EVENKEEL

7 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Private course or it actually took 3 days at the trans dept to get the licence ?

After 3 days at the school I was given needed paperwork to take to land office where they issued license. You can laugh if you want but riding the plank at a very low speed was difficult for me so the school was a good place to practice.

19 hours ago, Brunolem said:

My son goes for the motorbike licence, and I have yet to see a school for this one.

 

In my area, Sisaket-Ubon, I have never seen a car driving school...probably because it wouldn't have any customer...

I attended a 3 day course in Pattaya, and it was filled with all Thais, I was the lone foreigner. First day was all computer testing, it's all memorization of the correct answer. Test pool has 600 questions. I've been riding MC for years but I needed help with questions. Price was 1000 bht, well worth it in my opinion.

10 hours ago, Pib said:

Do you also have to wait 3 months before you can start receiving a SMS from the US....like a bank security code SMS?

Don't know for sure but I'm assuming so, my main reason for Ting was I could keep my old number.

39 minutes ago, MeePeeMai said:

I would think that Skype would be a much better option for you since you will be here most of the year.

 

No SIM card needed for a Skype number (use your Thai SIM card for example)

No roaming charges ever / as long as your phone is not turned off your calls will ring on your phone (answered on the skype app)

Call forwarding is also available

Choose your own phone number from a list of available numbers in your state

Choose the area code and state that you want your number to be in (most states are available)

You can answer your Skype phone on your cell, tablet or laptop / desktop computer

Very cheap if you are calling a landline or cellphone (always free if Skype to Skype)

Free Skype to Skype video chatting to anywhere in the world

 

https://www.skype.com/en/skype-number/

I'll definitely check it out when I get to Thailand. Good info, thanks.

1 minute ago, MeePeeMai said:

I just spent some time on their website.  It seems like a good option for someone living mainly in the states but I believe that the international roaming charges would kill you here and if you turned off the roaming then you wouldn't be able to receive any calls. 

 

Is it your intention to keep your original US number?  In other words, are you trying to avoid giving up your original T-Mobile number and keep your T-mobile service?

 

I guess my next question would be how much time will you be spending here in Thailand out of the year (for example)?

Semi permanent, 11 mos/yr. With my phone it has 2 sim cards. Only the card in No 1 slot allows data. So when I'm in Thailand I switch sim card position and use Thai sim for data and local calls. Ting will only be for incoming stateside calls from businesses. Or, that's what I think, I'll be leaving states today.

16 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Did you know it is free? Did you say anything?

 

It's because so many people pay for this  , without complaining, that they charge for it.

 

I wish more were like the original poster, then they would stop.

 

 

The first time was 7 yrs ago when I bought my truck. Complaining didn't enter my mind but my lady was fuming. In Rayong I pay 300bht.

5 minutes ago, MeePeeMai said:

I have not heard of Ting but I am curious, how much is it? 

 

I got a US number through Skype for $69.00 a year so that I can communicate with my banks and credit card companies there in the US (and receive texts / one time pass codes etc. which I cannot get on my Thai number).  That's the only number I use now for anything or anyone in or from the USA.

 

I just couldn't see keeping and paying the monthly bill for my old cell plan and Skype has been a lifesaver.

It's a pay as you go service, for 1 line it's $6.00/mo plus usage. In Thailand it's 30cents/min calling or receiving. But, it takes 3 mos before the international plan takes effect. For Thailand it will strictly be a lifeline to the US with my original T-Mobile number. It uses T Mobile towers. My phone has 2 sim cards so I can use one phone for both my AIS and Ting sims.

Your deal sounds good. I'm a dummy when it comes to tech stuff.

I switched to Ting phone service recently in preparation for long stays in Thailand. Supposedly after 3 mos I will be able to receive calls from states on my US number. Any thoughts or comments on the reliability.

Sakon Nakhon Immigration charged me 1000 bht for my residence letters.

15 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

The Cheap Charlies are emerging. 

Thank you.....

2 hours ago, rumak said:

nothing.   the breasts are finger licking good.   mouth watering.   

( would you like to know how the salad is ? )

Is that a tossed salad??

5 hours ago, roo860 said:

I normally have around 100 baht in 20's, so I don't get robbed I wrap them in a condom, and push them up my ars#e, can be a tad embarrassing in 7/11.

It your Dutch heritage done that to you.

5 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

When you re-enter Thailand before your OA Visa validity expires (sept 2020) you will be stamped in for the full year that Visa entitles you to.  You will then have a permission to stay till sept 2021.

However, when exiting Thailand after your OA Visa validity has expired (sept 2020) you need to have bought a re-entry permit beforehand, in order that your permission to stay (till sept 2021) is kept alive.

You can buy such a re-entry permit at any local IO or at the Re-entry desk in the departure hall of all major thai international airports.  A single entry costs 1000 THB and a multiple re-entry costs 3800 THB.

Note: Leaving Thailand after your OA Visa validity (sept 2020) has expired, will result in your permission to stay being voided.  If you did this by accident, you will be allowed entry but it will be on 30 day VisaExempt.

Got it, thanks. Wonder how the required insurance will work entering Thailand during the second year with a re-entry permit? Regardless I'll make it work.

18,000 bht at a time from ATM. 

So, my OA was issued Sept 2019, and if just before my OA expires in Sept 2020 I leave and enter Thailand with an entry permit will I need Insurance for the second year??

I stayed deep in Isaan on a part time rotation for 8 yrs. Quite often we'd have drinking sessions with Thai neighbors. Sometimes they would lay down 200-300 bht for the next store run which was a day's wage for most or at least a half day's wage. Work a half day cutting rice for 200 bht and lay it down for some beers instead of saving the money for later.

Sa Soi...…..

Brake failure.

12 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

Which bank please, we are keeping an unofficial tally of which banks are being rejected

I transferred from Navy Federal, But isn't it Bangkok Bank (New York) that kicks the money back. It showed money left my account and 2 days later the $100. was back in my Navy Fed account.

I tried a $100. transfer to Bangkok Bank (New York) and it got kicked back to my US bank.

9 minutes ago, Yinn said:

No.

But if they give another holiday I will be happy. I not care the reason.  

The last thing Thailand needs is another holiday.  

5 hours ago, Jaybott said:

 

I'm a US Dept of Defense employee and I have a $100.00 allotment per pay period going to Bangkok Bank.  Just for emergency baht if I wind up at DMK or BKK with none.  Anyway this last pay period; 13 December my allotment went thru posted as an International Transfer.  I also transferred $1000.00 from Navy Fed, same day and it bounced back.  So it looks like DFAS will still work.

 

 

The nice thing about Navy Fed is you can transfer any amount for $25.00 directly to Thai account.

10 hours ago, johng said:

It's quite a way out of Pattaya city..I think anyone who managed to drive themself there ( in one piece from Pattaya) would not need much more tuition ????

They were a help in passing the computer test, you get a chance to practice riding the narrow plank. When you finish the course they give you all the paperwork needed for license at Land office.