Too

In my 3 decades teaching in Thailand, Filipinas are not wanted even if they are qualified. Most schools want young,white naive people straight off the boat. Other Asians confuse Thais. The young farangs fit nicely into a pigeon hole. It's face thing. The only places I see these days are Anubaans, who are even taking African women, which was totally unheard of 30 or even 15 years ago. Less racist to blacks but more racist to whites, go figure.

When I met my Filipino colleague for the 1st time, I thought he was Thai.

He's teaching only Anubarns now.

The other days the school director said that he's going to replace him by

a Western teacher for next year, adding that he wants a WHITE teacher

for the kids.

She was teacher of the year in her school with 130 faculty members, and could teach rings around me or almost anyone else I know, but i understand how racism works.

Any Filipina with a 4-year degree who is fluent in English can have her pick of dozens of call center jobs paying 17,000-22,000p in the Philippines. She will make more with bonuses and as she gets experience. That equates to about 15,000B, so there may not be a benefit of her working in Thailand as opposed to in her home country once visa costs and travel expenses are added to the equation.

It still might be a good idea if she can find a 20,000B teaching position, and if it keeps her busy and will prevent me from having to send money home to help out her family.

The Filipino guy at our school is paid 18kB a month. He's got a 3-year degree

but had no work experience in the Philippines before moving to Thailand. He's

not very fluent in English or good at English grammar, to be honest.

So your partner would be more likely to find a teaching job here because she's

got a teaching experience back home, though they might only pay her 15kB a

month for the 1st year. This is the pecking order, sad to say.

She'd try to look for one in March and April when they will be looking for replacements

during the school holiday.

Good luck.

G'day mate,

Have you got a Thai visa with a double-entry and a Myanmarese visa

in OZ yet?

If not, one of your best bets would be to arrive in Thailand on a 30-day

visa-exempt entry, apply for a 28-day Myanmarese visa in Bangkok,

enter Myanmar via Kaw Thaung from Ranong, come back to Thailand

via Mae Sai on a 15-day visa-exempt entry (The Aussies can only get

15 days to stay in Thailand if they enter the kingdom by land) and extend

it for 30 days at the immigration offices for 1,900B.

You could also apply for a 60-day visa at the Thai Embassy in Yangon

for US$40 (approximately 1,400B) and come back to Thailand on it.

http://www.thaiembassy.org/yangon/en/services/33445-Tourist-Visa.html

You cant extend a 15 day visa exempt by 30 days.

You can only extend it by 1 week.

Have you extended your 15-day visa-exempt entry for

only 7 days before?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/744440-longer-visa-exemption-extensions-begin-august-29-2014/?p=8127060

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/767219-15-days-visa-exempt-entry-how-to-extend/

When you have a hard time getting a job teaching in one of the most uneducated places in Asia, why in the world wouldn't you think about moving home or doing something else?

Honestly, with the low pay of teachers in Thailand, the lack of respect, work permit/VISA and everything else, it is hard to believe that for some people this is all the life they can muster?

I have always questioned people that would move to Thailand and work for less than 30,000 a month, unless they had absolutely zero skill in their own country.

Teaching experience in Thailand is pretty much worthless in the rest of the civilized world.

People live in Thailand to work for some reasons. Some do because they have a

family here, others do because they can't go back home for some other reasons.

I've been living in Thailand to teach for more than a year now. I know what you try

to mean. Even my Canadian friend teaching in the Middle East now, being paid

super good, suggested that I should move to another country to work to get paid

better than here in Thailand (His wife is from BKK). I can get treated even better

back home without doubt.

However, I've got a good chance to work overseas now. I'd like to teach here a

bit longer just because I love the Thai kids.

Again, everyone that lives here to work has his or her own reasons, which I'd

love to respect.

Hello,

You'd definitely go visit Ban Krut and spend a night in 'Baan Grood Arcadia Resort & Spa'

which is the best place to stay there.

Ban Krut is about 160km from Hua Hin, 10km off Phetkasem Rd. It's about a 2 - 2.5hr drive.

There are some restaurants on the beach near the resort and is a 7-11 & a Lotus Express

within the walking distance.

Ban Krut Railway Station is about 1km away, the bike taxis will always meet the trains and

you can also ask the resort for a pick-up so you can go by train, too.

Special Express No.43 No.40

Hua Hin 11:29 Ban Krut 14:20

Ban Krut 13:07 Hua Hin 15:58

Fare 380B 380B

Ordinary Train No.255 No.254

Hua Hin 11:47 Ban Krut 9:02

Ban Krut 14:45 Hua Hin 11:40

Fare 31B 31B

Special Express will usually not get delayed but Ordinary Train always will.

Hi Too

Starting in Hanoi for 4 days and then heading south by train. I love trains. Just as a note, all the train travel will be overnight in a sleeper so We are not loosing a day of sightseeing. While in Hanoi, we might do a side trip to Ha Long Bay or Sa Pa. Just depends.

One the way down, stopping in Hue overnight and then over to Da Nang. Haven't decided whether to do the train or hire a car for the drive through Hai Van Pass on the way to Da Nang. From Da Nang it is over to Hoi An. At least 2 nights in Hoi An. From Hoi An it is back to Da Nang to catch the train down to Saigon. We'll finish up the last 3 or 4 days there before heading back to BKK.

I won't mind the cold weather. After the trip to Europe early this year, I came to realize that one of the things I missed occasionally was cold weather.

David

If you should choose to go to Sapa, you can hop on one of the two trains

leaving Hà Nội in the evening and arriving at Lào Cai, a gateway to Sapa,

the following morning, and then one of the two trains departing Lào Cai in

the evening and getting back to Hà Nội the next morning.

http://www.vetau.com.vn/

I have spent a few nights in Hội An and loved this lovely town. It was a bit

touristy, though.

I'd strongly suggest that you NOT drive in VN because the locals drive

just like crazy, especially when overtaking. Nerve-wracking! I took a

tourist bus from Huế to Hội An through Đà Nẵng.

If you have time, I'd recommend you to stop over at Nha Trang for a few

nights on the way down to Sài Gòn from Đà Nẵng by train. The beach

wasn't too bad and I'd enjoy 'Bia hơi' or VN draught beer (13B per litre)

every day.

Khrusapa are so incompetant that their records regarding waivers are a shambles. The rules and decisions change from day to day and every second person there will tell you something different. I have met people with degrees who have been rejected for a second waiver and people without degrees on their third. I have seen perfectly competant teachers being rejected for a waiver and some other morons get waivers. Sadly this is the state of the Thai education system today.

I think that this post sums up the situation perfectly.

Exactly. It doesn't seem like anybody knows the truth.

My university is on the list and I might move to another

school next year, when I'll have to go for the 2nd waiver.

I'll see what happens.

http://203.21.42.34/acc/search/internew/maininter.html

Hello,

I don't know what you do but I got mine on the day

I applied for it as a teacher.

Hello,

I heard the news that the VN VOA fees (stamping fees) go down,

starting next Monday on 23 Nov.2015.

Both a 1-month and a 3-month visas with a single entry go down

to US$20 from US$45 in fee accordingly.

Hope the news is true.

I called the Thai Embassy in Berlin an hour ago and they said METV are available for anyone that meets the requirement and can be issued as often as needed. If applicants are not working in Germany but can proof they have sufficient funds, they can apply as well but they insist on return flights back to Germany. I told them I own a condo in Bangkok and don't stay in hotels and they advised me bring a copy of my Tabian Baan (Yellow) and the registration document of the unit.

Seems it's fine to live here as long as needed on tourist visas then, and that was never the issue. A totally legitimate way to stay in Thailand long term. Just need a nominal amount of cash to support oneself.

The requirements to meet just for a tourist visa look way too ridiculous, I must say.

Relax guys. I just got good news. Don't ask me for the source. I won't name it. Very soon we will read reports from farangs who got the METV in Vientiane.

I feel already sorry for the old grumpy farts who think they understand Thais and their mentality better then themselves.

I haven't seen one rumour from an un-named source posted on this forum come true yet!

But it's entirely possible that a "farang" qualifies for the METV from Laos if they have a Lao stay permit or work permit or house registration and ID and a have Lao employer. I'm sure many qualify.

sure there might be a few ( but very few can show $8,000 in the bank for 6 months, all hotels booked, a job)

AND

why in the world would they want a 6 month multi entry visa if there working when they can enter visa exempt for a few weeks at a time to do their shopping??

Exactly.

The new METV looks so ridiculous I couldn't even see any point in it

other than just doing away with a double-(triple) entry TV but this is

what we must live with as long as we live or stay here. I mean we

must love them for it. They'll be losing a lot in the end anyway.

Hello,

First of all, how are you going to move to Sai Gon from Ha Noi?

Considering that you're going to spend 8-9 days in these two

cities out of about 2 weeks in VN, you should fly. As you know,

it's more than 1,700km between them by road and by train.

Secondly, where else are you planning to visit on your way,

Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang or Mui Ne

and/or Da Lat?

As for Sai Gon, you can easily spend at least 3 days there:

sightseeing around the city on Day 1, going on a day trip

to The Mekong Delta on Day 2, going on another day trip

to Chu Chi Tunnel on Day 3 for example.

When I went to Da Lat in December it was super freezing

and to Ha Noi in February it was cold and wet.

It'd be great for you to tell me a bit more about your travel

plans.

Hello,

Koh Tao is one of the best islands for diving / snorkeling, and

from there you can move to Koh Pha-Ngan for partying.

Now KT is somewhere I would stay far away from . I hope no one ever thinks that is a good holiday destination.

I've never spent a night on Koh Tao but only a few hours waiting for

a connection boat to Koh Pa-Ngan on my way from Chumphon. I

might of spent at least several days there if I were a diver. I wonder

how the island is now.

Hello,

Hua Hin is not too bad if you can afford to spend US$1,000 for a place

to stay a month. Maybe you'd try Cha-Am (25km from Hua Hin) as well.

If you love to hang out with other young people like you for partying, then

you'd go to Koh Samui or Koh Pha-Ngan.

yep

well if ur in Yangon the 2nd-5th let me know an we can hook up

I'd like to meet you up in Yangon but I'll have to work then.

I don't think I can afford to go anywhere on holiday till next

April simply because I have to work. Thanks for your offer,

though.

Have fun.

Yes u can enter if u have a visa but seems crazy to go to Bangkok to get a visa an than travel all the way south to Ranong to enter at Kwathoung

flights Bangkok - Yangon are around $50 one way

Daily boats ( yes u pay more) Boats leave Kawthaung at 4.30am, the journey takes 12 hours to Dawei, one reason why i am breaking it up in Myeik

Thanks for the details.

It doesn't sound like a good idea if I take a boat leaving Kaw Thaung

at 4:30am because I'll then have to spend the night before there. So

I'd do the reverse as you're going to do in less than 2 weeks.

Hello,

You can renew your WP for 3 months (750B) and the extension costs you

1,900B if it's 1 year or not. Even a 7-day extension will cost you as much.

Are you teaching on a waiver now? As you know, the waiver is good for

2 years so you must apply for the 2nd waiver if you teach at your school

for more than 2 years. Some foreign teachers are reported to have been

denied the 2nd or the 3rd waiver without any evidence of self-development

such as the certificate of a Thai Culture Course.

Strictly speaking we can use the present tense to talk about the past as a way of dramatizing a story. Hence, when we talk about a film we have seen we use the present tense.

"so, Jack meets Rose on a big ship, the ship sinks, Jack dies!"

As a sports commentator describes, 'Wayne Rooney scores a goal!

England are ahead!'

Thanks for the advice. I'm in an apartment with my wife but the rental agreement doesn't have my name on it. Do you think it'll be OK to use this?

If it is in your wife's name it will not be a problem, Just show your marriage certificate.

Whether a TM30 is needed or not depends entirely upon the immigration office you go to. Some will want one when apply for an extension or change your address while others don't.

I have never been asked for one.

In a more direct reply to the OP. Immigration does not go out looking for home owners that have homes and etc that have foreigners living at their property. They only enforce the act for businesses renting out rooms and etc.

I submitted a TM28 to the immigration office a week after I moved house

no problem. I've never been asked for a TM30.

Min Ga Lar Ba,

I just read in a travel journal that a guy travelled Myanmar more than

a year ago, entering the country via Myawaddy from Mae Sot and

exiting from Kaw Thaung to Ranong.

He paid US$60 (40,000K or US$31 for the locals) for a boat, which

left Dawei a little past 4am and got to Kaw Thaung at 4pm.

You should update the info, though you can have a general idea of

it.

you can exit there but can not enter

From Kwathoung to Dawei

boat ( 7-8 hours) or fly

Dawei-Myeik Bus ( 12-14) or Boat 4-5 hours

I am traveling south from Yangon in 2 weeks and exiting at Kwathoung

You can enter the country via Kaw Thaung from Ranong

on a visa obtained at the Embassy of Myanmar in BKK,

right?

What time does a boat leave Kaw Thaung for Dawei and

how often (daily or not)?

I heard that you can take a train from Dawei to Yangon as

well but it runs way too slow and they still have the tourist

price (fare) for both trains and boats.

Hope you enjoy travelling in the south.

I am doing the reverse

flying into Yangon Dec 2nd-- heading south, exiting at Ranong an than a 4 hour bus ride home

if u enter at Ranong u need a visa issued at the embassy, an online pre approved e-visa wont work

from Kwathong ( a real sh*t hole to stay in,been many times) u can either fly or take the boat to Myeik an than bus or boat to Dawei and than onwards by train or bus

I have looked at hotels at all the cites and it ranges from a low of $7 up to $42 ( at Golden rock) with an average for an air con room of about $30

Thank you for your info.

I'll go apply for a visa at the Embassy of Myanmar in BKK

before entering the country via Kaw Thaung from Ranong.

I hear that the visa fee has gone up recently.

The accommodation in Yangon is outrageously expensive

so I wonder how much one of the cheapest rooms costs you

there.

Please keep me posted on your travels because I'm very

curious about them.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/868956-you-can-pay-air-asia-at-at-any-thai-711/

So, no easy ride for UK nationals and £5,000 is more than 200,000 baht, maybe they don't like UK farang anymore!

I doubt it. I wonder if they can think of anything by replacing

a double(triple)-entry TV by a new METV with the apparently

ridiculous requirements and if this new visa will work well.

They might be thinking of catching up with the Farangs or

even getting even with them by doing this.

They'll definitely be losing more money in the end.