YaiJung

I had a bad case of shingles on my head/face 3 months ago and now dealing with post herpetic neuralgia.  Every morning when I wake up it feels like somebody was kicking me in the face the day before.  Not fun. I'm in my late 40s and wasn't able to get the vaccine, nor did I really know how severe shingles can be.  If I had known then what I know now, I would have traveled around the world and paid many thousands of dollars plus my left nut for the vaccine. 

Have to agree about the 3M Crystalline.  Had that put in my car after driving home from the dealership with the cheap film they put on.  Couldn't see very well and was hot.  The Crystalline is very clear and can sit in a traffic jam in Bangkok during the hot season and can't feel the heat through the windows.  Remarkable indeed.  Money well spent. 

Hertz takes debit cards.  They will take a 5 or 10k baht deposit...can't remember which it was, but not more than that.  They might not state it on their website, but will confirm when you call to ask. 

6 minutes ago, jak2002003 said:

It is true at Chiang Mai office too.  We are told we have to do it if we leave the country and come back....even to the same address. 

 

We do not have to do it if we travel about inside Thailand.

 

You should know different immigration offices have different interpretations of the rules...it's up to them what they want to enforce....so you giving people blanket statements could well land someone in trouble. 

 

 

 

Seems to be luck of the draw.   I left the country last summer, returned through the quarantine program to the same address, didn't report to immigration and then extended my non-o visa in the fall without it being mentioned.  All this was at the Chiang Mai office.  In fact, through this whole mess the last few years I sometimes ignored or more often just forgot to do it, only updating my tm30 when moving to a different house.  Have done yearly extensions and 90 day reports without issue the entire time. 

Sobieski or Russian Standard.  Both available in Thailand. 

Every person I have met, and I have met many, who are taking anti-depressants for depression/anxiety are people who for whatever reason have circumstances in their life which are causing them this immense suffering.  It can be relationship issues, physical health issues, personality issues, financial, lifestyle (ie, excessive drinking, eating, whoring, etc).  The possibilities are endless. 

This is extremely daunting for doctors to deal with and takes many therapy sessions and hard work from all involved.  Many cases are nonstarters.  The people refuse to look at or change the issues that are causing the problem.  Much easier to just prescribe some pills and write it off as "chemical imbalance".   Not nearly as much money in the therapy business.   One hr of therapy = $200 or so, vs $400+ for ten min with psychiatrist who doles out expensive pills (USA prices approx).  Winner, winner, chicken dinner!  Happy pills = happy doctor = happy patient...maybe??

The side-effects of these medications(SSRIs) should not be minimized.  Search the internet for long-term patient's stories of withdrawal...not fun to say the least.  Any medication that makes people OK with their <deleted>ty life situation needs some serious questioning IMHO.   

 One thing is certain, meditation doesn't work effectively if you are taking pills that directly effect your mind and thought processes. 

I think you are on the right path, seeking improvement without taking medications.   Enjoy the sunshine, outdoors, healthy food.  Try to focus on the present moment and remember that nothing is permanent.  Including life.  Make the most of every day.   

Hang Dong road (108) southbound lane at the Big C Mae Hia intersection.  Lady selling garlands to cars at the stoplight waves plastic bags of the stuff and a sign in Thai.  She is there everyday. 

Sat in a MG when I was in the market for a new car a couple years ago.  Immediately got out and commented to my wife, what a low quality piece of junk it felt like....honestly I was shocked by how cheap and crappy the interior was.   Didn't even realize at the time that MG was chinese...didn't know much about them to be honest and thought they were still British.   Upon discovering they are now Chinese I thought, well that explains a lot!  Why anyone would bother with anything other than the main Japanese brands while in Thailand is beyond me. 

A couple weeks ago when I was leaving ASQ in bangkok the staff were quoting 7k to Lampang and 8k baht to Chiang Mai for personal car with driver.  I rented a car and drove up.  Cost about 4.5k baht, including gas and taxi to rental agency.  The minimum 5 day rental for one-way drop off was cheaper than a 1-2 day rental and the 5k fee they charge for one-way.  Prices may have increased now due to the rapidly changing situation. 

Wavehunter: I did ASQ at The Vertical Suite in bkk.  Large 85 sqm one bedroom apartment, 63k baht all included.    Was able to order groceries and food via grab.  Super friendly staff.  Second week was a bit slow, but it is becoming a distant memory now.  With modern tech, there has never been a better time to be quarantined. 

COE was fairly straighforward.  Only hiccup I experienced was not realizing I had to click the upload button for the documents.  This has been mentioned by others.   Quick call to the consulate had me back on track.  They aren't exactly busy, so was a pretty quick process. 

Not correct.  You will need a COE, but should be very straightforward and easy/quick. 

Recently paid $145 in US for pcr test and saw offered as high as $375 for results in just a couple hrs.  Sure, you can get it for free in the US, but not might not get results in time for travel. 

According to the article, the registration process for Moderna hasn't even been completed.  The people in charge have chosen the Chinese vaccines and AZ because those are the ones that are most profitable for them.  These are the vaccines you will get if you wait to get vaccinated in Thailand.   They have zero incentive to offer Moderna or Pfizer. 

I always park at the Sindhorn Building, directly across the street from the embassy.  They are open early...we parked there before 7am once.  Buy a coffee or something downstairs and get 2 hrs validated.  I think it is 20 or 50 baht per hr after that.  Use the pedestrian bridge to cross the street. 

What planet am I on?  Pornhub and others have been "blocked" in Thailand for years.  How is this news? 

Btw, you don't even need a vpn to access these sites.  Just put the letter s after http.  The whole thing is beyond ridiculous! 

2 hours ago, Jon1 said:

Well the permission to stay is valid unlike they say and when they sold the visa in the beginning even Thailand Elite themselves told that you can get a one year permission to stay stamp near the visa expiration.

1 hour ago, JackThompson said:

I remember the early sales-pitch with the "extra year" as well. 

Really?  I don't remember anything from thailand elite advertising 6 yrs for 500k baht.  There was indeed discussion here on thaivisa regarding the situation, mostly speculation and wishful thinking.  Some people might have been told they can get an extra year, but I suspect that was from some agent and not from thailand elite themselves. 

What I do remember, were the emails spelling it out in no uncertain terms...any permission to stay stamp that was "valid" for after the membership has expired is in fact invalid and the holder will be on overstay.  Seems they didn't think it out too well when they designed the program.  They might be letting you stay an extra year, but don't expect them to be happy about it and like I said in my other reply, you are likely now on their <deleted>list. 

The deal is - 5 yrs, not 6, for 500k.  Like it or not, from their point of view, if you try to turn 5 into 6, you are trying to get one over on them and don't expect them to roll out the red carpet for you. 

I too, would have liked to get the extra year, but could see the writing on the wall and made other arrangements rather than risk overstay. 

5 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

As a matter of interest, what were the discounts offered & did they increase closer to renewal time? 

The renewal emails started about 9 months before the visa expired.  The discounts were not huge...only 3%. Promotion emails started about 6 months before expiration, with no increase closer to renewal. 

I don't know how any of you with the five yr membership can be surprised at Thai Elite's response.  You have received multiple emails explaining and warning you that any permission to stay after your membership has expired will be invalid.  You also would have received multiple emails offering renewal at discounted rates, but you chose to attempt to weasel another yr for free out of your visa. 

When you sign up for thailand elite you are signing up to play by the rules of people in power who make the rules.  They override anything done by low level immigration staff.  Now you have annoyed them and are on their <deleted>list. 

My PE visa expired in Nov 2019, so I know all about the emails and warnings. 

Just did the switch to yearly extension yesterday at CM immigration.  Passport stamped for 30 days, 90 day report due on Dec 15. 

On a side note, immigration officers were very friendly and the whole process went smoothly.