lothda

Hi everybody - after looking through the manual and example pages it seems to be obvious that the new system is supposed to give the immigration office your form in advance and to secure you a place in line on the day of your choice with perhaps a time slot allocated. You will still have to supply all the necessary documents as hard copies. I would even take the appropriate form, even though there is a chance that they will already have a printed copy for you to sign. The possibility to have a number in the queue in advance is already worth it.

My extension of stay is due in about 5 weeks. I'll try this procedure and post my experience. If everybody who's due for one of the cases covered will be so kind to do the same we will have an idea of the whole procedure and its efficiency soon.

Just wonder, does this only apply in Bangkok?

I noticed that on the registration page you have to the option to enter an address in any of the provinces, so there may be an effort to make this nationwide.

Probably a virus. Delete it and forget it.

The serious side (from Wikipedia):

"In Silver Nanotechnologies and the Environment, environmental toxicologist Dr. Samuel Luoma claims that widespread use of nanoscale silver will challenge regulatory agencies to balance important potential benefits against the possibility of significant environmental risk."

And remember: silver particles in photographic film darken when exposed to sunlight, so it might be advisable to hang out your laundry only at night or only wear it at night after that . Depends on the concentration, though.

Hi! Yes, I have tried different players and computers with the same result - the disc stops playing. The reflective layer also shows the clouding typical for this condition. The other versions still play fine, fortunately.

I've had problems with other DVDs also. The Thai version of "The Family Stone" doesn't play anymore either. Something against gay story lines perhaps? Actually quite a few Thai DVDs have problems because of substandard production or packaging. I had a problem with a DVD writer only once, a BenQ that indeed stopped working shortly after the warranty ran out. Local Pioneer DVD players work fine for me.

Cheers!

Good news and bad news concerning Love of Siam on DVD.

Bad news first: when you try to play your first edition Thai DVD (the one in the notebook packaging) you will probably find that it stops playing after a few chapters. It's another case of the infamous 'laser rot' that affects quite a few Thai DVDs, particularly from Happy Home Entertainment. The other editions don't seem to be affected, let's hope it stays that way.

The good news: Strand Releasing announced the US DVD. No release date yet, nor does it say if it's the Director's Cut or the standard version. It's not listed on Amazon yet, so this may be a few months away.

Bad news first: when you try to play your first edition Thai DVD (the one in the notebook packaging) you will probably find that it stops playing after a few chapters. It's another case of the infamous 'laser rot' that affects quite a few Thai DVDs, particularly from Happy Home Entertainment. The other editions don't seem to be affected, let's hope it stays that way.

The good news: Strand Releasing announced the US DVD. No release date yet, nor does it say if it's the Director's Cut or the standard version. It's not listed on Amazon yet, so this may be a few months away.

I thought the words "burger" and "great" were mutually exclusive ...

There are MP4 variations. Try an MP4 AAC setting. Modern media players and mobile phones support the AAC standard.

Yes, you can buy the top-up cards at the usual shops and supermarkets. If you have a Thai bank account you can also top-up by ATM and Internet banking.

I suggest this one.

Main point: "At any amount of topping up, you will get credit validity extension up to 1 year."

Works fine for me since 2007.

True 5Mb ADSL (4Mb international) gives me 400kB+ on locally seeded torrents and well over 100kB for well-seeded international torrents. Using utorrent. Be sure to enable DHT, local peer discovery and peer exchange. Be aware that while this will increase the download speed if the torrent allows DHT, part of your download will not count towards your ratio if you use a torrent site that enforces one.

I'm using Deutsche Bank online banking with Firefox without problems. That's the German version, you seem to be from Belgium but that shouldn't make a difference. DB@MAX is Belgium-only, I don't know anything about it. For Germany their security works on the basis of transaction numbers (TANs). You get a list a 100 TANs initially. A TAN has to be entered for every online transaction, e.g. transfers or change of address and is only usable once. Another TAN list will be automatically supplied when the previous one runs out.

The "Code Card" is featured here. Not quite as secure as your Fortis calculator, I would say. This may be the Belgian system that stands in for the German TANs.

Hope that helps.

Looking for a place that will convert casettes to CD. Suggestions please.

Cheers, Bapak

You seem to want to convert music cassettes to audio CDs. The famous place at MBK will convert video cassettes to video CDs or DVDs (no doubt keeping a copy for themselves ). I don't know of a professional service that would do the audio thing, but with a cassette player and a computer with some audio software you could do it yourself.

Hi, I heard that Chatuchak market is open on Friday evenings. Does anyone know if this is the case? if so, what are its opening hours? Is it open any other nights? Thanks

Your information is correct and that's on Friday nights only. Not all shops may be open, though.

Anyone know where to get cheap HDMI cables that are of ok quality?

I don't think there is such a thing. The one that came with my DVD player looked cheap and didn't work. I spent 1,800 baht for a better one at Fortune, gold-plated contacts, oxygen-free. Works fine.

I find that Amazon accepts the Bangkok Bank Visa debit card, but you will be charged immediately. I generally wouldn't advise using debit cards in that manner. However you can apply for the "Verified by Visa" system on the Bangkok Bank website. This takes you to the Bangkok Bank website every time you make an online payment with the Visa debit card on a website that supports the system - clearly shown by the "Verified by Visa" logo. There you have to enter a password that was chosen by you during the application process, thus providing an additional layer of security before the transaction is authorized. It works fine for me, but Amazon doesn't support it.

i have this nokia 5800 mobile phone and it has GPS OVI system from Nokia

i used it recently and it got me into BKK alright but then when i went back to Hua Hin it put me back on the freeway - off the freeway - do a u-turn - until i was completely frustrated and lost - IT speaks the directions

bottom line is the maps werent up to date

so how to get maps up to date?

Nokia and OVI dont have them

Take a look here for instructions to download Nokia maps. Worked fine on my 5800. Otherwise I can recommend the Garmin software. ESRI Thailand have a Thailand map for it. Works without problems on the 5800.

Here's a map: Superrich. Location 1 is the one you want.

The original BBC article said that he had been found with cord tied "around his neck and genitals". This was later changed to, "neck and other parts of his body."

Seems much more likelt to be autoerotic asphyxiation gone wrong than suicide.

RIP.

Exactly, my first thought also.

The new ADSL subscription rates are here. (Yes, that's the "English" version). The left part of the table is for Internet alone, the right part in conjunction with a True Vision or True Mobile contract. Please note that 5 Mbps is for local sites only. Also note that your contract will start anew if you choose to upgrade. My connection in Bangkok was upgraded and I pay less than before for a noticeably higher speed.

I'm guessing "Rang Mahal" is produced by the people who run the Indian restaurant of the same name on the top floor of the Rembrandt Hotel?

If so, although I'm not a great fan of frozen food, I will definitely try their offerings next time I go shopping - is it only at Tops, or have you found it elsewhere?

Patrick

Yes, it is related to the restaurant. You can find it at Tesco Lotus (On Nut for sure).

My list (can't live without)

German style bread and rolls (at least once or twice a week)

French wine (even though the cheapest costs three times the price in Europe)

cheese (some NZ import cheese is tasty and good value)

My list (can live without)

really good black tea (it's Lipton now)

smoked salmon

crispy Wasa bread

I've read that Thailand is just about top of the world for consumption of frozen meals - can't be just expats. Obviously there should be some high quality stuff around. Actually I find CP to be quite good. Their shrimp wonton soup is excellent. S&P is fine, too, as far as lower-priced brands go. Rang Mahal is really good, but I don't find it's good value. By the way, your food free soi must be the only one in Thailand...

... I'm glad they are starting something new but at the same time I am disappointed they are going back in time rather than continuing the time line they worked so hard to preserve (until Enterprise which I think is why it was canceled). Prequels tend to destroy a franchise because it almost seems like an after thought of what should have been. ...

Well, don't worry about this one. It is a sequel (continuing the storyline from TNG with Spock living on Romulus), a prequel (starting with Kirk's birth, no less) and a reboot, changing the past in a time travel story and opening up new possibilities. In my opinion it's the best that could have been done.