DrPhibes

14 minutes ago, nchuckle said:

Don’t book until much nearer the time when it’s finally penetrated their thick skulls that they’re not gonna get those prices.

I presume you’re looking via hotel booking agencies (Agoda etc). Just booked Ko Lanta for next week and noticed the pricing has been coming down since first looking a few weeks ago. Try Hotelscombined.com which screenscrapes all the agencies. 

Ya, Agoda and direct booking at hotels.

Looking to book our yearly December dive trip from CM to Phuket from 12/26 - 1/4/20 and are finding at least 2x the price in baht from what we paid the previous year at most of the Karon Beach hotels.  What happened?

Was actually cold this morning here in CM.  Refreshingly brisk walk!

10 hours ago, ezzra said:

Sometimes i feel that the i'm living a in one of Franz Kafka stories, having to put up with and face surrealistic and bizarre predicaments and incomprehensible bureaucracies...

Not to mention the people sized cockroaches... 

5 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

Instead of band aid's they need to revamp the whole country much like a lot of the world you have to fun for the whole family especially kids

 

Imagine how a hotel in Bangkok would do if it had a water park

The young people have some money but the family rules.

So, why would I travel 1/2 way around the world to stay in a hotel to hang out at the water park when that kind of thing is in every country?

On 10/12/2019 at 8:29 PM, onera1961 said:

I think all US insurance has unlimited coverage including Catastrophic insurance after you meet your out of pocket expenses.  It is mandated in ACA. However, in recent years, after Trump admin removed the penalty for buying non-ACA compliant insurance, lots of deceptive insurance are spreading rapidly. I have a Catastrophic insurance with an HSA master card that currently has close ot 500K BHT, accumulated over 10 -years. My out  of pocket expense is 7600 USD which I can easily pay using my HSA master card. I paid 70K BHT in 2017 in Bangkok hospital and 3K Euro in 2016 in Amsterdam. 

Better read your insurance policy.  My large US insurance company, Anthem, only covers 6 months out of the country in a calendar year and only for life threatening treatment for my policy (good coverage in the US, not cheap).  Already had to use it once here in Thailand 3 yrs ago for hospitalization due to severe dehydration and it was a bitch to get them to settle.

On 10/10/2019 at 9:31 AM, essox essox said:

where IS THIS country???

On 10/10/2019 at 8:58 AM, pluto1956 said:

Im not im in the Philippeans 555

Oh, it's a country.  I was trying to find the bible we had boxed up around here somewhere to look up the passage!

2 hours ago, Artisi said:

I sure that the majority of tourists were previously flocking into Thailand just for craft beer. 

At least we have some fresh craft beer here in CM.  There is a single craft beer producer (CM German Microbrewery) here in CM and my once a week trek for real beer is satisfied.  About as good as it gets here in the North for fresh beer.  Coming from Fort Collins, CO and all the micros there.  This is at least some fresh air.

5 hours ago, legend49 said:

Or higher. Downtown CNX you can count those tourists on your hands no need for a calculator. But its all good news I am sure they will find more hospital countries to visit.

Yup, was down on Niemannheiman last Sat. with the wife on our rare downtown Sat date nite and it was at least 30:1 Asian vs white guys/gals.  It was somewhat vibrant near Maya (their rooftop entertainment is pretty good for the youngn's) but as we got down some of the side streets is was pretty dead.

3 hours ago, WhatupThailand said:

I think when he said "Risky", he meant to say "Frisky" which makes more sense.

 

Sure it is up to a Country to make their Rules and Laws, but normally it is done with some form of Common Sense. Not like a herd of Buffalo's in a China Shop.

 

But like they say S*** Rolls down hill, and the Stink is driving many away.

So now we have the Land Of Stink to deal with.

Sorry,

Did not realize you beat me to it!

3 hours ago, Tagged said:

Men above 50 year

Risky, I thought it read Frisky!  I must now stroam with haste to the local phoropterist to procure some new spectacles.

Power company has been installing new very high voltage line along the second ring road.  I can see power cuts as this new system is brought online.

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Windows XP.

regards Worgeordie

And an illegal copy of XP at that!  Swear I thought I saw one of the banks computers running Win 3.11, made me miss writing my own batch files for things...

On 9/29/2019 at 8:19 PM, kingofthemountain said:

555

no it's not an ''issan thing''

it's more a farmer thing

how do you think they can communicate from one ricefield to another if they don't speak loud?

 

Agree, sort of.  In the wife's village, some of the houses are not that far apart and since all the windows are open during the day, it is not uncommon to see a conversation going on between the houses and they are not yelling.  Have seen the wife in one room downstairs talk to the maid who is upstairs deep in aother room with just the door open.  She counts on how echo of the house to carry her voice.  Wife has two conversation voice modulations, loud and mumbling.  years of pointing this out to no avail.

On 9/29/2019 at 9:19 PM, bwpage3 said:

Isaan life, you either accept it or move.

 

I accepted it, even the roosters at 4 AM don't bother me!

Ya, the crowing time is a genetic thing as I understand it.  I hear the 4am roosters make the best soup stock ???? 

Just popped in for a liter of the Octoberfest which may run out about Oct 5-6th.  Found it very yummy with pork knuckle.

Wife called the number for them you gave us in another post a while ago when error discovered.  Have shifted my plans to exit and return on Oct 16, 2 days before expiration date, giving me another 90 days and then head back to the US a bit early for tax season thus avoiding the whole extension thing.

Thanks again for your time Joe

8 hours ago, SenorJorge said:

I nearly always go home resting assured that my money is being put to good use by the family.  ????

 

Ya, then later you get this call...

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

It seems very odd they only issued your non-o visa for 6 months. Are you sure it was not a error when they did the visa sticker.

Immigration cannot not fix visas. It can only be done at the Consular Affairs Department of the MFA.

 

1. If you have a multiple entry non-o visa you will get a new 90 day entry as long as you enter prior its valid until date.

   You could also apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife to get more time for 400k baht to be in bank for 2 months.

2. Your extension will be valid for one year. If you want to travel you will need to get a re-entry permit to keep it valid when you enter the country.

Yup, very unusual.  MFA would not do anything about it, tried.  My belief is that immigration wants me to go through the extension process to vetted if I really am living with my wife and kids here in CM.  

Good to know on the 90 days that extends past the use by date.  Too bad I'm short about 10 days to go back to the US for tax season, could avoid the whole extension process.

Thanks for your help U. Joe

Because the Consulate in Los Angeles saw to give me only 6mo on my Visa (instead of the normal year) and it can not be fixed according to Immigration in Bangkok, I am going to have to do my 1st extension based on marriage. I have scoured the TV forums but can not find the answers to these Q's:

1. If I cross a border and return right near the expiration date of the multi-entry Visa, will I get 90 more days to stay in the Kingdom or is the Visa expiration date mean have to be out after that date.  Reason is it will be close seasoning the 400k.

2. Will my extension be the same as my current visa as a multi-entry visa?

Thanks in advance everyone.

2 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Some could probably get a decent beer joke out of this one.

Ya, after an 8 pack, I always think I have abs and the libido of a Lion.

Always willing to help out.

For that amount of $, I hope they get the pools re-done and weight area revamped!  Geez, that much money for yard work and a bit of cement seating!

11 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

I guess I had an informal wedding in addition to doing the official thing at the Amphur.  No monks, other than feeding some passing monks at 0 dark 30 in the morning.  Then there were odd things throughout the day, like putting a bowl of fruit and flowers by an ancestor's picture on the wall.  I kept asking if we we were married yet.  We finally fed and boozed about 100 people and they dropped us off at my house later in the evening.  They hooted and hollered and left, thank God. Maybe a $500 USD wedding with food and booze to spare.  Stuff was cheap 41 years ago.

Yup, my experience also about 18 yrs ago.  About $500 for everything (except sinsot).  Crazy night and day.  The night before, all the guys about 4 sheets to the wind, I was taken out with a large hoe to kill the cow we bought (part of the $500) for the feast the next day. They were convincing me that I needed to hit the cow from in front to hit the spinal cord just behind the head.  Being a hunter in my youth, it was not the dispatching of the animal as much as the method.  Another 1/2 bottle of Mekong for each of us and I was ready.  As I worked up the animal in me to do the deed raising the hoe to crash down with all my might, I was taken down by 4 guys who were laughing and me very confused and amped up!  It was all a joke to see if I would do it.  Even more interesting was how they did in the cow.  They fashioned a long sharp bamboo spear and went in the chest from the front to sever one of the major heart arteries and comforted the cow as it bled out.  Very humane. 

The guys philosophy was that no man should marry unless drunk and hung over or else he would not do it.  I took their advice, and am happier than <deleted>.