Marie

I am still new in Bkk. Single in her mid twenties, I also find it rather difficult for a farang girl to socialise here. I mainly do teleworking, and as such I don t have colleagues who could help me to develop my social circle.

I stay in Saladaeng area. I went some times to pubs, go go bars and so in Silom and Suk., mostly frequented by farangs. But such places are surrounded by pretty thai girls (or supposedly girls , essentially looking for wealthy 'boyfriends'. And no need to say that (most of) these gentlemen seem to be here only to enjoy being the object of so much attraction.

I like partying and enjoying myself, not staying seated watching men glaring at the potential fresh (?) 'meat' around and making lurid comments on each of them.

Yeah, I don t want to sound like I am frustrated/greedy and not generalising, but I have yet to meet genuine people just wanting to enjoy hanging out and partying, not just hunting like this on nightly basis.

I wish I also had Thai friends, but the language barrier restricts a lot the possibility of socialising. I am learning Thai but I trust I will still take a long while before I can have even a casual conversation in Thai language. And for sure having Thai friends could help my practice.

Do you have any suggestion of places where I could find english-speaking thai people willing to socialise with farang female?

I am not shy, but as a single (young) white girl, I m not really into popping in a bar greeting people around, whether expats or thais...

Any input would be really appreciated.

Thank you very much LordHawHaw for your precious information.

Yeah, you helped me a lot by sharing your experience.

I keep going slowly with my teaching yourself method, it also trust the idea that the most effective way to learn a foreign language is the child intuitive way, just listening, copying and understanding before you cope on your own.

I mix it with more 'conventional' methods, but each book got its very own 'occidental alphabet' and 'pronounciation' and it is hard to switch from one to another.

well, joining a class that has a non-refund policy is somewhat 'motivating'... but not for the good reasons. That s bad because the location was great for me, i would find a hassle to spend lots of time in commuting to attend the class...

Yup yup, any local is not able to be a relevant thai teacher. I have not tried to ask any thai yet, but in many other SEA countries I already had to admit that even with good, genuine intention local people are usually very bad at teaching their own language.

Thanks again, will keep on searching and learning on my own meanwhile...

People advised me to find a local bf, 'romantic study sure helps!'. Have yet to find one...  ???

I am currently striving to learn Thai from a self-teaching method (book + cassettes) but I assume I may be a little more motivated by joining a class.

Anyone knows a class in Silom (Patpong) area? A rough idea of the fee per class would be much appreciated too.

With thanks.

Marie

Try 'Hollywood', 1st floor back on the right in Nana Entertainment Plaza.

Went there last Saturday.

No cover charge, free shows and they don t push to buy drinks (or girls).

Though it s not really my cup of tea, I must say girls there are entertaining and more attractive (well, got all ages and shapes... to meet those gentlemen's tastes...).

If you fancy 'wilder' and 'odder' comapny and/or shows, you just change floors/bars.

Thank you all for your posts and sorry for the late reply.

Fester:

following to these last posts on this forum, the agency who processed my visa directly contacted me by email for clarification.

They fully explained that the the non-matching date stamps on my passport were merely be due to human error at the Consulate in Houston. The Bangkok agency also reported me that they had checked with the police who replied there should be no problem as long as I was not in Thailand during the visa issuance (which confirms George's post).

Anyway, I was in Singapore/Indonesia these last 2 weeks, and I will be back to Thailand tomorrow night, so I will see how things are doing then ... (any generous offer to help collection of my luggage on the conveyor belt in case I am stuk at Bkk Immigration counter would be much appreciated ... just kidding... - well, I hope so .

Besides, the Agency also insists on its customer-satisfaction policy and could, upon request, arrange my passport to be sent back to US for correct the stamp date.

Ok, I hope this time things are clear. I also trust I should not have mentioned any Company name in my posts, and also believe that the agent is most sorry too for the unusual situation.

To revert to George's last comment, I also believe that it is always best if you can apply for your visas on your own without resorting to a third party.

But for my part, I have struggled for 2 years to get a regular situation in neighbouring countries (long story) with poor results. And for having checked with the relevant autorities in SEA, I could possibly not have handled this kind visa alone while staying in Asia.

So I was most glad to have it processed by an agent who best knows the 'tricks'.

My own view, though.

Best wishes to all of you... and enjoy your week end.

Thanks Fester for your reply.

My visa is officially delivered by the Royal Thai Consulate - General of Houston, Texas. Just let me describe how it goes:

I had a brand-new passport, just 2 stamps of Singapore Immigration and 1 stamp of entry in Thailand.

*The visa is done on the first page (left) of my passport. It is dated 6 January 2003.

*On the right page I have:

 -One entry thailand : 27 Jan 2003 - exit 28 jan

 -One entry malaysia: 28 jan - exit 11 feb

 -Subsequently: entry thailand 11 feb - exit 17 feb

It would be alright if... on the right page I did not have 2 stamps for Singapore:

Entry 31 dec - exit 27 jan... How could I get a visa from Houston, Texas while in Singapore, huh?

I have no idea if the agency I contacted is reputable or not. I think I had their contact through somebody's post on this forum (but not sure). (S&A visa).

They charged me Baht 12,500 and it took about 16 days.

I had my 1 year non-immigrant B multiple entry visa made by an Agency specialised in visa in Thailand.(though I won t work for any company in Thailand).

I only enquired a visa to allow me to enter and exit Thailand an illimited number of times for about a year.

I gave them my passeport and was requested to stay in Thailand during the application process (about 2 weeks).

When I collected my passport, I noticed it was stamped out of Thailand, in Malaysia, out Malaysia and then in Thailand. The visa is officialy delivered by the Thai Consulate of TEXAS, and is dated prior to my first arrival in Thailand...

Well, I am not USA citizen and do not have any stamps of my supposed trip to USA. I left Thailand after collection of my passeport, and will be back to Bkk next week end. I was wondering if immigration officiers take this kind of visa for granted, or if they are suspicious and if so, what can happen to me.

I would also like to know if I am supposed to present a return air ticket with a non-immigrant B multiple entry visa?

Many thanks.

Marie

Glad to hear that.

Thanks, fester!

I will be holding a one-year, multiple entry non immigrant tourist visa.

I heard that is called 'resident' a person residing in thailand at one or more times totalling 180 days or more in a tax year.

Does it mean that in case I stay longer than the 180 days I will break the benefit of my visa and also be subjected to taxation even though I do not have any work activity in Thailand?

Thank you.

Hi there,

I am looking for a Condo to rent in Bangkok (1 or 2 bedrooms in City area, with walking distance to facilities like supermarketclose and ideally to skytrain).

I went through some property Companies who have websites and show some of their properties to rent and sent me some pics.

I will be in Bangkok next week to try to find a place to stay for the coming 6 months.

I would like to know if some of you already resorted to these online agents and if they are really worth... Shall I try to arrange with them a visit, or is it better for me to look for other Companies when I am in Bangkok?

I know this forum is not aimed at advertising... but any recommendation for serious, effective and not-too-pricy property agents in Bangkok would be really helpful... You can send it to my messenger (Marie).

Thank you very much for your input.

Thanks George. You are so helpful, as usual...

I go to Bangkok next week and will try then (as a tourist) to find a place to rent and to open an account.

Will let you informed.

Cheers!

Hi there!

I am planning to stay in Thailand for a while (as a tourist) and Is there a way to open a bank savings and check account in Thailand without a work permit? (I even do not ask the question for a Thai credit card ...

Like taking on the account of someone wishing to close his one...

But still abiding by the law of course...

Thanks a bunch!

Thaitay,

I am afraid George is right...

You have nothing to lose to ask Thai Embassy in Singapore but they do not seem to be very co-operative for delivery visas.

I suggest you call them, you can ask for Shima (Tel No: 67372644 ext 3).

And keep us updated!

Thanks Fester!

I also asked the Thai Embassy in Singapore.

They replied there is no quota on the number of times you can enter Thailand as a tourist.

They also say that in Singapore they would not issue a continous visa  and never give a double entry visa.

I guess that next time I go back to Europe I will have to apply for a multi entry-exit visa at the Thai Embassy. I understood from some posts in this forum that it was better to forget applying for this visa in the area...

Well, I did the same in Indonesia (stayed there 8 months, renting a place, etc.) flying in and out before the end of my 2-month tourist visa. I only had trouble once with Immigration there when entering there and it was only because I forgot to bring my outgoing flight ticket.

What worries more is that as I do not have any proper visa, I cannot register at my (French) Embassy, right?

I would like to know if there is a quota on the number of times you can enter Thailand as A TOURIST (by air if this makes a difference) and also a quota on the number of days you can stay (without exceeding the 2-month visa you get as a tourist when entering).

I won t work there, so will not get a business visa.

Is there any regulation of this kind?

I searched on Internet but did not really get a satisfactory answer for this.

Any advise would be great. Thanks.