theoldgit

It was a fun day so wft people are complaining????

Absolutely correct, it's my right to soak people even if they don't want to take part in my interpretation of Songkran, if they are trying to get to work then that's their problem not mine. Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of managing to hit a passing motorcyclist in the eyes, if they actually fall off then that's a bonus, it's not my fault they cannot afford a car.

It's Songkran, lets have fun, lets hurt and p*ss off as many people as we can, that's what Songkran is all about - isn't it?

Tourists are ignorant of the rules, many Thais don't obey the rules - so you have 8 days, and nights, of water throwing. If you don't like it, stock up on supplies and stay at home.

Not everybody can "stock up on supplies and stay at home" for eight days and nights. Some people have to go to work, some people have no choice but to use their motorbike as their method of transport, do you consider it's unreasonable that they should be allowed to do so without facing the risk of serious injury just for the sake of giving some moron his/her second of fun.

You could check in online and print your boarding pass, I think you can do it 24 hours before the flight.

You can then go to the bag drop near the check in desks, might save a bit of time. I suppose there could be a problem if your international flight is delayed and you miss the flight.

Even if we provide an income letter from the Embassy we still need a letter from a Thai bank, not more than one week old, showing a balance of 5,000 baht and a copy of the name page and transactions for the past 3 months.

Those guys seem to make the rules as they go along, I didn't think you were required to have a Thai bank account, though I assume most do.

That said, there is probably no point arguing the point with them.

I used to bank with HBOS, I could transfer funds on line and it used to cost me £9.50 a pop, it was very straightforward and as the money was transferred in Stirling I got a good rate. It only used to take a couple of days, I think the quickest was two hours.

I don't bank with HBOS anymore, but I'm assuming you can still do it.

If you are doing it from from an account you hold with a UK bank, you could do an electronic transfer, you might get a better rate and I suspect it would be cheaper.

Just a thought.

^^^^

Yes, I agree.

Last year I saw a young girl fall off her motorbike after being hit in the face by a water gun, the following truck wiped her out. You will understand why I don't understand why the Songkran festival has moved so far away from it's traditional roots and turned into drunken revellers just wanted to hurt people.

But hey ho, it's Songkran, I must lighten up.

oh please, lighten up guys it's songkran!!!

Yes lighten up guys it's Songkran, just forget the 21 people who were killed and the 800 or so who have been injured in the vicinity, just go and throw iced water at motorcyclists and anybody else in the area, let's just have some fun and add to the list of casualties.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - Go

Kevbap

Just wondered how you got on at the Embassy on Monday with your quest for an emergency passport, just hoping you might have proved me wrong.

Thanks

The problem is that if you apply to early and they become busy, they will deal with the applications by date of intended travel - that's what they did last year.

I'm driving, is the Immigration Office signposted from the road? and in English?

These thugs have really lost the plot they have absolutly no credibility, I am pretty sure that they will very soon lose any sympathy they may still have from the majority of the Thai people.

Conveniently located on somewhere on Petchaburi Road.

Near all the big massage parlours, obviously targeting a particular group of tourists.

Yes, we are coming on the 17th but I have to go back on the 19th for a meeting that I cannot change.

I think I will take your advice, take the car and leave at 06.00.

I will be in Pattaya from 17-20, Holiday Inn on Beach Road, I need to go back to Bangkok on Monday for a meeting at 10.00 which I cannot change, if I leave at about 06.00 should I be ok?

Might it be worth catching a bus and leaving the car at the hotel?

I can answer my own question, it's near The Victory Monument.

Happy to donate blood but with the restricted BTS service I cannot get there, I'm certainly not driving.

Does anybody know where this hospital is?

^^^^

The majority of people who work there are Thai, and the Embassy was open on Easter Monday. They are open on Monday and Friday this week.

I am pretty sure that is no such thing as a temporary passport, though I would be happy to be proved wrong. I think what you can get is an Emergency Travel Document, though I am pretty sure that this is only valid for a single use when returning to your home country on a direct flight. To save a wasted journey, why don't you try and call them, 02 305 8252?

In answer to your other question http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us...working-for-us/

I just dropped my girlfriend off at Thonglor BTS, and she said the system isn't working.

I don't know if it's just this station closed, though I doubt it, or in fact the whole system is down.

Edit - Apparently the travel info is saying that the BTS is running, but Thonglor is certainly shut.

The soldiers who were used on this terrible day in Thailand's history are no more than poor kids who have probably been forced into the army having lost during the ballot process, most of the red shirted protesters are poor people who have been whipped into a frenzy by the so called red shirt leaders, who retire to their luxury hotels every night.

There are no winners after these tragic events, lets just hope and pray that everyone takes a step back and reflects on their actions, and works tirelessly together to find a solution that avoids any further unnecessary bloodshed, but I assume that the perceived loss of face actually means more than the lives of their fellow countrymen.

AmEx Member since 1984 BWTFDIK -- the TescoLotus manager today told me that they do not accept AmEx... YMMV.

I didn't realise that the length of time you have been a member had any relevence to where your card is accepted. All I know is mine has been accepted in Bangkok and up country as it seems is the card of "stjohnm".

It appears that TescoLotus may maintain a different policy re: American Express Up-Country vs. Bangkok.

Don't know, but I have used mine in Tesco Lotus in Udon Thani, which is fairly well up country

How an earth do you prove that she wants to return????

I'll explain the situation and I am hoping that someone can advise on how to prove this.

Basically my sister in law has just graduated from uni and is due to go to the Graduation ceremony in December. During this time she would like to visit her sister in the uk for a while. She is not looking for a job in the meantime beacause if she gets the visa then she will have to leave shortly after. But how do you prove that she will return in December and the start job seeking. Seems like an awkard one

You can never prove that you will return, but when applying for a visa she must convince the ECO that on the balance of probabilities she is likely to return. She needs to be truthful and outline her plans for the future, but as I say it's the ECO who needs to be convinced, not anyone on this forum. The norm would be a job, property or other compelling ties, but each case will be judged on it's merit. Of course it's quite normal for westerners to have a gap year but I am not sure that most Thais do this.