banglassie

I don't understand how so many of you claim it is so hard to find these days, even tramadol(?)

Ok, if you go into Boots or Watson and expect to get diazepam, xanax or tram then I completely understand you. But next to every small Rx hole-in-the-wall shop (those that usually have Chinese-Thai owners for some reason), will hand you anything, always generic. usually in zip-lock bags of 10 or 50 pills (and no, I am not talking about Phuket, Pattaya or Samui. But Chiang Mai and Bangkok).

Many of those chemist even sell Tylenol #3 (paracetamol/Codeine 500/30) which so many claim is impossible to find.

I know that there the law regarding tramadol changed recently (a pharmacist asked me to buy all her stock cause she could not sell it 2 days later, went in for 10 pills, came out with 200..) can't remember when exactly this happened, only that it was connected to the stupid claim that Thai teenagers had found "a way to make the medicine recreational by mixing it with sugary drinks such as red fanta or coke... (seriously...)

Still the generic in zips are around in many places, and for those who prefer more reliable blistered medicine you can still buy Ultracet, which is something like 37 mg tramadol/325 mg acetaminophen(paracetamol) http://www.bad-drug.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ultracet.jpg

They are OTC even at boots, and unless you're having some bad idea about swallowing 300mg or so I would recommend these over the generics, both due to law and to reliability. 3 of those does the trick for me, and many times work even better than the generic (I don't believe for a second that there is actual 50mg tramadol hydrocloride in those little green/yellow pills... More like 10 to 40mg...)

So sure they are available, and not only from overpriced street dealers around Nana, KSR or as for Chiang Mai the Night market close to Th. Loi Kroh... If it's a good idea to buy them I leave to your own judgement, just be aware that you are technically breaking the law if you decide to buy some. And that the pharmacist probably will not get any problems, while you will end up with a hefty fine (probably on the spot...)

Indeed Jim. (although I don't really wonder why I got into trouble...)
I think after all this years and having my home near the last pdrc headquarter I have never felt unsafe here. Ever...
I am not a fighter, i haven't been in a single fight in my whole life. Nor have I had anyone want to fight me. That however has given me an unreasonable feeling of security no matter day or night. And as everywhere bad things can happen, to anyone. But I really don't feel they are more likely to do here than anywhere else.

I think those getting into most problems here are people who haven't understood the way of saving face. Screaming and shouting won't get anyone anywhere.
And people who expect some-kind of man-on-man bar fight should return back to wherever they came from, cause that's just not how it works (although i have stayed out of problems during my life I have seen many foreigners behaving really bad. Only to have the Thai guy turn around, but listening to the guy speaking with his friends in Thai I know that the foreigner is in for a bad surprise when walking home...

Some years ago a warned a guy from UK about this after acting like the king of the club. Only to have him pissed off at me instead, so since then I just stay out of it.
At age 30 I'm still going out from time to time. But it's getting less frequent. And hopefully I learned that I'm mortal as well this time.. about time really....

Drunk and stupid like so many foreigners here men and women and then they wonder why they have problems

Ok... That does it...
A week or so ago I was robbed of my phone at Soi rambuttri near the small soi leading to pinklao bridge (near thr infien restaurant st the corner) by 3 cambodian khmers, only to get a bottle crushed over my eye and nose (was very lucky though and got away with nothing more than some nose bleed and a bruise).

Anyway, that's not the point. In this case they fidnt attack us from behind and we could as welljust accepted the fact that the phone was gone. But drunk and stupid i asked for it back and we even started follow them into the small soi when they left, pretending to call a military friend speaking thai. So yea.. I kind of asked for it... they only hit and run, underdtandable... So although i hate theft I dont really hate them, more hste my own stupidity at 3 am... But i guess one day in life has to be the first to get a turn to learn some lesson...

What does it is the news here. Im out... There is so much crap going on, and honestly I prefer to live my everyday life not knowing all bad stuff that happens. After 8 years here I have never had any incident except this one, and i feel partly guilty for it to occur in the firdt place.
So if being a little street smart, and follow thai-friends tips of taking a ride back home instead of walking in dark alleys (especially along samsen that is known for yaba sellers and yaba smoking ladyboys and prostitution hotels...).

The news makes me feel worse about the whole country than is the fact. It was just the same in Sweden.
When i lived in norway i didnt read the news. But norwegian friends told me how good and safe sweden seemed compared to all bad stuff they heard on daily basis..

Sometimes ignorance is truly bliss. No reason to be scared here, only cautious as everywhere else. And life will be way more enjoyable....

(Sorry for all typos. My fingers dont fit for my phone...)

Ok... That does it...

A week or so ago I was robbed of my phone at Soi rambuttri near the small soi leading to pinklao bridge (near thr infien restaurant st the corner) by 3 cambodian khmers, only to get a bottle crushed over my eye and nose (was very lucky though and got away with nothing more than some nose bleed and a bruise).

Anyway, that's not the point. In this case they fidnt attack us from behind and we could as welljust accepted the fact that the phone was gone. But drunk and stupid i asked for it back and we even started follow them into the small soi when they left, pretending to call a military friend speaking thai. So yea.. I kind of asked for it... they only hit and run, underdtandable... So although i hate theft I dont really hate them, more hste my own stupidity at 3 am... But i guess one day in life has to be the first to get a turn to learn some lesson...

What does it is the news here. Im out... There is so much crap going on, and honestly I prefer to live my everyday life not knowing all bad stuff that happens. After 8 years here I have never had any incident except this one, and i feel partly guilty for it to occur in the firdt place.

So if being a little street smart, and follow thai-friends tips of taking a ride back home instead of walking in dark alleys (especially along samsen that is known for yaba sellers and yaba smoking ladyboys and prostitution hotels...).

The news makes me feel worse about the whole country than is the fact. It was just the same in Sweden.

When i lived in norway i didnt read the news. But norwegian friends told me how good and safe sweden seemed compared to all bad stuff they heard on daily basis..

Sometimes ignorance is truly bliss. No reason to be scared here, only cautious as everywhere else. And life will be way more enjoyable....

I love that they are back on the .se domain again though I have no idea how they made that happen(?)

If you haven't seen the movie and have interest in the subject (or simply are just bored and looking for something to spend your time on) then it's available on youtube with English subs:

EDIT - (seems I was too late)

When I got married I needed to send a form to my tax office in Sweden, got back document that stated that I was single and free to marry. I went to my embassy and showed I had enough income from abroad and they wrote a new document.

Went to translate that and took it to Chaeng wattana to certify it with their stamps.

Went to the amper with two of my wife's friends from work as witnesses.

I even had to fill in all the forms at the amper in Thai or find a certified translator. So it took awhile (I can't say I writ fast by hand in Thai in this computer age...)

So how does one go about to make these marriage certificates the illegal way? Seems like there is quite much work needed? I would assume the reason the consulate in Savannakhet is so relaxed is because they know people with a marriage certificate already have proven their income to the amper office(?) (cause they are still very hard on retirement visas from what I've heard when it comes to showing your funds).

very perplexing. Might be just me who don't really get it, but seems like the corruption is higher up in the chain.

It's very easy to explain,

The Thai authorities don't check any of the information or paperwork you provide.

It's all a pointless paperchase.

Really? Any base for this assumption? Or is it ust a word of mouth kind of thing?

My experience is completely different, and they did very much check the paperwork and information, as well as asked some questions (not in a unfriendly manner, could be of curiosity as well, but my instinct told me it was more than so).

Then I guess it may differ from amper (ket for us) office to office, some seem to be used to international marriages, some seem a bit more scared to do something wrong.

They even told me that there where many that tried to do fae marriages, and that they apologized for the extra time it all took (since the 2 witlessness had to be back at Crown property bureau about 1,5 hours ago already).

Pointless I can agree with, but I don't think it would work so well if I came with a fake document from my embassy that I had made my own certified stamp for... Just got a gut feeling that wouldn't work.. However, if the people are in on it, and the 20 baht fee we payed (for 2 copies, except for that all was free) at Phra Nakhon Ket office became something like 20.000, then sure, I think many smaller amper offices might not have too much problem with fixing the paper work.

But my gut feeling tells me it's not quite as simple as you made it sound like. Cause they sure checked mine, and after reading a few reports here it seems I got away fairly easy and had it all done without any problems or any fees whatsoever.

I'd argue with a Thai by phone.....satellite phone preferably.

Youtube is another good forum for hate between people it seems. I have heard Thais speak bad to each-other, but when being anonymous on internet it truly shows the teenager attitudes among many

(And again yes - this goes for all nationalities, but we live in Thailand and this is about Thailand, not about how Iranians bash on people from Iraq, how Indians bash on Pakistanis or Nepalis or how UK and Americans bash on each-other for whatever reasons... It's not a "all Thais are bad and want to kill you, that's not true. And all who would like to call themselves close to fluent in the languages as well as understanding 'Thainess' should be very aware of this...)

................"for use for immigration purposes, has found that most foreigners involved used fake names........."

How does that work then? If the foreigners were using false names for immigration purposes does that mean they were using the same false names for counterfeit passports?

Am I missing something or is this a much larger problem far removed from extensions through marriage that I first thought?

I really don't get it as well.

When I got married I needed to send a form to my tax office in Sweden, got back document that stated that I was single and free to marry. I went to my embassy and showed I had enough income from abroad and they wrote a new document.

Went to translate that and took it to Chaeng wattana to certify it with their stamps.

Went to the amper with two of my wife's friends from work as witnesses.

I even had to fill in all the forms at the amper in Thai or find a certified translator. So it took awhile (I can't say I writ fast by hand in Thai in this computer age...)

So how does one go about to make these marriage certificates the illegal way? Seems like there is quite much work needed? I would assume the reason the consulate in Savannakhet is so relaxed is because they know people with a marriage certificate already have proven their income to the amper office(?) (cause they are still very hard on retirement visas from what I've heard when it comes to showing your funds).

very perplexing. Might be just me who don't really get it, but seems like the corruption is higher up in the chain.

What is this all about? Westerners looking for easy visa access? Or other Chinese, Russians or other nationalities with other intentions? (I seriously haven't followed these news)

It's really a shame.. Wouldn't surprise me it's because of all scumbags that we have to give the immigration our life-history, photos of bedroom, toilet and underwear or whatever they now ask for up in chaeng wattana. It really doesn't surprise me many prefer to go and get a new multiple non imm "o" over in Laos instead. Sure, you might have to leave the country every 3rd month, but at least you are spared a piece of privacy

(if you care for such things.. I know many state that they have nothing to hide so it doesn't matter. But I still believe that no matter one has something to hide or not big brother should not have the right to know every step you take in your life, I'm sure we all will never agree on that issue though so better just leave it be...)

Just take a deep breath...

I heard someone say something terrible the other day - I ignored it and nothing happened. They were looking for a rise...

Hear no, see no, speak no...

Yep, that's the way to do it. Not always as easy when you're boozed out of your mind though...

For some stupid reasons and a lost phone I got a bottle thrown over my nose/head 2 days ago. I didn't say anything bad, but I was stupid enough to pretend to call the military to send back those Khmers to Poipet.. And even more stupid to follow them into a dark alley/soi...

Yep, the shit hit the fan.. Got only myself to blame.. And I feel very lucky to get away with a swollen nose and some nosebleed..

There is no arguing. There is, "krab krab" and leave. Or there is "Ai sat nee, meung wa arai. meung kit waa guu glua ai hia meuan meung lor"... Then you're in for a fun time, which might be your last (the guys may leave, but don't be surprised when 20 scooters turn up around you later on...)

So yea, stay out of it, leave, that's your best option in all situations... There is no such thing as a honorable 1 on 1 fight here...

Isn't the obvious answer to ban Burmese entering Thailand, as they seem to be the ones committing all the crimes?

And farangs don't..?

How can you have so many posting yet make such a naive comment?

Short, easy and thoughtless posts make for a huge number easily, no?

That's what I hoped to hear I would assume the Visa number is more important, I'm assuming they have information connected to the Visa number and my passport stored somewhere would the question ever come up.

Ok, so I finally got it all sorted out.

Took a flight to Ubon and a bus to Mukdahan, slept a night at ploy Palace, really nice place and not that expensive for the standard. However, I had been ignorant enough to forget it was a public holiday the next day, so I was stuck in Muk for another day.

I changed hotel due to price (and to see something else) and went to Riverfront. Nice as well. Not at classy as Ploy, but well worth the money.

Went for the breakfast 7:00 and was at the bus station about 8:00, took the bus to Laos 8:30.

Met some other visa travelers and we shared a taxi to the consulate. It was all very straight forward.

I handed them the a printed form I had filled in before + 2 photos,

a copy of marriage certificate,

a copy of my wife's ID and wife's Passport,

Copy of 'Tabian baan' book + a copy of her income, all signed.

+ a copy of my passport. And the 5000 baht fee

I know the copy of her passport and her income was unnecessary, but better safe than sorry.

It all took about 10 minutes max. and then we all went to Bon Cafe for a gruesome long wating... At 15:00 the tuktuk came and picked us up. And we went back to the consulate (after he had to pick up his brother, no stress in Laos).

The line when we came back was long, but it all went rather fast when they opened the doors, after all we where all only there to pick up our passports.

All set and ready we jumped into the tuktuk again and headed for the border. By this time I had found out a mistake in my passport, there was an extra digit in my the passport-number stated at my visa. My number is 8184****, but they had written 88184****, needless to say it made me worry a bit. But it was too late to do anything about that now. (Lesson learned, always double check).

We stamped out of Laos, the counter wanted 40 baht for 'Overtime' which he claimed was after 16:00, fun thing is it wasn't even 16:00 yet. Our French companions asked for a recipe, which he of course could not produce, instead he just closed the counter. So we headed to the next counter and finally we where out of Laos again (40 baht may seem like nothing, was I alone I would probably just have payed it, but then again it's better to not feed any corruption no matter how small).

So time for more waiting. After 40 minutes or so the bus arrived and we went over to the Thai side. Nobody seemed to say anything about my weird passport-number in my new non imm "o" visa. And I got stamped in for 3 months. I'm still abit confused how this could have happen (not only where the passport number is written on the visa, but at the bottom where all the personal information in code-format is written as well).

Anyway, we got stamped in and that was about it. Next time I will fly into Thailand, since IF someone would ever have a problem with this little incident I presume it's better to come in by air, and the immigration has already accepted my visa, so I would like to hear what reason they might have to not accept it the next time.. But I did everything by the book and kept my recipe, so I guess (hope) it could not turn in to a bigger problem.

Would I be better off going to Chaeng wattana and try to clarify it now? Or should I just ignore it like I had never seen it? usually I never notice stuff like this, it was just a pure coincidence.

I am not too fond of returning to Mukdahan at the moment after just returning to Bkk with the bus this morning.

But if necessary I could do it again in three months, but I prefer not to loose 5000 baht again for a ridiculous mistake like this.

All in all it was very painless. Way easier than Vientiane, however there where instances where I would have preferred Vientiane for the fact that you can return to your hotel, have a beer and get some sleep and then head out to pick up your passport the next day. The waiting part was not all that fun, but nothing worthy to complain about really except if looking for flaws.

So that's it, the non imm "o" based on marriage was still very straight forward.

One of the other visa companions was heading for a non imm "o" based on retirement, but he had no problems as well. nor had the two volunteers or the English teacher.

Great consulate, good service and all in all very straight forward.

Not much more to say.

Thanks to Ubonjoe, Litebeer and others who gave me valuable information on the way, would have been hard to do it without your sound advices!

I always found Ubonjoe and Litebeer to give straight forward information, without any unnecessary comments at times when I almost hesitated to ask just because of the bashing and "use google", that some other members love to use as an argument to not use the forum for what it's intended to. This is a huge forum, the search engine is great, but laws change constantly, and many of us do worry when we are taking new steps for new kind of visas.

Without their help I would probably not have all sorted out by now, but now I can finally relax. All my gratitude to both of you!

ok. thanks again! I will do that. will return with a report later in my first thread. But Im quite certain all should be well by now and that I have way more papers and documents than needed

ah. thanks Ubonjoe. Then I better just dtay here until tomorrow at least and perhaps go over there then to be there early the 24th

this seems to suggest it takes 2 working days. But i have heard people saying you will get it back the same day?

http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/en/consular/consular_check/

(not the next day, the same day. sorry for typos. Im really bad to spell at these small phones)

Im in Mukdahan at the moment. Found out that it's Rama 5 day tomorrow. So will the consulate be open? I eeally dont want to run over only to find it closed.

tried to ask some expat at Picking Cowboy, but we obviously had a few glasses too much so there was no exchange of valuable information.

Another thing I would like to be sure of is if it's 100% that you will get your passport back the same day?

Im going for a non imm O multiple entry, the first one.

I dont want to bring all sruff if I dont need to. so if I know that I can come back the next day I rather just pay for one more night here and leave my laptop etc.

I know I should be able to find info about days the consulate is closed. But the wifi in Ploy Palace is dead today, and my phone just refuses to open some pages. That's why I turned to ask you guys again.

thanks for reading.

There is a very helpful Thread about obtaining a multiple non-o: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697299-worry-free-non-o-visa-savannakhet/

You should be able to find all the information you need there. The first post actually covers everything.

Just one thing to mention and maybe somebody else can chime in with definite answer. When I was there ( July 2014 ) they were building / completed an new Thai Consulate and I think I read that they are open now. So on most threads you will find the old location of the Thai Consulate, not the new one

I have to say this link was very helpful indeed!

But I just checked how he filled in the form, and it made me somewhat confused. I would assume he has everything under control since he got the visa and know what he's doing, so that would suggest I'm in the wrong here with my interpretation, so if someone could help me clarify this I would be very thankful:

On the form there is a Date of Arrival In Thailand, Date of a Previous Visit to Thailand, and at the bottom the Date of Application

In his form he wrote: Date of Arrival In Thailand: 25.10.2013

Date of a Previous Visit to Thailand: 26.03.2013

Date of Application: 15.01.2014

I might be a bit stupid, but in my thinking 'Date of Arrival' would suggest the date one plans to enter Thailand again, and the 'Date of Previous Visit' would be for the last stamp in to the Kingdom, no?

But since he wrote both for the year before he made the application, that suggests he wrote the two last stamp of entry that he got in his passport.

Is that the correct way? I really would prefer not to use the guys who happily fill in my form outside of the consulate, even if we are speaking really small cash here it's still just unnecessary unless I'm completely clueless, and I feel that I have it all under control except this little thing I noticed. Perhaps they don't really care, but it would feel better to be 100% sure I fill in the information correct.

It makes it a bit of rush in the morning from Mukdahan because the Lao VOA offices does not open until 8 am.

I think to the first bus to Savannakhet leaves at 7 am from Mukdahan.

I would stay in Savannakhet to avoid the early morning rush.

When parking our car, my girl was told "No more overnight stayers allowed in Savannakhet". The attendant would not let us pay for overnight parking....only for the day. I am sure she misquoted, or misunderstood. The attendant probably meant...nobody stays overnight because the consulate finishes your visa the same day.

Another tourist told me that it was a new policy. Nobody could stay overnight??? This is something that might not be true. I never really checked into it.

Would anybody else care to comment...true or untrue.

I do not mean to spread a rumor. It sounds ridiculous.

It certainly sounds absurd. If we are only talking about the parking and that they are not allowing the car to stay overnight, it would sounds it could be possible.

But since we all need to get a visa for Laos to get in there which lasts for a month I can't see how they could not let people stay there? There are many hotels and guesthouses there as well. What if you are saying to them that you might be traveling around Laos for a bit, then return the next day with your new Non Imm Visa, I hardly believe they would refuse you back(?), it's not like Mae Sot or Mae Sai etc where we get a day-pass stamp for the area and no real Visa.

But I'm just as curious as you to hear others input on this.

when queuing at the new Thai consul;ate in Savannaket in the morning - go to the large gates on the left of the building and with the assistance of other friendly farrangs form a defensive semi circle around the gates - this will ensure that the there is no pushing in as witnessed on my recent visit,

Hand over as stated in the commentary above all docs and get your ticket number ( this ticket denotes your passport number not your place in the queue for the afternoon collections) the whole process is painless.

The tuk tuk drivers will take you to a cracking french cafe in the interim between submission and collection if requested

Have fun

Thanks for the advice. I will be landing in Ubon on Tuesday morning, so I guess I will just get over to the bus station and take a bus to Mukdahan.

Since I won't be in Mukdahan before noon at least I will wait with the embassy until Wednesday. Would you recommend staying in Mukdahan for the Night or go over to Savannakhet and stay there for a night?

I guess it all comes down to when the border opens? (Mukdahan seems very small, but still it looks like more "fun" than Savannakhet, but I've never been to either so I really have no idea).