jimster

As of earlier this year the following applies:

KBZ ATMs: charge 5000 Kyat per withdrawal

CB Bank ATMs: charge 6500 Kyat per withdrawal

Myawady Bank ATMs and a few others: charge 5000 Kyat per withdrawal

Exchange rates are probably fairly similar between all of them, don't really know but it's best you do a search on "KBZ Bank Exchange Rates" and you'll find out. Most ATMs allow a maximum of 300,000 Kyat to be withdrawn at any one time, though you can make multiple withdrawals of 300,000 Kyat up to the daily maximum your bank allows. The fee is in addition to this so your statement will say 305,000 or 306,500 withdrawn depending on the bank you use.

Be aware that many ATMs run out of cash or are otherwise out of order. More and more are springing up all the time, but it's not uncommon for a new ATM to be out of order for weeks on end, meanwhile you search for another ATM only to encounter the same problem and finally the third or fourth ATM is the one that works. Despite this, I wouldn't worry too much - maybe bring along some foreign cash to exchange to Kyat to get by for the first few days (depending on where you are entering from, by land or air, you could also buy Kyat and bring it with you though the exchange rates are only good near the border; don't bother buying Kyat in Bangkok). Then you can always seek out an ATM inside the country without panicking, while you still have some remaining cash.

On ‎4‎/‎9‎/‎2017 at 11:16 AM, reenatinnakor said:

Hilarious reading all these farang know it all safety messages. A group of a few thousand high horse riding retirees telling a population of 70 million to abide by the law and tough shit if you are poor lol. We have these laws in our better country so you must have it in yours! Hilarious. At what age do farangs suddenly own a high horse? I hope I never get to that age.

I like the free for all attitude on the roads here actually. It makes you really alert all the time that at any point any <deleted> can cut you up or pull out for no reason. I've never been more alert riding and driving than in thailand and never been close to an accident because I'm always on high alert. If the locals want to weigh up the risks and ride with workers and family in the back then let them do it. If they don't want to wear a smelly crash helmet for a 5 minute ride then let them do it. If they want to ride slowly going the wrong way then let them do it. The good thing is we can also do this when it's convenient to do so. But no! We mustn't, breaking the law is bad and we will die lol. Muppets.





Sent from my LG-H990 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

After a while you don't even have to be on "high alert" anymore. Traffic and Thai driving habits just become predictable. That doesn't mean you should start playing on your phone whilst driving, but like you, I have never been in any accident here (years back in my early days I had one or two minor "fender benders") but I wouldn't call those accidents per se, since then nothing. The unpredictable starts to become predictable and that is what has kept me safe.

It's funny you mentioned the "high horse" brigade of elderly farangs (there are certainly a lot of those), but generally speaking in my experience as a younger person I find that it's the young generation who tend to have an unhealthy love for government, whereas the older generation can usually still remember what freedom used to be like and tend to speak of it with fondness. I have a friend who lives in the region, he has lived in Thailand, Laos and India since the 70s. He's going on 82 this year and is still working. He often tells me how life was like growing up in Australia in the 50s, how much freedom they used to have. Now he wouldn't be caught dead going back to live there. He would loathe it. Not to mention that apart from some of his family who still live there, most of his friends, his social life and work is in this part of the world. A 10-day trip once every year or two is about as much as he can spare for his homeland these days.

On ‎4‎/‎13‎/‎2017 at 1:38 PM, RocketDog said:

It's true. This is the beginning of the nanny state, and it only escalates from here. The number of regulations imposed by the state "to protect us " never decreases,  it always gets worse as the regulatory bodies seek to justify their existence, and taxes to support them, well beyond the scope of reason. Catman is right about why I came here, or at least why I'm staying.

 

Ever since I came here I have been telling people back home that the Thai people live and carry on as if they are free, whereas in the USA we all well know that we are not free and getting less free every day.

 

Recently riding my motorbike on the back roads here bereft of billboards,  signage, traffic lights, fences, construction work and workers, vehicles beyond counting, and of course scores of cameras and cops, I reflected on how contagious the feeling of freedom can be.

 

I'm actually beginning to think that I too am free to live my life as I see fit, here are least.   That is a freedom that died in most western nations decades ago.

 

Hell, I've been driving without a motorcycle license for nearly 6 months now. Pretty cheeky huh? I do wear a real helmet, Bell Industries, that I brought from The States,  but I still reserve the right to kill myself if I want. I'll get a license soon since I have a valid driver license it's simple here.

 

Taking calculated risks is part of being free. Sometimes you lose. But as one of my forgotten countrymen once said: "Give me Liberty or give me Death"  Was he wrong? It is possible for the spirit to die too remember. Then what is a safe life really worth?

 

Every time you get out of bed you are risking your life AND, your actions risk the lives of others.   Don't the Thai people have the right to make that choice too? Is traveling in the back of a truck in Thailand really more dangerous than commuting to work every morning and night on interstate I-25 in Denver at 80mph with loads of semi trailer trucks mere inches away? I did it for ten years and I think not. BTW, in Denver what is  ejected from a wrecked pickup truck is not soft bodies but snowmobiles, motorcycles, jetskiis, camper shells, three wheelers, multiple bicycles ,  and sundry camping gear. Much more hazardous than bodies to many more people also traveling at 80mph or higher.

 

We pay a "Yuge" price in liberty for every tiny bit of security the govmint imposes on us. Don't be in such a hurry to make this country like the ones you have all fled from. In my opinion it's really not worth the price to do so.

 

You pays your money and you takes your chances. I for one hope that Thailand takes several decades or more to become 'safe and totally secure'. Hopefully I'll be dead at that point one way or another.

 

That's my story and in stickin to it!

Let the protests for universal safety begin, but be careful what you wish for.

 

As for me, I'll take my chances. For me it's a valid tradeoff. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen!

As they say "government creates the problem" then it "creates the solution to the problem" by imposing all sorts of rules and regulations in the public's "interest" such as more "security" and more regulations for your "safety" but in the end the only thing that government actually wants and manages to get out of this is more control. Citizens for their part are dumbed down and stop being able to think critically. They think the "govmint" as you say "knows best" because the gov'mint always believes it is right. It's like your most arrogant relative, the one who never let you do anything you wanted when you were a young child and who would always be the first to lecture you why you can't do this or can't do that.

The mentality of farangs from a large number of western countries (fortunately not all, though probably most, especially western European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA) is one of brain-dead government worshippers who have lost their ability to think. Australians are amongst the most brainwashed government worshippers (nanny state lovers) on the planet. Many have stooped so low as to ridicule anyone, Aussie or otherwise (and they like to make fun of Americans) who question the lies the media and government tell us. And they think they are the "normal" ones?!

All they do is turn on the TV, the government propagandists tell them via the media that "wearing helmets while riding bicycles reduces deaths by 50%" or "driving 20km/h slower than the speed limit on the highway reduces deaths by 80%" and they believe it. They tend get all self-righteous when you offer a different opinion to these sorts of claims (I brought up highway related statistics because it's related to the OP but really it could be any topic) and give you that look like you're the enemy because you dared to disagree with whatever nonsense they just spouted out. Then, when some of these brainwashed shills come to a country like Thailand, they almost have a daily meltdown when they see Thais driving the wrong way down a road, speeding, driving with passengers at the back of pickup trucks, etc. etc. and feel it's their "right" to try to impose the same draconian rules and regulations from the country they "fled" from. Really, as they used to say in Australia before it became all boring and PC: "if you don't like it, go back to where you came from!"

As you said, life is risky and I want to be able to decide for myself what is risky and what isn't. If I drive 150km/h on the highway I better know what I'm doing because if a truck does a U-turn in front of me and I can't brake in time, well that's it. Most Thais know this but no matter how much you legislate you will never bring the road toll down to zero. Even in the ultra nanny state of Australia, a couple of hundred people lose their lives on the roads each year and that's never going to change unless they ban cars altogether, which incidentally I heard Oslo, Norway was actually considering - no more cars allowed in the city starting in a few years from now.

4 hours ago, dentonian said:

Assuming the Thai had an e-passport.

She has to exit using the e-pass gates in order to enter again using the e-pass gate.

If you used an e-pass foreign passport to exit and tried to use an e-pass Thai passport to enter.......... guess what?

 

Gate closed!

The e-pass gates at Suvarnabhumi airport are only for Thai nationals whether for entry or exit. Foreigners can't use them, irrespective of their residency status in Thailand. This is different to say Australia, which allows an ever increasing number of countries to use their e-gates even though that means the foreigner's passport won't have an entry stamp in it or any indication as to how long said foreigner is allowed to stay in Australia. All Australian citizens and foreigners use e-gates now to exit Australia.

I understand all Thai passports issued in the last few years are e-passports, so provided the OP has had their passport issued in the past few years using the e-gates wouldn't be an issue.

7 hours ago, stevenl said:

Or Op could simply fly out of Thailand and fly back in, as has been suggested already. First fly out on foreign passport, then enter again on Thai passport.

Sure. It could either be fly out and fly back in or exit by land then fly back in.

On ‎4‎/‎18‎/‎2017 at 2:30 PM, jubkhun said:

I agree, but some on here will accuse you of being old and grumpy. Remember that for 10 consecutive days we are supposed to smile as we're being assaulted with water, ice and powder, often aggressively, often while riding motorbikes, and often when we're clearly trying to avoid it (sitting INSIDE bars rather than participating outside). Or, of course, we're told we must leave the city for 10 days, at great expense, to avoid it all.

10 days? Wonder where you live. Throughout all the years I've lived in Thailand, I've never seen anywhere where they celebrate Songkran for anything close to 10 days. Normally around the 11th or 12th kids start getting into the action (particularly up north) but by the 15th they're all exhausted and anything after that is usually only in special reveler zones such as Khao San road, Pattaya and central Chiang Mai (the moat area). In other cities activities are greatly wound down starting on the 16th as most people prepare to go back to work.

It is indeed true that many Thais do take an extended break, in some cases for up to 10 days (14 days for some people) during Songkran but not all that time is spent splashing water. 2 whole days are spent driving back and forth between Bangkok and their home province at the beginning and end of the festival and the last couple of days are just spent at home with family and relatives.

On ‎4‎/‎14‎/‎2017 at 9:04 AM, jesimps said:

"why are people only getting het up because dirty things are thrown?"

 

Precisely! Even when the water's clean it's normally mixed with blocks of ice. The whole celebration has become obnoxious and nothing like the gentle traditional festival it's meant to be. Here in Pattaya we've got about another eight days of the festering thing to look forward to. Wish I could go on holiday abroad like these rich smeggers.

 

 

 

I went abroad, on a nice road trip down to Malaysia. Arrived back on the Thai side on the second last day of the celebration and then the following day it was madness with an insane amount of traffic turning a normally 8-hour drive into a 14-hour zig-zag avoiding the main highway then coming back to the highway because there's no alternative (Thailand has too few roads - no wonder they're all jammed). However, apart from the holiday traffic I saw almost no evidence whatsoever of Songkran. Do southern Thais not celebrate it? Or is it because they're not allowed to throw water on the national highways? I saw but one location where a group of youths were throwing water near Bang Saphan just one location! Sounds like quite a contrast to Pattaya!

26 minutes ago, dentonian said:

Agreed!

Exiting on her Thai passport will leave her entry on the Foreign passport stagnant and will create an overstay situation.

Immigration though will allow exit on either passport (although stevenl has a different opinion)

 

Some have also been refused entry on their Thai passport because they exited on their foreign passport.

This is the crux of this topic.

Although many logical suggestions have been put forward,, until a Thai who is refused entry on their Thai passport stands up to an IO and demands their constitutional rights as a Thai national...........then we won't know the answer to the problem.

Simple. The OP exits Thailand on her British passport by LAND from Thailand to say, Cambodia. Enters Cambodia by LAND. For example, from Aranyaprathet Sa Kaeo province to Poipet, Banteay Meanchey province. Then she travels to either Siem Reap or Phnom Penh international airport and books a one way ticket to Bangkok on any airline, for example, Thai Airways (THAI Smile if traveling from Siem Reap). At the airport, she shows her Thai passport, and at Cambodian immigration her British passport. Upon arriving back in Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) she uses the auto gates and shows her Thai passport. Finally, she should never attempt to use her British passport again to enter Thailand.

Case closed.

Also, I suspect that many dual citizen Thais (most?) stand up to the IO and ask for a supervisor if refused entry on their Thai passports. The only reason you don't know about this is because they generally don't come onto Thai visa to talk about their experience, especially if it was positive.

On ‎4‎/‎20‎/‎2017 at 1:48 PM, dentonian said:

In theory you are correct.

However very few Thais will stand up or question an IO, or any government official. They don't like confrontation or loss of face.

If they left Thailand using their foreign passport, then they made the initial mistake.

 

Immigration will point to this fact and use it against them, perhaps because they don't know what to do in this situation, but in any event they don't and cannot refuse entry to a Thai national........they just allow entry on the foreign passport which makes their job easier.

I doubt a Thai would be sufficiently aware of their own laws as a base of argument.

 

Theory is one thing, fact is another, and as already demonstrated in this thread, their are Thais who have fallen foul of this ridiculous situation and have been forced to enter on their foreign passport. If the passport number, arrival card number don't match what's in their database then Immigration are as much use as a wet lettuce.

Although Thais don't like confrontation, in cases where they know they are right and they are being victimized, they stand up for their rights. Thais constantly argue with police who stop them for minor traffic infringements just so they can get out of a fine. I (a farang) also question police officers who try to fine me, but always in a humorous way and that usually also gets me out of fines (LOL). Thais on the other hand generally don't hold much respect for the police or authority that tries to bully them. For me personally, the authorities are little more than a minor nuisance and they rarely if ever bother me.

I think this whole "Thais would never stand up to government officials" is an urban myth. Thais won't get angry and red in the face arguing their case (unlike westerners), but provided they know what they're doing is right, they will not back down. What normally happens is that most Thais faced with a situation as per the OPs case don't know their rights and believe what they're being told by a government official. This is especially true for first time or irregular travelers. It's as simple as that.

On the matter of the arrival card number not matching - well we just returned from a trip to Malaysia with some friends (by car, but not that it makes a difference it could have been by plane) and at the border my wife couldn't find her arrival card. So she had to fill out another one, took a couple of seconds more and that was it.

On ‎4‎/‎15‎/‎2017 at 1:50 PM, Frank12 said:

 

Of course you are right and thats the plan. I am planning to go take my wife to my country. The problem is the son because he speaks only Thai and again in my country (Poland) there aren't that many people that speak English too and Polish is considered one of the most difficult languages to learn overall. (not to mention I am concerned about my wife ability to Learn Polish in English) and we just didn't want to leave him behind but maybe we will have to at some point (at least infrequently he will be forced to stay with grandma while either me or me and my wife will be abroad). I mean we were taking him for private English classes with the intention to reloacting to Europe but he was consistently super rebelious about it and wasn't making any progress so we just gave up doing it against him no point in forcing him to do so. And while not working I did invested the capital succesfully so it is not I was literally retired.  I was planning to create some business here in Thailand but then the legal situation seem more and more complicated so I am just concerned to do so with the junta and more and more histility towards foreginers.

Poland is a fantastic country but personally I wouldn't consider it to be an attractive place for a foreigner (especially a Thai) to immigrate to. Unlike western Europe, there are still relatively few non-Europeans living there and it might not be that easy for your wife to get a job. I would recommend you look into living where both of you will be happy. If that's Thailand, so be it. While it is not easy, it is far from impossible to find a decent job, there are after all more than 100,000 foreigners on work permits working in white collar professions in Thailand, there's no reason why you can't be number 100,001. Or start some sort of business, but do your research and be careful.

More hostility towards foreigners now than before the current regime? Nope, I don't feel that at all. Thailand is developing fast and is simply "cleaning up" the long-term tourists and other undesirables, but the vast majority of those on multiple entry business, marriage or other visas and extensions of stay experience no problems whatsoever.

On ‎4‎/‎15‎/‎2017 at 10:04 AM, JepSoDii said:

hear hear. Cambodia especially, and Laos, too, have very reasonable wine import taxes. That's 2 of 3 Indochina. Not sure how expensive wine is in Vietnam or how bad it's taxed.

Wine sold in Laos doesn't seem to be any cheaper than in Thailand in my experience. Not long ago, I used to drive to Laos regularly on business and would always buy a bottle or two of wine at a wine shop in Vientiane before heading back to Thailand but then realized that the cheapest wines sold there were going for 400 Baht, whereas in Thailand you can purchase a cheap bottle of Aussie wine from as little as 199 or 219 Baht at Tesco Lotus. I stopped purchasing wine in Laos once I realized this.

On the other hand, wine in Cambodia is definitely cheaper than in Thailand and ditto for Vietnam.

On ‎4‎/‎19‎/‎2017 at 4:00 PM, British Bulldog said:

Sorry for the late reply ... there are rules .... and there are rules ... The Government (Like most Governments) aren't too keen on people just moving to Laos and bumming around to speak, visit enjoy and move on generally speaking, however, set up a small business, even in your wife's name (as I have) and she has the right (If you work for the business) to organise and official 1 year Multi Entry Visa, Work Permit and ID Card, all for $530 USD (Official) ... expensive to some, but for being able to stay in this Country for piece of mind, its cheap. I've seen mention of people claiming to get ripped off in the Country areas ... that's news to me ... its generally cheaper ... I work from the north to the south of Laos, and from east to west, and apart from owning 7 boats, have travelled on probably 20% of all its rivers, including the Mekong from Cambodia to the Golden Triangle ... yes, towns that have floating restaurants and alike, can be expensive compared to inland restaurants but isn't that the same problem if you eat on Chao Phrya ??

 

Seems like the Lao government is OK with westerners "bumming around" because there seems to be a large number of long-stayers in Laos not really doing very much living on visas-on-arrival then extending them (I believe it's possible to extend a one month visa on arrival for up to 3 months) then they do a visa run and repeat. Lots of complaints by Lao based "expats" complaining about the new Thai rules preventing them from doing land border runs more than 2 times a year without applying for a Thai visa.

One day in the not too distant future, the Lao government too will start cracking down and forcing these westerners to either get a proper visa or ship out.

On ‎3‎/‎14‎/‎2017 at 4:43 PM, nitnoymoy said:

 Hi, has anyone recently managed to enter with a thai registered car at koh kong, I have a mate  who was refused entry there about 3 months ago,despite enering there a few years prior,I was planning go at weekend if anyone can update,Thanks 

Strange. I have entered there by car many times with no problem, but the most recent time was almost a year ago now.

As long as you agree not to leave Koh Kong (it's OK even if you do) there should be no reason for refusal. Can you ask your mate why he was refused entry? Was he refused exit on the Thai side or entry on the Cambo side?

A Thai driver's licence (new credit card sized bilingual Thai-English type) is acceptable for driving in Malaysia. Licences only in Thai must be accompanied by an official translation or an IDP.

On ‎3‎/‎9‎/‎2017 at 10:03 AM, phuketrichard said:

NO u cant bring it in since they changed the laws to stop all the Chinese hoards from entering and driving around.   Unfortunately it has caused lots of problems for guys traveling distances and going thru Thailand, U need apply WAY in advance and u need exit the same border u enter.

 

What i did when i brought my US registered 1970 Triumph over  back in 99 is got a carnet and shipped it to Malaysia and than rode into Thailand (didn't bother reporting or signing in the bike).   I have friends that have done the same,  some also have gotten 90 day imports for their bikes and have to take it to the border every 90 days.

it is still here on CA plates after 18 years  :-)

 

 

Not sure if this will still work under new laws

 

 

Definitely won't work under the new rules.

Not only does one need to apply at least 15 business days before arrival, but a guide and Thai registered lead vehicle is compulsory. A foreign registered vehicle can only spend 60 days in Thailand within a calendar year.

You may leave from a different border crossing than the one entered, I think you were referring to the original rules but they have since been amended twice. The first time they changed the rules to allow you to travel throughout the country and leave at a different border, but the border crossings have to be specified in advance. Then in December they introduced the guide requirement.

Malaysian, Singaporean and Lao registrations are exempt from the new rules. Cambodian and Burmese vehicles traveling in their respective border areas and exiting back through the same border they entered are also exempt. All other registrations must seek entry in advance, through an authorized Thai based travel agent.

5 hours ago, abab said:

 

Hello,

 

What do you mean, can we drive across the border ?

 

Where is Dawie, how to go and can we sleep there ?

 

How far can we go in Myanmar by this border and how to go ?

 

Thank you.

 

I've been to Dawei but went the long way round from Mae Sot via Myawady and Mawlamyine and Ye to Dawei by road. Went with car and driver, which might be a bit pricey $$$ for those on a budget, but is the best way to go otherwise it will take ages by bus (or train). There are also flights from Yangon, Myeik and Kawthoung but they are also expensive, especially for foreigners since a dual pricing regimen is still in place in Myanmar for domestic flights.

Plenty of accommodation in Dawei nowadays, though only around 5-6 hotels can be booked online (try Agoda), including one place at nearby Maungmagan beach, 20km or a 30 minute drive directly west of the city.

Dawei is compact and relaxed, with freshly paved streets, a lively market and nice colonial architecture.

If you enter at Phu Nam Ron/Htee Khee, you may proceed to anywhere in the country that is not restricted, just like at the other 3 Thai-Myanmar overland crossings.

Entries by car are allowed only as far as Htee Khee. For travel deeper inside the country in your own vehicle, either you need a local (usually a Karen/Kayin who has some local influence) to vouch for your safety or more likely in the case of ordinary farang, you need to go on a pre-arranged caravan tour with mandatory government and travel agency guides. Although you could travel by yourself with just one vehicle, the majority of persons entering Myanmar by car travel in groups to reduce the costs.

By public transport, there are plenty of minivans traveling the 140km stretch between Dawei and the border; they usually leave when full. For greater privacy/to leave faster you can probably charter a vehicle. Htee Khee is one of two gateways to southern Myanmar, you will need a full embassy issued visa to enter (e-visas not accepted for entry, but are OK for exit after having entered elsewhere).

On ‎2‎/‎23‎/‎2017 at 10:45 PM, billd766 said:

 

I only read the BBC online news and I don't watch TV. Jonathon Head is biased on the side of Thaksin.

 

I used to read his reports about Isaan and the UDD and the interviews that he did but I don't remember any that he did with the Democrats even for a balanced report.

 

I may have missed them in which case I am sorry but that is the way I see his reporting and there wasn't a lot of that either.

Which is why Head, like most western journalists, are little more than foreign lobbyists masquerading as journalists trying to subvert public opinion in Thailand in line with the interests of western countries/oligarchs. His biased reporting is clear evidence of that.

I would fully support foreign journalists needing to be registered and vetted by the Thai government. Given how many western journalists including John Pilger from the BBC and others have come out and told the truth about the methods the media uses to try and mold public opinion in a certain direction, it's clear evidence that if this vetting didn't occur, it would be the journalists who would need to be held accountable for causing a riot or other disturbance based on lies and fake reporting. I doubt the British government would allow Thai journalists to report whatever they like in any fashion they like, why should the BBC or any other western news agency be any different?

48 minutes ago, Kasset Tak said:

The worst time when they checked me 3 times I was going by the public van from Phitsanulok to Mae Sot... on the other hand I have done the Mukdahan - Mae Sot bus ride twice and then there was no checkpoints at all. I used to worked in Tak so I have friends in living in Mae Sot or so that you must travel thru Mae Sot to get to their homes, at one point I was traveling to Mae Sot 2-3 times a week now its like 2-3 times a year .I have been stopped traveling by all modes of transportation public bus, van, school van and private pickup.
But as you say they are more interested in the Burmese than in westerners as there have been more than one time when car has been stopped and then when they see a white face  and just wave us to move on. I also have had people coming on the bus/van at Tak bus terminal telling the (illegal) Burmese to get off because of checkpoints on the road to Mae Sot. And as a friend that used to hire illegal Burmese workers told me: "They walk, they walk 5,6,7 days over the mountains to avoid the checkpoints!".

 

And the checking on the provincial borders seems to have stopped now but it has happened to me totally more than 10 times over about a 3 month period Nov 2015 - Jan 2016, one day going Phitsanulok to Tak by bus they checked all passengers both at the Phitsanulok-Sukhothai and Sukhothai-Tak provincial borders. But on the other hand when stopped with my Thai friends in a sobriety checkpoint in the middle of Kamphaeng phet city I had to show my passport even thou I wasn't driving. 

 

But one thing that to me feels strange is that I have only been stopped going to Mukdahan or Mae Sot but never when leaving!?

Generally speaking, they can and do stop you in both directions. They also tend to stop all vehicles, at every one of the three checkpoints in both directions but often they just wave you through after they've seen your face especially if you are 1) alone 2) have few belongings with you. Other times they question you, shine a flashlight into your car (if you're driving or a passenger in a private vehicle) - the passport checking in my experience is exceptionally rare anywhere in the country in my experience. In fact, I can confidently say that I've never been asked for my passport at any checkpoint anywhere in the country for any reason and I travel very often. As we both agree it's not so much about us or about checking passports, it's more about checking for illegal Burmese, contraband and logically also although this hasn't happened to me on the Mae Sot-Tak road, checking your driver's licence.

1 hour ago, fruitman said:

One day i went to koh samet in a group of thai..we chartered a boat and let him drop us right infront of the resort. We didn't pass that paybooth so didn't have to pay.

 

 

I didn't know Thais had to pay at all. I've been to Koh Samet a few times and Thais never had to pay. I always managed to sneak past and not pay either, pretending to have already been on the island for a few days - the trick is not to carry your luggage as you walk past the booth where they collect the entrance fee - get a Thai to do it and make sure you don't walk anywhere near them. Maybe that has now changed.

On ‎2‎/‎24‎/‎2017 at 3:00 PM, Jonathan Swift said:

Meaning that you think human rights activists should say and do nothing, or is your statement simply a grim unbiased observation? I am American, a country which once was a leader for democracy in the free world, and a totally free press and right to speak is guaranteed in our constitution, our courts have solidly upheld those principles with rare exception. Now my (former) country is collapsing under big money corruption and a very large angry and hateful part of the general population who elected an insane monster to the presidency. And yet, the free press remains a loud voice for freedom, and in solidarity with a majority of horrified Americans, this monster president will likely be unseated. It makes me very sad to see a country like Thailand exacerbating its economic woes by failing to act as the prime minister no doubt knows he should. Those American Wall St "gods" who in 2007 caused an economic collapse unheard of since the Great Depression were never prosecuted for their crimes, a dark stain on freedom and democracy. And as it stands, unlike the Obama administration, it's unlikely that America will weigh in and bring to bear the ammunition of public and world condemnation which it could easily do. So I am sad for both countries. Nobody wins except the oligarchs, and the lawyers. Sad, but still hopeful

Oh dear. Another deluded liberal who thinks Obama could do no wrong but demonizes Trump because he is an anti-globalist (a good thing). I'm no Trump fan, he has his good policies and his bad ones just like everyone else. But if you think things are bad in America because of Trump, who has only been in power a few weeks, you are as delusional and brainwashed as they come.

The reality is you haven't had a president or an administration in power that has acted in your interests since at least JFK. Trump is no different, despite his "America first" rhetoric he is in reality a sell-out for globalist interests just the same as Obama was, George Dubbya Bush before him, Bill "I didn't have sexual relations with that woman" Clinton, George Bush senior, Johnson and all the others.

The "freedom of the press" you claim still exists in America today is a myth. A small number of local news and media outlets still (largely) tell the truth, the rest of them, the ones owned and operated by the corporate media giants are anything but free and impartial - they all receive their news from the same sources and all tell exactly the same stories. They just pretend they are and to their credit, have done a fantastic job at deluding and brainwashing Americans and westerners in general to make them think they are free and superior to the rest of the world, when the reality is anything but. The first amendment still exists, but a determined group of people are trying their best to destroy it and if they get their way, they will.

On ‎2‎/‎23‎/‎2017 at 4:13 PM, Chip Allen said:

Time for so-called "diplomats" to get medieval on Thai government officials. It's gone far enough. Defamation, Lese Majeste etc. Non-Thai residents should be immune from prosecution under these insane statutes.

Time for you to go home. Who are you, some random farang to tell Thai officials and Thailand what to do? How dare you even suggest that non-Thais (foreigners) should be immune from the laws of the country they choose to reside in? How would you feel if Thais told you that their officials, their citizens should be immune from any laws they disagree with in your home country?

Also, are you really naïve enough to think that there are no defamation laws or other weapons that silence criticism of public officials, certain government policies etc. in the west? There is still far more freedom in Thailand than in any western country. There is even one crazy law, in effect in at least 16 countries (mostly in Europe), that bans any questioning of a particular event that is said to have occurred last century. Question it and you can go to jail for up to 20 years in some countries. That law is as much a weapon to stifle free speech in the west as anything you claim Thailand is guilty of. And yet here you are on your high horse trying to hold the rest of the world hostage to your self-imposed standards of western morality. Your attitude is nothing short of neo-colonial.

On ‎2‎/‎28‎/‎2017 at 0:50 AM, Kasset Tak said:

It can happen everywhere but more often close to a border. Going to Mukdahan or Mae Sod there are usually atleast 1 check...most I have ever experienced was going to Mae Sod when they checked my passport and visa 3 times on a 80 km trip. I have also been stoped in police checkpoints close to the provincial borders of Sukhothai - Tak, Sukhothai - Utaradit, Tak - Kampheng Phet and Kampheng Phet - Nakorn Sawan where they have checked passport and visa but I think those are more to find drug smugglers and illegal Laotians or Burmese workers... My friend told me that he used to hire illegal workers from Myanmar and that they spent about a week walking over the mountains after they crossed the border in to Thailand just to avoid the checkpoints.

I travel to Mae Sot up to a dozen times a year since 5 years now and not once have I been asked for my passport. Driving during the day, in the middle of the night etc. doesn't make a difference.

BUT a friend who looked kinda Burmese was asked once, but only the data page of his passport was examined. There are 3 permanent checkpoints on the Tak-Mae Sot road, but they are more interested in contraband or Burmese travelers than westerners. That being said I have only ever traveled that way by car. No idea if they scrutinize you more if traveling by bus or minivan.

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

That was at a different crossing that only Thais and Myanmar citizens can use.

A far as I know it is open.

Yes that was the Three Pagodas Pass border and it was only closed for 1 day. This despite the fact that 40 Thais were held hostage. If 40 westerners had been held hostage near a legal border crossing, the Burmese would probably close the crossing in question to foreigners for weeks, if not months.

4 hours ago, colinneil said:

One thing nobody has mentioned, is over 60 years old get in free.

A while back , before my accident i took my FIL to the fish caves 15 kilometers north of Mae hong son.

I went to pay and the lady said over 60 free, showed my passport and went in free.

I thought free entry for 60s and over is only for Thais. You got in for free as an exception, but I have been to national parks with foreign visitors well over 60 and they still had to pay.

On ‎2‎/‎4‎/‎2017 at 5:17 PM, phuketrichard said:

MY Cambodian GF gets a free  14 day stamp at Kwathoung ( 2x now in past year)

Not anymore since September 1st last year. She must have an e-visa. A 14 day stamp at Kawthoung may still be possible, but it doesn't allow travel further than the border area. The previous visa exemptions for ASEAN nationals at Thai land border entry points have finished.

My friend is an immigration official and he confirmed this to me.