Dart12

4 hours ago, flexomike said:

I personally drove my friend to Ban Pakkad, sorry don't do taxi service  .m

I meant the cambodian that gave the VIP border service...not the car ride ????

I'm still in awe of the mindset, strength, and commitment of some of these women:

1.   'I'm gonna cheat on you then require you to move out of your own house because I'm gonna let the new guy live with me in your home",...

not only to try that, but to morally and legitimately think with their whole heart they have the moral high ground and are logically right in demanding this.  this was black and white in her favor if to be judged by the gods in her eyes.

2.  the ability to play the long game con to get what they want.  

She went 2 years, had a lapse...then pulled herself up by the bootstraps and dug in another 5 years of dating plus a year of marriage to get all the legal and wills done to syphon everything to her and her alone.

And during this time build no attachment to the mark to just let it slide until he passed...

Nah. work done.  Time to end the charade pull off the sheep clothing and eat all the chickens.

Dang!  The commitment level.

On 4/15/2023 at 1:59 PM, xylophone said:

Good advice Moonlover, and I would encourage guys to do as much research as they possibly can on this because if my situation is anything to go by, then even the best urologists out there are not fully informed, or don't take due care and attention – – a big statement but let me explain: –

 

I suffered from prostatitis for decades and visited several urologists in New Zealand and was prescribed antibiotics on so many occasions that I must have taken many hundreds/thousands of different types of antibiotics, but the prostatitis kept coming back again.

 

The thing about prostatitis is that in most cases it causes the prostate to become inflamed/enlarged, thereby restricting urine flow and therefore putting stress on the bladder, and I remember one urologist who did a flow test on me and then checked the bladder with ultrasound, stating that, "oh, you've got the bladder of an old man", which didn't please me much because I was in my 40s and fit and healthy. BUT, was anything done about it; NO, just put on more antibiotics, which didn't work again.

 

Now the prostatitis/BPH was caused by bacteria in the prostate which antibiotics couldn't touch, for various reasons which I've outlined in previous posts, so for decades my prostate was enlarged and causing my urine flow problems, which I seemed to cope with okay, and didn't pay much attention to it, until I had a TURP and then the bladder problems started because I couldn't empty it. 

 

So frequent use of a self-cath is what I have to use these days, and a recent visit to Bumrungrad hospital to see the top urologist there (thank you Sheryl), confirmed that my bladder had stopped working – – WHY, well he didn't know why, but I suspect the many years of ineffective bladder emptying and a few bladder infections had caused this.

 

I had taken all of the "usual" drugs for BPH like, tamsulosin, doxazosin etc. etc but to no avail, because the damage had been done to the bladder by not addressing the prostatitis years ago, so it's important that you get to know about your prostate and associated urinary tract workings so you can ask questions.
 

In my desperation I tried just about every natural "remedy", such as stinging nettle root, pygeum, saw palmetto etc because I was desperate for a cure, but again to no avail.
 

So to repeat what Moonlover has said, deal with any problems like this, early, because you don't know what they will lead to.

 

For the record, I use the self-cath at night before I go to bed and can usually get by during the day by drinking less fluid and managing the occasional "dribble" by flexing my stomach muscles, and I'm still searching for a potential "magic pill" to make the bladder work again, but it seems unlikely, so I have got to live with this, and as unpleasant as it sounds, I have gotten used to it – – because as someone else has said, in so many words, "I've got no option".

 

Although this won't offer much hope to fellow sufferers of prostatitis/enlarged prostate/bladder problems, one of the top urologists in the US stated that, "this area of medicine is like a medical wasteland", because it wasn't fully understood and not a lot of research had been done on it, however this was about 10 years ago, so perhaps things have improved.

 

PS. Forgot to add this article: 

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia-bph-beyond-the-basics#:~:text=Alpha%2Dreductase%20inhibitors%20%E2%80%94%20Alpha%2D,men%20with%20a%20larger%20prostate

So what would have been the solutiion earlier in life that you didn't do/take?

On 4/14/2023 at 8:25 PM, HuskerDo2 said:

Some of the herbs that have been mentioned are worth a try but the doctor gave me something called Tamsulosin and it works incredibly well. I take 0.4 mg and things "flow" like when I was 20. If I forget to take it for a day the "flow" is still strong but if I miss 2 days in a row the flow is rather weak again. Strongly recommend it.

how quickly did it work when you first tried it?  a day? a week?  more?

12 hours ago, flexomike said:

Just took a friend of mine to Ban Pakkad last week, never crossed the border, one of the Cambodian workers took care of everything all in 2000 baht, that was for the visa, all paperwork and not having to do a border crossing

Sounds wonderful, but not so sure how I also get lucky enough to find this VIP concierge?
You get his number?

I'd honestly pay EXTRA not to do the lines and the eyeball dress downs.

16 hours ago, BritTim said:

That might be a price quote that excludes the Cambodian visa-on-arrival and fee for same day return.

I know of 3 that do it for 3000 total.  Used both.

2 been doing runs for almost 20 years I understand.  So, not out of the realm to be 2600. 

2 go to Ban Pakkard and the other Ban Laem.

 

On 5/1/2023 at 3:48 PM, Mickeymaus said:

Just enter a sample booking and you will see everything. Normally.... it should be in Pattaya after 3 hours. 

 

faster just to head to one of the other bus lines then.  But I guess if you are a tourist here...

and how much extra time do you spend on the bus just getting out of central area??

I want to know how fast "express" is if it's worth using.

ahh. I see why the uproar.  They jacked mine double this month...No extra usage.

ahh, the designed world lockdown true purpose at play worldwide.  No nod to the said factors.  They may be symptoms but not the cause

Even though it won't work for this, you really should try the bbk bank app.  It's quite convenient and simple to use for 98% of things (except PEA and 7-11 lol).

My only issue/question is for others with apps from different banks...

it's slow by todays standards.  Are all the thai bank apps this slow?  It's not dial up slow, but it's walk-slow vs instant.

**Also, someone mentioned TRUEWALLET and Possibly RABBIT PAY.  Do these work with PEA?

I know Rabbit Pay can be set upt within the BBK app and then I could use it at 7-11 instead of cash only.

But hasn't been a big enough headache to finish it yet.

22 hours ago, david1806 said:

Hi all....

 

Quick update for those interested.

 

Bus picked me up from my condo. Everyone pleasant and more importantly, quiet. Got to border about 9.15am. Immigration both sides really friendly, lots of little helpers running around. Apart from queuing which was a bit of a ball ache, plus a dinner on way home....all went smooth. Got back about 3pm. DEFINITELY the way to go for me......

 

3900 baht, but of course, bumped into someone I know last night,  who can get exactly the same service for 2,600 baht!!  It's also out there at 5,500 baht. I hate shopping around, but seriously, these Visa services vary wildly in prices. 

 

Cheers all! ????????

 

What agent does this for 2,600?

I've been to both Ban Pakkard and Ban Laem recently within past 5? months.

Only 2 differences I saw/ know of:

1. Laem was much quicker due to much less crowded border (went to both same day).

Pakkard was a 4 hour Disney line esque wait on both sides.

Laem was 25 minutes (but did have vip treatment) but without it probably would've been only about an hour.

2. And this is a big one.  If you have passport hiccups, Laem is the one that can help you navigate thru that.  Have an agent that goes there frequently of course.  

 

42 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

I would not count on immigration at a land border transferring extension of stay stamps etc. Even if they can, you would likely face delays and in soem cases erhaos be told to go to a different location etc.

 

However from your posts above it seems all you have is an entry stamp from a visa exempt entry. In that case there is really no need to transfer anything. Just show both passports on your way out so they can locate the entry stamp.

 

Use new passport on your next entry.

yeah, I am in country from a 30 day entry stamp, then I extended my stay another 30 days with extension stamp and now will be doing 2nd border run of year (and hopefully last of lifetime).
The extension stamp (and entry stamp) are in my emergency (canceled) visa.

so I can just take those to the border, no need to go to immigration prior?

I've decided I'm going to use an agent as well.  Seems too many small hiccups.  I just really didn't want a cramped van ride again.

I'll report back with what they tell me after they reply too.

2 hours ago, zzzzz said:

BOLD above:
immigration on departure from thailand can and will transfer all relevant info form old passport to new> just arrive early so you have time.

Does this include immigration at land borders?

13 hours ago, BritTim said:

That depends. If you are in Thailand on a visa exempt entry, or with an entry from a visa (where all that needs to be transferred is basically your entry stamp) that can be done at the border. If leaving by land, note that you may need to wait until the official who is supposed to do stamp transfers is available. If you have an extension of stay with an existing re-entry permit, I believe (at the airport at least) they can transfer enough to allow you to leave Thailand and return. However, the extension (and re-entry stamp in the old passport) will not be transferred. You will still need to visit the immigration office that issued those to have them transferred.

I'm not quite following your explanation (my fault not yours).

But It is a visa exempt entry and then last stamp is 30 day extension stamp.

I will be doing a land border run to cambodia.

Will I need that transfered in advance? or be fine taking both passports to the border?



 

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Unless you are using a car, getting to Ban Laem is difficult under your own steam. It is even trickier than going to Ban Pakard. I only went to Ban Laem once, just after it opened to foreigners. (At that time, they encountered an average of fewer than one foreigner a day: different now.)  If planning to use public transport, Ban Pakard is to be preferred. There are direct vans/songtaeos from Chanthaburi. If wanting to do this, leave very early in the morning. It is difficult to find transport back from Ban Pakard in the late afternoon.

 

Phet Prasert used to have fast, comfortable early morning buses to Chanthaburi. You could contact them to see if they still do.

 

Estimated costs for experienced travellers who can dodge scams without upsetting officials:

• Pattaya to Chanthaburi return about 500 baht
• Chanthaburi to Ban Pakard return about 200 baht
• Cambodian visa on arrival US$30 (must have pristine notes). The officials will probably want more. Your demeanour is extremely important. You are friendly, quiet and smiling. You apologetically indicate that, while you sympathise with them, you are a poor traveller who cannot afford to pay more than the official visa fee.
• 0 to 300 baht for same day return. There is a Cambodian law that mandates an overnight stay. Officials will usually want to charge an unofficial fee to disregard this regulation. You can try to dodge it, but pay up with a good grace if they make it clear they want to be paid.

The above represents the costs if all goes well. There are expert scammers at work at Ban Pakard (and according to reports also at Ban Laem). Well done if you can emerge unscathed.

 

Doing this trip under your own steam involves a pretty long and stressful day (unless you have your own transport). If an agent has a comfortable, not overloaded van, and can provide a package deal that includes all fees, then paying a premium for an organised border bounce is probably justified. It almost eliminates the uncertainty.

it would be under my own transport.

ok. fee would be roughly 1500 baht at the borders if all is done kosher without an agent.

More so wondering the difficulties exiting and re-entering at the border if on my own.

My Agent price is good. 

But the vans, even the newest ones...have been packed full. 

And they have No leg room.  I ACHE eventually pretty bad during the trip in the legs and my back.

I remember swearing to myself not to do that to myself again last time. 

Plus, all the agents seem to get there about same time...it was like an additional 4 hours standing in lines.

It's an absolute miserable day.

Unfortunately, I have to make one more trek to get the needed time to process a long term visa again.


But to revisit the most important question.... you think it's a minefield to just go myself with no agent help?


o

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

If you already have two visa exempt entries by land in 2023, there is nothing to stop you from going to Vientiane or Savannakhet for a tourist visa. However, you will not have the security of knowing you will still be able to re-enter Thailand visa exempt by land even if your visa application is denied.

ahh. I see the conundrum .

1 hour ago, Gaccha said:

I don't know about your country, But my recollection for the emergency travel documents is they can only be used to enter your Motherland. 

 

Not sure though...

 

My emergency passport is already canceled too.  I now have my permanent fresh one, but need the stamp transfered from emergency to perm.

Which brings me to a question, that can be done at the border exiting, right?

I just ordered new US passport.  

Embassy website said 21-28 days.

I had 45 days.  I didn't waste a second after getting visa and mailing it to embassy.

4 weeks in... I asked embassy if it ready.

they said, friday.  if not, it will be here monday.

I waited and both failed to appear.

Week 5.  Same thing.

Week 6.  repeated same refrain.

It's one thing to to be running late, but they were claiming something specific that I NEEDED to know.

Day 40 or so I called again, and they said ....same thing lol.

So, my last visa day was good on a monday.  they called me friday and said I can come get an emergency visa as it will be there monday (they said if official this time).

Of course I took it.  But I had to cancel my day and rush my butt to BKK and barely got there in time as they decided they were going to close early since it was friday.  Got in by a whisker.

Now, if they were just polite and honest...and told me wednesday that it would be MOnday...I could have EMSed it for 40 baht and they could have mailed me the emergency one...instead it cost me nearly an additional 5000 baht and a lost day to get there and back.

the last thing in the world I wanted to do was to start my new passport off with an overstay.

It all worked out...but it was a much bigger pain than it should have been.  They were 3 weeks later than said delivery date when I sent it.

I paid an agent to get my 30 day extension.  I don't think they charged me extra for the stamp transfer.

If you need to get stamp transfered on it's own...the agent charges 900.

I'm doing a border run soon where I'll need to transfer stamp again from emergency to the official passport.

No. Since I got emergency passport to 4 days later...they NO LONGER GIVE OUT LETTER FROM EMBASSY.

they say this is fine and immigration and border will accept.  But hey, when is it ever easy during a new process?

We'll see.

Goodluck!

On 4/27/2023 at 12:32 AM, BritTim said:

Although I absolutely do not recommend it, the cheapest way of getting from Pattaya to the border at Aranyaprathet/Poi Pet is by train (Pattaya to Chachoengsao in the afternoon, connecting with the train out of Bangkok heading to Aran). It is even cheaper than using the casino bus.

 

To the OP: there is a high probability you are going to stuff this up. If you do not already have the 30-day extension of your tourist entry, do that first. Do not use Poi Pet for your border bounce unless you are a wild gambler. That crossing is known to hate those doing border bounces, and they can find ways to really ruin your life. Unfortunately, the other border crossings are not easy to do independently as a casual traveller. Leave very early in the morning. You need to take the bus from Pattaya to Chanthaburi and take a van or songtaeo from there to the border at Ban Pakard. Check the current location of vans and songtaeos when you arrive in Chanthaburi. As a naïve, inexperienced traveller, you will get scammed at Ban Pakard, but may well remain oblivious to the fact.

any issues with Ban leam border if I try this myself?  

Tired of hitting the swamped part of day and aching in a van for an entire day each trip.

BTW, what is the cost of runs to cambodia without agent?  I've only done this with an agent before.

On 4/28/2023 at 8:33 AM, Rosho said:

You may avoid all the hustle with our very affordable long-term visa alternatives https://thailand-success.solutions Check it out! We could help this year already dozens of people in our Social Enterprise ecosystem to find peace of mind, opportunities, compliance, and security.

that website needs some serious work to be helpful.

15 hours ago, BritTim said:

I assume you want to do an actual visa run (i.e. visiting a Thai embassy/consulate for a tourist visa). Laos has recently been a good place to do this. I really do not advise using a visa run company for this. They will almost certainly take you to Savannakhet on days when the consulate is swamped with applicants. Also, note that a recent report from a credible source indicates that Savannakhet has become stricter in issuing tourist visas.

 

If you are enquiring with the view to doing a visa run several weeks from now, I strongly recommend that you make an appointment at the Thai embassy in Vientiane, and get the visa there. Travel to Nong Khai by train or fly to Udon airport. If your application for a tourist visa in Vientiane is unexpectedly denied. you can still return via the Friendship Bridge with a visa exempt entry (assuming you are eligible, and have not used your two allowed land based visa exemptions for 2023).

can I get this after two land runs?

What is this famed ladyboy insurance?  

I need to contact my agent and make sure I get me some.

Seems more lucrative than bitcoin right now.