mgjackson69

Still not clear if you get 15 or 30 days if you enter by ship/boat/yacht, but I guess that would be 30 days.

Do you not technically enter Ranong by boat.

From the English Translation of the post police order:

"Whereas each time

when entering the Kingdom shall not be longer than

30 days as of the first date of entering. Unless, the

Alien (Tourist/Visitor) is entering through the border

of the neighboring countries will be granted only 15

days per visit as of the date of the first entry."

To me that could be interpreted as: You are getting 15 days when entering from a neighboring country - regardless, which mode of transport you use. So technically it could even be interpreted as if you fly in /sail in from a neighboring country, you get 15 days. They could monitor this just by looking on the arrival card and if in doubt asking for the boarding pass.

But maybe in the Thai original "land borders" is specifically mentioned.

Does anybody have any experience about entering via a flight from a neighboring country?

Keeping in mind the Thai -> English translation, I would take "through the border" to mean "land crossing"

Mmmmm British born Prime Minister.........wasnt His Majesty born in the US?

Yes he was, in Cambridge Mass.

Educated in Zurich.

A bit off-topic...but does anyone know if King Bhumiphol ever claimed his USA citizenship?

Just be yourself, a relationship isn't about your girlfreinds Mum, Dad or friends, it's about the two of you. If you have a strong enough bond then it doesn't matter.

Just need to get used to it. If your wife really loves you, you will be more important to her than the opinion of her family

You might want to study Thai culture a bit before making such statements.

I would go for a branded name rather than a no name one. Tires = stopping power = your life!

And when that cheap tire decides to disintegrate and damage some bodywork in the process...

The wife and I are in Chok Chai, 30 km south of Korat city. She had a house here already when we met.

I like it here, it is quiet, yet has good markets (early, mid-day, and evening) and I can get most of what I need here as far as hardware, building supplies, etc.

And it does not take long to run to Korat for Big C, Tesco-Lotus, etc. if needed.

There are plenty of new developments here, active and dormant.

I too dislike dual pricing. I simply won't pay it. That means my wife doesn't go either. They have lost two customers. Actually I wouldn't mind paying a small foreigner premium but NOT double or more.

So there are at least two voices of reason here.

If you do not like dual pricing...DON'T PAY IT! Most of the complaints have been regarding either National Parks or the Siam Paragon Aquarium...missing either or both is hardly a life-altering event.

I have missed both, BTW...the Aquarium, my (Thai) wife and I went not too long after it opened, we were in the queue...when she saw the price, *she* pulled us out of the line..."too expensive, we do not need to see this". The National Park was near Chanthaburi (I forget the name). On that one I refused to pay the 5x "farang" fee. I told the rest they could go in, I would wait. Instead we went to another place nearby, no fee, neat waterfall area with some nice natural pools. I was sure to leave a donation at that one.

I also understand the sentiment of "it is only x dollars"...I do not agree with it, but I understand it. It just comes down to what something is worth to the individual.

By all means, make a scene, raise hel_l about it if that is your deal...I just politely refuse to pay and leave. Simple as that.

Who knows, even with 3 separate news agencies providing details the information seems conflicting

and the story line varies. Agree with you about the discrepancy though. One bike has gone missing.

How about editing this to say "because of 3 separate news agencies"? That would be more accurate.

Taking into consideration the poor quality of the photos, I think she would be attractive enough in person...

...other than that black heart that we all know about now.

My last stab at this since most people here ('cept Crossy) probably can't spell 'lectrician but I is one.

The photos posted by the OP confirm that they are standard US-style screw-in, multi-filament globe sockets. The switch is a simple rotary type that selects various filaments to give the 3 different levels of light. There are NO hidden electronics and the switch should have no issues with the increased local voltage here as a filament globe is a 'resistive' load versus say an electric motor which is an 'inductive' load and opens a whole other can of wombats when it comes to switch amperage rating.

The OP can bring the lamps as-is to Thailand and after fitting a local-style screw-in, single filament lamp, they will work just fine with the caveat that there will be one click stop on the rotary switch where the lamp will be on (full brightness) and 3 click stops where the lamp will be off. There are NO local-style multi-filament globes in Thailand. As someone else pointed out, you can get a local 'lectrician to fit a dimmer switch to the input power lead if you need the lights down low (for those scary moments when she drops the towel?).

May I just say as a 'lectrician with taste, those be fugly lampshades.

I agree with all of the above...especially the part about the aesthetic value of the lampshades

Unless it is an exclusively gay party and everyone there is keeping everyone's secrets.

You mean, attendance at an exclusively gay party implies agreement to abide by the Thieves Code I refer to in an earlier post?

Nothing of the sort is implied...there are two conditions in that sentence.

1) It is an exclusively gay party

2) Everyone there is keeping everyone's secrets

Although there would not have to be any dependence between condition 1 and condition 2. So we can toss out condition 1.

Why is it a "Thieves Code" if you are not running around shouting others' business to the world? Just because you have knowledge of a certain fact does not require that you spread that knowledge. By doing so you are not doing some great service to "the truth".

To use your previous example, if someone asks you, "Who is Adam dating?", why could you just not say, "You should ask Adam that."? This would apply regardless of whether Adam is dating Eve or Steve, BTW.

I find it puzzling that a single retired foreigner needs Baht 800,000 in a Thai Bank whereas a 'married to a Thai' retired foreigner only needs Baht 400,000. Twice the number of people but half the amount in the bank. Are they assuming that a single retiree will spend far more on his social activities than a married retiree ?

In the first case you are applying for an extension of stay based on "Retirement"

In the second you are applying for an extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national

Different circumstances

In the first case you are potentially here on your own, no spouse or his/her family to help look after you if needed.

In the second case, I think Immigration is making the (perhaps erroneous) assumption that you and/or your spouse are working...and also that, as is normal in the Thai culture, your spouse's family will help you if needed.

Makes sense to me

...

They have the right to charge different prices from different people.

...

Interesting: have they???

Sure...speaking in general terms, a business can charge whatever they want

I can say that jalepenos do not like direct sunlight too much. The ones that I have seen do best in USA were grown on the north side of the house in a flower bed.

Either patronize or avoid those places that engage in dual pricing---up to you.

But why constantly get on this forum and whine about it?

If you saw Adam and Steve at a party holding hands, I would say that they have already outed themselves.

Unless it is an exclusively gay party and everyone there is keeping everyone's secrets.

In the case of an exclusively gay party, why is an anti-gay such as yourself there?

Thanks for the replies...my 1-year has been expired for about 8 months, so I should be good to go.

Hmmmm...that switch/socket looks like it could have some electronics inside, for the 3-way function.

Can you open the switch/socket and peek inside, in a non-destructive manner?

Sorry for this but come from one Italian forum and i think is important:

Re: Giro di vite uscite ogni 14 giorni per turisti dal 3/12/2008

di zigano il Ven 05 Dic, 2008 20:19

Devo contraddire ThaiVisa.com: ho 2 clienti in guesthouse arrivati ieri in Thailand DIRETTAMENTE dall ingilterra in aereo e all aeroporto int. di BKK anno ottenuto un visto di 14 (quattordici) giorni.

I must to say thatThaiVisa.com wrong: I have 2 customers in my guesthouse they arrive yesterday DIRECTLY from england in airplane in BKK airport(suvannaboo) and they get 14 DAYS (tourist visa)

Someone can explain that????

PS: him see the Passport whit 14 days visa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Visa on Arrival" (not Visa Exempt stamp) perhaps?

Most switches that I have seen on USA-spec lamps, appliances, etc., as well as most replacements seen in the hardware stores there, are rated at 240 VAC.

However, that might not be the case with a 3-way switch <shrug>

How to proceed?

1) Disassemble to the point where you can see if the switch has a rating tag

2) Buy a transformer and use the US-spec bulbs (good until you need a replacement bulb)

3) Put a 240 V bulb in one lamp and try it out

I would do option 3, but I am the adventurous sort...

I think the switch would be just fine regardless...a lamp does not draw that much power

I have seen many references to the fact that if you want to get a 5-year license, you must first have a 1-year, and the 1-year must be expired.

Does anyone know of a limitation on how long the 1-year can be expired before it will not be considered as the "basis" for the 5-year?

Here is what the sticker says on the lamp:

"Caution": To reduce the risk of fire, use MAX 100 watt type 3-way lamp.

120v-60Hz AC Only

That is why i feared just plugging it into the socket.

Based on that info, then you will certainly blow the power supply then if you plug it into 220VAC

Its not a self adjusting supply......

This is obviously made for local US market only, not putting a self adjusting supply in is cheaper to do, than a self adjusting one...

Sorry should have added, to use this lamp then you need to get the power supply changed to 220V rated or alternatively go and buy a step down transformer 220VAC to 110VAC and plug your lamp into this supply....they are not that expensive

I do not think it has been determined whether the lamp even *has* a power supply.

What sort of bulb does this critter have? Any markings on it?

As far as myself, if costs were identical, I'd still stay here. This is my home and I love my life style. Farang style, Thai style? What's that? define it. I live MY style. That means that I live exactly as I choose.

Agreed...many seem to think if you live somewhere other than your home country you must:

1) Live exactly as you did "at home"

or

2) Go native

I think either option is unrealistic.

Adjust and adapt. Live how you want.

If someone is coming here expecting to live a "Western lifestyle" at 3rd world prices, they are going to be disappointed. Same for those who think they can stay here (or anywhere for that matter) long-term and live every day as if they are on vacation.

If you want to live in the same manner as in the West, why come here?

Most Thais do just fine without A/C...why does the farang living here need it? My house does have A/C in one bedroom...it has been used exactly two nights this year, when my mother visited from USA. Even she did not want it after a couple of days. Even in USA, I only use A/C because the combination of climate (Omaha, NE...very humid in summer) and housing construction (wood frame/sheetrock/carpet everywhere) demands it in order to keep everything inside from being constantly damp.

Most Thais do just fine without all of the processed and ready-made crap food that we think we need in the West...why would the farang live here and eat the same garbage? With all of the fresh food available in the markets, who needs a big grocery store?

Perfectly serviceable electronics are available at decent prices...and how many televisions and stereos does one need?

Serviceable clothing is readily available and not expensive.

My biggest gripe has been the non-availability of decent hand tools, specifically wrenches....so I brought those from USA.

I am not suggesting that everyone live in a wood shack out in the rice paddies...but a bit of compromise and learning to live with a bit less can lead to a more than adequate existence here.

You know something , people like myself do not care how 'The Thais ' live , too many of them live in shacks and go in the jungle to dig a hole as a toilet , many do not know what a decent wholesome , vitamin filled meal is . The food is low quality because they never leave land 'In fallow ' to recover , they just simply spray all kinds of garbage fertilisers on them . They do not use aircon in the sticks because they cannot afford to and they were born into the hot sticky humudity any way , but because they eat such a healthy diet , as soon as the teperature drops 10 degrees ,there are all kinds of them getting sick and dieing from flue and lung ailments , read that on TV . DO NOT TAKE THIS AS A SLAM AGAINST THAI PEOPLE , it is not , it is fact of how a huge number of them live .

You can make all the excuses you like about why you want to live like a Thai in a wood hut in a rice paddy and consume their food , that is your perogative , i do not wish to just live an adequate EXISTANCE , i want a LIFE . I moved to Thailand because of the almost constant temperatures were better for my bodily function , but i do not wish , nor do i intend , to compromise my living standards which are not high anyway , so i can proudly proffess to all and sundry that i have assimilated to the ancient thai life style . I am proud of my heritage , spent 6 years on active service to prove it , i am not prepared to compromise that either , so many of you so easily forget , you are whom you are and what you are able to do in life BECAUSE of your heritage and good education etc , why knock it continuosly ? I am on vacation on a continuing daily basis , i worked to pay my way from the age of 10 and i will not be denied the privelage i earned to do it , i also have my opinion on living life the same as you do , so please do not get on your high horse about how fantastic the place you live in is when you had to compromise your life style to live it .

No high horse...people can live with what they are comfortable with. If someone wants to come to Thailand and live exactly how they did in their home country, up to them. But to whine about "high cost of living" while maintaining that same standard is a bit ridiculous.

I do not consider any of the adjustments that I have made to be a compromise or "downgrade"...more like getting rid of unneeded baggage.

I never said I had "assimilated to the ancient thai life style" (your words), nor do I have any desire to do so...just that I have been able to make a few adjustments and am doing just fine. If I wanted to run the A/C 24 hours per day, I could afford to do so.

If you are here only for the climate, surely there are plenty of other places you could go that would offer the same, with a culture and standard of living that would be more suited to you.

I think that Thailand wants to get rid of what it sees as the riff raff falangs. Those who cannot be bothered or just cannot get the right visa. If you have a legitimate visa there is no problem in staying here.

well said.

At last thailand is getting rid of the undesirables this can only be a good thing and about time too.

What a sanctimonious lot of hoo haa on here. What is so 'undesirable' about backpackers teaching English to Thai kids? You guys must have forgotten what it was like to travel and pick up odd jobs to support your travel. These kids actually plough their pitances back into the Thai economy. Ease up on them a little and just see this ridiculous law as what it is. They should be opening their doors to people not slamming it. Actually gangsters and low-lifes can more than afford any kind of visa.

People not qualified as teachers working here without a work permit, not paying taxes.

What could possibly be wrong or undesirable about that??

But you must have some visa, surely? Just a stamp in your passport? Are you a special friend of Thaksin ? Seriously, ... tell me more!

Not sure what it is to be honest as it doesn't say non-immigration O or B etc. It's just a stamp in the passport. Nothing special as pretty much all my married friends have the same thing. Where are you based? If in Phuket, PM me and I can put you in touch with the person that takes care of all my visa stuff.

12 month extension based on marriage.

Thanks for that. I never knew what it was called. Maybe Exall's best bet would be to contact Sunbelt Asia. I'm sure they would be able to explain better than I could.

Sorry for the delay in replying ... just went out for a moobaan-organized walk in honour of H.M.'s birthday.

When we moved here from Canada, I got a non-immigrant 'O' visa, on the basis of being married to a Thai. I was told at the time that I would have to renew the visa every year, and would have to leave the country to do so. I did that this first year (taking advantage of a holiday in London) and the second year (taking advantage of a business trip to S'pore). This year I called the embassy in S'pore who told me they no longer issue multiple-entry 'O' visas (well, actually they told me that such visas no longer exist, only later did find out that they do, but the S'pore consulate can't be bothered to issue them any more). So, not knowing where to go, and not having any convenient trips to Europe or N. America set up, my visa expired. Since then I have been a "tourist".

So are you telling me that the original information I got in Canada was wrong? If so, I guess that now my visa has expired, I WILL have to go somewhere to renew it!

I would not say the information that you received in Canada was wrong...but they did not explain all options. You have to ask also...perhaps the person who helped you did not understand that your intent was to stay in Thailand for a good portion of the year. Plus, even a couple of years back they were giving the one year Non-O multiple-entry visas much more freely than now, so that was a viable option for long-stayers. Not so now...they seem to be moving the qualified long-stayers towards Extension of Stay, which is not a bad thing for those whose situation fits, as yours seems to.

Here are some threads you can read:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Extension-Visa-t211680.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Non-immigran...Ma-t211165.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Extension-St...ml&hl=korat

From the sound of things, this is what you should have been doing all along.

It is a bit overwhelming at first...but not impossible certainly.

As you stated, if your visa is expired, you will need to get a new one. Then start the extension process from that visa.

Good luck, and check back here with any questions. There are several here with good knowledge in this area who are more than happy to help.