jaideeguy

But, what a waste of space. The actual inventory could be easily fit in a building 1/4th the size. I drive by it often on the Bo Sang road and rarely see more than 1 or 2 cars parked there.

Given the tenor of your question and with a desire to help you as so many others here have, may I pose a question? Are you sure you have to go to the US embassy? There is a US consulate in Chiang Mai that can handle, as a rough estimate, 95% of everything the embassy can do for you. Save a trip?

If you had been falling the OP over the past few months then you would know that he is part of that 5 %

555!

I'm just following the advise of my lawyer in BKK, but will consult with the local CM consulate as he just told me that it may be 2 trips to BKK. 1 for the police clearance and the 2nd for the actual [final] interview which I'm not to happy about as now the cost and effort is doubled..................

I think that the local consulate can handle tourist visas, but I'm applying for immigrant visas which I have been told have to be processed in BKK.

Yeah, that sounds like the best idea so far.

Thanks

petrol cost around 2000 to 2500 baht / way (depend on car) so will be 4000 - 5000 baht at least for return trip, driver who work 8 or 9 hour/way and if back within same day mean overtime work for total 18 hours or more driving to US embassy and back......plus car rental for 24 hours think easily cost u more than 8000 baht.

Better fly and take taxi to the embassy, or rent a car with driver in bkk airport.......just search google for : car rental with driver in bangkok airport

That's a possible idea, what's the best airfare and earliest flight?? Their appointment is 7am..................peak rush hr and how far to the US embassy from Don Muang??

I can appreciate that it is a long trip and will add that my wife could do a portion of the driving and suggested that they stop at one of the roadside 24hr hotels outside of BKK for a short rest and fresh-up before jumping into the BKK madness. This is just in the planning stages at this point and seeking the best/safest way.

Their appointment at the Embassy is at 7am and traffic will be a nightmare for sure.

Another idea would be for them to take the VIP bus down the day before and stay in a hotel near the US consulate. Any recomendations for a mid range hotel in that area??

As stated in the headline.............reliable driver and reliable vehicle and hopefully personal recommendation for trip down to BKK to the US embassy, then back same day.

Any rough estimates on drive time one way??

And cost of gas/car and driver please................

Thanks in advance.

Come on lady. There are easier and less painful ways to kill yourself.

But not as spectacular............. and it may make Guinness record book for the 'bloodiest suicide in the world'.

How can a conservative old man be critical of touri$ts wearing a bikini in a country where sex is one of the main tourist draws and mainstream newspapers often show sexy scantily dressed girls of the newspapers?

And they will erase the current leaders in time when we have the next coup and rewrite thai history again. Paper is cheap.

Sent from my GT-P3110 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Aside from the battery issue [and I'll check on that], the only thing lacking is the 4G capacity, but we may never get 4G out in the sticks where I live. The battery issue could be dealt with by plugging to laptop or a battery bank.

BTW JJ, have you dealt with that company 'totalaircard' ??

Thailand remains in the dark ages while the rest of the world moves ahead??

In actual fact, my ADSL is slower now than it was 5 years ago.

As long as 'the masses' get their Facebook, they'll be 'happy' and they have no interest in data.

I am not sure I agree with what you say. In my experience ADSL in Thailand has improved dramatically over the years, and for not really any increase in monthly charge.

Maybe in your neck of the woods Dark, but out in Doi Saket area we did have a short window of high speed when they rolled out their 'Winet' [long range directional wifi] that worked great [meaning I finally got what I was paying for], but TOT quickly sold that out to over capacity and now we're back to the old slow ADSL. Slower than before.............

Thailand remains in the dark ages while the rest of the world moves ahead??

In actual fact, my ADSL is slower now than it was 5 years ago.

As long as 'the masses' get their Facebook, they'll be 'happy' and they have no interest in data.

They keep promising, but does anyone have any educated guesses/predictions or knowledge of when it will come to the Doi Saket / San Kampheng area?? or IF??

And which provider will have it first??

JJ..............Tried the link to totalaircard and idiots were answering the phone, so I called the wife to my rescue and she said same same.................idiots

Anyway, I tried and failed. That verizon did look like it would do the trick.

We were out today and stopped by Chi Chang, our local IT shop and they had this http://www.dlink.com/uk/en/support/product/dwr-730-portable-hspa-plus-21-mbps-router

for 2,100thb and it seems unlocked/unbranded and has all the bells and whistles that I might need. A little bit more expensive and only 21 mb speed, but local support if there are any issues.

What's your humble opinion on this gadget??

Thanks for your expertise..................

and pardon the dummy in me.

Makro used to carry 'Emborg' brand frozen filets of pollok and the best was hoki [from the deep clean waters off New Zeland at a price less than 300thb/kilo. They stopped stocking it this year and wondering if anyone knows of another source of it??

In Makro HangDong we ordered (with the lady in the office of the Seafood Department) the currently missing Emborg pollok fillets. She said that they are not available in the market right now but she will order them.

May be you could also follow up with her then she will not forget it.

She recommended the frozen lined silver grunt fillets (Big size) from their Aro brand. They are as good for the Tom Yam Talay and the fish & chips as the pollock.

But for the fish in butter only I prefer the pollock.

I'm glad I spotted this. I'd seen people discussion pollock and hoki and every single time I go to Makro I walk around and around and around the freezers and thought I was just not seeing it. I've been meaning to ask the question here for ages, just keep forgetting about it.

I already have a very soft spot for this thread.

I agree, people here talking Pollocks is a welcome change. I may be mistaken, but when I bought this fish at Makro, although the taste was good and the texture was more like you'd expect for Fish n Chips, they were not quite the right size, more like a toothpaste tube shape than a nice fat, flat fillet, or maybe that was the halibut?

Yeah, good value and taste from the cold deep water fish. flash frozen it comes out cheaper than the local mud fish and you know that it comes from deep cold clean water rather than a slimy klong and has no waste heads, tails and guts..

Unfortunately I think makro buys near 'sell buy' deals and you're lucky to see it once and then never again. The hoki was my favorite as it is the same fish that Mc Donalds uses on their fish burger and if prepared differently it is a great fish.

I will request as I hope others do..................

Tried to edit and add the following questions..............

Does a personal wifi hotspot boost the signal any better than a phone tethered wifi??

and I just found on Walmart this cool little gadget...............http://www.walmart.com/ip/21054280

TP-LINK TL-MR3040 N150 Portable Battery-Powered 3G/4G Wireless Router

I have determined that DTAC has the best signal in our area, where it will have it's most use and I have decided that the personal pocket wifi hotspot is the best way for me to go.

Have searched all over DTAC's website to see if they offer one, but couldn't confirm. Can anyone else answer if they have one??

Also have researched the personal wifi hotspots and have determined that Huawei e5 series gets the best ratings, but can't locate one of those [unlocked preferably]??

I have been using my antique samsung to tether to DTAC, but it gets quite hot while working and I don't think that's good for it.

Makro used to carry 'Emborg' brand frozen filets of pollok and the best was hoki [from the deep clean waters off New Zeland at a price less than 300thb/kilo. They stopped stocking it this year and wondering if anyone knows of another source of it??

It is hot, but there is always a period of time after it stops raining and cool season has not started yet that is uncomfortable. Maybe this is it?

Agree with UG there is normally a period just after the monsoon and before the cool season when it gets hotter but this year it seems to have happened a little early. I know there has been some pretty bad weather this year in Chiang Rai Province but this has been the least wet rainy season that I have encountered in Chiang Mai.

really a cool season? i thought it gets warmer here in October and November ? i am in Phucket so how is the weather different there than here? aka Nevada (Vegas) and pacific North West.

It starts cooling down in November and December, January and February are quite cool in the morning and evening - you often need a sweater or light jacket - and warm, but very comfortable in the daytime. For me, it is, by far, the best time of year.

So, it's 8 months of hell for 4 months of comfortable weather?? We all must be fools to endure that and after almost 15 years here, I wonder why I suffer.

I do envy the 'snowbirds' that can escape the heat and smoke and only spend Nov-Feb here, but with kids that are going to school, it's not practical.

My observation is that last winter was short and quite warmer than in the past. I judge that by only feeling comfortable in long pants and long shirts only 2x last winter where in previous winters I could wear warm clothes for 2 months at least.

Then this [still ongoing] summer came on like hell and has lasted 8 months already and shows no signs of letting up. Seems like we're getting longer hotter summers and shorter warmer winters.

Thanks Al Gore!!

Has this been a longer, hotter summer than summers in the past?? It feels so to me and my thermometer that is still climbing into the 90's.

In Septembers past, the temps started dropping, especially in the evenings, where you could be guaranteed a cool night's sleep. Now, it only drops down to 80 in the early mornings and then climbs back to 90+ in the day. Is it just me feeling hot and muggier than in recent years??

Pardon my fahrenheit....................

Farangs saying there are too many farangs here is about the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Just insanity creeping in.

Talk about wanting your cake and eat it too.

The Eagles once sang "you call some place paradise you can kiss it goodbye". The Last Resort / Hotel California.

And to quote a line from another artist of the same era................

'They paved paradise and put up a parking lot' [Joni Mitchel]

not really a bad idea here with the lack of parking....................

I didn't intend for my OP to get into a debate about the professionalism of local Drs. I was simply enquiring if there was a Dr to fill out what is actually a claim form called the 'expert's opinion' and the wording can make or break my claim as it requires the dr to make a statement that will stand up in court and that's where the legal English skills come in, and preferably an internal medicine dr with a speciality in liver issues.

Agree with all about Dr Morgan being a great 'western style' dr with a big heart as well as she has come to my rescue on a few occasions and one of the few Drs that I have recomended here.

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/product/detail/1595?ln=en

This is the model that the True kiosk had on offer for 1,490thb, but it clearly states that it is locked to True and reading the plans offered, I didn't find any that were over 5gb/mo. I need a bit more if possible and the dodos at True couldn't tell me if they had any prepaid plans and/or what the cost is.

And, Where do I go to get it unlocked [for 50baht]??