Briggsy

Only in a country without any real press freedom, would such a story with all the key details omitted be published. And that regarding an interview with the PM's father who is clearly acting as the PM. Fill in the blanks.

Yes, it turned out it was a Russian but it was the same as the car being driven around Pattaya that you referenced. I loved the picture of the police raid from outside the compound!

At night too. Completely brainless. However, I see many trying to cross there and a fair proportion of them are Chinese. I wonder if on all of the Chinese forums about travelling in Thailand on the cheap (that they all religiously follow) there is a thread about crossing Sukhumvit to get the 10 Baht baht bus rather than a 60 Baht motorbike.

Aaaahh, I was wrong. Russian. Damn.

Chinese or Russian? My money is on Chinese through a Thai proxy.

How did he even manage to catch the plane to get here? This guy must severely try anybody that knows him.

You give other people problems?

Quite possibly. Very mixed messages on that one at the moment but it is still early days. The early birds have only had their DTV's for just over 7 months. On the one hand, the DTV appeared on a video issued by Immigration. The video warned foreigners not to use visa exempts or tourist visas but to get a proper visa and then provided examples of a Non-Immigrant Visa and a DTV. So, the official Immigration video references the DTV as a proper visa. On the other hand, we know that denials of entry seem to appear when Immigration feel a situation is threatening their agent-derived income. At the moment there are no reliable reports of denial of entry.

It looks like the motorbike had right of way but there may have been signs I could not see. Or perhaps it is an unmarked junction where everybody should check to see the way is clear. Neither did. So, definitely the police vehicle driver was guilty of careless driving and quite a serious instance of it. Amazingly it looks like both people on the bike were wearing helmets! The music was great. The dog was first on the scene offering assistance.

If any more reasons were required, this is absolutely the nail in the coffin not to do a DTV permission-to-stay extension. Leave the country twice per year is obviously the route to take. You will need to leave once a year anyway because, as I understand it, you can only do one extension per entry. Why would anybody put themselves through these administrative hoops and take the chance of being forced to leave the country at very short notice with a negative stamp in the passport?

Two state solution is the answer.

This sounds so crazy and unbelievable. I think everybody quoted is lying.

I think you can be sure that they have been for years.

Hang on a minute. The story seems to contradict itself. Is this Thai companies offering a service to Chinese aircraft or a Thai government entity offering Thai land for a Chinese company to offer services to another Chinese entity therefore offering very little economic benefit to Thailand. The latter seems to be the M.O. for all Chinese operations outside of mainland China. This ensures the money never leaves the Chinese economy. Other than the bribes for the civil servants for greasing the wheels and getting the contract signed, I don't see any benefit for Thailand. In addition, public sector unions would usually vehemently oppose such a move. However, union leaders are often bribed as well.

Those Scandis! This place is so different to Scandiland that they are guaranteed to come a cropper. "The beer is so cheap and plentiful. The locals are so in need of charity. I need to spend my money and drink a lot for the good of humanity. I must trust everybody just like in Scandiland. I am not naive, really."

Lock him up. (and show his face)

Two state solution is the answer but Israel are currently not interested.

Are you being paid a salary with the tourism company or are you simply receiving dividend payouts? It would be hard to see how a work permit could be issued without a salary given the minimum salary requirements.

Do not try to attend Immigration in Koh Sichang or Laem Chabang. These offices are not standard offices but only have very limited services primarily for seafarers and ship passengers. Please disregard this information. You will waste your time.

Or the whole thing could be an effective advertising/fundraising campaign.

Indeed, prior to my whacky but potentially successful plan, I would give it a go at the DLT with the DTV to see if they would give me a 5-year licence. The sign in Sri Racha specifically states "Non-Imm Visa" but who knows.

I did my 90 day notification with a DTV at Jomtien. Very straightforward. Documents required 1. Completed TM47 2. Copy of entry stamp 3. Copy of passport details page 4. Copy of TM30 DTV eVisa not required. But take everything, you never know! At Jomtien, you will be told to return in 30 mins / 1 hour / 2 hours depending on how busy they are after handing in documents. Plenty of eateries around there.

Great advice above. I would add that Paksan (Pakxan) is a shorter bus ride than Savannakhet.

Driving into parked trucks definitely seems to be the fashion now in Thailand. I can't help but connect it to the endemic phone use whilst driving (and watching tv).

The BBC running with a story that the US seeking to tie Iran into a non-nuclear deal at the same time as this announcement on Gaza. The Gaza announcement gets the headlines and keeps Netanyahu happy because it keeps his rebellious ultra-Zionist coalition partners happy. At the same time, the Iran news which would send the ultra-Zionist into a fury has been buried.