Hardie

20 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

Probably not as English is an important language in China.  English speakers in China is over 200 million and rising, with 50 million secondary school children now studying the language

Regardless of what you read, almost no one speaks English in China, even in hotels. Once you leave the airport, you're largely on your own. Maybe that's why there are few independent travelers there...

4 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Wow I travel extensively and that's not my experience. Never mind hope you're ok and good luck.

Hmmm, that IS strange, wish I had my old passport to verify with old staple crimps. Anyway, I don't expect any problem, since I 'll be crossing overland (over river) at Chiang Khong, so no rush to catch a flight or anything like that. I don't even look much like a backpacker anymore at 64, haha..

13 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Funny... normally the IO guy does it, in fact I can't remember when at Swampy the IO doesn't but if he/she didn't I would when I got home, same as taking a photo of my visa and entry stamps, I'd clip it in.

They used to do it all the time, but I don't think my TM6's have been stapled in the last 5-10 years, and that's from probably 10-12 different border entry points...

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You misread my post. I was only referring to the extension in reference to the loss of one when applying for an extension as an example since you mentioned it being need for an extension.

I wrote in the 2nd paragraph of my post about the extension denial not really being a denial. A denial would happen after you paid the 1900 fee. Immigration did offer a option to get your extension application accepted.

 

Okay, gotcha'. No, I didn't lose my money...

5 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Often the airline check-in has a pile of blank TM6, as others have said people loose them and the check-in is often the first place that picks up that its missing. I have seen check-in staff filling them in for people that are oblivious they have even lost it.

Of course Thais used to use those TM6 forms to leave the country, then staple the entry portion for when they return, but I heard that TM6's have been discontinued for Thai citizens? If only the airlines had the official immigration stamp, too, then that would be really handy...

2 minutes ago, OJAS said:

So presumably this was the new version of this form, which is considerably smaller - and, hence, a lot easier IMHO to misplace - than its predecessor. Suspect that we shall now be getting an increased number of reports on here about misplaced TM6's following this recent change.

Exactly, just a whisp of paper, lay it on the table, turn around and it's gone...

4 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

But you always carry a few right?  personally I'd just fill out another one?  they don't have the system to match the numbers and if they did just say 'i lost it'  personally I always staple it into my passport.

Actually I probably do have an extra one of the old style, but not the new ones, so need to stock up...

2 minutes ago, cleverman said:

Some years back, I lost mine, went to border ,Cambodia, was told to go back to Bangkok, the IO sitting next to the bloke who told me to go to Bangkok grabbed another TM 6 for me to fill out. 

T.I.T., 555, think I'll allow an extra day or two just to be sure...

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

If applying for an extension most immigration offices would just give you a new TM6 card to complete. Some more pennant ones might want a police report for it being lost.

I don't think your extension was denied for your presence not being reported. I suspect they would not accept the application until one was done.

No, I had my old TM6 when I applied for the extension. Upon being denied, one of the non-official-looking helpers even suggested I go to the border as an alternative, which saved me around 1400THB, and not much time difference, since it's so close. The TM6 that I lost is the new one from that border hop. It was even discussed that I could go stay in a hotel, make sure they report my presence, then come back to extend again. I decided to save the 2000 THB (once you figure cost of a hotel), since I probably don't need another non-visa border-crossing before 1-1-2019...

40 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

That sign is a bit out of date of date since it meant those doing border hops for visa exempt entries which are now limited to 2 per calendar year at land border crossings

You can complete a new TM6 departure card when you leave the country. People lose them all the time.

Thanks, Joe, I assumed as much, but it's nice to get the confirmation, since I now know they use that TM6 for extensions and such, which I was denied for my 30-day entry, because my in-laws don't report my whereabouts. I don't know if that's news to anyone here but me...

So I'll try to kill two birds with one stone here. Mae Sai border run was a breeze, in and out in five minutes, $10 on the Burmese side, and no questions on the Thai side, despite the fact that there were 'no more visa runs' signs posted prominently. Now I can't find my departure card, TM-? Will that be a problem when I leave the country next week? Thanks in advance. 

1 minute ago, BritTim said:

I am confident that you cannot travel further than the immediate vicinity of the border on a border pass. In fact, not so long ago, not only did you need a Myanmar visa issued in advance, but also a Myanmar official guide to visit Kengtung. You can now just take a bus.

Thanks, good to confirm that...

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

As far as I know it is the same.

I am certain you would not be able to go to Kengtung in Shan state. Even with a visa I think there are restrictions for traveling to there.

Thanks, Joe. When I had a Burmese visa last year I inquired from guest-houses in Kengtung about land transport back to Tachilek, and was under the impression that it was okay, but I changed my plans, anyway, so never tested it... 

17 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Latest I can find is from May this year.

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1036484-border-run-mae-sai-tachilek-myanmar/

 

You have to wait for more answers should something have changed since then.

I didn't come across (and would doubt it).

I saw that, yes, thanks, and assume that is the status still, though I notice that there seems to be a lot of Thai tourism along that route, so am a little surprised that they haven't loosened up, since I seriously doubt that the Thais all have visas. I'll ask the Burmese guys when I get there, for future reference...

I'm in Thailand currently on a 30-day visa exempt entry, so plan to go to Tachilek to get another 30 days when I cross back into Thailand (I'm a US citizen). So I thought I'd maybe go to Kengtung for a few days if that's possible on a simple border pass, without Burmese visa. The latest I can find is that foreigners are restricted to the Tachilek area, but I'm wondering if that's changed. Does anybody know? Thanks in advance...

With hepatitis, my urine was like Coca-Cola, energy levels non-existent, and "all looks yellow to the jaundiced eye" per the quote. I can't imagine that prostate would have anything to do with it, swollen or cancer, though kidney stones might. I get those, and have had them lodge in my bladder, suspect one disintegrated last week and caused me dark urine one day, then passed. They can sometimes cause extreme fatigue and pain when passing, too, so just an idea. If you're American, don't assume that they'll get it right there. I've had better luck in Thailand. Bumrungrad is high-priced, but maybe the best option. I've had good results at Sukhumvit at half the price. Good luck...

Cash is king? Ha, guess you've never been to China, where everybody pays with their smartphone. If booking flights with any Expedia, CheapoAir, etc., I've never had a problem with US cards, always glitches on Thai websites...

Seriously, though, there are quite a few, and it's quite serious, at least in the Forest Tradition, which I recommend, no fancy temples, for the most part, just dedication to the dharma. Most foreigners go to Wat Pa Nanachart in Ubon Ratchatani, but if you speak Thai, then there are other options. I spent time at a Forest Temple up north in Mae Chan, and actually ended up being the temple driver for a while, since I wasn't ordained. Monks don't drive. If you're new to it all, then you should probably try a meditation retreat first, then take it from there. Wat Suan Mokh near Surat Thani is good, English language or Thai sessions, but there are others, also. It's the real deal and cost is minimal--just get there. Good luck. If you have any question, then msg me, as I won't follow the thread...

Learn the Thai language: read books, the whole shmear. It can be done. It's not all her responsibility to adapt, you know...

20 hours ago, Ahab said:

I think the moral to the story is that life doesn't have to end as you age in your home country. While it is still possible to have a vibrant social life with very attractive females if you have Trump-like cash reserves, for most retires this is not possible in the countries where we came from (I came from the United States). Live your life while you still can, because it will be over soon enough and it is best to enjoy each and every day to the fullest.

This story has a moral? Glad to hear it...

1 hour ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

Roselle was always available in Thailand and is very common. When I was chatting with my wife months before I ever met  her, she was recommending me this for blood pressure. It is so common in fact, every food court serves the sugary version and you can always find it.... everywhere. Is it really different in Chiang rai? 

 

BTW, it didn't lower my blood pressure at all.

Roselle is common or 'nam krachiap' is common? 'You're conflating two different issues. 'Nam krachiap' is common, yes. That's why I was inspired to look for the dried flower. But dried roselle? I don't know. They aren't the same thing. One is a drink; the other is a flower, usually dried. I would hope that the drink is made from the dried flower, but I don't honestly know that, as it's a profession I'm not intimate with. Is every orange drink made with real oranges? Even if it is, that doesn't mean that the dried flower is available everywhere, nor that I could readily find it. It might be, but I doubt it: trade secrets.

If you were drinking 'nam krachiap', then I'm not surprised it didn't lower your blood pressure, though that's a question I had, might've even tried that if beets weren't readily available at Big C. I bought all they had. Hibiscus tea, or even 'red zinger', made from dried roselle will definitely lower blood pressure, assuming it's high in the first place. It's well-proven scientifically, tested head to head with pharmaceutical meds. Sounds like your wife knows her 'yah samoonprai', ยาสมุนไพร, that's a good skill to have...

A few months ago I had a conversation in this forum with some people about herbal remedies for high blood pressure, which I was experiencing at the time, at about 170 systolic for probably a year. As usual I got on the thread 2-3 days late, and was surprised that no one had mentioned hibiscus, aka roselle, rosa jamaica, 'red zinger', and the main ingredient in the red Thai street drink 'nam krachiap', น้ำกระเจี๊ยบ...

Well, no one knew too much about it, though there were some reports of it being available at Makro in Chiang Mai, I believe. So by this time, when I finally got serious about a cure, and could actually feel some symptoms, I was in Cambodia and couldn't find the flower anywhere, in dried or any other form, and my limited Khmer language abilities not too helpful. So I resolved to look diligently once I got back to Chiang Rai, even though none of my contacts knew anything about it, and I wasn't really even sure what to ask for...

Well, cut to the chase, and I'm happy to report that it IS readily available in the main market in Chiang Rai, and I assume elsewhere, also, at least in the north. In the US, I'd always known it as 'hibiscus', but there are many varieties of that, and 'roselle' is indeed the correct name for the variety you want, hibiscus sabdariffa, i.e. ดอกกระเจี๊ยบ, dork krachiap', fifty baht for the standard size bag which should last a week or two...

Best of all: it works! After three weeks of a daily serving of beets (next best natural treatment) and only a week of the roselle drink, my systolic reading was down to 155, so well on the way back to a safe level. Back in LA now, I notice that this is about the same price as the price in Mexican-oriented supermarkets, $3/lb, so good to know. I hope this is helpful, as it's been tested head to head with pharmaceutical HBP meds, and performs as well or better. I'd look in the main markets up north and elsewhere. In Chiang Rai the stands that sell it are located near where the songthaews leave...

Good luck!   

Depends on what you want. It was nice twenty years ago, too 'over-run' for me now...

On 4/29/2018 at 8:14 PM, Coaster11 said:

He may have Travel Insurance that is offered free by a lot of Credit Cards these days,

 

No application is needed and you only have to have some of the cost of the holiday used by said CC to be covered. Usually a bill of over $250 for flights,hotels or hire car etc to get it.

 

Not sure of the T&C's but 3 months or more may not be classed as a holiday by the CC company.

They don't call it 'holiday insurance, and if it's bought as part of a six-month RT air ticket, then obviously if should cover all of that time. My policy bought just that way--cheapie, too--paid for my kidney-stone surgery last year. World Nomads, affiliated with Lonely Planet, will cover any time period, no limit that I know, think they even offered to extend last time I used them. This guy's problem may be that his insurance indicates travel TO Thailand, when in fact he is living in Thailand...