Felt 35

I don’t know how the practise is where you come from swe...ball, but I think its reasonable that people, both residents and visitors are sceptic consider the fact that the Government in the country they live, try to hide the fact that ingredients in some of their everyday nutrients can include something which can be unhealthy for humans.

Care for the people should be the Governments first priority Then they hadn’t needed to stage road show all over the country for trying to make the consumer confident about what to eat or not. Lies not really fit with confidence.

Maybe its not true Thetyim, or maybe it has changed the last month!

To be issued a Thai driving licence without taking the written and practical tests, you will need to show your international driving license, which must conform to the Convention on International Road Traffic 19 September 1949. This should be printed on the front cover of the license.

You will also be required to pass an eyesight test and bring the following documents (plus photocopies of each) when applying: your international driving license, passport with your non-immigrant visa, work permit or a letter showing your address from an immigration office, a medical certificate proving you are fit to drive, as well as two one-inch photos.

If you apply for car and motorbike licenses, you will need to bring two copies of each document.

The fee is 105 baht for a car license and 55 baht for a motorbike license.

For more information, contact the Phuket Provincial Transportation Office on Rattanakosin 200 Pi Rd, Phuket Town, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm on weekdays. Tel: 076-220792 or 076-211019. ”

Thursday, November 14, 2002 Officer, Phuket Provincial Transportation Office.

Thailand has an agreement with some countries, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US, that allows people to drive in those countries using Thai driving licenses.

Another option is to exchange your Thai driving license for one issued in the country where you want to drive. For full details of what options are available, you should contact the relevant embassy in Thailand.

Finally, many people who want to drive in a foreign country should obtain an Interntational Driving Permit before travelling. This permit, which is valid for one year, allows the holder to drive in any of at least 168 countries that signed the Convention on International Road Traffic of September 19, 1949.

International Driving Permits issued in Thailand are issued by the Department of Land Transportation (DLT). For more information, contact the DLT Bangkok office at 1032 Phaholyothin Rd, Lad Yao, Chatujak, BKK 10900. Tel/Fax: 02-272 3614-6. Website: http://dlt.motc.go.th ”

Friday, May 23, 2003 Roongpop Traiyasunun, Transportation Technical Office, DLT, Bangkok.

Only Thais and holders of Thai residency permits are allowed long-term licences.

Second, if you change any details on your licenses when uprgading from provisional to full license, there is no need to pay more than the fee for renewing them.

If you wish to change details on your license when you renew it, there will be a 50-baht charge plus a processing fee of five baht in addition to the fee for renewing the license.

Thai law requires every person holding a driver’s license to notify their local Transportation Office of any change of details stated on the license.

For more information please call the Phuket Provincial Transportation Office at 076-214929 or 076-214930. ”

You get a one year driving licence when you show them your Internationale driving licence, but only Thais and holders of Thai residency permits are allowed long-term licences.

The truth,and thanks for good info syd Barrett.

Nationalism is the problem.

I think Thailand was going on the right direction, some up and downs, but however slowly on the way to a democratic country.

But the last three years after "love us, love us" come to power its getting to nationalistic.

History show that extreme nationalism is a dangerous thing for a country with many nationalities and mixed religion.

Hopefully they will be enlighten before it goes to far and got their own problem!

Is not this scenario more about trust than what to eat!!

Sunday Nation 8. February.

PM says bird flu is now a sovereignty issue, threatens trade retaliation

"If they do I will retaliate," he said. "This government is not afraid of anything," he told the crowd.

impy_la_blimpy!

If biking is a habit you don't want to be without, move to one of the less populated province`s instead of Bangkok.

As an example her down South (Phuket). Even if the traffic also here have increased a lot the last five years its quit many people who use bikes for exercise and there is also a couple of group rides every week with a mix of Thais and foreigners.

Avoid the rush hours and take your long rides in the weekend and you can still have a nice ride.

Should not be any problem to bring your bike over here. Most airlines bring it free as long as your total luggage, included the bike not exceed the weight limit.

(Usually 20-40Kg, depends on the airline)

Thailand mulls sending culled chicken to feed the world's poor

Published on Feb 4, 2004

BANGKOK, Feb 4 (AFP) - Thailand's premier has asked the government to investigate whether chickens being culled here to prevent the spread of bird flu could be cooked, canned and sent to poor countries, a minister said Wednesday.

Commerce minister Watana Muangsook told reporters Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had made the request to ministers during Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

"The prime minister asked them to check whether it would be against rules of the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) for Thailand to produce canned cooked chicken from disease-free chickens and give it to poor countries," he said.

"If it is against OIE rules, Thailand will not do it," Watana said.

The Paris-based OIE is the world's veterinary health watchdog.

Nearly 25 million chickens have been culled across Thailand in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly avian influenza virus, which has killed four people in the kingdom and 11 in Vietnam.

Culling has already been completed across 31 of the 38 Thai provinces where the virus has been detected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the avian influenza virus is destroyed if infected poultry or eggs is cooked at 75 degrees Celsius (167 Fahrenheit). The virus is largely transmitted through bird droppings.

.....do they really need to send it for reach the poor?

Here in the South we can relax. The birds dont die of bird flue but of poisoning. Or is this another plan for keeping tourist relaxed......

(PhuketGazette Sunday 1. February)

PHUKET: Fears surrounding the spread of avian ’flu have led members of the public to take matters into their own hands and poison wild birds, it was claimed today.

An autopsy conducted on a dead bird found in Phuket Town showed that it died from ingesting insecticide mixed with rice.

Officers from the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office (PPLO) have examined other birds found dead in the past week – including a peacock – and said all had been similarly poisoned.

Sunart Wongchawalit, the Chief of the PPLO, told the Gazette today that other provinces have reported similar unauthorized culls. Although cautious not to put a number on the deaths, K. Sunart said it seemed that the public was beginning its own vigilante action against the local bird population.

Official steps taken to prevent the H5N1 virus from spreading to Phuket include a ban on all imports of poultry to the island, with officers concentrating their efforts on monitoring sea and land routes into the province.

One person in neighboring Phang Nga province is suspected of having contracted the virus, and tens of thousands of birds have already been culled within a five-kilometer radius of a Takuapa farm where a number of birds were confirmed on Thursday to have died from avian ’flu.

Is praise to the authorities the way to go after the last weeks circumstances!

Maybe an idea to look at the reason to that people have to fall so low that they use a "foreign", or local loan shark, and how they(the loan shark) can establish themselves here, before we praise anyone for catch them.

Is there anyone who know if there are a sports med., who are active in Thailand or the nearest region certified after ISAKOS or APOSSM/APOA standard.

Thanks & Regards

Thanks for the info guys/gals.

Nice photos "geroreilly".

Will spend a weekend in the "area" when the Chinese Newyear is done.

Thanks and Regards

There is no limit on how much land a Thai woman married to a foreigner can own.

However, for her to own land, you, being her husband, must sign an affidavit at the Provincial Land Office guaranteeing that she is not using communal property acquired after marriage to buy land. ”

Marriage to a Thai national confers no rights, though a marriage certificate may be used in support of applications for visas and work permits. Generally speaking, foreigners have no specific rights in Thailand.”

Most foreign embassies would demand that she prove that she is single or divorced (if she have been married before)with a document you can get at the district office where she has registered here address before you can get married. The same apply to you!

It is she who can gain something if you register the marriage. Example benefits from your country. Like economical benefits when you eventually get a child, birth support,health insurance, pension after you die, free education if you move back home, etc

Dowry is only actual if she not have had any husband before you..... The amount is negotiable.

Party is up to here, you and here family, if you live in a rich province with wealthy friends, well then the party`s cost and more to is probably covered. Poor place, the small amount you get will probably go to here family.

If she absolutely not want to register the marriage, well think twice about it!

Take a look at this webpage:

http://www.thailawforum.com/articles/familywimol.html

Personally would I agree that your passport and visa should be up to date and that you have the proper documentation required for the country you visit in this case Thailand.

But the point to dazdaz could maybe be that why don`t the laws in the country catch up this things already at the border(entrypoint).

I see that many of you agree in the way the police/immigration did this check.

Will you also agree if Thailand practise immigration rules as the "first world country" it want to be? I will.

Okay then: Where is Pranburi?

I personally have never been to Cha am or Hua Hin and have so far no precise address.

But to make the question easier: Is there anyone who can tell me how it is to live in Hua Hin/Cha am compare to Phuket. Is it touristy,how is the traffic,population etc.

I have an opportunity to buy land in Cha am.

Is there anyone "out there" living in an area near Khao Gralok and Evason Resort who can give some information about the area.

Thanks & Regards

Thanks Dr. Patpong.

You said it: The long termers are worth absolutely nothing to Thailand.

Something to think about in the Holiday Season!!

Merry Christmas & "Prosperous New Year"

I need to go out for a renewal of my visa. Currently on an Multiple Non immigrant B visa from Brisbane, Australia.

Is it still okay to cross over the border at Padang Besar or is there anything new I should know about.

Thanks and Regards

Hi again!

Things change fast here!

I guess some of you are right in your speculation about a probably third person or mortgage involved in the land case with my father-in-law.

Because today my wife tell me this:

The case is finished in court. The court have "decided" that it must be an auction!

She also tell me that father-in -law have to hold the auction

My own teory is this: Father-in-law want an auction so he can bid higher than the third person/part, and for this he need the "loan" from me.

When he have the land he can sell (hopefully if it was my money) to a higher price if someone want to buy???? Why nobody want to buy in the first part. Not very attractive if there are two owners and they dont agree about the price!

However what guaranty do I have for that he sell?

I feel sorry for my little lady this days. I think she only want to help in an honestly way, but maybe "Pho" push a little to much. I think "Pho" should be satiesfied with what he get. He already get 80% of my wifes monthly salary ("which is near 200K annually) and he have propably the same from the three other childrens.

However its not first time they have show me what number I have in the family hiarki (Probably after the oldest and most ugly Buffalo at the farm)

Thanks and Regards

6 years in Thailand.Spends the summer in Europe. Thaiwife. Informationconsultant.

Hi and Thanks for many sensible anwers and advices.

Few moments got clearer after some questions to my wife yesterday.

1. Nothing is written and my father-in-law want to take the case to court!!

2. The first amount mention here on the web is what he (Father-in-law) have lend out to some neighbours without any documentation.

My wife have changed strategi and now it is about help for pay the expences in court.

Which she estimate to be around 50K. Well I can accept to help with that amount, but what changes is it in court when money is borrowed between neighbours and no document is written. Word against word?

By the way we live in another province and have no access to whatever deal my father-in-law have made.

Thanks and Regards

My father-in-law gave a loan to some neighbours 3-4 years ago with an guaranty in land if they should fail to pay him back. We are talking about 300K+.

The neighbours have not paid him back the loan and their land is now going to an auction because nobody want to buy it . (In fact a nice piece of land in North,3 Rai)

My father-in-law are afraid he will get less money back than what he lend out because its going on an auction, and are asking me for a loan so he can buy the land and then sell it again for the same price or higher so he not loose to much money!!

Well Iàm that kind of person who have very firm principles about borrow or lend out money.

The family is not rich either poor and owned a lot of land in the past.

But of course I like to help my father-in-law so I suggested for my wife to buy the land at the auction, and in here name. Then we get a nice piece of land to a reasonable price and it still will be in your family and my father-in-law would at least get some money pluss the land will be in his family.

But no that was not interesting. Well I explaned to my wife that all I want and can do.

I`m not very popular just now!!

I like to hear your opinion (members)

Thanks and Regards