seadoo

I say, if you can do it yourself.

We used a travel agent that we understood did the bookings for Thai Visa, we heard it previously advertised so we approached them. i am sure this will be deleted by the mods.

we paid the cash up front, weeks went on, lots of excuses, and only after we threatened to go to the police about them having our passports for so long and no one knew where they were and the agent could not give us a name who actually had our passports, the Visa's and passports suddenly appeared.

Your passport is one of your most valued documents, and having them in someone elses hands can lead to all sorts of problems - I know 2 farangs here that the banks are chasing them because someone bought cars in their names using their passports (obviously some internal corruption) but the banks don't care and are pursuing the farangs for their money for cars they did not buy.

Regarding the so called travel agent, we made them sign documents to say we did not have our passports for several weeks and they were in their hands.

We could have simply driven to BKK and did them ourselves for a fraction of the cost.

A better bet is to sell them off in small chunks, presuming you can transfer them.

Now say I had a favourite bar which took the barter points. If you sold me 20k for 10k or whatever, I would win and you would get some cash.

Why don't you see what you can actually buy, get the discounted real cost for a cash purchase, offer a discount from that and then see how much interest you receive.

Personally I think it is shit and would have nothing to do with it.

I am confused, first you want to buy them off him, then your last comment below says different

I just recently bought a new car through Barter Card in Pattaya - no problems.

As they explained to me - the car dealers are not on Barter Card - but they do a deal with the dealers who then offer a portion of the sale on Barter Card.

I put down around 200k on Barter Card for my vehicle and paid the rest off every month by finance.

I did not have all of the 200k so Barter extended me my credit limit.

When I was looking, they had quite a few to choose from fords, chevy's, mazda's, mitsu's, toyotas even had some luxury cars as well.

All in all it took me around 2 weeks from start to finish to get my new car and I saved about 200k cash, and as the barter was considered a down payment, it made it easy to get finance.

That is why they are marketing it as an "Acrobatic Circus" and there are many of these types of circus around the world

On his Work Permit it reads BFBF (Busking For a Bar Fine)

Again - this happens at least once per year - someone obviously didn't contribute to the BIB Annual Ball

Hmmmm - didn't the Gestapo (Nazi's) also wear black uniforms and terrorised people - seems quite similar doesn't it - doesn't it - Hmmm

Also, aren't all the bars supposed to have CCTV cameras to film us while we drink/enter which is collected and used if required by the BIB/Tourist Nazi's - i did not give my permission for them to film me - but i do not put on a Black uniform and go storming the bar owners for doing this

Don't have any of the PILC - but here we go

Wiggle Town prices start from around 200 baht per child, cake, food and drink included and you can ad on many other things such as clowns etc, you can even hire the place just for you - we have had 2 parties there so far, and 1 was for our 8 year old, the play equipment was great for them and was well organised each time.

I hear WOW has just been sold to a BKK mob who will take over very soon.

We lost a son at birth some years ago before coming to Thailand and our Daughter was born 2 months prem here in Thailand and our Doc was named Dr Rattana at Bangkok Pattaya (she is still there) - she was so wonderful we even included her name in our Daughters middle name.

To cut a long story short, when our daughter came early, it was around 3am in the morning, Dr Rattana had been at a Wedding in BKK that night and was staying there at a hotel.

When she heard what was happening, she drove immediately to Pattaya, organised everything in conjunction with the Aust Embassy and rode in the Ambulance (medivac) to Bummumgrad.

She stayed well into the day (no sleep) to ensure another amazing Doctor, Prof Oridee at Bummungrad had control of the situation - our daughter has just turned 3 and doing well all thanks to these 2 amazing people.

From what I understand, Prof Oridee and her team are the team that looks after the Royal Family.

Just wanting to know, has anybody taken their children to Wiggle Town playcentre in Pattaya - from what I know, it is not a kindergarden, but a place you can take your kids to play while you sit in their cafe - similar to that we have in Australia.

Surely if they take away his visa he will apply to be a political asylum seeker, with all the human rights we have here and in the EU, he isnt going to jail in LOS anytime soon unless he volunteers to.

From what I understand under EU and Commonwealth Law is that he cannot apply for asylum as the Thai Monarchy is the longest and most stable Monarchy in the World and thus presents no threat to any individual - and although the Government has issues, the law of the land is stable and the point of Asylum is based on the the law and highest or ruling point of the nation, that being the Monarchy.

Seems a bit pricey for a playground.

Not really, if you check out what's inside the place - and for me to be able to relax and let the kids run a muck, well that's good value for me - I'd rather them play with all the quality stuff they have there than let them go and play on old steel drums that have been converted into play equipment (most play places in Thailand are like this) this wiggle town has all of the latest modern european gear.

Hardest part is when we leave, trying to stop the kids trying to take some of the toys at the place home with them.

Good playgrounds are hard to find in Pattaya.

Nakula has park with a free playground and it is often filled with kids.

Wiggle Town will be closed very soon as 250 baht for what will amount to around 1 hours worth of playtime is to expensive for Thailand.

I personally don't think they will be out of business anytime soon - I tried to get my child into one of their organised playgroups and they are almost booked out.

Sure you can pay 250 and only stay an hour (in air-conditioned comfort) you can also stay there all day for the same price - or you can go down to naklau and play in the sun on aging play gear - I guess - what price do you put on your child's safety and comfort.

There is another thing called Baby Genius near the Bangkok Pat Hospital, they charge 600 baht and they are packed too.

The air blown clown that was on Sukumvit is already deflated, I love some of the ideas people come up with for businesses in Pattaya.

If the prices were reasonable they would be able to stay open.

If you don't like the place, why bag it.

I feel sorry for your children (if you have them) for your kinyow approach and that you would take on a negative attitude such as the one you have taken about this place.

Do you have a business that we can come and check and and show our support.

Are you the type of person that tries to ruin christmas as well?

To answer your silly statement about the clown - apparently it was damaged by their gardener when he was cutting the grass while it was running - cheap shot from a cheap charlie

Seems a bit pricey for a playground.

Not really, if you check out what's inside the place - and for me to be able to relax and let the kids run a muck, well that's good value for me - I'd rather them play with all the quality stuff they have there than let them go and play on old steel drums that have been converted into play equipment (most play places in Thailand are like this) this wiggle town has all of the latest modern european gear.

Hardest part is when we leave, trying to stop the kids trying to take some of the toys at the place home with them.

Good playgrounds are hard to find in Pattaya.

Nakula has park with a free playground and it is often filled with kids.

Wiggle Town will be closed very soon as 250 baht for what will amount to around 1 hours worth of playtime is to expensive for Thailand.

I personally don't think they will be out of business anytime soon - I tried to get my child into one of their organised playgroups and they are almost booked out.

Sure you can pay 250 and only stay an hour (in air-conditioned comfort) you can also stay there all day for the same price - or you can go down to naklau and play in the sun on aging play gear - I guess - what price do you put on your child's safety and comfort.

There is another thing called Baby Genius near the Bangkok Pat Hospital, they charge 600 baht and they are packed too.

Seems a bit pricey for a playground.

Not really, if you check out what's inside the place - and for me to be able to relax and let the kids run a muck, well that's good value for me - I'd rather them play with all the quality stuff they have there than let them go and play on old steel drums that have been converted into play equipment (most play places in Thailand are like this) this wiggle town has all of the latest modern european gear.

Hardest part is when we leave, trying to stop the kids trying to take some of the toys at the place home with them.

Hello,

Im going to head down to BKK to register our newborn son as an aussie and get my clearance to marry so we can start on the spouse visa.

One question though. • If one of the parents is NOT an Australian citizen they must provide certified true copy of whole passport including movement stamps for the period including 12 months prior to the birth of the child.

My GF does not have a passport and has not left Thailand. What other evidence could we use to establish where she was during this period or will just not having a passport be enough.

Thanks for any info

Russ

Never heard of the passport requirement.

My wife and I are Aussie's and our daughter was born in Bangkok, we had to go through the same process as anyone - even though we are Aussies.

You need to provide a copy of the Thai Birth Certificate - this should have your name on it and then have it translated - the hospital will then certify both copies and the registrar for the hospital will stamp and sign the back of both copies.

You take this along with your proof of Australian Citzenship plus proof of identity for your wife (in her case her id card) she may have to pass the 100 point test for proof of indentity, plus the completed application forms and wait for it to come back from Canberra.

In our case we had to (1) organise her citzenship (2) then we could apply for her passport

In our daughters case, until she was naturalised, she actually didn't belong to any country - bit scary, as the Hospital immediately stamped her birth cert "Does not acquire Thai nationality"

A bit unfair if you ask me, becuase if a Thai couple have their child in Aust, the child is automatically granted Aust citzenship - again, typical one-way street of all things fair.

Anyway, good luck.

Took my kids there the other day - absolutely fantastic - kids got to play indoors and outdoors and I got to relax, read a newspaper and had a coffee.

Heaps of things for the kids to do and play with there.

Well set up - excellent quality equipment, not the usual locally made stuff, all seems european standard.

I have been in Thailand for a few years now, and we have always used Brisbane for our visa's, there is an Australian guy there who is the Honary Consul General his name is William Dunn and he and his Thai staff are exceptionally helpful, both my non-B (a few years ago) and more recently for my baby (born in Thailand - both parents are Australian) we went back and got her a non-O everytime in and out in less than 20 minutes, no questions, very polite, much make sure you have your paperwork done.

For anyone who has not been to the Brisbane Thai Consultate, it is basically operating out of an old Queensland style house, and does not feel like your normal cold Government institution.

On another note, I have rang the Brisbane Consulate a few times, and the Consul General, Will Dunn often answers the telephone himself, and is always up for a chat to help you out.

The Australian Government was quick to respond sending out this advice to all Australian's advising not to travel to Bangkok, obviusly not good for Tourism or the Economy.

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution because of the high threat of terrorist attack. We continue to receive reports that terrorists may be planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

A series of bombs exploded in Bangkok on New Year's eve. There is a possibility of further attacks in coming days. Australians are urged to avoid unecessary travel in Bangkok.

There is uncertainty over the political situation following a military takeover of the Government on 19 September 2006. Martial law remains in place in parts of the country.

You should avoid demonstrations, political rallies, and concentrations of military personnel. You should monitor the media, and follow any instructions issued by local authorities.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/vie.../Thailand"" target="_blank">AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SMART TRAVELLER ADVICE

Hurry, Today Is New Years Eve.

The Party Shop is Open from 10am till 5pm today only for those last minute New Years Eve Party & Event Supplies

The Party Shop is located in Soi Town In Town Hotel, off Pattaya Klang (Central Road) around the corner from Foodland Supermarket

Telephone 08 5084 1626 or www.the-party-shop.com

Hurry, New Years Stocks are very low, so don’t delay.

From One Ridiculous Rule to another.

Can someone tell me why when you buy a new car in Thailand you cannot drive it after sunset because of its red number plate, I got stopped at the toll gates on the motorway last weekend on the way home to Pattaya (from BKK) and I had to park my car and wait till sunrise or pay the guy and under-the-clipboard fine.

When I buy a new car, I want to drive it all hours, just like the pick-up that has a white plate and is so old and bent out of shape that a scrap yard would reject it.

Can someone explain the rule behind this - as they promote - Amazing Thailand

I agree, common sense finally applies. My wife recently had to be medivac from Pattaya to BKK around 2am in the morning, I had to go back to our house to collect our kids, whilst a friend went up with her in the ambulance, in my car with the kids, I got stuck at the service centre, no fuel till 7am, and I had to abandon my car and convince another person to take me and the kids to BKK.

I could not understand why at least the service centre was not open, needless to say, my wife is fine now.