bberrythailand

On 8/24/2017 at 8:00 AM, catman20 said:

its more of a relaxing break there, nice to eat on the beach of a night time, one of the best beaches there is AL PRO water is more calm not crashing against the beach, also be careful about the rip off speed boat thing, i always go to the pear and get the big boat over there takes about 45mins and cost about 60 baht per person as apposed to 1500 baht per person.

Ridiculous. Speedboat is 1500 for the whole boat, night and day !

Are the soldiers still around ? Or is it peaceful now ? Bars can close late again ?

Anyway this island is the biggest scam in the country. Overpriced everywhere !

4 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

It is election Year. And the anti Immigrants have been banging their pots. As a result they have tightened visa application processes. I am having trouble getting my Fillipina GF into NZ but after September I expect it to settle down again. The proof of return airfare and sufficient funds to support are the biggest reasons for refusal of tourist visas

Not difficult to have a return ticket and plan in advance enough to deposit money is a bank every month, right ?

If found this ! Looks great ! Seems new.

https://www.facebook.com/kokettepattaya/

You don't need it if you do not have a word permit like most teachers !

19 hours ago, vento said:

 

I'm here... Sorry for not responding... i did the Visa run yesterday and today was busy, so didn't have time to comment yet.

 

I didn't do the 60 extension which UB.Joe made me aware of, since my better half and kid are visiting family quite far away from where i am, and im not usually residing in Pattaya, but here to relax a bit.

 

As for taking the van, im quite tall, and  just don't feel like it. The only good thing i can think of, is meeting other people on the van. but that's about it.

 

As for the drive. it took 3.5 hour from central Pattaya  until i arrived at the parking. the trip to Cambodia was peaceful and i only had a 5 min break.  Im actually not really sure which one of the border checks i went to, but it had a big parking (several hundreds cars) on the right before the border buildings. parking was 80 baht.

 

I used the fixers and everything took about 20 minute i think. They where friendly and i sat chatting with a couple policemen (or something like that) and everything was quite uneventful. No queue going from Thailand, no Queue going back. First time i ever used fixers. would do on this border entry again another time.

 

The trip back home was different though. a bit more traffic and a lot of drivers had turned on their ego  mode. I had a couple of dangerous situation, i.e. people overtaking on the invisible third lane, which seems to exist, especially in areas with mountains and  limited visibility combined with rain. Also had i street dog running running out on the middle of the road and stopping and turning around, just in front of my car. i hit the brake very hard and was about 30cm or so from hitting him.

 

I left pattaya 11am, was back 7.15pm and had the easiest, cheapest and properly best visa run i ever did (not that i did that many though)

 

About the 60 days extension.. its an option i need to consider next time, but to be honest, i remember one time i made an extension and it was an nightmare. That was in pattaya, and everything was so confusing and chaotic, so many people, so much confusion, where to go next, which papers etc.,. Even though it only took me 3 hours or so, i think i almost prefer to spend an additional 5 hours and repeat this next time, get an additional 30 days.

 

Thanks A LOT for all of your input. much appreciated and made me feel much more relaxed going there.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

Good choice mate ! And I confirm that it's ALWAYS better to do it this way than having to talk to any Thai in uniform ! Trust me !

7 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Reading his latest, final(?) column, I read a lot of frustration and disappointment between the lines, so I guess, 'that's it', except, perhaps, if the 'yellow fever' took hold of him, and he came back to Thailand.

He is a teacher, form a the beginning a loser who failed his life by going back where is he born like a good doggy.

This guy is ridiculous, not even able to also work on social networks and facebook, he is born loser and will die loser.

8 hours ago, JackThompson said:

One of the advantages of not taking the van, is you don't have to leave this early.  The border is open all day.

 

If it were a VIP van with captain's chair instead of bench-seats, perhaps.  Or if you get the front seat to yourself (they usually put someone else in the middle).  Generally, not good sleeping conditions, in my experience.  Yes, the locals sleep, sometimes falling over you while doing so - but not something I have been able to accomplish.

The most important is when you wake up with a truck wheels on your laps....

3 hours ago, ujayujay said:

Ask CAT

As if they could know :-)

1 hour ago, JohnThailandJohn said:

You should consider leaving more early -- perhaps about 6:00 or 6:30 in the morning if you are driving yourself.

However, I cannot really think of many advantages to driving yourself vs. jumping on one of the Visa Run Vans. 2,800 baht and they will deal with everything including the driving while you get to nap or meet some new people on the van.  If something goes wrong or any issues at the border these folks have connections there and can make for a smooth resolution. They stop for breaks along the way and most provide lunch. You should be back in Pattaya by around 3:00 PM same day.

It has been many years since I have used one of these services but the only thing I didn't like was you are not in control of the driver / driving.

 

If you do not see the advantages of not taking a van, sorry... but it is hopeless...

Sorry I was thinking that this thread was about fish ! not fist :-)

On 12/5/2014 at 8:42 AM, lannarebirth said:

Better yet, never eat any farmed fish, including salmon. There are plenty of alternatives and only slightly more expensive,

What alternatives in Thailand ? Thank you.

On 2/22/2015 at 8:16 AM, stevo2 said:

Quite simple. If you have issues with "tasteless" fish then put it in a brine over night. The salt will improve the flavour ans also firm up the fillet for a better texture.

Does it work with ugly pangasius ?

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

Glad to hear they have improved things. I only went the once about 10 years ago and when I came back into Thailand I ask the IO if there were any toilets , he got someone to show me a wooden hut in the jungle somewhere in no mans land. Not a pleasant experience.

In those days Ban Laem was certainly the better option.

BAN LAEM is still better until they finish the construction at BAN PAKARD jungle.

4 hours ago, sandyf said:

There are 2 crossings in the area, Ban Laem and Ban Pakard. I always preferred Ban Laem as Ban Pakard was a bit primitive but that may have changed. At Ban Laem there is a service area directly opposite immigration with a toilet block , free parking and a rest area. It was always a much better market area. It is not much further and could be a better choice if driving yourself, I have normally been in and out in about half an hour.

 

You would be well advised to use one of the agents, saves a lot of hassle. Should be be 200 baht, they may ask for more but push and they will give, particularly when its quiet. They will want paying in Thai baht.

If you decide to go to Cambodian immigration you should also pay in Thai baht. I know it is more but a friend of mine insisted on paying in USD and they kept him waiting for 2 hours before he got his passport back.

Good luck.

 

They ask 1500 Thai baht when the visa is only $35 USD.

I never pay with baht and they give me back my passport instantly.

16 hours ago, steve187 said:

maybe he is doing the run

Or maybe he is dead now :-)

59 minutes ago, ksamuiguy said:

There not there to do your paper work for you, you need your papers in order long in advance of your arrival.

No they don't know, they are not experts, they are volunteers there to help with filling forms, translations.

They are there to bridge the language barrier mostly.

They can get answers to your questions for you, but you need to know what to ask.

If you can not figure it out get a professional company to do the paper work for you and accompany you to immigration..

The online requirements are on line and simple.

 

 

So what are they doing there if they don't know ? Go back home and sleep, better !

25 minutes ago, fletchsmile said:

No it's not true :)

 

Yes, the sender will need to provide documents to support the transaction. These will vary according to the purpose of the transfer which also needs to be stated 

So if you just want to send money to a friend, you cannot ? (as a Thai). Isn't it so stupid when western union allows all transfers ?

Hello, is it true that Thai also cannot send money abroad ? Just $3000 and Kasikorn said that a Thai needs ID and other documents from the recipient ! Please confirm ? Thank you.

So you must drive to PONG NAM RON and pay 300 thb extra on Cambo side to come back immediately.

Maybe not yet...

Who is stupid enough to pay tax when it's so easy to evade ?

So easy, if he really likes to mess with these troubles (not enough THAI women in Thailand to choose...) he can just make a company and employ her for 80k ! Anyway, the full story being crazy nothing can be stupid enough to surprise me !

Just now, Briggsy said:

Do you have an established company in Thailand?

Yes of course.

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You would have to have a minimum salary of 80k baht and be paying taxes for 3 years to apply for permanent residency.

To apply for citizenship you would have to be on permanent residency for 5 years and meet the same salary requirement.

Can you get 80k salary from our own company ?