CanuckThai

On 12/10/2009 at 9:40 AM, longtime2 said:

hi guys I would to buy baby trout I can not find anywhere. Does anyone know where eg. private farms, gov, uni and so any imformation will be very helpful. thank-you

I truly wish you luck.  I can't imagine a fresh water fish species like a trout, surviving here.  

https://articles.extension.org/sites/default/files/w/5/5b/RBTchallenges.pdf

Not sure where you are currently located, but if there is a consulate conveniently accessible, get a 90 day tourist visa.  Cheap and dirty, and it will give you time to play out your plan.  Why piss around with a 30 day tourist VE, if you haven't set up the school, visa, living arrangements.

This thread makes me want to cry.

15 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Does it really matter what size the labels here say. Just go in and try them on.

...size, color of denim, leg cut (boot cut, straight, slim, relaxed)...not always available here, without an intense shopping commitment.  Much easier to pick (or have someone pick) the exact beasts from a trusted quality retailer back home (not seconds, or the sometimes questionable qc here), at almost half the price.

Not sure of the best or safest shipping method, especially around the Christmas holiday season.  It's seems to be the high season for "customs/receivers" freebie buffet and "stick it to the farang" on customs baht appraisals.

I (and family back home) have used both courier (DHL, Fedex, etc) and Canada Post "express", to ship to here from Canada.   Make sure you take pictures of the contents of your shipment, and for your own curiosity, how it was packed.  I've experienced more ruffles, than clear sailing shipments, everything from missing items, package disappearing off the radar (tracking), to wildly over appraised value (and having to make a financial "suggestion" involving an envelope).  

P.S.  Yeah, I agree, Levi 501 button fly's with exact waist/leg measurements and denim quality is not the same here

2 hours ago, CanuckThai said:

FB, MS (fill in the blank), Google, every news site, every vendor site, etc....  They are mining for as much information as possible to "enhance your experience" (bullsh...) and/or sell your details.  There is (almost) no getting around it...

...and this is the soft targeting of your personal information.

This is another issue altogether:  The use of your passport and any credit card...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/marriott-data-breach-risks-1.4929130

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/episode-418-when-gm-leaves-town-loud-restaurants-the-hit-series-dogs-mummers-china-surveillance-and-more-1.4927175/it-s-like-christmas-for-repressive-regimes-china-is-selling-surveillance-technology-all-over-the-world-1.4927185

FB, MS (fill in the blank), Google, every news site, every vendor site, etc....  They are mining for as much information as possible to "enhance your experience" (bullsh...) and/or sell your details.  There is (almost) no getting around it...

10 hours ago, Jingthing said:

 throw the "chosen people" insult at them. Do Canadians think they are the chosen people? 

...Yip.  THE CHOSEN PEOPLE to freeze our <deleted> off in the winter, sweat our bags off in the summer, and smile about debilitating over taxation

35 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

It is a "must have" item, I agree - but there have been some cases reported of rejection with it.  Unless I am missing it, the 20K Baht did not come up with the OP.

Agreed, it was not in the OP.  But the reality is, carrying 20K has more than one use (very multipurpose), if experiencing technical difficulties or the need to hasten certain decision making... 

B20 K in your pocket, is the Thai entry insurance policy.   It allows one to discretely smooth out any entry issues...  Not many posts about people having the 20K, and denied entry (just saying)

1 hour ago, Nichada Nick said:

Now that's what I call service. Thanks for sharing Fanjita. 

59 minutes ago, fanjita said:

Thanks, Nichada Nick.  Thai AirAsia are the best LCC in LOS as far as I'm concerned.

Nichada Nick, what is you gut feeling, that Air Asia might have greased the wheels, for an efficient passenger experience, at a time when Thai Air (and affiliates), is dropping the ball?  Do you believe this is an AOT improvement, or Air Asia capitalizing using both barrels?  I've flown all domestic carriers here, and Air Asia is the most reliable/fair IMO...  Our common denominator is Air Asia....

1 hour ago, Nichada Nick said:

before my flight to HCMC

Interesting,  I just came back from a work trip in Vietnam.  Flew Air Asia from Khon Kaen to DMK to HCMC, and for the first time ever, immigration "signed me out" in Khon Kaen airport....30 seconds.  Coming back from Hanoi (Air Asia) to DMK, they swept me through the "fly through" immigration...30 seconds.  It's the first time leaving/entering has been ruthlessly efficient, and almost enjoyable.

If going to HCMC, have your wife take a clear photos of requested docs, send them to you (email or Line) with a sponsor(?) email from her stating all info required (see requirements).  I just renewed a Non O in HCMC.....it was smooth sailing.

7 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Yes. It’s not super easy at first but when you follow the paperwork and maybe for Canada too , there is an interview , then they got 5 years !  

Its great!  Now you all can be spontaneous and fly off to Canada with a moments notice ( note it’s a little cold till May lol ) my same friend had 2 former Canadian visas ( for short stays) and when he applied for a third one got a 5 year visa as well that is still valid. My Thai friends still thinks it’s strange I have to have 20,000 baht ( or other currency in cash) every single time I arrive here AND I can’t use an ATM before Thai immigration ( there are none ). It’s simply archaic. I don’t want to do the retirement extension because I’m not here every 90 days etc. you have to have timing and you still have to go to immigration which I just hate! Now the 800k which I have but you still have to report !  I really feel for the guys ( and girls ) here who have been doing this for 5, 10, 15 ++ years. Shouldn’t at least this LONG term group be “ tested “ for perhaps once a year reporting?  They could just see how it goes. 

The Canuck application is straight forward, thorough, but nothing out of the ordinary (I do/did the applications for them).  Yes, we travel back and forth often.  Coming and going for them is absolutely painless (except for the 20 hour flight and finding a suitable papaya for som tam).  Carrying B20K is a funny requirement, I do, but have never been asked to show it.  Yip, the financial hoops, reporting requirements, future uncertainties and available neighboring paradise(s), have me on the verge of nudging the wife: Lets blow this Popsicle stand and let the Chinese finish salting the fields....

32 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

My Thai friend just submitted ( yes a lot of papers and one short interview ) for a USA visa.  Guess what he got? A 10 year multiple entry visa!  One payment and he never pays a penny for the next 10 years. 

Yip, my wife and her son have 5 year Canadian Visas, no additional paperwork, no reporting, no grief.  I'm envious of them (and choked with the hoops I go through here).

7 hours ago, Cereal said:

 I watched a movie yesterday "A Prayer Before Dawn" about a Brit boxer who got banged up in Thailand for drugs and boxed his way out of prison.

Where did you find this movie?  I searched Netflix, couldn't find it... (sounds like a good movie)

1 hour ago, Scottjouro said:

 

What about the tax declaration when you convert from your crypto to THB, there is a 15% Captial gains tax now in Thailand , and the onus is on you 

...yip.  15% on profits made (capital gain).  They can have it.  If my spread on a $2000 (value) crypto transfer, immediately nets me $2200 (value) in Thai baht (after the trade and withdrawal fee), I'll be happy to mail off $30 worth of Thai baht to someone.   The best foreign $ transfer rates I know of.  Not so good if you are sending $ back home, but just as easy.

Lowest cost transactions, are sending yourself crypto to Thailand.  Easy peasy, cheap and dirty.

Depending on how comfortable the "backpack" is...Sri Lanka (Colombo) can be a fun trip/adventure.  With a stopover in Kuala Lumpur on the way back, you can get your visa at either country.  Fairly affordable change of scenery.   I took the train from Khon Kaen to Kuala Lumpur once(stopped in Bangkok) for a change from airport scenery, it was a great experience. 

Good luck, travel from Thailand is cheap...endless possibilities to explore.

Having been in Thailand a few years (4+), this is my first time living in a country, after/during a coup d'etat.   

I admit, being a "westerner", Canadian or simply accustomed to a democratic society, my perceptions are skewed (good, bad, ugly and/or twisted).  

My take on the current situation in Thailand has changed drastically over 4 years, from "why aren't they fighting for their freedoms", to well..."you reap what you sow" or "if you aren't willing to fight for it...".

Is this coup fundamentally different from the 18 previous, for being able to drag on 4 yrs without opposition, without a challenge?  Has Thailand buckled, and the future is written on the wall (re: neighbouring countries, take your pick)?  

A older foreign view:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/thailand-s-19th-coup-underscores-country-s-fatal-flaw-1.2658846

Good to know about which bars or karaoke joints, have no qualms bitch slapping, or known to give a tourists a sucker punch bill.  

If there was a thread, about Thai pubs/karaoke bar ratings/warnings, I'd be searching through it, before weekend roadtrips.  

Eg:

The Thai Pub Thread

Xcity PubA: Good pub, live music XXbaht for a pint, 3K bfines, no grief, mostly farang, had a great time

Xcity PubB: Good pub, karaoke, XXXbaht for pint, no bar fining, mostly Thai, watch your bills, over charged but sorted it out, great place.

Xcity PubC: Dirty pub, no music, XXbaht for pint, 1.5K bfines, young Thai crowd, a lot of trouble,  credit/ATM card not recommended, many have been scammed.  Good fun but keep your shiet together and use cash 

4 hours ago, Henryford said:

$10 for a glass of wine is crazy, not doubt it was small 125cc.

Yip, $10+ usd ($14 cad) with tax and builtin gratuity (300b + 17%).  No tears, but definitely not a deal or definable (grape or juice) wine for the money.   My new rule from this point on, if ordering wine, is full bottles uncorked at my table.  

1 hour ago, Shaunduhpostman said:

it doesn't seem likely you can get real wine for 300 baht in Thailand....

I was at an Italian restaurant for lunch in Khao Yai last week, 300 baht (plus tax and 10% grat surcharge) for a glass of generic red house wine (fruit or grape who knows)....