motoguzzibob

To Suradit:

I find your response a little insulting and unnecessary. I didn't read the O-A in the first porting as some others didn't - ok, I admit that important things can be in the detail, but we all miss detail that doesn't make me stupid and was it really necessary for you to state "NON-IMM O-A NON-IMM-O" adding the unpleasant "Can you spot the difference?"? Unnecessary side swipe on Thais as well, by the way.

I am new to this forum and hope that most folks don't feel the need to make those sort of childish insults.

By the way, OJAS, I know Hull Consulate don't issue OA etc. visas and I didn't I say they that, which is why I applied to London to get my O visa - however, Hull Consulate are far more accessible on the phone an respond virtually by return to emails AND, as it turns out, did give me the right advise.

I apologised in my earlier email for the misunderstanding and would like to lay this to rest as did nabbie

Ooops! Sorry, I got the impression you knew what you were talking about and somehow I'd got it wrong.

Thanks for your patience.

Cheers

Sorry, you are right I don't understand what you mean by "each entry you are allowed to stay for one year". I was specifically told that I could only stay for 90 days for each entry and would have to re-enter to get another 90 days and could stay for a max of 12 months (i.e. a minimum of 4 entries in 12 months) before having to apply for a new visa. It was clearly explained to me and now I am somewhat confused!

Isn't it irrelevant when you apply for a visa - assuming you enter Thailand within 12 months of it's issue at the embassy. Then the 12 month clock starts to tick. I have a multi entry "O" one year visa and have to leave the country every 90 days. As I am over 65 and in receipt of a state pension, I didn't have to prove my income.

The one year the visa is valid for starts from the date of issue. If you got the visa one month before your first entry you would only be able to use the visa for 11 months to enter the country.

If that's correct. I have been the wrong information by the Hull Consulate - oh dear! Actually it doesn't make any difference to my arrangements, but I will check back with the embassy or consulate on my return. Also, the wording of the visa is very misleading in that case.

Isn't it irrelevant when you apply for a visa - assuming you enter Thailand within 12 months of it's issue at the embassy. Then the 12 month clock starts to tick. I have a multi entry "O" one year visa and have to leave the country every 90 days. As I am over 65 and in receipt of a state pension, I didn't have to prove my income.

Valid point Naroge, as you say, part of the consideration should be whether your home country is better for your kids to grow up in than Thailand - but yes not some generalised discussion about the best countries.

just a tought ... western countries are getting invaded by moslims

looking down on your daughters, wifes, mothers

spitting on them and calling them whores if they do not answer their refined invitations for self sexual gratification

at least that is the case in belgium ...

don't see that quiet yet in thailand ...

Is Belgium really that bad? We have a lot of Muslims in the UK in ever growing numbers and for sure some of them are bad news, but the vast majority are charming people who worship God in their way. I hasten to add that I am not religious in any way, but do respect people's beliefs and lack of them. It's only the bad folks who hit the news and the nasty pieces of work who jump on them to claim all of them are the same, i.e. the extreme right wing like the British National Party and equivalents.

I'm sorry that Belgium is like that. I'm sure people with disagree with me about the UK, but I have no axe to grind.

I'm a white born and bred Yorkshireman and have lived and worked in black/ Muslim/ ethnic minority areas here in the UK. I've seen more hostility from white people to ethnic groups, although fortunately not common place.

I've also seen more racism in Thailand towards African/ Arab/ Indian groups than here. You may disagree, but why are stores/ pharmacists full whitening creams/ powders?

I hasten to add that Thailand is my choice for retirement. I haven't experienced much aggression/ racism towards me -but then I'm white. Ok, some of the Thai guys have shown dislike to me, but it's not a common occurrence.

Just an observation about private/ fee paying schools in Thailand, I agree with comments made by eastendanto's TEFL connection - however, my suggestion was an international school which are inspected by authorities outside of Thailand and are subject to spot checks, but are expensive, so it's back to the home country unless you are well off!

Sadly true Goldbuggy

A thorny subject! As a retired UK teacher, I would like to point out that I have had to teach pupils who had their first (primary) education at home and none were well adjusted (To the norm and yes you can dispute the "norm") and had real problems mixing into the routines of school life (a subject also open to debate!). It is difficult to teach kids over about 13/14 years old without expertise and knowledge of the current education curriculum(s) in a variety of subjects, to exam standard, which, like it or not, is a requirement to progress to most forms of employment or FE.

Regarding the main discussion, I have some experience of Thai schools in the North and was not impressed with the standards. I actually witnessed pupils taking an exam and at the end being given the answers to correct their own - in theory a good idea - however, the corrected papers were the ones that went for government inspection! If you can afford a decent international school, then that's the way to go. Otherwise get them educated back in your own country and return for wonderful holidays, until you get to retirement (lucky me, I made it!). Yes there is some racism in UK schools, but it's no where near as bad as I've seen in Thailand against Arabs/ African/ Indian/ et al. Pupils with a good attitude rarely have a problem with racism - actually true of adults.

I can't comment much on what goes on in villages although have heard a lot of negative stuff that has been mentioned already regarding work ethic, respect, equality, sexism, etc. - something I've heard repeated lots of times.

If it's only about education then put them in an international school or take them home.

Good luck - a very difficult decision if you love Thailand!

Thanks for the reply Simon

Sounds good Laolover - I've always really liked Chiang Mai and the surrounding beautiful countryside. However, one big problem seems to be the pollution starting around Jan/ Feb and lasting through to March/ April, depending on where I get the information from! A friend went there in March last year and said it was dreadful.

Opinions please, thanks

Excuse my ignorance, but is Kotomo a suburb of Bangkok and is correctly spelt as when I tried to google it, I had no luck apart from a garden centre in Ayuthaya and loads of Japanese things!

Bernard - I spent part of last winter in Pattaya (And part in Indonesia). It's a bit scruffy - certainly has all the facilities I mentioned - doesn't seem like ideal living to me - having said that, I've got another 3 months there soon! I will continue to spend the rest of winter searching. I would like a list of places to look at/ check out

Where do you live Simon? Can you walk to the facilities - if so - sounds good to me!

This is an excellent post and makes a pleasant change from some of the aggressive tones of other posts/ forums. I'm from the UK and retired last year, so have started wintering in Thailand. I have driven and stayed over most of Thailand - except the turbulent South over a period of years. I adore the countryside in the North and the bays/ beaches South of Hua Hin (not the main islands).

However, and, maybe this is an age thing (66), I am wary of living in a quiet place for several reasons. I am single and enjoy the company of others on a regular basis. My Thai is basic (I'm working on it!) and so for a decent chat I need ex-pats and probably always will do. We all know some ex-pats that are unpleasant and so a choice to find folks I'm comfortable with is top of my list. After that are a good choice of convenient facilities (shopping, medical, movies, restaurants, bars and so on) A point made already about insects and other creatures - actually I have no fear of snakes (I find them attractive and fascinating creatures - to be treated with respect, of course). However, mosquitoes seem to go for me big time, even when I follow all the rules. This is a problem, because whenever out in the sticks I get attacked far more frequently than in a large town/ city and spend all day trying not to scratch! But on a serious level, there is measurably far more potential of getting malaria or dengue than in densely populated areas, even more so it seems, near borders it seems.

I love the idea of living in a quiet place and in some ways envy you folks that make the move. I was brought up in the countryside, but it's not a realistic choice for me in Thailand.

Good luck whatever you do and, of course, each to their own. It's nice to be part of a civilised discussion!