Awk

Is there a difference between renewing and "starting all over again"? Having recently started all over again, I did not notice any difference, except the Imm. officer asking why I did not renew it last year, as the years before. Even had the pleasure of the police officers calling to hear if we could accommodate a visit from them at the abode, like they did the first time, but not subsequent years.

Only difference I can think of is past traditions concerning financial requirements being grandfathered for those who have (enough?) uninterrupted multiple extensions, whereas I might be out of luck if the financial requirements should increase.

Some other ideas:

- Noodlesoup. There are stalls serving these everywhere, so order a bowl, but say you want it without noodles, beef only. If not enough, you can always order another bowl.

- Fish. A lot of markets and food centers (I used to eat frequently at the bottom floor of airport plaza, back when airport plaza had a gym) have fried or steamed fish, including small ones selling at 25-30B a piece.

Also I've never felt any objections to me bringing with me some extra protein to eat at smaller more-or-less outside places. E.g., I might order some dish there which, as most dishes, has less protein than I want, and eat it together with the fish/chicken I bought at some nearby market. Possibly they laugh at me behind my back about this though.

Oh, and I second Franco-Thai. If you like beef, this is the best value-for-money place to get it at imo. Think they might be cutting the meat themselves also, as the first time I finally went there the waiter said I better order something else than beef, as they, as I understood it, only slaughtered the cow today.

The amnesty started three weeks ago when the proposal was announced.

People waiting till the official announcement then crying foul about no amnesty need their heads looked at.

I don`t need my head looked at.

I still believe they could give people on overstay more than a couple of weeks to gather enough money for a ticket home including the overstay fine. That`s quite a bit of money for people who live overseas.

And also, do they really expect everyone to sit around by their computers every day 24/7, to get the latest immigration news, just when they are released?

They come up with something new every month.

Some slack should have been given here, not just a matter of days.

Have in mind that overstayers are just that for a reason, and one of them are surely financial. A few days to gather the funds, is just not sufficient for many of us.

I'm sure many agree with you. But this is an anonymous forum which unfortunately attracts a lot of holier than thou people with nothing better to do in their life than feel happy at others misfortune. Probably the only thing they have in their own life to feel happy about.

Not sure what I would do myself in your place, with children and all. Horrible situation to be in so unexpectedly, so best of luck.

I agree with your thoughts MCCW and have searched for cover with a very high deductible (say US$20k -or more) without success.

I am happy to self insure to a reasonably high level but would like (non--accident cover) for stuff like heart transplants, really costly cancer treatments and other critical illnesses, but that doesnt seem an attractive area to insurers.

Odd really, because the high deductible takes them out of semi-fictitious claims (whiplash etc) and admin costs, associated with smaller stuff.

Maybe there is just not enough demand to give them the numbers to generate a decent aggregate pool to cover claims- and profit!

USD 20,000 I don't know (and haven't looked), but William Russell offers an excess of up to USD 10,000. This halves the cost of the insurance itself if I remember correctly.

When I considered the same myself about three years ago, I was put off by the attitude of the NIS two senior NIS adminstrative staff I talked with (including one who was the headmaster if I recall correctly, an obese woman with an unattractively strong "my way or the high-way" attitude). Seeing how rigid and inflexible they were concerning the first two-three try-out days we had in mind, I could only imagine things to get worse after we had enrolled and paid our dues.

APIS kindergarten department on the other hand were a pleasure to deal with, both before and after enrolment. The teacher at the time was also great.

What on earth has given you that idea? Do you also think a Thai driving license will be correct and legal in Australia?

See here: http://www.thaivisa.com/thai-driving-license.html

Yes, a Thai license is valid for one year in the UK so why not?

Wow. I had no idea about that. What you say appears to be confirmed by http://thailand.angloinfo.com/transport/driving-licences/, though the thaivisa-link I quoted seems to imply what you say is not correct.

I'm now curious as to which one is correct. Currently I am at work in Norway, listed as signee of the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic quoted on the angloinfo.com site. So I just called the DMV here, and according them, one can indeed use a Thai driver license here (for up to three months after entry into Norway), without any need for an additional IDP.

Very interesting, thank you. :-)

I know of a guy here at the moment on holidays [one month] who rides a rented bike all over the city.

He has been stopped at least 4 times near Narrawat Bridge [where he stays, so cannot miss the regular blockade sadly]

On each occassion he is asked the usual questions and to then present his licence..he does so and is told that even on holiday he must have an IDL and that his Australian one is not accepted.

He then is told to go to the police station and pay, but because he has Astynomiaphobia.he wont go through the hoops involved and debate it,and just pays the cop 200baht and off he goes.

Not a big deal to him to pay, but he ,as far as i know is correct and legal in presenting his valid Aus licence.

Correct or not?

If correct they are indeed being naughty..

What on earth has given you that idea? Do you also think a Thai driving license will be correct and legal in Australia?

See here: http://www.thaivisa.com/thai-driving-license.html

You are lucky, they are hanging around the toll booths in Bangkok and telling you you were speeding after you pay the toll. I worked it out, while you pay the toll, a traffic cop on foot writes down your plate number on his clipboard and a speed he comes up with next to it, blocks you from getting much past the toll gate, shows his clipboard to you and points to your plate number and a photo-copy of something in Thai aside from the Bht 1,000 that is on it twice. Then asks for your license and says "camera, 7 days police station" "Or Bht 1,000 now" with his hand out.

My reply would be please lock me up, unless you can show me proof (a radar gun) that I was speeding. Otherwise I have your job officer, and you will have to answer to General Prayuth. Have you forgotten that I have his number and you are now answerable for all of your crimes? Things are different. There is a new sheriff in town. You are not going to purchase a new villa, or BMW with my money, so unless you have proof, lock me up now, you toad of a man. Or do the right thing and let me go, and then go out there and fight crime. Oh, I forgot you do not fight crime. You just collect money. Good job.

Spidermike

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

Will you be wearing your spider-man costume when you lay in bed dreaming you say that?

No rest for the weary.

For next season I am going to build one of these.

Where is best place to buy HEPA filters in CM?

http://smartairfilters.com/#compare

Sounds like a great idea. Hope you will post your local experiences, including where you bought whatever fan and filter you end up with.

Sounds to me that between travel time to the visa agent (excluding those of you who are close by), the actual time spent at the visa agent, travel time to immigration and actual time spent at immigration, you're giving these agents a tidy sum of money to save 3 to 4 hours tops.

Hey, your choice and the agents are happy to take your money.

I suspect there are many who agree with you, though I am happy there are some who do not, as all in all, this has to reduce the amount of people queuing with me at immigration and time spent there.

Sure, I might be slightly miffed if I see some "agent" sneak in front of me with a dozen passports (not that I have seen that at CM Imm, so no idea if they queue like the rest of us or have some special arrangement), but imo, better that than the dozen people owning those passports waiting with me in person at the already too small Imm. space available. Especially since based on some of the the posters here, I suspect a fair amount of the people who pay agents to do this for them would have more than a little trouble figuring out how to do it themselves and what papers they needed, TV's excellent visa-forum not withstanding. Them attempting to do this complicated process themselves would no doubt increasing the time Imm. has to spend on their applications, thus increasing the waiting time for everyone else.

IMO we all benefit from these agents, whether they hold our hand or only our neighbours hand.

Does anyone have links to any papers that document the benefits of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) for removing pesticides form vegetables and fruits?

I've looked before, and looked again now, but I can not find any actual research indicating this works. I see research indicating that it *is* a good idea to rinse for at least a minute under water (not just leave it soaking in a bowl of water, but scrub, or at least put it under running water), and that washing in a 10% vinegar solution might also be a good idea (not for pesticides, but for bacteria and viruses) But baking soda? I find nothing that looks reputable.

If there is any science behind this, I'd appreciate if somebody posted some links.

Waweee at Warrot market, next to the police station, is 24h I think.

IS Baby shop, behind Big C Extra (the one across from the bus station), have a selection though maybe a couple of thousand more than your range.

We had one made by a carpenter neighbour for 1200B then bought a good matress for about the same made to size by the foam shop near the post office by the railway station. Not as nice to look at, no drop down side, but did the job.

I've been IS baby shop before, the price of wooden bed was so expensive about 10000+ baht.

Perhaps look again? Quite positive IS had a nice wooden crib for 8,000 (with a teddy painted on the side) some months ago. Saw the same one at Central Airport Plaza also, give or take 100-200B. Still more than 6,000 of course. :-/

Would prefer to buy at Central myself. Bought another thing there a little after I bought the crib at IS, and the staff at Central was much more competent and interested.

Anybody gotten a re-entry permit recently at the airport? Am flying out 06 July on the morning AirAsia flight to Kuala Lumpur. Would prefer to get the re-entry permit at the airport and not deal with the immigrations office.

Got one end of last week. I was requested copies of passport pages (did not have it, no problem) and photos (had it, don't know if it would be a problem if I did not).

https://www.facebook.com/TM.Muscle?fref=ts

When you check out the FB link, have a look at the pics and theres a short guy with monstrous arms.. I nicknamed him Tiny a few years ago when I used to work out with him @ Duangtawan Hotel Gym. All the big boys are going to TM - that's the best reference you'll ever need! My best mate is a pretty big lad and he rates himself as 'small' in the company of the core customers there. Go and enjoy! I'll be there

Does anyone know where the small girls go? I think I will be more happy there, but still looking in vain for that gym.

My choice, and now that I am no longer in CM I will share, is Exclusive gym over near JJ Market. At the 4 way intersection take a right instead of going straight, it's across from the Football stadium.

With a package they run about 1000B a month. They are not large, the reason I never mentioned them, but they are CLEAN, have new weights, 80% of the cardio stuff is good, but they don't have a lot.

I was always able to get into the squat rack with little to no wait.

Also the staff is really great as well.

Crappy showers, no sauna but I never shower at the gym.

Oh, that's a gym? I saw all the posters of topless boys in tights outside and thought it was one of those "masssage for men - by men" shops so didn't bother checking it out.

Was at California Wow before, happy at FT now. A bonus with FT is that there is no Secret Recipe cake shop on the same floor. Sadly, there appears to be no Secret Recipe cake shop in CM at all any more however. :-/

You forgot to add picking their noses, interesting to see beautiful made up girls in the cosmetic depts.,picking away at their noses,and they don't even stop when you look at them ! regards Worgeordie

Next time, get out your phone and start filming, or pretend to film. ;-)

I usually go to the Piston Shop. Unfortunately the quality of the staff (and thus work) sometimes varies, but the owner Nat (who also speaks excellent English) knows his stuff and during many years now I have never had any reason to doubt neither his knowledge nor honesty. Not sure if he services small scooters also though. Might not.

Ate there recently and thought the pizza (pizza margherita) was some of the best I've had in a long time. In particular the cheese, but also the crust, was great. Sadly there was little choice for meat toppings except pork based things. Didn't see any farangs in the kitchen, so perhaps it means cooking time, at least for pizza, has now been sorted out.

Also had a decent salad with passion fruit dressing (stealing that great idea for my own private use), though slightly expensive (95B?) relative to the contents I felt. Less lettuce and more other vegetables, and it would have been better. Obviously opinions varies, as I see somebody else commented this salad was very generous (for two even?). Or maybe my salad was different. :-(

there is no farang involvement whatsoever.

Caesar salad is a very generous serving. haven't tried the others.

Ah, my bad. I blindly assumed the cook referred to for overseeing the cooking time was a farang.

Mrs. Awk had the Caesar salad. Her comments were that it tasted good, but only had lettuce. (Slight exaggeration on her part, as it obviously had some other things too, but like my salad, not much else.)

it's a traditional Caesar salad with Romaine, fresh grated Parmesan, croutons, bacon and the classic Caesar dressing. so yes, not much else.

Thanks. I'll tell Mrs. Awk to stop ordering Caesar in the future if she wants other vegetables.

Ate there recently and thought the pizza (pizza margherita) was some of the best I've had in a long time. In particular the cheese, but also the crust, was great. Sadly there was little choice for meat toppings except pork based things. Didn't see any farangs in the kitchen, so perhaps it means cooking time, at least for pizza, has now been sorted out.

Also had a decent salad with passion fruit dressing (stealing that great idea for my own private use), though slightly expensive (95B?) relative to the contents I felt. Less lettuce and more other vegetables, and it would have been better. Obviously opinions varies, as I see somebody else commented this salad was very generous (for two even?). Or maybe my salad was different. :-(

there is no farang involvement whatsoever.

Caesar salad is a very generous serving. haven't tried the others.

Ah, my bad. I blindly assumed the cook referred to for overseeing the cooking time was a farang.

Mrs. Awk had the Caesar salad. Her comments were that it tasted good, but only had lettuce. (Slight exaggeration on her part, as it obviously had some other things too, but like my salad, not much else.)

Ate there recently and thought the pizza (pizza margherita) was some of the best I've had in a long time. In particular the cheese, but also the crust, was great. Sadly there was little choice for meat toppings except pork based things. Didn't see any farangs in the kitchen, so perhaps it means cooking time, at least for pizza, has now been sorted out.

Also had a decent salad with passion fruit dressing (stealing that great idea for my own private use), though slightly expensive (95B?) relative to the contents I felt. Less lettuce and more other vegetables, and it would have been better. Obviously opinions varies, as I see somebody else commented this salad was very generous (for two even?). Or maybe my salad was different. :-(

Reminds me of the great 2005 movie "Waiting". :-)

Does not sound like what you are looking for exactly, but my one and a half year old daughter enjoys the pay-to-play playgrounds at Kuad San Kaew and Central Festival. KSK is much cheaper, smaller, and dirtier, so that's where we usually go. It being much smaller also seems to mean it is easier to socialise.

Can't say she is socialising really, but she does seem to enjoy seeing other babies.