dvdcm

The sacred nature of the queue for the British may be largely unfathomable to the rest of the world but is an aspect of culture I fully respect and often long for when traveling to other parts of the globe.

Post removed and replaced below due to a bad night at the keyboard. Sorry.

I don't recall the exact wording, but I seem to recall there's some sort of limitation on how much cash you can bring into Thailand without declaring it. Are you really ready to declare more than 2 million baht cash in USD on your person? I've seen people detained on the jetway in the States with far less. And if you're not ready to declare it on both ends, can you afford to lose it?

How long ago did you have it done?

Excellent advice! Thank you!

Welcome rossy17,

You don't say how often you've visited or how familiar you are with Thai culture or bureaucracy. At the risk of gentle caution, note that even generosity can have its complications within the Kingdom. The fact that you've been "offered a position as a volunteer" but seem to have been left on your own gives me a bit of concern. I will defer to the experts as to the process of converting from a tourist to non-o visa for volunteer purposes. My first non-o multi-entry visa was issued at a Consulate in my home country. While that made it was easy and friendly, there was more documentation involved than described here, including as I recall a bank statement, several official pages about the foundation, and a contract. It could all well have been overkill on the foundation's part, but it meant for smooth sailing. The work permit, which I insisted on before starting even though it was an unpaid position and will echo is essential, required a mound of paperwork I could not have handled myself. My constructive suggestion is to make sure someone within the foundation is sufficiently invested in you that you have help navigating those complicated parts of the process. My own volunteer attempt went south and we parted company. I trust that will not be your experience. But without sufficient attention to detail things could have gone very wrong and the details involved with a work permit are many.

So what's the problem?

1) Your knowledge of the law in the country you live

2) Your ability to feel empathy

Anyone else want to add more?

3) If you can endorse this sort of thing on the basis that "it didn't do me any harm" maybe it it did you more harm than you think.

You tourists have all the d----d luck. It's been ages since I've seen a decent mince here in the Ibiza of the North.

Thank you both for the recommendations. A letter to cancel sounds good- and a legitimate excuse to beg off in the future sounds even better!

My case is just a small variation, so I'm adding it here rather than start a thread:

I'm on a Non- O extension based on retirement. I have a work permit acquired separately and later for volunteering. The volunteer work has reached a logical end, though permit doesn't expire for several months (same case with the visa extension).

They're not connected, so I plan renew the visa extension when the time comes and let the work permit expire quietly in a drawer unless advised by the experts here to do something else. It's hard to imagine the group I volunteered for following through on any paper work, but I'd prefer to think it's problem and not mine. Another group would like to offer me a paid consulting position, which I'm not inclined to think about anytime soon. That could be the only complication somewhere along the road, but not if it's going to get in the way of my current visa status. Am I on the right track?

I've used Atlanta for multi-O. Very friendly service. They did ask to see a bank statement, but no specific balance was mentioned.

The good news is on Eva you won't have to change terminals in Taipei, which can be a real downer. As described above, the security is real but not a big hassle.

To answer the question directly, if it was me I would not be worried about this. If, presumably, you're clearing immigration in Chiang Mai, you'll already be on your way by the time you get to BKK. In the unlikely event anything is happening that would affect your travel, you'd know it here.

You've probably already considered Silkair to Singapore and onward or one of the other alternatives. That was my back-up during the late unpleasantness at the BKK airport.

I'm as security-conscious as most people, I suppose, and am transiting BKK around the same time. I am personally more concerned about the weather in the States.

I've seen odd batches of Louis Roederer Brut turning up in supermarkets here and there during the past several months for just over 2300 baht, which is of course still high but not as exhorbitant as most Thai champange prices. Absolutely purchase before entry. The fact that there's a one bottle limit comes as a surprise; I've hauled in two at a time routinely for years.

I wasn't asked for more than the notarized letter from the US Consulate; they don't require backup documentation there, as of course it's a sworn statement. I did have my bankbook at immigration handy just in case. I was on a non-Immigrant "O" multi-entry acquired in States, so no experience with converting a Tourist visa. Both the Consulate and Immigration were most helpful and courteous.

"Contemplating" having your wisdom teeth removed? When I had mine done it was well past the point of contemplation and I looked and felt like an alien (of the space variety) for three days. Speaking for myself, I'd definitely head to a hospital dental clinic and ask for a knockout. I have the impression that nitrous isn't as widely used for commonplace events here as it may be in other regions, but will welcome correction on that point.

It sounds cold, but my only sad caution is about trying to be a confidant. One of the hardest moments of my life was walking away from my best friend. After helping with two rehabs and experiencing an unending supply of excuses, lies, and betrayal, I faced the painful truth that the personality who'd been closest to me had simply been replaced by heroin. I didn't see him for almost 15 years and assumed for most of them that he was in fact dead. The only power I had was to be ready to be a friend again if the real person I knew ever turned up again. Which, to my amazement, he did, after all that time. There wasn't any magic program involved in his reconstruction. He simply hit the bottom and somehow found the will to get back up. I hope your friend does. Not many of these stories have happy endings.

I find karaoke with Thai friends of all kinds to be an almost guaranteed evening of good spirit. The places mention have always been curiosities to me (though they aren't on my particular radar screen). I've assumed they would at least be hugely expensive (which would seem to be confirmed) and that they do a lot of business from package tours and maybe Thai businessmen in town for meetings or such. Are they actually patronized by many farang?

My favorite (so far) is "Let me talk to my brother about it."

Can anybody tell me exactly where this is ?

I didn't realize they have a web site but the home page is here (In Thai) with a map in : http://www.saochiangmai.com/index.php

(It appears they're closed for a private wedding party on the 27th.) I prefer the more traditional songs of Suntaree, but have been there a few times when Lanna has made surprise appearances. It's my favorite place to take visiting non-Thai guests and typically one that Thai guests already have on their lists.

Thanks for the head's up. It's not a lesson you have to learn twice, whatever hour of the day. The team of two or three approach seems to be a world standard.

The only place I've had my pocket nearly picked (so far) was the Vatican in broad daylight. Gypsy woman shoved a baby in my face and by instinct I slapped my pocket and yelled just in time to catch her wrist in transit. Fortunately I was quick enough.

I carry color photocopies of passport, visa, etc. instead of the real thing and have found them acceptable as ID in most situations.

Three ladyboys on lower Sukhumvit? I have a friend coming to town who might want to know the number of the soi.

My ADSL from TOT has also settled down (not far from the airport so maybe I'm just lucky).

The best post and news of the week! Welcome!

All best wishes for a quick return to us. I've never met him either and yet have--- such a great presence here.

I was walking with a friend in Beijing last year who proudly pointed out the neat line of textured paving blocks that stretched down the middle of the footpath as far as the eye could see. "These are for the blind," she said, pleased with the modernity. I was impressed on returning to the LOS to find the same pavers carefully arranged in different gaps and intersections for the benefit of the blind who wish to play hopscotch.