MeaMaximaCulpa

I know some will disagree, and that is OK. But I do believe in giving credit when credit is due. I was there at 12:50 yesterday to transfer stamps to my new passport. There were 20 people in the queue + a similar group that had tickets from the day before and possibly some retirement folks who get special treatment. The latter group(s) went in first, then my queue. Beware that in the shortish time I was in the queue, probably 30 more people arrived, so time your arrival well. Or go around 9-10 in the morning, after the early group of eager beavers is through the system. And of course, avoid days just before or after week-ends and holidays. So I was in the door (which opened after lunch at 13:00) 13:10, did document check and my number for desk 8 was already up on the board when I got there. So instant service, 2 minutes and I was given a numbered card to return next day after 14:00 to pick up. Total time 25 minutes (plus 5 minutes pick-up today). I asked the nice and helpful lady please also transfer the reentry stamp, which before was done at the reentry desk, to avoid queueing one more time. She checked and confirmed that all the stamps will be transferred. OK, yes I have to come back again, but I prefer that to waiting in a small room (or outdoors) with many people. If you live far away and/or is frail, that may not be so good for you. And yeah, you have to walk through the door with a mask on (eeewww!), but can drop it down around your neck immediately inside, since most of the staff now don't use masks anymore. So keep one ready in your pocket, otherwise they send you out to the copy-shop to buy one. I noticed that a big roof has been built over one side of the old parking lot, so something is obviously coming there soon (a better queueing/waiting area is my guess). The other side is covered with tarpaulins, and there are lots of chairs to sit on while waiting. A little coffee outlet is also new (to me), so you can grab a cup while waiting. This time I also used the parking lot just across the road. 40 bath (seems no time limit) is OK in my opinion, but I am sure someone will complain. Then you can park further away if you so wish, usually there is space up on Jomtien second road. Beach road and soi 5 are usually too crowded to find parking. So overall some improvements, and more to come it seems. Of course, the facilities are too small for the job, but I give credit to the staff squeezing the max out of what they have to work with. And they are all very nice, polite, and helpful. I have no experience with the sections other than retirement, 90-day and reentry, but I have NEVER in my time at Jomtien (since they moved from central Pattaya) had ANY bad experience with the staff. So there! ???? The one thing I do think needs attention is adequate toilet facilities. I believe there are toilets inside, but possibly now reserved for staff only? Can anyone fact-check/confirm this? But as far as I know there is nothing outside. Now that would be a nice addition if you have to wait for a while and had too much coffee in the morning. So please take this for what it is, a visit report and a tribute to the nice and hardworking staff at Jomtien Immigration. Way to go guys!

The 200 drops to 120 if you prepay a card. And yes it is steep even at that lower price. But think about the location, fairly central in BKK. A piece of land that will soon house a condo or suchlike if the driving range doesn't bring in the money.

At 42 Tee-Off you can pay walk-in rate per tray (B200) so you can try it out without committing money to a card. The price per tray is otherwise B120. The minimum is 1,000 on the card, and it will expire after 2 months (IIRC). If you put 2,000 or 3,000 the unused amounts will expire after 3 and 4 months respectively. I go there when in BKK, since I stay just across the road. It is quite OK, with a very small putting green but no sand bunker. Give it a try!

A few weeks ago it said on a sign outside to wear a mask inside. However, several officers didn't wear one, so I quickly removed mine too. Nobody said a word, even a masked officer that served me at the re-entry desk. So it seems you can choose. Try it and see, no big risk.

What he said

Do we?

Yeah, just thought about that. I also use BBL, and can get current balance without any transaction. If you use other banks that may not be the case.

I also always use bank letter from previous day, but I NEVER do a same day transaction. Ever. I do use an FD account, and is therefore also NEVER asked for bank statements. At Jomtien. YMMW.

Let me indulge in a bit of "mansplaining" (yes, my pronouns are he/him/his ????). Root canals, especially done by non-experts can trap very aggressive anaerobic bacteria which can later (often many years later) leak out and get into the bloodstream. In turn these bacteria can lead to serious infections in the heart and possible other organs. I would rather extract the tooth, and then either do without it (if far at the back and still provides functional chewing) or go for an implant some months later, if needed with a bone graft. If sensitive to titanium there is a ceramic called zirconium that is totally inert (I believe both implant and crown can be made with this material), but it is somewhat brittle and possibly more expensive and harder to find here.

I can highly recommend Dr. Tapasit @ Aden Za clinic on North Pattaya road, just before Healthland going towards Sukhumvit road. Website: http://www.adenzadental.com I have used Dr. Tapasit for more than 20 years, he speaks perfect (US) English, he was educated in the USA and worked there for a time.