terryofcrete

On 2/21/2019 at 10:36 AM, buick said:

i assume you don't have a thai wife ?  did you mention a thai GF ?  i've always thought it was best to say no wife, no GF.  just a tourist coming to see the sites, enjoy the warm weather, food, etc... 

 

did the IO suggest getting tourist visa's in the future, even though your trips are less than 30 days ?

No.. and I asked him what about next time and he said you are ok ... but he won't be there waiting for me will he ... so I may get pulled every time now.

Now there is a sad scenario. One of the best cities in Thailand,massively promoted to Tourists , and now off limits ... unless you are a thrill seeker extraordinaire. I loved my visits to Chiang Mai... I hate telling everyone not to venture near this area anymore. Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya , household tourist Mecca for decades... now destroyed by pollution, and all preventable. They have redone the beach at Pattaya ... it looks great.. but if you saw someone heading into the water for a dip... well it crosses your mind to warn them ... you will be sick soon... Oh.. yes.. and let's remove the street food vendors, who sell the famous ... what else... Street Food..  from the.... what the ...what else STREETS..of Bangkok... put 'em in a Mall ... makes it so much more exciting... and expensive ... and suddenly... not street food... 

I am giving up.. soon the ladies will be ugly... oh... that's happening too judging from a stroll round Pattaya hot spots recently... 555... Lol... 

5 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Hmmm, I will need to sit inside my air-conditioned room and contemplate that the room environment is the same as the outside environment. Sooo, staying inside is no different from being outside?

Worse ... depending on your AC UNIT 

Just now, terryofcrete said:

Yes ... there's no law that says I can't do that and that is what the Rhai Consulate in Dublin confirmed ... in writing ... and which was given the ok by the immigration officials. I know it's more expensve going home and coming back but I like both ... Thailand would  drive me ting tong after 4 wwwks , and home does the same to me so I hop back and forth €500 plus a return flight ... leaving next Monday , other places to go , and booked back from Dublin to Bangkok in early May €512 return... 

Each trip must be under 30 days to just walk in .... same goes for my travel insurance , house insurance, health insurance , 30 days at a time ... max days in year 180... that keeps it down to manageable premiums ... if I want to stay more than 30 days my travel insurance doubles at my age ! 

On 2/20/2019 at 12:09 AM, Fedexpat said:

So basically you stay around 5 months per year in Thailand entering with VE without any visa run right ?

Yes ... there's no law that says I can't do that and that is what the Rhai Consulate in Dublin confirmed ... in writing ... and which was given the ok by the immigration officials. I know it's more expensve going home and coming back but I like both ... Thailand would  drive me ting tong after 4 wwwks , and home does the same to me so I hop back and forth €500 plus a return flight ... leaving next Monday , other places to go , and booked back from Dublin to Bangkok in early May €512 return... 

On 1/8/2017 at 2:04 PM, Katia said:

Thank you!  Helpful to know for an upcoming trip.

 

On shared minibus transfer from Trat to island-- how many companies offer this?  I seem to have seen several, but I also seem to recall having read on one site that Bangkok Airways operates the only transfer bus (I've read so many sites over the past few weeks that I can't keep track of what I read where anymore, sorry), so I can't tell if other sites I've seen are actually separate companies, or just booking services for the airline-run bus.  Are most of the companies pretty reputable?  Others seem to be cheaper when booked in advance than the airline-run service, but obviously I'm not going to trade good service or safety to save a hundred baht (I also imagine there's more leeway with the airline's service if, say, a flight is delayed or canceled and I miss the last ferry to the island).

The ferry won't leave until the last flight is in and the people transferred to the pier... at least that's what used to be the general rule .... 

5 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

A few days in jail, then a personal escort to the airport with a blacklist stamp in his passport. 

 

Think that's what he actually wants ... he's gone ting tong here, no money to go home never mind buy coffee and sushi... and other luxuries , Lt's and St's and Chang's ...  

26 minutes ago, unamazedloso said:

Its a new age. Police are going around introducing themselves to tourists with money that may need a way out of stupid made up racist laws that never are enforced on thais so they can make a little $. We have one locally to where i am. The other night someone was at my fence line snooping around. I fired a warning shot before my dogs got out and killed someone. The police officer line messeged my wife and said "Good job" lol. Someone obviously complained about me and nothing was done (again) so he will be getting gifts in the future.

Tourists should embrace the corruption as weve all had dramas time to exploit it i say. Its called equality. haha.

17 minutes ago, Accidental Tourist said:

You are right. Will have plenty of the same in Australia and Britain...

And the same goes for Ireland , city and country town , doesnt matter where... but there's usually a bar involved. 

Would it be ok to pass this decree on to all foreign embassies to include in their "do not do in Thailand list" ? They have already lost my brother and his wife, Centara types, as returning visitors over this but I'm sure many intending tourists would be very unhappy to find out that having switched to vaping for health reasons they cannot enjoy this relatively safe alternative on holiday in Thailand and would succumb to the urge to return to smoking life threatening tobacco. 

At least it's good to know that before you decided where to drop your not unsubstantial holiday cash, unlike the now overwelcome Chinese running in packs behind a flag bearer and spending nothing ! 

It's a depressing country from a common sense prevails aspect and it's wearing me down. I no longer recommend a visit to friends as I have been admonished twice already and laughed at for not changing my multiple holiday destination to a country with a more mentally stable administration. 

34 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Who knows what will happen in the future , although its highly unlikely that the Pound will become the Worlds reserve currency again , the R.N will not expand  , unemployment will never get down to zero , the NHS will always claim to be underfunded and knife crime will not be eliminated because of Brexit .

   You are being way to optimistic and you vision of the future just isnt going to match the reality 

God rest Leonard Cohen... " I have seen the future and it's murder" .... 

On 4/8/2018 at 10:18 AM, maxcorrigan said:

Not the British Embassy they don't seem to do anything for their citizens, that's for sure!

Not British but why would they ... Anything you do in Pattaya is beyond common sense and does not deserve bailing out. At your own risk should be stamped on your forehead as you come off the motorway.. well proper road... into the abyss. Lovely spot. 

On 2/24/2019 at 2:37 PM, HSMAN said:

Thailand is a first world country too? With the established society and recourses it contains puts in in the category of 1st world. I’m failing to see the correlation? 

Once you leave the Plaza , Central, or any kind of oversized shopping Mall with Famous Name Brands and eateries to impress , you are in a third world country. You will trip on the pavement within 5 mins or smash your head on a pole if you don't watch your step. You will see rats scurrying around your feet while you enjoy your famous Thai street food, and god help you trying to cross the road in a "world famous Family Resort" such as Pattaya. Illusion Abounds. 

On 2/23/2019 at 1:16 PM, Pilotman said:

A big plus for me is that U Tapao Airport is expanding its services and is only 20km from my house. 

I flew into U Tapao for the first ... and last ..time recently from Samui . Expensive flight . But the point I'm making is no taxi... only limo .. 1000 baht to Pattaya city.. no negotiation even my Thai lady failed. And now the bus has been cancelled ... so if that is services expanding .. 

1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said:

What is it with this stupid ultra loud music at weddings and ordinations? I hate going to these events because the volume of the music makes it impossible to converse with anyone.

Empty kettles....etc.

I was stopped today. First time .. so many stamps all under 30 days and no overstays . I explained politely that I come and go up to 5 trips s year under 30 days. Showed them an email from the Thai consulate in Ireland saying that is ok. ..the only question they asked after that was have I got a Thai wife. Oh I told them I always have money and told them I had 2500 € .. they did not ask to see it. When they said it was all ok.. I said but what about next time ? Am I doing something wrong I'd be happy for you to tell me.. no nothing is wrong and I went on my merry way . Hope that helps .

4 hours ago, neeray said:

Help !

I'm already sick from reading this. Will probably have to go veg for the next few days.

Well I was very ill last trip and it continued for days after I came home. No less than 3 crap samples were requested by the doctor and in a day he rang me to say this is from a salad ... I pinned it down to a regular Caesar Salad I have... or had... in an Italian restaurant. Not thai food... but I have been offered those insects by ladies many times in bars.  

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It does appear that this administration, and especially the biggest joke, are trying to do everything in their power to discourage ex-pats from staying here. Does it not? These imbeciles should be making our lives easier, and making visa policy simpler. Rather they seem to be tightening the noose, every chance they get. To call them ignorant, fearful, xenophobic, non-visionary, and misguided would be a vast understatement. Biggest Joke said he would make things easier and simpler. He is doing just the opposite, and barely even disguising his contempt for foreigners. He is the single biggest threat to the ex-pat community right now. 

 

One can only hope that come election time, all of this nonsense will be over, and both Prayuth and especially the biggest joke, will be sent out to pasture for the rest of their lives. They are not doing anything that benefits their nation, and they are picking on good men, who are bringing a lot to the table. Dumb and dumber. What can one say? 

There is a scene in "Only God Forgives" ... a must see for anyone remotely interested in Thai/Farang affairs in LOS... the Police Boss gives a dressing down to a Farang and tells him exactly what they think of them in Thailand. I never forgot it , nor will anyone forget the movie having seen it. I always know where I stand when all is said and done. You will always be a Farang .. an outsider. 

1 hour ago, RotBenz8888 said:

No, only the money they spend.

.. what money ? The average Chinese visitor is a tour group member.. look, look, look,.. don't spend . Yeah.. bookings, hotels, all negotiated at cheap rates.. and guys like me walking in on visa free 30 days 4/5 times a year spend money , money , money... yet we can be told by immigration that we are coming too many times ... anyone ever see a walking street tour of Chinese following a flag ? No a baht gets spent . 

4 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Would not have a Thai massage if it was free, the last one nearly crippled me. Far too many unqualified doing it.

Then do a bit of work and find the qualified ones and learn that it is one of the most exhilarating and refreshing experiences when performed properly. You are missing out on something precious . The older ladies for a start ,not some pretty little girl in a skimpy dress ... 

When you buy 6 items in a Tesco store and because of the mix of items the  cashier uses 3 plastic bags without hesitation and when you buy a carton of milk or a tub of yogurt in a 7 Eleven you are automatically given a  plastic spoon or straws while the dogs in the Soi know what plastic is doing to our world what chance is there for anyone in authority in this land of Smiles to react to something like air pollution that is intangible but silently fills the hospitals eventually and kills ? But legislation is passed to prohibit smoking on the beach in Pattaya, where only a fool would put a foot in the polluted sea at that beach, and there is a committee investigating the ban on vaping, which, for the time being at least is a safer alternative to actual smoking , another lethal but still inexpensive and very popular pastime in the Land of Smiles. 

21 hours ago, BritManToo said:

How do they know that?

He shot himself before they arrived.

Jaysus Wept ! .. Hope your other 6000 plus comments are not all as stupid as that . 

Bangkok Air need to be sorted out first ! Stupid rip off prices and a monopoly on flights because they own the airport. 

I love the headline "revealed" ... its common knowledge Samui is Mafia Taxi territory. I loved that island , but with Bangkok Air scamming everyone Flying there , and the cost of getting around and in September the beach in Lamai was unusable except for a netted area because of Jellyfish, I'm finished with the place. Everything is overpriced and a rip off and I speak to people who work there and it's very serious now.Bangkok Air have a monopoly on the flights as they own the airport. 4000/ 6000 baht one way per person. Total nonsense. It's too messy getting there via Surat Thani. The supposed clean up never happened , probably a lot of money changed hands . Even the price of a McDonalds is way over the norm. Great memories of the island ,but I'm gone .