semper48

Hi, I sent u an email, (hadnt logged on until now). William is giving u good advice. Best of luck and have fun

My wifes sister had been working in a hospital for several years (7or8). She left her job to be able to visit us in Farangland. Upon returning a few moths later she discovered that she had contracted TB. She didnt get it in Farangland as there is no TB here at all. The hospital has been very caring and helpful and given her a 6 mth treatment. It didnt do the job, so she is presently undergoing even more intensive treatment, has shots every day for 8 months I think. It is obvious (to her and all around her) that the TB was contracted while she was a hospital employee. I dont know if it is officially recognized in her case.

Does she have any kind of rights in Thailand?

Thanks for the input guys. I feel more at easy with making a decision. It isnt the losing a 100k that worries me but a family feud over something like this. I think it will be alright.

My sister in law owns a shambles of a house on the main street in our small village. She rents it out for 3000 baht pr month and stays in the family home with her kids. The family is comfortably well off with no problems of debt, gambling or drinking. Sister in law works in the hospital.

Her dream is to restructure the house so that it will have 4 modern rental units that will bring in 2500 baht pr month. Ititial cost of restructuring estimated at 100.000 baht. The math shows this to be a sound investment and good piece of business. My farang thinking is; I will lend her the money and we split the income after expenses 50/50. Sister in law puts up the property and I put up the money. Pretty simple deal and good for both parties. I realize however, that this is too simple and plain and there must be a dozen ways of botching this thing up with misunderstandings and a whole set of Thai ground rules I will be stepping over. Common guys, give us a laugh and tell me your experience with similar situations. I am not the first fool to come to this bridge of that I am certain.

I have just been involved with getting a whole lot of documents properly notarized. While doing so I asked about Apostille notarization. What I can say with utmost certainty is that Thailand is not part of the international agreement/standards of Apostille notarization. It simply isnt done in Thailand. Double notarization of two higher authorities is what Thailand has to offer instead of Apostille.

I remember chatting to some people before that were doing Yoga. I remember it being at a University sports facility. Anyone know a good class to go to in Khon Kaen?

I make this route often. I used to fly, but then I discovered that a bus actually goes from Swampy to KK. The bus terminal is close to Swampy and the transport to the bus is free. This is I think a state owned bus and comfortable enough. Basically I chose the way that is fastest (least waiting time). I have also gone with Nakonche air. That costs a taxi drive extra, but if the wait for flight or state bus is 5 hours or more I will opt for Naconche air.

I have also taken a private taxi that took me all the way to the door at KK. That was really nice but cost too much. I think about 5.000 baht. That can be done a lot cheaper I am sure. I think I have every angle covered with this Swampy-KK route.

I.ll be going this route next week, but flying this time. Waiting time minimal (3 hours) and tickets paid for with air-miles.

Have a nice trip whatever you decide.

Who has found a great deal pricewise? All flights I find are over 500 Gbp in cases of direct flights or short layovers. Can get under 500 quid if ready to stay a whole day in Istanbul, but that just isnt worth the hassle. I´ll be flying in to Bangkok with my wife first week in desember and back to Europe a month later, but with a single fare extra for a teenager. So anyone found the magic flight?

I have a Garmin Naui gprs which I find invaluable in the West, but how will it work in Thailand? The site for Garmin tells me the map for Thailand is discontinued. Whats the skinny in these matters?

I read on many sites that the public service bus (number 825) goes from Swampy to Nongkai. I have taken this route before to my hometown of Khon Kaen. It was cheap and efficient. I now cant seem to locate any form of timetable for this service. Anyone got a clue??

The report also found that there are 48,000 people working in the sex industry, including students, of which 44.4 per cent were aged between 13 and 16.

Inasmuch the number of 48,000 people working in the sex industry in Thailand is a valid number, I can only say this can only be a silly number.

For example, in the Netherlands, a country of 16 Million people, it is GUESSED, that nearly 350,000 men and women "work" in the sex industry, and another 150,000 are students, housewives & all.

So 48,000 men and women on a 60+ million population is completely unbelievable.

The statement that of those 48,000 workers more than 40% is aged between 13 and 16 years is mind boggling indeed!!!!!!!

You skipped a comma moron. Within the group of students, 44.4 per cent were aged between 13 and 16. That means 55.6 percent of the students are NOT between 13 and 16.

It is correctly calculated that 55.6% are not betweed 13 and 16. The 55.6% are either older than 16 OR YOUNGER THAN 13. Thats a fact which I hope has little relevance to the actual truth.

Dont give much (I wish you didnt) for your moron comment, not good forum manners

The two of us going to London from Bkk with the morning plane. Will be somewhat overweight with handluggage (x2) and probably an extra handluggage bag with a 17" laptop. How will we fare in your experience?

Our 20 x 2 will be ok

Finding myself with too many bags and somewhat overweight, I want to send a few clothing items and sandles and such back to the ranch Isaan way. There is a coach station which might be of use at Suvana, but failing that mailing the sucker would be my second option. If there is a post office, would it be open at 07.30? Any suggestions?

Bird on the wire and others,

you seem to have misunderstood my post totally.

So let me make it clear , i was NOT blaming the OP OR the professional helper one iota.

I was curious to know how a complete and utter refusal could turn into an about turn. I wondered if the fault lay with the application or with the ECO . Thats all.

No offense was meant and i can't see why anyone thought it was.

Here is a scenario for you; At the office; today we inundated with aplications and we have a big backlog; so we refuse the lot and let the ones really neeeding a Visa reapply. We will lose 30% of the bulk, as some will give up and to others it will not matter anymore (too late). Could even be one person having a bad day and wanting off early this particular day. Not far fetched and happens all the time, everywhere.

Amen!

Thank you men!

I certainly hope Ethiad will book my flight onwards all the way, but I dont think all airlines book with all other airlines, not quite sure on that one. Sometimes one can and sometimes not.

I am thinking that IF we have to go landside to check in again, I might do so alone, leaving fiancee airside, taking with me her passport and ticket. A little bit worrysome for her to be alone for an hour, but she will live.

Doable, right?

Wrong. What you suggest about leaving the wife airside and going landside to check-in won't work. By all rights the airline will not check in a person unless they sight them.

However what you will find is if you have to change airline the orginating airline will book your bags right through to your final destination and, you to check in for the second flight only need to visit the 2nd airlines transfer desk airside (ie before immigration). This applies even if the airlines are different alliances or not alligned at all, most major airlines are members of IATA who co-ordinate all this with a company called SITA who run's most of the international check-in and baggage handling systems.

The only major exception is many low cost carriers don't allow through checking, but most of these operate from the secondary airports or seperate terminals (such as at KL) and you have to do a landside transit anyway.

For example a few years ago I flew from Vientiane to Bangkok with Thai, then Qantas to Sydney (then Canberra).

When I checked in Thai asked where I was going and I said Canberra. They checked my Qantas tickets which was a seperate booking and then checked my bags all the way to Canberra. They, because they are not alligned could only issue the boarding pass as far as BKK. At BKK I went to the Qantas transfer desk airside, showed them my baggage tickets from Thai, collected my new boarding passes and was on my way. No need to collect the bag, no need to go landside and recheck. Very simple.

I remember this being the case when I flew Thai to Iceland first time. Other times it has not been so simple, maybe because of some reasons posted here, ie budget airlines and such. I trust Ethiad will book us all the way or else I´ll sik CbrLad on ´em

Heathrow is the pits and you are doing a dog leg journey with two stops en-route!

You would have been a lot better off routing via Amsterdam Schipol.

I suspect it would have been cheaper using China Airlines direct to AMS.

I looked into all options (China air via Ams also), but the crux being my connecting flights with home country. Price of, days flown and time waiting (fx at Ams). China air flight is very reasonalbly priced, I´ll give you that!

My main hassle (and cost) is getting my ass to the mainland from home country, namely Iceland.

I certainly hope Ethiad will book my flight onwards all the way, but I dont think all airlines book with all other airlines, not quite sure on that one. Sometimes one can and sometimes not.

I am thinking that IF we have to go landside to check in again, I might do so alone, leaving fiancee airside, taking with me her passport and ticket. A little bit worrysome for her to be alone for an hour, but she will live.

Doable, right?

My fiancee and I are flying through Heathrow on our way to Scandinavia. She has a Visa for Schengen, but to my surprise I was told UK arent part of it and she might need a Visa for UK. Makes sense if she enters the country, but dam_n harsh just for checking in at a different terminal, the flights being 3 hours apart.

Anybody have experience with this one?

Leaving in a week and not coming back until Christmas I am leaving my automatic Lancer (2005) with a friend who will keep it in a safe place, outside, and will start it up every day for me. Bought a cover for it. This is the extent of my arrangements so far.

I plan on having an oil change before going and waxing the body.

Any other suggestions?

I have a feeling it would be a good idea to run it properly maybe once a month, for the brakes and gearbox. Any ideas on this one?

I know a friend of mine who owns a truck here put it up on blocks and took the wheels off. Maybe because of tires and or suspension. Dont really know.

Advice pls?

This is how it is;

Bus every day at 8.15; cost 180 baht (not 150 as I stated before)

Visa at Embassy; various costs depending on passport. Most expensive one is 1400 baht (most common Western passports) with a 200 baht surcharge for immediate processing (5 minutes).

Bon Voyage

A friend of mine with the Hep C bug asked me to be on the lookout for this herb. Supposedly can treat the illnes. Its a rare Chineese plant and by Googling it I get information and fraud claims in long streams. Not mine to judge, but to find said herb. Saying that I presume it to be legal, else I will cease the persuit. Anybody knowing anything about this matter pls step up to the blog podium and be heard! :-)

Did you not think of flying to Udon and getting a bus from there to Khonkaen , the bus only takes about 1 1/2 hours and I am not sure but I think the last flight to Udon is later than the Khonkaen flight.

Of ourse this would be considerably more expensive than a bus from bangers but after a longhall flight I don't think I could stand a 6 or 7 hour bus ride.

Good thinking Mick!

The only flight to Udon from Suvana to Udon is Air Asia at 16.00. I would take that if I came in on time.

Rather than going to DonM for a ThaiAir flight to KK. ThaiAir being more expensive also.

If my flight comes in at Suvana in a good time to take the 21.00 hours bus to KK then I would take the bus.

Got the skinny:

One bus daily from KK at 8.15 arriving in Ventiene at 14.15.

Return daily same times.

Price 150 Thb

Beat that for a great deal.

Just the round trip taxi fair from Freindship bridge (NongKai) to the border and back costs 600 thb!

Was checking on the easiest way to go to Ventiene. Saw this article in the Bkk post: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=125376

According to said article a bus goes twice daily. Traveller does need to have Visa ready when boarding bus. That is not a problem in Khon Kaen, as there is a Laos embassy that does a Visa in an hour (so I am told).

I will be doing this trip next week, will keep TV posted as to operating hours and costs of bus and Visa.

Here is the info on the Laos embassy:

19/1-3 Phothisarn Road, KhonkaenDistrict 4000, THAILAND.

Tel: (6643) 223 698 (Visa), 220 794, 221 961, 223 473.

Mobile: 670 6467, 975 6685.

Fax: (6643) 223 849.