coolerking

Just a quick question.

I have filled in all the forms, got all the documents, downloaded the payment slip, read all the advice notes and about to put the application in the post when I saw this on gov.uk website

You must make your application in person to the British embassy in Bangkok.

Can anyone say for 100% sure if this is true or not or can I still apply by post? Mentions nothing about this on advice notes on form I picked up from British embassy.

Have not registered birth with embassy.

If you want something to read, check out the advert for the bookshop in Phetchabun in the classifieds.

http://classifieds.thaivisa.com/hobbies/books-and-magazines/foreign-language-bookshop-coffeeshop-phetchabun-120568.html

...looking well ahead to read the road and driving defensively without tunnel vision.

Spot On!

Any decent professional driver is not just concentrating on reading 'his' own road, but everybody else's around him as well. He (or she) wil be aware what the 'average idiot road user' is likely to do before that thought has even occured to the 'average idiot' (which includes pedestrians). When you are driving a multi-tonne vehicle at any reasonable speed it doesn't stop on a sixpence when the brakes are applied. Also, when turning a corner, a long vehicle may have to swing out wide to clear the roadside before moving back in. So, give it room (give way), keep within braking distance and drive defensively and hopefully you will get you are going in one piece. Applies to any country in the world, but especially in those with poor traffic discipline, like Thailand.

Remember the old adage: 'Better to get there half and hour late than 30 years early...'

I agree totally. bad driving is just bad driving no matter what vehicle you are in.

I think singling out trucks because they are bigger is a soft target, especially if you have no qualification to understand just how differently a large vehicle responds compared to a car. Those of us that do know how to read what other vehicles might be about to do.

I'd stick with what you have already, that size seems pretty reasonable to me. (out of interest why do you want to put a bigger size on?) 'nobbly' tyres are fine just be careful that they do not catch on mudguard, shocks and swing arm.

Correct, Phetchabun is not Issan. Nothing against Issan, just that Phetchabun isn't in it.

Open Thai bank account, set up a HIFX account, transfer from one account to the other, simple.

The mean streets of Phetchabun are fairly dry after dark at Songkran so you should be safe.

Not qualified to answer your other question I am afraid, but I am not aware of any.

http://www.radnet.fm/

And take your pick

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Did you find where to buy a Bangkok post in Phetchabun?

Indeed i did yes,i found the newsagents on the left before the roundabout which heads out of Phetchabun back onto the 21,I tend to actually buy my papers in Lom Sak as i am closer to there than Phetchabun,but when doing my Tesco run i use this shop,obviously it was never going to be to daunting to find a newsagents,but i just used that as an example of why i may wish to speak to someone when in town,next time it could be a Builder,Dentist Doctor or School i require information about,and in my opinion when starting out in a foreign country its best to ask someone with first hand knowledge.

You found it already, there is where I would have suggested you try, glad you found it.

Nice way of putting it, if you ever need a recommendation for something, happy to try and help anytime.

Do let us know how it goes, I would be very interested if someone manages to 'crack the code' and get up to the border, would be a great day for me if it can be done.

'Better half is from Lom Sak'?

That's fighting talk where I come from, that's why I moved.

I have never met anyone from Lom Sak around these parts, maybe I am not talking to the wrong people.

This was last year, no big deal I had time to spare on the visa and fancied a bit of a trip out. It is only 150bht om the bus from here so thought I'd give it a go, nothing ventured and all that.

Not due another run until the end of Feb next year now, thankfully.

For the record I did, on a whim, 'risk it' with a bus run to Phu Rua and hope to hire some transport to the border from there. My Thai is not amazing but good enough to sort out a bit of transport up the road.

No luck I am afraid, plenty of big songteaws doing school runs etc but nothing to the border, couldn't even persuade a samlor to take me there and back. Asked at the Police station (clutching at straws I know)if they knew of anything and they laughed and said no, so I had breakfast and caught the bus back to Phetchabun. Might have had better luck if I had taken the missus with me but didn't look promising.

I have to agree with stoneyboy, I think it has very little to do with a language barrier. I am not suggesting inviting every farang you meet in Tesco's to Christmas dinner but it can be difficult sometimes to even get a grunt out of them in reply to a civilised 'good morning'. Maybe supermarkets are not the best place to chat to people?

p.s. would like to add I own neither sandals or glasses, have a few grey hairs and no beard, am underweight for my height and am 20 years short of retiring. (I do have a couple of nifty flowery shirts though that come out when I head to the beach)

I live in Phetchabun too and would be more than happy to chat to anyone, maybe the pro-chatters (I may have just made that word up) should wear a red carnation or something!

Keep trying stoneyboy, hope to see you in the Lotus soon.

I agree with Cloggie, it is true that you have to pay to use other ATM's but I believe it is only outside your branch catchment area. (about 10 baht fee)

Set up a HIFX Account and transfer funds straight to your Thai account from your Home account. Simple and reasonable exchange rates.

Yeah, Thai Visa. The rainbow forum! Brothers and Sisters

Thanks for the replies guys, unfortunately I'll need to be on it about half an hour after they stop the tests at 10am. Oh well back to plan A I guess

What happened to the policeman Somchai Wisetsingh who killed the two tourists in Kanchanaburi? Is he still in jail or in his restaurant?

The answer to this one I do know...

Neither, he paid his way out and did a bunk after a short term behind bars.

Not 100% sure of his whereabouts now but last heard of in Ratchaburi.

Guess I must have been imagining things then

I may be going mad but I am sure I read somewhere that they have opened it again from today for some trials, and I am positive I saw a spot on CH3 news to the same effect.

Have searched everywhere on here today for some mention of it but nothing showing up.

Does anyone know for sure if it is up and running, and if it is open for public use, as would suit me a treat to use it next week.

Not sure that it counts a violence but I am under the impression that the Reds are setting up outside City Hall in Phetchabun as of 6pm this evening when I rode past.

OMG I DID read it and replied. As far as I am aware the press have not been excluded at any point from anywhere during the state of emergency but they understandably decided it was just too hot out there for them to report, but what do you suggest they report on when there is a CURFEW on? Perhaps point the camera out of the hotel window and say "hmm looks a bit dark out there and in the distance that faint glow is Central World".

What do you suggest as an alternative, I am fascinated to hear. Maybe you would like an endless loop of rooftop reports?

I don't have Ed Carabao on my TV. I've got people in a studio, discussing the situation and giving out information. Which seems fairly standard for a curfew / state of emergency.

I agree, this is exactly what I would expect anywhere when there is a state of emergency across the country. I don't care which side your bread is buttered, these are exceptional times and require special treatment.