MangoKorat

I know of another place that's wanting to charge tourists for entry - strangely, that place has spent the last 2 years complaining about a lack of tourists.

Many are the same and have been for a few months. Lots of members have commented but nothing changes. I suspect AN is using AI - if they are and that's the reason for all these inaccurate and puzzling news reports then perhaps the 'game changing tech' ain't all its cracked up to be. In addition to the inaccuracies, there's also been some very odd use of the English language. Technically correct but several old fashioned/rarely used words.

Short on time so apologies if this has been covered but there was an update on here last night stating that a second passenger had died. The BBC are still reporting one death. In just one radio report this morning they said that the wife of the man who died had been taken to hospital but her condition was unknown. Do we know if there actually is a second death or is it poor reporting again?

I don't find phones at all good for viewing webpages.

The way he reports it appears to point to the light coming on and the plane diving immediately: 'Passenger Andrew Davies, who was sitting in premium economy, told Sky News he was watching a movie when the sign to fasten seatbelts lit up and the plane began plummeting.' So it could be that both versions are true - each in their own way. Other stories report that many passehgers were milling around and breakfast was being served. In my experience airline staff continue serving during slight turbulence but the captain tells them to belt up when things get rough. I'm guessing but it could be that the flight recorder will establish exactly what happened and there will be several enquiries where those findings will be aired. I've actually been in an incident where turbulence came on without warning - mine was much lesser than this one but it was very scary, you can actually feel the plane dropping and you wonder how the captain can possibly have any control.

I've literally travelled on hundreds of flights over the years - mostly long haul and often encountered turbulence however, around 10 years ago my flight from Bangkok to Phuket hit turbulence and suddenly dropped what seemed like thousands of feet. In reality it was probably hundreds of feet but it was sudden and without any warning. It scared the life out of me and I've belted up at all times ever since.

Couldn't agree more. The BBC are reporting a passenger as saying that there was no warning before the plane hit sudden turbulence. A British man who was traveling with his family on the flight tells me how the turbulence began. “It was probably 10 hours in the flight, so there were people walking around. And there was no sign to put the seat belts on," he says. "There was no turbulence prior to that. It went from no turbulence to this one turbulence. No plane shaking at all and then I was hitting the roof. All of a sudden, I was up like that. " My son was thrown down on the floor two rows behind me. I heard that there was a guy hitting the roof in the toilet and he was injured quite badly, too." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-69044396 On the BBC news they've just said that the plane dropped around 6000 feet over Myanmar in just a few minutes. The passengers and crew must have been terrified.

I'm sure you'll find someone but if you don't and have basic mechanical knowledge - its just a machine with moving hydraulic parts. The usual things relating to the engine: Undue blue smoke (burning oil) Undue black smoke (injector/pump problems) Oil in the water/water in the oil Overheating Knocks and rattles Selects all gears No harsh gear noise when moving As for the hoe/hydraulic parts: Leaks Hoses for age, cracking and crushing Smooth movement not jerky Extend hydraulic arms fully to check for pitted chrome etc. Over-work on the engine when performing hydraulic actions (can relate to a bent rod/piston). The engine note will always change when its working but over-work should be clear. Check for undue wear on all joints, swivels, pins and actions. Check greasing points are intact. Allowing for age and price, if all the above are OK and the machine does what its intended to do, you should be good to go. Hopefully you'll find a mechanic

I read the new rules, either here or eslewhere and there was a specific clause stating that gifting could not be used in the way suggested. I can't remember the exact wording but it was clear that a spouse could not gift money in order to avoid tax. Mike should know the SP on this.

You may note that I am refering to the effect that travel advice has on Travel Insurance - not whether its correct or not.

I'm not suggesting anyone does anything illegal here but I often let my girlfriend change money for me. For some reason she's able to do it much faster than I am and rarely has every note photocopied as I do. The transaction is recorded, if at all, under her ID.

I don't doubt that you are correct but there's enough risk in riding around Thailand without taking additional ones - note, I only said be careful. I didn't say don't do it. The facts are though, that if you are a foriegner relying on Travel Insurance from outside Thailand, you have to take account of the fact that you will almost certainly not be covered down there if your government's advice is not to travel. I have no knowledge of Thai Travel Insurance/Accident policies, or indeed regular insurance but it would not do any harm to check this as well. Fore-warned is Fore-armed.

I'll rely on my government's travel advice thank you. Traveller's should also be aware that their travel insurance is unlikely to cover them if they travel to an area against government issued travel advice.

Malaysia I can understand, should be a great trip - careful in the troubled Southern Thai provinces though. I'd take my time taking in Thailand as well as Malaysia. However, given the size of the island and the traffic there - is Singapore really worth the possible hassle? Never done any of it - keep us posted on how it goes.

Over 50 years of riding bikes and over 40 driving cars. Three serious accidents in that time - two in cars, none my fault but the worst injuries were caused in a car crash. You can be however, more vulnerable on a bike and moreso if you don't ride correctly and with total awareness. One of my serious accidents was indeed on a bike but a bike that I was not in control of - Bangkok motorbike taxi.

Meanwhile monks walk around Thai villages every morning begging food. 'Monks and nuns were expected to live with a minimum of possessions, which were to be voluntarily provided by the lay community.' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_monasticism

The key words being 'that we are aware of'. There are several reports of murders on AN most weeks and most of them have some connection to foreigners or are particularly gruesome, bizarre etc. If you read the Thai press you will find many more murders every week that we never become aware of. Likewise, I'd suggest there will have been many Thai on Thai drink driving cases that have involved deaths recently - we are not made aware of those either.

Whilst I believe that people should be able to state their feelings towards others to an extent. Its true that some nationalities have 'ways' that are unnaceptable to the mainstream but I'm very surprised that blatant racism is tolerated here - especially calling an entire race, dirtbags!

I'm no lover of Russians but that's a totally racist comment. Drink driving is unfortunately, not limited to any nationality and I doubt there's any evidence to state that Russians are any more likely to drink-drive than any other nationality.

You just can't help yourself can you? I have stated many times that from his post, the OP could have been on either a Non O or a Non B. I only found out his actual status by checking his previous posts. I don't expect to do that normally.

Utter tosh. What sort of school did you go to - approved? Variations in views can differ greatly due to many factors. 1310 people out of a polulation of over 70 million is unlikely to produce a representative sample.

Yes, you do need to include your banking details if you are acting as a financial sponsor, whether an obscured account number is acceptable, I know not. A P60 whilst helpful, is only proof of what you have earned, it doesn't prove you still have the money or that its available to sponsor the visit. I've only ever submitted un-altered bank statements so can't comment on whether they will have anything to say on that. However, many people including myself, regularly give their bank details to complete strangers on the phone etc. Your bank should have safeguards in place such as One Time Passwords that will prevent your account number alone from being useful to fraudsters.

I note from taking a look at the OP's other threads, that he is in fact on a Non O based on marriage and has held a work permit for over 4 years. In which case he should be able to produce the 12 months of income receipts and tax documents that will enable him to convert to the income method of satisfying the financial requirements for a 12 month extension. OP, as you may already know, different offices (even officers) have variations in their requirements when it comes to paperwork. My mate who is married and working in Thailand had to produce his tax documents, payslips and bank statements showing his salary going into the bank. Then when he returned with all those, he was asked to provide a letter from the bank confirming the bank statements were true. I'm not at all sure that's the norm but as he needed the extension, he had to comply. He also said that he noted on his first visit when he went to ask what was required that the officer was generally trying to dissuade him from converting from the 400k in the bank method - at first telling him it wasn't possible. I believe that was only on his first application using the income method and could possibly have been due to an altercation he had with the officer previously, where the officer was forced to back down on something (a story in itself). He tells me that things have got considerably easier since but be aware that you could be asked for more than you might think and could face some resistance.

Which is precisely why I said there is no need for any financial requirements rather than no financial requirements, I knew you'd miss the subtlety of that and have to come back at me. Not necessarily. I'd actually think you'd know about each method if you were already using one. I do and I'm on neither. Yes - especially those who refer to transfers in which is specifically related to income from abroad - everyone has their own take on things. Above all else, you should be aware that a far greater amount of people read these topics to gain answers for themselves rather than ask in their own right. Amongst those might well be some that are already on a Non B and considering switching. In which case ALL information may well be useful. I remain of the opinion that the OP could either hold a Non B or a Non O.

Sorry but I do not agree but you will no doubt carry on because you have to win. He would not be enquiring about an extension based on employment at all, he either is or is about to be married and may therefore asking about his position after marriage. I repeat, he may well already hold a Non O based on marriage but let's say for argument's sake that he is as I suggest he could be, currently on a Non B. He could ask the very same questions framed in exactly the same way. Someone married or marrying a Thai citizen would not have any particular interest in simply applying for the initial Non O based on marriage - there is no need for any finacial requirement for that. What would be of interest is their position when applying for the extension - for which there are financial requirements. You say take the OP on face value........... he states: 'A question regarding the 1 year extension. Can I use the proof of at least 40k per month instead of 400k in a bank account to apply for an extension? If so, what documents do I need to provide? I work in Thailand and have a work permit. Thanks for any feedback.' I don't see any reason why those questions would be framed any differently if the person holds or is intending applying for a Non O based on marriage. Nobody, already living and working in Thailand and married/marrying a Thai would be interested in the visa alone, they would want to know the requirements for an extension. He may well already hold a marriage based Non O but I hope for your sake, he doesn't come back and state that this will be his first application - you'd be mortified. Frankly it wouldn't bother me at all if he does already hold a Non O because I am entirely happy that my proposition of him potentially not holding one is fair - given that most people who already have a marriage based Non O, already know the financial requirements.