smileplur

Call any of them and make arrangements. They are always at my place early when I have an early flight to catch.

You don't state any requirements. I know a few for 1,500 on On Nut. What do you need in this apartment of yours?

Thanks for sharing that ... Awesome indeed ...

3664 for me!

Personally got it 3 times in the 20+ years I've lived here. "Simple" form each time. Definitely not fun, though.

How long did it take for this nonsense to completely go away in your case? For me, it has been a week. While I feel better a lot of the time, it comes back and hits me like a truck out of nowhere. Misery ....

Dengue is endemic in Thailand. I've read that most Thais will get it at least once in their lifetime, and that's borne out by the people I've asked. Stay there long enough, and you're likely to get it too at some point...

Did ya have to study to ascertain that bit of information?

Try this http://www.subconsciousascension.com/userfiles/file/DengueFeverRemedy.pdf it definitely works.

I could have used that about a week ago!

Dengue is horrible. I am just recovering now after a week with it. Yep, I am in Bangkok. It has been horrific!

OK let see some hands

How many people had to google "larvicidal"?

It isn't that difficult to determine what it is. 'larva' + 'cidal' = kill larva (of mosquitoes) .....

If it is only Thailand that you are interested in, and you don't want to travel around the region ... a double entry tourist visa will do the trick with extensions. Sometimes, a triple entry can be difficult to obtain, so make sure you read the reports posted regarding the embassy or consulate you are intending to apply for the visa at before pinning all of your plans to a triple entry. I would agree that a triple entry would give you a lot more flexibility should you wish to stay longer, visit other countries in the region, or whatever might happen. It is all pretty easy in your case ...

Once you have the Embassy letter you can apply for change (with 15 days remaining on stay) at Bangkok even if local office can not do. Then you would do the actual extension of stay at your local office 60-90 days later. But as said often an extra payment for new letter required.

I thought one needed 21 remaining to convert a visa. Maybe this only applies to a "Tourist Visa". Can you clarify? Maybe something has changed ...

I am in the same situation with my motorbike.

"While some private schools opt in voluntarily,..."

That is also incorrect. They are OUT of the SS system. There was talk a couple of years ago about putting private school employees back in the system, but it didn't go anywhere.

What Sheryl said, with exceptions, is valid.

I happen to know people who work at our sister school which is also a private school in another province. The sister school has 'opted in' to the system. Their teachers are making contributions that are matched by the school. They have all of the benefits of the system, both Thai and Foreign teachers alike. Where I work, they have decided not to 'opt in'. Therefore, neither Thai nor Foreign teachers get the benefits of Social Security. How are they able to do it if they are NOT in the system?

Almost all of them are open ... Well, they were open. Many are closing now! In my case, Great American Rib was open ...

In other news, a few bars opened at midnight!

We have great American Ribs in Chiang Mai ??

Oops .... I didn't realize I had wandered out of my territory. My apologies!

Almost all of them are open ... Well, they were open. Many are closing now! In my case, Great American Rib was open ...

In other news, a few bars opened at midnight!

Call me insane, but I hate to pay the fee for counter service at 7-11. I pay my electricity at the MEA Office in Klong Toey. I pay for the water at the Prakhanong branch of the MWA. I drive by often enough, so I just go through their drive through these days! I pay my rent in cash. I pay my phone bill at Telewiz when I go to do some shopping at Big C. Last time, I paid it at Telewiz in the Government Complex Building where immigration is located while doing my 90 day report. I share internet with my neighbor wirelessly ... I let him pqy the bill. I pay True Visions by ATM which has no fee. I pay my car payment in person at Thannachart Bangk which is next to my work.

Doing all of this doesn't exactly save me any time, but I go past each of these places regularly. Many of them are within walking distance from my place of employment. So, it gives me something to do on days when I have long breaks.

For what it is worth, I also refuse to pay the 10 baht fee for using my ATM card at another bank's ATM machine. I have been known to walk several blocks to avoid the charge when I have reached my monthly limit of 3 withdraws per month for free!

It's strange that I don't think twice about ordering a pint of Guiness at the pub or a glass of fairly expensive wine with my dinner. I just don't like paying fees for nothing!

You could try Bangkok Self Storage. I haven't used them personally, but many friends have used them with positive experiences. I'm not sure how their long-term prices compare, but it couldn't hurt to give them a call and ask. I seem to recall 100 baht a week for something they call "Backpacker Storage" or something. They are located on Rama IV Road.

http://www.bangkokselfstorage.com/

You have omitted one of the most important benefits: enrollment in the Thai Social Security system, which not only provides full health care cioverage at a very low price but which you can remain in for life even after you stop working provided you keep up the small payments.

in fact, people sometimes get a WP and job just to get into that system, especially if they have pre-existing conditions which make it hard or impossible to get private insurance.

This is simply incorrect. There are certain occupations that do not qualify for automatic enrollment into the Social Security system. In my unfortunate case, working at a private school is one of those occupations that does not fall under the category of mandatory Thai Social Security. While some private schools opt in voluntarily, it is not mandatory. Unfortunately, my place of employment is among those schools that do not voluntarily 'opt in' to the system. Again, a Work Permit does not guarantee that you will be enrolled in the system.

Any local shop should be able to do it for you including paying the tax and getting the sticker for you. If they cannot do it, they can certainly tell you where a shop that will do it is located. In the past, I have done it with just the green book. The shop never even saw my motorbike! I do it myself these days because the location is convenient (I am on Suk. 93). Just ask at the place you go to change your oil, fix a flat, or do whatever to your motorbike. They will sort it out. It takes my local shop a day to sort it out and get me a new tax tag if I am too lazy to do it myself. The fee for the service is 120 baht in addition to the cost of the required tests, taxes, and compulsory insurance.

Works fine from Bangkok using True Online ....

A friend recently stayed at Nest Boutique Resort. The rooms seemed nice enough. I would stay there if I didn't live 10 km away!

http://www.nestboutiqueresort.com/

Lastly, thank you all for your help and contributions. You certainly put my mind at ease and were helpful through this process! Cheers!

I just thought I would wrap this thread up by letting you guys know how things went today. We left rather early at 6:45 for our 8:15 appointment. We arrived at 7:34 am according to the parking ticket at the Sindhorn Building which is where we were advised to park when I called the US Embassy. I found the parking fees outrageous at 100 baht per hour. Rather than giving them our money, we bought some coffee at one of the various coffee shops and got a stamp. This gave us one free hour. The total time was exactly two hours. The fee for parking was 50 baht which is much more reasonable than 200 baht.

We arrived about 10 minutes early and shown in the door next for two reasons. First, I am an American Citizen. Second, we had an infant baby. Security was pretty relaxed and barely even looked at the stroller.

I handed my forms over to the guy who had me fill in some things I hadn't filled in. I didn't know how to fill in the portion where it says exact period in the US. So, I just wrote birth! He asked when I moved away from the US. I told him May 2008 ... He told me to write that despite having been in and out of the country for lengthy periods and a record of it in my passport. He checked my documents which were as follows:

• My Passport
• The mother's Passport
• Application Form
• Birth Certificate
• Translation of Birth Certificate
• Divorce Certificate (Previous Marriage)
• Translation of Divorce Certficate
• University Degree
• University Transcripts
• Work Permit
• Old Maryland State ID Card

I had other documents with me to show that I had been in the US as a child and through High School, but they didn't care. They said what I had was fine. I sat for a few minutes before being called back up. I was told to go to the cashier and pay and I would be seen when they were finished with the couple currently being interviewed.

I paid the fee of $100 with my American Express Card. I returned the receipt to the window.

We were called in. The mother had to fill out an affidavit, but not sign it. Then, the staff member advised us to sit while he took our documents to the consul guy. The nice American guy came in about 5 minutes and made me take an oath that everything is true and correct. He had me sign some forms. He checked 3 times stating that if a signature was missing it would take additional time. He addressed the mother in Thai. She signed her bit. He asked a few questions about how and when we met. How she liked our trip to America. What I did for work. Then, he said congratulations. He signed a few more things and asked if I wanted to pick it up or have it delivered. I was too lazy to walk out and buy the envelope, so I said I would pick it up. I work around the corner. He stated they would call in 2-3 weeks. He said they would email me if they couldn't reach me by phone for some reason.

All in, it was a very easy procedure. There was nothing to worry about. He was very friendly. He gave me some advice about getting the social security card. He reminded me to bring photos when applying for his passport because most people forget. I will apply for his passport when I apply for my replacement in October.

Good experience. Two thumbs up for the Embassy on this one!

To new drivers, travel time can double if you leave too late from home during the start of the academic year. A good day it takes me 25 mins to my work (school), and 50 mins to one hour if I don't leave much earlier at the start of school. Traffic really only seems to ease in the second semester (October/November). Semester 1 is always very heavy, and I think the start of university exacerbates the problem.This

This is very true. It takes me about 20 in normal conditions. It takes over an hour in rush hour. This school year has classes beginning 30 minutes earlier at my school, so I am hoping that leaving a bit earlier might help with the commute. Time will tell (quite literally).

You mean traffic is going to get WORSE?

Yes, that is what they are saying!