Katmanpu

Sumalee Jenappa is an excellent lawyer. Down the street from Tanin market on Chang Phuak. She has set up many successful farang/Thai businesses in Chiang Mai. She is honest and fair with fees. Will also be upfront with you if you are doing something stupid, she will let you know firmly.

Knows the law and Chiang Mai practices. 29 Tanin Rd Tel: 053-410-174; mobile 081-882-4311

To say that using a lawyer has no added value is very cynical and assumes the lawyer is only in it for the money.

Given that buying a piece of property can be fraught with pitfalls and the documents and contracts are in a language that many foreigners are not competant in, the small cost of hiring a GOOD lawyer to assist you can be very valuable.

10,000 baht is a small price to pay for an extra set of eyes to avoid a big and longterm problem.

You certainly don't need a lawyer IF you can read and write Thai, have a working knowledge of Thai law, construction practices and contracts, have been in the area for decades and know many crooked practices and unsavory actors at a glance.

I am not a lawyer but I do know what I know and what I don't.

Caveat emptor.

I can also vouch for Khun Sumalee. She has a very good reputation in the expat community for both property purchases as well as business transactions.

There is a good print shop just inside the old city near the Thapae Gate. It is on the same side of the street and just a few shops down from Sailomjoy restaurant on the same side. You can bring them your designs on a flash drive or they can help with them. Very reasonable price and next day service. Much more economical than buying pre-cut card froms and printing them out yourself if you are doing 100 or more cards. I used them twice with very good results.

Dr. Greg Greer at Sri Phat Medical Center is an excellent GP for physicals and referrals. I have seen him for the past 3 years.

He also writes an occasional column for the Chiang Mai expats newsletter.

Contact Khun Kesani who speaks excellent English to make an appointment at 081-681-1616

What is an SCB account?

Siam Commercial Bank

Siam City Bank?

SCB is the English abbreviation for ธนาคารไทยพาณิชย์ which is Siam Commercial Bank

I also ran into this problem 2 years ago and here's what I discovered.

1. Air Asia online will not accept most US based Bank of America, Citibank or Chase cards. There are various rumors as to why but I do not know the specific fact other than the denials on these date to 2009. At that time my US based Bank of America Visa credit card and debit cards, United Mileage Plus Visa and Citibank Mastercard stopped being accepted. They were all OK previously. There are VbV type security features (Verified by Visa / MC) on all of these. I have no problem using these cards at hypermarkets, restaurants, hotels and other vendors in Thailand.

2. I have had 100% success using my US based small credit union Visa card. That was what Air Asia suggested.

3. I also have 100% success with my Bangkok Bank "Be-First" Visa.

I can relate to the previous poster about the fares on Air Asia no longer being as cheap as they used to be. This is especially so when you factor in baggage charges. It is also a royal pain in the neck to make purchases even when you logged in as a member and you must have a very sharp eye out for the hidden extras they try to get you to accept as defaults such as bag fees, meals, convenience kits or insurance. The Air Asia website is buggy and often it takes several tries and you may have to re-enter information often.

Have stopped using Air Asia on the BKK-CNX sector completely and switched to Bangkok Airways, they feed you, don't hassle you with their booking process and you can use their lounge in BKK. The price is better or a very few baht more and you don't waste your time

I only buy Air Asia tickets when they have a big promo special and the tickets are dirt cheap. Just don't plan to make any changes or you get screwed and you will pay essentially twice. And now they are charging you to print a boarding pass at many airports.

To talk about the merits of why they should have better business practices is a waste of time. The market will take care of them, they are a low cost low service airline. You pays your money and you takes your chances. Time will tell, but it is a fact that they have expanded hugely in the past 6 years. People vote with their wallets and so, so many are still doing so.

I used to be a huge Air Asia fan but now I am not.

Katmanpu

I used the Aiport Link express train from Makkasan last month to catch a flight to Chaing Mai. It was a midday flight so I took a meter taxi from Sukhumwit Soi 27 for about 40b and then my ARL express ticket was about 100 (can't recall exact amount). There were up escalators that were not so well signed but with just a little looking it was not too hard to locate them. The trip took about 20 minutes, I passed up a traffic jam and got to the airport in about half the normal travel time. My cost was also about half.

For more than one traveller it is clearly more economical to take a taxi to swampy but after this experience, I will do it again when travelling solo during the day (for flights after midnight and before 6 am there is no ARL service). The comments about deteriorating trains I think are grossly overexagerated, I found mine to be quite clean and well maintained.

As to the comment about no down escalators at stations I only experienced Makkasan and I thought there were both up and down ones there. At the swampy end I had no problem navigating with a roller bag from the terminal into the airport after a short escalator trip.

I think it is a good start for airport mass transit and when the extension from On Nut is completed things will be even better. As to the local service and the other stations only time will tell. People on Thai Visa complain about horrendous crowds on the Sukhumwit BTS line but when I lived in BKK in the early 198's traffic was a bigger nightmare and a trip from Sukhumwit Soi 22 to the area around the river near the Oriental took 2-3 hours midday. So I am happy to put up with a little overcrowding and get there in 20 ish minutes from Asoke or Phom Phong stations.

Transit not perfect but much improved. The trend is better, perfection can never been achieved but things are clearly better.

I think the flamers love the sounds of their own voice...

This morning's BKK Post had an interesting article on page 3 about a proposal from an MP to scrutinize Thai PBS. In the article, the MP "has accused Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) of suspicious spending and wants to turn the operation into a government agency or a privately owned organisation."

I am not all that familiar with the history of Thai PBS. Would someone care to comment on this station in the light of such an accusation?

1.) Is this a reasonable accounting investigation into questionable spending practices?

2.) Or is it a thinly veiled ploy by the elements of the government's majority party to attempt to get editorial / management control over an independent media outlet?

Tried to post this in the Thailand News forum but could not..

Katmanpu

A Thai friend of mine who entered through Suvarnabuhmi on a foreign passport has now discovered that his Thai nationality may not help him with respect to overstay status and a fine. He is now enquiring with a lawyer who claims to have immigration connections. His overstay is in the range of about 60 days now.

I have heard that the 20,000 baht MAXIMUM overstay fine for foreigners was recently eliminated, making them subject to 500 baht X days overstayed plus jail time for over 20 days. For overstayers of more than 5 years this could add up to a million baht.

Is there still a maximum of 20,000 baht for Thai citizens who have dual nationality here??

Any comments will be appreciated.

I tuned in to this thread thinking it might be one of the worst rip off scam stories regarding jet skis. It is not. Unlike many other threads on jet ski rentals, this one involved substantial damage to the rented jet skis.

The story is really about the settlement coming after substantial and near total destruction of a jet ski. It is not one of the stories about the jet ski scammers, rather one about a rental agency that in my opinion has taken a fair and "middle path" solution to a financial settlement.

The riders were very lucky their injuries were not more severe. Many posts here comment on "what might be if", it was in their country, in Cambodia, blah-blah, blah, but the fact is a contract is a contract and insurance is insurance. Both have limits and if you don't want to pay then don't play. Everyone who rents a motorbike, a car, a jet ski or whatever should understand that the insurance that comes with the rented item is not like the insurance on your personal vehicle and it has an efffectively huge deductible. Caveat emptor, let the buyer beware...

No evil forces at work here, although some here are intent to find it. I suggest that they look under their own fingernails first...

From my math the "settlement" leaves about 100k to the better of the renters. In the US / Europe / Australia it is a normal procedure for the "damaged" party to escalate their costs, adding loss of income, etc, etc in order to achieve a better negotiation position for themselves. Isn't this the same that is happening here?? I think this is normal human nature and to suggest it is a bad aspect of this particular Thai jet ski rental company is quite ignorant in my opinion.

How the settlement is achieved, whether the police assisted, who helped, was it a friendly Thai or the mechanic is not important. The tourists cannot speak the language and they did need assistance from someone.

I also think that the limited information here about the accident suggests that the drivers were substantially at fault, even if they didn't have the kill switch arm band on they must have been going too fast near objects they should have been paying more attention to.

Bottom line is, this thread is played out, it's not another headline grabbing scam story, and now we are just listening to the sound of voices speculating in all matters.

I suggest the ops close this thread.

In 1971 in Mexico I was bitten by a dog that died 8 days later. The vet holding him had the head / brain tested by the government lab in Mexico City and it was positive for rabies. I started the shots on the 9th day, along with 8 other neighbors and the vet who was also bit by this mutt.

At that time it was 14 shots, one each following day, and they gave it to you in your abdominal muscles (not belly button) cause it was about 3 cc and needed a large muscle to be absorbed into. The serum was extremely painful and burned for ten minutes. You couldn't move for several minutes - it was excruciating and took your breath away. Many of the people receiving the shots screamed as did I the first time. I will never forget this.

I understand the new serum does not burn like the old one. You are very fortunate not to be facing what I endured way back when. I have talked to others that have gotten the new shots and they all say it's a piece of cake.

Also, for those of you who don't have insurance to cover, don't run to RAM hospital for this. You are being grossly overcharged and this is not a complicated or high tech procedure. Go to a local Thai hospital or Soon Sri Phat ศุนย์ศรีพัฒน์ in Chiang Mai with a Thai friend if you can't speak Thai. A small amount of homework will save you over 20,000 baht.

Sorry for anyone's plight who has been in this situation.

Katmanpu

I am so sad to hear of Stephano's very untimely passing. Had dinner there about 3 weeks ago and he joined me at the table and we had a nice chat. He told me how excited he was about moving to the new location nearer to his family's house and that he was able to keep his key staff and cooks with him. He was a wonderful man with a great restaurant and he will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. I feel so sorry for his wife and children.

Does anyone have a link to news in Thai newspapers about this??

Does anyone know anything more about the name of the Wat were งานศบ will be held???

So there is just one person on this topic from back on Feb 15th who claims to have a "reliable source" as to Bob's wherabouts, but which can not be verified. Until we hear more definitively, I think it is safer to admit that we really don't know where Bob is. This is only a rumor that he is in the US. Wishful thinking for his welfare, but don't get carried away with such a report at this time. "I read it on the internet, so it must be true..."

Made a suggestion about this many months back.

1/ Should complete the partly built sky train to Don Muang.

2/ Turn the biggest unused building into a market like an indoor jata-jak.

3/ Another big building could be a mall/supermarket.

4/ Revamp all the other unused buildings as rental or for sale rooms and condos, in a range from basic to luxuary.

5/ Make all other unused space into parking.

Should be returning a good profit in a few years.

First of all I want to characterize my response in no way as a personal attack on the author. It's nice to see people thinking creatively about an underused large piece of national infrastructure such as Don Muang. I am a professional architect who has done airport design and planning before, so I know of what I speak.

That said, I think it is a waste of time for so many who are lacking technical expertise to continue speculating about what is to come of DMK in a way that is critical of Thai planning operations. Reuse and modifications can go many ways, but DMK's current postion as an underused airport does actually serve the future well if you look at historical examples of airports and "twin airports" worldwide. What you find is, as the pressure grows to expand the number of flights into a metropolitan or regional area, then the powers that be wake up and adapt and expand what used to be an antiquated facilty into an more modern and more useful airport.

The investment in aircraft runways and their enormous land area needs, not to mention the requirements for low rise structures in the approach paths is so valuable and rare in a major city that unless you have a situation like Hong Kong's old Kai Tak airport, you will rarely find these facilities being demolished or permanently converted into another use. Having two functional airports allows major construction on one while shifting flight, passenger and cargo requirements to the other while improvements are being completed. Such improvements may take 3 or 5 years or longer after the planning and design activity is completed, which take years in itself. It is not like building a simple structure by any means. Look at Chicago's Midway Airport. It took them more than 30 years to "get it right" and this is a city famous for planning large mega-projects.

Regarding the op's number one suggestion that the skytrain be extended to Don Muang, I completely agree. The plans to complete cross-airport transit services (air-links, light rail and other mass transit) between airports should also be brought to completion.

The other 4 suggestions he made I have seen similar ones in other postings elsewhere and are probably not feasible. It is not economical to convert a large multilple floor building with floor systems designed for pedestrian live loads, into a parking facility capable of handling cars and vans, let alone buses or trucks. This is an "Alice in Wonderland" suggestion. In any case, I think my point of having twin airports is the one that trumps all the other ideas mentioned.

Maybe we should all be less critical of Thai planning on this asset and let time take its natural course. It's not a simple issue that any of us can solve in a few sentences.

I thought the Duke's was owned by an American. Am I right or wrong??

Same thing happened to me. See my thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Air-Asia-Cre...bl-t273714.html

Confirmed by my bank (another major US bank) that Air Asia was rejecting the credit card before even attempting to charge it. The only way I was able to book online was to use my debit/ATM card (same bank). The money is taken from your checking account immediately if you do this, probably the preferred method for Air Asia.

So I tried this (using a debit card keyed to checking acct) and tried 2 different issuers debit cards. Input my debit card info at Air Aisa's payment screen, then got transfrerred to the verified by Visa security screen, input my password and waited. This was the furthest I had gotten since yesterday with 3 US based Visa cards and 2 Mastercards (Chase, Bank of America and Citibank).

Both debit cards were then declined by Air Asia. One of these was a Visa debit from a credit union. The verified for visa site listed both attempts in their transaction record so it is defintely pinging back to Visa. The denials are from the Air Asia side for sure.

Attempted to book Air Asia flights for Dec 2009; attempts were on Nov 12 and 13, 2009.

My days with Air Asia may be over. I have emailed them with the problem, but don't expect miracles. From postings on other sites it also seems that Air Asia's payment software or bankers requirements are causing others with US based cards the same problems too

If anyone has current info please post.

Katmanpu

Today I attempted to book a ticket on Air Asia. I have booked a dozen or so flights with them over the past year easliy and without any problems. I noticed a new entry on the payment page this time though. They are asking for the issuing bank name and the country the card is from.

Attempted to use 2 different cards, all with lots of available balance (and verified such with the banks). All were declined. I tried several differnt names for the card issuers, i.e. Chase, JP Morgan Chase, JP Morgan Chase & Co. and also another with Bank Of America, Bank of America NA, Bank of America National Association - but alas, none of these worked.

I called the UK telephone number for Air Asia and put the voice hold on speaker. A few minutes later a call center assistant came on line and I described the issue. He said that Air Asia no longer has Bank of America or Chase as approved card merchants for online bookings so try another one.

I let him know that Chase and BoA are 2 of the largest card issuers and were they planning to do anything about this? He said politely that it has been a problem since February 2009 and suggested I use a US based CitiBank card as this will definitely work.

After I ended the call I headed back to the Air Asia online booking site and tried with 2 different Citibank cards. Nada... booking didn't go thru.

I will try again tomorrow after exiting from my browser (could be a cookie reading issue).

Anyone else had similar problems on Air Asia online bookings.

It is now 1:12 pm (-9 GMT) where I am at.

Katmanpu

There is of course the venerable Crown Hotel located 50 m up Soi 29 Sukhumwit (directly across from Soi 22). This is the "original" Crown Hotel and is not related to the Sukumwit Crown Hotel. I would not class this place as "family friendly", perhaps adventurous family friendly would be a better term. It has quite a history as it was a 1960's R & R hotel thaat played host to many American GI's, and at one time had enlisted men billeted there in tents in the center area that now holds the pool.

Cheap, convenient and what I would call safe. If you must have your ass kissed, are scared of an occasional cockroach and are shocked, shocked to find that prostitution is going on in Bangkok, then do give this place a skip.

The truth: it is a fantastic value for only 620 baht per night including AC, private bath with HW and large bathtub, TV (8 channels and some rooms poor reception). Go somewhere else for internet access (no wifi). No refrigerator or mini-bar (7-11 is directly across Sukhumwit and Friday and Saturday night boasts excellent food vendors there also). Some rooms are somewhat gloomier than others, about 10 have balconies that face east, the aircon is rationed in that you have have 2 choices on or off at a max 22 or 23 degrees C (72 - 73 F) and turned off when you leave the room. There is a pool that is sometimes more green than I would care to jump into, other times it is crystal clear. I have never ever encountered bed bugs here and probably have stayed here more than a hundred nights over the past 30 years.

It is located in between Asoke (Soi 21)and Phrom Pong Station (Soi 33) on the Sukhumwit skytrain line.

There are "short time" rooms on the first floor that rent for the hour and have curtains they wrap around the car while the patrons are inside doing what it is that short timers do. This is primarily for the Thai market... The regular 24 rooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floors, no elevator -stairs only and about 60 total rooms I think.

They don't have a website - they don't do e-mail. I have known the head desk clerk Daeng for nearly 30 years and call ahead to make sure I have a room in the busy season if I am arriving late. In 1982 it was 180 baht per night when the fx rate was 22.9 to the dollar. DO the math: $8 USD then and only $17 now!!!

Given the economic pressure on development in this area, it is just a matter of time before this grand old dame of Bangkok Vietnam era hotels meets the wrecking ball. Don't miss the opportunity to spend a couple of nights there while it is still in existence. Lots of history here and the Crown Hotel is featured in several novels on Bangkok life.

One of a kind for sure...

Place is total dump.

Yes, but its a loveable dump. The review clearly implies it's not for everyone... Travel without some adventure is not travel in the sense of discovery. Caveat emptor. Here's looking at your kwayteeow, kid…

There is of course the venerable Crown Hotel located 50 m up Soi 29 Sukhumwit (directly across from Soi 22). This is the "original" Crown Hotel and is not related to the Sukumwit Crown Hotel. I would not class this place as "family friendly", perhaps adventurous family friendly would be a better term. It has quite a history as it was a 1960's R & R hotel that played host to many American GI's, and at one time had enlisted men billeted there in tents in the center area that now holds the pool.

Cheap, convenient and what I would call safe. If you must have your ass kissed, are scared of an occasional cockroach and are shocked, shocked to find that prostitution is going on in Bangkok, then do give this place a skip.

The truth: it is a fantastic value for only 620 baht per night including AC, private bath with HW and large bathtub, TV (8 channels and some rooms poor reception). Go somewhere else for internet access (no wifi). No refrigerator or mini-bar (7-11 is directly across Sukhumwit and Friday and Saturday night boasts excellent food vendors there also). Some rooms are somewhat gloomier than others, about 10 have balconies that face east, the aircon is rationed in that you have 2 choices on or off at a minimum 22 or 23 degrees C (72 - 73 F) and turned off when you leave the room. There is a pool that is sometimes more green than I would care to jump into, other times it is crystal clear. I have never ever encountered bed bugs here and probably have stayed here more than a hundred nights over the past 30 years.

It is located in between Asoke (Soi 21)and Phrom Pong Station (Soi 33) on the Sukhumwit skytrain line.

There are "short time" rooms on the first floor that rent for the hour and have curtains they wrap around the car while the patrons are inside doing what it is that short timers do. This is primarily for the Thai market... The regular 24 rooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floors, no elevator -stairs only and about 60 total rooms I think.

They don't have a website - they don't do e-mail. I have known the head desk clerk Daeng for nearly 30 years and call ahead to make sure I have a room in the busy season if I am arriving late. In 1982 it was 180 baht per night when the fx rate was 22.9 to the dollar. DO the math: $8 USD then and only $17 now!!!

Given the economic pressure on development in this area, it is just a matter of time before this grand old dame of Bangkok Vietnam era hotels meets the wrecking ball. Don't miss the opportunity to spend a couple of nights there while it is still in existence. Lots of history here and the Crown Hotel is featured in several novels on Bangkok life.

One of a kind for sure...

Wouldn't it be nice if both of the 2 political extremes here (red and yellow) could take the "middle path" and stage a protests instead of blockades.

In my mind it would be a big boost to both "the letter of" and "the spirit of" democracy and dissent if the government would apply the rule of law (in proactive enforcement) by placing enough effective police force out to prevent a blockade before it happens. Then the ensuing action would be merely a civil protest.

It would require the confidence to act properly with sufficient force, but this goverment, or previous governments for that case have lacked such. If the Abhijit government can finesse such confidence through building his coalition including the army and other groups and calm the rural/Isaan-Bangkok clash, then we can hope for something like this.

I choose to hope, but often it is the pessimists who win the opening battle...

แคทแมนผู

INFO: I did a visa run May 2008 from Chiang Mai - Mae Sai. Was pretty simple, had a 500 baht fare in a "VIP" mini-bus 3 day advance ticket. Had with 8 others + driver. Considered doing the local Thai bus from Chang Puuek station but wanted to see how it was like the first time there without undo hassle. This was during low season and it was hot as hel_l so it was nice to have AC. At that time this service was only offered twice per week (Wednesday and Saturday only). Took a very light day pack and a 1.5 litre bottle of water only.

No problems with this service whatsoever.

After pickup by Toyota minbus direct at guesthouse and picking up others left CM at about 8:00 am and arrived Mae Sai at 12:30 pm.

Driver gave instruction to all to meet back at designated parking spot (next to a restaurant) after border return crossing in 1.5 hours, left Mae Sai about 2 pm and arrived back CM 6:30 pm.

I bought duty free scotch (at the "on bridge" vendor / shop), Johnny Walker Black 1 litre for $26 USD cause it seemed a good deal then (30.5 baht / USD = 793 baht) I seem to recall about 1,200 baht for same at 7-11

Also bought 2 "Marlboro" cartons for $4 USD each. I don't smoke anymore but bought them for a smoking friend here in CM from one of the walking vendors in Tachilek. Color seemed a bit more brown than red on the carton printing. Are these Burmese counterfeits or just very old ciggies??

Anybody have comments on:

1) current trip costs and time (mini-bus vs local Thai Buses)

2) daily frequency of the minibus service in higher season (mid February 2009)

3) duty free cigarettes - counterfeits vs. very stale

4) Possibility of overnighting in Tachilek and picking up your passport the next day - any problems here on Myanmar or Thai side???

5) potential problems with Mae Sai - Tachilek border run other than the predictable ones from the poor sods who have overstay, have too many WALK stamps in passport, filthy, drunk, etc thru the border.

Thanks folks

1) So it is a seven day limit and I suppose it would be up to the discretion of the immigration officer if he were to require proof of a ticket out.

2) I am understanding that the grant of this 7 day extension is 1,900 baht, yes??

3) Has there been any more word on the reduction in visa fees that is neing discussed at cabinet level applying to extension of visa / extension of stay fees???

Thanks folks, I will report back on the results when my friend goes to immo with his "phuu yai". I expect him to get only the 7 days.

My Swedish national friend heard this past week at 2 different guesthouses in Chiang Mai regarding 30 day extensions to the "visa exempt" / 30 day stamps you get when you fly into Thailand. The claim is that Chiang Mai Immigration is giving out a a 30 day extension to the initial 30 day stamp without having to leave the country if you apply on the 29th day.

My understanding is that previously you only get 7 or 10 days and it is 1,900 baht.

Is this true or just more "you can get anything you want at CM Immo if you pay tea money to mafia" fairy tale. If true then how much baht for this??

Also, anyone heard about any intent to reduce or waive visa extension fees similar to the move to waive the visa fees that is now beign considered by the Abhijit govt??

Thanks...