Bounder

Yes, having the same problem here. 1333 advised me it's due to the big fraud, as others have said. I was advised 1 or 2 weeks to be cleared up! Until then ...

On 4/3/2021 at 7:26 PM, Bounder said:

 

Hi -

 

I just had to renew my Be1st VISA at Phrom Phong branch and was flat our refused any card other  than UnionPay. This isn't any good for all the reasons stated elsewhere - and I wasn't even aware it'd be no good for withdrawing cash in Europe!

 

What can I do, I'd rather not have to change banks.

 

Update - Success! Went back to my branch on Monday morning and explained that I need to replace the UnionPay card as it just doesn't work. I'd got their website with the Be1st MasterCard showing loaded on my phone. I didn't need it. There was no problem from the girl I saw, she just replaced the card with the usual rigmarole of endless photocopies to sign etc, plus a B100 fee (think I've paid that every time over the years with the single exception of when they gave me the UnionPay). 

On 3/23/2021 at 12:03 AM, ianguygil said:

I'm an officer of Bangkok Bank and I recommend the Be1st Smart TPN MasterCard for anyone who travels abroad. The UP card is fine if you never leave Thailand or travel in Asia.

 

UP is more and more accepted overseas, particularly if you mainly travel in Asia,  but just in case I would recommend the MC

 

PM me if there are still questions. Thank you

 

Be1st Smart Cards (bangkokbank.com)

Hi -

I just had to renew my Be1st VISA at Phrom Phong branch and was flat our refused any card other  than UnionPay. This isn't any good for all the reasons stated elsewhere - and I wasn't even aware it'd be no good for withdrawing cash in Europe!

What can I do, I'd rather not have to change banks.

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, regarding your Q#1, you may wish to have a read of current thread where guy stuck at airport as his work permit had an issue. Thinking ubonjoe suggestion of having someone email you a copy may be required. 

Hi again DrJack54

The situation he finds himself in is exactly the kind of administrative nightmare I want to avoid. Even if I can get a copy of my WP emailed, it's quite possible that an 'original documents only' policy is applied for documents. Similarly with the insurance required / not required, health certificate required / not required. It will all come down to the officer at the point of entry.

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

1. Do you have a copy of it.  If not could somebody scan your work permit and send a copy of it to you by email. 

2. Not needed unless you are transiting Thailand. Or if a Thai national one from the Thai embassy.

3. Outdated info. 

It all changed after the emergency decree went into effect on March 26th.

Hi again ubonjoe, to answer your questions;

1. I don't have a copy of it. Getting one maybe possible. I don't know if duplicate docs would be accepted in any case.

2. UK Foreign Office believes the health certificate is still required https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/coronavirus

3. Royal Thai Embassy still believe the insurance is required and refer me back to their website updated on 26th March https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/coronavirus

It will all come down to the official at immigration in any case.

Hello DrJack and Ubonjoe

Thank you for your replies. 

Hello

I am currently in UK and due to return to Bkk on 14th April. I've read the information from this link https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htmthat was given on another post. 

My questions are;

1. Although I have a work permit the actual book itself is in my place in Bkk, so, how will the check-in staff and / or the immigration officer know that I have a work permit?

2. Quoting from the iata (link above) 'Passengers must have a letter from the Embassy with the ‘fit-to-fly' health certificate to transit Thailand.'. Presumably the health certificate will need a doctor to complete it, so, what is the letter I need from the Embassy?

3. Is the $100,000 covid-19 specific health insurance still a requirement? According to the Thai Embassy website it is required for all passengers http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/news/7519/115274-**Updated-Requirements-for-travellers-from-the-ong.html

Thank you in advance for all helpful, factual replies.

Just been into my branch to check that my Krungsri ATM card will work for an upcoming trip to UK and was glad I did.

After a long call between the very helpful clerk and the Krungsri call centre it turns out that to use their ATM card in UK requires that I call into their call centre using their international number and make a booking for any ATM withdrawal. I will then have 15 minutes to make the withdrawal.

The reason they gave was that they consider UK a high risk country for ATM withdrawals due large amounts of fraud and skimming at UK ATMs.

Shop purchases are unaffected, they said.

The card is a Krungsri ATM with both visa and plus symbols.

The number to call from overseas is 0062 296 2000 (08:30 - 17:30 Thai time)

then select option 1

followed by option 2

then option 0

then make the arrangement and do the withdrawal within 15 minutes.

All very surprising, but good to know in advance, I would hate to try and sort it all from UK.

Now I've just got to hope I can get through on the number on the day!

google biovia thailand and order online

Thanks for your help Gamini. They have some reusable items, I see, which could be ideal longer term :)

Bangkok Drug Store @ Silom

 

http://www.bangkokdrugstore.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=0&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=1088&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1

 

 

Thanks Rumblecat, very much. I'll get down there tomorrow.

i think there is a fart sniffers club on Sukamvit road. maybe get them from there, have you ever thought of asking in a Chemist or pharmacy.

Yes - I've tried a number of the local pharmacies as well branches of Boots and Watsons.

No joy, hence my post.

Hello

Does anybody know of any Bridge clubs or groups in Bkk, preferably within striking distance of BTS or MRT?

Thanks in advance!

Where are hypnosis shows in Bangkok? I am very interested in hypnosis, NLP, weight loss, smoking, drinking and seeking some quality training too - advice / help you give is greatly and gratefully received

Bounder

Hypnotherapy has an excellent track-record of getting to people to quit smoking. That surprises me, because there aren't a lot of good hypnotherapists out there! As a hypnotherapist, I want people to have a good experience, so I thought I'd give you a few tips on how to choose a hypnotherapist, and what to expect from hypnotherapy. These are my personal opinions.

When choosing a hypnotherapist:

• Ask the Hypnotherapist (HT) if they do rapid inductions. If they don't, your hypnotherapist is probably incompetent. A slow induction is okay during the first few sessions, but after that it's a waste of time.

• Ask your HT if they do 'regression' or 'parts therapy'. If they don't, they are, in my opinion, lacking some of the most powerful tools that HT's can use.

• Ask how long it will take to see results. If you aren't promised results within 6 - 7 sessions, then your HT is probably incompetent.

Be wary of psychologists/psychotherapists who use hypnotherapy. Often they feel that hypnotherapy is just one of the 'tools' in their toolbox. This means that they might not be as proficient at using it as a regular HT. However, if you find a psychologist or psychotherapist that really loves hypnosis, you've probably struck gold.

What to expect in hypnotherapy:

• The most common misconception is that you loose consciousness in hypnosis. You don't. You can see, hear, talk, and think in hypnosis. Occasionally some people forget parts of their sessions, but it's not that common.

• Hypnosis feels great! Most of my clients come out of a session feeling fantastic. Try scheduling an appointment during the low-point of your day (afternoon for most people) and you'll come out of it very refreshed.

• Hypnosis can be emotional. Sometimes we go back to painful memories using hypnosis. This can often be quite un-emotional, or it can be very dramatic. It's a purge, and always at the end of the session clients feel much, much better than they did.

With regards to smoking, a hypnotherapist has to uncover and address all the needs that smoking fulfills, even if it's just a false perception that smoking fulfills these needs.

For example, many smokers feel like smoking relaxes them. It doesn't matter that smoking technically does the opposite (it's a stimulant); the perception is that it's stress relieving. That perception – and the need to relax - has to be dealt with in hypnosis.

Also, it's important to address each and every situation where a smoker smokes automatically, such as in the morning with a coffee, in the car, on the telephone. This is where hypnosis shines, because these are such 'automatic' behaviors, and hard to address without hypnosis.

If needs and automatic behavior aren't specifically addressed, then hypnotherapy may not last. Many hypnotherapists have high initial success rates with quitting smoking, but if you follow their clients for a longer time, they relapse. This is because the hypnotherapists haven't been thorough.

Another key area that a hypnotist has to work with is the feeling that many smokers have those cigarettes will be 'missed' in the future, or that life won't be as good or enjoyable without cigarettes. In other words, they feel like they're depriving themselves. As a hypnotherapist, I can create a very vivid and motivating image for the subconscious mind to focus on - an image of the future where everything is better without cigarettes: food, sex, energy etc. etc.

There are more techniques involved in getting people to give up smoking, but I'll leave it there for now. If you have more questions, please message me; I love discussing hypnosis and hypnotherapy.

Very well put! Check out the hypnosis shows in Bangkok and Pattaya.

Just came back from Suan Phlu they tell me categorically they now deal ONLY with labourers from Cambodia, Laos and Burma.

It's now ALWAYS Chaengwattana for us.

Hope this helps, but it would be a good idea for someone to update the ThaiVisa re-entry permit info page, errm, not sure who to advise about that.....

You can still get them there, even on Saturday morning. But believe you must email the application 24 hours before you go.

Service for Re-entry permit online by Stop & Stamp

Contact at Immigration Division1 (Soi SuaPlu , Satorn Rd.)

Counter 6-7 Room 102 , 1st Floor , Building 1

Tel. : 0-2287-1983

Office hour: Mon-Fri 8:30 - 12.00 and 13.00 - 16:30

Saturday 8:30 - 12.00

Closed on OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS

You should e-mail the completed form 1 day in advance. You have to submit a 2" photo and pay a permit fee at counter 7, the Immigration Bureau (soi suanplu office.) Fee for re-entry permit:

1,000 Bahts for single

3,800 Bahts for multiple

http://www.immigrati...004/en/base.php

I went there for my Re-Entry permit earlier this month and did not submit anything in advance. I also did not see that anyone else there had done so. In fact some people were completing the TM8 after they arrived at the office. I was out of there in 30 minutes.

Thanks guys, saved me a much longer day out

So can we still get re-entry permits at Suan Plu or do we have to go out to CW?

Does anyone know of a farang run karate club in Bangkok?

Bounder.

Hi there did you ever find a Karake Club in Pattaya my style is SHOTOKAN and LOVE to get back into it.

hi chris

i don't know about pattaya, i did join the shotokan club here in bkk tho' at chulalongkorn weekdays and soi phrom phong on sunday mornings. excellent!

as an idea - try www.karatethai.com and ask if they know of a pattaya club... they can only say no, but i think you will find them most helpful

good luck finding your club - and have fun

bounder

Hi

Aside from the Muay Thai camps which I know well.

Can anyone tell me, what is the cost (ok, I know prices will vary btwn full professional martial arts schools and the part time type schools) of martial arts lessons in thailand (karate, tae kwon do, etc)?

Do they usually work on a monthly fee?

or is it a drop in system, where you come in a pay X amount of bhat per class?

Thanks

Gerry

Hi Gerry, Bounder here. We were discussing karate previously you may remember.

I have now (it's taken a loooong time) begun training with the club at www.karatethai.com and re-started, as you did, as a white belt.

The cost is 500 baht per session at Supalai Place. On Sunday mornings this is with Omura Sensei. The training at Chula is free except on Thursdays with Omura Sensei which are again 500 baht.

Worth every baht IMHO.

It is also possible to pay a single monthly fee of 2,000 baht and then attend the lot. When my feet have regained the ability to retain their skin I wil be going for this option myself.

Hope it's all going well with you.

Regards

Bounder.

Thanks very much for your reply - the book does in fact preach abstinence so I am pleased for you that you can now control your drinking - do you look upon each glass of beer as devastation now and in that way control your drinking ?

I notice that the topic is about a book but there seems to be a trend towards recommending a meeting at Soi 7 - is this AA or something ?

Cheers BB

Hi again BB,

When I read the book I was truely and totally fed up with drinking but unable to stop doing it.

Now that I don't have to drink I find that when I do have a beer (or two) or whatever I can easily leave it alone again - something that was unthinkable before. The reason is that I have found that I genuinely don't like it, the taste, effect or costs. It's 'must have' power is gone and so it's control over me.

I've no idea about the Soi 7 thing. The only thing I know for sure about Soi 7 are the gap toothed temptreses that inhabit the Beer Garden (should that be Fear Garden?) at the end. Presumably one should be drunk before venturing in.

Bounder.

Yes, I've read this book. Allen does as complete a job on drinking as he does on smoking.

I was previously unable to understand my drinking, much less get any kind of a grip on it, but this book did the job for me. Understanding was certainly the key for me and this man understands addictions. Once you understand what is happening to you, control is in your grasp.

I cannot speak highly enough about this book, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Drinking is no longer a devil to me, my social life is full, I do not have to avoid bars etc.

Good luck!

Bounder.

I got this book on the strength of your comments - however, it is not a guide to controlling drinking but a method to quit drinking. He quotes repeatedly from AA literature and basically concludes that alcohol is an addictive poison which should be known as devastation. I would be very enlightened to know how this has helped you - are you now sipping soft drinks in bars ? For me the book gave me no help in controlling my alcoholic intake - in fact the monotony of reading it led to a sharp increase.

I would greatly appreciate your comments Thanks BB

Hi BB,

The book helped me by allowing me to understand why I was drinking at all. I had got to the point in life where I could not even go home after work without an 'after work pint', or more likely two or three. I would drink it (the pint) thinking that it tasted bad and knowing it would destroy my appetite. Then later in the evening, if I'd been home, I'd have to come out again for more. Most likely I didn't go home or eat. I was incredibly hard up at the time - no fun in the UK - and so drinking in all the quality, 'pound a pint' venues, Witherspoon's etc.

This is a VERY mild description of what was happening as I'm sure you can appreciate - the point is I was engaged in a behaviour I did not enjoy but was unable to control. It was stealing the money from my pocket, the time from my life and I found that I began to slur my words after only 1 or 2 drinks, very attractive to the opposite sex.

In short, I didn't want to drink but was unable to stop. This book helped me understand how and why I had got to that point. Then I was able to control my drinking.

Now I can drink soft drinks or alcohol, but I am no longer controled by the alcohol. The cravings are gone and I have my life back.

Keep looking for the way out and good luck mate.

Bounder.

thai121,

Thanks for that, yes it's a great web site. May I ask, when you returned to training, did you start again and if not, how did you get on?

I honestly feel that I should begin again, but also feel that in 6 months or so, once the old frame has loosened up, I'll be bored witless. Then again, you can never do too many basics!

Also, you don't happen to know where I can get my kit here? Sports shops are all muay thai or taekwondo as far as I can see.

..........sorry Tony, forgot to say the book is in the Healthy living section near childrens books and sports, past the cashiers who are in the middle of the shop.

Hi Tonyj,

The EasyWay To Stop Smoking is on sale in the Kinokuniya bookshop in the Emporium shopping complex.

Take BTS Skytrain to Phrom Pong (station E5) and use the exit to The Emporium. Don't go down to street level, there is an entrance right there in the station. Go in that entrance and up a small escalator that will get you into the HiSo paradise that is Emporium complex. As you enter the main hall, Emporium Department store is on the far side from where you are now. Ignore it. Go to the closest escalator to you, it will take you up one floor. At the top of the escalator turn left. The third shop on your right, in the corner, is Kinokuniya. It's a large shop you shouldn't miss it, but if you do any of the staff in the complex will point you in the right direction.

The very best of luck to you or whoever the book is for.

Bounder

Yes, I've read this book. Allen does as complete a job on drinking as he does on smoking.

I was previously unable to understand my drinking, much less get any kind of a grip on it, but this book did the job for me. Understanding was certainly the key for me and this man understands addictions. Once you understand what is happening to you, control is in your grasp.

I cannot speak highly enough about this book, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Drinking is no longer a devil to me, my social life is full, I do not have to avoid bars etc.

Good luck!

Bounder.