scatalyst

It's not blocked in Thailand. I've been using it every day.

Sometimes the speed is too slow, so that's annoying. But that's always been a temporary issue (while my computer is downloading updates, I think).

Sounds to me like you're doing well if you're being understood, and you're only using "slight" head and hand movements. But since you asked for suggestions . . .

Have you spent much time reading Thai text while listening to a native speaker read through it at the same time? That might help you retrain your mind to associate the tones with the Thai script without thinking about the hand gestures.

I found a website with a short Christian devotional for each day and an audio file so I can listen to it while following along with the Thai script. You can find it at thaiodb (Our Daily Bread). It's available in several other languages, too.

A few years back, I crossed the Sadao border often. At that time, there were signs everywhere (especially on the windows of the immigration kiosks) saying that you should be sure to get a receipt for any money paid to the immigration officials. In my opinion, the best way to handle it in the future would be to act surprised, and then with a big smile, pleasantly say something like, "Oh, okay. I'll need a receipt for that." Then wait for them to balk and send you on your way.

But the van drivers are another story. I hate bribes, but I did pay it a few times. Interestingly (and thankfully), it wasn't requested (required) every time. I feel your pain, bantatnin.

For what it's worth, after reading your post here, I went and checked my recent electric bills. They all have the .6900 rate.

In my homecountry i allready pay for the tv-channels and for the internet as well so that slingbox sounds like a good option. But then i have to go there first to install that slingbox. hmm it's not that simple as i hoped.

Do you have a relative or friend in your homecountry who could get the Slingbox and set it up over there for you? My brother did it for me and it has worked great for several years now. After purchasing the Slingbox machine that's now hooked up to a TV in his home, it hasn't cost either of us anything more.

How do you handle the time differences when watching via the Slingbox? I have been considering it, and would like to use it at my US home with my DVR to sling shows to our home when we are in Thailand, but while my US cable company allows me to set up recordings remotely, it does not allow me to delete recorded shows remotely. This means that periodically I guess I would need a family member to come over and clear out the DVR.

My brother has U-Verse, but I don't think the cable company makes any difference. As someone else mentioned, basically, it is remote viewing of one of the TV's in his home. When I open Slingbox, there is a simulation of his remote on my screen and, as far as I can tell, I can do anything he can do. Slingbox gives me control of that TV in his home. I honestly don't think that the fact your cable company doesn't allow you to delete shows remotely is a problem. That's the beauty of Slingbox. It's as if you're watching your TV in your living room, but you're watching it on your computer from wherever.

Regarding on-demand viewing, if my brother's U-Verse contract allows him to watch on-demand shows, then I could do it too (but, to be honest, I've never tried).

You're right about the time difference. For example, if I just turn it on in the evening and flip through the channels, I'll be watching the live morning shows being broadcast at that time in the US. But both he and I can record and delete shows with no problem. So if there's going to be something showing in the middle of the day there (middle of the night here), I set it up to record it and then watch it whenever I want to.

Two recommendations I'd make to anyone planning to set up a Slingbox:

First, connect it to an "extra" TV in your friend/relative's home because if you're using Slingbox to watch a show, and your f/r turns on that particular TV set that the Slingbox is connected to in his home, and starts turning the channels, you've lost your show. You can still control it and turn the channel back to your show, but you understand what I'm saying? A hassle. And potentially super frustrating.

Secondly, find and download (for free) a Slingbox player for your computer. The Slingbox software provides a player that can be viewed via the internet, but a downloaded Slingbox player is much more user-friendly and much better for watching and recording shows on the Slingbox, in my opinion.

In my homecountry i allready pay for the tv-channels and for the internet as well so that slingbox sounds like a good option. But then i have to go there first to install that slingbox. hmm it's not that simple as i hoped.

Do you have a relative or friend in your homecountry who could get the Slingbox and set it up over there for you? My brother did it for me and it has worked great for several years now. After purchasing the Slingbox machine that's now hooked up to a TV in his home, it hasn't cost either of us anything more.

No, actually on this particular Bangkok Bangkok Bank 2.8% promotion they are looking for "new money" not transferred from any other Bangkok Bank account (like a rollover from one mature account to a new account)....they specially say regarding the 2.8%, 11 month promotion and to quote:

The minimum opening amount and the minimum amount for any subsequent deposit for the 11-Month Fixed Deposit Account is 100,000Bt. The funds for opening the account must not have been transferred or withdrawn from an existing Bangkok Bank account.

Full details are this Bangkok Bank webpage...look under Conditions at the second bullet.

I've done a half dozen or so fixed accounts at Bangkok Bank and when one matured I just rolled it over into a new promotion. I guess what Bangkok Bank puts in writing regarding the promotion and what they actually do is two different things. The OP's post is the second one I've seen where a person basically just rolled over funds/moved the funds from another Bangkok Bank account to open this 11 month, 2.8% fixed account promotion. Maybe the branch just ignored the condition, a clerk just messed up, or Bangkok Bank is not really enforcing the condition. TIT.

This week, I rolled my money from a matured fixed account into the 11-month 2.8% account at my Bangkok Bank branch. I actually could have done it three months ago, but I had read the conditions on the website and assumed the 11-month account required new money. Silly me, I didn't even try. Kudos and thanks to all you folks who have mentioned here on the forum that you were able to do it without bringing in new money.

I think Bangkok Bank is hurting themselves with that wording. I wonder what they're really trying to say.

You are not allowed to work as a volunteer English teacher on a retirement extension

That is no exactly correct. If you could get a work permit there is no rule or regulation that says you could not do it.

There are some work permit offices that would do the work permit which according to the regulations is allowed. It is only local policy at many work permit offices not to do any work permit for a non-o or extension based upon retirement.

I hope I'm understanding your comment correctly. Could you provide a link to the pertinent section of the regulations that shows that a work permit is allowed for someone on a long-stay (for purposes of retirement) extension of stay? Preferably in Thai, but an English translation would also be very helpful. I think my local work permit office might be open to this arrangement. Thanks in advance for the link(s).

No, I didn't actually try. Apparently, I misunderstood. And I apologize for my "podunk" refence. I didn't intend to be offensive or inappropriate. I was actually trying to be witty. Fail noted.

I'm glad to hear that I can make the conversion at my local immigration office. I had clearly misunderstood about that. I'll make the trek over the mountain and get everything taken care of soon.

Thank you for your help, Lopburi3, and for saving me a trip to Bangkok.

@happynthailand

Wow! You're not kidding - REALLY small print !!! Didn't know that was there. Thanks.

But I see it's still a problem for me because I don't live at that address now. Actually, I'm not sure I can read it all correctly (50-yr-old eyes don't read really small print like they used to), but I'm sure it's not my current address.

@lopburi3

Not married, so that won't work. Utilities are not in my name. But I get a hand-written receipt for the rent I pay each month. It has the address on it but not my name (just "house rental" in thai). I could probably get them to write my name on one or two of the receipts if you think that would work. What do you think?

Also, I don't know if it matters, but I don't live in Bangkok. I'm only going there because I've read here on the forum that the "podunk" immigration offices can't do the conversion.

I'm in almost the same situation as the OP, but I'll be going to Bangkok to convert my extension of stay to retirement.

But my address is not on my Thai driver's license. (Yours is, really? Weird that mine isn't? Hmmm.) Utilities are not in my name. But I just received my car insurance bill in the mail. Will that work for proof of residence?

Just came on in Yala about 4:15 this afternoon. Wasn't able to connect to the internet at all before that (since at least 6:30 this morning).

Great info, Lopburi3. Thanks for your help and clarification.

Appreciate the correction about the money timetable, too.

Thanks for the reply, loburi3.

I'm aware of the 800k in bank for 3-months prior. Will work on getting that in order.

But I don't understand your statement, "Remember you will require a non immigrant O visa for retirement extension of stay or convert with about 15 days remaining at immigration...."

...I feel like such a dunce now......If I get a tourist visa, I can convert it to non-imm O for retirement at immigration?

My current visa and work permit will expire this month. I’ll turn 50 in about 3 months and want to switch to a retirement visa. What can I do for a visa during this 3-month gap? Can I travel out of Thailand (and back) 2 or 3 times with a visa-on-arrival until I turn 50? Can/Should I apply for a tourist visa in a neighboring country? Malaysia or Singapore would be easiest for me - will they be hesitant to grant a tourist visa to someone who has lived and worked here several years already?

Any recommendations for a visa during the 3-month gap between Visa/WP expiring and turning 50yrs old?

I flew in to Suvarnabhumi a few weeks ago on an international flight with two large suitcases (approximately 20 kilos each). Since I was flying down south on Air Asia, I opted to mail the large bags from the post office at the airport rather than pay overweight. Each bag cost about 200 Baht to send. The bad part is that it took about a week for them to get here. And I had to go to the post office here in town to pick them up since the mailman obviously couldn't deliver them on his motorbike. But overall, I think it was a good deal and I'd do it again.

By the way, the post office in the airport is open 24 hours.

Are there different types of Teacher's Licenses?

For example, if I have a valid TL that I used for teaching in a private school, but now I will start teaching in a government school, do I have to apply for a new (different type of) TL?

Fritos corn chips and Betty Crocker Warm Delights

Thanks very much.

I look forward to wearing my medium, blue, thaivisa, polo shirt very soon.

scatalyst

Thanks Khutan.

I'm in the south. Looks like the "air card" or TOT IPStar might be my best choice. At least it gives me a couple of options to start checking out. Thanks for your help.

S

Congrats on the new Thaivisa Store!

Brand new and already several positive changes...

More color choices - Blue, red, and yellow are now available, in addition to the original short list of black, white, and gray.

More sizes: S and M are now available, in addition to the original short list of L, XL, XXL, and XXXL.

New price: Now only US$9! As opposed to the original price of US$11 each.

But what's up with the minimum order of US$10???

So we have to buy at least 2 shirts or we can't buy any? Come on. Get rid of the $10 minimum order. Or raise the price of the shirts to $10, if you prefer. Geeez.

I'm preparing to move to a new place. Probably won't have a land line for a while. But I'll need to connect to the internet from home. I've only ever used dial-up from home so I don't know much about anything else.

What are my options?

What are your recommendations?

Thanks for your help.

Scatalyst

The report is inaccurate.Thaksin's government broadly agreed the recommendations of the National Reconciliation Committee including the use of the local language.Specifically it was General Prem who rejected the NRC recommendation that the local language be used much more widely, stating we are all Thais and should speak Thai..or words to that effect.

Why do you say that, YH?

Where did/do you get your info?

A Thai friend recommended getting referrals from neighbors and friends, rather than using the guys who advertise with hand-made signs on the street corners. I think reliability and dependability were the concerns.