hansnl

Looking to rent a car in Ubon Oct 13,2008 - Oct 19 can any member recommend an agency that will not overcharge. thanks

Big agencies are more expensive but have more or less fixed price tables.

Smaller agencies or one-offs have floating price lists.

If you have a Thai woman with you with hair on her teeth, let her check out the prices before you show up.

If the prices are raised when they see you, just go to the next one.

Presuming you are farang!

Try the airport!

Can anyone tell me I can find or give me info on the bus from bkk to nong khai also the return leg nong khai to bkk. I am just looking for the times from Morchit.

Thanks

There are 2-3 departures per hour to Udon Thani and beyond, or more!

Several companies, several classes, several types of buses.

Would not be a problem.

Most stop running after 01:00 at nigt, and start again about 06:00 in the morning.

Chan Tour, Nakonchai Air, 407 are A/C and run every hour.

Chan Tour is good, Nakomchai air is better, 407 seems to be ok.

We use Chan or Nakonchai, sometimes 1st class

Good show, but more expensive

Alternative: the train, direct to Nong Khai from Hua Lampoong

Takes longer, but you can really lay down on a bed

1st airco, 2nd airco or fan, see the website of Thai Railways

Digitalchromokey posted the following correct statement in another thread.

" BTW It is illegal to be without your passport in Thailand - better get a second one. You cannot post a passport overseas from Thailand to get a Thai visa.

I have a 1 year Non B multiple that is due to run out soon. I also recently acquired a work permit. I am being told that my local Immigration will NOT give me a 1 year extension because the company is also new and the work permit is valid for 6 months only.

Fine, I understand this.

So I call around all of South East Asia and am being told by the Embassies / Consulates that they will not issue a Non B Multiple to me because of the 6 month work permit and I can show no company tax records ... etc

Fine, I understand this as well.

So, Digitalchromakey made a correct statement that you CANNOT mail your passport out of Thailand for a new visa. You must be in possession of it all the time. I have heard of people getting caught at Immigration when their in and out stamps dont add up.

Now it looks like I have to take a 30.000 Bt + flight to somewhere like Hull to get a visa, thats not a financial option sadly.

My question is ( FINALLY ) ............ If i were to go to a neighboring country and mail my passport from there is that considered illegal ?

A few days holiday in KL, a visit to Fedex and hopefully within 5ish days I will get my passport back.

Has this been done and if so, is it deemed illegal ?

Do i personally have to appear or be in the country where I am applying for the Thai visa from. ????

Any other options as to how to get a Non B Multiple 1 year GREATLY appreciated.

The relations between countries are governed by International law or bilateral agreements between two countries or a group of countries.

One of the rules is that if you are in a country as a tourist and you are not registered as living in that country, you must be in possession of yout travel documents, or temporarily documents issued by your own Embassy.

If not in possession of your passport or other documents, you cannot prove who you are, or that you are legally in that country.

So sending your passport to England, I presume you are from the UK, while, for example stying in Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam/Malaysia & all, and not in your possession of your passport, you are not able to prove your identity, which is deemed NOT legal in nearly all countries of the world.

Besides, all Thai Embassies and Consulates are not allowed to send your passport with visa abroad.

And, if the passport arrives in the mail from another country, they will probably not give you the visa anyway, because obviously, you are not living in the same country as where the Embassy or Consulate is.

Worst case scenarion, the passport gets mislaid, lost or whatever?

You think you will have no problem there?

Making life hel_l for travellers is not the way to do things.

What will be happening if, or when, the rail link will be opened?

Because be certain that lots of passemgers will choose for this transport, and forget about taxi's

It happened in very many airports in the world.

Desperate measures, because they know their time will soon be up.

As soon as the rail link is finished, taxis be damned.

You won't catch me hauling my luggage through the Bangkok heat to get to a BTS station, ever.

What about getting the raillink to the airport, not the BTS!

I wish you good luck, taxi for you!

Now of course rewriting the constitution is the most important thing to do for this Government.

Economic woes are completely overshadowed by the importance to take care of the woes of Mr TS.

Some 300 taxi drivers block road to Suvarnabhumi Airport

SUVARNABHUMI: -- Some 300 taxi drivers block roads to Suvarnbhumi Airport on Thursday to protest police who they said arrested them for not using meters when being hired to go out of Bangkok.

The blockage of the roads to arrival and departure lounges which are on the second and fourth floors respectively forced many people both Thais and foreigners to get off their vehicles and walked to the lounges.

-- The Nation 2008--0-02

I know, a lot of taxi drivers support a lot of families.

But, also a lot of, shall we say, less scrupulous people?

It is a bloody shame that entering Thailand from abroad, you have no connecting transport to Don Mueang or Bangkok that can be seen as convenient, clean, fast, etc.

The only choice you have is the "Airport-limousines" run by the people mentioned before, or the taxi service also run by the same people.

The first are overcharging you as a matter of principle, the latter you have to fight over switching on the meter so not to be overcharged.

And all touted to you by a whole regiment of guys and dolls not really looking very trustworthy.

There should have been a good rail service to Don Mueang or Bangkok ready when the airport opened, on the same day.

Or, a good, fast reasonably priced regular bus service.

It is shameful and an awful loss of face for Thailand for confronting visitors with these 4th world transport choices.

And it might be time to show the taxi operators, and maybe some drivers, that this is not the way to do it.

Lowering standards to keep the "less scrupulous people" in enough cash is not the way to go.

Making life hel_l for travellers is not the way to do things.

What will be happening if, or when, the rail link will be opened?

Blocking the lines?

Because be certain that lots of passemgers will choose for this transport, and forget about taxi's

It happened in very many airports in the world.

I would think any normal, well-organized visa applicant would go to the consulate early, when the temperatures are lower, rather than take a chance of getting stuck in a long line and eventually turned away. This is pretty much the norm in any country. It is their consulate and they can do what they want with the gates but it was very nice for the consular official to actually come and make a statement and try and make ammends. Maybe there's a trend of applicants coming in later and later since one does get rather laid back and relaxed in Vientiane.

You make a comment and I presume you were not in the consulate on that day.

Why do you think that coming earlier would have made any difference for the waiting time.

The whole thing hinges on the processing time per applicant.

If very many people come very early, you still have to wait in line for the number of people standing in front of you multiplied by the processing time per customer divided by the number of processing officers.

Which means that people coming later, might be waiting longer, or shorter.

And if all the customers were standing in front of the door at 5 in the morning, there still would have been a problem at 12 if there are more people as can be processed in the allotted time available.

The whole thing is that sending away 30 people who were inside the office before closing time, knowing they probably came from far away and had already waited for a long time, is something that they can do, but remains a very nasty, unwelcoming shitty thing to do.

Yes, it is their consulate, and oh dear the nice man came to tell you to fuc_k off, and so nice to tell those people being sent away the obvious thing to do next morning, or maybe he just came out because he got a wee bit afraid of trouble or loosing face?

But it may be the norm in the countries around Thailand and in Thailand to send people away that waited for a long time already, but that does not make it right, it remains a shameful thing to do and does not shed a favourable light on officials and on Thailand!

The right thing the consulate should have done is to close the door at 12 and process the people already inside.

Or maybe close the door earlier?

On the other hand, having lunch later is impossible, and very disturbing for one's digestion.

And of course the customers are there for the officers, and definitely not the other way around.

And I think that most people coming into Vientiane for visa purposes are not really laid back, knowing the way things are in Nong Khai.

I guess most are at least a little screwed up, and maybe even a little nervous.

In short, your comment is not really helping, a little beside the facts, and blaming people who come in for a visa to be lazy, stupid and unthinking.

Call them.

You try!

Today I went to Pattaya immigration for move the stamp to new passpot issued by local italian embassy .

I brought both passport (the new and the old one) but the official asked me a letter of guarantee from my embassy that declare that this passport is issued by themselves and that is genuine.

I phone to my ermbassy and they will give me the letter (no problem) , but at the same time they been amazed for that unusual requirement.

Have someone of you knowledge about that ?

Now, I fear the Imm officer was not able to read.

I presume that somewhere in the passport is the phrase that shows where the passport was issued where, when and by whom.

I wonder if you want to travel outside Thailand at immigration you will be sent back to the embassy too for this letter.

STUPIDO

Yes, well, I think maybe it is time to look for another insurance.

I definitely think this could be a very good idea.

In the meantime I stopped my auto debit with AIA.

Read very well, a huge chunk of money will be transferred to the US, plus yearly payments.

I would like to know what the US included into the 80+ billion loan?

Maybe extra money from Thailand and all the other "daughters"?

What does that mean for AIA Thailand?

Byebye AIA

If the CEO's of all the companies which went down the drain in the past few weeks alone didn't know about their own <deleted>, how come Mr. Tarisa would know how much money Thai Institutions have invested in the US ?

That just describes the very high quality of CEO's of companies that went down the drain.

In general, please don't be sorry for those suckers, of course they knew but did not tell, of course they have no problem because their money will still be safe, of course they don't give a f*cking d*mn about you loosing money.

Have a look how the whole balloon with fried air is bursting.

Khun Tarisa is a woman

Really?

Now that gem of wisdom is most certainly HIGHLY important.

All I jotted down is sexe-equivalent.

So please read for Mr Tarisa, Mrs Tarisa.

Thank you very much.

Greetings ....Firstly, great to meet some of you guys at the TV BBQ...and thanks to the sponsors...now to more serious topic.

I was disturbed to see my father in Law this trip, as his health has really gone down hill. From an elderly yet strapping man, thin but strong, he has, in a matter of months, really gone down-hill. his eyes are blood red, can hardly walk, breathing hard...it's sad to see .

Now guys, what is the best facility in Surin for him to have a complete workup medically, including in particular a good 'eye specialist'. I will be back in November with the wife and want to take him to the Surin town for the best treatment...but WHERE>?

Thanks guys.

Collin

Hello Colin

I am so sorry to read about the decline of your father in law.

Indeed, it is sometimes very disturbing to meet again someone after some time and see how people can get only a shadow of themselves in a relatively short time.

I understand that you want to give him the best possible medical care.

But before you go the whole way, why don't you take your father inlaw to a known doctor for a complete checkup?

Depending on the outcome of this checkup, you can go the next step.

This is not because I want to save you some money, but sometimes older people are more at ease in surroundings they have been before.

Maybe it is just something simple, curable by some simple medicine or solution, and you did not make your father in law worry about himself too much.

If, and I hope it is not, it is something more serious, you can always take the next step.

My wife and I did the same with my father in law (80), who went down the drain in an alarming rate last year.

I, being a farang, wanted to give him the best possible care and bring him to a private hospital.

My wife, as ever very realistic, told me to be calm, and asked me if I could stomach the fact that maybe her father had decided that it was his time?

And he consulted a doctor he had seen before, this man talked a long time to him, and together they decided to run tests.

He stayed in the hospital for 2 days, run the whole shebang of medical tests.

The doctor described some medicines, told him to eat some special foods, and send him home.

That was 16 months ago, and the old man is back to normal again.

The reason of his decline was a deficit of vitamines and other stuff.

Why do I tell this?

Only because sometimes we have to hold back a little bit.

Us farang always want to go the whole way with a lot of haste.

Sometimes that really is not the right way for elderly Thai people.

Talk this over with your wife, and maybe talk this over with your father in law.

Before you do anything!

Take care

Hansnl

Nearly 12:00 in Khon Kaen and it hasn't started raining !!! (yet) - in fact its fairly bright for the first time in about a week - don't suppose it will last

It will rain today, look to the colour of the sky above you, all the signs for rain are there.

Warning: it has been medically proven that AIDS can be contracted through the ears by listening to ar5eholes. Be careful around here.

To answer your question. I'm not entirely sure farangs (westerners) prefer Thailand over Malaysia it's just that Thailand is cheaper and take a look what that attracts. Also you won't get many afficianados of Malaysia on a Thailand based website, well you wouldn't expect it would you?

I've lived some years on and off in Malaysia both in Kuala Lumpur and Kertih (Terranganu state - Muslim) and can say that, by and large, I have been treated very well with no antipathy evident. Yes it is a majority Muslim society but that does not affect non-Muslims and even up in Terranganu it was not oppressive and as long as you follow some basic rules of respect for the religion you are okay. In Kuala Lumpur you'd hardly notice it was a Muslim society, yes the women cover themselves up but the dress is bright and colourful so don't let the a'holes tell you they all wear burkhas. There is a sizable Chinese and Indian population so most everything you could want is available. There are even some pretty hot nightclubs in KL and they stay open later than in BKK.

There are great advantages to Malaysia for a foreigner the biggest being you, provided you meet certain financial criteria, can own 100% in YOUR name property in the country (and in MY ownership extends down to the center of the Earth FWIW ). The climate is wetter than Thailand but that means the country is greener. There are some beautiful beaches, mountains and forests. The infrastructure is better than Thailand and English is widely spoken so communications are easy although it is only polite to learn at least a bit of Bahasa Malaysia. Oh, I nearly forgot, visas are a lot less hassle than Thailand.

However there is always the threat of civil disturbance due to ethnic tensions but they are not blowing each other up.

Basically they are two different countries and each person likes one or the other according to personal taste. I loved Malaysia as I also love it here in Viet Nam but where will I hang my hat? Well the jury is still out but Thailand is still front runner and I'm keeping an open mind on the subject.

I think a few of your thoughts need updating.

About Malaysia, I mean.

Why should tourists come to Thailand and spend their time and money in a country where the PAD party is saying farangs go home...???

That is some of the rhetoric that is occuring in that camp.

And the same was more or less said by Thaksin.

Thailand has been colonized by Chinese immigrants who now completely run the country...

Oops, that is a hit!

Pardon for asking, but why is there left hand driving in Thailand?

Anybody can shed some light over that burning question for me?

Thank you

Yes, well, I think maybe it is time to look for another insurance.

I definitely think this could be a very good idea.

In the meantime I stopped my auto debit with AIA.

Read very well, a huge chunk of money will be transferred to the US, plus yearly payments.

I would like to know what the US included into the 80+ billion loan?

Maybe extra money from Thailand and all the other "daughters"?

What does that mean for AIA Thailand?

Byebye AIA

If the CEO's of all the companies which went down the drain in the past few weeks alone didn't know about their own <deleted>, how come Mr. Tarisa would know how much money Thai Institutions have invested in the US ?

That just describes the very high quality of CEO's of companies that went down the drain.

In general, please don't be sorry for those suckers, of course they knew but did not tell, of course they have no problem because their money will still be safe, of course they don't give a f*cking d*mn about you loosing money.

Have a look how the whole balloon with fried air is bursting.

Train journey. Bangkok to Penang...

I know this has been covered before but the posts are old, some going back to 2003,

Therefore has anybody made the trip lately ?

I am thinking of going down next month to make a new visa, does anyone have an experience of the train journey ? good or bad

I would go in the general Northeast direction.

Less chance for interruption of service, and also less bomb-scares, or even real bombs.

[/size] Thank you Maestro for informing me.Do you mean by the financial requirements the requirement of an application of a so called retirement visa?? I know that you have to have a deposit in a Thai bank of 800000 bath.And have to be older than 55 years. It should be there at least 3 months on the moment you apply for a retirement visa . my plan is to open indeed an account in a thaibank and deposit the 800000 bath. But my non immigrant O visa is only valu for a stay of 90 days. Suppose I oen the bankaccount on my arrival day and then transfer money to that new account...It will at least take a few days , so when I apply fro the retirement visa , it will not been in deposit for 90 days.Therefore I want to applicate for an extension of stay according to my Non immigrant visa O for another 90 days and during that time applicate for the non immigrant visa...The money will than be over 90 days in the Thai bank deposit.

It is 50 years.

As for the 3 months money in the bank. Each Immigration office is different. Have a chat with them. They will tell you if they will accept it or not.

If not you can easily exit and get another Visa or you can even do it on a 30 entry stamp.

You can always take a hop across the border for a 30-day stamp, to be certain that your money is in the account for 3+ months.

However, it is 800,000 baht in an account for 3 months or an income per month, or a combination of the 2

If you choose the income route, make a visit in the Netherlands for a certified income declaration, visit the Thai embassy website for the right route to go, or take the income declaration to the Dutch embassy, get the letter from the embassy, and off you go to the Immigration Office.

Take care that your 30-day stamp or your O-visa or your extension of stay is still valid for at least 21 days!

Succes gewenst!

Only the Royal Thai Embassy in London use the sticker.

The Consulates in Hull, Birmimgham, Cardiff and Glasgow use a stamp.

The Consulate in Amsterdam also uses a stamp!

What about other countries?

That's nice that the UK government says there's an unspecified law that we need to carry the passport.

How about a Thai government law or regulation that requires a foreigner to carry their passport at all times?

I hate to be so anal, but I'm specifically looking for the Thai law/regulation/police order/etc.

Ofiicially everybody in Thailand aged 16 and older must be able to give proof of his/her identity.

I suppose that is also valid for foreigners.

Thai have their ID-card after 15, and are obliged to carry it, because they must be able to show proof of his/her identity.

I suppose a driving license can do the same for Thai people.

I suppose foreigners have to be able to giove proof of their identity too.

I have a feeling that this is where your passport if for.

However, I have a Dutch ID-card and a passport, and the ID-card is also accepted.

I do have a feeling that the Thai ID-number plays it's part for the Thai officials.

Foreigners having a Thai driving license also have a Thai ID-number.

The ID of foreigners without a Thai ID-Number can only be checked by passport and TM6.

But why make problems for yourself.

Carry the passport, just to stay out of legal or illegal official trouble

I have read that a sponsor's letter of assurance is also required. (inviting the person(s) to their country)

Is this a must?

And if so what are all the main points to cover?

Can anybody provide some brief examples?

The sponsor's letter of assurance is a must. I stated that i would provide enough funds for the return trip, cover any medical expenses and provide general daily living expenses and of course accomodation.

This seemed to be enough in my case.

Cheers, Rick

As far as I am aware, your guarantee for eventual medical expenses is not enough, any more.

Your girlfriend seems to need travel insurance for the period she is staying with you.

Must be one of those European Community rules that actually makes sense.

Medical expenses covered for at least €50,000 or £ 30,000 or 1,000,000 baht

Maybe handy to take cover for accident and medical repatriation?

All the other expenses may be met from your purse.

AIG has a nice one for one year, setting you back 3300 baht for 2M accident, 1,5M medical and 2M repatriation.

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.

The use of the word moron for someone else is probably originating from your name MORtenaa.

This moron sees now that he missed a comma, so very sorry.

Missing the comma does not take away the fact that within the group students in the sex industry, 44.4% were aged between 13 and 16.

You must be leaning to the side of moronism too, if you can only tell us that 55.6% of the students working in the sex industry are older.

That only demonstrates that your calculator is switched on.

It does not make it less awful that such a big portion is so young.

I agree it doesn't make it less anything, but it just blew the air out of your fifteen exclamations

Really?

I am, as always, full of fried air, like the traders in shares and oil.

But in my case without the fringe benefits of a well filled purse.

Besides there were only 7 exclamation marks.

Here are another 8 !!!!!!!!

Total 15

Besides, I do not qualify for moron, only for cheesehead!

And that is 16

But thank you for you agreeing with me.

No offence taken, and I hope not given.

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.

The use of the word moron for someone else is probably originating from your name MORtenaa.

This moron sees now that he missed a comma, so very sorry.

Missing the comma does not take away the fact that within the group students in the sex industry, 44.4% were aged between 13 and 16.

You must be leaning to the side of moronism too, if you can only tell us that 55.6% of the students working in the sex industry are older.

That only demonstrates that your calculator is switched on.

It does not make it less awful that such a big portion is so young.

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!!!!!!!

Please stop making the all too frequent silly and insensitive comments that I often see on TV. One person was killed, two serious injured another twenty-five taken to hospital. If anything, our immediate comments should be to expressive sympathy with those who are suffering as a result of the accident as one of us has already done.

Leave conjecture about the cause of the crash to an investigation and, if you want to anything helpful, advocate for this investigation. If you were not on the bus or didn't witness the accident, I don't see that you have anything useful to contribute to any investigation at this stage.

I am extremely tired of English-speaking people making apparently off-the-cuff negative remarks about events in the Kingdom. If you really are that fed up with Thailand and can only contribute infantile, immature and angry stupid comments. go away.

There are still, I believe, a few of us who read and contribute to TV and who are prepared for the time being to tolerate the ridiculous and damaging contributions of others, but I think our association with TV is dwindling - my motivation to continue with TV certainly is.

To the people still alive and the relatives of the one who lost a life, I offer my sincere sympathy.

Indeed, I understand your sentiments.

However, I wonder if a bus accident should be classified as an event in this wonderful Kingdom.

Some of us come from countries where bus-traffic is very much regulated.

And mostly resulting in less accidents, less deaths, less wounded.

The speed of most buses in Thailand is so high that there is no room for mistakes or faults.

And that also means mistakes and faults from other road users.

And I guess most people making comments, have that on their mind when making comments.

Because bus drivers, being professional drivers, should take into account what other drivers MIGHT do in certain situations.

And driving a big, tall 3-axle bus from Bangkok to Khon Kaen with a speed going downhill of nearly 130 km/h, or hurling a bus on the same roads with speeds of nearly 120 km/h is not very handy if something ontowards might happen.

Most of us have to use buses for going from point A to point B, and most of us do not have a very safe feeling.

Let is face it, the training for driving in Thailand is still in it's infant woes.

Drink-driving is rampant, if I may believe Thai language newspapers.

So, knowing that, and coupled to the rather high speeds of buses, may result in all kinds of comments when an accident with a bus happens.

Most of the people commenting on Thailand are NOT, like me, fed up with Thailand.

But sometimes, comments on what goes on in Thailand, come from the knowledge that things can be done different.

Sometimes comments have a deeper, underlying reason.

Despair and sorrow for all those deaths that should not have happened.

And fear that it will happen one day while one of us is on board.

Of course, sometimes a lot of readers can become irritated with it all.

And yes, sometimes we state the obvious, sometimes we repeat, sometimes we talk before we switch on our brains.

We are, one time or another, all guilty as charged.

But, we express ourselves, express our concerns, share our feelings, joke, laugh and cry.

And most of us love this country.