elwood

Hey Chris ...Yes he was very helpful indeed. His name is Khun Wiset and he couldn't do enough for us. I do remember the dragon lady a few years back when I had my business visa renewal. Goodness Chris, you have been here almost 20 years!!! Just about a local by now. Great to hear from you mate. Hope to see you soon.

Yes, Wisit, that's him.

Nineteen years and still filling in the same details (mostly) with the same endless copies; and the same nervousness whenever I apply, but doubt that it will change in my lifetime.

I'm still a newcomer compared to some I have met; I think UbonJoe is a front-runner in the Isaan longevity race; he is certainly the most knowledgeable!

All the best.

Good news for you John; Ubon's the place to be eh?

In 19 years I have had only a handful of problems at Ubon Immigration, almost all of them during the reign of the dragon queen; no doubt you will remember her from your previous time in Ubon!

I agree about the staff attitude; the young (to me) guy who usually sits at the desk close to the entrance was very helpful when we applied in December, even staying on 15-20 minutes during the lunch break to complete my documents, then being there at 1 o'clock to hand them over for processing/signing.

Hello John.

Just in case you will be taking the 400,000 in the bank path, Ubon has now fallen in line with many other immigration offices; if your bank letter is not for the date you apply, then you have to show a bank slip with a deposit/withdrawal for the application date.

Previously, a letter dated one day earlier was OK, but in December I had to go to Chong Mek and make a withdrawal. Not a problem, just something new.

Welcome back to Ubon province mate.

So he's trying to persuade everyone that nothing really happened at the 'Tiger temple'..?

Tell you what Mr...check the freezer contents..it most certainly happened for them..!!!

What on earth are you going on about?

He is actually telling people not to trust places simply because they are temples.

Read this part again - "Who could believe that such goings on could happen at a temple, " he said. It was good that a search was carried out to discover the truth and people should be careful before putting their trust in such places.

The opposite to your comment.

A lot of emphasis on foreign juice vendors, but nary a word on checking Thai vendors. Thais wouldn't sell fake juice, right?

The FDA spokesman says for customers to check the label on the bottle. What label? The bottles of orange juice I have seen being sold have no labels.

"nary a word on checking Thai vendors" --

Our daughter-in-Law had a visit from the authorities today, and samples of the orange juice were taken for testing.

It will cost as much as they can squeeze of the farlang if one is related by marriage.

Not true - just one of Thai Visa's many urban legends.

I have attended half a dozen family funerals over the past 20 years and never had to pay for any extras, only nominal amounts in the envelope.

Once I loaned money to a nephew to help with the funeral of his father, and he paid me back as soon as the insurance paid out.

And two expat friends have had funerals for in-laws, and again no extra payments.

He could easily get the single entry non-o based upon marriage in the UK. He can get it by post or in person at the embassy. Or in person at any of the consulates.

That would make life a lot easier.

Ubonjoe,Eclipse,Johnatong; thanks very much. Now he has a few different ways to get himself sorted out.

I would think that him finding the time to obtain a visa whilst in UK would be the best bet; not sure how long he will be there.

Savannakhet can be difficult to get a single entry non-o for being 50 or over for retirement. Vientiane and Penang are the best places to get them.

My apologies Joe; I should have added that he is married with a Thai child. He qualifies financially for either marriage or retirement but prefers the retirement extension.

So could he apply for a single entry non-o for visiting Thai wife and child at Savannakhet?

Yes he could and he would not need to show financial proof.

That sounds good, thanks.

I have also just thought that maybe it would pay him to fly UK to Laos, obtain the non-o visa for Thailand. Cuts out the middle trip in and out of Thailand.

Savannakhet can be difficult to get a single entry non-o for being 50 or over for retirement. Vientiane and Penang are the best places to get them.

My apologies Joe; I should have added that he is married with a Thai child. He qualifies financially for either marriage or retirement but prefers the retirement extension.

So could he apply for a single entry non-o for visiting Thai wife and child at Savannakhet?

A close mate of mine was on a 1-year retirement extension; unfortunately, through no fault of his own he was unable to return here before the extension expired.

He is here now on a Tourist visa; he will be leaving soon then return at the end of May, collecting another Tourist visa on arrival.

What he needs to know is, can he then travel to Savannakhet and obtain a 2 or 3 months single or multiple O Visa that he can then use to apply once again for a 1-year Retirement extension here?

Hope that this makes sense to you experts; I have always been on 1-year extensions so am of no use to him whatsoever.

I think you will understand the mentality of the author of this form when you fill out your foreign address including "village number and headman".

That's awesome.

It also says that is only for those from Laos, Cambodia and other neighboring countries. Somebody needs to look at the form again.

I dont even know how I would fill out that part of the form anyways as we dont have;

Village number

Sub-district

District

Province

in my home country. Guess I just leave them blank.

Is your home country Laos, Cambodia or another neighbouring country?

If not, take another look at Ubonjoe's comment.

Thanks for this - wonderful.

In her old age, she has good shows and bad shows; on this one she put all the pretenders in their place.

So many modern female singers shake their bums and boobs for attention; Aretha just takes off her coat and knocks then all dead when she hits the high notes!

Police believe the man, identified as Neftali Perez, committed suicide or fell from the balcony of his condo while he was drunk. However, they are also investigating the possibility he was murdered.

Pol Col. Poomwit Wetkama told reporters that they want to speak to the man’s Thai girlfriend.

And she'll have an alibi staying with her Thai husband all the time........not wanting to come up with any assumptions, but why would such a young guy commit suicide?

Please Google Udon Thani and Farang deaths. Pretty much scary.

Suicides are carried out by all ages, including school children.

You don't like to make assumptions? How about your comment on the girlfriend and her Thai husband?

Did "horrified" thailand apologise for the police guy smuggling his gun that was seemed to be owned by everybody apart from him, into Japan

"Horrified" Thailand didn't complain about the skinny dipping. The Japanese company they work for chose to apologise after so many derogatory comments on the internet; mostly, it seems, from other Japanese.

I have included a copy of my passport photo page, visa, entry stamp last extension stamp and TM6 departure card. This time I got all the copies down to 2 sheets by grouping them together.

Also the last report receipt and made a copy of it to keep.

They do not stick to the 7 days before rule. As long as it gets there before the report date it will be done.

Thanks very much Joe.

Just FYI, the current phone number is 045-485-107.

Just tried that number and got Chong Mek was given same number as in the OP (045366000). That number goes to a switch board and you have to ask for the Sirindhorn office.

Was checking on 90 day report they received on the 1st by EMS. They did not process until the 7th which was the date it was due. Told new report date is June 4th. Now waiting for it to show up in the mail. Guessing that the post office didn't notice the 40 baht in stamps on the envelope for it be sent back by EMS.

Joe,

Can you please tell me which copies, if any, they require at Ubon Immigration to accompany the TM 47 for 90-day reporting by mail? I know there is an official list, but Immigration offices often adjust the requirements, so appreciate you telling me what worked for you.

Years ago, when I used to do by mail, Phibun didn't bother with any photocopies - those were the days!

Many thanks.

Dtai Oratai has arguably one of the best voices to come from Isaan and a very decent chap by the name of MeMock can attest to her popularity in Na Cha Looai.

That I can, she is huge around those parts. When ever a taxi driver in Bangkok asks me where I am from I tell them Ubon, followed by Baan Dtai Orathai (she 'lives' 200m down the road from me) and suddenly I am their new best friend.

I was last in the village a month ago and it was sad to see her childhood home (Grandma still lives there and she visits often) has been destroyed by termites. She is rebuilding though.

Works for me too. Never any problems with a driver from Isaan; talk about music and I tell them Dtai is my number one, but I can't claim her as a neighbour!

I have had had Dawk Yah Nai Bpa Bpun as my ringtone for many years; still gets a surprised look from locals on occasions, when they see an ancient fat farang answering it.

Thanks Patriot and Jacky for very interesting posts about Thai music; quite a change from the usual topics here.

I live in a village,about 30 klms from Khon kaen.I am an avid reader and i like to have a book to hand when find things a bit quiet,or my wife is having one of her,staring into space hours and in a world of her own.I was wondering if anyone knows of a book shop where i can buy Ferang novel's.I am a fiction reader and enjoy author's like Stephen Leather,Shuan Hutson and the like.Yes! I like to be transported and entertained.Where i lived in Pattaya there were lots of book shops that catered for us.A few cafe's used to run a library on the side.There was one in soi Chiaphum called Canterbury Tales,it worked on a 'buy a book,return a book' system.Is there anything like that in Khon kaen?and if so,where?

Thanks in advance

KKD

Sorry I don't know anything about Khon Kaen, but I can recommend Dasa Book Cafe in Bangkok. I have been using their mail order service for yonks, since early days when they were just setting up the system.

They have a large list of books, including plenty of fiction, and send out by EMS. I have never had any problems with their deliveries or exchange/return service.

Maybe worth you taking a look if unsuccessful in Khon Kaen.

I too am an avid reader of fiction, so good luck.

If giving the website is in order, it is www.dasabookcafe.com

As they charge foreigners 10x-15x the Thai rate, I'm guessing 1 paying foreigner would cover the costs of at least 10 foreigners doing a runner.

Only in private hospitals.

Ambulance drivers always take foreigners to private hospitals, they get a 'finders fee'.

All these desperate appeals to pay big bills are always a scam on the foreigner.

Repair work in a government hospital could be paid easily by foreigners.

1.8Mbht in Phuket,

600GBP/night,

You gotta be joking,

I paid 400bht/night in a government hospital general ward inclusive of saline drip/antibiotics.

x-ray 100bht, ultrasound 250bht, blood tests 250bht.

Private room 1,000bht/night extra, if I wanted it.

Ambulance drivers don't "always take foreigners to a private hospital"; I am one who wasn't.

Motorbike accident; the crew treated me a little at the scene then said they would take me to our main government hospital, but I asked to go to another government hospital where I am registered, which they did - no suggestions of a private hospital. In fact we drove past a private hospital en route and there wasn't any sudden swerve in to their entrance!

Two years back a friend slipped and cracked his head badly on the pavement; again the ambulance took him to the main government hospital.

Nok Air CEO Pathee Sarasin said that he had not talked with about 4-5 protesting pilots

so, only 4-5 (I didn't know that there are 1/2 pilots ever) can bring down the whole airline? Amazing Thailand!

There were 9 flights cancelled, hardly bringing down the whole airline, so why "Amazing Thailand"?

OldgitTom reported earlier about unmarried retirees requiring an up to date bank book or bank slip relating to the date of extension application.

I applied for marriage visa extension today and can confirm this now has the same requirement; first time for me that they have asked for this.

Probably most people assumed this anyway, but at least now it is in print for all to see.

Maybe this is relevent to your OP

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871024-would-this-router-be-ok-to-replace/

In other words yes there are people having problems with 3BB and their lack ofr truthfulness as well as their lack of signal.

As far as ther support

Just cost me 1450 Baht for a new router I didnt need in the first place and a lot of hasssle configering the new router they advised me to buy but then woulnt configure becasue I DIDNT BUY IT FROM THEM!

I have had 3BB for several years in Ubon; always had good support. On the rare occasions I have had internet problems I have always got through to an English speaker, and technicians arrived when necessary same day and sorted things out. Bought my own router on two occasions and they came to set up for me,. no problem.

Previous forum threads have also mentioned good 3BB service, so I am not alone.

With respect Ubon is not Pattaya and it doesnt matter one iota in hell how many threads and how many people are getting good service from 3bb, the fact is that they told me porkies and caused me to buy a router that in fact I didnt need.

Are you implying by mentioning these other irrelevent peole who are getting good service that I am inventing my poor experiences with 3bb

I'm not implying you are inventing your problems. However, where did you state you are in Pattaya? All I saw was a criticism of 3BB in total, so I responded.

www.ubonpet.com

This has all the details and location. We have used them for more than 10 years.

If you don't get it translated just click on the paw prints on the left to find contact details and location.

They have a 24-hour emergency service, also collection service

Can't claim they are the best, just to say that they have always looked after our dogs well, including operations.

From other people's comments to me, there appears to be a few good vets in Ubon, so you should find one that suits.

Maybe this is relevent to your OP

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/871024-would-this-router-be-ok-to-replace/

In other words yes there are people having problems with 3BB and their lack ofr truthfulness as well as their lack of signal.

As far as ther support

Just cost me 1450 Baht for a new router I didnt need in the first place and a lot of hasssle configering the new router they advised me to buy but then woulnt configure becasue I DIDNT BUY IT FROM THEM!

I have had 3BB for several years in Ubon; always had good support. On the rare occasions I have had internet problems I have always got through to an English speaker, and technicians arrived when necessary same day and sorted things out. Bought my own router on two occasions and they came to set up for me,. no problem.

Previous forum threads have also mentioned good 3BB service, so I am not alone.

Open for business Monday 2nd November - (NP; This Year!)