p_brownstone

3 hours ago, Jujus said:

Exactly. By the way, I never quite understood what happens if you don't redo your Alien Registration after 5 years. It is required to issue the Non-Quota Immigrant Visa in case you want to leave and reenter the country, but besides that?

Not sure what you mean by the reference to a "non-Quota Immigrant Visa".

If you have PR and wish to exit the Country you only need to get an Endorsement in your Passport and a Re-entry Permit before you leave Thailand - and so long as you re-enter Thailand within 1 year of leaving your status as a Permanent Resident is maintained.

I did once forget to go to my local Police Station to renew my Alien Registration book but there was no real problem except that they would only renew it for 1 year (as opposed to the usual 5 years); apart from that small inconvenience I don't recall that there was any other sanction or fine and after the expiration of the 1 year renewal I was able to renew for another 5 years as usual.

Patrick

22 hours ago, cyrusgreat said:

You must show  an income of minimum 80k baht and paid taxes and contributed to social fund every year for 3 years before you can apply for PR. The PR can be renewed every 5 years unless you decide to apply for Thai citizenship after the 5th year. Foreigners do not get PR as most of them do not pay taxes in Thailand.

You do not have to "renew" PR every 5 years, all that is required is to renew the Alien Certificate every 5 years at the local Police Station - takes about 5 minutes and costs Baht 800.- .

Patrick

It has long been my opinion that the main reasons for the appalling driving standards in Thailand are the Driving "Schools" themselves and the way the "Test" is conducted.

The Driving Test here only requires the applicant to drive around an obstacle course without hitting anything, backing up between cones, sometimes a hill start (but rarely) etc., so the Driving "Schools" simply replicate this layout which makes passing the "Test" an easy task.

The problem is that in the vast majority of cases the newly qualified driver has never been on an actual road before - never seen a car approaching him, never overtaken another vehicle and so on, but clutching his new Licence he considers himself the equal of all other drivers on the road.

Unless and until the Teaching and Testing procedures are drastically changed there can be no improvement in driving standards or safety here.

Patrick

30 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Try to cut it, if you end up with an extremely complex jigsaw puzzle it was tempered.

 

Seriously, I don't think you can easily unless it is marked

Plus, if it's a mass-manufactured sink top with one aesthetically designed "hole" (pre-formed plastic or tempered glass), even if you do manage to somehow cut a second hole it's going to be off-centre and look f-ugly!

Patrick

2 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

I would not consider having it done at most Thailand pill dispensary clinics (where basic hygiene is often lacking) but agree there are a number of dedicated eye clinics where this might not be an issue here.   In other countries clinics are main stream medical - but here that is often not the case.

Rather a strange response.

"pill dispensary clinics (where basic hygiene is often lacking)" ?? What does that mean?

I would not even worry about finding a "dedicated eye clinic"; most major hospitals here in Bangkok have "dedicated" ophthalmological departments - as do, I would guess, most major up-country cities.

Cataract surgery is one of the most regular procedures carried out anywhere.

I had both eyes done at Phayathai 2 Hospital here in Bangkok (one week apart at the advice of the Doctor just in the rather remote but always possibility of infection); never a problem and the only thing I regret is that I did not have it done years ago.

Patrick

Why do you need a "second tap fitting"?

You no longer need a separate hole for a "hot" and "cold" water supply to the sink, a single "mixer" tap fitting is easily available with hot and cold water inlets below the sink which the "mixer" tap can be adjusted to combine and provide the required water temperature.

Patrick

3 hours ago, alofthailand said:

I believe you are exaggerating. Or doing something provocative to have such fears. At our age a deck chair and beach umbrella is essential. If youcan't afford the 100 baht then you are in the wrong resort. Try not to be so angry- you'll do you self damage! Relax-in a deck chair.

I don't go to Pattaya anymore but love the beach and deckchairs - and the food they supply on demand - at Bangsaen; my only problem is that the deckchairs are so "low slung" (and unadjustable) that at nearly 70 I can get in them OK but getting out can be a struggle. That usually means I put off the effort of getting out of the deckchair and keep sitting, eating and drinking for as long as possible!

Patrick

20 minutes ago, gdgbb said:

 

Nonsense, anyone can register to bid at the auction, regardless of nationality.

Where do I mention "Nationality"??

"Outsider", in this context means those not in the internal Network which controls these "Auctions".

Patrick

The OP's Avatar is an excellent representation of what would happen to any "outsider" attempting to bid at one of the Thai Customs Department vehicle "Auctions".

Patrick

I can never understand the mindset of people who Cycle in Bangkok; the climate and pollution alone must surely be a major, possibly life threatening problem.

That said I certainly condemn the BMA and others who cordon off what could be useful road space in an already crowded traffic environment to accommodate these people.

What on earth are you trying to demonstrate?

A more "energy efficient" way to get to work?

Great in principle - until you arrive at the Office sweating and stinking of traffic fumes then, I guess, expect your Company to provide shower and changing facilities to accommodate your strange fetish before you start work.

Just as an example. a couple of years ago I contracted with a Math teacher - a Farang - to tutor my son after school; he, the prospective teacher, lived in Lad Prao, we live in Asoke. The first day the fool arrived he had obviously decided to Cycle from his home to mine. He stank to high heaven and I refused him access to my home.and cancelled the agreement.

What are these people thinking of if they imagine turning up for work in this state is in any way acceptable, and why do they imagine that whole sections of roads in Bangkok should be given over to their minority hobby??

\

Patrick

There are a hundred reasons why cycling and cycle lanes are good......none of which would ever make sense to you

A hundred reasons ................ really?

So give me just 10 reasons here, seriously and in detail, and I - and others I am sure - will try to "make sense" of why a majority in Bangkok, paying stipulated Road Tax, Licencing, Vehicle Inspection Fees etc. etc., should make way for a VERY small minority who pay nothing for the established (and the projected) infrastructure but somehow claim the right to appropriate important road space, inconveniencing thousands every day, without contributing anything towards Government coffers to pay for it.

Details please, I can barely wait..

Patrick

I can never understand the mindset of people who Cycle in Bangkok; the climate and pollution alone must surely be a major, possibly life threatening problem.

That said I certainly condemn the BMA and others who cordon off what could be useful road space in an already crowded traffic environment to accommodate these people.

What on earth are you trying to demonstrate?

A more "energy efficient" way to get to work?

Great in principle - until you arrive at the Office sweating and stinking of traffic fumes then, I guess, expect your Company to provide shower and changing facilities to accommodate your strange fetish before you start work.

Just as an example. a couple of years ago I contracted with a Math teacher - a Farang - to tutor my son after school; he, the prospective teacher, lived in Lad Prao, we live in Asoke. The first day the fool arrived he had obviously decided to Cycle from his home to mine. He stank to high heaven and I refused him access to my home.and cancelled the agreement.

What are these people thinking of if they imagine turning up for work in this state is in any way acceptable, and why do they imagine that whole sections of roads in Bangkok should be given over to their minority hobby??

\

Patrick

How on earth is this going to reduce traffic at Victory Monument!?

Instead of getting on a Minivan to go to - say - Rayong now a commuter has to get on a Shuttle Bus at VM to get to Morchit, then get in the Minivan.

So instead of the Minivans causing congestion at Victory Monument there will be scores of Shuttle Buses causing congestion there.

I really wonder sometimes at the idiocy of these "planners"!

Patrick

Not sure about Australia but certainly neither the U.K. nor the U.S. will issue a Visa to anyone who is entitled to claim that Nationality, you are expected to obtain the correct Passport.

If he holds both Passports then you should show the Australian Passport when entering that Country.

Patrick

"Their behavior then deteriorated, but the crew didn't act until I alerted them on landing that the behavior was unacceptable and that they were drinking their own alcohol, a breach of the airline's liquor licence."

Just wondering, why did you wait for landing ? Why not complain, or bring the situation to the crew's attention, if they were not already aware of it, as soon as the situation became an issue.

Of course; I absolutely agree - why did the Crew not just put the 'plane in "Park" (at - what - 20 - 30 thousand feet?) and decide that they should wait for the nearest Patrol Car to contain the situation?

Patrick

If you, as an occasional visitor, know of this mans behaviour then certainly other more long term residents of the area do too - and quite possibly the police, if they do nothing why should you decide to interfere?

Is he in some way impinging on your life? Threatening you? Or does his mere existence morally offend you to such an extnt that you "can't take it anymore"?

If any of the above ...... MOVE.

Otherwise just mind your own business and get on with your own life.

Patrick

I believe all the Forms specify that you must present them in person.

(and they don't care whether you are travelling cattle class or "Business / First Class")

Patrick

Surely this is madness?

Unless the number of people signing the "Petition" for a second Referendum exceeds the number who voted for "Brexit" in the first Referendum the "Petition" should be ignored completely; otherwise we will end up like Quebec with endless Referendums until the original losers bore the pants off their opponents, who eventually lose interest and leave the "losers" in command of the field.

Both sides had equal chances to state their case to the Public in the Referendum and "Brexit" won - for better or worse that's it, end of story, finished.

Accept the decision of the majority, deal with the consequences and move forward on that basis.

Patrick

I have not yet read the original Thai version of this proposed legislation so perhaps the English translation as "convicted criminals" is not quite correct.

To me a major flaw in Thai Law is the definition / application of the "Statute of Limitation".

As it now stands if one is accused of a crime in Thailand one must appear in Court to "acknowledge" the charges ..... and only at that point does the so-called Statute of Limitations start the clock ticking.

However, if one simply refuses to attend the Court to "acknowledge" the charge the Thai "Statute of Limitations" is judged to begin from ths date of the "alleged" crime.

The end result is that anyone with the financial resources or contacts can flee and reside outside Thailand and simply wait for the "Statute of Limitations" for their particular crime to expire vide Thaksin, and various "Hi-So" drunk / drugged Drivers et al.

I hope this new legislation addresses this situation, but I have serious doubts.

Patrick

This is a barbaric 'sport', and in a civilized country, would be stopped.

One way or the other, the bull dies, and to add insult to injury, or death in this case, has his parts sold off outside the stadium to those who watched him being slaughtered for the perverse enjoyment of the spectators, so he may as well have a go and take one of his tormentors with him, one whose body parts won't be sold off.

I am sure the "defeated" Bulls parts would, even in death, be far more potent than those of the prancing, glitter clad nancy "Bullfighter".

Patrick

Everyone - well, most people - can react differently to new foods, or perhaps even "known" foods not properly cooked

Not wishing to claim a title as the "Iron Stomach Farang" but after nearly 45 years here and having eaten almost everything on offer in virtually every Province I can honestly say that my absolute worst Food Poisoning experience was in an Airport Hotel in Amsterdam after eating seafood (shrimps as I recall).

A REALLY bad experience for me, severe stomach cramps and frequent visits to the toilet all night.

I have never, ever, had a similar problem anywhere in Thailand; an occasional day of loose bowels, that's it at most.

This scenario of collapsing at the table and "vomiting to death" seems very strange to say the least.

Patrick

3,500 Police could not handle one lone gunman without the use of explosives?

Hopefully the citizens of Dallas don't put too much faith in their Police force to protect them.

All sounds really incompetent and a total lack of training and or courage.

What an unbelievably silly response!

"lack of courage"?No one signs on to be a Police Officer (a Law Enforcement official) with the expectation that in order to demonstrate his "courage" he will one day be expected to walk into a hail of automatic gunfire from a mentally disturbed racist.

And YES, this was a racist crime ........ bur very few commentators are willing to address that fact; whites killing blacks is immediately branded as "racist" in some way, however blacks killing whites is somehow excused or even "justified" as a reaction to so-called oppression, it's never openly classified, correctly, as "racist".

Patrick

It was not the parachutes that failed, it was the cable which runs down the length of the 'plane - the so-called "Hard Point" - onto which the Jumpers attach a metal fitting at the "loose end" of their Static Lines, the other end is attached to the parachute in the backpack. When the Trainee jumps from the 'plane the Static Line tightens and pulls the parachute from the backpack, opening it.

In this "accident" that did not happen because the cable in the 'plane broke or became detached and the Static Line simply slipped off and followed the Jumper out of the 'plane.

This was a training jump probably at quite low altitude and although the Jumpers had Reserve parachutes they would have only a few seconds to realise that their Main parachute had not opened and they then had to deploy the Reserve in time to land safely. Inexperienced Jumpers would spend a lot of that time in disbelief, then panic and all training - such as it was - would be forgotten.

Patrick

Dial 1681 - very efficient service and once they have your address / pick up point in their database, next time you just need to tell them your 'phone number.

A Baht 20 fee is added to the Taxi fare.

Paytick

I didn't realize 1681 worked in Pattya. Good to know.

Sorry - I did not realise you were in Pattaya.

I am not at all sure if 1681 works there.

Patrick