princealbert

> Anyone else had this happen to them ?

It happens. Especially for spousal visa, they mainly check that you do indeed live together. Rather than count the toothbruses, they just ask around. No worries.

I'd be happy they go through all this trouble to keep any riff-raff out, in the end it's better for all.

In total agreement with you chanchao. I have no worries about going through the official channels as all it is doing is protecting us and the genuine visa applications.

Just felt a little strange having 4 burley immigration officials call on us.

Did you show them your avatar?

I would have shown them anything if it meant they went away happy

Just had visit from Immigration is this the norm ?

Came in Sept. with a Uk visa to be with TG and plan marriage, long story short is got married xmas 06 then went and got a non imm "o" from Vientiane. Last friday i applied for 1 year extension (no probs all docs ok) told to go back to immimgration 4th April for decision on my visa application.

All immigration wanted was to interview neighbours to find out if i was a problem to the community . Not interested in our relationship or marriage no questions asked of us at all about anything.

Anyone else had this happen to them ?

Looking for an upholstry cleaner that does a good job and not silly prices.

Anyone with any experiences or recommendations?

If you come from S.yorks you should be fine, Urdu and Bahazi as your native languages with a smattering of english, have you ever thought that it might be your Turbans , and lingering odours of dhall and chappatis that might be upsetting the neighbours myself I cant see anything wrong in bringing yorkshire culture to Chiangmai, but I dont think thailand is ready for flat caps and whippets yet Nignoy

Hi!

My house was broken into again last weekend (the second time in 9 months) in a compound which 'claims' to have 24-hour security. Last time all all the electrical stuff went (tv, Playstation, keyboard, laptop etc) and this time they more electical stuff plus the safe complete with passports, cash and credit cards.... To say I am a little cheesed off is an underestimation!

Can anyone recommend a housing compound in or around Chiang Mai which takes security VERY seriously??

Thanks

YL

Anybody from Yorkshire, particularly South, should be used to being regularly done over like this..

try either 'Home in Park' or 'Koolapunt ville' (samoeng & hang dong Rd's) both secure...

YES I am from South Yorkshire and NO I have never been 'done over' after 38 years of living there.... so the experience is very alien to me - and not very nice.

Sorry to here of your problems Yorkshire Lass. I am also from South Yorkshire (Sheffield) and also never had any problems there or here in fact in San Sai there are many nice and highly secure moo baan around here and would recommend this part of the city without hesitation. Land and Houses, Pimuk 1 and 2 also Wong Bua Tong maybe worth a look at.

You will have to get a letter from the UK Embassy stating your income. What you have to show them I do not know. But some one will put you straight.

Thanks 'Lite Beer', has anyone any experience of showing proof of income to the UK Embassy ? I've only ever dealt with them once, a request for a 'marriage Visa' ; nine years ago, worst experience of my life, I generally avoid them like the plague ;-)

cheers,

Jubby

I had my confimation letter of income from the UK Embassy with just 1 Western Union transfer slip and letter from my business stating my yearly gross income in Chiang Mai in December, i took all the slips i have had from Sept-Dec just in case but 1 is all they wanted. No problems or questions.

By the U.S. Consulate is a good translation service. If your walking with the Ping River to your back, the entrance to the U.S. Consulate is on your left hand side. Walk about 100 meters more and you will see it on the left.

Its called Star Visa but i thought was expensive 3,000 baht for my affirmation of freedom to marry translated.

Hi all fellow Changers

I am seeking a house (with pool would be the dogs nuts) as near to city as poss. to rent for about 14 days late March for party of 5.

Any ideas would be gratefully recieved dont really want to go down the resort road.

Yes it is new. And no there is no such requirement (40k income) for issuance of a non immigrant O visa. Nor is there any such thing as a marriage visa or an Embassy in Penang.

So if they indeed do require "bank details" to issue a single entry non immigrant O visa to visit family did they say what would be adequate (20k as is the normal requirement for a visa entry) or something else? Have you double checked this with any of the visa services in Georgetown?

Ok the Consulate in Penang, and a Non O based on marraige, I just got this e-mail while sitting in an internet cafe in Bangkok this morning so I thought I'd share the information straight away, I haven't yet had time to pursue it any further, as for the agents in Penang NJ Boooks told me last time he could get me a Multi, when I went it resulted in a 90 and a 3,000 Baht refund so I wouldn't take their word as gospel anymore.

I've still got 20 days left to sort it out if not maybe I'll have a couple of weeks in the UK and get a Multiple entry,

unless anyone knows a closer place without showing bank funds.

Vientiane. I got a 90 single entry non imm."O" based on marriage early this month there without having to show income or bank balance.

Does anyone know if the Red Cross in BKK does apheresis or plasma donation as well?

Or just whole blood?

I was a regular blood and apheresis donor back in the uk.

Where can i continue to do this in Chiang Mai ?

Returning from Laos recently, I passed through Udon Thani bus station (number two).

Not the main bus station, but the one outside town where you catch the bus to Chiang Mai.

The agent in the bus station who sells bus tickets to Chiang Mai has two adult Macaques squashed in a filthy steel cage, too small for them to stand up in. It is about 3 feet by two feet. The male and female have no food or water, and sit in their filth, on glass bottles and rubbish. It is a pitiful sight, and smells awful. The female grooms the male, but their spirits are broken, and dignity gone.

I tried to forget about them as I climbed aboard my bus, but my conscience won't let me.

If we don't help, nobody else will.

The owner is clearly an animal lover, she's about 40, and also has a young Gibbon and baby Macaque together in a cage next to her ticket desk. The adults are a few metres to the left and further back from the road. She also has a friendly German Shepherd dog called 'Vikki' who plays nicely with the baby Macaque. I don't think she neglects the Macaques on purpose, but because they are too big to handle, and she's too busy to care for them properly. I suspect the baby Macaque is from this adult pair.

I only saw them for a minute or two, and didn't get the chance to ask her about them, but my guess is she'd be glad to let you have them for rehabilitation if you approached her tactfully. I'm sure you are used to dealing with such situations.

Please can you help, or put me in touch with somebody else who can help release these poor creatures from their awful captivity. They look like they have been there for years.

I have already emailed (several times) without any response, the following animal welfare groups in Thailand:

warthai.org, tscwa.org, the Maesot Ape rescue, and North Thailand Elephant rescue.

Surely somebody cares?

Once the owner has agreed to release them; there's a big air base in Udon, perhaps they could be flown down to a rehab centre. The Air Force could use it as good public relations.

Perhaps a local representative in Issan could visit them soon?

They are easy to find:

Just go to Udon Thani bus station number two, and ask where to buy a ticket to Chiang Mai. There's only one agent, and the Macaques are behind some junk, just a few feet from her desk, right next to the road side.

Please, let's help these poor creatures.

I saw these adults macaques first time in June 06 when i tried talking cordially about them to the woman about them she became very hostile with me and walked away ranting, passing through Udon more recently in December they were still there looking as deprived as the 1st time, i didnt want the same abuse hurled at me so kept well clear.

There is also a 3' crocodile in a 3'x2' tank inside where people can leave their baggage.

I searched for places in thailand to report this neglect but got nowhere.

I wish you all the best in your endevour to get these unfortunates a better life.

thanks for the info. just check can do it in CM. her place cant do passport.

it outside chiangrai.

darn take too long to send the passport to her but i remember it take about 1 week to send to my friend but that is in isan. im not sure how fast is the northen side.

My wife had her passport back with name change from Chiang Mai in 3 days

There a Place call

Mo'c Mo 'L

The food is average and not so expensive compare to some fancy resturant .. and the place is nice .. interio is beautiful and alway have a live band sing jazz and others music .

worth checking it out .

of cos RIverside server some nice thai food at half the price any fancy resturant will .

good luck ..

The Riverside aswell as The Chiang Mai Garden are reguler eateries of mine and will continue to be while they are here.

But where is the Mo'c Mo'L sounds like my kind of place ?

whahaha a .. can't stop people from spending money if there have too much .

there care less about if it good food just if it look nice and so on ..

in fact alot of the HIGH class resturat i went .. can't even cook . real food .lack the kinda soul you find is real food .

the best food i ever had was on a road side down with beer in the cold night .

want a taste of thai .. go to the street . wanna look good . go to a fancy resturant that charge you silly crazy price .. but of cos it will make you look good . but not smart that all

Its not that i have too much money or want to look good or smart as you put it.

These are 72 year old westerners that would never be able to get back up after eatin at the road side and have never really travelled before so as a treat for their 50th Wedding Aniversary i wanted to give them a little luxury they cant afford back home.

Thanks for the suggestions p1p i am sure one of these places will fit the bill perfectly.

As for my daily diet it consists of at least 1 visit to a road side cafe to eat.

The one my wife owns and works on.

.......................... FOOD FRIENZIED FARANG..................................

Now in search of 5 star, top notch nosh.

I have dined in many fine resteraunts around the world and would rate The Blue Elephant in Bangkok as the finest Thai food experiance i have ever had.

My quest is now to find the finest 5 star Thai restaurant here in my home town.

Or any other 5 star establishments for that matter as i have friends coming from the UK early April for there 50th wedding aniversary (i must sample first) and want to give them the finest culinary experiance possible.

Thanks for everyones assistance in helping me become even more pum puey.

What's in it for you?

If you are only here for "whats in it for you" THEN YOU SHOULD LEAVE

If you are unhappy here THEN YOU SHOULD LEAVE

If here isn't giving you what you need THEN YOU SHOULD LEAVE

If you dont understand why you are here THEN YOU SHOULD LEAVE

Many "IFS" you should have your own answers to but if you dont THEN YOU SHOULD LEAVE

As for the "problems" you talk about there are none just new legislation.

The Chiang Mai Zoo, it's a bit of a walk since it's on a side of a mountain, but I took my students on a fieldtrip there and they loved it.

The night Safari was so-so

Some of my students loved the Royal flora, but towards they end complained of walking and heat.

The elephant camps/ animal shows could be fun as well.

BTW I teach 9-10 year olds.

Chiang Mai Zoo and amimal shows are on the list then but are there any water parks or the likes within driving distance ?

There is a "lake" (Huay Thung Taew - spelling?) on the road to Mae Rim. (turn off on the left side going towards Mae Rim)

They have those peddle boats and she could also paddle about in the water.

They have tables and seats (under shelters) where you can sit, have a beer, something to eat, etc.

It's a nice spot to while away an afternoon

Is that all we have to offer here in Changers ?

I ate at the Olde Bell last night and am not sure what I think yet about over all quality, but it has possibilities and sells Beer Lao.

Noticed that they do a roast dinner every Sunday and it looked interesting.

Please Please Please where is The Olde Bell ?

Well for what I can think of (others can out an addition) there is:

The Chiang Mai Zoo, it's a bit of a walk since it's on a side of a mountain, but I took my students on a fieldtrip there and they loved it.

The night Safari was so-so

Some of my students loved the Royal flora, but towards they end complained of walking and heat.

The elephant camps/ animal shows could be fun as well.

Thats honostly all I can think of now, I know they are not the greatest suggestions though

BTW I teach 9-10 year olds.

Chiang Mai Zoo and amimal shows are on the list then but are there any water parks or the likes within driving distance ?

There is a "lake" (Huay Thung Taew - spelling?) on the road to Mae Rim. (turn off on the left side going towards Mae Rim)

They have those peddle boats and she could also paddle about in the water.

They have tables and seats (under shelters) where you can sit, have a beer, something to eat, etc.

I would advise against going at the weekend as half the population of Chiangmai seems to be there on these days.

It's a nice spot to while away an afternoon

Thanks for that

Sounds perfect just what we are looking for.

I think we just found the number 1 of things to do so far.

Unless someone thinks different ????

................................Food Frenzied Farang...........................................

Love all Thai food but on the hunt again for a little taste of home.

Dont have an oven so need to find somewhere i can have cooked for me.

Has the Yorkshire Pudding found its way to changers yet ?

If so where is the best ?

First year in Changers so lookin forward to Songkran this year.

What are the dates ?

Too cold in the winter.

Winter ?

She is coming from the UK

Well for what I can think of (others can out an addition) there is:

The Chiang Mai Zoo, it's a bit of a walk since it's on a side of a mountain, but I took my students on a fieldtrip there and they loved it.

The night Safari was so-so

Some of my students loved the Royal flora, but towards they end complained of walking and heat.

The elephant camps/ animal shows could be fun as well.

Thats honostly all I can think of now, I know they are not the greatest suggestions though

BTW I teach 9-10 year olds.

Chiang Mai Zoo and amimal shows are on the list then but are there any water parks or the likes within driving distance ?

......

and most agent would die for you to rent few month cost rental would cover the rest of the year for them

......

there are those rip off renting at 10,000 - 15,000 and as high as 30,000 - 50,000

.....

- most house need you to have transport . in smaller moo bann . you can find house for about 5k -7 k . easily about 5-10km out of chiangmai ,

good luck

I wasn't sure what the above implied - exactly. I'm also looking for a house and therefore for advice too.

(Want 3 bedrooms, walled garden for cat, as close to the city as possible - have a flexible budget 15-20k depending on house.)

Best to drive round the areas you prefer and look for the to rent signs.

We did this early Sept. and within 2 days of being here found a new, beautifully furnished, fully equipped, 4 bed house on qiuet moo baan 10 km from city in area we wanted for 12k per month and only 1 month deposit renting privatly from the landlord. He had this with 2 agents at the time who were asking 15k and 3 months deposit .

Good luck with your