purushanti

Anyone know what is the situation at bus and train terminals when purchasing tickets, Bangkok to Chiang Mai: is it too crowded to get to the ticket window?

Can one book a ticket one day; go the next? (In other words, no waiting period?)

Train: could one take 2 suitcases? (I presume that they have to be kept close by me.)

"Nok Air Bus"--I understand they have a terminal a little further than Mor Chit. Still functioning? And go to Chiang Mai?

Anyone know of a reliable taxi driver to go to Chiang Mai? (Would not want him to disappear with my things when at a rest stop.)

Thanks for any help you can give.

Train:-----Any idea how i can book a ticket (like book one day, go the next?), Bangkok to Chieng Mai (preferably sleeper)?

Also how many suitcases can I take---2 ok? (too much baggage for plane). I am presuming I would have to keep them near me? And book by internet?

Bus:-----Concerned about Mor Chit Bus Terminal possibly changing location.

Someone have a phone number for Nok Air Bus Terminal? I know they drive to Isann, perhaps to the North also?

Concerned also about traveling alone, with some upset people carrying understandable grievances.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Thanks, Mario. And where to mail 90-day address report---Chaeng Wattana, or Suan Plu?

Also, I am in Chiang Mai for a visit. Any problem mailing to BKK with my BKK address on the form, and alsoon BKK return envelope, same address, and same address on both envelopes as sender or receiver of mail? I am concerned about a Chaing Mai postmark on my mail to them, that it not be some sort of red light to them. This situation, I would think, comes up alot when people travel in-country.

You can ask your question of Richard Barrow at thai travel blogs dot com. He seems very independent of gummint and media, and provides answers in line with his inherent motivation to serve others.

I have not been on the web for a few days, so ---maybe---not up to date. It had been reported two days ago that the trip was possible, but expect long detours, adding hours to the trip. I see no one else has answered your question; I chose to fly, was fortunate to get the last seat in the last Thai Airways plane out Thursday night. You might also want to know that the huge Tops store at Central DS is out-of-water, except for some pricier stuff. Also out of a lot of other products. However, I have been able to find water at minimarts and restaurants.... Another post coming below....... My bags are packed, for I would seriously "question" whether there is certainty anywhere in the country in re safety---my opinion. I am not at liberty to say why. Yet you will find many Thais and expats who will tell you: "mai pen rai". Below:

This is in reply to Lovia in post number one: These are sources some may like to check, while other joke.

www,zetatalk.com---click on the left----"Safe Locations" (around the world). You can check "Thailand" and also "Bangkok" separately, perhaps, Free subscription to their weekly, sometimes daily, blurbs.

Also there are a number of "future maps" available:

www.matrixinstitute.com, and, I think the" I AM America" map, if I recall correctly, are two I know of offhand.

The maps I have seen show less sinking on the matrix map for Thailand, but the author, Gordon Michael Scallion, would suggest that as consciousness rises, there will be less damage. His map was done after the other, demonstrating according to that logic, growth in consciousness, as we learn our lessons in this universe-city.

Neither the site, nor the maps, nor I are your authority; check your inner guidance, always there for you.

And, no I myself am not confident about the stability of any cities on the water.

2 helpful sites:

www.ajarn.com

www.stickmanbangkok.com

The latter has a 40,000 word article on education here and occasional submissions in re personal experience teaching.

I don't know if this road has ever been flooded, wish I could help. I also can't answer your question on travel to BKK the week of the 13-19, just keep up on the news bulletins is my best advice.

The worst flooding I've ever seen in Bangkok was in 1983. Most of Bangkok was flooded for 2 months, with Ramkamhaeng U. being underwater and therefore closed for 3 months. Water over the roofs of many of the buildings on campus. We're not anywhere near the 1983 levels of flooding in Bangkok, at least not yet...

How high were those roofs at Ramkhanhaeng University in the 1983 flood that the water rose over?

Well, I do not have your answer, but can share my limited experience. One day, at Immigration, I saw a hospital bed with a man in it, attached to, I guess, an IV drip.

Bumrungard Hospital, as also Buddy's Lodge, has at least once -a month visits by Immigration.. Perhaps some officer leaves their office area and visits rooms????

What I am trying to say is there must be some accommodation for your case.

Apparently they do go to the home to check on the validity of marriage visas

Perhaps a friend could go to one of the 3 Immigration sites, and find out for you.. If you need help in that regard, PM me..

May your health improve.

Perhaps give a friend limited power of attorney only to handle your Immigration business, if need be.

Just by way of a followup: Today I called Buddy's Lodge on Khaosan (where the Khaosan visit was to take place), and that hotel told me that Mobile Immigration would not show up today, holiday weekend and all that. So, my intuition was confirmed, and I saved myself a trip, and did my 90 day reporting by mail.

The 12th starts a holiday weekend. Will Thai Immigration be able to honor their scheduled mobile visit to Khaosan Road on Saturday, the 13th, or does this present a conflict? Thanks.

Check out at victory Monument where King power is. Last year an apparently hijacked petrol tanker was parked near there, but fortunately was not exploded.

LOCATION:<br /><br />    I went to the scene today and chatted with some vendors.  Their report is that the shooting took place as you step past the Mission Hospital Clinic, down into what might still be called Trok Mayom at that point. (If you walk from Chanongsongkram Police Station on Thanon Chakrapong, past Khaosan Road, the next left is Trok Mayom, which can fit moto-sai, eventually turning left onto Tanao Road toward Wat Bowonniwet, or right toward Thanon Ratchadamnoen and the famous Kok Nua intersection of April, 2010.  Alternatively, one could take a right earlier onto Ratchadamnoen, with no choice of traffic, entering the stream going toward Democracy Monument.  It is possible too that the motosai headed in the direction of Thanon Chanonsongkram and the multiple choices of heading towardd Pinklao, and other directions.)<br /><br />If you walk up Khaosan from Chanongsongkram, the first wide soi you see on your right brings you to Mission Clinic.  I wonder if Khaosan Road itself even heard shots at that point, being some distance from the shooting.  Trok Mayom, like Khaosan, is filled with similar shops.

Perhaps the original news reporter was trying to indicate the location, not of the shooting in particular, but the wider location

of Khaosan road itself, being near the Lottery office.

Look for an area where the pollution is appreciably lower, and where one has access to a park or the river, and quiet. There are places,too, where Thais seem to live normal lives; better to live there than amidst scammers, hawkers, flesh peddlers, etc. Such is my bias. Bless them all.

There have been recent road collapses also in Nan and Ayutthaya. There has been a suggestion that this type of thing is happening here and there around the world, eg, sinkholes also. Vulcanologists suggest that all volcanoes are interconnected. Perhaps so too with earthquakes, and their lesser effects miles away? www. zetatalk, and a couple of affiliated sites or links suggest that Indonesia and the Philippines are sinking, gradually, but soon to be more fully accomplished, and that such excuses as rainfall have little merit as there is no rain oftentimes. I will not report anything I have read about the south, Bangkok, or the country itself, as I understand we are not permitted to spread "rumours" about this country. Hope what I have written here is a lot of hooie, but I am not so convinced that all of it is false. The Mayan calendar is approaching its end.

In the past year or so I have seen an ad in the English newspaper for a German foot doctor in Chatuchek, Bangkok. The science is called podology, and the doctor, a podologer. Maybe search google.

The Khaosan Road area is good; can walk to Pier 13 on the river, but can also walk to Klong San Saeb (canal) water taxi-----3 stops to MBK. 7K baht room on Samsen, soi 5 (not sure if Pier 14 is functional, may have to walk a bit longer to Pier 13). Also at the end of samsen 2 look up, and you wil see Suan Maree-7Kbaht-smaller room.

Klong boat not so close to the 2 above, but on Pra Sumen road, near Ratchadamnoen, Pirom Mansion, and another even cheaper next door. both close to klong boat, could also walk longer to Pier 13. These are all apartments, off the top of my head. There are, of course hotels aplenty around. Guest houses cheaper.

And all the questions were in Thai? Any percentage in English? If you answered so many inquiries in Thai, I am impressed. Thanks for the report.

Check the separate classified section of a certain English language newspaper in Bangkok (not sure if rules here permit the name of the paper). .........Ah----here it is!: Suwat Int'l Law &Notary Office, near Asoke. I have been there, successful trip, and made to feel at home. www.SuwatLaw.com, www.Thailandnotary.com. Other services too. Glas Haus Bldg., 9th floor. 02- 661-7038-9. My papers were later received abroad with no problem.

Thailand is a nice country in that I can easily find buyers for gold, to convert to baht, but I wonder if they pay 100%.

you should rather wonder what percentage you will pay to Thai customs as opposed to the opinions of some learned TV-members you cannot import gold bars free of duty to Thailand :jap:

Hi. Thanks. I did not know that there is a duty if you enter Thailand with a small amount of gold. I wouldn't bring more than a relatively small amount, just to pay for hotel, etc. If I were stopped upon entry in Thailand, and my bags searched, that would be the first time such event happened. Between my wife and I we have traveled in and out on a yearly basis probably 30 times between us, maybe more than that. We're getting old!

If the customs department noticed a few small gold bars among our carry on bags, I would be surprised. However, you make a good point. There are Canada Maple Leaf coins which have a face value, and they are made of pure gold. I have some 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/2 oz of those. The face value is like $5, $10, $20. I know that people take Canadian maple leaf gold coins to India on trips back to see family, and they never have a problem because there is a face value on the coin. The advantage of bars is that I can buy them at nearly spot value. Canada coins have a premium of $20-$50 per coin, and I don't think a Thai shop will pay that premium (?).

Overall, I think getting my gold seized upon entering Thailand is a very minor concern. So minor, I would take the risk for sure. Do you know the official response if I were found to be carrying 50 grams of gold at the airport? It almost seems comical that this is an issue of concern. I have not personally heard of anyone having a problem entering Thailand with valuables. I am sure there are some stories though. What do you know about this?

There was a report in the past year at sovereignman.com (Simon Black) of a foreigner come to Thailand with gold that he did not declare, a sizeable amount, which was conficated, it is said, by customs. At the airport one day myself, I happened to pass by the customs office and inguired of the 2 ladies there what is the procedure. They did not know of this happening, and indicated confiscation would not not proper in such a case. (I am not saying that this answer is reliable enough.) The individual involved seems to have figured he had no other recourse but 'mai pen rai'. Simon' comment, in his basic website, not his premium website,

is, that if you are internationally transporting gold to a country in which the value in your baggage outweighs the local official's salary, watch out The whole question has been, and I think is occasionally continuing to be debated on Simon's premium site in at least one thread The thread also, in keeping everybody and every action legal, discusses the procedure of removing gold from a country, and options besides sticking it in your pocket.

hi mate ..so how do you get you money now still threw atm? il be in thailand in about 4 weeks any tips you can give us on this so it dont happen to me thanks

Welcome! My own experience is that I try to use K-Bank (Kasikorn) ATMs. Have always had relaible service with this outfit. And I use an ATM outside an area that farangs frequent, preferably with a building right there, where I can disappear inside real fast. This is after I have inspected the machine for unauthorized skimming equipment. Hand over my typing at all times.

Can be good outside a bank, since theoretically these ATMs are watched more. I stay away from Bankok Bank, even tho' they have not been attacked by protestors since last spring.

Reading over my post, I detect my own paranoia, which, however, to my mind, is justified.

Closest MRT is Hualumphong. Closest BTS Ratchethewi. Both necessitate taxi or bus. Traffic from MRT better........... Alternatively, San Saeb Canal to end of line, then short walk, or riverboat, get off at Pra Arthit. Both boats do not run late.

"Dust-free" would have to be a relative term here, as one suspects that air pollution is present everywhere in Bangkok. But, are there any places , especially apartment areas, that are more life-supporting in this regard than others? I have lived at Pan Fha (near Khaosan Rd., relatively near the river, and surprised at how much dirt can collect on the floor if not attended to regularly. It would be nice to think that my lungs are immune,but one needs to be practical in this situation. Any suggestions? Thank you!

The map available at www.zetatalk.com and the one by Gordon Michael Scallion both show, as "future maps of the world", Bangkok and more of Thailand gone, under water. One map has a good part of Thailand left; the other just acouple of parts in the south and part of the NW border. Since these things come in cycles of thosands of years, it is again natural for a cleansing to take place, and the earth needs it soon. It is a matter of consciousness, so we are told, that determines the details. Those have nothing to worry about who have individuated from the herd mentality, relinquished fear, (daily rations of which other parties provide), forgiven themselves and others, and committed to a positive service-to-others attitude. For them, everything is important, but nothing matters.

I cannot answer your question as it stands, but you probaly know you can study in Ayuthhaya at MCU, or even ordain and get a visa for that, and leave the monkhood at the end of the year . Thais can spend short times in robes, but I am not sure whether you would have to promise more...... I presume the program at MCU can satisfy for an ed visa. In Rangoon there is a free program.