morpho

As far as restaurants go, I have found that the best service I usually get is at the local mom and pop places that set up along the streets. I mainly attribute the better service to the fact that they own their business and are not working for someone else. I also have found that a small tip at the local street restaurants that I frequent near my apartment goes a long way to getting great service each time I come back...the proprietors seem extremely grateful and appreciative.

I'd like to add a follow-up comment to the excellent report done by AlaskaDave.

I had exactly the same experience last week in extending my stay based on retirement, but also needed to obtain a TM 8, Re-entry Permit, costing an additional THB 3,900. I also had a high queue number for my TM 7 processing and needed to return at 1 PM. But in my case, my passport was taken to the old airport office and arrived back at Promenada by 4:00 PM. Only at that point could I begin processing my TM 8 application. I had been advised earlier that afternoon that I would most likely have return to Promenada another day to take care of the TM 8, because normally there isn't sufficient time remaining in their office hours to get it done the same day. I was fortunate and able to complete my Re-entry permit by 4:30 PM and take care of everything in one business day..

Two fine points need to be made: first, your time of arrival at Promenada determines your queue order when the officers walk outside to check your paperwork and hand out queue cards. I arrived at 7:15 AM and it was plain to see that 20 applicants had arrived there before me...as there were 20 wooden benches lined up in a long row, all with people seated in them, or reserved with some personal item. There was no favored queue system or trickery involved...get there early and you will get a low queue number.

The other point is that you could indeed devote the whole day getting your extension of stay from Promenada, if you arrive later in the queue and are given a high number. Most of that time however is yours to do other things. We left the area at 8:45 AM, came back for the 1:00 appointment, and then returned again at 4:00 PM. The 'dead times' in between are yours to fill doing other things, eating breakfast/lunch/running other errands etc. and yes, you may have to come back another day to complete TM 8 processing.

The system isn't ideal but indeed the Immigration staff is professional and polite, and does their best to accommodate each applicant. It would be a huge help if some official at Promenada could be authorized to approve extension applications, eliminating the need to send passports to and from the airport office.

We witnessed an unsavory event when one frustrated and surly applicant lashed out at the staff, calling them "a**holes" out loud. I have to comment that the staff refused to be flustered and acted professionally despite this ugly outburst. My hat is off to them for their deportment. Act couteously and show respect in your behavior and dress, offer a genuine smile, and the staff will gladly reciprocate. I too was frustrated at the long wait and loss of a whole day, but realized that the staff is doing the best it can given their lack of sufficient staffing. It could be worse, and I consider myself fortunate to be covered by the Chiang Mai immigration office.

As cumbersome as the process is now, I completely agree that the staff (except for one surly female staff member) were very professional, courteous and efficient when I was there on two occasions in late October. They have a thankless job but they get 5 stars (out of 5) from me.

I agree, the terminology is very convoluted and subject to misinterpretation. You're saying I don't have an actual visa anymore but only extending my stay? That's news to me. What a crazy system. Okay, so apparently what I did was secure an an extension of stay based on Retirement. The one governed by form TM 7. I'm glad we guests don't have to pass a quiz about Thai visa rules every time we apply for an extension.

What if you had gotten there at 10am? Did you see anyone get turned away? BTW, thanks for the helpful report. The airport office would have been so much more convenient, and I even put my money in banks at AP Plaza in case they decided I needed to return to my bank. Not to mention things taking two steps backwards after the move.

I think they shut down the queue at some point in the morning, especially if a certain number of people have already showed up. Arriving at 10 and you might be turned away and told to show up another day.

I was #1 to extend my retirement visa (because my agent had gotten #1 somehow...I actually showed up when the doors opened) in late October. Took less than 30 minutes to process getting my visa stamped into my passport but as pointed out previously, the snag now is that the immigration office chief has to sign the visa. So I was told to come back after 1 PM to pick up my signed visa. As long as the requirement for the head honcho to sign the visa is in place, it looks like this will continue to be an all day affair.

In the past, I was able to get both my retirement visa extension and a multiple entry permit in one day...and usually before noon. But in October I had to go back another day to get my re-entry permit the week after I got my visa. I arrived without my agent right before the doors opened and was #1 to get a re-entry permit. The downside was that I also needed a 90-day and there was a line of more than 100 people to get a 90-day. I was told to complete my re-entry permit process and get a new number for my 90-day. It took less than 20 minutes to get my re-entry permit and then I got my 90-day number...something like #120...and then the waiting began as I was told to come back in the afternoon. Ended up staying at the office and talking with another guy who was in the same boat I was. We finally got out of there at about 3 that afternoon. I think there were about 200 people there that day to get a 90-day. The week before when I renewed my visa, I think there was probably less 30 people there to get their 90-day and they all were outta there by noon. So much depends on how many people show up on a given day as to how long you will be there...and the number of people can obviously vary widely.

Also, be aware that if you sit in the extra seating area just off the main office, there is no speaker in there so you can hear your 90-day number being called. If you miss your turn as a result, you can still get processed but it's at the whim of the staff as to when.

Yes, you will have to open another account at a BKK Bank branch in Thailand. You can then transfer funds from your USA-based direct deposit account into your local branch account. And you can get an ATM card to draw money directly from your local branch account, but the ATM card cannot be used to withdraw money from your direct deposit account. There may be other ways to meet the retirement visa requirements and access money here but this is the setup that I have had for 4+ years.

BTW I assumed that you are non-Muslim but if I am incorrect and you are Muslim, you can enter the National Mosque any time.

I suggest the Petronas Twin Towers tour. Not cheap...about US$23...but the building is impressive and the views from the crossover bridge and the 86th floor observation deck are quite spectacular. The areas outside and shopping center center inside the building are nice too.

I stayed at Geo Hotel which is in a very good location with LRT Pasar Seni train station next door. From Geo, there is a the National Mosque and other attractions nearby. If you intend to visit the mosque, first check on non-prayer times when you can actually get in.

You can take the Ekspress train from the airport to KL Sentral station and catch another train to the Pasar Seni station (or a taxi at the metered taxi stand outside...get your ticket first inside KL Sentral) and then a short walk to Geo.

I'm on a retirement visa so can't help you with visa infer for your situation but I can provide you with contact information for the Thai visa agent who helps me every year. She is great and works independently. Just PM me if you would like her contact info.

I suggest that you do not stay past February. Air quality here is typically really bad starting in March (sometimes in February) and I and some others simply get out of town until at least May.

As for a place to live, I would suggest the Nimmanheimen area or Chiang Mai University area south of Suthep Road. Easy to get into city center on a rented motorbike (recommend KPD)...or in a tuk tuk or songthaew (from Nimmanheimen). Plenty of nice apartments in these areas that should be able to provide you a short-term lease. And plenty of good places to eat and cafes in these areas...and several quality hospitals nearby should the need arise.

I speak some Thai but apparently enough to make many Thais think I know a lot. Many conversations at the next table or elsewhere that I've been able to hear have been cut short (or turned to whispering) when the parties involved overheard me speak some Thai to others. I don't necessarily assume they were talking about me but they apparently were talking about something that they were not comfortable with being overheard. Many bargirls definitely are not comfortable with farangs who understand Thai.

I thought the only reason people went to these parties was to take drugs.

Thanks a lot for posting these pics. Look forward to seeing more.

I first started going to Vietnam in 2004 and have been there 9 times. The last 3 years I have been in Hanoi for Tet and then traveled around for 1-3 months by bus, train, and motorbike. It really is a fabulous country with beautiful countryside, great food, friendly people... I've made some great friends there. I'm going back in September for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi and then back for Tet next February.

I've been to many of the places in your pics. Seems like some places haven't changed much or at all since you were there in the 90's.

My biggest fear here while driving my motorbike...getting rear ended, especially at a changing yellow-to-red light or at a pedestrian crosswalk. During my 4 years living here I've lost count of the number of times that I've slowed down and stopped when a light was changing to red or when pedestrians were in a crosswalk (with the red light on to stop) only to have motorbikes and cars zip past me and run the red light. I've been lucky so far but worry my number may be up someday.

Looks like you were very lucky. Glad that you weren't injured.

It seems you don't yet understand the real road laws of Thailand yet. An amber light changing to red means go, not slow down. Pedestrian crossings mean very little in this country and most vehicles will never stop(especially bikes) unless they absolutely have to. You simply have to adapt and do as they do, or like you say, your number will be up someday.

I had a similar 'accident' to the OP recently, driving like a lunatic, a motorcycle scooter clipped me in the rear. Having a 'big' bike I barely noticed, he on the other hand lost control and went down. I'm sure he learnt a painful lesson that day.

I fully understand the "real road laws of Thailand" as you put it, but I still refuse to "simply adapt" to them regardless of what may happen by not doing it. It's a slippery slope once you start "simply adapting" and essentially driving badly, and the results likely to be far worse. My guess is that you're just as likely to be the one who slams into me or someone else as any Thai driver.

Why is it driving badly? It's just different driving to what you or I were brought up with. It's not bad driving here, it's just normal driving as everybody knows that everybody does it like this. No Thai/local pedestrian will cross the street at a pedestrian crossing just because the light says he can, he will wait until he is sure that everyone has stopped or is stopping until starting to walk across the road. Just like at every busy intersection no Thai/local will go just because his light is green, he will wait and look for any amber/red light jumpers to get across first before proceeding. This is all pretty normal stuff over here that every local knows about.

You can jump on your high horse if you wish, and refuse to comply but the next time someone rear ends you and sends you sprawling into the middle of an intersection, I'm sure the last thing you will be doing is shaking your fist screaming 'but I'm in the right'.

I don't wish you any ill will, I'm just saying what is normal and right for you is not the same here, so for your own safety ride carefully and be prepared. You said being rear ended was your biggest fear here, so try and adapt a little and lessen the chances of your biggest fear actually happening.

So if I follow your logic (which I actually find illogical), I just go with the flow and drive like the Thais do (i.e,, when in Rome...). So I go through the yellows and reds either at an intersection or crosswalk because it is the normal thing to do here. The pedestrians who are either entering or in the crosswalk are there at their own risk. Then next I can go ahead and pass a vehicle(s) in a no passing lane because that is pretty much normal here too for many drivers. And why don't I just drive down the wrong side of the road against the flow of traffic because I don't want to drive on the correct side to the next intersection to actually turn around (another typical driving practice in Thailand). Then next I can just zip right through a standing red light late at night when the police are not out. Again a normal practice in Thailand. It's like a domino effect to the point where you are essentially "driving badly" and doing all of the things that we all complain about Thai drivers doing.

I don't want you or anyone else to get injured either but the next time someone rear ends you and it's a delivery truck or minibus driver "driving badly" (and not just a small motorbike like before), then I will rest my case.

My biggest fear here while driving my motorbike...getting rear ended, especially at a changing yellow-to-red light or at a pedestrian crosswalk. During my 4 years living here I've lost count of the number of times that I've slowed down and stopped when a light was changing to red or when pedestrians were in a crosswalk (with the red light on to stop) only to have motorbikes and cars zip past me and run the red light. I've been lucky so far but worry my number may be up someday.

Looks like you were very lucky. Glad that you weren't injured.

It seems you don't yet understand the real road laws of Thailand yet. An amber light changing to red means go, not slow down. Pedestrian crossings mean very little in this country and most vehicles will never stop(especially bikes) unless they absolutely have to. You simply have to adapt and do as they do, or like you say, your number will be up someday.

I had a similar 'accident' to the OP recently, driving like a lunatic, a motorcycle scooter clipped me in the rear. Having a 'big' bike I barely noticed, he on the other hand lost control and went down. I'm sure he learnt a painful lesson that day.

I fully understand the "real road laws of Thailand" as you put it, but I still refuse to "simply adapt" to them regardless of what may happen by not doing it. It's a slippery slope once you start "simply adapting" and essentially driving badly, and the results likely to be far worse. My guess is that you're just as likely to be the one who slams into me or someone else as any Thai driver.

My biggest fear here while driving my motorbike...getting rear ended, especially at a changing yellow-to-red light or at a pedestrian crosswalk. During my 4 years living here I've lost count of the number of times that I've slowed down and stopped when a light was changing to red or when pedestrians were in a crosswalk (with the red light on to stop) only to have motorbikes and cars zip past me and run the red light. I've been lucky so far but worry my number may be up someday.

Looks like you were very lucky. Glad that you weren't injured.

Likes:

- sports coverage (not only football) including NFL and NHL and other sports like TDF and Giro, track and field, and winter sports (with the sound on when big sports events are being shown)

- WiFi

- obviously a wide selection of beers (a few Czech beers would be fantastic) but also decent mixed drinks

- non-smoking inside

- wide selection of good food (European, American, Thai, Aussie) at reasonable prices

- mostly classic American and British music played at a sound level where you can still have a decent conversation (and turned off when big sports events are on)

- available staff (i.e., staff that recognizes when you need something)

Dislikes:

- solicitors

- over-rowdy or loud patrons (especially ones that want to tell you their life story even though you don't want to hear it)

Solicitors. I don't like them either, just about all men in suits are crooks, but what's this got to do with watering holes?

me neither, I don't like bankers, lawyers, solicitors, CEO's, Politicians, teachers and many government officials. Hmmmmm ...... you are correct, most of them are cheats & crooks... hell even the UN secretary general Ban ki moon is a cheat & liar .... didn't want to list Israel as killing children because of pressure from others. But that's another story ........

so a good watering hole is having none of the above .....

FYI...there are other meanings to "solicitor" other than the one you refer to. From the Merriam-Webster dictionary online:

: a person whose job involves talking to many people and trying to persuade them to buy things, donate money, etc.

: a lawyer in Britain who assists people in legal matters and who can represent people in lower courts of law

: a chief law officer of a city, town, or government department

Obviously I was referring to the first definition.

Likes:

- sports coverage (not only football) including NFL and NHL and other sports like TDF and Giro, track and field, and winter sports (with the sound on when big sports events are being shown)

- WiFi

- obviously a wide selection of beers (a few Czech beers would be fantastic) but also decent mixed drinks

- non-smoking inside

- wide selection of good food (European, American, Thai, Aussie) at reasonable prices

- mostly classic American and British music played at a sound level where you can still have a decent conversation (and turned off when big sports events are on)

- available staff (i.e., staff that recognizes when you need something)

Dislikes:

- solicitors

- over-rowdy or loud patrons (especially ones that want to tell you their life story even though you don't want to hear it)

Story time....... I was once in a police station in Bkk with a very prominent lawyer. We were there because i'd had a fracas with a local, none of which was my doing, but of course being a "FARANG" it was my fault. The assembled gang of five uniformed potential beneficieries of my hard earned cash, were speculating that i would be doing six months hard time..... The lawyer had previously advised me not to say anything, but just to listen, he'd also asked me if i knew anything about Thai law ? I replied that i'd studied law and that i presumed that Thai law would be a variation of either British or European. His smile was all too revealing, no he said, Thai law is who you know, and how much money you've got......... He the proceeded to inform the assembled five that he'd never seen five buffalos all in one place at one time, this had the effect of grasping their attention, he then produced his telephone, made a call, and had a five minute conversation about next Sundays golf, and that drinks were on him. By this stage i thought that my man had lost the plot and we were going to end up in the nearest Klong courtesy of the BIB. The lawyer the passed his telephone to the more senior looking cop, whether he was a Colonel or a Field Marshall, ( I can never tell), but when he put the phone to his ear, he was in no doubt where he stood, namely up to his knees in DO DO. It was his boss on the other end of the line, and all of a sudden everything was crystal clear, and there had been a major mistake, and that i and my man were to be afforded all assistance in clearing up this mistake and were no longer to be bothered by the BIB.......... Big Wais all round, and an invite to the Field Marshalls daughters wedding......... The law in Thailand...............

Classic! I'd like the name and phone number of that lawyer...just in case I need him some day.

If this article is factual, then I really feel sorry for the guy (regardless of where he's from). As for the perpetrators (again regardless of where they are from) of his beating, just goes to show you that money talks in Thailand more than justice (but anyone who has been here for more than a week already knows that).

BTW, I am from the USA.

My greatest fear driving my motorbike in Chiang Mai (or anywhere else in Thailand for that matter)...that is, getting rear ended by another motorbike or car/truck when I either stop at a crosswalk while people cross the road AND the light is RED or at an intersection when the light turns red just before I get there. I've lost count of the number of times that someone has sped past me under both circumstances...happened twice just yesterday. And knowing Thai drivers, if they hit me they will keep right on going.

I didn't like that island much when I went there several years back...and now I probably will never go there again.

My condolences to her family.

These Thai men are just foaming at the mouth to get a chance to beat a falang senseless. Doesn't take much, like a ticking time bomb. Shows you how much they really hate falangs.

I agree 110%! I feel provoked all the time...just itching to start something. You can actually see the disdain/hate in their eyes for a falang. It's really sad because I know so many nice, friendly Thais (men and women) but it's really difficult to forget the rotten ones.

Vietnam is the place I can't stop going back to! As much as I enjoy living in Thailand, Vietnam is the place that fascinates me the most!

. Why Vietnam, I haven't been ???

Been going to Vietnam since 2004...will be going back in Feb for 3 months. People (foreigners) I talk to either love it there or hate it...I am one who loves it. I just find the country, people, culture, etc. much more interesting. And personally I find most Vietnamese much friendlier than most Thais. After more than 3 years living in Chiang Mai, I'm making plans to move to Vietnam either later this year or next year if I can work out getting visas and some other things. I think it's all a matter of personal preference so I can only suggest that if you haven't been there, go check it out and form your own opinions.

I suggest you stay for 6 months or more before you make you final decision.

I lived in Vietnam for a little over 1 year. I lived in HCMC it was ok but I didn't find it that great. This was in 2003/2004 time frame. What I really didn't care for was the control of the govt.

Don't know how many times I was watching HBO and then the screen goes blank for the next 2hrs because the govt didn't want you watching that movie. Beer, food was cheap but I found hotels to be more expensive than Thailand or Cambodia. A good friend of mine that is in the military came to visit me and he was positive he was being followed the complete time he was there. Not sure if that was true but I would believe it. Vietnam is still very much a communist country. Government is not easy to deal with.

Yeah...I plan to do a 6-month stint in Vietnam but will still keep my apartment in Chiang Mai until I make a final decision on a final move (or not). I agree that the govt exercises controls that are a pain but I also think that things have loosened up a lot since 2004 (when I first went there) and I don't see much difference than Thailand these days. As for living in Saigon, that is probably the last place I would choose to live in...never have liked the place much. I'm leaning more towards Danang or Hanoi or Nha Trang. After 3+ years living in Chiang Mai, I'm inclined to settle in near the beach which makes Danang or Nha Trang more likely.

After reading a recent post about the benefits of having Permanent residence in Phillipines I am seriously consideringh moving there,I am really tired of all the visa non-sense here-the work permits necessary even for residents etc,the non-sense re-entry permit,90 day report,certificate of residence which is never confirmed.Gawd,what a flippin nightmare.

the Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.

The people speak English, and the beaches are truly stunning.

Apart from rental accomodation, (In the Big Cities, Such as Cebu). which gets you a great rental price if you want to buy. Everything else is about half the price of Thailand.

The ladies are great, its so refreshing to take someone out and have a laugh, because they understand you.

There are exceptions of course. But in the main these girls are not money driven, they just want a better life, than the slums they are in at present. Give that to them and they will be so grateful, and what a turn on, to have someone speak to you in English when your having sex hahaha.

I left Thailand, where I still have many friends after 9 years to go to the Philippines and I have not looked back one bit.

i will return to Thailand to visit my friends, but the Philippines is my home now.

And, by the way, dont believe all the crap you hear about it being dangerous, the people are great, just dont go where not not suppose to, same same as in Thailand.

I agree with your comments about the Philippines, especially concerning the women. Wish I could live there but I just can't warm up to the idea of living on an island or group of islands, plus I can't get used to Filipino food. But I definitely like going there for holiday...2 weeks next month. Enjoy!

Vietnam is the place I can't stop going back to! As much as I enjoy living in Thailand, Vietnam is the place that fascinates me the most!

. Why Vietnam, I haven't been ???

Been going to Vietnam since 2004...will be going back in Feb for 3 months. People (foreigners) I talk to either love it there or hate it...I am one who loves it. I just find the country, people, culture, etc. much more interesting. And personally I find most Vietnamese much friendlier than most Thais. After more than 3 years living in Chiang Mai, I'm making plans to move to Vietnam either later this year or next year if I can work out getting visas and some other things. I think it's all a matter of personal preference so I can only suggest that if you haven't been there, go check it out and form your own opinions.