apalink_thailand

As I recall, you need to get a printed copy of your bank statement where PayPal will have deposited 70 baht. In that one line of the transaction, there will be a code number. You may also be able to view this from your online bank statement.

Quality tourists!

Groan,

The new predictably boring comment on Thai Visa.

Groan.

The new predictably boring reply on Thaivisa to a predictably boring comment!!

The new predictably boring reply to a reply to a reply about the new predictably boring comment on Thai Visa

What he said...but even more predictable and more boring. Nyaaa

I just love the name of the Resort - Peter Pan.

I wonder if the Captain who busted the party was called Hook?

The cost of the feed stock may have reduced, but the cost of refining hasn't decreased, the crude price is only a small component of the overall cost of the refined product, if crude price drops 20% this doesn't translate into a 20% reduction at the pumps, further most petroleum products are bought on a forward contract type basis at a negotiated price, therefore over the short term decreases in crude price will not have real affect on the pump price, until the new contracts are negotiated

BTW the "oil price" is not set by the Thai government

Interestingly enough, in the last quarterly report by Chevron, they did claim that the downstream business was helping to offset the effect of oil price drops so there must have been some effect on the ability to produce refined products cheaper.

Maybe they have to get rid of the OLD Stock, for which they paid inflated prices and then the NEW lower priced product will come on the market.

Yeh....and "Pigs Fly" don't they?

Possibly but unlikely. The majors that have both UP and DOWN stream production capability are covering the shortfalls from low oil prices by being able to refine cheaper and therefore realise better margins. The smaller exploration companies and fracking companies without any downstream capability are suffering and don't have the comparable financial strength to weather the storm.

Not understanding this story.. an Aussie with Euros in his wallet ?

Probably Austrian.

Who attend the ''public'' hearings? I didn't receive an invite I wonder if Thai execs at CP, PTT, SCG etc were invited to attend? Rhetorical question. Also, I doubt diplomats care much about SME's so hardly have the little guys interests at heart. From what I can see it's small busineaa owners that have the most to lose (In many cases most or all of their assets.

Large businesses would also have a lot to lose. They've invested a lot of money in their businesses and have their own managers in place to control that, along with the preference shares to control the voting.

Most farang small businesses would fall foul of these laws because they usually control the company through management even if they don't have control through shareholding.

Foreign diplomats don't care about small businesses because the SME's usually don't have any business link back to the home countries. That's where the Chambers of Commerce should step in (if you're a member), as they should be talking to the government on their member's behalf.

The chambers have been talking to the government about these laws (or variations) for a couple of years. The diplomats are getting more involved at the moment because the proposed changes could affect Free Trade Agreements and other reciprocal agreements.

Just to clarify (for those that do now know) the FCCCC (Foreign Chambers of Commerce Coordinating Committee) is a grouping of the various Chamber Presidents who meet regularly with a member of the BOT to discuss issues of concern to the foreign business community (large and small) and the usual tabled discussion is on the FBA. They are usually very short meetings.

So far there has been only talk , show us the FBA amendments, tell the international investment community just what you are going to do, then everyone can make their own decision.

I sat on this committee many years ago. Total waste of time, just polite diplomacy. As far as I know, nothing much has changed in the right direction.

One of Sutherp's demands and aims, when he was fighting to topple the Siwanatra clan was to reform the police.

This administration is following his footsteps.

I would like to congratulate them and wish them to keep up the good work.

History will remember you and your good deeds.

Yeah sure, fighting corruption with corruption!!

btw. A google-search of your hero, Suthep+corruption, gave 167.000 results!!

and about 363,000 for Thaksin and 358,000 for YL, so who's the biggest villain, would that be your hero's.

Eedjits

Crafty Butcher?

After you caught all the corrupt RTP go after all the unusually rich 4 star Generals. I wonder how much a promotion to General would cost here or a transfer to a staff position could cost someone.

A friend of mine paid more than $US one million for a promotion from Pol. Lt. Col. to Pol. General about three years ago. It makes me wonder why Pol. Capt. Chalerm stayed as a Captain.

Re: Pol. Capt. Chalerm, I have always wondered that myself. Perhaps he was saving the money for the promotions of his monster of a son?

Very nice. But not convenient at all.

When the tourist wanted some som tum or some souvenirs, they have to walk a mile to the nearest shop to get some; and walk back.

This just show that military law has make all thing orderly & perfect, but lack practicality in the real world.

Similar to North Korea synchronize parade marching, beautiful to watch, but difficult (inefficient) to get from point a to point b.

When the tourist wanted some som tum or some souvenirs, they have to walk a mile to the nearest shop to get some; and walk back.

Discussing souvenirs in this context is just silly. I agree people may want to eat but they could take it with them. As for souvenirs, I have never gone to a beach to buy a souvenir. There are many areas where people can buy souvenirs and the beach should not be one of them.

Ya, I just love lying on my beach chair and swatting off vendors every five minutes. Very relaxing. "No, I do not want to buy that stupid piece of wood that when scraped with a stick sounds like a frog". "No, the carved North American Indian chief masks do not interest me while I am trying to take a nap on the beach". "Do I look like I want a bloody sarong?". Good riddance to them. It was out of control.

The current rail line between Bangkok and Rayong already splits off so that freight trains can go to the Navy pier in Sattahip and passenger and freight trains can go to Rayong

Since all the plans for "upgrading" the current rail network indicates that the old routing is going to be maintained, just upgraded, there is still going to be some major construction to divert from the current rail route to add Utapo to the route

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I believe that the existing antiquated train system is on narrow gauge rails and would not be able to run the modern high speed trains. It would be a completely new system and probably not used for bulk rail cargo.

Maybe a good start would be to link DMK and BKK first? Not sure of the advantages of adding in Rayong if it's charter flights for Pattaya. Why would charter pax need a rail to DMK or BKK??

Agree. This makes little sense if the Russians are actually flying into Rayong in the first place (the Pattaya Taxi boys will be rubbing their hands together for sure). As for those of us who live in the country and make occasional trips to the beach, you would definetly want a car to get around in Rayong. The U-Tapao airport is miles from anything. Why don't they run a train to Hua Hin instead? That road trip is a nightmare on weekends and you can still get around HH fairly easily without a car. Then again, my preference would be a high speed car ferry/cat doing Bangkok/HH/Pattaya. At least you can bring your car if you want to and avoid the traffic and the long drive.

Interesting. The CID is the closest thing Thailand has to a real police force. I wonder what sparked this?

I could stab and kill anyone with nothing more than a pair of fingernail clippers. So don't let the size of the knife fool you. Not that I would, just saying I could.

Fingernail clippers? Ha ! I will take you on with a slightly used earbud stick ! Or a piece of fruit. Name your weapon ! ;-)

Now the problem is that the reputation of the island and its people is shall we say ''somewhat tattered and torn.'' Any incident in which someone goes missing is bound to be questioned and rumours will be rife.

The inheritance that some of the islanders have created for Koh Tao and themselves is indeed a dubious one.

Let us hope that the person concerned will be found alive and well, although given the circumstances surrounding the matter I feel at the best only his body may be recovered.

Almost certainly the BIB will call this one a suicide.

To western eyes this is just poor workmanship, poor standards, poor workmen being supervised (?) by poor supervisors, everything about buidlings here is unlikely to built to western standards.

To Thai eyes and they know a thing or two about building, look at all those beach front condo blocks, its just bad luck, can't remember it ever happening before.

More often than not its a case of poor preventative maintenance and not following safe operating procedures on the machinery. That and lack of training and qualification on the part of the crane operators and banksmen. Shortcuts kill.

Dirty deals done dirt cheap?

Nice one Vader. LOL

Thai authorities dismissed concerns that they have arrested scapegoats when questioned by reporters.

"Please be reassured that police have worked to their best ability so it's not possible that they have arrested scapegoats," Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said Friday.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-10-03

The DPM went on to say that it was not possible for goats to have committed the crime as they are not allowed on the island.

Nor do they have opposable thumbs. ;-)

The Nation could demand an open public investigation into the handling of this case by the police since the very beginning, name and shame, that would be a start.

Or, the CID could investigate who runs the drug trade in those islands and see if any of those characters have submitted DNA. Seems a likely place to start when looking for shady, wealthy individuals with enough scratch to bribe the upper ranks and keep locals in fear.