Mason45

Finally I have been able to procure ABC Asia Pacific up here in the sticks and I was so thrilled to see the adverts for all the super 14 rugby games, 2 NRL games per week and every AFL game.

To all those non believers, Yes there is a god. I have died and gone to heaven with all this great sport that I can watch sitting in my little retreat in Thailand.

Go the Cats

Im glad you're enjoying the footy sezzo, what's involved in getting ABC Asia Pacific installed in my home. Who supplies this service, cost etc.

Can anyone inform me how to get the AFL and NRL on my TV in Bangkok, I dont want an expensive package as I seldom watch TV but I do like watching the footy with a few beers. Who provides this service and what number channel?

Will the poli's come under scrutiny also if they're having a bit of St Valentines Day fun with their mia noi?

Im an Aussie guy 60 yo and my Thai wife is 50 yo, we live in Bangkok, we've been married for 2 years. We now wish to apply for an immigration visa for her. She's been to Australia two times before with me on short stay visas. Does anybody think its wise to go through an immigration law office or handle the paper work yourself. Also does anybody know what these law offices charge, they all seem to be very reluctant to mention costs until they have you in their interview rooms.

The first thing the Government must do is to start in the schools and re arrange the Thai way of thinking. In Thailand the laws are in place but no one will ever get a Thai to do what he/she doesnt want to do irrespective of the consequences. Children must be taught that laws are made for everybody and must be respected. So many Thais have the disease NCO ( never consider others.) and its hard to cure as its hereditary.

Ive raised the above issue as the Australian Embassy never personally answers phone calls, emails, or mail with a self addressed envelope. Everything is an automated reply referring you back to their website. The website only gives you an overview, so your questions are never adequetly answered. Im legally married to a Thai lady, she went to Aust. in 2003 on a tourist visa for 3 months as my gf, then she went to Aust in 2004 on a tourist visa again that time for 6 months as my wife. As she was handed her 2nd visa an official told her not to apply for anymore tourist visas as they would be knocked back, on what grounds we dont know. Which raises the questions, is there a limit on the number of tourist visas? Why would she be refused when there would be no change in our relationship, income etc. She has never worked in Aust and she has always departed prior to her visa expiry date. We own our own home in Aust and also Bangkok and we have a very good monthly income plus cash investments. A permanent residents visa is an option but at around AU$ 1,700 inc medical check up I feel as though we are on shaky ground. Anyone been through this before, your advice would be most welcome.

I wonder how this price rise will affect the gold diggers of Pattaya, God bless the little darlings.

In Melbourne Australia the drink driving laws have changed several times over a period of years. First it was drunk driving and this was thrown out of court many times. Then it was changed to driving whilst under the influence again challenged succesfully, so now its illegal for a driver to exceed the legal limit .05 for whatever reason, now most people plead guilty because their cases are normally unwinnable. The Melbourne Cup was run last Tuesday, police tested 2,500 people leaving the racecourse and only 8 people were positive and 114,000 attended this meeting, so it appears this system does work. Thailand is vastly different, it wouldn't matter how tough the laws were, you will never tell Thai people what to do regardless of the consequences, its the old story " fools rush in where angels fear to tread " with a little foresight millions of Thais would be still alive today to be with their friends and loved ones.

I cant understand many people, my friends included who buy Viagra from street vendors in bar areas. Who knows whats in these fake, cheap tablets. I dont need Viagra but if I did I would first go to a Doctor and get a check up and only take the Viagra and the dose he prescribed for me.

I live 30 kms from the centre of Bangkok, every time my 90 days is up or I have other visa business I go to the Suan Plu office get my business done then we spend the rest of the day in Bangkok shopping and sight seing etc. Ive never had any problems at Suan Plu but people should realise that the law is the law and Thais in official positions take a dim view to people disregarding the rules they police. If you play the game and do as you're told, they will help you. Most farangs should consider what would the consequences be for the same visa breach's in their home country, probally deportation with a black mark.

I have a Thai wife and I was issued with a one year non immigration visa and its nearly expired. What is the procedure for the renewal, is it the same as the intial application ? I always go to the Suan Plu immigration office for applications, 90 day reports and notifying them for re entry and Ive never had one problem with the officers and I get dealt with in reasonable time.

‘Philanderer’ loses penis

KHON KAEN: -- The 53-year-old wife of a 35-year-old man chopped his penis off early yesterday morning after he allegedly asked her to make love to him for the last time before he left her for another woman.

Surgeons at Khon Kaen University’s Srinakharin Hospital reattached Udom Phorit’s penis, but said there was only a 50-50 chance it would function properly.

After chopping off Udom’s penis at around 3am, Saithong Wantha asked neighbours to take him to hospital, while she turned herself in to Kosum Pisai police.

The neighbours called Udom’s sister, Boonsong Ansanghan, 39, who drove him to the district hospital, but not before a lengthy search for the severed organ. They had to call Saithong on her mobile phone and she told them she had tossed it behind the fence in the front yard.

Nearly two hours went by before surgeons could operate.

Saithong told police she cut off Udom’s penis in a fit of rage because he was leaving her. She hoped he would stop philandering and stay with her if he could no longer function sexually. “I love him and I don’t want him to leave,” Saithong said.

--TNA 2005-07-28

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All charges have been dropped as the Chief Prosecuter is certain the evidence will not stand up in court.

I have no complaints with the Aussie Embassy. Well,maybe parking... the old carpark has turned into some big construction sight. No doubt, when immigration shifted  to CC Towers business went down the tube .

  Picked up my daughter's pp today . Security only let me and my daughter in, leaving wifey at the gates . In and out in ten minutes with brand spanking new aussie passport . Have to say every dealing I have had with the staff they have been good .

  On to CC Towers open the yellow parcel, look at wifey's passport. Pump the air, tourist visa granted... one year multiple ...stoked as &lt;deleted&gt;. Now...drunk as a skunk in celebration .

  Sorry, I bit off topic , but on cloud nine and drunk 

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Hi 350 torana, I have a Thai wife, she went to Aust. on a 3 mths visa in 2003, then she went to Aust. on a 6 mths visa in 2004. We applied for a 3 or 6 mths visa last month and she was refused, I was told she's had to many visas and she must apply for a migration visa, fees, medical and extras around 50,000 baht and no refund if she is refused. We pass all accomodation, financial and medical criteria and she has never breached any Aust. Immigration laws. Ive sent emails, phone calls and letters and even 2 visits to CC Towers but at this stage no replies, all I need to know is whats the problem and I will rectify it immediately. Im not going to chase good money after bad. Where can you go to if you cant even get a one minute response from your countrys Embassy?

http://www.thaiair.com/NASApp/IP_WOA/FeedbackForm

Everyone who dislikes this policy should send their opinion to Thai airlines.  As Thai airlines is supposedly ISO certified perhaps they will take notice when they have a sudden plummet in their approval rating.  ISO standards would dictate immediate action.

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For years I used to fly Thai from Melbourne Australia to Bangkok, a few years back I stopped flying Thai, far to expensive for a service which is now no better than its competitors. Now I fly Bkk/Melb/Bkk. with any major airline. You would be shocked if you seen the difference in air fares if you buy your ticket in Thailand compared to your home country. When I pay for my Thai wife the difference is nearly 2 to 1. Check the travel page in the Bangkok Post.

Hey Neeranam,

I can assure you that Aussies do take phone calls and as public servants do provide an excellent service but the problem here is bitchy Thai women who work at the Embassy, they are so up themselves and are so envious that some farmers daughter from Isaan has found a guy she loves and he will take care of her and her family. Most have Thai husbands or are single and they dont qualify. Ive been married to a Thai for 10 years, havent you noticed their rage if some one's got more than them. That why they crave opulence to show the World that they're some body.

You forgot to mention that they have moved the visa section to Thai CC Tower.

Australian Visa Application Centre

Level 34, Units 2 & 3

Thai CC Tower

889 South Sathorn Road

Bangkok 10120

Telephone 02 6723476 - 79

For those who need a visa for their loved ones.

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Maybe he'd been on the nest that much he thought he could fly.

Firstly the ticket was taken by deception, then the seller decides to commit extortion and then the accused's lawyer gets into the act as he is a party to the alleged offences, lets say for 10% of the ill gotten gains and still the boys in brown are baffled what to do, maybe they're hanging out for their slice of the action too but the bottom line is the winner is a real loser, with 23 mill. she could've got a limousine and gone to the lottery office herself, even a phone call would've straightened things out.

Im married with a Thai wife, I have a one year visa, one clause in my visa is I must have 400,000 baht in a Thai bank on application, now nearly one year on I must renew my visa, anyone know of the procedure for renewal. I still have over 400,000 baht in my Thai bank account but what is the paperwork and other requirements.

I suspect theres something fishy about this story.

Im a qualified Plumber and if I did drainage work like Thais do I would be deregistered immediately and made to pay to to restore the work to the appropiate standards. Take Pattaya for instance, all the new road works and no rain for ages and if you look down an open manhole of recently completed work, they are 50% full before any rain comes. Im certain Thais have no idea how to grade a drain, they seem to install them level.

Thailand never ceases to amaze me, not satisfied with denigrating farang men, now they've turned up the heat on farang ladies, whilst I as a long time resident of Bangkok believe the photo setting was rather inappropiate, may I ask couldnt the dumb Thai official who got the these beautiful ladies to pose in front of the Wat be made resonsible instead of looking for a farang scape goat every time.

Thai Transport Ministry threatens Phuket Air for safety breeches, how gracious of them. In all top level departments threats are not issued on hearsay and rumours but on cold hard facts presented to the department responsible. So in this case Phuket Air shoulded be grounded immediately and should not be re issued a permit to fly until all safety guidelines and procedures are met and put them on notice the repercussions for them if they want to flaunt aviation rules in the future.

The Thai Government is paranoid about tourism, a major disaster is what they dont need putting the pieces together after Tsunami.

I use Air Asia regularly to Chiang Mai and Ubon, it must be the only 100% hassle free business in Thailand. I cant praise their service enough, you only get what you pay for and thats all domestic commuters desire.

kaspa, these tickets are only available at Siam Discovery Centre in Bangkok until 8 May 2005. No online booking.

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So the poor airline industry is bleeding to death with rising costs, the price of fuel etc. So who's the good samaritan underwriting this promotion, certainly not the airlines, they will tell you they've cut back to the bone but still must have significant fare increases.

The good senator should get off her ass in her Govrnment provided free limo and try taking public transport. I live 25 kms from Bangkok, morning and afternoon teenage students in buses and trains are french kissing and fondling and strangely I dont recall ever seeing one farang in their company. How many Thai do gooders are secretly raking off the spoils from the Thai sex industry. Here its do as I say not do as I do. The ALMIGHTY BAHT at work again.