JimmerJJ

Hello I live in Bangkok and I get debilitating migraines.  Does anyone know of a pharmacy that carries oral Sumitriptan or Eletriptan (Relpax®).  Thank you

Thanks all for the great information!!  I have more confidence about getting this done (sometimes I get unduly stressed out) and I really need a license because I have to go back to the US and rent a truck to move a bunch of stuff out of my storage.  So this helps a lot. ????

11 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

They (Fatboys OnNut) were OK when I dealt with them earlier this year. The price was reasonable as listed above. And they were able to arrange for the whole thing to be done in ONE day with little advance scheduling at the DLT OnNut area office, as opposed to the normal DLT routine of having to go one day to make an appointment, and then come back on a subsequent day for the actual appointment.

 

Regarding the required medical certificate, they work with a small Thai medical clinic a short distance from the OnNut DLT office on the main Sukhumvit Rd. that quickly and easily issues the required medical certificate. Never saw a doctor, just had the nurse take my personal details and do a quick blood pressure check. That was all!

 

The more troublesome part was having to trek out to the BKK CW Immigration office to get the required residence certificate, and wait in a long queue there for it. And carefully time that with your DLT visit because I believe (from recollection) DLT wants it to be no older than 30 days at the time of your visit.

 

At the OnNut DLT office, they have four physical tests you need to pass when applying for a Thai license on the basis of having a valid home country license:

 

1. using a little machine to align two little vertical sticks to be even with each other 8-10 feet in front of where you sit (depth perception).

 

2. switching from a mock accelator pedal to a brake pedal when a red light is shown (response time).

 

3. calling out the colors flashed by a traffic light display (for color blindness)

 

and

 

4. calling out the colors of small lights in side panels on either side of where you sit in a chair (to check peripheral vision).

 

 

Thanks Tall Guy, Very helpful about the practical tests.  I passed them all before in 2019 when I got my 2 year temporary (now expired) but it's a nice refresher knowing ahead what they are.

12 hours ago, Polar Bear said:

I agree when it's just a straightforward process (like a foreign licence to Thai or 2 year to 5 year), but for anything a bit more complicated, they can be really useful.

We got our first Thai licences during the pandemic when offices were randomly reopening for a few hours and then closing again. Fatboy's were phoning round constantly and booking appointments as soon as one became available, and they obviously had insider knowledge on which center was going to popup next. There's no way I could have done it myself. 

Then with the practical test, my husband kept failing, not because he lacked the skill but because he didn't understand the test rules. Fatboy's talked him through it and negotiated for him to only retake the parts he had failed instead of having to redo the whole thing and risk failing something he'd passed once. 

And then they helped him renew his 2 year to 5 year almost a year early. Again, there was a lot of negotiation going on that we couldn't do. 

When I renewed my 2 to a 5, I just did it myself, and it was easy, but for the other ones, I think the money on an agent was well spent. But if you are fluent in Thai and understand how it all works, maybe it's never necessary. 

Thanks Polar Bear! That is one of my concerns on the practical test is not understanding what they want me to do. I guess I'll try watching what others do.  Do you know are the practical tests the same at Chatuchak and Onnut? I'm an excellent driver too with about 40 years of driving and only one accident my fault when I crashed the Drivers Ed car in high school because instead of using reverse in backing out from a parking space I had it in drive and gassed it crashing into the store window. ????

16 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, when I first obtained my 2 year TDL I used BSR as being in covid times they were able to obtain an appointment.

 

My advice is limited as my Oz license was valid and I see that your US license has expired.

Given that I think you best to consult with agent such as BSR.

The manager is USA guy and also staff can chat via messenger.

 

What is your status in Thailand.

The reason being that you need a certificate of residence as part of the application.

That is not straightforward in Bangkok.

 

Be aware that agent cannot do much for you. It's a hand holding exercise.

You still need to obtain medical (5 minute thing) and own Certificate of Residence. USA embassy no longer provides address letter.

 

I recently obtained the 5 year TDL and did that at Chatuchak transport office.

If you are using that office note there is small medical office not far from entrance.

It's an office just issuing medical certificate. 

 

Here is a thread  and has report of my experience at Chatuchak in May.

Also in thread discussion of certificate of residence.

CW require a 90 day report to issue COR

 

 

 

Thanks Dr Jack, for all the great information! Very helpful.  I am on a Non-Imm OA visa.

Hi everyone,  I am in Bangkok and need to get a Thai Drivers License.   I see a few websites online that offer assistance with the forms and they also accompany you to the Dept of Land Transportation to get it.  If anyone has used any of these services I would be interested to hear of your experience with them.  Two services that I saw online are Fatboys Thai License Service and also Thai Drivers License Service Point - TDLS.  If you have any feedback on these or others I would really appreciate to hear before i dive in with one.  I had a USA DL but it expired and I also had a Temporary Thai Drivers License but then got locked out of Thailand because of Covid and it expired so I guess i have to start over.  Thanks All I really appreciate any information about doing this. 

21 hours ago, JonnyF said:

It's about raising the debt ceiling I.e. increasing debt due to a classic failing of left wing governments that spend money it doesn't have.

 

PS adding the word fascist to every post does nothing for your credibility. 

Wrong answer.  There is a separate time for negotiating the budget.  Now is the time to pay bills that were passed into law by Congress.  They're two different processes but of course the GOP likes to pull this stunt everytime there is a Democrat president.  If need be and rightwingers don't come to their senses Biden should invoke the 14th.

Last Thursday, prior to Biden's and McCarthy's meeting, Durbin provided Newsweek the following answer when asked whether Biden should consider using his constitutional authority to raise the debt ceiling:

"I'm open to suggestions about how to end the suicide pact on the debt limit."

Perfect answer to our self-inflicted hostage crisis. If need be invoke the 14th.

Anyone want to venture a guess on what this will do to the exchange rate if it's not raised?  I've been loading up on THB for the past few months just in case.

Like others on here I think there is a strong argument made for invoking the 14th amendment as discussed by Lawrence Tribe, Harvard Professor on Constitutional Law. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/07/opinion/debt-limit.html

The thing is if you cave to the GOP and it gets kicked down the road a year what will they ask for next time like 'we want all the the seditionists freed' or some other nonsense.

I am having difficulty with this form (SSA 7162).  The system is broken so I emailed my Senator (copied below) please feel free to copy and email your Senator and keep our fingers crossed.

Subj:  Problem: SSAs Archaic System for Form 7162

Dear Senator Rosen, I am a Nevada absentee voter temporarily living overseas.  I am 70 years old and on Social Security.  The SSA mails out a form to those overseas receiving benefits which must be returned to them or their benefits are jeopardized.  The problem is they only allow returning it to their PO Box so that rules out using tracking services such as FedEx or DHL.  I sent mine on Nov 23rd via EMS mail but that tracking stopped after it left Thailand and was not picked up by USPS.  This is an important form to get returned or they cut you off.  Why can't SSA have a normal street address to return these forms instead of a PO Box?  Also we have no way of knowing if it was received.  So as backup I have also sent another 7162 to them by regular airmail from Thailand. Why can't they send us a secure message in 'My Social Security' letting us know that it was recveived.  I called the SSA office in Reno (where I applied for benefits) and the Rep did not even know what that form was.  The Rep gave me another number in Wilkes Barre PA (where the form goes) but I called there and they said it was the wrong office.  Please help us with this nightmare bureaucracy.  Thank you

On 9/13/2022 at 12:14 AM, Lorry said:

Kwonitoy and Dr Tom probably pay PEA/MEA rate. 

You pay 8B, which is almost double. This is legal,  very normal (one poster pays 7B, he is a lucky guy) and probably also reasonable (the reasons why this is reasonable are explained by some posters in another thread about this subject).

 

The consumption is all from the  a/c. And these look terribly old to me. Crossy will know better. 

7 years ago I rented a place with big antique a/c like this. 45 sqm, 6000 B for electricity.

A friend of mine has about 60sqm, old a/c. MEA rate. Easily runs up 4000 or 5000B.

Ask some lo-so Thais,  factory workers or prostitutes, the kind of people who live in 1-room apartments,  about electricity bills. You will hear many horror stories.  Old a/c, 8B: electric is often higher then rent. 

 

You are probably not taken advantage of. If you want it cheaper rent a condo where you pay MEA rate. 

BTW living in a hiso area but complaining about electricity?

I'm not complaining just trying to figure out if I'm getting ripped off.  I've learned a lot just from this thread that there are a lot of variances.

On 9/13/2022 at 12:14 AM, Lorry said:

Kwonitoy and Dr Tom probably pay PEA/MEA rate. 

You pay 8B, which is almost double. This is legal,  very normal (one poster pays 7B, he is a lucky guy) and probably also reasonable (the reasons why this is reasonable are explained by some posters in another thread about this subject).

 

The consumption is all from the  a/c. And these look terribly old to me. Crossy will know better. 

7 years ago I rented a place with big antique a/c like this. 45 sqm, 6000 B for electricity.

A friend of mine has about 60sqm, old a/c. MEA rate. Easily runs up 4000 or 5000B.

Ask some lo-so Thais,  factory workers or prostitutes, the kind of people who live in 1-room apartments,  about electricity bills. You will hear many horror stories.  Old a/c, 8B: electric is often higher then rent. 

 

You are probably not taken advantage of. If you want it cheaper rent a condo where you pay MEA rate. 

BTW living in a hiso area but complaining about electricity?

I'm not complaining just trying to figure out if I'm getting ripped off.  I've learned a lot just from this thread that there are a lot of variances.

On 9/13/2022 at 8:24 AM, FritsSikkink said:

6k is way to much, i only pay that in April / May and have 4 aircons running. I pay directly to energy company.

Thanks for the info. I wish I could pay directly to the MEA.  The front living room is surrounded on 2 sides by big windows that open.  So maybe it's not energy efficient too.

10 hours ago, kwonitoy said:

They are padding the bill.

My house in Udon Thani, hot season in April.

2 refrigerators, 3 TV's, multiple phone chargers. 2 computers, 25,000BTU air con running downstairs during the day. 3X 18,000 BTU air cons in the bedrooms running all night.

The highest electrical bill I received was a little over 6,000 baht

Thanks, padding the bill is what I think too.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

8 baht is normal for an apartment but a condo should be govt rate about 4 baht. 6k baht is way too high, caused mainly by AC. Move

Yes I don't have much stuff so not hrd to move.  I could afford the extra couple thousand but I just don't like being taken advantage of and I think that's what they're doing. It's the principle of the thing.  Thank you

43 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

6k actually sounds about right.  Not hard to imagine you using 750 unit X 8 = 6000

 

PEA charge would be ฿4,097.31

Yeah maybe your're right.  Thank you

34 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Based upon on my experience living in a rented apartment in LOS I can say turning off the lights does not make a huge impact on the electricity bill.  In my case(a 30 SQM unit) with one old AC unit, how many hours per day I turn the unit on is the biggest factor in how large or small my bill is.  During the hot months(like now) the AC is on about 6 to 8 hours a day.  My per KW rate is 7 Baht per unit and the most I have paid is about 2000 Baht.  I do not cook and have the usual electrical appliances(refrigerator, kettle, TV and charge my laptop, tablet and phone).  I think 6K is too high but if one AC unit is on most of the day then in my opinion your bill should be in the 3000 to 4500 per month range.  

 

Can you check the meter?  For instance in some units the electricity meter is accessible to tenants.  Sometimes I check the meter at the beginning of the month and then at the end.  So far my bills appear to be consistent.  

Hi Sqwakvfr,  guess I could if I asked but the Manager was showing me the current reading on paper but i didn't actually see it for myself.

29 minutes ago, Crossy said:

As above the A/C is going to be the killer ???? 

 

What size (BTU) are the units (and do they look "old"), what temperature do you set?

 

Hi Crossy, I don't know the BTU's but here are some pics and the one in the bedroom is a Trane.  The outlet in the living room is a big vent like they use with central A/C  but I guess it's not because it has a condensor outside (see vent pic).  And outside on the balcony are 2 A/C condensors (I think they're called that)  Thank you

Hi everyone, I'm renting a 1 bedroom apartment near Saphan Kwai and Ari in Bangkok and it is my first month here.  Electric is not included and the contract says the charge is 8 baht per unit.  My first month will be over in a week and the manager estimates that the final elecrtric charge will be about 6000 baht based on what I've used so far. To me it seems high but I've been absent from the country for 2 years because of COVID and just got back. We are very conscious about saving electricity. There are 2 A/C units, one in the bedroom and one in the living room but mostly only one is run at a time.  We shut the lights and everything off if we leave.  The place is dimly lit with not much lighting.  The hotpot stove is electric and we cook normal but just breakfast and dinner and we use laptop and TV. The apartment is about 76 sq meters.  I don't have access to the meter and just have to rely on what they tell me.  Is 6000 baht about normal? Is 8 baht a unit about normal (live in Phyathia/Saphan Kwai area)?  I'm deciding whether to stay here so this is a factor. Thanks all for any info.

On 6/25/2022 at 10:47 PM, gamb00ler said:

I haven't look closely to see if hazelnut flavoring is available in the international ingredients sections of Tops or equivalent.  If they do stock it, you could probably produce an acceptable replacement cream/flavoring combination.

That's exactly what I did.  Starbucks has a Hazelnut syrup and also at Villa Mart they have 24 oz bottles of Torani Classic Hazelnut syrup. So I mix with a creamer like Barista milk and then top it off by spraying some whipped cream on top.  Also experiment by adding a little vanilla or caramel syrup (but the ratio's are top secret so I can't divulge).

On 6/27/2022 at 12:41 PM, Photoguy21 said:

Purely out of interest what coffee do you drink?

Right now I'm hooked on UCC Roast Master House Blend Medium Roast (Thailand product at Big C).  It has a really great crema and kind of a nutty taste.  Coffee aficiando's will probably turn up their nose to it but i'm not that picky.  I look for not fruity but a nutty (like me) taste.  But I switch a lot and like to try different ones. 

Thanks everyone for all the good info and tips!!  I appreciate your help so much!  

Hello all,  I am 70 y/o and having some serious pain in my back that requires surgery.  Severe pain so in my eyes it is pretty urgent.  I'm in Bangkok now on a 60 day Covid Visa that expires in a few weeks.  I am thinking of using Vejthani Hospital because they have a spine surgeon with extensive training in USA and at Stanford and Cornell.  I have no clue on how hospitals do a visa for you or how it works. Do I have to do it from outside Thailand?  Can I do the consult with the doctor and then if he concurs (2nd opinion at Vejthani) that I need surgery then do they send me to the hospital Visa office to start the process?  Would they do a visa for a spine surgery? I would think since I am going to pay a lot of money for their surgery that they would be happy to help with the visa.  I think my spine care will be lengthy so I'll need a long tem visa.  Thanks all in advance!  ☺

Hi All, I'm really picky about my coffee and coming to Bangkok soon and staying in Thonglor area by Sukhumvit. Does anyone know of anyplace that sells Hazelnut coffee creamer (like in attached pics).  I've been out of Thailand and can't remember if Big C or Lotus had them.  It's a little coffee emergency if I don't have them Hahaha.