Andrew Dwyer

Spoke to an expat yesterday and he stated he doesn’t use an agent, pays 15k baht directly to IO at immigration and has done for a few years now !!

I had no reason not to believe him, anyone else heard anything like this ??

Just binge watched the first 6 episodes ( season 1 ) of Sneaky Pete on a plane, started off a little unsure but when Bryan Cranston appeared things started to hot up and now can’t wait for the next flight to finish season 1 off !!
Hopefully season 2 was as good ( anybody ?? ) and season 3 should be starting soon .

Last time I was there was early 2011, just before I retired and moved here, there is a half decent hotel right on the river with a floating restaurant attached, I was looked after as I had a couple of local girls ( friends only) showed me around the ruins the elephant rides and other attractions, the hotel I stayed in was 5 mins from the railway station with great views from the upper floors all over the river and town.

 

That would be the Ayothaya Riverside or the Krungsri River hotel very close to each other and near the railway station overlooking the river.

I can’t really comment as I’ve never stayed in either but options for the OP to look at .

The only hotels I’ve stayed in were Kantary ( for 5 weeks ) and Classic Kameo ( for a few nights ), both excellent hotels ( same owner I believe ) but further out from tourist attractions, couple of km from Floating market but about 5 or 6 km from historical park, not a problem obviously if you are going to use your car for getting around.

Can’t comment on price as room was paid for by company, but I would imagine not cheap.

Just thinking, hiring a tuk tuk to see the sights would be an excellent option for a family of five .

I think Oxx has summed it up really.
Naressuan Soi 1 is locally known as Soi Farang and mainly geared up for backpackers or couples coming for a day or two, not really family orientated.
Nyezhov’s recommendation of The Park is spot on, right in the middle of the old city and ideal for visiting the temples.
If your children are old enough to ride bicycles ( or possibly the oldest can ride and the other two double up with the adults, plenty of bicycles for rent to accommodate a second person ) then I strongly recommend you do that as the beauty of Ayutthaya is all located in the historical park, the rivers which form the boundary and the many temples and ruins scattered around this area. The roads within the tourist area are flat and (relatively) safe for cycling.
As stated , the temples in evening are beautiful when lit up and there’s usually a nightmarket going on somewhere in that area.
There are elephants to ride and also a floating market with a typical Thai show usually going on, the market is “ okay “ but as usual 200 baht for foreigners only leaves a nasty taste !

Same as last year, same as next year !!

Great job Mr T. !!

My O-A never "fell off the perch" because I still have it. I just got my stay extended one-year last Friday. But about four or five years ago, I was able to get the one-year extensions on the basis of an O (Marriage) visa. Look at the photos I posted. Then, a couple of years ago, I started getting one-year extensions based on an O-A (Retirement) visa. I have no explanations for this, but this is what happened.
 
This has nothing to do with re-entry permits. I haven't left Thailand now in about six or seven years.

 

I'm talking about an extension of stay for a pre-existing Non-immigrant, O-A (Long-stay) visa - a.k.a "Retirement visa." 

"

And, by the way, I have switched from an O-A to an O based on marriage, and then back to an O-A without leaving Thailand. But, like you, I also believe the initial visa must be issued at an embassy outside of Thailand. I think I got my last one in Singapore when I changed from a Non-immigrant, B (Business/Work) to an O-A. I have never gone back to the US to get one.

I think you need to post a photo of the (second) OA Bill , not that I’m doubting you ( maybe a little bit [emoji51]) but if you really did this then it surely must be a one off ?

It's listed as 1.2 on Zigwheels. Perhaps you are talking about the top of the line version.

Just went on Zigwheels and the cheapest (555,000) is 1.5 L

We are talking new, not used ?

Just updating, test drove a Yaris yesterday. Quite good, although I think the Mazda 2 still wins out as it has a six-speed automatic, not CVT. Plus a slightly bigger motor, 1.3 L vs 1.2 for the Jazz and Yaris. Depends on whether more grunt is needed in the mountains. IMHO Jazz is overpriced for what you get.

Have to sympathise with your Brazilian adventure Rooster !!

I lived there for 20 years and those girls are craaaazy !! Don’t know how I stuck it !!

As for Thailand, in this case I’m a remainer !! ????

Being a brickkayer ive used everything on site from Cement bags, plasterboard, even a used tea bag i found on the toilet floor, my nerves had gone incase it burst in mid wipe.

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"Central Station" is directed by Walter Salles ("The Motorcycle Diaries" director I mentioned above).
 
After seeing "...Motorcycle..." I watched his earlier films. I'd recommend you watch all of those - Salles is Brazilian and the films all take place there as I recall.
("...Motorcycle..." is his best film - although I don't think I've seen any of the films he's made since that one).
 
"Behind the Sun" ("Abril Despedaçado") (2001) is about a blood feud between two rural families.
 

 
And I see it stars your man Santoro.
 
I'm pretty sure it was in "Central Station" that I saw something cultural I found quite interesting - it may have been the man and the boy, but someone wants to speak to people he doesn't know who are in their house.
 
He stands on the sidewalk and claps his hands rather than walking up their walkway and knocking on their door.
The people in the house hear this and open the door to see who it is.
 
Did you ever observe this in Brazil?
 

I answered 1 , no stress, but what does a cucumber from Minnesota means ? I just don't get the connection.  

“ cool as a cucumber “.

I think JT just added Minnesota as it’s a cool state !, as in cold that is and not fashionable.

Spent a winter month in Owatonna one time and it was pretty chilly and not at all fashionable !!