jeepholt

Carry the right change and the system just works.

Sorry to horn in on this thread, but how/where can you get a supply of say, B10 coins? I've gone to several banks trying to buy a thousand baht worth of B10 coins, and have yet to find one that has an adequate supply. They scurry from teller to teller to amass at most about B700 worth. If not at a bank, where can I get them?

I often see cashiers at Tesco and Carrefour replenish their cash register drawer with coins packaged either in plastic bags, or plastic-wrapped rolls. Where do they get them?

I've always had good luck getting piles of small change from the petrol stations. It seems they always have a lot of small change from all the motorcycles paying them. When I've needed a large amount, I've talked to the cashier about when they change shifts and then get there just before the shift change. Makes it easier for them to count out their money on shift changes. At least that is what the cashiers tell me. Alternatively, you COULD just drive through many times getting only a small amount of petrol and using big bills to pay if they balk at taking the time to count out a lot of change for you without buying petrol. HTH

From what I have heard, and I can't remember where I saw it when researching the issue, after turning 65 years of age, the license reverts back to a one year again. I hope I am wrong on this one? Perhaps this age limit is what some are refering to when they should be entitled to a 5 year, but are only receiving 1??

When I have questions for VA or SSA, I call the VARO in Manila. I think their number is +6325256572 with the + being international access (from my mobile, I first dial 009).

Good luck. If the school has never done something before, they have no idea how, and little incentive to learn. That's why I never got work permits!

I hope this helps; others may have better ideas. I suspect you have to figure it out and try to explain it to the school, and then practically lead them by the hand. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply PeaceBlondie. I was hoping for a little more local help though. I'm pretty sure VARO Manila won't be of much use in this subject area for Thailand. I know that they do help a lot with the GI Bill guys who are living in the Philippines though, and I also deal with them for SSA. Never had any luck with them at all with VA stuff. I have already been corresponding with the GI Bill Regional Office in Buffalo NY http://www.gibill.va.gov which is the office who deals with foreign school approval and I get the normal US gov't responses that just shows that they have no idea what living overseas entails in getting paperwork done. And of course the bottom line of their responses generally just comes out sounding like "do it our way or the highway" mentality.

I have responded to your response to thank you for yours and also hoping to keep the thread alive so TV members may just keep it in the back of their mind in their travels in case they may run across someone who works at the university or knows someone. I've already written out what the University has to send in and gave it to them with a lot of explaining and telling them all they have to do is copy it to their letterhead and send it in with someone in the registrar's office signing it. They of course want to do it all their own way and even say the only one who can sign outgoing mail like that is the President of the University himself. That's a laugh, since the US gov't sand crabs in Boston who approve the application, should get a chuckle over someone named khun somchai signing an illegible letter to them in poor english.

Anyway TV members. Please keep it in the back of your mind that I am looking for someone.

Maybe you could move this topic to another forum PeaceBlondie, it may draw more responses?

TIA

Not sure if this is the correct forum to post this. If not, my apologies. I am looking for someone who may be able to help me to get the head office of Rajaphat University to send in paperwork to get the University approved by the United States Veteran's Administration. My Thai wife is attending the Pattaya branch of Rajaphat, but I am fairly sure that only the main university can apply for approval. Due to my status as a disabled veteran, if I can get the University approved by the VA, then I can get the VA to pay for my wife's education. There are other Universities in Thailand that have been approved already, but either don't offer the degree (Public Administration/Political Science) that she is pursuing, or are not located nearby (Pattaya). I have already gone round and round with the Pattaya branch office, and have also wasted a day going to the main student affairs office in Bangkok trying to explain the procedures to them on how to have the University approved by the Veteran's Administration in the USA. Have gone through at least 2,000 baht in phone cards calling them in BKK to find out the status on what they have done with the paperwork so far, and I am getting nowhere with the head office. It seems to me to be relatively simple. All they have to do is answer about 15 questions and send in a copy of their school catalogue and calendar, but TIT.

So am looking for someone who may know someone who knows someone that could possibly help us to explain to the head office what they need to do to be approved and to help light a fire up their backsides!

TIA

I am wondering if any of you have info on how to get replacement gaskets and parts for pressure cookers here in Thailand? Or maybe how to make a new gasket or two? About 15 years ago, a Scandinavian friend left me his very heavy, good old pressure cooker. I used it for a couple of years. Worked great, then the big gasket started leaking which pretty much negates using it as a pressure cooker anymore. I tried for about 3 years to find a gasket for it here in Thailand, to no avail. I never did completely figure out the name of the pressure cooker since it was so old and worn down. I finally gave up and asked a friend to bring me a new one from that big mall in Minnesota. He brought me a nice size Presto and it is still working OK, but I have looked all around to see if I can find a back up gasket for it here in Pattaya and online. I can order a gasket from the Presto Company if I can ever figure out how to pay them to send it here and also risk the postal system not getting it here. Hope someone has some ideas on where to buy gaskets or else how to make them. If making them, what would the rubber/material be called in Thai?

BTW, customs at old Don Muang airport nailed my friend for 1,000 baht for customs when he carried the new pressure cooker in through the airport about 8 years ago. Nice of them I thought.

Lopburi beat me to it, but I will include the complete consular outreach info below. One thing to take note of; it says you will "be able to meet and greet the Consul General at these outreaches". Now that is out of the norm!

For Ericg: They have always notarized these income affidavits in the past. I am pretty sure they come under the "Notarial Service" section of the consulate outreach services. Make sure you take the right amount of dollars or baht with you.

For Here for Good: Not necessarily exactly true my friend. They have been doing this service since Alice Moore was the Consul General and they schedule visits when they have the operating funds available to do so and personnel who can be spared to go to the outlying provinces to provide the services and their worklead permits. They do TRY to visit at around 6 month periods though. At least that is what all the Consul General's since Alice Moore have told us and every ACS chief also.

Please note that more info will be forthcoming on their Pattaya and Phuket visits.

Dear Udon Thani and Khon Kaen Area American Citizens,

The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok is pleased to inform you of three upcoming Embassy consular visits to Udon Thani and Khon Kaen. Please mark your calendars!

The Consul General and consular staff will be available to provide consular services at the following dates and locations:

Monday, August 20, 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM in Udon Thani at the Charoensri Grand Royal Hotel. Please look for signs in the hotel lobby pointing to the location of the outreach.

Tuesday, August 21, 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM in Khon Kaen at Khon Kaen University in Meeting Room 1, Building 1, 1st Floor, of Central Library in Khon Kaen University.

There will also be an opportunity to meet and greet the Consul General at these outreaches.

We also plan to visit Pattaya and Phuket in the coming weeks. We will send a separate message as soon as the dates are set.

The following consular services will be available during our outreach visits:

Passport renewal applications ($67.00 or Baht 2546 for adult passports, and $82 or Baht 3116 for a child’s passport)

Notarial Services and Certified Copies ($30.00 or Baht 1140)

Absentee ballot application and voting abroad information

Social security, VA or other federal benefits question will be limited, but we will try to provide forms and answers

(Please bring exact change!)

NOTE: Unfortunately, a recent upgrade to the ACS systems software requires additional processing for applications for extra visa pages. As a result, we will no longer be able to complete processing of extra visa pages during our outreach trips. We can accept applications, but the passports will have to be brought back to the Embassy for final processing the next day. The passports will then have to be picked up in person (or by a friend upon presentation of a letter of authorization signed by the applicant) at the Embassy. We regret any inconvenience caused by this change in procedure, and we are still working on gaining authorization to begin mailing passports back to applicants.

Additionally, Consular Reports of Birth cannot be processed during consular outreach trips.

If you have any questions, please e-mail: [email protected] or call the American Citizen Services Unit at: 02-205-4049.

We look forward to seeing you in Udon Thani on August 20th or Khon Kaen on August 21st. We will let everyone know as soon as the dates and locations of the Pattaya and Phuket outreaches have been confirmed.

Sincerely,

American Citizen Services

U.S. Embassy

Bangkok, Thailand

Just change to "normal view" and all is back to normal.

Ok Big Kahuna George, where is this "normal view"? I'd like to try that! I don't know what happened, but today all I get are the original post (or the post I clicked on), and then links to all the other posts at the bottom. How the heck did that happen? I like to read all the posts or replies on one page, that is why mine is set to "40". Sorry to bother you George, but I've banged around in the help section and every section in the "My Controls" area I could find, plus section at the bottom of each page that says "low fi version" and back again and the button to change from "Pro skin" to IPB skin. Still not working after clearing cache and even re-booting. TIA

Sorry George. I just found the answer posted by Totster back in May: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=120789 First time I noticed that option on the "options" tab. I hope it stays the way I just set it as "linear plus". Didn't even know that option existed before. Thanks Totster and Sorry again George for waking you up

Just change to "normal view" and all is back to normal.

Ok Big Kahuna George, where is this "normal view"? I'd like to try that! I don't know what happened, but today all I get are the original post (or the post I clicked on), and then links to all the other posts at the bottom. How the heck did that happen? I like to read all the posts or replies on one page, that is why mine is set to "40". Sorry to bother you George, but I've banged around in the help section and every section in the "My Controls" area I could find, plus section at the bottom of each page that says "low fi version" and back again and the button to change from "Pro skin" to IPB skin. Still not working after clearing cache and even re-booting. TIA

Those three were sent on 4/24 and is the last email listed on Embassy website - although I received another on 4/25 about a web chat. Since then they seem to have gone into hibernation.

Hi guys. The head of ACS (Ted Coley) at US Consular section Bkk has transferred over to the VISA section now. He (and the heads of ACS before him) is mainly the one who was sending out the emails to us Wardens and people on the ACS list. I don't know who has taken over his place yet, or if anyone has, but that very well could be the reason we aren't hearing much in emails from ACS lately? If I hear anything, I'll let you know.

Please Please !

Jim from Sa Kaeo

I whole heartedly 2nd the motion for Kraft Velveeta Cheese. Every person coming here from the USA or the Philippines that contact me, is asked to bring the Velveeta and Hershey plain chocolate bars. Also Kraft Creamy French Dressing if they can find it. I know, I expect to be blasted by "real" cheese affecionados (sp?) about the Velveeta, but growing up poor, that was one food item we nearly always had available and we got used to eating the good old "plastic velveeta cheese". Thanks for reminding me Jim. The sweet pickle relish would also be great if I could only find some really good hot dogs!

You can click on Villa's banner to see some of the items that are heading our way shortly.

Hi Buckwheat. Can you tell me where is this "Villa's banner" you mention?

For Villa purchasing agents:

Can you please try and get Frito-Lay "Frito's" and "Cheetos"? And regular plain old "Hershey's" chocolate candy bars. Not the fancy mixed up ones, just plain, original Hershey chocolate bars.

TIA

Sure,

Click on the "Villa Market Opening Soon In Pattaya!" banner at the top of the page under "Sponsored by..."

which will take you directly to their website http://www.villamarket.com/

Thanks for the URL Buckwheat. I did about 10 different Google searches for Villa Market and got at least every village and housing project in Thailand, so your URL helped. Maybe the searches didn't work because I didn't use villamarket run together as one word? Anyway, I must have something turned off in my MSIE browser because I have the "sponsored by" section at the top, but totally blank after that. Thanks again.

You can click on Villa's banner to see some of the items that are heading our way shortly.

Hi Buckwheat. Can you tell me where is this "Villa's banner" you mention?

For Villa purchasing agents:

Can you please try and get Frito-Lay "Frito's" and "Cheetos"? And regular plain old "Hershey's" chocolate candy bars. Not the fancy mixed up ones, just plain, original Hershey chocolate bars.

TIA

I have a gold account in Fidelity Investments and pay no ATM fees and grab the same exchange rate as a wire transfer and I earn 5% on top of that. Been banking like this for a few years and keep zero in a Thai bank. Works for me quite nicely.

I just looked at the "legaleze" section for the gold account from Fidelity Investments. It looks to me like they are charging you the extra 1% "Visa" charge on cash withdrawals, and (maybe?) you ARE paying ATM fees since it looks like you have to have a lot of trades before that part is exempt? Here is the "small print" from the website:

QUOTE FROM URL: http://personal.fidelity.com/global/search...on=debit%20card

Check cards are issued by PNC Bank, DE and the check card program is administered by its affiliate PFPC Trust Company, and those entities are not affiliated with Fidelity. Visa® is a registered trademark of Visa USA, Inc.

$5,000 minimum balance is required, except when ordering a card linked to a mySmart Cash AccountSM. Only Individual and Joint Tenant with Rights of Survivorship accounts are eligible to apply online. For accounts with Trust registrations, please use the Cash Management Features Form. This content will appear in a pop-up window. (PDF).

Other institutions may assess ATM fees for use of ATMs in their network. mySmart Cash AccountSM customers or Fidelity accounts coded Premium, Private Access, or held by customers with householded annual trading activity of 120 or more stock, bond or options trades, will be reimbursed for ATM fees charged by other institutions. Please review your Customer Agreement for specific information on reimbursement caps or limits. For each foreign transaction, Visa charges a foreign transaction fee of 1%, which will be included in the amount charged to your account.

Terms and conditions apply. Certain restrictions, limitations, or exclusions may apply. Please refer to the Visa Gold benefits document that accompanies your Fidelity Visa Gold Check Card.

END QUOTE

I underlined the section, it was not underlined on the web page.

So, unless my tired old eyes are reading it wrong? It looks like you just may be paying for some charges you weren't aware of? I am, of course, open to correction of my interpretation. I hope I am wrong, since I too, am looking for a way to save money bringing it in.

I've never been to ankor Wat & would like to travel there. I would be traveling from Chiang Mai, probably by air to Siam Reap. not sure how many days to plan for, to see most of it.

recomended tour companies, or local (English speaking) tour guides would be appreciated.

I would recommend at least 3 days if you are going to see any of the temples at all. There are LOTS of them. My Thai wife and I used a guy named John Teng in Siem Reap. He arranged everything we wanted from hotels, to temple tours, shooting guns (wish my Thai wife would have never tried it!), shopping, night life, meals. Sent him an email telling him what we thought we wanted to do and he arranged it all and drove us around everywhere. Speaks very good english and the discounts he got us many different places saved us quite a bit of money. I highly recommend John to anyone heading to Siem Reap. His email is: john teng <[email protected]>.

I hope it is OK to put his email in this post?

If you are going to Phnom Penh, we found the exact same sort of guide there named Ben Wee. His email is: [email protected].

Both of these guys are really hard working and honest and highly recommended. They actually both work together and recommend each other for anyone going to either city. John has a website at http://www.angkorservice.com/ and Ben in Phnom Penh also has one at: http://www.phnompenhtaxidriver.com/

If I am not supposed to post these URL's and email's on this forum and they are cut, then PM me for them. Have fun and wear good shoes (you will do a lot of walking and climbing)!

Thankyou for that ZZZ, Ill keep it in mind! I think Ill go for a cheaper one first, and if I like it, get a better one later...

After having a look on E-bay, I found some very nice looking ones, 35" tall, rotating, for only 2,500 baht with the shipping.. I figured I probably wouldnt be able to find one that cheap here so I got one from there...

Anyone know where I can buy the actual Shisha stuff? They do have it on ebay but it would be more convenient to buy it here. I suppose I could just buy it straight from those shops at walking st.

Thankyou again all for the replies.. Im new at all of this 'Shisha' stuff

Can you let us know how you got on with the shipping from the E-bay seller please? I've heard of problems from friends over the years with getting things in to Thailand that are shipped. I have also had many problems with the Thai post offices with them charging ridiculous custom charges and also storage fees for items shipped in through the post office to me that I didn't have the funds to pay the customs duty that day and had to return at a later date to pay to get the package out of hock. I've also had them charge me for storage and customs on items shipped in to me that I knew nothing about them coming in at all and the post office wouldn't even allow me to check the contents before I paid the customs. Of course, there were times that I received these items that were donated to my charity that were useless, and cost me money anyway. I would like to know the details of the condition of the "pipe" when it gets here, which post office it comes in to, and what they charged you at the post office. Thanks in advance for the info.

Sorry, I just noticed that I said "her 5 year Thai license". That is wrong as she has a "permanent" Thai license, not a 5 year one.

This information has been supplied by the Department of Land Transport, Chonburi, Banglamung branch.

I think the op's wife is Thai. As Thai she will never get a Non Immigrant Visa, forget about a Work Permit anyway.

So she will be out of luck. No driving in outside Thailand unfortunately

To CHdiver: I had no problems getting my Thai wife an international driver's permit in February of this year at the Department of Land Transport in BKK. We went to New Zealand for a month, and most of the rental agencies there for campervans said that they required the permit. She did need her 5 year Thai license to apply, and I THINK (but not sure) she also had a copy of her house papers with her. I don't remember her having to make a copy of that though. She also needed her Thai ID card and had her passport with her just in case. If they need extra copies or pictures for anything, they have the facilities available right there at the office very cheap. I think it was only 2 baht for copies? The desk for the international permit is on the 2nd floor, or 1st floor if you are brit, anyway it is one floor up from the ground level. First you check in at one of the many desks when you walk in the door, fill out some forms, then go inside the main big office and way down at the end on the right is the long stand up counter for the international licenses. There is 4 or 5 nice ladies working there who make the book and take the money, then you have to wait in the waiting area right at the counter for the supervisor to sign the books. It was relatively easy in comparison to many of the government offices, and the license area was even air conditioned and had proper clean restrooms. Surprised me! I also have heard that the driver's license place in Chiang Mai also is the only other place in Thailand that issues the international permit, but not sure since it would have been quite a long haul to go up there from here in Chonburi Province.

Same same but different.......

The rates are roughly the same....most of them use the Bangkok Bank exchange rates....some will charge a small fee.

I just use my CC and the ATM's....find I usually get a better rate by the time the transaction comes into Oz

No fee at Bank Gold and they beat the bank rates.

Hi Jimmy. Are you saying that at "Bank Gold" I can use CC/debit cards issued by a US bank? If so, I'll check it out later. I've been using them for years, but only for cash transactions. TIA

Been here since 1969 straight through. Never left Thailand until 3 years ago when I went to the Philippines with the Thai Lawn Bowls team. Sure caused quite a stir at immigration at the airport! Was supposed to fly business class for the first time in my life and was looking forward to using the Thai Airways lounge. That didn't happen since I had to be greeted by the immigration general on duty that day and also give an interview to the BKK Post for having stayed that long without going out. They did hold the plane a few minutes until I was aboard and was driven to the gate by the immigration big shot and given red carpet treatment, but, I sure would liked to have seen what it was like inside the business lounge.

Geez Martin, I thought you were about 90? You sure your alzheimers hasn't kicked in and you've forgotten a few decades? Have a good one mate. Hope to see you again one of these days, and this time when the elephants haven't left a 3 foot pile of droppings outside your pristine establishment.

Jeep

This just in from American Citizen Services:

Dear Pattaya and Phuket Area American Citizens,

The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok is pleased to inform you of upcoming Embassy consular visits to Pattaya and Phuket. Staff from the American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit will be available to provide consular services on the following dates and times:

Pattaya – Friday, February 23, Dusit Resort on Beach Road, 8:00 AM till 12:00 noon

Phuket – Wednesday, February 28, Hilton Arcadia on Karon Beach, 8:00 AM till 12:00 noon.

The following consular services will be available

- Passport renewal applications ($67.00 or Baht 2546 for adult passports, and $82 or Baht 3116 for a child’s passport)

- Notarial Services and Certified Copies ($30.00 or Baht 1140)

- Absentee ballot application and voting abroad information

- Social security, VA or other federal benefits question

NOTE: Unfortunately, a recent upgrade to the ACS systems software requires additional processing for applications for extra visa pages. As a result, we will no longer be able to complete processing of extra visa pages during our outreach trips. We can accept applications, but the passports will have to be brought back to the Embassy so the processing can be completed the next day. The passports will then have to be picked up in person (or by a friend upon presentation of a letter of authorization signed by the applicant). We regret any inconvenience caused by this change in procedure, and we are working on gaining authorization to begin mailing passports back to applicants.

Additionally, Consular Reports of Birth can not be processed during consular outreach trips.

**We ask that you bring correct change and that you provide a copy of your passport’s photo page if you wish to renew your passport or ad visa pages

If you have any questions, please e-mail: [email protected] or call the American Citizen Services Unit at: 02-205-4049.

We look forward to seeing you in Pattaya on February 23d and in Phuket on February 28th.

Sincerely,

American Citizen Services

U.S. Embassy Bangkok

********************************************************************************

*******************

The U.S. Embassy Consular Section is located at 95 Wireless Road,

Bangkok 10330, Thailand (Nearest BTS Skytrain station: Phloen Chit)

American Citizen Services Unit Window Hours:

Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 11 AM and 1 - 2 PM

The ACS Unit will be closed on February 19th and 23d and on March 30th.

Tel: +66-2-205-4049 Fax: +66-2-205-4103

Thanks guys for your responses. I'm still confused though. One of you says OK, the other not OK. I don't want to go to the nick for taking in DVD's illegally. This is basically the first time out of Thailand in 38 years and I'm thinking the campervan should be a bit better accomodations than the Customs jail! I won't be able to use the DVD sales outlet in Aukland since we will be flying directly to Christchurch after we clear customs and change aircraft in Aukland. Any help in a DVD rental place in Christchurch who rent to people on holiday? All the websites I've found are geared for NZ residents.

Flying in on Thai air. I am sitting in Business class due to a gunshot wound in my right knee, complements of the North Vietnamese 40 years ago. That mandates me having to be able to have my leg straight out and not bent for more than about 10-15 minutes. My wife is riding in the back in "cattle class". That ought to start a few heated discussions for when we get bored in the campervan at night..

A security question: If I buy whisky in Aukland airport duty free on arrival, then transfer to the domestic airport for the flight to Christchurch, will they allow the whisky as a carry on? And do you know if duty free whisky is cheaper than buying in Thailand?

Here is the actual response from NZ quarantine about bringing in Thai Chili powder for my old Esarn wife after telling them they would have an old dead Thai lady on their hands in she can't have her Thai Chili :

Thank you for your enquiry, please tell your poor wife that she is

allowed to bring herThai chilli powder, MAF would not want to be

responsible for your poor wife's demise!!!

Kind Regards Gwen Mazonis

MAF Quarantine Service

New Zealand <[email protected]>

Thanks again for your informed help guys. If you are in Pattaya, contact me and I'll shout you a pint or three.

My old Thai wife and I have hired a campervan to tour the south island of New Zealand for the month of March. Other than freezing our butts off (I haven't been in temps below 62 farenheit for almost 50 years and my Thai wife about the same), I am wondering if any of you has had experience in taking in some dodgy Thai DVD's through NZ customs. I am only talking of about 20 DVD's and bringing them back home to Thailand when holiday is over. The campervan has a DVD player, and I am sure that we will be bored with one another locked up in a campervan for a month! We rented the largest one they have 6 1/2 meters but I think that will turn awfully small after a few weeks? Our 4 story shophouse even gets cramped after 20 years living in it~ Would be nice to have something to watch at night, and according to web forums I have read, the TV is not too good especially when you are in the mountains and mobile. I have been researching all the DVD rental places in New Zealand and so far, all that I found want you to pay a monthly rate for rental of the DVD's and then they deliver them to your home address. That of course, would not apply to us being mobile.

On another note. The heavy restrictions on taking in food of any sort, had my wife totally distressed when it looked like she couldn't take in any Thai chili powder with her. That is the way it looked on the agricultural department website, so I emailed them with the question about taking in Thai chili powder on holiday. I worded the request comically, mentioning that if they didn't let her take it in, they would have an old dead Thai lady on their hands! I promptly received a comical reply that assured me it would be OK for her to take in Thai Chili powder and said that if she were to die, it would be my own fault due to us being confined in a campervan for such a long period of time! Ha... Quite a quick and snappy rhetorical response to my comedic enquiry I thought. I will declare taking the chili in with us though, since it appears there are VERY heavy penalties on not declaring basically ANY and ALL food stuff taken into NZ.

I would appreciate any tips you guys may have concerning my questions and any other tips you may have for us in visiting the south island.

Thanks in advance for your help and patience. I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong forum?

Thanks for the tips Jay. I definitely appreciate the advice. I will try to book only on the Sunday race and will see if I can get seats in K1 section. I was going to book for all 3 days even though I knew that it would be grueling, and I was also going to take the cheaper grandstand seats on the opposite side of the start/finish line. Of course I don't know how you would know for sure who won? I think we will fly down since I feel I will have enough sitting time at the track! and I just had surgery on my backside... If anyone else has any tips for us, please let me know before I book tickets. Thanks and also Go Shumi, or Kimi or Montoya, or ??? Glad to hear the shopping is expensive since I'm one of the lucky ones who married a very kee neow Isarn girl 20 years ago and she won't spend anything that isn't a major bargain... I hope...

I have forwarded your questions to a race fan friend in Kuala Lumpur. If/when I receive a response, I'll post it here.

Thanks for forwarding the questions to your mate. I also hope there is someone on the forum who has been to the F1 Race who can answer a few of the questions?