orchidfan

On 1/29/2024 at 6:08 PM, DrJack54 said:

I understand your logic. 

For the record ...I once attended CW for extension and my report was overdue couple of days.

The io noticed and started to deal with his computer with my last TM47 in hand.

I stopped him and explained that I did it via mail and for him not to do it. 

Point is they can be helpful.

 

The issue now is the doc check chicks now (last couple of years) check for TM47 receipt.

 

Think your idea of going day early for report a good idea. 

Or if possible push back (few hours) your extension appointment and do the 90 report early same day

Dr Jack, given the wealth of threads and reports on the 90days issue, WHY do people leave it until the last moment or forger??

Mail in, online And personal submission! All mostly easy.

I'm in my 70's but even I can put a calendar reminder and alarm into my fairly old Samsung "smart phone"

I travel overseas a bit (times overlapping with 90 days reports.

But I carefully calculate 90 days from when I return, and set reminder accordingly,

Also I keep EVERY boarding pass inbound and outbound to Bangkok#

(# these I photocopy in time sequence and submit if an annual extension is due, along with the other normal docs.)

It's not rocket science !

16 hours ago, retarius said:

I yelled at one in True last week.The girl serving us who turned to serve him first after we had waited about 15 minute, nearly s**t herself. I told him to get a ticket like we did.

The pusher-in went very sheepish and we got served first. I shout in a very, VERY LOUD voice. 

Kiwis mate of mine yelled and carried on when,at a 7/11, a thai guy pushed in front of him at the checkout till.

He won that little battle  (after all he had beers to buy)......

BUT, outside the shop the war raged and he was beaten up by the Thai guy and his mates. (Common 3 on 1)

I think he learnt a lesson.

53 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

It's very difficult to find an acceptable toilet in HK.

Many toilets are kept locked.

At least, this was my experience.

 

In Chiang Mai, toilets are quite clean in the malls.

I do not use toilets in restaurants or at gas stations.

 

The toilets at the university are very well maintained, and plentiful.

 

The students keep the place presentable.

 

The students at CMU are excellent.

 

NOTE:  In fact, it's extremely difficult for me to find anything to complain about around here...(valid complaints, I mean).

 

 

In HK, I usually know where to look, but failing that,just follow road signs saying "Public Toilet" In English and Chinese  😳

On 1/22/2024 at 11:35 AM, georgegeorgia said:

I have no idea if they are Russian but definitely East European 

 

I was in a  beer bar  in Jomtien in a Soi back in September

 

Quiet day time no customers only the farang owner and he is having a conversation with me .

 

Up comes a family I presume are Russian with two small kids 

They want to use the toilet inside.

 

Toilet ! Toilet ! Toilet ! 

Shouts the woman holding a toddler by the hand  in a European accent 

 

The bar owner hesitates then points inside ,then without a nod or word the family proceed inside past us 

 

10 minutes later they walk out ,the bar owner looks at them ,they totally ignore him and proceed to walk past him without a glance ,smile or a thanks 

 

He goes to check on the toilet and is shouting

"They Shxtted over the seat he shouts 

Shxtted everywhere the disgusting pigs !

They left the diaper !

The farang owner is getting the mop and dry wretching 

 

Family holidays?....without lack of public toilets 

Would you  as a beer bar owner let a family use your facilities ?

 

It's the same with parking !!

You have a space outside your beer bar or shop and some Bxastard wants to park their motorcycle there !!!

 

 

Apart from living most of the year in LOS (Thai  wife) I/we also have permanent Residence (HKID ) in Hong Kong (20yrs working there) and one thing is pleasantly obvious every time  I go over there..

PUBLIC TOILETS are everywhere !

Hygienic, and well maintained.

I guess it was due to having been a former British colony.

As for here, the only "public toilet" I have seen and used is in the local wet market and costs 5 baht to enter.

3 hours ago, john donson said:

it happens daily and everywhere... the red light ignoring and passengers crossing... red light, green light...

Some countries use the traffic light system of momentarily pUsing on AMBER in BOTH cycles.

So it's green, amber, red.....then from red to amber then green.

It works if the lights timing is adjusted accordingly..

Mind you, in Thailand, not much adherence to many laws/rules....helmets (if worn, rarely fasten chin strap ),  seatbelts, traffic lights, crosswalks,  Indicators, NO lights on vehicle or bike at night etc.

Not Thai bashing, have seen the same in several South Asian and SE Asian countries, excluding Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

But those 3 have working police, traffic cameras and heavy fines 😶

21 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

OK.. this one is a bikini.. so I can see how it is considered insensitve... 

 

But dispatching three policemen to deal with it ???...     The over-reaction here to such issues is hilarious.

 

Just dispatch one officer and he can remind them...'sitting on the grass an picnicking is fine, but please be dressed properly'... 

 

I'm guessing there are no issues with a Tank-Top and Shorts if laying on the grass at Sanam Luang.

 

 

 

Not in temple grounds, its the large grassed area between Khoa Sarn Road and the Grand Palace and one of the women was in a G-String Bikini - ok for the beach or a poolside, but I can understand why it may be overstepping the mark of 'cultural sensitivity' in the city...

 

Meanwhile - guys play football and sepak-takraw on the same field, some of them shirtless.... (but they're male and not foreigners so its ok).

 

 

 

I'm sure any of us can find many images / photos of bare breasted women of all ages in "ANCIENT" Siam.

Some in Temples and palaces etc.

Nobody, it seems, was offended or outraged back then !

It's a hot. and often humid country....so they were just being practical back then.

These girls on the grass were just charging up on Vitamin D....something highly recommended and promoted during the "pandemic".

Religion gone over the top again.....nothing to do with "culture" ,

Check the cultural history.

36 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Yeah, we find Pathum friendly and reasonably quick too, the boys who do the home visit won't even accept a cuppa.

 

They did take away a stack of fruit and some "veggie" that grows up our wall mind.

I just want to clarify that the boys who came on the home visit didn't ask for, nor receive, any "bonus" from us on the day. Just coffee, water and bickies.

Any small enticement may have been offered at "HQ"..("I know nothing " Sgt. Shultz )

They did get to drive the "smart" BMW though. Neighbours were impressed.

On 1/11/2024 at 11:26 AM, DrJack54 said:

Care to share exactly what docs you provided.

 

As mentioned in my previous posts, I also use Pathum Thani for marriage extensions and find them quick, smiling and helpful.

Note : As from Covid until now there is no "face to face" with Imm officers as in the past.

Docs are submitted to the "reception/triage" girl/lady just inside the entrance. She quickly checks them.

This year (actually late December 2023)  No TM28, or ANY other time wasting nonsense forms to fill out.

No request for TM30 or 90 day report.

Documents:

1 (one) only copy of the following...

TM7

Marriage Certificate and (3 days old) KOR ROR 2.

3 months bank statements,

Letter from bank, (same day, but have previously submitted 2/3 days old)

3 months copy of bank passbook including a withdrawal on the day of presentation.

Passport.....new, so only 3 or 4 pages.

 ( previous latest extension stamps already transferred from old PP)

Photos....5 coloured, glossy. Normal locations around the house.

Wife's Thai ID card and passport# 1st page only. (#probably not required)

House book..blue, 2 x double pages.

☆I think wife slipped triage girl a few baht for doing any extra photocopies that they may require.

Back outside to wait under the "tent".

Not long after my PP arrived with "under consideration stamp".

Painless!

(Wife did attend with me but was never seen by anyone (I think) apart from Triage girl.

Final note: Wife arranged a specific day for home visit......they came as requested in 2 days. Probably a small donation for that too.

(2 neighbours kindly attending this annual ritual )

4 hours ago, steve187 said:

yes why is it 30 days, some other countries in the area give more, ie

Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan

Hong Kong (and I hold permanent HKID) has an extensive and varied list of countries to whom they give a variety of "Visa free" periods of stay.

EG. UK 180 days

       OZ 90 days

     Thai up to 30 days (7 to 30 days)

Philippines up to 14 days.

  etc.

However the IO can vary this and even refuse entry at their discretion on arrival.

Source: HK Immigration website.

I think that the burning, unanswered question is......What is the mad rush when locals get in a car or on a

motorbike ?

For a people who do pretty much everything# else VERY slowly, why the sudden mad rush? (except when they are selling you goods or services.)

It burns up way more petrol and brake linings....when a lot of the same people are eating sausages on a stick from a roadside vendor.

I think for many it's a "buzz" that's missing in their everyday, boring lives.

Hard one to answer or rationalize.

5 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

My wife was speechless when I took her to the UK and usually the first, always no more than the second, car stopped for her. You First instead of Me First.

Same reaction when I first took my Thai wife to the UK (I'm from Oz).

We stayed in Paddington and the first experience at a crosswalk (no trafficlights) she couldn't believe that cars ALWAYS stopped and let you cross. Just as I had assured her that they would.

Education and rules drummed into you from a young age.

We now spend a lot of the year living in Hong Kong.....ex British colony,  so same rules apply and obeyed.

2 hours ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

Macau was always visa-free for the US and Thais.

Currently, citizens of 79 countries and regions, including Australia and New Zealand enjoy visa-free entry into Macao SAR.

On 12/28/2023 at 11:20 AM, Lacessit said:

Bear in mind you should limit the power to 10,000 mAH, more and the airlines won't let it on board.

You also need to check the powerbank has the right connection for your iphone.

Can't help with where, I bought mine in Oz.

I travel regularly, internationally from Thailand and have no problems with my 20,000 mAH powerbank.

Maybe Oz rules are different.

22 hours ago, hotchilli said:

On a fast road like that it's the only way to get traffic to understand there is a crossing point there.

Gotta start somewhere.

Of which they have at 99% of crosswalks in HK, AND many over~pass foot bridges.....which they COULD build at "bad" crossing points here in Thailand.

These don't rely an vehicles not speeding or stopping at red lights !

I think that this is all fine for a person on Retirement Visa/'Extension who can renew every year of their remaining life, irrespective of "wife" being alive or not.

But not so for those if us on Marriage extensions (and perhaps unable to switch to "Retirement ") whereupon, if the wife dies, they can only stay until the end of current extension....despite wills, chanotes or usefruct(?) documents.

Correct or not ?

3 hours ago, GregBow said:

Wise but on Android phone app.

Just worked around on laptop 

Thanks

Btw, I said I'd report after my pension transfer last night.

No OTP required# ,but,as usual had to put in my password again.

#When I explored further it seems that IF you select the option for 2 x authentication THEN it appears that they send you an OTP, doing that process.

I don't....and I use a very good VPN showing me wherever and I guess, protecting the transaction.

It arrived in my Thai  bank in  8 seconds after.  I hit send.

For anyone interested, i also select "monthly living expenses"(sic) as reason for sending and it's never delayed or rejected.

TIT...what would they know ,or care, what you do with the money after it's in your bank ??

Sorry, but what's the "normal " 60 day extension to a marriage visa/permission to stay?

Recent "Normal" 1 year extension based on marriage at Pathum Thani IO, wife got Kor Ror 2 a couple of days before attending.

Same every year.

Bank letter and statements plus P/Book withdrawal on the same day as attending IO (BBL branch is on the way to Imm. )

No new tricks this year (mid December). Even dropped some of the old "stallers" like TM28, Details of when and where married , My mother and father's full names , penalties form, Previous occupation etc,etc.

None.this year !!!

Handed in ONE copy of the normal forms/photos at triage and the girls (for a small consideration) made whatever photo copies they wanted whilst we waited outside under the outdoor pavilion with the others.

About 20mins later, called in to pay B1900 and obligatory computer photo, then was handed PP with "normal" 30day consideration period.....and receipt.

Wife arranged specific day for home visit (convenient to us) for another small enticement !

The Boys and BMW arrived as arranged for coffee and cakes, more blab with 2 neighbors and more inside/outside phone pix (theirs)

All finished in about 20 minutes.

No dramas/surprises/new procedures etc. whatsoever at Imm office or home.

Guess I'm a lucky old F....r

7 minutes ago, BenStark said:

Wise uses OTP for quite some time already, and now recently it asks me to open the app and confirm it's me.

 

Not a problem as it only adds to the security, which we should applaud instead of criticize.

Really ?? The transfers I did a fortnight ago and all the previous transfers every 2 weeks this year did not involve an OTP .

I'm doing.f one tomorrow evening so will report back.

I have no objection to the OTP security measure (use it all thr time buying air tickets etc using my BBL Debit card......but they come to my registered Thai mobile number here.

How.many expats here have ,or need, a functioning Australian mobile phone number ?

18 hours ago, 2baht said:

Definitely Wise, great service and fast, but you may need to provide Aust phone number for OTP.

OTP??

I've been using Wise for years from Oz to my BBL account here.

I DON'T  have an Oz phone number.

Yes, had to verify ID, then nominate your Oz bank account and any overseas bank accounts (or clients/customers ) to which you wish to transfer.

Transfer money from your Oz bank# to your newly established WISE account (which has an Oz BSB and Account number).

They notify you in minutes by email/App of your deposit being received and ask where  you would like to send it.

Usually arrives.in be BB.bank account in under 10 seconds.

Bi "cooking a transfer" and getting your funds 2 or 3 days later.

Wise's exchange rate is normally exactly or very close to the XE site at the point of transfer.

Compared to taking it out of a local ATM I'm up hundreds of dollars saved.

# Someone has mentioned previously that you don't have to do this Oz bank transfer to Wise but can do it directly from your bank.

I've not done this and like the.quickly notified "money trail".which results from all concerned....including my.thai bank which send instant SMS of the deposit.made by Wise in Thai baht.

PS.....NO OTP received by me from Wise or any bank conceded in this process. I use Westpac, maybe other banks differ.

18 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

I have a routine now, the kid gets up for school at 6 so i get up with him and open the taps to fill the 2 inside bins ( using the pump bypass ), around 7 am the water pressure drops off to a dribble as people are waking up and showering/washing clothes etc.

We use the bins for showering, watering the garden and filling the washing machine, everything else we use the pump and the 1500 litre storage.

 

Initially we thought it was a temporary thing but now we have adapted to it and the moobahn do actually tell us via a line group when the water will be completely turned off.

Luckily Andrew the water to our 2 story house, 3 bathrooms and kitchen (they all are in this moo baan) and garden are fed from the underground tank (2000 or 5000 litres I think) via the pressure pump....so never any pressure problems, except if, as happened yesterday, the government water supply fails or is turned off.

As I mentioned previously, we had no idea of this cut in supply (it is extremely rare here,  maybe 3 times in a 5 year period ) so we were merrily using water everywhere until Mr Hitachi got hot and shut down.

Thank goodness for that auto function and not burning out the motor !

Incidentally, since reconnection, the "mains" water seems to be at 3 or 4 times the previous pressure.

(There is one tap on this mains line,in the garden, that I can turn on and check. But otherwise that water pipe runs underground only to our main storage tank.

Whilst living 70% of my time here in Los,  I also have permanent ID in Hong Kong.

Starting in Covid era, the government there has made several cash and "consumer coupons" in the order of $HKD10,000, $5000 etc,etc....and continues to do so now.

It goes/went to EVERY legitimate HKID holder.....rich and poor (and there are lots of rich Hongkongers )

It was simply paid into your nominated bank account or a cheque left at your local post office.

The most recent "consumer coupons" value has to be spent on local goods and services, and can be downloaded to one's rechargeable "Octopus card" which can be used on trains buses,supermarkets, ferries etc.

Ok,  there are only about 7million people there, however all these handouts have been achieved quickly,seamlessly and efficiently .

The gov't and finance ministry here could learn a lesson from them (it's only 2hrs away).

But,  as we all know, they hate taking outside advice and prefer to re~invent the wheel every time.

Lastly, during Covid, employees who were laid off were able to claim back their lost salary....from the gov't.

Employers were compensated if they kept staff on.

Again, all done very quickly and efficiently.

End of sermon !

5 hours ago, xxeo said:

 

I confirm this highly inefficient procedure when applying for the re-entry permit in Jomtien.

 

I had times with not more than ten minutes waiting for this. No one can explain why they do not give the passports back when three or four have been processed.

Why bother doing at the busy IO office when you can do it in 5 minutes# AT THE AIRPORT ??

# assuming you have the form already filled out with photo attached  

I've been doing it like this for years now fly regularly to HK, or anywhere o overseas. (Mostly at BKK, but a couple of times at DMK)

Also, politely ushered to the front of the Imm desk by a uniformed officer.

Maybe because I'm in my early 70's !

On 12/12/2023 at 9:01 AM, Crossy said:

 

Long ago, I worked on a project in Malaysia. 

 

All government forms are dual-language, Bahasa Malaysia and English, with one exception, the application for a Work Permit, which was in BM only!

 

Governments move in mysterious ways.

 

My Thai wife and I both live (on and off) in Hong Kong where we have permanent Residence status.

EVERYTHING , anywhere (except a few restaurant names etc ) are in both Chinese and English.

Also, everyone carries an ID card, which is often checked by cops on the street, on their beat, and always in 7/11 etc before selling alcohol to younger looking people.

Like they SHOULD do here instead of the stupid selling hours here.

Prostitution is not illegal there.....only running a "house of ill repute" is.

They are not stupid....so why make it illegal?

I'd say one of the places (of many) I've stayed and lived in worldwide......but a bit expensive.....apart from beer and wine.

On 11/30/2023 at 11:46 AM, richard_smith237 said:

I've been to this area and it operates under its own pseudo shariah law....  with all the puritanical hypocrisy that comes with it. 

 

The Malay colleagues I was with had to 'pretend' they were non-muslim Indonesians just to be allowed into a restaurant which served beer. 

 

I don't see a peaceful culturally rich environment when I visit such places... I see fear and repression...  people fear persecution for not conforming...  

 

I'm surprised the girls got as far as stage without a hijab.

 

 

Same. Same.

Had (well educated and Dato status) Malaysian business friends visit Oz. On my brother's big launch they drank themselves silly on chardonnay and oggled/cuddled the bikini clad girls who had come along for the ride.

Offended???    I don't think.so.