MarcelV

Last week I did a teaching demonstration at a secondary school somewhere in southern Thailand. The next day I got the news that I was accepted as their new teacher.

Since they made it clear to me that they will take care of my teaching license and work visa, the only thing I should do is buy a one-way ticket into Thailand. Or should I?

I am from The Netherlands and don't know which airline I'll be using. Could I just go ahead and buy a one-way ticket, no questions asked, with or without a tourialst visa to compliment it?

Before I fork out a large amount of money on a ticket, I would like to be sure.

Is there a car rental agency at Narathiwat Airport or one in Nara town with delivery service to the airport? I need a car in June for transportation in Narathiwat province.

@KhunBENQ:

Thanks! That solved it. I just had my friend use the *130* code and it worked.

Case closed!

Still it is odd I can't do it myself online unless I stay in Thailand.

Btw, I had him deposit 50 baht at once. How much time will that buy my sim?

Okay. If someone wants to help me personally, please send me a PM and I'll send you my number.

What are OPPO smartphones like?

I wish to buy a new phone during my holiday early 2016 and need a phone that is good value for money. I've seen all those OPPO shops before and was wondering if anyone has practical experience with them.

My Dutch friend in Thailand has bought me a 50 baht credit at 7-11, but says he can't top-up my number. Strange, since my (now ex-)girlfriend managed to top-up my balance just fine only a month ago.

I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm pretty sure my number is to expire before my next trip.

What did your friend purchase? If it was a scratch-off card or receipt credit then those won't work while your SIM is out of the country (unless allowed by the roaming system).

The only Top Up options that will work will be those that credit the account/number directly -- like the top-up machine, or anything that requires furnishing the actual phone number during the Top Up process. I usually top up friend's accounts by visiting a mom 'n pop store and they either use a PC running Top Up website or a phone to transfer credit to the account.

Another option would be to ask a current AIS customer to transfer "Validity Days" from their number to your number.

AIS Transfer Validity

Transfer can be made for 5, 10 or 20 days at a time.

There is no limit on how many times you can make a transfer for each.

Transferee can accumulate validity days up to a maximum of 365 days.

3 Baht is charged for service fee (each time)

Either the Direct Top Up or Transfer Validity method should work if your account/number/SIM is still valid and operating.

He bought this:

Oke, ask your Friend to go into an Ais shop and ask them what is going on. Let him explain the situation and let him know under which name it was registered (maybe even passport number) as AIS will for sure ask for that info and let them check.

I already asked him to step into an AIS shop. The problem is, he is currently in his gf's home town of Phu Wiang, Khon Kaen and there is no AIS shop there. I cannot ask him to travel to the town of KK for this, can I?

My Dutch friend in Thailand has bought me a 50 baht credit at 7-11, but says he can't top-up my number. Strange,

Did he describe what exactly happened, what message did he get?

I assume he tried it from his phone using the adequate code or did 7/11 staff try it?

If you registered the SIM to your name there is a good chance you can sort it out when back in Thailand at an AIS service centre (if that is good enough).

He just told me the topping up was no success and apped me a photocopy of the 50 baht code slip.

By the way, I fail to see how he could top-up my phone number using his phone.

If all else fails, could I perhaps ask another BM to do the top-up for me? (10+2 baht x2 should do, as suggested)

I will arrive in Thailand/Pattaya on 28-1 and buy you a beer or coke as a thank you.

Question, is the sim registered with an official ID? If not it could be that it is disabled because of NON registration.

I am pretty sure it is. I had it registered way back in January 2014 before visiting Yala and had my sim registration confirmed during my holiday in June/July 2015. Also, I had no problem using mobile internet or making phone calls during my latest holiday in September/October of this year.

I cannot seem to top-up my balance from here. The AIS sim is inserted, roaming is selected, but *121# doesn't do anything but tell me that there is no network. Which means it cannot connect to the AIS network, nor can it connect to my own network, since I am not allowed to change my APN to my Dutch simcard's access point.

My Dutch friend in Thailand has bought me a 50 baht credit at 7-11, but says he can't top-up my number. Strange, since my (now ex-)girlfriend managed to top-up my balance just fine only a month ago.

I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm pretty sure my number is to expire before my next trip.

I got an AIS prepaid SIM card, but have been situated in The Netherlands since early October. I am afraid the validity of the SIM and thereby the card balance will run out. Since I won't be visitng Thailand before Jan. 28 next year, I wish to check on the status of the SIM card and, if needed, take the appropriate steps to keep it valid.

Please help me on this.

Since my flight'll be arriving at 7.15 AM I will have plenty of time before checking into my hotel in Bang Kapi. Discounting walking what is the absolute cheapest way to travel to The Mall Bangkapi area? I was thinking about taking the BMTA bus from the Public Transport Center but don't know if there's a direct bus to Bang Kapi.

Is there any other reasonable way to get from Pattaya to SS and vice versa than by taking minivans to/from Victory Monument?

I prefer a normal bus with a.c., normal travel times and bus stop in the town centre of SS.

I meant a reputable local company and one that lets me pay in cash.

Due to personal reasons I don't have a bank account, so all my business is done in cash.

Next month I'll be in CR. I need a rental car for 8 days. Can someone recommend me a good local rental company, with delivery to CEI airport?

Note: I don't use Avis, Hertz, etc.

I already contacted "Chiang Rai Car Rent" (http://www.เช่ารถเชียงราย.net/index_en.html) but they don't respond to my mails.

I work for a Dannok real estate company and it's very good business here. Much more of a grow market than in Pattaya, where the market is oversaturated by farangs.

I'm the only farang in town which is nice for girls' attention too.

Thanks for the photos... did you ride the bike ?

I drove a car.

Some miscellaneous images from other districts in the deep south:

Mueang Narathiwat:

Mueang Yala:

Let's post some pics from my trips to Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, in random order.

First, the pictures from Mueang Pattani.

Only a Filipino/Filipina would use the word "maths" in the singular form. You can teach mathematics or math, but you can't teach "maths."

I'll bet the room 10,000 baht Maricel is a Filipina.

Can you give me the 10,000 baht? I am Dutch, not Philippino, thank you.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

My degree is from one of the listed universities.

Generally, as a Non Native English Speaker you'd probably be stuck in the 25-30k salary bracket, but with a maths degree, you're probably more looking at 25k - 35k, maybe more once you get some more teaching experience (Even getting 35k for your first job would be pretty amazing without prior teaching experience).

Would it help to know some government officials? I asked friends, high-ranking officials working for the local Thai government in Bangkok and Narathiwat if they knew of any positions and told them I could use their help.

I'm from The Netherlands and caucasian. My grades weren't that great, but I did get my bachelor's degree. I doubt any future Thai employer would look at my grades. Most times a bachelor (in whatever subject) should do. Though for teaching maths I think one should at least be a maths graduate. I've read about a Canadian guy who actually teaches maths in Shanghai and frequently travels to Thailand to cycle through the country.

So maybe I should also look at different countries like China. Teaching in the UK is probably impossible since I don't have a teaching license. Note that I don't need to be rich, but hope to earn a little more than just 'survival money'.

And no, I wouldn't need the constant company of (bar) girls. I know holiday-making is not the same as expat-living. Just one or two days of partying per week would be more than sufficient.

On the subject of teaching English as a NNS, I met a Swedish lady in the minibus to Pattaya during my last visit. She was at least my age and had only been working in Minburi as an English teacher for like one year. She had a very thick Swedish accent and still made 40k a month at a prestigious school. So making that kind of money, especially teaching an actual discipline, would be entirely feasible I'd say.

My suggestion was for you to go to the UK (or Netherlands would do) to obtain teaching certification. From a career perspective if you only achieved a pass grade in your BA then you should be in CV repair mode and tidy up that poor pass with a decent post-grad qualification followed by maybe a couple of years of teaching experience in either UK or Netherlands. Ideally doing a P/T Masters while you are working might also be a good idea. And maybe learn some Mandarin. In short you should prepare the ground for setting forth suitably armed seeking overseas positions. Just because some Thai institutions might give you a job paying 1000 baht a day is no way to spend the next few years at your age unless you want to climb into a dead-end hole and continue digging.

Can't I make a career in Thailand? I'm still reasonably young and would rather live the rest of my life under the Thai sun than be stuck in the miserable environment at home. Once I'd feel happy in my Thai job, which I probably would, I know I'd be very loyal to my employer and not looking to job-hop every few years. I don't mind starting on a low salary, as long as there are career options upon building my work experience in Thailand.

Also, it is noteworthy that I'm used to having a low income. For the last 6 years my monthly net salary has been below the 1000 euro mark, saving up every last cent for my Thai holidays. A 30-35k income in baht would not feel like being poor. I know Bangkok is expensive, but I could just as easily work and live in Sakon Nakhon or Narathiwat.

Maths is proper (British) English, unlike American English 'math'. I know I do have some problems maintaining consistency between one language form or the other, but in Thailand who cares? I'm not planning on teaching college-level English language students anyway.

I'm from The Netherlands and caucasian. My grades weren't that great, but I did get my bachelor's degree. I doubt any future Thai employer would look at my grades. Most times a bachelor (in whatever subject) should do. Though for teaching maths I think one should at least be a maths graduate. I've read about a Canadian guy who actually teaches maths in Shanghai and frequently travels to Thailand to cycle through the country.

So maybe I should also look at different countries like China. Teaching in the UK is probably impossible since I don't have a teaching license. Note that I don't need to be rich, but hope to earn a little more than just 'survival money'.

And no, I wouldn't need the constant company of (bar) girls. I know holiday-making is not the same as expat-living. Just one or two days of partying per week would be more than sufficient.

On the subject of teaching English as a NNS, I met a Swedish lady in the minibus to Pattaya during my last visit. She was at least my age and had only been working in Minburi as an English teacher for like one year. She had a very thick Swedish accent and still made 40k a month at a prestigious school. So making that kind of money, especially teaching an actual discipline, would be entirely feasible I'd say.

Has a list of hotels with discounted rooms been published yet?

I'm heading to Pattaya in June and I'm trying to find some cheap rooms in good hotels. No problem if a Thai gf makes the reservation krap?