JimGant

Anyplace in Chiang Mai to get decent lamb? Frozen from NZ would be fine.

I found some frozen chops at Rimping, but they were almost all fat. I have my Cross & Blackwell mint sauce from the States -- just waiting for something decent to put it on.

Oh, speaking of Rimping -- they now carry American (Vlasic brand) dill pickles!! Those cucumbers masquerading as pickles (from Europe somewhere) must be an acquired taste.

Another case of Immigration getting befuddled by O-A visas. At least now they're erring in our favor, to some degree at least.

My take is that Shot should have received a 30-day stamp upon his last entry to Thailand since he had no valid reentry permit (to include the expired multiple entry feature of his O-A visa). But, being safely -- and by all appearances, legally -- back in Thailand, why not just saunter down to local Immigration and apply for a 're entry permit.' This will at least clear the air -- and if somehow the sh1t hits the fan, like, things are queered and you won't be able to long extend come the time, then at least you'll be forwarned to work on plan B.

In any event, if Shot does plan to leave again before his last 'admitted until' date, he should have a "re entry permit," as being lucky twice probably won't happen.

Click on this link. It shows the work of the builder I used, after fairly extensive investigation. He may be maxed out right now, or he might not take you if you want too much say, or have too many "owner provided items" (like, Anderson windows). He actually designed my place, as I didn't have anything really specific in mind. And no real post construction problems -- but the few I had were warranted (like some paint fades).

Chiang Mai Builder

Mori,

Seriously, contact Houston. The worst that can happen is that they'll say no. And if they say 'yes,' then you'll have a much more comfortable situation in which to deal with Indo Siam or Sunbelt for further options.

Tel : (713) 229-0636

or Email:

[email protected]

The THAI plane lost its right wingtip while the SIA aircraft suffered a damaged aileron.

Original reports implied 'wingtip-to-wingtip.' If the TG's wingtip hit the SIA's aileron, TG misjudged by considerable amount.

TG wingtip damaged was on right side, the first officer's position. Mmm.

such as 'where is the toilet' 'I come from England'

When you say this as one phrase, do they nod their heads knowingly?

Your best bet is to try an honorary consulate. Houston seems to be a good bet, or at least used to be. These consulates are run by farangs, so if you're half asian, send 'em a picture to lend credence that you're looking for your long lost cousins (might not work if your last name if Fujimoto, however )

Seriously, find their email or phone number (easy via google), contact them and tell them, because of your background, you want to research Buddhist culture and hear what they have to say. Your best chance, as LA will only give you a tourist visa.

But if you really are half Thai, you've got a lot more options than the average guy on the street, I'm sure.

flight that takes only 16.50 hours to the destination,

Only!? Tell that to the guy in the middle seat sitting between two sumo wrestlers -- and immediately behind a backrest reclined for 16.25 hours.

But TG did promise to take-off with both winglets.

bedlam forum.

What's that?

I would bet that this tip is the new winglet added to standard wings,

Boeing 777s don't have winglets -- their wings' long aspect angles accomplish the same thing (reducing vortices/drag). But Airbus 330s do, and that was the one lost.

And as far as taking off missing a winglet -- you no doubt would notice some assymetrical drag diffference, tho' not to the extent of an engine out.

I can just see the future of THAI simulator training: 'Ok, now throw the switch that simulates left winglet separation.'

When the visa is approved they will stamp your passport, dating the one year from the date you applied, not from the date when it was approved,

I thought it was from the last date you entered Thailand?

Or just tell 'em you're a Mormon. I'm sure that'll do it.

According to the THAI pilot, the Singapore airliner had been ordered to park at Gate 54 to allow the Thai plane to pass.

The Thai pilot, who was urged to exercise caution, told the air traffic controllers that he had judged the distance between the two planes and that it was safe for him to move.

Both pilot and controller maybe erred. Controller should have just said 'hold current position' to the TG until the SA was at the gate, as it sounds like local procedure was 'heavies' can only taxi by this gate when another 'heavy' is blocked-in at this gate. If they're was such a procedure, the controller erred -- or the TG pilot played a Thai power trip and told the controller, 'negative, I'll clear ok,' at which point the controller said, "Ok Khun pilot, but exercise caution." "Hold" is not open to pilot discretion (remember Tenerife?). But if this pilot was former RTAF (probable), they have a habit of ignoring controllers.

If there was no local procedure at this gate intersection, there is now.

And not that it would of made much difference, but I wonder if all transmissions were in English, as they're supposed to be under international regs? If not, the SA pilot had no chance to get the bigger picture and maybe say, 'hold on, mate, be out of your way in a jiff.'

In any event, SA is off the hook, and the Thai pilot is shopping for a new pair of trifocals.

Benefits?

Two that I like:

1) Tabs. I can bring up the Washington Post (or whatever paper) and 'cntrl-left click' on every article I'm interested in. Then, whiile reading the first article, the others I've indicated load into individual tabs in the background. After I'm done with article one, I click on Tab 2 (then, later, 3, 4, etc) and, presto, they're right there for instant viewing. This is less utilitarian for broadband, but for dial-up it sure saves a lot of time. (Now, if I can just figure out how to haul the computer to the toilet, where some of my best reading is done. )

2) Remembered User ID and Passwords. Firefox remembers (if you allow it to) most, not all, but a heck of a lot more than IE. I really hate having to type these in all the time at my home (secure) computer.

Also, with IE still on your computer, I've found that if a program requries IE, it will automatically start it (concurrently with Firefox). Example: Windows Automatic Updates.

An elderly couple, Ray and Bessie, recently moved to Texas. Ray has

always wanted a pair of authentic cowboy boots. Seeing some on sale one

day, he buys them, wears them home, walking proudly. He walks into the

house and says to his wife, "Notice anything different about me?"

Bessie looks him over, "Nope."

Frustrated, Ray storms off into the bathroom, undresses, and walks

back into the room completely naked except for the boots. Again, he

asks, a little louder this time, "Notice anything different now??"

Bessie looks up and says, "Ray, what's different? It's hanging down

today, it was hanging down yesterday, it'll be hanging down again

tomorrow."

Furious, Ray yells,"AND DO YOU KNOW WHY IT IS HANGING

DOWN, BESSIE? IT'S HANGING DOWN BECAUSE IT'S LOOKING

AT MY NEW BOOTS!!!!!!"

To which Bessie replies, "Shoulda bought a hat, Ray. Shouda bought a hat."

(In order to report to the competent authority by mail, the alien shall do as follows:

- The Report Form (To Mo 47) together with a copy of the passport pages showing the alien's photo, personal details, and the latest arrival visa stamp as well as a self addressed evelop with postage affixed, shall be forwarded, by 7 days before the due date, by acknowledgement of receipt mail to the Immigration Bureau, Sathon Tai Road, Sathon District, Bangkok 10120.

This implies mail reporting has to be sent to Bangkok. Can I mail it to Chiang Mai Immigration instead?

Mike,

Interesting. I've always paid a 1% foreign exchange fee with my ATM card and had thought this was levied by the owner of the ATM machine (which 90% of the time is Bangkok Bank for me). And this seemed reasonable, as they're not providing ATM transactions for free.

But from your experience, it would seem my Stateside bank (Suntrust) is pocketing this fee -- and Bangkok Bank must then get its payment by the foreign exchange 'buy/sell' spread. Somebody might be getting .2%, which is the difference between the interbank exchange rate (39.63) and your 39.55. But as Lop says, this might not be the exchange rate used by your exchange service (Cirrus/Plus/Star), so hard to tell. But whatever the case, sure beats paying 1%.

Besides not being able to wire transfer, any other downside to Bank of the Internet? And which exchange service do they use (my ATM is Cirrus -- but I don't think that's where the 1% goes, at least in total).

Miss those salty Saipan breezes yet?

Kinda gives a whole new meaning to "special massage."

It might be helpful to know what the pain is you're experiencing. If it's arthritis-related, news from the States yesterday indicates the COX-2 inhibitors (Vioxx, Celebrex, Bextra) are really coming under scrutiny, with Bextra taken off the market yesterday, leaving only Celebrex available under prescription (for now, anyways).

Having said that, I'm curious about what COX-2 inhibitors are available in Thailand. If my choices become: 'maybe live longer, but in excruciating pain' or maybe die earlier, but pain-free,' I'd like to be able to make that decision myself -- in fact, I already have. And if I can get COX-2s in Thailand, then, so much the better.

After all, the Gin and Tonics are free!

Nice picture, Mike. Obviously, you've finished their gin by the time this picture was taken -- or you opted for rusty tonic water.

(oops, you beat me to it, Doc)

So, should I revisit Thai Immigration at Suan Phlu and ask for a 'reentry' stamp to ensure they don't cancel my latest 'admitted until' stamp, and only give me 30 days?

I sure would. As RDN says, these O-As are still relatively rare and subject to confusion at Immigration (and on this forum as well). And the Suan Phlu folks maybe didn't realize your multiple-entry visa expired before your last 'admitted until' date. (But they are right that you shouldn't need to apply for an extension of stay until a few weeks before 4/1/06 -- unless you leave Thailand without a valid re-entry permit.)

I really can't imagine that an 'admitted until' stamp would take on some kind of new multiple entry meaning just because there's a "NonImm OA" scrawled at the top. When you leave Thailand, you get a triangular 'departed' stamp that, in effect, cancels the 'admitted until' stamp. I'm talking all categories, not just O-As. Then, when you reenter Thailand, you get a new 'admitted until' stamp based on either a valid visa, a 30-day "no visa required", or a nice big square "re-entry permit" with a "valid until" date that you've gotten from Immigration. In fact , when you fill out your entry documentation prior to arrival into Thailand, the number on your "re-entry permit" is what's used. I doubt Immigration even looks for a still valid 'admitted until' stamp (or the equivalent if you're on an 'extended stay' stamp.) But what they do is give you a new 'admitted until' stamp that expires based on the visa type (60 or 90 days); 30 days if no visa; or in lock-step with your 're-entry permit' valid until date.

So, if you leave Thailand and return with an expired visa -- and no 're-entry permit' from Immigration -- you then have neither a valid visa number, nor a 're-entry permit' number to present to Immigration. Result? Admitted for 30 days.

Anyway, that's my take on all of this. I'd much rather pay 3800 baht (or 1000 for single) for a re-entry permit for the peace-of-mind I'll get from not finding out that Don Muang Immigration and Suan Phlu are reading from different scripts.

I still believe extending an O visa in Thailand is the easiest way to go. No major medical, no police clearance, and no notarization of the triplicate application. That notarization requires the services of a high priced notary public.

Doc,

I would agree -- if, in fact, notarization is required. But what I've been hearing here is that the honorary Consulates, at least in the States, realize that 'notarization' as defined in the States is not practical and so don't require it. And I can find some quack to sign off that I don't have elephantitis -- and the local sheriff is a pussycat. Then, I just mail it in.

But, I realize one size doesn't fit all -- and I'm not really sure how this notarization thing works in other countries (RDN, ain't you a Limey? )

(And I'm still confused about how an O-A vs. extending an O in Thailand might aid my household shipment to Thailand, as regards duties(?))

I anticipate that when I leave Thailand later this month, and return in late May 2005, that I will not get a reentry date past 1 Apr 2006. Will report my experience.

Shotover,

From the info you provided, your Multiple Entry NonImm O-A expires this month (i.e., one year from its issue date, which is standard procedure for Multiple Entry visas) So, even if you have a stamp in your passport saying you're admitted until April 1, 2006, if you leave and try to re-enter, you're probably going to hit a brick wall and get a 30-day stamp (and the 4/1/06 stamp cancelled). And how you unravel things from there, I don't know, since you can't (supposedly) apply for an extension of stay with only a 30-day entry permit.

So it would seem you need to get a re-entry stamp from Immigration before your next travel -- since you will no longer have re-entry permission once your O-A visa expires.

(Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, and you have gotten a reentry permit from Immigration. But given the above quote, it sounds like you might be confusing the 'admitted until 1 April 2006' as a 'reentry' stamp(?).)

(My wife got a one-year extension of stay in her US passport, and after a trip abroad, reentered Thailand, not even looking at the admitted until stamp, as she knew she had 10 months left on her extension stamp. Yep, she hadn't gotten a reentry permit, so Don Muang gave her a 30-day stamp. She didn't know this until she tried to leave Thailand 4 months later -- and had to pay a big baht fine to get out. [second lesson here: always check your admitted stamp]

Reading in the Bangkok Post that the new airport will nowopen "sometime next year" (the previous 'latest' had been March 2006), I just wonder what will Don Muang be used for then? Yes, the RTAF occupies the otherside of the field -- and probably will continue to. But any news on what else will happen there?

And will the new airport serve both international and domestic? Or will Don Muang remain the domestic terminal, at least at first?