danmtl

The army has not learned it lessons. You cannot win an uprising. Neither in the South, neither in Bangkok, neither in the North or North East. The army is big and slow, therefore the protestors can move quickly and strike wherever they want. if they want to disrupt the daily live they can do so. The army clear one crossing they take 4 crossings, when the army moves in, they move out, regroup and take new targets, huge armies have lost that way. There is not other solution than striking a deal which is acceptable for each and everyone.

However, at last a show of strength from a government supposed to be in place for the people. Do you want wishy washy non action or should these people be shown that there IS a law. Seems we complain about No action then complain about the action when it arrives and as to how we could all 'do a better job" We are guests...... observe by all means but armchair pontificators are no help!

yep, as guest we should observed history in the making. i feel for the people and love thailand. I was born and raise here and my mom is thai. i feel like a citizen here eventhough i'm an american. but some one need to take a step and it does not matter which road they take. they government got to do something quick. take innocent lives or step down.

one thing i know for sure is "there will be blood" . Should i be the first to predict a "Bloody Songkarn" ?

sorry, if i sound like a heart less butt hole. but reality is reality. but when you have 2 group if people who are arm with weapon ( the red and the army) in such close proximity, someone will probaly loose their nurve and unintentionally pull a trigger. once a fire is shot, all hel_l brake loose . war has began that way.

The Army is in control easy to see they protected the Yellow shirt and even put a hospital during the insurgency , did they show up during 3 weeks of courde not i sure hope the red shirt are going all the way with they uprising after all it is time the army is shown the door otherwidse there will never been any democracy in Thailand this is what Taksin was trying to do .

Bangkok, a great city, those who dont like it must live a very boreing life, living in your condos whatch your boreing True TV. Your sad, bet most of you are Yuky Yanks. Iv lived here 20 yrs and still love it!

Bangkok, a great city, those who dont like it must live a very boreing life, living in your condos whatch your boreing True TV. Your sad, bet most of you are Yuky Yanks. Iv lived here 20 yrs and still love it!

You must be gay or Live only for the sex offered in this city. I live there also for 4 years and visited Thailand from top to bottom and left to right trust me i would never return .I have visited May Cities in this world and as far i'm concern many are far more interesting with greater peoples who are not selfish like Thaim peoples are

Enjoy the sex i hope you have a ton of Condom with you and i am not a Yankee abut know many who use to live there and are now gone more to come also.

Still doesn't give you much specially to Foreigner who want to buy one and the way Law is follow in Thailand not much new until they give you the right to a Visa when you own a condominium i will never invest in Thailand other south east asia country are much more practocal and complaisant .Bull as always from Thailand

[could some one fill me in?

they just don't like white people. Philippines is far more foreigner-friendly.

Just to warn you the Philippines is more Foreigner friendly but some laws are totally screw up opening a Bank account is a pain if you have to get a pension check if you have cash to deposit no problem but be aware , check take m30 to5 days to clear before you get your money and make sure when you come here to apply for a ACR ( Alien registration card ) it will bring you a long way it take 6 months to get but worth it .Infrastructure are not as good as Thailand depending where you live Cebu is not such a place dirty , not friendly and very noisy many thiefs there too Davao is much nicer as well as Bacolod or Dumaguete i use to live in Thailand and because of all the visa regulation i left i am now in the Philippines good luck to myou my tel is 63 9054146630 if you want to reach me

About 4 years ago, I bought a condo for 7.8M baht, but it had an assessed value of 4.3M baht. I've been renewing my visa every year with zero problems, so hopefully this will continue next year as well. However, I'm getting tired of Thailand changing the rules every year. I've been thinking about selling my condo and moving to another country anyways (probably Indonesia).

-Jeff

I would check the law carefully before you move there and where? But indonesia is very nice and peoples much friendly than Thailand i have move out of there base on the same problem for visa will never return everything is about Money Sht country if you ask me worst in South East Asia

About 4 years ago, I bought a condo for 7.8M baht, but it had an assessed value of 4.3M baht. I've been renewing my visa every year with zero problems, so hopefully this will continue next year as well. However, I'm getting tired of Thailand changing the rules every year. I've been thinking about selling my condo and moving to another country anyways (probably Indonesia).

-Jeff

Well Well Well what else is new in Thailand

I have a better one for you My wife family who as money base on waht i give to them in tyhe apst 3 year never consider me as part of the family NOW MY RETIRED VISA IS DUE and they do not wnat to help me even if they own 120 rai of land thus i have to choice than to live this country once and for all .

Thai Lady are just very selfish , insecure do not want to learn about western culture or the way we do thing's in our country

and very money hungry like the whole Thai society for that mattter

Now i have Australian friend who as been married to one also and she as been asking more and more money very month for the child who is 4 year old milk ask him to stop at BIG C when he come back not at the airport and greet him so he can buy two mobile and a washing machine an ask for Dior perfume .

Horse shit if you ask me

Not worth living in this country anymore and i do not wnat to generalized here some are very nice and good by 80% of them are corrupt like the whole majority of the police force .

I am also a Canadian living here and as a writter said to you see below

4. At your age I would suggest looking at her moving to your country unless she have very good employment here. It appears you have known each other only eight months and that is not a very long time to be making a decision that will effect the rest of your life. Your earning options in Thailand are very limited and if you move your business here you may find you have moved out of competition. I may be wrong but please be very careful.

I strongly suggest to you not to come live here with a Thai lady they can be very demanding and controling as a friend of mone told me here you need to marry 3 Thai lady before you meet a good one

Get her to canada this way she will not be a power position like she will be here with her family asking for money every two minutes draw the line sign a pre nuptial agreement first specially if you marry her there Visa to canada take time and you need to qualify and her also

You are young take your time . their is a lot of water under the bridge establish yourself first then you can look at marrying and stay here myself i am moving out difficult to work here mentality is very different and THAI in general do not trust foreigner so be very careful on what you will do my email is [email protected]

Cheers

Hello all

I'll introduce myself as I'm a newbie poster on this forum, although I've been reading probably more than 50 topics. I'm 23 years old, from Canada, have Thai girlfriend living in thailand same age as I. It's many months now almost 8 we are saving money (or at least trying !) since the last time we stay together (30/30 days stamp on arrival) and now we are getting desperate to get to living together there in Thailand.

The purpose of this post is mostly to make sure my understanding is good and what better options and advices you could have for me.

Single Entry 90 Days Non-Immigrant Visa and the Visa Runs

Royal Thai Embassy and Consulates here in Canada won't issue me a multiple entry 90 days non-immigrant visa unless it would be for business associates and investors, family emergency, working in The Kingdom for an abroad company providing the work permit ... whatever but girlfriend.

After phoning and emailing here and there to the 4 thai embassy/consulates here in Canada, the only option they were giving me is a single entry 90 days non-immigrant visa, from which I could renew it for up to 1 year, a "letter of motivation" (could be another name in english, it's from a translation) explaining I have girlfriend and blablabla and providing the funds which I believe is the 40k THB / month or 400k THB / year, AFTER getting the marriage papers done ?

My question is, is it possible from the single entry 90 days non-immigrant visa to do the visa runs and get new 90 days non-immigrant visas in Laos, Malaysia, Cambodia, etc. that would give me the privilege to stay there with her for several months, at least 1 year to stabilise everything there ? Would it be of great help for the visa renewals to have the marriage certificate, or it doesn't really matter ? We would both prefer to get the papers when we are ready to get married, not only for the papers ... Doing the visa runs would also let us live together without the requirement to marry for the papers and worry about the monthly incomes, which could sometimes be a problem in the first few months.

Internet Web Sites

My second question is about the laws there and the work permits. I'll be giving birth to a Web application in a few months on my own from my little business I have here in Canada. I'm wondering if it would actually be legal or illegal to program from home there in Thailand ? From my understanding, I would not steal the job of any thai, I would not do business in Thailand, only thing I would do is bring money in the country for spending there. From that point of view I would bet you most of you agree with me but is anyone here knows enough to tell me I'm right or not according to the Thai laws, so I could tell how I get my money if they care for a visa renew ?

Sorry if that question is a bit picky, but I've been asking again and again to the embassy and consultates here in Canada about that question but only answer I got is "give a call somewhere else in that Babel's tower" , that is in my words, in their words was "try contacting to other consulate in Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver/Ottawa, they should be able to help you" everytimes. Thank You ! . lol

I'm not sure if my understanding about this all is clean & clear, it's why I'm writing here now ... later, when I will have more knowlegde and personal experiences about it I could post and give my 2 cents for what I know to other people, but I'm not yet at this point . I hope someone can validate or correct my understandings and even give me advices would be kindly appreciated !

Regards to all, hope that topic could help some other young people in the same situation !

reading over and over again the visa regulation

I think i am giving up nobody is ask the same papers and really tired of fighting with them on something who should be a close case when you marry a Thai national after we bring the money make Thai work pay taxes .

No country where you marry a national will make you go tough all this bull just in order to make money

i am sick and tired to put money in the military pocket when they don't have the decency to respect you at the first place

this country is wost than Sicily their Mafia is run by the army and nobody seem to care i do not want to be here when the election is called i personally do not think THAILAND is land Of Smile but rather a land of crook , dirty street , and corrupted police

I am definitely moving to either China or the Philippines at least they speak English and have a sense of marketing and business

see you all

You can marry at 14, enlist in the armed forces at 18 and die for your country, sell your pussy at 18 but you cannot buy a bloody drink!

Exactly This government will not stop amazing me with their stupid laws when they are the first one to brake them.I personally don't drink but hi sure will laugh to see how they will enforce them when you know you can buy a police for 100 baht.

Get it right peopels get government control store get rid of the store whom sell alcohool and if you go to a 7Eleven they have to make sure cigarettes are not in view of the public but whisky are clearly in front at the cash were every young peoples can see them and but them i have seen it in the north east.

What will they think of next AMAZING THAILAND INDEED LOL

I agree extremelly well writen ..were was he when Thailand needed a new Prime Minister probably not a friend of the Military and to young Mr. Thitsan Pongsudhirak i care for this country as a expat and if you decide to run in the next election i will certainly be the first one to help for your side.

The authorities need to get rid of the dead wood, corrupt officials ie: police, military, MP's, judges and get people in who take their jobs seriously and work for the Thai people and NOT Them Selves. These convicted corrupt people need to be put in jail, not transfered at an inactive post, get rid of them, no pension, no benefits just jail time.

This will send a message to the old and new that the Thai people are serious. I don't ever remember a corrupt official ever being sent to jail.

I think farang62 you got it right also when you think Bigamy is a crime in Thailand and the main general as 2 wifes and the prime minister 6 well maybe they need to build more jails because with all the old corrupt in government now and their friends for sure the jail now will eb very crowded but maybe it will serve them well.

As Expat in this country whom really care for it i sure hope it will change soon.

The first problem being -

rule number 1 - Whats in it for me

rule number 2 - My wifes brother in laws second cousin tiled their out house and so he can tile the airport

rule number 3 - Somchai is the boss and so dont make waves - just sit back, shut up and take the money

rule number 4 - I realise i cant do the job for this money as i had to hire my wifes second cousin that knows what hes doing and so i need more money to complete the job

rule number 5 - listen we have been paid for 18 months and made good money so lets call it quits and do a runner

rule number 6 - dont worry as they will never take us to court and if they do we can just pay a little extra to get out of it

rule number 7 - its not our money so stop worrying

PLease Thailand outsource all your major constructions from now on as now you have to double construct, double handle, double pay.

Blackjack you got it right..thai peoples are stubborn by nature and refuse help from the west the Japanes firm told them not to build there but if it is not the Thai way there is now way possible and of course the Army the Air Force made a lot of money out of it since they own the land at the first place so LET START investigating them first.

Close the dam Airport reopen Don Muang and fix it with help from Western company and Real firms whom can handle such a job.

Thailand as a country is sinking laready let's not make it worst

Tonythailand were did you learn English? i'm French native live in Canada for many year and i'm better than you.LOL

How they expect to get rid on "UNDESIRABLE" such as Pedophile when the UK as lost track of 1200 of them in their own country funny really

Thai national whom teach English cannot sustained a conversation and they expect to have good native with degree come and teach here for 500 us a month make me laugh how will they check background of degree when some lady whom learn in univeristy are now married and bare a new name witch they didn't register when they study.

The more it change the more it will be the same in Thailand low class citizen don't want to learn about western way of life or maybe their own General of this or general of that don't want them to learn because power to them is everything.

When they realise country don't have culture but history and the peoples make the culture well maybe something will change.

I pitty them

So inteligence agencies say it was southerners/islamists

while intelligence sources say it was Thaksin cronies.

Anybody else got any theories ?

How about...these guys don't have a clue!!!!

Exactly Thye don't have a clue and nobody will ever know the truth same old story fro this JUNTA GOVERNMENT terrible Police work.

call the FBI

The question is was this the most effective way to deal with Singapore on this issue? I don't think so. Lots of subtle ways they could have made a point with teeth without making themselves look like the bad guy.

I dunno, Pap. I think Thailand did right by this suspension action. Only the jellybabies like Canada would run and hide in the corner if another country did this to them. This is international news and Thailand has to show a don't mess with us image, especially now. I am really shifting the mental sands to figure out why Singapore is doing this. They don't usually interfere with other country's political biz. What's the benefit to them? A telecom/satellite tie? Anti-muslim connection? Money and power is involved here. Singapore is stuck on a little piece of land and depends on Malaysia for food, water, manpower. And you know who runs Malaysia. Don't know the situation well enough to connect the dots.

Where is our erudite TV political professor?

Only the jellybabies like Canada would run and hide in the corner

Not sure were you are getting your fact about Canada Jet Gorgon .you must be on another planet also or good friend with Mr Bush.

The economic power in this region is Singapore and add no military coup unlike Thailand. Look at the peoples in power now on this fetish government all over their 60's except one they are laughing all the way to the bank in the expenses of the poor whom try to make hand meat

I think they are on another planet completely Thailand as far i am concern doesnt rules South East Asia and i sure hope Singapore doesnt give in to this childish rethoric .

The MILITARY are trying to scare the peoples of this country in a big fashion anyway they are canceling concert all over the country blocking website whom infridge the right to Democracy and freedom of the press.

I know for fact in Nong Khai one owner of the mall whom is rented in part by Tesco Lotus is instaling new gates and will make pay the peoples whom want to go shopping 10 baht to get in just to prevent bomb the rich get richer on the back of the poor peoples whom are trying to make hand meat and this with the consentment of the Governor.

I wonder whom is really behing the bomb in BKK at the first place and i guess we will never know Thailand is sinking slowly but surely to be another Burma but the real peoples of this country are worry about their lively hood i get many comments everydays here in Nong Khai from Thai national that they disagree with the whole thing and are getting day by day more conscient Taksin was not so bad after all at least their country was respected on the international front.

Pack your bag the worst is yet to come and we may have to live sooner than we think i know i am

DANMTL

I live by the train station in Nong Khai and i must say it could be more reliable always late living poor services from the attendant lack of English and terrible train.

This country should realise TRAIN are the most and more relaibel way of transportation in Europe time to upgrade them and sell the Locomotive whom they bought from Canada as the national carrier there was happy to sell more than 25 years ago.

As per traveling by bus as some of you said loud Tv poor choice of movies no toilet and a co driver whom talk all the time to to regular driver this is why they have so many accident took to bus to BKK left on time from Nong Khai same driver whom came from BKK and arrive again on time in BKK but no change of driver whom was returning to Nong KHAI THIS IS THE PROBLEM NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD would have this system in palce i know for fact Bus Driver in Canada or the US cannot drive more than 8 hour and they have a black box to regulate the speed.

Why they will not upgrade the train the answer is very easy BUS are own in majority by peoples in power thus they will loose income POOR PEOPLES

No i wonder how on heart they will make the commitment to open the railways to Laos and China by 2008 via Nong Khai

As some of you said corruption is everywhere i rather drive my car were i want to go even if Thai driver must be the worst on this planet they have no patience and very selfish no respect for the law or other driver but i forgot they get their driver licences in a pack of Pop Corn

The more i look at it the more it seem like a big White Elephant and they have no clues what do to with it/IATA is a international organisation whom regulate Airport in the world by giving them the mandate and issue a certificate of operation The New Airport didn't pass this certification because IATA warn them way ahead it was not ready to open and draw the line of the inefficiency they could encounter..

We are now at this stage with yesterday announcement from The national Carrier Thai Airways to switch back all domestic flight to Don Muang

BIG MISTAKE we all know Thai Airways is mismanaged and way over cost when wanting to fly to another country i just hope Air Asia or even Nok Air will keep their flight at Suwarnabhumi it will show Thai Airways how to manage a airline .

As for myself i will suggest to all my personal friends to fly to Singapore if they want to go to Udon Thani and get the connection from there since it will open for business on janauary 25

Time to start a new airline

Culture Ministry distributes manners guidebook to foreign tourists

BANGKOK - Thailand's Ministry of Culture will distribute a handbook on Thai manners and 10 'Do's and Don'ts' in Thailand to foreign tourists to enable the visitors to understand and avoid doing things considered taboo in the kingdom, according to Ministrer of Culture Khunying Khaisri Sri-arun.

Khunying Khaisri said the handbook is designed to create more understanding among foreign tourists regarding Thai etiquette and actions that may not appropriate among the Thai public.

The Fine Arts Department and the Culture Monitoring Centre frequently receives complaints of inappropriate behaviour by foreigners such as placing Buddha image heads at inproper places.

"Some foreigners use the Buddha images as hatracks, some put them at the foot of their beds and some use them as a decoration in the product sales display cases," she said.

Many foreign tourists were found dressing inappropriately when visiting temples in Thailand, she added.

The minister said the handbook would be issued in eight languages including English, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic, and would be given to foreign embassies in Thailand for distribution.

The manual would also available at hotels, Suvarnabhumi Airport and on board Thai Airways International aircraft.

- MCOT 2006-12-04

Maybe you Thai peoples wnat to clean your own laws before telling Tourist what to after spending milion of dollars in your country Very Childish and uncall for read this maybe you will change your attitude what kind of bull is this.

Sonthi has two concurent wives. He registered to marry his first wife, Sukanya, when he was a lieutenant and registered to a second wife, Piyada, when he was a captain. He currently lives with both women. Bigamy is illegal in Thailand, and is punishable with a jail term. However, Interior Minister Aree Wongsaraya defended Sonthi, claiming that it was a personal manner. He claimed that he himself had six wives.[31][32]

[edit] Quotes

• "There is nobody who wants to stage a coup. I can assure that the military will not." 28 February 2006[33]

• "The army will not get involved in the political conflict. Political troubles should be resolved by politicians. Military coups are a thing of the past.", 6 March 2006, [34]

• "Nobody was behind us. We decided on our own, and we took care of it on our own ... because the people have called for it and also because of the mismanagement of the government.", 20 September 2006[35]

• "Thaksin is a Thai and a fellow countryman and there will be no problem should he decide to return. We are like brothers.", 20 September 2006[36]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonthi_Boonyaratglin

Wake up Thailand your country is going down the drain

Laopo you got it right maybe TAT or ATTA should read and search a little more internet their figure are just a load of Bullok .

Maybe they want to clean up Phuket first if they want the UP TOURIST most of the Hotels are to expensive anyway and whom need to see James Bond island i can easely watch the DVD all over again .

One fact remain the Bombing will not resolve getting more tourist and it is only a start if this present JUNTA DOESN'T CALL A NEW ELECTION SOON it will be worst and then we will see what is the occupancy rate oh well Tahi peoples will have more rom for themselves and go eat at McDonald .

If TAT or ATTA want more tourist this is what i suggest to them..you want your peoples to work in tourist area make mandatory to all Thai Peoples to learn English and be able to explain what your country is all about learn your history most tourist want to know the iff and why when they spend money to come in the Kingdom .

Eliminate the Tuk Tuk driver whom ripp off tourist, charge the same to Farang to visist your national park ( 20 baht for Thai 200 baht for farang) get liflet or brochure explanatory in both Thai and English ( i visited many places in this country) and some have only Thai liflet.

I'm not Thai and i know more of the history of this country than most Thai Tour Guide let Farang work as tour guide the rate of tourist coming will double in no time.

Thailand should definitely learn from MEXICO whom is the 70's Decided to just do this and i can tell you by experience you will not faulter any tour guide on history in Mexico same goes for Costa Rica or even some African nation were i have been and remember Junta or TAT Vietnam is learning very fast and LAOS ALSO.

I think Mr.Taksin doesn't need a diplomatic passport anyway he can easely ask for political Asylum and any Asean country will grant this right.

He may have been corrupted but made is money way before he was elected prime Minister to bad Thai peoples are so credule in general they have no ideas on what is really going on the only news they read is what their TV'S feed them and we all know 3 stations are own by the army whom to my knowledge was always behing watching every move Mr.Taksin made because they do not like to be left away from Power after all they add been in Power for so long before and will remain in power for many years just look at the stupid regulation they put in place and you can see it only serve their interest so whom is really corrupt here? the whole story become a question of jealousy he add dmore money but at least was elected democratically ( even if he bought vote) so what do we think Bush ,Blair,Harper,Merkel ,Howard, didnt buy vote stop dreaming peoples this country is going down the drain with their THIS IS THAILAND politique as a reader told the other let's all move to Vietnam or malaysia at least they open their arms arms for us.

Visa Visa and Visa again well it sure seem like they are cutting themsleves in the foot with all the new regulations.

I reapply for my one year type" o" visa filled all the paper works as they suggested i ask them personally if they needed something else to be certain there will be no problem answer was no we have your file and will used the same as before..well guess what it was refuse as many other farang and they show me the list about 70 of us.

Reasons i didn't produce proof of income..i had a idea this would happen but i trusted the officials here in Nong Khai were i reside for the past 3 years everybody know me i do volunteer work play golf with the Governor and vice governor on a regular basis .

Now thye give me friday 7 days to produce the papers call the government of Quebec they send me a nice letter in French since it is the only French speaking province in Canada ( i suspect they will not understand and ask me to translate in Thai) also got a letter from my friend company in Toronto stating i do consulting work for him in Singapore and later in thailand when the office will be open here paiy me 1000 dollars canadian a month , plus a letter from my wife brother stating i invested money in the fish farm and get money every 4 months when fish are sold is this will be enought NOT SURE at all.

On top of all this since here in Nong Khai they are so Incompetant speak English a little but will never speak to you always to your Thai wife so you cannot understand , with about 50 stamps in front of them and they don't know witch one to use well they give me 7 days to do all the necessary including Saturday, Sunday,And Monday whom is a day off in Thailand leaving me with 3 days and i will have to go to Korat since apparently they will give it to me the same day we will see about this and if not well time to live this country once and for all ,really tired about stupid rules bad administration , etc etc etc

No western country ask for visa run when they accept you in their country and you marry a national but i supposed they have to pay theses Immigration officials salary and all the corruption whom go with it.Time to move to the Philippines or Vietnam.

Dan