Wongkitlo

The reviews do not translate to English unless left by a farung.

Is unfortunate that Lazada's programmers are too dumb to make it google translate friendly. A simple copy and paste function would make it easily accessible for everyone.

A friend was kicked out of the van and their luggage thrown off. It was only 500m from the border when they checked maps. The OP said he wanrts to go to Battambang and SR. Is a longer journey pattaya. Arun, Battambang, SR then back to Arun to go to Swampy. I would go Patraya Pailin(Phsar Prum) Battambang, sSR. Arun. Bkk

Treetops Treetops said it was open according to Thaipass. I answered his post. Ideally 2 hours to Chantaburi, 1.5 to 2 to Pailin((Is the actual border near phsar Prum) then 80km to Battambang. I just found this on a Wikivoyage search for Pailin. There are scams at Arunyaphatet to get your money. Many of the posters on this forum just pay them to save the trouble but as a backpacker you probably want to save. I said go to the shop behind Numchai to check before you go because they might help you but be aware - hard to believe anything Thais tell you about travel in Thailand. I think their Chantab van leaves around 7 am or as said go to Suk Rd. Numchai van goes by the motorway so is quicker. If you get to Chantab and can not get to Pailin you can just switch to an Arunyaphatet van, I think. Check Wikitravel and Wikivoyage for more info.

Phsar Prum is one side and Pailin the other from memory. You used to catch the van from Chantaburi then cross the border and car to Battambang. Battambang is like a dead end becaise of the mountains so you have a choice of going out through Phsar Prum or back to Arunyaphatet as the OP mentioned Battambang can do a loop - Chantab, Phsar Prum, Pailin, Battambang, SR, Arun, BKK. I think from memory chantab to Phsar Prum is an hour and a half then an hour to Battambang. Arunyaphatet has a scam where they stop at a cafe near the border and force you to give them your passports and get your visa for you at an inflated price. If you say no they dump you at tge cafe.

If you go to Battambang first you can go through Psar Phrum. It is a lot less stressful border and you are less likely to get overcharged by Cambodian Immigration or scammed by the van drivers. Arunyaphatet is infamous for scams. From Battambang you can get to SR just as easily as from Arunyaphatet/Poipet. If you go to Rayong bus depot you can get a van to Chantaburi then to the Phsar Prum border. To get to Rayong you can catch the van from Numchai on Sukumvit Rd or just stand on Sukumvit Rd at the overpass near Pattaya Central Rd and just wait for the Rayong van to stop. They are pretty regular and leave early. Before you go I would walk up Pattaya Central to Sukumvit Rd, turn left, cross on overpass walk further along away from Pattaya central 200m or so and at Numchai walk out the back and you will find where the van goes from. Wikitravel/voyage is a good resource. Get an evisa or USD for your Cambodian visa.

Thanks Joe

Hi Joe. Thanks again. Am just checking about documents. I do not have hard copies of the documents - marriage certificate etc- and was going to get my wife to photograph them and send the photos. I was then going to print them and mail them to the Canberra Embassy for a non-o visa. Is this sufficient documentation. I have emailed the Embassy to ask but do not expect a quick reply. Sorry if a basic question. Cheers.

Thanks Joe for your time. I think that would be the easiest solution. I did not realize you could extend the original 90 day entry with the extra 60 days to visit your wife without the bank statements. Cheers

Thanks Tim. I am more interested in long term planning. The next high season may not be as successful as past ones but we would hope the economic troubles affecting tourism will not last forever. In theory I am paying myself so can afford to re-invest my income back into the business even though it might involve paying extra tax. I am mainly trying to find a way to stay in Thailand for the four months before I apply for the work permit. Everything has been closed for 2 years so there is no real ownership structure at present but I am keen to be in control of everything myself and am willing to pay for it. I do have another business with a partner who has been dealing with the accountant long term, so believe she is a safe option. Do really appreciate everyone's input.

I was going to Ho Chi Minh and getting non o entry before. I am not really up with what I have to do in the situation. The accountant said she could take care of the visa for me with the work permit.

Thanks Joe. I just do not have the funds to fulfill the financial requirements and will not get any income till October when the season starts but I want to enter Thailand in mid June. I think I will just have to risk it and do the visa exempt entry because I can not see much alternative. If I apply for the non o in Australia I will not have the company set up to guarantee the income in time to provide the income statement.

Hi. I am an Australian married to a Thai. I have a tourism based/high season income business in Thailand which I intend transferring from my wife's name to a company in my name and applying for a work permit. I plan arriving in Thailand on the 15th June on a visa exempt 30 day entry. On 15th July would extend 30 days. On 15th August would apply for 60 days to visit my Thai wife. In October I would set up the company (I have a Thai accountant who will do this for me) and apply for a long term visa and start paying myself from the company to fulfill the funds required for the visa. (I think 40,000b per month following previous advice from Ubonjoe). I was just hoping if anyone had any thoughts on whether this is a reasonable plan and any problems with immigration I might encounter. The accountant has looked after my friend and his business for years and is reliable.

Someone mentioned Numchai. They leave twice a day- early morning and around midday. If you want to go at another time you can just stand on Sukumvit where the crossover is near Pattaya Klang and the Rayong minivan stops. From Rayong bus depot you can catch the Trat van and they will stop and transfer you to a Koh Chang songtaew outside Trat. Is a longer journey than the Numchai van butI like being able to go whenever I feel like it. It should be 100 b to Rayong and another 200b to the Koh Chang turn off

Thanks for the info Joe. It is a confusing journey. I am considering setting my wife up in the company but am also thinking I want to keep my business independent from her.

I am thinking of doing the same but have a viable business. I was quoted a one off 25000 baht to set up. Then 2000 to 3000 per month to administer. The accountant will get the work permit. You need to pay yourself 60000b per month(i think 50000b if you are from some countries) but since you are paying yourself is not so much of an expense. You must pay the tax on the income. Is 2000 to 3000b. I have a Thai wife and she will provide the Thai company owners( who sign over their voting rights to me) and workers ( Not sure if 3 or 4) for whom I pay health care and tax each month. The accountant will take care of showing the 2 million baht capital. I am considering all this so would be interested in hearing how you go.

I think many Thais do not know that if they leave water around mosquitoes will breed in it. I remember being told by my seemingly intelligent landlord that there are a lot of mosquitoes because the grass is long. Many Thais are immune to their bites after being bitten since babies but do not understand that immunity from bites does not lead to immunity from disease.

I sent you a PM about this.

I checked out Ice but felt it seemed aimed at younger customers. Maybe just when I looked. Does not have a pool if that matters.

I went right through the beach/2nd road area last month looking for accommodation. I ended up at Apex on 2nd rd(550 b)but I am sure I was the only guest and became bored . I found Intown Hotel (500 b)in Soi Honey just near second road(close to central, beach, bars). Is a bit run down but very clean with welcoming staff, a nice pool on the roof where you can watch the bay, balcony, air, a cafe downstairs with 100b breakfast and a fair priced bar with friendly girls who were fun. The only drawback was the tv was mainly Thai. People have mentioned Aiyaree which is great but think it is now exclusively SHA.

They are in a guesthouse so I have 10 rooms with one in each. Regardless the modern ones dont seem built to last. I suppose for 120b per time cant expect too much.

I have old(I guess 20 + years) ceiling fans. I have to replace the wall controllers often ( 120b - local guy replaces them in 5 minutes) but the fan motors seem to just keep on going. Is it worth checking if it is actually the fan is broken or just the controller?

Was quiet today. Walked straight in at 11 am but closed for the rest of the week for songkran

Have you tried the Chiang Mai local forum. Im sure someone there can tell you

I am still really sad when I see the building site at the park at Lan Pho Market. I read an article about it last week. It became lost in Sunday's hangover but at some stage on Saturday night I screenshotted a picture of it. From looking at the architects drawing and what they are building I can still not work out where the pedestrian access is. If you walk back to the road do you still need to risk walking through the other carpark at the market?