mgjackson69

Here's a copy of mine from last year

That looks like the one my wife has...her divorce was in late 2003.

The planets were very nicely on display tonight in Chok Chai, just after dark.

My wife says it is an auspicious time for people to marry.

Aluminum would be nice from the weight perspective...but you might end up going with steel just to find someone who can weld it up for you.

Thank you Chicken Little...

Everyone , QUICK! Go unload your Hilux Vigo trucks, or else you will certainly die the next time you drive it!

Send this to everyone you know!

I will keep mine.

It is ok with me if you make fun of a serious issue.

Better stick your head in the ground then you will be safe, right

Accidents only happens to the others fools, right?

This fool has been in enough crashes (I do not call them "accidents"; someone always screws up to make it happen) to know that they do not only happen to others. Some were my fault, some not.

We all have to find our own comfort level and live within it. Having had my Hilux Vigo Prerunner for several months now, I am very happy with it, and very confident with regards to the handling and stability of the vehicle. Is it the best-handling vehicle of its type? Probably not. Do I care? Not especially. I am well aware that it is a pickup truck, not a sports car, and I drive it accordingly.

For me it comes down to the confidence that I have in my driving abilities and experience (close to 1 million miles if not more). Much of that experience was gained driving absolute pieces of crap...farm trucks and even some over-the-road tractor-trailers that the steering was so loose you sort of had to "herd" them down the road. I do not want or need anti-lock brakes, airbags, stability control, etc. If the vehicle has these features, fine...but if it does not have them it is not a show-stopper.

This type of information is certainly good to have, but that fact that this study was done does not automatically make the Hilux a "death trap".

Many autos in USA have had this "feature" for 25 years or more...the spacesaver (read, profit increaser) spare.

As another posted, these are intended for low speed, temporary usage to get you to a place where you can repair/replace the "regular" tire.

As long as you exercise a bit of restraint, it is not "dangerous".

To be accurate, and please correct me if I am making an incorrect assumption, but your previous entries were not Visa On Arrival, but rather on Visa Exempt Entry Stamps.

I would be willing to wager that the greatest share of these so-called protesters voted for Thaksin...he was very effective at handing out money to the poor for support, same as PAD.

I am seeking employment in an IT/Systems support position, in Thailand or elsewhere in SE Asia.

I have extensive experience in telecom software installation, configuration, and operations support.

I am currently in Thailand on a Non-O visa, with 1 year extension based on marriage to a Thai national.

Please see the attached resume for details.

mgj_resume__external__no_contact_info.doc

What are we, a bunch of children here? Do we really need to ask this question?

If you want to be treated like a bum, dress like a bum.

Despite what some will say, it *does* make a difference how you are dressed, whether you realize it or not.

Dress does not need to be formal, or even business casual, but should be neat and clean. You should be neatly groomed as well.

I usually will wear nearly-new jeans and a long-sleeved dress shirt...more than once the officer at immigration has commented positively to my wife regarding my appearance.

It is taken as a show of respect for the officer and their position when you are well-groomed...it shows that you take them and their job seriously.

Whenever I deal with a government official, in any country, I want to do whatever I can to put the odds in my favor. Dress and grooming is one of the things that is absolutely in our control...why would you not take the extra bit of effort to present yourself in a positive manner?

But, up to you...

I have had a Grundig YachtBoy 400 for years. It has traveled around the world with me and served very well.

If someone is breaking into your house, all you have to do is rack the slide  and the burglar will most like go away.

To return again at some later point, better prepared.

Guns do not prevent robberies, they only ensure that it is going to get nasty ..... and as for having a gun in the house when there are children around being Ok if you teach them how to behave responsibly, utter rubbish.

Speaking of utter rubbish...

Thank you Chicken Little...

Everyone , QUICK! Go unload your Hilux Vigo trucks, or else you will certainly die the next time you drive it!

Send this to everyone you know!

I will keep mine.

Seems to me that "before" means just that.

Now sure as hel_l someone will crop up here with a story of how they were able to enter on that date, brah brah brah.

I would not mess with it, I would go before that date. But up to you.

I also do not understand why you cannot do a border run on a weekend. If you are concerned about doing it on the weekend, and your "Enter Before" date is the Monday, then do the border run on Friday.

If you are able to show a family income of 40,000 baht a month you can get a one year extension at Thai Immigration, and the same extension every year while you can show that 40K a month. During the currency of your present visa you will lose that visa unless you get a re-entry permit every time you leave the Kingdom.

thanks doc. the 40k wont be a problem, but about the other thing, with the single entry visa, will i be able to go visit cambodia and such? what does single entry mean?

It means ONE stay of 90 days. You need to get a re-entry permit every time you leave the Kingdom during that 90 day period.

Or get a multiple re-entry permit once

what i meant was if they will still give me the extra 30 days if i am 12 days late, it is tempting to wait another 12 days, pay 6,000 baht...and postpone the inevitable bus ride to cambodia...

Up to you...I would not do this.

Another positive vote here

My wife will sometimes ask me why I do not sit and watch television with her. My response: "Thohratat poet, panya pit"

It certainly would be nice if a person could specify the map in a particular language.

From Google's perspective, it would be a lot of work on their part for what is a free service.

I like the maps though...I find the level of detail to be reasonable, certainly better than much of what you find online for this part of the world.

All taxi departures are supposed to be on the 1st (ground) floor. That is where the official cab stand is.

As a practical matter, you can get a taxi on any floor.

Meter is if the driver turns it on, if not, you insist that he does. If he will not, get out.

Wrong. The official taxi stand is on the 2nd floor (arrivals). It was changed from 1st floor over a year ago.

cheers

onzestan

I stand corrected...it has probably been about that long since I took a taxi from the official stand.

I either catch one from the departures level, or have the wife pick me up.

It certainly makes more sense to have the taxi stand on the arrivals level.

One thing you learn about Thai government agencies, it is best to have too much paperwork as they are very likely to go thorough what you give them and try to think of something else. They often take as a personal defeat if you have everything the first time and they don't get the chance to ask for something else.

If you learn nothing else from reading these forums (fora?), remember the above statement.

This applies to dealing with almost any Thai governmental agency, for anything. Except police...the only paper they want to see has "100" or "1000" and a portrait of the King on it.

Take everything you can think of and more.

Bring two copies of everything, plus the originals.

Do not make a big show of being prepared...it is ok to appear a bit disorganized, even if you are not.

Do not offer any document unless/until it is requested.

Bring exact change for whatever fees you will be paying.

Have some small change along, for going "next door" to photocopy something.

Smile, be polite, jai yen yen...but, there is no reason to kowtow.

The snack food seen in most 7-11....dried seaweed called Big Sheet, the package art looks like a kid puking

Standing in a queue and having people cut in front of you. This seems to happen more here than in the west because in the west someone will usually yell out "back of the line", to the inconsiderate A__hole, but here it happens often.

A Thai friend told me that many Thais do not understand "queue etiquette". I'm thinking "What's there to understand"?

i don't mind this because i will shove the queue jumper out of the way in order to get past them. if they jumped the queue several spots in front of me then this signifies that the queue has been compromised and is now up for grabs to the more aggressive people. it becomes a mad dash to the cashier. if you have ever traveled in China then you will recognize the every man for himself style queues. i haven't seen it as bad in Thailand as i have seen in Beijing and Shanghai. perhaps those cities prepared me for Thailand and now it is no sweat when one person is doing it. it becomes more hectic when there are 20+ people shoving their way to the front.

For example, anywhere in India...

1) Report your passport as stolen, not lost

2) Go to your embassy with that report and request a new passport. You can tell your story there if you like, but it is not the embassy's task to do anything about it.

Lessons learned

1) Carry a photocopy of your passport to use for this type of situation (rental, etc)..."Sorry, this is all that I have with me"

2) When renting a motor vehicle, always do a walkaround with an agent, noting any existing damage, scratches, etc.

I seriously doubt that she can have your passport "blocked" (or BLOCKED)

All taxi departures are supposed to be on the 1st (ground) floor. That is where the official cab stand is.

As a practical matter, you can get a taxi on any floor.

Meter is if the driver turns it on, if not, you insist that he does. If he will not, get out.

Yeah in 18 months or so when they open it.

55555 - there is that small complication

AOT needs to get a handle on the taxi situation overall.

My suggestions:

1) Eliminate the 50 THB tax for taxis departing from the taxi queue

2) More informative signage directing passengers to the lower level for outbound taxis

3) Institute a real taxi queue instead of those stupid desks...like most major airports, you just get in the queue, taxis are lined up and ready to go, you take the taxi at the front of the line. No paper required, needs one person administering the head of the queue.

4) Strictly enforce the "no passengers from the departures level" rule...for both taxis and touts. Without too much effort this could be enforced for private cars as well. The arrivals level driveway is usually all but deserted.

"Meter or not meter" is not AOT's problem.