DiDiChok

So "Thainess" still rules out that my Thai son can command a Royal Thai Air force plane!

Hmm, well don't be surprised that if he has dual nationality he won't be able to serve in the forces at all, and that most Government jobs may be out too. This applies in most countries as it's all about not having two allegiances.

I was fortunate because my parents were wise to this and didn't get other nationalities for me and left it for me choose. When the crunch question came and I wanted a specialised job, I was in the clear. I've not taken up the additional nationalities although I could still do so and could have multiple passports. Now I'm retired I keep on thinking of changing nationality but every time I look into what's attracted me, the grass isn't as green on the other side of the fence.

Nationality is a complex, sharp and double edged sword. There are disadvantages as well as benefits.

I agree with the 'disagreer's' too. Being from the UK, I always tell the cashier I want to pay in the local currency wherever I am so that Visa does the conversion and not the shop or local merchant's Bank. The rate is better and most UK cards do not charge a fee for purchases, only for cash withdrawals.

I've found that sometimes traders do make an extra sneaky charge in Thailand for using a foreign credit card. Maybe not in the OP's case, but it's another way of scraping a few more ฿ out of people.

To 'Win' properly it's best to have a Thai Bank account, and that's not really difficult to get. Just hawk yourself around loads of branches until someone gives in. There's so many made up rules in Thailand that people tell you are gospel, it's fun and I love it.

Yes, I'll vote for cash too. The new "TT Exchange" places in Pattaya / Jomtien usually offer exchange rates that are about 0.5฿ better than the Banks. Watch out though, they like clean, untorn, unmarked and unfolded notes. You can always open a safe deposit box to keep your cash and passport safe.

Other methods I use are to go inside the Bank to withdraw money on a foreign card as you duck the ATM fee. Travel cheques are a no-no now because they wanted ฿135 off me for each one no matter what value it was, so I took them back home for a fee-free refund.

Sending to a Thai Bank account is quite good, as long as I say 'send sterling' so my home Bank doesn't do the conversion at a lousy rate.

Really, it's 'up to you' as they say. If it's just a short visit and not a lot of money, why worry over a few Baht? I used to get upset over being diddled a bit, but then I simply decided to stop worrying about losing the cost of one lady drink on the exchange rate.

For whatever reason, it doesn't appear on your Bank statement for a few days. I send every now and then using the 'Money in minutes' option from the UK for the odd birthday.

Providing you actually went through the complete process of sending the money and got an 'MTCN' (Money Transfer Control Number), then the money should be available to be picked up and you can take it that your Bank has been debited. Sometimes, you have to call WU to confirm the transfer if WU's process flags it up. It will say if you need to do this in the email you get that confirms the transfer amount and the MTCN.

I usually send an SMS to the receiver to tell them the MTCN and the amount in Baht and Satang.

Then about three days later, I see an entry on my UK Bank statement of the form: 'CP TO WU nnnnnnnnnn' which means card payment to Western Union and nnnnnnnnnn is the ten digit MTCN. From experience, this appears on your statement whether or not the money has actually been picked up.

When the receiver picks up the money, then you get another email from WU saying it's been picked up. If you've signed up to SMS alerts, you'll get a text message too on your phone. If the receiver doesn't pick up the money within 30 days, WU says the money comes back to you but I have no experience of someone not collecting the money. I am sending to Thailand, after all!

Er, I think the OP can't do *500*9# at the moment because he won't be able to register his sim via his home network as it's roaming now, and expired as far as 1-2-Call is concerned. I won't be surprised if he's lost all his credit too!

There's a helpful list of USSD codes for Thai operators 1-2-Call, DTAC and True here: http://thaiprepaidcard.com/ussd-keypress-codes/

For a 1-2-Call sim up to a year old (I think, or it may be five years), you can reactivate it by typing *552*nnnn# then press 'send', where nnnn is the 13 digit number on the sim card. You should then get an SMS message and you'll have to send another message *211# then press send. I think this only works inside Thailand and not when roaming. Roaming (e.g. use in the UK) can only be enabled by *125*1# once you've got a number and registered it.

You will then get a new phone number free for your old sim card. You should get another sms to tell you what the number is, but you can always do *545# then press send to find out.

When abroad, the cheapest way I've found to keep my phone active is by doing *500*9# which gives another 30 days service credit for ฿30 and I think also gives you some odd minutes you won't be using.

If that's all too much for you, ring 1175 which is the AIS call Centre and they'll help you out with any phone related problems. Use the web too: http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/service.html

Read about old sim card reactivation here: http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/service-welcome-home.html

I think the OP will probably have to ring the call centre to get them to do everything as he doesn't want to lose his ฿1,000 credit.

Yes, yes, YES! I am blaming Visa in this case because THEY told me that THEY were doing the blocking and that it was NOT the 'home country bank'.

When Visa's 'suspected fraud' alarm goes off, you're card's blocked no matter who's said what previously - AND what's worse is that if you've more than one card with them, they may block them all.

Thank you "Pib" but I wish that notifying your Bank that you are or are going abroad worked. It doesn't any more because the transfer is backed by Visa or Mastercard and not by the Bank concerned. Those companies will not accept the Banks' word that you are abroad and simply ignore the information. That's the reality.

It is Visa or Mastercard who are causing the trouble and blocking the card because of 'suspicious' purchases, and their anti-fraud systems that are doing the blocking. So when you want your card unblocked, either the Bank calls them or in fact you can call Visa or Mastercard. They also seem to let the first transaction go through if it's not too large just to lure you into thinking all is well, but then block the card afterwards.

Now that many UK Banks' call centres close out of hours at the weekend, I've only been able to 'unblock' my cards by phoning Visa directly during those times. It is also annoying that incorrect messages are displayed on ATM's like 'Transmission error' when it is the case that a block has been put on a card. When I rang Visa directly the first time it happened, they complained that I'd been to twenty ATM's trying to get money. Cryptic words were said to them in similar vein . . .

When I was last in Siem Reap in Cambodia, they told me that Thailand was known to them as 'Katoyland' . . .

I'd suggest you tidy up old files by deleting them too. You do this by clicking on Start / Programs / Accessories / System Tools / Disk Cleanup then put a tick in all the boxes and click on OK.

As it's Windows 7, I would also delete everything that can be deleted from folders C:\Windows\Temp and C:\Users\Your-user-name\Appdata\Local\Temp and that usually speeds things up quite a lot. It's amazing how much detritus builds up in those folders. If Windows says it can't delete a file, I don't worry about it.

Sounds to me as though the condensate drain is blocked. This is a simple small pipe that runs from the indoor unit to somewhere outside the room. When warm air cools, water precipitates out of the air and has to go somewhere. When the pipe is blocked, it usually causes water to build up in the unit which then either drips out or freezes inside the indoor unit so building up blocks of ice.

Bugs either get stuck inside the pipe when they come to drink the water or else dirt in the water gradually builds up in the pipe and gradually silts it up.

Either pour water down the pipe or blow air through it. Check that the pipe runs downhill along its length to the outside drain. Sometimes the Thai forget that water does not run uphill !

The OP's Dad is only commenting that he knows that if you can't beat them, join them!

Dear oh dear, the 'Doom Mongers' are positively against driving in Thailand aren't they? I've driven all over Thailand and never had a problem, but I always make sure that the company I rent (hire) from provides a proper accident service and I use my own in-car cameras front and rear all the time. I've got Thai driving licences now, although that means little practically except that having them means cheaper entry to some attractions that have a dual pricing policy.

But you do need to learn and must find a way of doing that. I do think that it was beneficial that I had quite a few car rides before driving in Thailand though, and I also had pillion motorcycle rides before riding a motorcycle in Thailand although I have been riding for nearly 50 years now in the UK.

When I went to Laos, I drove to Nong Khai and then booked a trip across the border. The rental company still phoned me complaining that the car tracker said that I was half a mile from the border and that I was not to cross over. Knowing so little about Laos, I wouldn't drive there with no experience. Mind you, I wouldn't drive in the US or any other country without any experience at all. You can't just jump in and go in another country because the rules will be different and will catch you out. Please read that as 'cost you money'.

Things that Thailand caught me out (tongue in cheek) were these:

Flashing your headlights means get out of my way, not that you may go first.

Not turning left at a red traffic light where you can do so, will get you severely honked at.

Turning left at a red traffic light where it is not permitted will cost you money.

Don't drive across traffic lights on amber, you haven't got right of way even when they're green!

A red traffic light may mean you can go straight ahead without stopping if the road markings say so.

Traffic notionally drives on the left except when it's inconvenient.

Overtaking on the inside is common - known as 'undertaking' in the UK.

When it rains in Bangkok, park the car like everyone else does because it's a skating rink.

Goodness knows what the 'rules' are in Laos. I got dizzy going around a roundabout (US: Traffic Circle) what was to me the wrong way. Having observed what my driver did I really couldn't tell whether or not it was or wasn't what he should have done legally.

Quite frankly, as it's only his second visit the OP should fly from Suwannapoom to Wattay (Vientiane airport) and fly back - it's really cheap and quick. The bus to Pattaya from Suwannapoom was only ฿134 the last time I used it against ฿1,500 in a taxi.

But then, Thailand has taught me that the good thing about 'rules' is that there are so many to choose from!

What insurer was that?

It was 'Club Direct' who paid out. The hospital bill ran to about 50 pages and detailed everything, even pieces of cotton wool! ฿2,058,706.90

I've been to both BPH and the International and both were good for me. I'd say the International is cheaper if you're paying but just as good. However, if it was anything major or complex then I'd only go to the BPH in an emergency. As previous posters have said, it's advisable to have insurance. A friend had severe pneumonia and spent ฿2,100,000 at the BPH. I was surprised by the trouble they went to and delighted when he survived after a month in intensive care as I thought he was done for. He was able to dance for joy when his insurance paid the bill too, so averting a heart attack.

Don't forget that if you have time, you can plan and go to somewhere like the Bumrungrad in Bangkok. I went there for an operation and was very pleased with the result and the bill. They have an 'International Department' who are very good at sorting everything out and you can book a visit from abroad as I did once.

It's a shame and I know how the OP feels. Life is said to be cheap in Thailand but I think it's more the Buddhist "What happens is predestined". I've been there when a rural Thai hospital inappropriately gave a pat on the head and a paracetamol. I've also been there when a Thai Doctor acted brilliantly and discovered something potentially fatal that we didn't know about.

In my case the Doctors wouldn't believe me the boy had TB of the lymph glands until I insisted they do a test. I knew because of the pattern his temperature took over a 24 hour period, and it was something I had seen before. The boy hadn't told the Doctor that because of 'Greng Jai' towards the Doctor! The course of tablets to cure that was ฿15,000 and six months treatment.

Then they denied to my face what was also obvious to me, which was that this was caused by the tertiary phase of HIV when multiple opportunistic infections attack. I was so incensed that in the end I had to get him signed up at a proper HIV clinic to get the HAART treatment he needed. Since then he's put on 20 Kg, looks well, no longer coughs and has got himself a job and at least a future life.

I have to say that the OP has got his work cut out if he wants to save the boy. The question for him to ask himself is this: "Do I want to see this through to the end and have I got enough money to do it, or should I leave it to pre-destiny?".

I had a similar experience where the injection didn't numb my tooth as I had expected. The Dentist explained that sometimes numbing is caused just the pressure against blood vessels from the fluid being injected. In those cases, numbness only lasts about 90 seconds and the Dentist has to get a move on. It isn't the same as when 'proper' numbness is caused by an interaction with the nerve. The patient should be given the option whether to carry on with the treatment screams permitting, or to adjourn until he/she can be medicated.

So if only a temporary numbing desn't allow sufficient time to get the job done, other methods must be considered. I don't know whether an anaesthetist is then legally required to be present in Thailand as in many jurisdictions but this puts up the cost. The option is always there for you to be unconscious while all the dental work is carried out as they do for very nervous patients, but as with most things concerning cost (and a favourite phrase in Thailand) - 'It's up to you'.

Does nobody appreciate that the older you get, the more younger ones there are to choose from?

Well, it seems that the list of licence types a previous poster got from Wikipedia falls somewhat short. I have found a site that gives more details and these are listed below:

1 Provisional driving license Personal Private Automobile (Temporary)
2 Auto rickshaw driver's license, temporary personal Private Motor Tricycle (Temporary)
3 Provisional motorcycle license to drive Motorcycle (Temporary)

4 License for one year Personal Private Automobile (One Year)
5 License, personal auto rickshaws, one of Private Motor Tricycle (One Year)
6 motorcycle license to drive a year and Motorcycle (One Year)

7 Driving license Personal Private Automobile (Five Years)
8 Driving License tricycle Personal Private Motor Tricycle (Five Years)
9 Motorcycle License Motorcycle (Five Years)

10 Driving license Personal Life Private Automobile (Life)
11 License, personal auto rickshaws Lifetime Motor Tricycle (Life)
12 Lifetime license to drive motorcycles Motorcycle (Life)

13 Driving License Public Public Automobile.
14 Driving license public Tuk Public Motor Tricycle.
15 license to drive a motorcycle Public Public Motorcycle.

16 International driving license. International Driving Permit

17 License Rollers Tractor.
18 License to drive tractor Tractor Driving Licence
19 License for Agriculture Farm Vehicle Driving Licence
20 License, etc. Vehicles (Other than above) Driving Licence

21 Type 1 Truck & Bus (Class I)
22 Type 2 Truck & Bus (Class II)
23 Type 3 Truck & Bus (Class III)
24 Type 4 Truck & Bus (Class IV)

25 Inspector Licence 2
26 Fares Conductor Licence
27 Service Bus Hostess

You can see for yourself in English in this rather long link:

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=th&u=http://www.insure.co.th/stat/Dec56/2/drvlic_31dec13.xls&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%25E0%25B9%2583%25E0%25B8%259A%25E0%25B8%25AD%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%25B8%25E0%25B8%258D%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%2595%25E0%25B8%2582%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B8%259A%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%2596%25E0%25B8%25A2%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%2595%25E0%25B9%258C%25E0%25B8%25AA%25E0%25B8%25B2%25E0%25B8%25A1%25E0%25B8%25A5%25E0%25B9%2589%25E0%25B8%25AD%25E0%25B8%25AA%25E0%25B9%2588%25E0%25B8%25A7%25E0%25B8%2599%25E0%25B8%259A%25E0%25B8%25B8%25E0%25B8%2584%25E0%25B8%2584%25E0%25B8%25A5%2Bsongkhla%26lr%3D%26hl%3Den%26as_qdr%3Dall%26biw%3D1920%26bih%3D982

It's a spreadsheet containing details of how many licences were issued to 31 Dec 2556 in each category for each province. I think you may need Microsoft Excel or a similar program to see it.

I'm surprised that Chonburi has as many motor tricycle licences as it has. It does look like they ARE still being issued, so there's hope yet. It also answers some other poster's questions about other types of vehicle.

Have a look at this web site: http://www.thailaws.com/index.htm

Then on the left hand side of the page, click on 'Double Taxation', select your country and read the law in full!

Thank you 'RockerC' for your informative reply. I'm not in Thailand at the moment as I'm in the UK but I shall be there in November. I need to renew my Car and Bike licences then and I will enquire at the DLT in Pattaya about a motor tricycle licence. Given previous comments and the recent revisions to driving tests they'll probably have to go and have a conference.

Obviously, a commercial motor tricycle licence isn't something I need but I have trouble thinking that Thailand wants to rid itself of an iconic part of its transport history as a previous responder suggested.

I see that my UK licence has groups A which corresponds to "Any size motorcycle with or without a sidecar" and B1 which corresponds to 'Motor tricycles and quadricycles up to 550 Kg unladen'.

I also note that my one year UK green "International Driving Permit" (IDP) obtained from a main UK Post Office has five categories and that I am permitted all five, category A being "Motor cycles, with or without a side-car, invalid carriages and three-wheeled motor vehicles with an unladen weight not exceeding 400 Kg".

The initial enquiry was brought about after the 'boys in brown' stopped me on a bike with a sidecar and said that the Thai car and bike licences were 'no good' and that I needed another licence. I have also experienced them saying that the IDP wasn't any good, but that's usually just a 'tea money' excuse and I was beginning to think the same for a tricycle license as I didn't know there was such a thing. Fortunately, when stopped I had the IDP with me as well as the Thai licences and so talked my way out of having to pay up.

Although I have towed a small trailer containing a tent with a 'combo' (UK slang for a motorcycle and sidecar) I dare not even think what the Thais would think of that. I should think it would cause as much head scratching as a Segway! I have driven an 'Invacar' in the UK but that was before they were banned from our roads in 2003 and the 'Invalid carriage' category doesn't now appear on UK licences.

To get my car and bike licences, I didn't have to do the driving tests or lecture, just the colour, stop and depth tests as the IDP seemed proof enough for them. So I was surprised that you were made to take a test driving around in a Tuk Tuk but as ever in Thailand, the good thing about the rules is that there are so many to choose from.

I'll try to report back as and when on the progress made, but thanks to everyone for your help to date

Thanks for the very quick answer! It raises three more small questions to my mind, as follows:

(1) Does the 1 then 5 year licence process apply in the same way to the three wheel licence?

(2) Must the test be taken as there is no exemption carried forward from the International Driving Permit as it was for cars and bikes?

(3) If a test is needed, would it matter on which kind of three wheeler on which you came to do the test

Sorry about the typo - it sent the message before I'd completed it!

I have Thai car and motorcycle driving licences but nobody seems to know if this is sufficient for three wheeled vehicles like a "Sam-lor" or a "Tuk-tuk" or a motorcycle and side-car. I'd only be wanting to use such a vehicle for personal use. In the UK it seems that a full motorcycle licence is what's needed for anything three wheeled up to a certain weight plus you can have a small trailer.

What are the licence entitlements in Thailand and what would I need?