Wesley

Hi,

Is it possible to get same day tourist visa via an agent in PP?

I've seen some post saying it is but there is no recent information.

I need only single entry and would be planning to fly in monday, see agent monday afternoon and ideally pick up visa tuesday in time for me to get a 1700 flight back to BKK. I could also get a later flight to BKK

Is this possible?

Also if anyone can recomend an agent I'd be grateful.

Peace & Xmas hugs,

Wes

But we know what he means don't we. And I'm grateful for the advice. I know that the burnt one is burnt & I know that there's one just down the road in sathorn and the one you described at citlom & prob many others I've forgotten/never heard of.

Thanks to all for the help.

And neverdie you're not that weird: my girlfriend won't travel without one of those soft feather pillows, even overnight.

Thanks neverdie. I will get my ass to centralworld.

I too have suffered LoS sheets (I'm looking at you tesco lotus!). Eventually I got a load of great ones from the Amari hotel in CM. Unfortunately they are no longer in my possession.

I promise you that the best sheets i could find in Aceh are much worse than any I bought in Thailand. Make a good combo with very hot nights and frequent power-cuts

My experience today at Indonesian embassy in BKK.

Its right next to Pantip Plaza so its easy to find. Facing Pantip turn right and walk 50m. Big obvious embassy thing. Push the metal door and wander in.

For 60 day tourist visa:

$45US dollars. Must be dollars but visa office will direct you to a shop down the street that will change baht for you (rate was 32.80). The shop opens at 9.00. Its a gem shop next to 'first hotel' & has a money exchange sign outside. Forget name Ploenget Charoen or some such.

2 passport pictures

proof of travel in AND out of Indonesia. I used airasia itinery. They note date, flight & booking reference. Do not think there is any way round this. Agree with earlier posts about just booking the cheapest Air Asia flight out and not using it (AirAsia Aceh-KL = 1300bt)

Visa takes two days; drop off 9.00 - 12.00 ; pick up between 14.00 and 15.00

No queue, helpful staff and a very easy service. In and out in about five minutes.

Did not ask about in-country extension - will do so if I remember on thursaday and post here.

Enjoy Indonesia

In BKK for a few days before returning to shopping desert that is Aceh.

Need some decent bed sheets: egyptian cotton or similar; top-hotel standard.

Sleeping in Aceh linen is like sleeping in cardboard coated with extra-hot vinyl.

Ideas?

Thanks

Wes

Continuing the [off-topic] discussion of democracy in the west. Uk has an election now with virtually no policy difference between the the main parties whatsoever. Nobody cares. It could be the lowest turnout ever.

Reminds me of the old Bill Hicks routine:

I'll show you politics in America. Here it is, right here. "I think the puppet on the right shares my beliefs." "I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking." "Hey, wait a minute, there's one guy holding out both puppets!"

"Hey, wait a minute, there's one guy holding out both puppets!" "Shut up! Go back to bed, America. Your government is in control. Here's Love Connection. Watch this and get fat and stupid. By the way, keep drinking beer, you fuc_king morons."

I would like to bring the focus of this topic back to the center point:

What is so urgent that requires the loss of life, and injury to hundress of people,the damaging of hundreds of companies, that could not wait until the normal election cycle???

I can see no urgency, but am open for somebody to expain it to me.

Thaksin was booted out by army/others for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons was to do with control of army itself. Army in Thailand has never been like in the west, by which I mean controlled by elected government. Army has been independent and a law unto itself. It forged strong links with the traditional institutions under the Sathit era [you need to use google or wiki for this bit], but essentially army is the most powerful force in thailand. Thaksin wanted to make army loyal to him when he was PM [to him, not to an elected government] and tried to install his cousin as leader of army.

Prem gave his famous speech about army as horse which is owned by a stable-owner: Jockeys [governments] come and go but horse is property of stableowner.

Thaksin got booted.

Upcoming in next few months are changeover of Army head which the army wants to do its own way [Prayuth to succeed Anupong].

Further in next few months government will need to approve new army budget. Deciding about budget a big power that current army leadership wishes to control.

Current government is owned by the army and suits them fine. Red govt might not play ball. There are factions in the army who wish Thaksin to be the stableowner.

So in short it's a fight between two factions of army and their related supporters/clients/patrons. There is also an inevitable event in the future that each faction wants to be in charge for as they will be well placed to be powerful in the shake-up afterwards. This sad event will be biggest shock/change in thailand in decades.

In short: Thaksin/red leaders want to be in charge for the three upcoming events mentioned above (especially the third). Other faction [Amart or whatever you choose] want to preserve status quo.

Reds [grassroots] are easily mobilised as they love Thaksin for being first PM not to totally ignore them. He says you must fight for democracy now they say OK. There are a lot of legitimate grievances so its easy to stir them up. Yellow side desperate to prevent a pro-Thaksin party getting into power in the near future.

The news page says police will stop reds mobilising to silom.

Is this the conflict that so many on this forum (and so many high up on both sides) want?

It seems like only a matter of time.

Wandered all round the red site at CBD earlier. Numbers were lower than I expected but it was noon and they were growing. Mood was basically fun, with lots of music and dancing. Rhetoric from stage did not sound as impassioned as when I was at democracy monument a week ago. Again the reds were welcoming and smiling to this farang (yes I realise they might be different if I were a pink-shirted chinese-thai). Spoke with a few with different levels of English and they seem pleased that someone will hear their voice. If only they knew how insignificant I am

The feeling was positive throughout. Also some were right into it and some were just there and kinda disinterested.

The only time I felt uncomfortable was when a dude from Udon was trying to get me to help him through water at people from the back of his truck (Songkran style). I took lots of pictures and received lots of smiles.

It would be sad if these genuine, peaceful thais get caught up in the big men's games and get hurt.

My favourite bit was when I nipped into Platinum for aircon and juice and I could see the Isaan women checking out the fashions in the shops. Sweet..

fantuzi: thanks for the reply.

Via KL it is!

I like the garbage bag idea.

Peace,

Wes

Anybody done this?

Help me choose the best way to get to Kuala Besut

1. AirAsia BKK-KL, then KL -Khota Baru, Bus to Kuala Besut

2. AirAsia BKK-Narathiwat, Something overland to KB.

Am thinking 1 looks good but it seems a bit retarded to go all the way down to KL then back again (+ a bit more growth on my already giant carbon footprint). KL-KB flight only RM 71!

Is 2 a stupid option (hassle/time-wise)?

If I take option 1 can I do immigration at KB rather than KL? (and if i can should I?)

Recomend me a place to stay - Me and an old friend - looking for peace, beauty and snoozing holiday. Not really party people. Long beach seems like the default option. I'd be intertested in other beaches and specific accomodation advice

Any thoughts welcome

Peace,

Wes

x

but I too am worried it will be canceled especially as one epl player -micah richards- already contracted swine flu this summer

I can add an update.

I've been trying to get tickets today.

I emailed [email protected]

" Thank you very much for your email. Regarding on purchase the tickets for the Liverpool game. Unfortunately, our company does not have any facility to take any credit card. We only accept cash or either bank transfer. If you want to purchase the ticket, you can either confirm to us by email of how many tickets you would like to purchase and do the bank transfer afterwards. The tickets available in our office at the moment are;

North Zone 600 THB

West Zone Maroon 1,750 THB

West Zone Orange 2,500 THB

Please confirm to me directly and I can arrange the tickets for you. Thank you very much and looking forward to hear from you.

Kind Regards,

Vicky"

Weeraya Sasiwimon Stephenson Office Administrator 142 Pacific Plaza 2,

20th Floor, Suite 2003,

Sukhumwit Road,

Bangkok 10110,

Klongtoey, Thailand Tel: +6626532201-2 DDI: +6626532201"

AND

The tickets has to be collected from our office couple of days before the match and if you can not make it or wish us to send the tickets by post, you can either allow another 100 baht for EMS service to post your tickets. Please provide us your address and we will send according to your information provide. Thank you very much and looking forward to hear from you."

hope this helps

I have questions about visa/overstay:

I'm planning to take a 30 day Tai Chi Course and the travel details mean I'll actually be leaving on the 31st day after entry. Can I just pay a fine at Guilin airport a la BKK? How much is it likely to cost? Is there any way I can get a longer visa? I don't think extending from within China will be possible as I'll be miles from town.

Thanks in advance,

Wes

Thanks for the info; nice post.

Thailand really isn't feeling so Sabai any more...

I noticed the red shirts were holding a protest or rally of some sort on the north end of the night bazaar tonight. Has that been a regular event or is tonight special?

they shut down the gay pride parade because they felt it was not in keeping with Lanna values. viva la redvolution!

jerks.

Saw them all at the event. Have they stated that the reason was "because they felt it was not in keeping with Lanna values" or is that your interpretation? My reaction was the same just would like to hear the rationale.

Fascists to the left of me, fascists to the right...

Yakult is kinda processed and cr@p though.

The best way to take probiotic is in the powder (you keep in the fridge so the little fellas don't die and stir it into water to take). Not seen this in Thailand.

IMHO capsules are much better than Yakult. If you found capsules that had to be refrigerated that would be as good as the powder I mentioned. Non-refrigerated capsules will still be better than chemically Yakult gunk.

[if anyone knows where I could get the powder in CM I'd be super-happy!]

I'd happily recommend ECC (near the uni on Huay Kaew). Did a four week CELTA there last year and was impressed. Its a hectic four weeks though.

Good Luck

Steve,

Thanks for your thoughts mate. I've only got about 3 Koi and 8 million tiny guppies. Could I get away with no food at all?

Been adding plants and will add more to get the shade up to 50%. Added a few more Lotuses and oxygenators (Hygrophilia?) today. I'm getting so into this pond-business I think I'm turning into my Dad!

You confirmed what I thougt about the algaecides so I think they will be a last resort.

Cheers,

Wes

Some very useful advice here guys, thankyou.

On reflection maybe my pond is smaller than I implied.

I know the house was empty for 6 months before I moved in and no-one fed the fish then; we've fed them a lot and I think this kick-started the algae explosion. Maybe they don't need feeding at all?

Also I'm renting the house and I don't really want to get into installing a filter/pump thing (also the noise of it might irritate me) at this point.

I'm thinking that my plan is:

1. Get maid to find a chap for de-mucking the bottom

2. Add more plants, especially oxygenators. Also some lotuses for shade and because they look pretty.

3. Get pump for the fountain fixed (not worked since I moved in, needs de-gooing). Get it running for more Oxygen.

4. Maybe add anti-green stuff. [Does this just change the colour or does it actually reduce the nitrate content?]

5. Give it a few weeks and see if it gets clearer. If yes, sit back and enjoy; If no look into filtration/pump solution.

Thanks again for everyone's help

I too am on the PG Tips trail. Used to get it at Tops (Airport) but not seen it for a while. Kasem store has none either. Tried the Heladiv but felt it lacked the punch of PG.

Currently using Tesco's Organic Tea Bags (Tesco Lotus Kamthien) which are pretty good. Doesn't make that lovely brown PG brew but taste is good.

Twinings English Breakfast (many places) are also pretty good but they are expensive!

Searched the forum but can't find the answer to this one; apologies if I missed it.

My pond has a load of dead leaves, and general cr@p at the bottom and I'm looking for someone to get in and clean it all out. Not a fun job so I'm not gonna do it myself.

Pond is fairly big and (currently fairly green).

Anyone recommend a local cleaning-service? I'm in San Sai if that makes any difference.

TIA

Try the Irish UN Pub along Ratchawiti Road. They have a team called the farangutans and play regularly in local Thai leagues. You'll need to enjoy beer though!

If you pm me I can give you the email of the guy that runs it.