vagabond48

Thanks for the few of you that actually answered my inquiry.

As I wrote, I had no intention to go the Burmese side especially since it would have cost me and my wife (not GF) each, $10 entry plus 1000B for our re-entry permit.

if your wife is thai, it does not cost her anywhere near that.

and your cost is 100b plus 500b, or $10 if you have it or care to change it to save yourself circa 150b.....which in your case sounds most important.

She is not. My cost explanation still stands. I guess you don't need to get a re-entry permit as we do.

It does not as you do not need a re entry permit.....you can get a vip day pass.

If that is the case, I stand corrected.

Zay Hi is all I ever use.

http://www.zayhi.com/

0.95 THB per minute to Australia (rates change weekly/daily?). I call Switzerland, USA, U.K., Czech Republic, Germany, Spain often and have been using it for years. Great connection and cheap. They used to sell cards but I don't think they have cards anymore. They just give you a receipt with PIN code. You can buy 100, 300, 500, or 1000 THB. Good for about 6 months. Available at any Post Office. You can call a number and the computer calls you right back so you don't even incur a local charge.

Highly recommended.

I bought the ZayHi card and found it to be a hit and miss calling China. I use a mobile to call and use their call back but they charge a 1/2 baht per minute. I believe you mentioned in another thread you use a land line to make your calls. Perhaps when they call a land line, there is only one fee per call.

I haven't tried calling China with it but for Europe, USA, it's great. I have also called Japan with it and there were no problems. I don't know much about mobiles and how they charge but I don't understand how you would lose 50 Satang per minute if they are calling you back? You should only lose a Baht or two (whatever you are charged by your provider) for the 5 seconds you connect with them before they disconnect and call you back?

My wife calls China and the connection quality varies greatly.

This is what I read on their website. Unless I read it wrong, I assume if they call a mobile, they are charged as well or they use it as an excuse to tack on an additional 1/2B per minute. You actually don't get charged calling the call back number since you hang up after 1 ring.

We just spend a night in Mae Salong. Since, it is high season there, we stayed at Shinsane in a somewhat rundown bungalow costing 500B, We ate at a Chinese style restaurant. We had a Yunnan style chicken dish which tuned out to be mostly skin and bones for 350B and 3 vegetable dishes for 120B each. My wife complained about the chicken and they added a little more meat.

Thanks for the few of you that actually answered my inquiry.

As I wrote, I had no intention to go the Burmese side especially since it would have cost me and my wife (not GF) each, $10 entry plus 1000B for our re-entry permit.

if your wife is thai, it does not cost her anywhere near that.

and your cost is 100b plus 500b, or $10 if you have it or care to change it to save yourself circa 150b.....which in your case sounds most important.

She is not. My cost explanation still stands. I guess you don't need to get a re-entry permit as we do.

Zay Hi is all I ever use.

http://www.zayhi.com/

0.95 THB per minute to Australia (rates change weekly/daily?). I call Switzerland, USA, U.K., Czech Republic, Germany, Spain often and have been using it for years. Great connection and cheap. They used to sell cards but I don't think they have cards anymore. They just give you a receipt with PIN code. You can buy 100, 300, 500, or 1000 THB. Good for about 6 months. Available at any Post Office. You can call a number and the computer calls you right back so you don't even incur a local charge.

Highly recommended.

I bought the ZayHi card and found it to be a hit and miss calling China. I use a mobile to call and use their call back but they charge a 1/2 baht per minute. I believe you mentioned in another thread you use a land line to make your calls. Perhaps when they call a land line, there is only one fee per call.

Thanks for the few of you that actually answered my inquiry.

As I wrote, I had no intention to go the Burmese side especially since it would have cost me and my wife (not GF) each, $10 entry plus 1000B for our re-entry permit.

My wife and I are doing a short trip around the Golden Triangle by car. We'll be passing near Mae Sai so I was wondering if there is anything worth buying on the Thai side of the border (liquor, food stuff, dry goods, etc.) that would be a lot cheaper than CM.

Thanks

My wife and I are doing a short trip around the Golden Triangle by car. We'll be passing near Mae Sai so I was wondering if there is anything worth buying on the Thai side of the border (liquor, food stuff, dry goods, etc.) that would be a lot cheaper than CM.

As has been said, it is important to knwo if it was the OP's firt extension of stay or not. With the first extension of stay it is not uncommen to ask for this information, to determine which immigration office the applicant should apply to.

Excellent point.

I did mine 2 weeks ago for me and my wife who is my dependent and I was not asked for any proof of residency. I just provided the usual copies of passport pages plus original and copies of my marriage documents for my wife's dependent extension.

Are people talking about getting a Retirement Visa or extending an existing one.

two different animals.

"Retirement visas" are never offered at immigration offices in Thailand -- period.

Well, I wish they'd stop stamping 'Retirement Visa' in red on the top of my annual extension.

.......period seems not to have the same clout, after this year.

Out of curiosity, I checked my passport which is only 5 years old and the official blue stamp for my 2010 to 2014 extensions does not show the word "visa" or "extension". Only the number 2.22 explains the reason for the extension. For 2012 and 2013 only, they did stamp the additional word "retirement" next to the "good until" date and not "visa". I did have the same female officer for 2012 and 2013 who was not there when I arrived for my 2014 extension appointment. Perhaps there is another "retirement visa" stamp floating around.

Consequently you see much more 2nd hand cars with LPG. That's all. I would avoid cars with very high milage though, since indeed some parts of the engine wear out somewhat more with LPG. When running LPG you should also switch regularly to normal gasoline.

Just curious what do you consider high mileage?

Regarding switching to normal gasoline, do you have a routine to follow, for example, 1000km on LPG followed by 100km gas or turning off LPG once a day driving for X minutes using regular gas?

17.46 per litre here in Chiang Mai

I believe you meant 14.76 which appears to be the standard price. We bought a used converted LPG Civic this year and have been buying our LPG down the street for 14.37 for the last 7 months . Several days ago, I saw one station near the Royal Gardens selling for 14.25.

My wife and I went for our annual retirement extension with her as my dependent. We had back to back appointments starting at 1:30PM. After waiting over 20 minutes, I walked up to the counter and politely mentioned that while I was waiting, they had called 2 numbers handled by the extension desks. She spoke to someone and my wife and I were asked to go to the back to see her boss. Oh Oh, are we in trouble? Nah, he had us seat down and as efficiently as possible took care of us quickly. Of course, it helps that all our docs and copies were in order. From the time of our appointment, it took only 65 minutes to get our passports back. After leaving the extension desk, I got 2 numbers for our re-entry permits.

In about 2 hours after our 1st appointment, we left immigration with 2 extensions and 2 re-entry permits.

The CM Immigrations really had their act together that day. Thanks to all the fine officers of that department.

One small note. Always check your passport for the proper dates. My wife's re-entry permit had the old "good until date" not the new one. The date that was stamped on the re-entry permit was earlier than the departure date I wrote on both our applications. I caught this and it was corrected promptly. My re-entry permit "good until date" was correct.

It needs to be insured and taxed annually. No inspection until bike is 5 years old. You just need to go into you local DVLC office with the green registration book. There is usually a desk to buy insurance, then take book and insurance slip to the counter, and pay. If you can't be bothered there are plenty of agents who will do it all for you for a small extra fee.

When I bought the bike I got a 2 year policy from the Honda dealer. Is that the type of insurance you are referring to? If yes, I guess I just need to pay the annual tax then?

Oh, I forgot to mention that my registration expired at the end of November. Are they going to hit me with any penalties?

I did some searches but came up with nothing for re-registering a MC.

I bought a brand new Honda motorcycle last year and the Honda dealer took care of the registration. Can I assume that the MC needs to be registered/inspected annually? If yes, this will be the 1st time I have done this so can someone please advise, what I need to do, paper work, inspection, etc?

Thanks

I am a bit confused. Are you referring to buying and paying for AA online?

When you purchase AA online, it brings you to a Review and Pay web page with 3 tabs, Credit Card/Debit Card, E-Gift Voucher, and Direct Debit.

Which option do you use to pay AA Online or do you do it a different way that I am not familiar with?

I just ran through a test order - yep I usually do the Direct Debit one, it's been a while so I forgot the intricacies but I don't believe you need a debit card.

When you continue after selecting SCB, next web page reads

Identification Card Number _____________________

So to confirm, you enter your SCB bank account number instead of the debit card number?

Thanks again for your replies.

I never spotted a Direct Debit option, but I have paid via SCB bank transfer, I believe you just log in to online banking and make a transfer with a reference number - no need for a debit card. Is this what you're referring to?

I am a bit confused. Are you referring to buying and paying for AA online?

When you purchase AA online, it brings you to a Review and Pay web page with 3 tabs, Credit Card/Debit Card, E-Gift Voucher, and Direct Debit.

Which option do you use to pay AA Online or do you do it a different way that I am not familiar with?

Ask Air Asia !

I did try to reach them including using chat.

So back to my original inquiry.

I am hoping for people with knowledge using the direct debit option with a SCB account to reply.

I want to buy AA tickets online and pay by Direct Debit.

I have a basic savings account with Siam Commercial Bank.

I didn't get their debit card because I didn't think that I needed one.

To pay online using Direct Debit option, can I pay using my SCB passbook account number or would I need to get a SCB debit card?

I always book my appointment a month ahead to get my income letter. On Nov 10th there were enough open appointments Nov 26 and Dec 12. I just checked the web site and there are 39 open slots for the 2 available days in December. Jan 2 has 26. I am not sure yet they haven't mademore of January available yet. I believe you can reserve an appointment up to 60 days.

Thanks!

Consult a Pharmacist like has been said.

I realize that even though I have been already to 3 pharmacies and probably spoke to clerks possibly with only limited knowledge, perhaps you can suggest where I can find a true English speaking Pharmacist?

I went to 3 different pharmacies but had no luck finding witch hazel.

Anyone know if or where I can buy witch hazel or if it is not available in CM, preparation H?

Thanks.

Most banks here do not charge a fee for withdrawals made inside the bank using a credit card. One still pays the overseas bank fees. In order to avoid paying interest I transfer the money from my savings account to the credit card account prior to making the withdrawal.

I can't speak for your CC but the US CC's I have will consider any cash withdrawal as a cash advance and will charge interest even if you have a credit amount on your credit card that would cover your withdrawal amount. I have inquired my CC banks about this asked already.