samtam

12 minutes ago, samtam said:

 

I did chat online yesterday, but cannot find the chat facility today, (just now). I used the search option, but nothing comes up.

 

Maybe it's closed for the weekend. Certainly the booking request doesn't get handled over the weekend, despite Qatar being an international airline, and it's headquarters operating in a country that has it's day off on Friday.

Oops. Found it.

17 minutes ago, gearbox said:

The Qatar avios bookings with partner airlines are "pseudo online", as one can't see which dates are available. I had similar to the OP experience booking one way ticket Samui - Singapore with Bandit Airways. The requested date was not available,  after 4 days waiting had to request a different date. The tax for Samui - Singapore was nearly 2400 baht, quite steep.

 

IMO it is better to use the support chat than calling numbers.

I did chat online yesterday, but cannot find the chat facility today, (just now). I used the search option, but nothing comes up.

Maybe it's closed for the weekend. Certainly the booking request doesn't get handled over the weekend, despite Qatar being an international airline, and it's headquarters operating in a country that has it's day off on Friday.

I travelled with my partner, and we had the two centre seats together. On one leg we decided to have dinner, with a pre dinner drink. Everything was served at different times, so would have been better sitting on the same side, and separately. Again the "meal on demand" means that service is haphazard, and even between seats divided by an aisle. Some customers received food and beverages long before others, in that configuration. They really are uncoordinated. After that experience we decided to pass up on the F&B service, as it was just too irritating. The answer is to eat in the lounge before you depart, and at the lounge in Doha, if it's not too crowded. On the first leg there was a queue of 10 or more for each of the shower facilities.

55 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I think this issues is multifaceted.

 

#1) The Use of pints issue with a partner airline seems a JAL issue rather than a Qatar Airlines Issue. Last Year I was able to transfer a load of Avios to British Airways and used them for family flights within Europe (on British Airways) - it was a surprising how easy it was. 

Thus: I suspect the 'set up' between Qatar Airways and JAL Rewards scheme is extremely clunky. 

 

 

Yes. transferring reward points from Qatar to JAL, (one of their partner airlines), is indeed clunky. Apparently they have to do it "manually". Avios transfers between Qatar and BA can be done by the customer online. Not so with any of their other partners. And weirdly, BA requires 90,000 points plus THB12,500 to transfer to a JAL flight, whereas Qatar requires 77,500 for the exact same flight. I tried doing it from BA too, but their IT systems are worse, and obviously with the variation in point requirements, I was not prepared to fork out for more Avios points. Ergo, best only to use Avios on BA or Qatar, and not with any other of their so-called airline partners. It's a guaranteed exercise in futility and time wasting. I wish they would just be honest about it. But I know now, and so will anyone reading this. 

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Agreed...  Airlines have a long way to go to please the more 'out-there' dietary restrictions...

 

.... However, if someone is ordering a 'Vegetarian LACTO-OVO' mea or a 'special Asian vegetarian meal'...   their expectations should not be high.... Thats obviously difficult on a long flight when hungry etc... but I see airline meals as simply filling a gap, I have no taste or quality expectations whatsoever. 

I agree. The meals are dire, whatever class. My last trip on Qatar I closed the door (Q Suite) after take off and telling the female waiter that I didn't want to be disturbed for the rest of the flight. Qatar's "meal on demand" is a complete load of <deleted>, resulting in waiters and waitresses walking up and down the aisles all the time. At least with the Q Suite you can mitigate that irritation but just closing the door. 

On 3/13/2024 at 6:25 PM, samtam said:

 

Just completed the course and received my certificate with QR code.

The date is completely wrong....says completed Private Driving Licence on 19 September 2023.

 

I will be going on 19 March which is exactly 6 months, and it states *results of training are valid for 6 months from completed training date.

 

Hope it works. Maybe the QR code says something else?

Managed to renew my 5yr Thai DL at Chatuchak (Bangkok) Department of Transport this morning with relative ease. They accepted my DLT eLearning QR code, which I completed last week on 13 March 2024, despite the fact that the acknowledgement of completion stated the date as 19 September 2023; (my laptop has all correct dates and times). They simply noted that today was the last applicable date, to fall within the 6 month validity.

Anyway, that obviously saved time, and I only had to complete the eye and co-ordination tests; the brake machine almost had me fuxed, but they let me have second go.

Subsequently I applied for and received an International Driving Permit (IDP), which I will require when I travel to Japan in a couple of months.

All very efficient, and the staff helpful and polite. Thai DL less than 1 hour, IDP about 30 minutes.

Could they use AI technology to control traffic in Bangkok?

Oh wait, I think they had some sophisticated technology, but they decided it was more fun to do it themselves and enjoy the benefits of natural selection, (of victims for handouts).

3 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Be aware that one eye can mean entirely different procedures/lens so there can be a big difference even at same hospital.  Single focus lens (safest choice but probably require reading glasses) can be a lot less expensive than the multi focus lens.

Mine were both single focus lenses.

5 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

The beauty of this pot cannot be denied.

 

I would like to buy about 20 more pots, identical to this.

 

Anyone know where to buy something like this?

 

Or, would it be required for me to try to create a mold using the old pot, shown below?

This has such a very classic shape.

And, I have been unable to find one just like this, so far....

 

 

 

I dug this one out of my backyard.

 

I love its lines, and its color.

 

Where can I buy one like this?

 

Tks.

If anyone might know.

 

Regards,

Gamma

 

 

Can't open your link.

18 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Price for both eyes or just one?

1 eye at Rutnin THB140,000 (ish) and 1 eye at Samitivej THB75,000

1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

I think it's a good idea to collect evidence and keep the evidence.

If "he" uses the evidence against that person, that is another question.

Maybe it is also good that the (bad part of the) management know that he knows. That will possibly help to negotiate if there are any other issues.

 

I think the problem with situations like that is, that (in general) we farangs don't have a clear understanding of the levels of corruption and what is normal and what we should expect. It's like going to the police and complaining about late closing hours. It wouldn't happen if the authorities wouldn't let it happen. So, whatever is going on in above condominium, or any other business, might not be easy for us to understand. After all, TiT. 

The dish best served cold.

Certainly when I bought my condo here 20 years ago and was renovating it for the first time, my contractor told me that he was asked to pay THB5K a piece for three metal balcony drain covers. I was surprised then, but he paid him, or rather I did. (A similar drain cover today costs around THB100 a piece.)

2 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Looks like you are going to pursue it anyway. Remember you are butting heads with a management company staffed by Thai's...These things never turn out well and have turned ugly in many Condos (and Villages) over the years. Good luck (you'll need it).

You're assuming too much right now. I wanted to hear a few opinions, and yours is certainly helpful. I am aware it is how the country runs, but there are obviously specific circumstances which I have chosen not to disclose, such as the history with the management company etc.

7 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

As it is not costing the Condo tenants any extra money, then personally I would just leave well enough alone. if you go to the Committee with this, and it turns out one or more of them is in on it, then you are just opening a can of worms. Incidentally most contractors are familiar with this type of "extras" so just leave it alone.

I hear what you are saying about leaving well alone, but the contractor's bribe comes from somewhere, and I think it's pretty adjacent to the contract fee.

I think I can be certain, (if that isn't a contradictory way of putting it), that it does not involve any other committee members. I will be speaking to them privately. 

When is the OP travelling? (See below). Taking it out of Thailand in hand luggage would be the problem, if over 100ml per item.

Quote

 

What are the liquid restrictions at the UK airport?

 

 

The government confirmed in December 2022 that airports will have until June 2024 to upgrade their screening equipment and processes, meaning the 100ml liquid rule would be changed to two litres. In addition, the requirement to remove laptops from hand luggage would also be scrapped.

 

I suppose I am being totally naive, and should not have expected any thing less. As a committee member for our condo, which is managed by one of the so-called top building management companies, I was rather taken aback today when I was informed by one of our contractors that he was asked for a payment to the building manager for a contract awarded by the board. He also showed me proof that the subcontractor carrying out the renovation was asked for a similar bribe. For another simultaneous project by the same contractor and another subcontractor, they have to pay a fee to some/several (as yet undefined) of our management or juristic team to have the quality control approved.

As it's Thailand, it is possible that this practice is the norm, and I should turn a blind eye to it. It does however absolutely disgust me, knowing what potential adverse impact there might be on the quality of the work, aswell as the ultimate cost to owners. It also goes against the very fibre of my being. The contractor whistleblower is not Thai, so he obviously felt comfortable telling me of his experience, otherwise I would doubtless never have heard about it.

Anyone have any experience of this, and advice. Is it just "When in Rome..."?

7 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Just coming back with my new "6 year" license.

The majority of people did not have the QR code from the elearning. They had to spent time watching video and/or tutoring.

I was out at 9:30 (office opens 8:30 and just walked in).

Spent some time waiting for the documents entered to the IT and start of eye/reaction test.

 

This was not at a Bangkok office.

But quite obvious you can save time at the office by having the QR code.

 

Just completed the course and received my certificate with QR code.

The date is completely wrong....says completed Private Driving Licence on 19 September 2023.

I will be going on 19 March which is exactly 6 months, and it states *results of training are valid for 6 months from completed training date.

Hope it works. Maybe the QR code says something else?

47 minutes ago, Woof999 said:

 

I feel your pain.

 

If a job can be f'ed up in any way possible, or in quite a few ways that we would think are impossible), it will be f'ed up good and proper.

 

Sometimes I feel pity that the average daily wage here is so low. Some other times I think it is way too high.

I agree, sadly. It is not surprising given the very different ways we live our lives, but respect for property amongst those who don't own anything of (high value), is quite strange. But I suppose there are other priorities.

The last time I had my aircons cleaned I moved everything out of the range of the machines as they were cleaning them, (as per usual), including the pieces of silver and bronzes on top of a George III piecrust table. Sometime later, because it was almost in my eyeline, I noticed one of their wet cleaning cloths hanging from the side of it. It must have been there for several minutes, and it of course left a water stain, which I am still trying to remove with a antique oil designed for such purposes. Still, I suppose it's seen a few things in its life, and this just adds to its rich tapestry, almost literally. And besides, it's barely noticeable in the dim lighting I use at night; even better when the lights are off.

I literally supervise all activity in my flat like a hawk, so that micromanaging is par for the course.

9 minutes ago, Snackbar said:

All day every day there’s no end to it.

 

Gas man wheezed his way through this Phuket town shophouse to replace the medium sized Green bottle under the hob in the kitchen at the far end.
 

Dragged the filthy thing across the only piece of carpet in his path.

 

Urgh! 

Did the gas bottle have some yellow residue aswell? A decent carpet shampoo should get it all out.

17 minutes ago, superal said:

Had both eyes done for cataracts in the UK and was given eye drops as an anesthetic . But an injection into the eye would not be for me . Is that only done in Thailand ?  Both my ops were done in private eye hospitals that treated only eyes . Including pre-op preparation , I was there both times  for 3 hours and then on my way home in a taxi . There after , eye drops 3 times a day for 2 weeks and also a plastic eye patch that was worn at nights to stop any rubbing on the eye . Check up after 1 month .

Thai guy in Bangkok had the cataract op and said he stayed in for one night and home the next day but had no eye drops . My local Thai government hospital does about 14 cataract operations a day , carried out by a lady eye surgeon . Free for Thai but farangs 25,000 baht per eye , including an overnight stay in a non V.I.P. room 

I did not really expect the anesthetic to be administered by a needle, and only realised as I was on the gurney. It is possible the doctor told me in one of the multitudinous (Rutnin has a very belaboured process) pre-op consultations, but I did not remember it. Stopping the hemorrhaging was a rather terrifying experience, and my eye looked a mess (as if I'd been in at least one round with Mike Tyson), for a month or more. Luckily the operation was successful, (performed after the hemorrhaging), and my beauty 🫣 restored.  

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Just coming back with my new "6 year" license.

The majority of people did not have the QR code from the elearning. They had to spent time watching video and/or tutoring.

I was out at 9:30 (office opens 8:30 and just walked in).

Spent some time waiting for the documents entered to the IT and start of eye/reaction test.

 

This was not at a Bangkok office.

But quite obvious you can save time at the office by having the QR code.

 

Thank you. Very helpful. Having received my Certificate of Residence this morning, I will go off to Chatuchak (one of Bangkok's DLT centres) next week, and watch the vdo and get the QR code. Appreciate your input!

1 minute ago, Dolf said:

So you don't tip then. Worrying about 2 baht is pretty sad.

I do tip, rather too generously for everything in Thailand.

My point was simply the "it's not a lot of money" argument works for both sides. If it's such a tiny amount for both parties, why bother?

My point about having change, is do I always have to have the smaller notes (less than THB500 or THB1000) available? I used to always for taxis, as they could never even change a THB100 bill, but now I give them THB100 if it's within 25% of that.

On 1/19/2024 at 10:13 AM, FritsSikkink said:

Pay cash

I'm sure a cash payment is as much of a pain in the derriere for the driver as it is for me. And will the driver have no have change, (like a taxi driver)?