themechanic

Just curious what would happen if someone did the same as you in India?

Many "westerners" (white people, including Russians and Israelis) have been living illegally for years in Goa and in the Himalayas, specifically in Himachal Pradesh. The maximum overstay fine is INR 10,000 (about 5000 THB).

I didn't do this willfully. It was the result of Thailand's policy that says Indians can apply for a visa only within India, and an incompetent lawyer whom I had the misfortune to hire. He made me wait for 3+ months before telling me that he couldn't get me a visa, by which time I was already on overstay.

I am happy to hear the overstay problem is resolved.

You will know that as an Indian passport holder visas for Thailand can only be obtained in India.

True for all except the Elite visa. Also there is another work-around. Enter Thailand on 14 day visa-on-arrival and then try to change it/convert to ED or similar inside Thailand. It is possible with the right connections and fully legal/they have the power to convert visas.

Very interested. Would anyone like to offer lessons?

I got it fixed at Man Electronics in Phuket Town. They charged me just 100 baht. They seem to fix a lot of things. I saw TVs, washing machines, dryers, fridges, and stereos. It's a very local shop, a bit hard to find but they did the job.

This one is a hidden gem.

The coffee shop on Soi Samakee 2 in Rawai. Best French toast in the world....

95 Baht.

My blender just stopped working. Won't power on. Where can I get it repaired?

This becomes a problem ONLY when authorities are abusive in their treatment of people who cooperate during detention and questioning. A "good citizen" , who is innocent of any crime, should cooperate with authorities. In the great percentage of cases, respect will be met with respect, and the innocent person will simply lose a bit of time.

Like the Jews in Nazi Germany? Ever heard of the phrase "innocent until proven guilty"? A good citizen must stand up for his rights, resist abuse of power, which is what this is, and remind everyone that the onus of proof is on the person making the claim or allegation. Unless the police had specific information about each of these men, I am deeply offended by this, being colored myself. Not only have they lost a "bit of time", but have been paraded in front of TV cameras, almost certainly without their consent, before even being found guilty. And why should anyone lose a bit of time? That's harassment and it's exactly this type of thinking that leads to discrimination and all kinds of prejudiced views in society. You have very dangerous views. When it comes to individual rights and freedoms, the means matter just as much as the ends.

OK the drug dealers just happen to be black, mostly from Africa. They have the same problem in Italy, last time I was there. Shouldn't paint all Africans with a broad brush, but it is what it is.

Okay, it may be so- but is rounding them up randomly the right way to address it? As suggested by a previous poster, there are so many ways they could have done this better, for e.g. by sending decoy buyers and so forth. Based on a rational, evidence based process. But rounding them up like this and making such a spectacle of it is horrible. Even if 99% of them are guilty, how would you feel if you were the 1 man that was not? Or are the rights and basic human dignity of one or a few not important enough?

There's a new Thai restaurant called "Tom Yam Talay" at the Fisherman's Way Park near Makro on Viset road. Very good menu, introduced me to "Khao Pad Tom Yum Gung" which is fried rice cooked in the Tom Yum (soup). Also try the Laab Nua (beef salad). I'd suggest you request that they serve everything "medium spicy" even if you usually can eat spicy food, it's extra spicy here.

There's a shop at the same location as a large music school in Phuket Town, on Thepkasattri if I remember correctly, across a large hotel building.

Especially for fresh produce and most groceries. The produce at Tesco (the one near Makro on Viset) is usually better than the plastic wrapped packets at Villa Market. And huge difference in prices. 4 fresh apples, looked red and American to me: 70 baht. That's the price per apple at Villa Mart. I've decided to only go to Villa Mart henceforth to buy specialty Western food, mostly dressings, sauces and cheeses.

2 things to watch out for in Bangkok:

The toll roads. I spent 300-500 baht daily just on the Tolls. Do not trust your GPS. Switch it off and explore the roads and get a feel for it in your own head. It's not about the money but the principle. Why would you want to pay so much when there are free roads just beneath them. And the residents of Bangkok sure as hell don't pay as much, they get monthly passes.

And the parking. There is no parking ticket system. They put a clamp on the front wheel of the car. My car got clamped twice. You need a Thai speaker to call the local traffic police because of the language barrier. And then they come and collect the fine before taking off the clamp. It's 500 or 1000 Baht.

inconsiderate parking... arrogant visitors

Do you not know the difference between a parking ticket, a parking meter and putting a physical lock/clamp on the wheel of a car?

The rules are hard to decipher with some areas being marked as allowed to park in only on even or odd dates.

I did this trip once from Pattaya. It took me 13 hours with two short breaks. I left around 6 in the morning and crossed the bridge into phuket around 7pm. I wasn't stopped by the fuzz once in either direction. This was awhile back but recall only one stretch of bad road...it was either just south of cha-am or Hua Hin, where the road was really rutted for aN hour or so. You're really brave to do that run, or any long highway drive, in Thailand at night.

And I'm from India so this was actually a pleasant and civilized drive for me lol. I've driven from Kashmir all the way to the southern tip of India. And that was Russian roulette in comparison lol.

Thailand is indeed a large country though. Bangkok is only half way to Chiang Mai from Phuket.

What's him being Muslim have to do with the type of present?

Whisky or wine may be construed as offensive.

There's not much snow in Nepal. Consider North Eastern India.

Sikkim is one of India's best kept secrets. Plenty of snow. I lived there for 8 months. The drive from Gangtok to Nathu La (The Chinese border) is the most amazing landscape I've ever seen. Also Pelling, Lachung, they all have plenty of snow. But the north east is not mainstream India. They look different, more like Thai/Chinese people and have their own cultures.

Are there any reputed marriage agencies in Thailand? As opposed to dating sites or introductions. But more like a guaranteed system, or for example, how arranged marriage agencies operate in India. If you like a profile you make an offer and the deal is done instantly or very fast. No uncertainty or wasting time like with dating.

2 things to watch out for in Bangkok:

The toll roads. I spent 300-500 baht daily just on the Tolls. Do not trust your GPS. Switch it off and explore the roads and get a feel for it in your own head. It's not about the money but the principle. Why would you want to pay so much when there are free roads just beneath them. And the residents of Bangkok sure as hell don't pay as much, they get monthly passes.

And the parking. There is no parking ticket system. They put a clamp on the front wheel of the car. My car got clamped twice. You need a Thai speaker to call the local traffic police because of the language barrier. And then they come and collect the fine before taking off the clamp. It's 500 or 1000 Baht.

Went by Surat Thani and the Chumpon route. Left Phuket at 8PM and arrived at Ekamai at 9AM (driving fast with only 3 stops). The tarmac on the roads is generally good, but the roads are poorly lit and there is almost no traffic at all. There were 2 check points en route. One at Surat Thani and one coming in to Bangkok.

The trip back took much longer, driving at a relaxed pace. Unfortunately I took the same route (I had wanted to explore the Khao Lak coastal route...), and thistime it was closer to an 18 hour trip.

My landlord is a Thai Muslim in his 50s and is a very cool guy and has gone out of the way to help me out on several ocassions. I don't think that he's very religious, but he does wear the Islamic attire and skullcap. So a bottle of the good stuff may not be the best idea. I want to get him a thank you gift, and my budget is ~3000B. Any suggestions?

I went there and successfully collected it. No customs duty was payable. The package contained books.

I'm expecting a package but the sender didn't give me the tracking number until today. I've managed to track it and the last update on the Thailand Post website is on January 7, 2015 with the message "Item held,addressee notified due to Addressee cannot be located"

How long do they hold it before returning it to the sender? I don't want to drive out there for nothing.

I am an Indian who has moved to Thailand.

Don't go. India really does suck. It is horrible in almost every way imaginable. Thailand is paradise, practically first world in comparison.

If you do go, explore the north-east. The state of Sikkim in particular. Pleasant weather, clean, educated and civilized/polite populace and **gasp** uninterrupted electric and water supply (a rarity outside major cities in India). I lived there for 8 months. Doesn't feel like the rest of India. And you won't see a single other western tourist.

North east India is predominantly Buddhist, animist and Christian. Not many Hindus. Sikkim in Buddhist.

If it's Hindu culture that interests you, land in Delhi in the middle of the night (day time is too disgusting and grotesque, the traffic, the crowds etc.) and take an SUV to Rishikesh. That is a beautiful town, and the culture and cuisine are all authentic to this day. There are tourists, but it's nowhere nearly as horribly overcrowded, commercialized and filthy as that stinking armpit Benaras (Varanasi).

Feel free to ask me anything else about India.

Flying would be faster, safer, and far cheaper. Check with Air Asia, book ahead for best prices.

How could flying in the air possibly be safer than driving over land? With flying your death is guaranteed in the event of a mishap. In a road accident, there is a good chance of survival, albeit in a crippled state.

I avoid air travel.

What preposterous madness to float in thin air two miles high on an inch or two of metal, sustained from death by the meager skill and intelligence of two vapid strangers