roundtheworld

Fascinating article. Thanks for sharing your story.

I’ve always thought that precious buildings like Notre Dame should have their own mini fire station. Even two firefighters and some equipment just might be enough to put out a small fire or prevent it from turning into an inferno long enough to allow backup to arrive. Surrounding buildings would also be ensured of a quick response and not have to wait for large fire engines to make their way through the traffic.

The heavy traffic in Bangkok delayed firefighters trying to get to the blaze at CentralWorld. Surely a mini fire station based around there would have been a good investment.

The reconstruction of Notre Dame could cost a few hundred million euros. Just imagine how much that sort of money could help the poor. And they will lose a fortune in loss of income from tourists. No matter how good a job they do it will never be the same. It will be a copy. The original roof, spire, wooden beams and amazing stained glass lost forever. Operating an on the site fire station would have cost a pittance in comparison. Spend money now properly protecting the worlds most precious buildings and save money and heartbreak in the future.

There seems to be quite a few of these onward ticket companies, having just done a quick search. Has anyone used them? Any feedback? I can’t see how they are legal. There is no intention of using the flight that is being presented in the application to the consulate. It’s a form of deception, isn’t it? 

Mac98, regarding those planning to get an extension when applying for a visa. As the manager at the Thai consulate in Yangon explained to me, the extension is for those who have a tourist visa,  and having used it find that they need extra time in Thailand. The visa is for 60 days and the exit flight must be within that timeline. A 30 day extension is not something you can add on to the duration of the tourist visa when planning your holiday in Thailand. Proof of onward travel is a nuisance and I wish the authorities could come up with a solution. Maybe bring out a law saying showing proof of an onward journey is no longer required. 

I was surprised by NancyLs post. It seems obvious to me that the OP wasn’t complaining about having his dinner disturbed but by the sight of a very young girl of 3 or 4 years old dancing for money. Not sure about how relevant Nancy’s reference to the dancing being pretty or not has got to do with the situation of very young children being used to busk or beg. Busking is fine for adults but I think children should be banned from being used in this purpose. A 3 year old child is not old enough to understand or agree to work in this fashion. Nancy suggests  talking to the child or her handlers. This is the last thing a tourist who doesn’t speak the local language should do and can prove to be dangerous. But by all means contact the relevant authorities or even post about it here. Nancy refers to his inability to speak in the local language. The OP hadn’t mentioned in his post whether he could speak Thai or Burmese or not. Most tourists can’t but many do try to learn but they are tonal languages and are difficult for westerners to master. Anyhow the OPs language skills are irrelevant. One doesn’t need to be a linguist to be upset at the sight of a child being used to make money. I sometimes give chocolate milk and maybe some fruit to children begging. Never money. The more money these vulnerable children receive on the street the more children will be forced to join them. 

My friend tried to use a flight booked for after the 60 day tourist visa period expires. The manager at the Thai consulate in Yangon explained that the tourist visa is for 60 days, not 90. He said the 30 day extension is for those who have a particular reason to extend their stay in Thailand, not for those who want a 90 day tourist visa. He said a tourist can’t say to the consulate he is applying for a 60 day tourist visa but intends to apply for a 30 day extension so will in reality be staying 90 days. The applicant was told to book an onward flight for within the 60 day visa period and had to hand in the print out of this new booking before a tourist visa could be issued. 

You need to show proof of onward travel within the 60 day visa period. 

Maybe they have stopped doing it then. That’s a shame.

Haven’t been there for a year but the last two times I went there took advantage of the ‘ express ‘ form system. Once inside the gates of the consulate head to the building on the left up the steps. Inside there is a large table with two ladies filling out the application forms. It’s important they fill out the forms. Just have all the details ready like your address and number in Thailand. Think it costs 50 baht. The man assisting them stamps the form and directs you to go outside and direct to the lady at the table whom everybody else is queuing to hand their forms to. You hand her the form and she gives you a ticket with a number and go back next day and collect. I like to get there before 9 am. From entering the main gate to exiting it takes no more than 15 minutes. Don’t know if they still do it but worth looking out for. Bring some 20 baht notes. 

Some good suggestions in previous posts. If the OP did want to venture away from his chosen hotel and go to another bar with views then plenty of choices in Bangkok and not only in views but prices. Even for budget travellers I recommend going to a good rooftop bar once in a trip to a large city like Bangkok. A pricey experience but a special one that will be long remembered. The Sky Bar that featured in Hangover 2 is fabulous and has prices to match. Cheapest cocktail just over 800 baht inc tax & service. But one can get a bottle of Italian water for 340. The staff are great. Ambience is wonderful and views from 64 floors up are awesome. When you get out of the elevator just ensure you say to the staff Sky Bar and do not accept any offers of glasses of champagne or wine. They start at $50 a glass. 

On the other end of the scale head to Big Dogs at the entrance to Nana Plaza. Happy hour until 8 pm. Sit on a stool along the front of the bar and watch the world of an infamous Bangkok red light district go by. After 8 head up the steps to Billboard and sit by the jacuzzi for totally different views altogether. Country Road bar on Soi Cowboy has live music and one can sit outside and observe the nightlife. 

The rooftop bar on top of Marriott at Sukhumvit 57 is also worth checking out. They had buy one cocktail get one free when we went last year. Not sure if that deal is still on. But the top bar has 360 degree views. Not as stunning as Sky Bar but still great and a lot cheaper. 

Can’t understand somebody posting to criticise somebody for asking a question. I don’t think it’s all that easy to find the answer to this on Google.  There could be a poster here who knows of the ideal hotel for the OP. I’m not that poster unfortunately but often see questions from people on the lookout for hotels closer to the airport. But in most instances it’s quicker to take the ARL into town and stay in lower Sukhumvit where most of these hotels and bars exist. It just depends how long the visitors are in town for but in most cases it’s better to get into town and enjoy the many bars, restaurants etc rather than stay closer to the airport. Hotelscombined.com is a good hotel search site. And one can contact the chosen hotel directly afterwards to see if they can lower the price.

Thank you.

Very grateful for your help ubonjoe. I will pass on the information to her. It asks for arrival card number, TM6. I presume that's the same as the departure card number that's stapled to her passport. It has 2 letters and 5 numbers. She will give it another try.

Thanks ubonjoe. She tried this last night using internet explorer but after clicking ' submit ' a rectangular box with the message ' For further information regarding The 90 Day Notification Report Service, please contact the Immigration Branch office in your residence area '. 

She is Burmese and on the end of a 6 month education visa. She went to Changwattana after the first 90 days to extend a further 90 days but went 6 days before the due date. Hence the difference in dates now from the time her 90 day report is due and her 2nd 90 day extension comes to an end. She may come back to live in Thailand in a year or two. If she can't successfully submit the online report should she go to Imperial World Ladprao to do it in person? If she doesn't report is she likely to face a fine in the future? Thanks

Just to point out this thread from January of last year. Managed to find the online link from Eclipse post above but form wasn’t accepted first time. 2nd time page went blank upon sending. She used the iPad. Will try laptop later. Does it make any difference? Is 90 day online reporting working ok? 

A Burmese friend here on an education visa departs this month 6 days after her 90 day report is due. She was told by her school she won’t need to fill in a 90 day report. These posts above say otherwise. I had thought she could send in a registered letter enclosing a stamped address envelope but apparently that has to be done at least 15 days before the due date and it’s too late now for that option. Can she go to Imperial World Ladprao? Or is it possible to fill it in online? What website does she need to use. Thanks

I had a friend send me my credit card from the UK a couple of months back. Think she used Royal Mail registered post with tracking. Half A4 size padded letter. She placed the card inside a small brochure and some extra pages to cover that. Cost about £9. Tracked the letter from the UK as the OP did. Then went to the Thai post website and entered the number and it showed it arriving at the airport and later dispatched to the local post office here in Bangkok. Had it delivered the next morning. Took about 4 or 5 workdays. Stressed out worrying about it arriving safely. The last thing I would want is people knowing there is an ATM card inside the letter. The OPs sister was given some bad advice when she posted it. Hope the cards arrive.

Goodwill ambassador! Bit late in the year for an April Fools joke.

Nemesis. What a nasty and stupid comment. Somebody died in this hotel fire. Two people seriously injured. Could be staff or guests. Karma for whom? You really think those who may have been persecuted in Rakhine whether they be muslin, Hindu or Buddhist would want an innocent person to burn to death? You ask ‘ how does it feel? ‘. For the innocent person who lost a life and those who were injured I’m sure it felt horrific. May your version of karma come to you some day and see how you like how it feels.

rogeroc, I'm here as a tourist on a tourist visa spending my money. Those searching for work in Thailand will find it a lot more difficult to secure employment than immigrants in the U.K. Even the unskilled can move to and walk into work in the UK. Here in Thailand a lot of jobs are reserved for Thais. I think Thailand is too extreme in that sense but I do respect their right to protect their workforce. And I think a points system like what Australia have would be a step in the right direction for the U.K. 

Brilliant post 19 from jesimps.

On the other end of the scale peter48 refers to ' the older, little educated ( no college education ) were most likely to vote Brexit. Such people with little education do not understand economics, tariff free trade, single market, importance of migration - .'  Are these the older working and lower middle class you refer to who have seen their wages decrease over the years or their jobs taken as the country opened up to uncontrolled immigration? Unskilled workers from poor countries who would work for half of what the Brits were working for and think they have hit the jackpot. Uncontrolled immigration from poor countries was never going to be good news for indigenous workers at the lower end of the scale.

Of course immigration can be beneficial to the economy and the natives if it is controlled and only those who can prove that they have the skills to work and a job available should be let in. I remember when the UK  joined the EEC . Good idea then. Single market and stronger together etc. Nobody said back then anything about laws being dicatated to from Brussels or courts ruling who could and couldn't be deported from ones country. I think it was in 2004 that the UK government estimated something like 13,000 Poles would arrive in the first year. That's how many showed up at Victoria bus station the first morning when work rules were relaxed. Politicians are either clueless or they have a bigger plan at hand. Import cheap labour for their buddies in big business?  Long term Brexit will benefit the U.K. Why be restrained to doing business with the failing EU when they can negotiate deals with the US, China, India and Australia for e.g? And they will still be trading with the EU. Expats abroad will suffer with a weak pound but this situation will rectify itself and the U.K will be a stronger country and once again independent of foreign interference. 

Those who have lost jobs or seen their wages fall or their own countries inner cities change beyond recognition in such a short period of time have every right to complain. They have been shouted down and called racist but they are only saying what they have seen unfold before their very eyes. And when expats here talk about Pakistanis or Nigerians for e.g. in negative tones that doesn't necessarily mean they would look down on Thais. Because it's obvious to most of them ( I hope )  the Thais are a totally different ballgame. A wonderful people and Thailand is a great country. 

I understand most of Mad Micks post. Both agree and disagree with points he raised. Posters shouldn't be discouraged from voicing an opinion just because they don't follow all the rules of grammar and punctuation. 

darrendsd, we have the option of going into the building on the left and paying the ladies to fill out our form. It's a service provided within the consulate. The man in that office who organises it advises you to hand the stamped form to the lady at the table. There is no need to line up with everybody else. So we can ' jump the line '. Those others waiting in line have the same option to use this service but most don't know about it or maybe would rather avoid paying and line up. It's a form of fast track service. 

Going for tourist visa I usually fly into Vientiane and stay at hotel in town. Convenient to the pubs and restaurants on the waterfrontr. Bor Pen Yang I think it's called is a massive rooftop pub with awesome views and pool tables and free wifi. I walk to the consulate in the morning to avoid the rip off Tuk Tuks. Takes about 20 minutes. But the proper taxi rate is ok but I like the exercise anyhow. Get there about 8.30 and get a number from the hut inside the gate. But I don't queue up in the long line. I walk straight on and turn  the building on the left. Up the steps and inside there are two ladies sitting at a desk filling in forms. Get a blank form and wait until they are ready. Give them form and passport and copies. They fill the form. I think the charge is 50 baht. They stamp the form. Walk outside to the start of the Q ( jump the line ) and wait at the desk where forms are collected. Hand form to the lady and get your number. I've seen massive lines at Vientiane consulate but I am in and out in 10 minutes or so every time. Walk back to town. Next day early in line and wait my turn. Walk back to hotel and collect my bag. Get the really cheap bus to the border. Walk across and after immigration walk outside and negotiate a van to Udon Thani airport. I think there are two air Asia evening flights at about 7 and 10 pm. I opt for the latter one. I don't mind getting to the airport early. There is a restaurant upstairs . I go to Udon Thani as it's dirt cheap if booking in advance and I don't want to stay an extra night in Vientiane. Two nights in Vientiane suits me fine.