KED

I have taken the Siem Reap to Mo Chit bus twice in the last 6 months. It has always been full - so I suggest you book as soon as you are sure of the date. I have enver been shaken down on the bus for any extra funds and have found the bus to be reliable and convenient.

The only small negative is that when the bus does arrive at Mo Chit there is a huge number of taxi drivers trying to get non-metered fares into the city - which I guess is par for the course at train stations and bus depots. Just walk past them and their is a metered taxi queue 50 meters from the bus stop.

Many disturbing aspects of this situation.

First, if the passenger was an expert in dealing with this fertilizer - he should have certainly been aware that it was a hazardous material and should not be transported in checked luggage.

Second, that the X-ray machine did not pick-up this item in a checked international bag -

Can you provide a reference for the posted fares? On-line, I could only price Bangkok Airways at about $244, return trip, whereas Air Asia was $96. I'll be travelling mid-March.

I guess different dates will provide different results. I was looking in early March and Bangkok Airways fares were 79 USD roundtrip.

I am planning a trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai around 4March-9March and am happy to see Bangkok Airways is the same cost, if not less, than Air Asia. I just wish that were the case on similar routes, like Bangkok to Siem Reap.

If the same price or a little more expensive then Bangkok Airways is definitely the better choice with free 15 kg backage allowance and their lounge in both BKK and CNX.

I traveled with a friend who used a Peruvian passport alhtough he had resided many years in Japan without going back to Peru. He was able to enter Thailand after showing his residency in Japan. I suggest you also email the closest Thai consulate to you in Australia just to have some reference when you arrive.

Suthep and the Dems strategy is so obvious! It's not about being a dictator or wrangling for power nor is this even about Abhisit!

As some would suggest on this forum.

This is about exposing the faults of PTP (Pardon Thaskin party) It's about bringing the Shin a whats? down for good.

The Dems know deep down that nothing can change until these people are brought under control.

I think it is a great strategy. Risky? yes but I believe the momentum from the anti government will prevail and after the courts and independent

groups are finished this government will be finished. The protester's will go home. Suthep will go to jail (for awhile) Abhisit and the rest of Dems

will start getting their act together and start new fresh elections with oversight and a new charter. One that is fair for all and that will actually

benefit the Thai people.

You paint the dems in bright colours. I wish their intentions would be that sincere. Unfortunately they are just the lesser of 2 evils. I call this situation a cancer vs chemotherapy both are bad for the country but with the latest you at least have a chance.

How long have you been here.....

I have been living in Thailand for 8 years now and have visited for over 20 - not that that necessarily gives anyone more insight - I agree with Spartakos that the Democratic party is the lesser of two evils for Thailand; however, I am saddened to realize that either party is too filled with corrupt members to actually help the average Thai citizen.

I think his question is part of the research so he knows the answer. Problem is - sometimes you ask and they might say "no bus" hoping to get hired for a private transport. Better to have multiple answers to find the real truth.

Where is the Thai outrage? Why doesn't a grass-roots group form of Thai citizens demanding that road safety be addressed and things change. To do nothing and to see these road deaths continue is insane.

I am also piggybacking on the thread to ask a question. If I have a Thai spouse who is not a U.S. citizen or alient, are there any tax advantages or am I able to file a joint tax return with them as a non-resident alien?

Not to sound too critical, but is Thailand really the best place for an African wanting to go into medicine to study? Surely, there are better alternatives.

Have they set the amount of overseas income that should be sufficient to obtain an ED visa?

It is not just The Philippines that is more proficient at speaking English. I was in SIem Reap last week and the Camobdians speak much better Enlgish than Thailand. I know there are many more NGO's and foreign volunteers in Cambodia per capita than in Thailand and believe that the lack of enough native speakers in Thailand along with the poor education system keep Thailand lacking in so many ways.

The difficulty with the requirement of a ticket out of Thailand within 30 days is that it is inconsistantly enforced by the airlines. And I have never had Thai immigrations question me at all.

I travel often within SE Asia and have a 1 year retirement extension; however, my passport is now 100 pages thick and even I sometmes have difficulty finding the correct re-entry permit. When I check in with airlines - I am asked about an onward ticket 30% of the time.

I do think that long-haul airlines from Europe and U.S. are more consistant in requiring proof of onward travel within 30 days without a Thai visa.

My suggestion to your friend is that he either obtain a 60 day single entry visa or have an onward ticket to another SE Asia country to prevent being denied boarding.

OP, it is not a pleasant experience, but lets break it down little,

Firstly , what is wrong with check in opening 2 hours before?

You asked air hostess about your luggage, how do you expect them to know this or control this? Do you not realize not only they have no access to it or control over it, but its done by totally different department.

You say chair was not upright, fair enough, but if you were so concerned why not get up and move to any available sit?

Upon landing you discovered your bags were not on the same flight and asked to speak to staff? what staff and what did you expect them to do? fly it over for you with a speed of light?

People who loaded your bags at the point of origin are not the same people unloading it at the point of final destination.

Qantas management does not work in Thailand and ground crew are in no position to know why and how your bags missed the flight

You say, they refuse to pay compensation for your GF/Wife on the grounds that she is Thai, but you say she is NZ resident.

Well she may well be a resident, but she still holds and travels on Thai passport, do you not see that?

You say your gf/wife is without soap, are you joking? go buy 10 baht soap

No shampoo? its only 25 baht

No cloths? common really, go buy 70 baht tops

Some people really like to make themselves victims

You say you contact Qantas Australia with no response? Firstly why are you contacting Australia? you flew ex NZ, contact NZ office.

Secondly, if you not getting response from Qantas, why do not you call them?

I am sorry for taking a dig at you, but it seems you, yourself have made something easily fixed into a big drama.

I would also like to add and agree wit above a I have been to 48 countries..... That once you enter the AIR SPACE of another country that country has RIGHT OVER YOUR PERSON - that is you fall under their rule of law. That is why alcohol is turned off on some arabian countriry flights.

Yes you LANDED at Sydney so you are AUTOMATICALLY going through Aussie customs and immigration same same if I went to New Zealand or USA and EVEN if I was only transitting.

Transit passengers in many counties are obliged to go through customs control procedures or immigration as it is also called.

And what about the people on board the flight? It makes it seem to me that Fillipinos are lesser than you or your Thai partner? Not nice to read about demographocs when you are a FOREIGNER here.

I agree that your statement pointing out that the planes was filled with Filipinos is incredibily racist. How is that at all relevant?

Of course, you don't care about protests and dead students - just as long as you can enjoy Thailand on holiday. Such a citizen of the world you are.

I tried a search on faregeek.com for Bangkok to Chicago 04March-19April and get "no flights" ????

I like Agoda mostly, but do have a problem with them publishing rates that don't include service fees and result in a higher rate at purchase. I always compare prices when booking hotels and airfare - and Agoda is usually the same or better price - but it does leave a "bait and switch" feel when the final charges are 10-20% higher than the initial quote.

I agree that living here, we all know that the protests are not yet affecting normal life; however, why should a tourist take the chance - better to stay away from Bangkok and visit Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai up north or the beaches in the south. Or better to choose VIetnam, Indonesia, Cambodia or Malaysia until the protests stop.

Knowing the Thai government mentality - visas will be free but the following fees will be instituted.

THB 500 - medical insuarance fee

THB 300 - protest insuarance fee

THB 250 - flood insurance fee

THB 250 - being western in Thailand fee.

Better to err on the side of caution, but it does seem like the situation is escalating. Maybe time for a trip outside of Thailand for a while.

Humanitarian aid is what all government and religious groups should be focused. Energies should not be used for violence or terrorism - instead, groups and peoples should support those who are suffering from natural disasters and poverty. Love triumphs over hate.

When it is really hot season (when isn't it?) I like to sleep at 27 C but my Thai partner likes 25 or lower - even though he grew up without A/C. When the outside temp is below 31C - we just use a fan.

Not exactly what you asked, but I visited Pai for the first time a few months back and was not impressed. There are more westerners than local and it reminded me of a more sedate Khao San Road crowd. There are far more authentic Thai areas in the north (Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Khong, Lampang)

But there is a catch 22 - if someone is paid by a company outside of Thailand for work not involving Thailand - the company paying the salary most likely cannot sponsor a work visa - so how exactly is someone in this situation supposed to obtain the work visa?

I think the answer to that is that they can't. Why would Thailand want to create rules to suit anybody that happens to want to be here?

Because someone bringing in money to Thailand for rent, for food, for living expenses would support jobs for locals and grow the Thai economy.

But there is a catch 22 - if someone is paid by a company outside of Thailand for work not involving Thailand - the company paying the salary most likely cannot sponsor a work visa - so how exactly is someone in this situation supposed to obtain the work visa?