
Set it to 28+, you will see it's more than enough.
Second advice : buy a fan, it provides a very good cool feeling.
Running a fan with aircon at 29-30, is like setting aircon at 27 without fan.
A good fan (40 cms diameter) will cost 80-100 THB monthly if you run it 10 hours a day...and you might end up saving you 500 + THB on aircon power.
So, with a fan, aircon at 29-30, you could keep your bill below 1500 THB a month. -
Consider yourself lucky if you're checked only one time in the bus between BKK and Mukdahan.
Can happen up to 3 times.
At the point you mentioned, then there's another one 5-10 kms further.
And if it's not your day, sometimes immigration checks you when you get off at the bus station.
Once i've been checked at the station...and there was an immigration pick up with a cage, already filled up with 20+ people squeezed together, waiting to be sent to the border.
Imagine yourself in the middle of this... -
I had one case of emergency 5 years ago.
My Gf had already her visa but myself hadn't yet and it wasn't sure if we could take him with us to France.
So I emailed the embassy, and explained my case.
Fortunately someone very nice gave me an appointment 2 days later and said to come back the next day.
I got the visa as promised.
So, can work sometimes, but you have to contact them first.
I fear showing up without appointment nor warning will trigger more anger than help.
Good luck
Do mosquito coils work?
in ASEAN NOW Community Pub
Posted
We we infested with mosquitoes in my house and tried several things.
Then we tried the coil...the effect was incredible, quite unexpected, no more mosquitoes within a day, and also during weeks after, even through we did it only one time.