somchai jones

Electricity off in Bang Po this morning but been fine since lunch time.

Even my ADSL is working now too!

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.

Cheers

Somchai

Hi folks

Can anyone recommend an animal hotel/vet/etc where I can leave my little cat when I go away for 3 days in November?

Cheers, Somchai

Rather than getting involved in the 'what do you do with the stray dogs?' debate, I'd like to bring the thread back to the dogs in question.

Malee, <deleted> and Chock Dee were not strays. They belonged to Mr Dam who had lovingly brought them up after adopting them when they were younger. They had all been abused before that.

The 3 dogs always slept outside the 5 bungalows on Mr Dam's property, often on the steps of my bungalow. They were our guards at night.

In the mornings and early evenings I used to take the dogs for a walk along the beach, something that I looked forward to as much as they did.

I called Chock Dee little Napoleon sometimes as he was the undoubted leader of the trio although the smallest. During our walks, he would sometimes bark at fisherman as they came out of the woods, however, he would stop if I shouted to him. Malee, the female, was one of the most affectionate and loving dogs I've ever had the pleasure to come accross, she seemed to become more and more affectionate over the 8 months I spent with her. <deleted>, although the biggest of the three dogs was the shyest. He was very wary of humans until he got to know them and indeed I had noticed recently to my delight that he was beginning to be less afraid of people in the sense that he didn't flinch in fear as often if someone made a quick movement.

I can't comment on any 'pack of 10 stray dogs' because I've got no knowledge of any 'pack of 10 stray dogs'. I've spent more time on that stretch of beach over the last 8 months than anyone and I never saw this pack of strays.

There was often another dog around the hotel in question but this came from another restaurant further up the beach. The dog I've mentioned stayed at the hotel because guests would pet it and feed it. This is also why our three dogs went to the hotel.

If the dogs were becoming a nuisance, this should have been handled in a different way. Rather than kill them, I would have happily adopted the dogs myself and moved to a different part of the island. This would have been a workable solution.

As for having to 'put the dogs to sleep with tablets' and then transport them to the rescue centre - I'm a bit confused. The hotel staff didn't need to do this.......either Mr Dam or myself could have done this......I feed the dogs every day. It would have actually been unnecessary anyway because Mr Dam has put leads on the dogs before.

Anyway, I was a bit reluctant to join this thread because it means so much more to me than a debate on animal rights/animal lovers/etc.

I simply wanted to put the record straight and tell you a little about the dogs. It's the last thing I can do for my good friends Malee and <deleted> who are no longer here.

Fortunately, Chock Dee's name was appropriate and indeed he did have 'good luck' this time.

I've attached a picture of the little guy who fortunately survived the ordeal.

Hi folks

Does anyone know where I can buy wire plate hangers?

My nearest town is Nathon but it's no problem driving anywhere else they may have them.

Cheers

Somchai

Thanks for the answers guys, much appreciated.

Hi folks

I have exactly the same visa as the OP and I'm aware of the Hull/Perth options for new O type vise.

My question relates to the OP's comment:

'My current multi entry 12 month O visa runs out on the 19 Aug 2010 - I will make a border crossing on said day to obtain a final 3 months - finally having to leave the kingdom in November.'

IO also plan to do the same thing, i.e. get the 3 month extension before my year runs out. Is this a straightforward process/what questions are asked on forms?

Any help much appreciated.

Very scary!

Saw a public opened top truck (like an open top baht bus but much bigger) overturn whilst going round a bend in Bangkok years ago. Wasn't even going at speed but ridiculously overloaded. Several people crushed.

Sounds excellent, Womble.

I've sent you a PM.

Thanks for the replies folks.

I'm talking in £s because of habit - I'm from UK but I live in Thailand.

Cheers

Hi folks

Does anyone know of cheap direct flights to sydney or melbourne return from bangkok?

Cheapest I can seem to find leaving and returning early june is appx £650.

I'm aware of Air Asia (stopping in KL) but just wanted to know if there are any other cheap options that fly from bangkok to mel/syd direct.

Cheers

Hi folks

Do you know if there's anywhere you can buy stamps (for collecting) in Samui?

I know absolutely nothing about stamp collecting but my wife is going to see her nephew in

Malaysia and he's a stamp collector. She'd like to take some as a present.

Cheers

Somchai

Hi folks

I'm travelling from Samui in June to visit friends in Pattaya and as my next exit/entry stamps (I have a non imm O visa) are due that month, I thought I'd drive to the Cambodian border while I'm there.

Any advice as to where to do this / useful tips would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Somchai

Hi folks

I'm coming up from Samui in June to visit friends in Pattaya and as my next exit/entry stamps (I have a non imm O visa) are due that month, I thought I'd drive to the Cambodian border while I'm there.

Any advice as to where to do this / useful tips would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Somchai

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it.

Might be a good idea to paste this on the Pattaya forum as you suggested. I'll do that.

Cheers, Somchai

Hi folks

After the excellent advice I was given here in March for my trip to Ranong, thought I'd seek your advice again.

In June I'm planning to visit friends in Pattaya and as my next exit/entry stamps (I have a non imm O visa) are due that month, I thought I'd drive to the Cambodian border while I'm there.

I'm sure others have done something similar and if so, any advice as to where to do this / useful tips would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Somchai

Hi folks

Now back in Samui.

The trip went very well, all straightforward.

Did a two day trip so took driving nice and easy, stopped for lunch on the way.

Hired a GPS with the hire car at an extra THB100 per day. Wonderful investment if you're inclined to take wrong turns when driving as I am!

After reaching the Andaman pier, got exit stamps and took ferry to Andaman club. Formalities took 5 mins at the Burmese immigration.

Same boat had already left but we only had to wait 20 minutes for another back to the mainland.

The immigration official when we got our entry stamps on or return to Thailand was a bit of an arsehol_e, rather rude to both my wife and I and everyone else that he was dealing with but heyho...everyone else we met on the trip was great.

Stayed in the Tinidee Hotel in Rayong and had a really good meal by the pool side on Saturday evening - very reasonably priced.

Got back to Seatran Ferry port in Don Sak at 1.30pm Sunday and next ferry available with space was the 4pm one so drove to the Raja ferry port 2 minutes away and they put us straight onto the 2pm ferry.

All in all good trip and has reconfirmed to me how much I love sat navs.

@Thongkorn: As the title suggests from Samui to Ranong, that is why he won't get someone to take him from Phuket.

@Somchai jones: you have two choices and both involve boats.

Option 1, Andaman Club would be the simplest choice of a one-stop hassle free service. Turn up park the car, give them 850 baht your passport and go and relax at the Andaman Club for a couple of hours. http://www.andamanclub.com/

Option 2, Go to the old smelly immigration at the harbour check out of Thailand and then negotiate a price for a long tail boat ride to Myanmar. While on boat stop and pay 20 baht to leave Thailand to customs or someone else trying to making a quick buck. Stop again in Myanmar on a little island long tail man will usually tale care of your passport stamps. travel another five minutes to mainland Myanmar get off wander down to their immigration, being careful not to get your wallet lifted from your pocket by teens, hand them your passport and $10 and hey presto get back on the boat and travel back to Thailand. Go and get your entrance stamp to Thailand from the same place as you exited, well the window next door, and you have another three months.

Option 1 is by far the simplest and will probably cost an extra 100baht for your troubles

Rent a car in Samui is easy to take across on Seatran or Raja, never had or asked for SatNav though, the route is pretty straight forward.

Good Luck

Many thanks for your advice, I'm taking the 1st option and have already booked my hire car and sat nav.

Any preference as far as Seatran/Raja fery concerned?

Cheers, Somchai

If it is monsoon season, I'd suggest the Club Andaman route. No need for a 10 $ bill, a decent boat trip, and once stamped you can come straight back. I know someone who got stuck for several hours going from the immigration pier, due to winds and rain.

Thanks for the info guys, excellent advice.

If I'm not mistaken Litebeer, you live in Samui, if you're ever around the Khao Leam Yai area, you're welcome to a beer or two (though probably not a 'slab'!

thanks guys. I think I will go the 2nd option myself. Beats all the stop and goes through Surat. And I guess the extra 20km or so can be made up by cruising speed on the 44.

Hi, I'm planning to drive a hire car to Ranong from Samui to renew my 90 day stay period (I have a non imm O visa). I usually get my entry stamp at Bangkok Airport as I travel overseas more regularly the every 3 months but we'll be doing it this way for the first time as my wife's 90 day period is nearly up. She has the same visa as I do.

Sorry if this is a silly question but do we simply park the car at the immigration post and leave the country then immediately re-enter? Do we need any documentation apart from our passports?

Also (and this is why I've posted on the Samui forum as opposed to general visa forum) how long does the drive take roughly and has anyone used a sat nav in Thailand (I'm hoping I can hire one with the car) and if so is it straightforward to operate as it is in UK/Australia/US where I usually use them.

Also, can I hire a car from Samui and take accross in the ferry no problem or would I have to hire from Surat Thani - my own car in Samui is a definite 'island vehicle' - about 30 years old, so I won't be driving that!

Again, sorry if the answers are obvious, but it's the first time I'm attempting to do a visa run this way.

Any feedback much appreciated.

Cheers.

Hi folks

I have a 12 month multiple entry non immigrant O type visa.

Usually, I get my re-entry stamp at the airport (Bangkok) as I travel overseas more regularly than every 3 months, however, my wife's 90 day stay period will soon be up (she has the same visa as me, we are both British nationals) and we're planning to drive to Ranong from Koh Samui.

My question is, once we get to the border crossing there, what do we do (sorry if this is a silly question!), do we simply park the car and cross the border get an exit stamp and then turn around and re-enter immediately? Must we stay overnight? Can we do this any day (we are planning to go on a Saturday), is the immigration post open at certain times only?

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Cheers, Somchai

Hi folks

Can anyone recommend a good Thai teacher/school?

I have pretty good basic conversational Thai or at least I did. Lived in Bngkok for several years up until 12 years ago and moved to Samui recently ater living back in Europe. Now very rusty.

Want to learn conversation (far too lazy to attempt Thai script now!)

Any recommendations much appreciated.

Cheers

Somchai

Get the Panthip bus from Nathon and leave your luggage on the bus.

Litebeer do you have a contact number for Panthip or do you book through an agent?

Many thanks for your replies.

I've done a bit more research now and have one more question.

For my journey, it doesn't matter whether I take the Seatran fast ferry directly to Surat Thani or the Raja ferry via Donsak.

However, I'll be carrying a suitcase and briefcase and my wife will be carrying a suitcase.

Is either of the two ferries more suitable / comfortable if carrying large luggage?

I appreciate any views on this.

Cheers

Somchai.