jingjai9

keith cresswell Thank you for informative post. You answered my questions. I appreciate it.

Kalasin Joe, no this is not a home country marriage. We plan to marry in Thailand.

I plan to marry a Thai citizen. I will go to my embassy and have a marriage/divorce affidavit notarized along with obtaining a certified copy of my passport. I then will go to the Thai Ministry to have my documents authenticated. Does my wife-to- be have to come with me to the Thai ministry of Foreign Affairs? I know I will need to have my paperwork translated to Thai. - - Has anyone on the forum been to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently? -- Do you need an appointment? My info. from the US embassy says an appointment is not needed (to the best of their knowledge). -- Does anyone know the average fee for translations in the Bangkok area? -- How much does the Thai ministry charge to validate the documents (My embassy says "a nominal fee")? -- How far is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the US embassy on Wireless Road in Bangkok? Anyone have any other details about this process that would be helpful? Thanks. I consistently get useful information from this forum and of course a few laughs as well.

Can you travel WITHIN Thailand and take weed along with you on the plane? What is the policy of the Thai government? I am talking about a small amount, maybe half an ounce rolled into joints.

The crackdown mentality or war on drugs theme translates to: "We don't know what else to do so let's make a show of it. This tactic comes complete with photo opps and tons of publicity which gives the appearance the police are doing their job. America's war on drugs ended up giving the good old US of A the dubious distinction of having the highest incarceration rate (number of people incarcerated as a proportion of its total population.) in the world. Not to mention all those exciting police shows and movies. How effective are Thailand's rehabilitation programs? Is it a true program that runs a course, or is it a just show up and you get the certificate affair? What is Thailand's success rate with their rehab programs? Did Thailand develop its own programs or are they adapted from another country. I would venture to guess the rehab programs are not working if the Thai government wants to resort to such severe penalties for two pills. Do crackdowns ever serve to solve problems such as drug abuse? Is drug abuse a psychological problem or can you possibly arrest you way out of it? Taking a good, hard luck at Thailand's rehab programs may be the place to start.

My guess would be that once flying taxis are available they will be expensive and serve as one more luxury for the rich.

I contacted Bell Travel Service and they told me: "I am sorry we don't have a transfer service from Donmuang to Huahinnor Pattaya these days. Sorry for any inconvenience." Are there any other travel companies that anyone here knows about?

Thank you for your responses

I will be going to Hua Hin on a Friday. I will land at Don Muang Airport at 8:35 in the morning. What is the best way to get to Hua Hin from Don Muang? There will be 2 adults and a young child. What is the fastest way do get there? What is the cheapest way to get there? What is the most comfortable way to get there? I will weight the information and choose the most suitable. Thanks

Thanks I will be down in March and wanted some books to read.

In 2023, are there any book exchanges or used books stores in Hua Hin? Thanks

I think this is a helpful article based on my time spent in Thailand and personal experiences. This article is trying to tell you the best way to get out of the situation. Of course it is up to you to judge the attitude of the police when you are stopped and conduct yourself in a manner that is in tune with Thai culture. On the bottom line the article proposes a logical, realistic plan if you are stopped. Everyone has a idea about police corruption in Thailand. You must remember if you chose to live here or stay her long term, you signed up for this possible situation.

How about connecting with Universities who award degrees in tourism and business English? In the 2nd term of the senior year, students go on an externship or work/study program. In the past many students did their fourth year training at hotels. Having students do a work/study program at a hotel gives the hotel "audition time" where they can see how well the trainee is doing and if they are interested in hiring, make offers for those they want to keep.

The vans to Nong Khai are available for 85 baht. You will see a very small shelter-like structure in the front parking lot at Central. I took this van on December 24th. Although they have a scheduled departure time, if the van is not near capacity the driver will wait for more passengers.

Here are the victims of the "warm war between the Russia and US "Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, the US military estimates that at least 100,000 Russian and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured, along with some 40,000 civilian deaths. The UN has recorded 7.8 million people as refugees from Ukraine across Europe, including Russia" Add to this the US taxpayers who fund the endless wars that subsidize the military-industrial complex. I wish the US and Russia could be as clever negotiating a peace treaty as they are at composing rhetoric to ensure the conflict continues, for example the endless volley of "severe consequences" both sides bark out. Ukraine is a pawn in the US - Russian "warm" war. Both Russia and the US share the blame in prolonging the destruction Ukrainian citizens have suffered daily over the last 10 months. Here are the questions that need to be answered by The US and Russia: In the early 1990s, didn't the west agree not to extend NATO membership toward Russia after the USSR fell? Was invading Ukraine Putin's only choice of action in challenging western influence that threatens Russian security or the well being of Russians living in Ukraine or Moldova? Putin got Crimea wasn't that enough?

I think the RTP don't call him Big Joke. I would guess they refer to him as No Joke. From my read of the article, Big Joke is not doing anything wrong; he's doing things too darn right. This is why he gets marginalized on important cases when it seems like he is on the brink of a major revelation.

Can anyone give me information on how to book tickets for the highspeed in rail in Laos from Vientiane to Luang Prabang? What is the best way to book a ticket from Thailand? Anyone have any experience to share about hiring a driver from Vientiane to Luang Prabang? One advert I read says the trip is 5 hours and 10 minutes. From what I heard the road from Vang Viemg to Luang Prabang is not well paved, hilly with many turns and dusty as well.

Why can't they set up a plan so bars are zoned within an area for each city so it is easier for the police to patrol? This way bars, pubs and night clubs could stay open. The extension of opening hours could be codified, published and distributed on license applications, renewals, etc. for establishments that sell alcohol. Once the new laws are passed, all owners would be required to update their licenses by a particular date or be subjected to fines or other penalties. Bars that operate without a license are in violation of the law. If bribery is a factor, that is the problem of corrupt officials, not law abiding entertainment venues. It would be wrong to restrict people's business opportunities because some officials are corrupt and greedy. On the other hand, business owners need to respect the laws. The problem however is that corruption seems to be the rule rather than the exception. This results in no respect for the law which probably renders this post as another example of intellectual masturbation. However, I persist. Another possibility could be having foreigners agree to be deported if they are convicted of crimes related to intoxication (exhibitionism, disorderly conduct, urinating in public, etc.). This type of form would be signed and printed when people arrive for visas on arrival or extension of visas at immigration. This could be done in the same manner as when foreigners sign the agreement to be deported if they overstay. *Immigration has a chart stating the penalties for varying periods of overstay. There is a middle ground that would help keep both sides happy. * note - I am not suggesting that the period of time people are barred from entering Thailand should be based on the percent of alcohol in their system from the result of a blood alcohol content test, but rather based on a conviction.

There is evidence that marijuana does affect a driver's reaction time and perhaps judgement of distance. Here is a link: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/does-marijuana-use-affect-drivi

Is it really a free market system when lobbies are so powerful and the market in almost every sector is monopolized? Do large corporations pay their fair of taxes? Is the charity-industrial complex truly to help the poor or is it a way to manipulate the tax system? Yes, the large corporations give away money, but is it an act of charity or a means to avoid taxes and reap other benefits? You can appreciate Marx' critique of capitalism without necessarily subscribing to his solutions for improving societies. You can be a critic of the current system without being anti-capitalist. If we are striving for a capitalist economy, then let's have it. Currently we are certainly not experiencing capitalism the way Adam Smith envisioned it. We are living in a time when global capitalism is evolving into a plutocracy. Many social critics see the international trade agreements as a symptom of this world-wide transition.

What about USA banks? Does the USA have laws that prohibit quick international transfers?

This article certainly lets us know that the dog days of COVID lockdowns are over. First, the Thai government was worrying about the tourist industry and hard-working honest people losing money due to lack of visitors and now they are once again sounding off about foreigners. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. This is the big broadcast of xenophobia. They even have a cast of characters - Big Joke, the hero vs. those evil foreign criminals. It is unfortunate that these crimes are being committed by Non-Thais. Personally, I do not want to see one Thai person robbed, assaulted or cheated out of money. To wit, my country, the USA has never compiled a list of Thai immigrants operating businesses in the US who hire Thai students or tourists who cannot legally work in the US and those business owners who hire them off the books and do not pay their fair share of taxes. I understand there are now organizations online that connect Thai business owners with Thai or Lao nationals who will work in their US restaurants. I have never seen a non- Asian person serving at a Thai restaurant in the USA. I am not sure about other western countries, but would be interested to know. According to this source there are 5000 Thai restaurants in the USA. I would suspect the taxes evaded would amount to a sizeable piece of change. https://www.themanual.com › Food & Drink Thai restaurants.Nov 18, 2021 Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Is it my imagination or is Udon making the news more frequently in the last couple of months. Today this story and the one about the Chinese tourists who got student visas.

Does anyone on the forum know what is needed to marry a Thai citizen in Thailand. I am a US citizen. I want to know: --- What documents are needed --- Does the US consulate charge a fee? I know they charge for notarizations. --- Do I need to make an appointment? I assume so because it is a citizen service. Thanks

I grew up in New York when the drinking age was 18 and bars closed at 4:00 throughout the state. It was easy to find 15 and 16 year old girls in the bars. There were also complaints about loud music in the wee hours of the morning. I recall one place in particular near in a residential neighborhood outside of the village limits received complaints from local residents for loud music and cars going fast up and down the roads by rowdy drivers. The police responded to the complaints by doing what they called ABC (alcohol beverage commission) checks. That weeded out underage drinkers. Also, at4:00 a.m. the police would position themselves on the roads near the bar and check patrons for sobriety. The police did this frequently over a period of time. This discouraged people from going to the bar and staying until closing time. It was effective but of course depended upon a police force that was minimally corrupt (outside of NYC). In NYC back in the day the police force may have rivaled the Thai police for corruption, remember Serpico and the Knapp Commission? My point, perhaps in a long-winded manner, is that 4am closings can be managed. The key is zoning. If the bar scene is in an entertainment Zone, it can be managed and protect people who need their sleep at night. This would be good for Thailand. I wonder how many young children of tourists while walking in Pattaya have said, "Daddy, was isn't that women wearing clothes?" Finally, you got to remember that 2:00 am closing really means 4:00 closing in Thailand so by having earlier closing are you really preventing anything? You are in fact creating profits for police and lawyers? Also 4am closings are a breath of fresh air in this era of endless crackdowns. I will be anxious to see the results of 4am closing for bars from any reliable polling.