tig28

Hi keiyhet

Over many years Thailand -- or parts thereof -- have been repeatedly subjected to martial law. Most recently was during the elections ending the rule of the Junta. Based on this experience I would say that you have little to concern you.

Tourists remained virtually unaware.

Apart from those Thais targeted by the the Junta --- life proceeded pretty much as usual.

Sale of alcohol was not banned.

But the whistle mob is peaceful. (armed with bombs/guns)

Another classic deflection......................

Yes ... of course ... an accurate observation is a huge deflection ......

The information from the Thai embassy is correct. The information from the travel agent is incorrect.

The rule is simply this:

"Any person traveling into Thailand in possession of a valid visa can do so on a one -way ticket."

Please note that a 30 day "permit to enter" provided to most nationalities at their port of arrival ---- is not a visa.

In your case -as you shall have a valid visa -- you can travel on a one-way ticket.

Hi Always18

I find your report strange ... in that it is vastly different to my experiences at the same office -- which has always been very helpful on any visits I have made for reporting (about 2 weeks ago) ... and extensions.

I wonder why did not arrive with all the photocopies in hand ?? It is a requirement --- no? Other offices simply tell you to go away and come back when you have the correct paperwork.

When they actually do these copies for you ----- do you really expect it to be done for free??

I simply wanted to offer an entirely different view of an office that is (for me) both helpful and prompt. I did not notice if they smiled at me or not.

I have never been informed that a med. cert. is required.

I am always asked (demanded ) to sign all photocopies. I don't recall if my wife was asked to provide signed ID card.

Hi Guys

Have been using 3 different Au based VOIP providers for the past 7 years .... as in those years it was mainly for business. Retired now and have settled on just 2 (one primary and one back up). 80% of calls were to Australia -- the rest to US and Europe. Now 95% calls are to AU

Re call quality: Probably 60--70% of the time it was faultless -- indistinguishable from a local land-line call. The balance was variable -- due mainly to the vagaries of my TOT adsl which always has hi jitter & often slow speeds.

For calls mainly to Au one of the many Au based providers shall be your best service choice.

My own choices were: #1 Pennytel (now owned by MNF)

#2 MNF (My Net Phone)

#3 WDP (World Dial Point) We used a business service with them. Most regard WDP as a very high quality retail VOIP service.

Many Au providers (not all) only accept Australian based credit cards.

Contracts are not the norm -- so if you already own the VOIP equipment -- it is simple and risk free to test the quality yourself.

For more info check :http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/

....if only it was a simple deselect option. From what I remember from my last AA booking I was only sure I had successfully deselected the insurance by looking at the final price break-down.

Many people do not realise that the insurance can be deselected.

Hi rsn

Probably best you have another look.....

On page 2 "Guest details page" of the booking screens ----- are 3 different sections (1) Traveler details (2) Add-ons (all deselected) and (3)insurance:

The insurance is preselected by a tick in a box (simply deselect) and click on the last item on the section [cancel] -- yes it is in bold.

Even if you only do one of these -- the next page shall ask you to confirm your choice -- and tell you how!!

Is being required to deselect a ticked box and press the [cancel] if you don't want insurance a scam ????

Based on my experience with a Thai friend many people do not realise that you can deselect this insurance charge from your booking.

Out and out scam preying on peoples' inexperience with computer bookings.

Of course it is a huge giant scam --- but probably only for those who are unable to simply deselect the option ---

Hi TravelTeach

I think you are missing the point that some are trying to impart.

Tramadol is not a medication that requires a prescription in Thailand.

It is legally available over the counter at any (full) pharmacy under a wide variety of brand names:

Amanda

Anadol

Analab

Ambron

Madol

Madola

Modesnal

Pacmadol

Paindol

Pharmadol

Ramadol

Sefmal

Tamolan

Tracine

Tradolgesic

Tramada

Tramadil

Tramadol Stada

Tramadol T.P.

Tramadol Utopian

Tramadan

Tramal

Tramamed

Tramax

Phrases like : "under the table" and "off the street " are non applicable when purchasing Tramadol in Thailand ---- why use such terms for a perfectly legal medication??

You belatedly mention crossing a border -- why do you assume that a (photocopy of a) prescription in Thai would assist you?

Hi Doznotdiz

Have been using ANZ for over 10 years for this purpose and have always transferred $Au.

Within the last few months they have added an extra confirmation step -- which if you happen to overlook --- will result in your 2 prior instructions to send $Au being ignored. It almost caught me out the first time I encountered it.

But they will send the $Au if you take care.

Hi eezergood,

Here is the list of vaccinations recommended by the Australian Health Department for newborns through to 4 years of age.

Australian vaccination schedule
Date July 1, 2013

Immunsiations are a vital part of your baby's health schedule.
Immunsiations are a vital part of your baby's health schedule.

Birth
Hepatitis B

2 months
HepatitisB, diphtheria,tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV)
Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV) Rotavirus

4 months
HepatitisB, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV)
Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV) Rotavirus

6 months
HepatitisB, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV)
Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV)
Rotavirus (third dose of vaccine is dependent on vaccine brand used; ask your doctor for details)

12 months
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Meningococcal C (MenCCV)
Measles,mumps and rubella (MMR)

18 months
Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) (MMRV)

4 years
Diphtheria, tetanus, acellularpertussis (whooping cough) and inactivatedpoliomyelitis (polio)(DTPa-IPV)
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)(to be givenonly if MMRV vaccine was not given at 18months

The Air Asia website is evil. It's dedicated to stealing from their customers through unwanted/unneeded charges. It takes a skilled hand to navigate through that mess without incurring some kind of bogus charge. Yea, they're cheap so they try and make it up on the extra charges.

Its fascinating how some travelers seem to find (or create) problems ....

As I previously pointed out the only option on the AirAsia site that is preselected by default is travel insurance.

If deselecting just one default option is beyond you ......

Hi seasia

If you look again at the section that first mentions a 20 Kg baggage setting .... you shall see it actually says "up to" & in your case notes a charge of 330 Bt. for that choice.

On the next page you choose from "no checked bag" & up to an occasionally handy 40Kg ----- from 15 Kg ... in 5 Kg increments.

After choosing your baggage allowance the only "extra" you need to deselect is travel insurance (assuming you do not want it.)

Contrary to what the uninformed continually state travel insurance is the only preselected extra -- all other (meals,sporting equipment,comfort kit & seating) are unselected by default.

Have a good trip.

I purchased a Dash Cam via bay a few months back after considering several reviews -- mainly they helped me in identifying the features I needed most in a cam. There is a dizzying array available.

Here is the most helpful review I found --- and yes ... I did purchase the unit under review: DR 32 .... Very happy!

Laos is $35 for Americans

And for non-Americans the cost is .....??

Well..... for Canadians it is $42.00 and for Indians it is $40.00 ----- for Chinese it is $20.00.

And this was a couple of years ago.

Nok Air.

Much better website and business style than Air Asia. Not the hidden rip-offs.

Yes, sometimes Thai companies can be better than foreign.

"Not the hidden rip-offs."

It always amazes me that some travelers seem to have so much difficulty is declining or accepting the few options offered.

Individual baggage weight

Seating position selection

food/drinks

trip insurance

Obviously they are all "rip offs" ........ and each one is really cunningly hidden.

Nok Air is fine also.

As wilcopops said, the mosquito vector has an extremely small flight span. Most infections are acquired a very, very short distance from the breeding place. Water jars are a prime source.

As I understand, the mossie involved also does not like laying eggs in dirty water or water that has other mossies in it, it likes it clean and fresh.

Which is the paddy fields aren't the issue but chronic rain is.

This might help:

To prevent the spread of dengue fever, you must first prevent the breeding of its vector, the Aedes mosquito. The Aedes mosquito is easily identifiable by its distinctive black and white stripes on their body. It prefers to breed in clean, stagnant water easily found around our homes. You can get rid of the Aedes mosquito by frequently checking and removing stagnant water in your premises.

The Aedes mosquito breeds in artificial containers mainly found in homes, and its life-cycle averages seven days. Hence it is imperative for all to do the Mozzie Wipeout to break the breeding cycle.

http://www.dengue.gov.sg/subject.asp?id=101

If you are infected with Dengue it is virtually certain that the breeding site of the mosquito that infected you was within 80m of where you were bitten.

Maybe they are referring to the APEC card, which is valid for some years. But don't know the exact details of that one.

Hi Mario

The APEC travel card is valid for 3 years --- but in no way does it confer any right to work in Thailand.

If 999 baht is the real price I'd say this extract from the email is very misleading.Fly direct from Bangkok Fare

from

THB

79 Book from 15 - 24 Jul 2013 Travel from 1 Oct 2013 - 5 Aug 2014

Fare shown is not inclusive of Airport tax and other fees.

Terms & conditions apply.

Hi Saan

Of course it is misleading ....... if you have difficulty understanding:

"Fare shown is not inclusive of Airport tax and other fees."

Saan .... this means that statuary charges are to be added to the amount charged by the airline.

Does this help you ???

Hi ayayay

Yes .... to me that seems expensive. Very expensive. I do live in NE Thailand not Bangkok.

Over the last 9 months or so I have been having regular blood tests.

Originally 3 monthly -- but now 2 monthly

A Coronary Specialist (at private clinic) is changing me over from some BP Meds supplied in my home country --- to equivalent Meds more readily available in Thailand.

Firstly I attend the Pathology lab directly (no Dr. involvement)----- then with the results in hand I visit the private clinic of the Dr. He is the head of coronary care at the local public hospital.

Blood test : 300.00 Baht (Yes ... three hundred)

Tests conducted:

FBS,BUN,Creatinine,Uric acid,

Cholesterol,Triglyceride,HDL,LDL,HbA1C. plus urine analysis.

Dr. consultation: 200.00 Baht.

I believe that you can directly use Pathology Labs in BKK also. I would imagine that the cost shall be conciderably lower than via the hospital you have used.

If someone is bitten by a dengue-carrying mosquito, how long is it until that person then becomes an infection source (such that another mosquito biting him will now become a carrier)? Before he knows he's even sick?

Between 3 and 12 days after a person is bitten by a mosquito carrying dengue virus, the virus may be present in their blood. If this person is bitten by another mosquito while the virus is in their blood, the new mosquito can become infected with the virus and pass it on to other people that they bite.

Most people who are infected with dengue virus have no symptoms.

People with dengue fever begin to develop illness between 3 and 14 days (usually 4-7 days) after being bitten by an infectious mosquito. Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, severe headache with pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain and extreme fatigue. There may also be abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. A faint red rash sometimes develops on the upper body around the third day. The fever typically lasts around 6 days.

http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/dengue.html

Hi soreia

Haiter is a sodium hypochlorite solution and as such is a strong sterilizing and bleaching agent. Undiluted it shall rip most colours from fabric in minutes -- it shall also damage most fabrics in pretty short order.

Even at the low concentration in Haiter (6 %) sodium hypochlorite demands care in use. Certainly dilute Haiter with cold water before adding to the washing machine. I would start at about 5:1 (water:Haiter).

The instructions (in Thai) on the bottle detail most applications and dilutions.

When leaving Australia they are very strict on you having onward travel, doesn't have to be an airline ticket though. You can have a cheap refundable bus ticket.

Hi FD

Yes -- I have been checked on 3 different occasions when leaving Australia -- Qantas/ BA.

You shall find that the only ticket out of Thailand that is acceptable is air travel. Land travel is not an option.

Don't fly Air Asia..... It will cost you more than Thai in the long run with all the ++++++++ and ++++++

What a joke!!

Returned from Bali yesterday --- our family of 4 each paid less than 6,000 Bt. return including two of the "++++++++" (??) mentioned. The flight was excellent.

It always amazes me that some travelers have such difficulty in declining any of the few extras offered!!

Hi MAS

You will find a very large range of second hand books here:

http://www.dasabookcafe.com/

They list all titles online. Delivery Thailand wide is excellent.

I used them for years until I purchased an eBook reader.

And why would anyone want to fly with an airline (Air Asia) that treats its passengers like cattle? Even if you save a few baht (which most of the time is not true, when you add in all the 'incidentals' of booking on line with outfits like Air Asia.

Bah, humbug.

Hi blazes

In a couple of weeks the family (4 of) are flying AirAsia to Bali. At less than 7,000 Bt return per person we are saving quite a lot more than "a few Baht"!

This includes some of the 'incidentals' you mention --- like Baggage and preferred seating. (I find both necessary and good value)

AirAsia insurance -- I declined. (It amazes me that some travelers find this hard)

The credit card fee of 160 Bt per person made me remember Qantas' last similar charge -- it was 2000 Bt per person.

Anyway .. lets have some idea of just how (in your opinion) "Air Asia that treats its passengers like cattle"?

Bah, humbug.