Kf6vci

What's the reality in CM? I'm in Vietnam and have seen many a hotel, cafe & diner close.

I'd like some Kool-Aid, too

6 hours ago, burgdawg said:

Kf6...can you post a few pics of your bike, no license plate showing? Many punters in Pattaya and elsewhere know their motorbikes extremely well. If your bike shorted out during a power wash, what do you think will happen during rainy season?

Best to buy a new Honda Wave 125i from Mityon----which is fuel injected.

You wrote:

"Another Q: I got a owner's card which says HONDA. But it has a carb and isn't a Honda, it's a Daelim.

 

Is such fraud common?"

 

The only fraud committed was your lack of due diligence. Honda swapped to its excellent F1 Fuel Injection system in 2009 model year. No carbs...so you must've purchased a unicorn.

I will do that, tomorrow. IT's night already... Pulling the brake lever hard, ends the staart motor engaging. - I hadn't asked for a power wash or anything like that. All I wanted, was air in the tyres.

Seems the guy wanted to make extra money.

---

Q2: the bike has been sold as a HONDA. It's not, and a blue ownership card states "Honda". 

But genuine Hondas would have PGM-FI...

Another Q: I got a owner's card which says HONDA. But it has a carb and isn't a Honda, it's a Daelim.

Is such fraud common? 

Hi All,

the place which usually puts air in my tyres, chose to power-wash my scooter. Afterwards, the brake lever starts the bike. And braking lets the starter motor howl while the engine is running.

What on earth has happened? The horn was dead, but after 20 minutes, it's working again.

The starter button is not needed (shorted out)?? 

One thing is certain, the gears of the starter or the starter motor itself will die soon. OR drain the battery.

Never let someone wash a running bike!

On 12/6/2019 at 7:32 AM, ubonjoe said:

Probably not much you can do now about your damaged passport. You should of complained when it happened and talked to supervising officer.

Passport info is here on the embassy website. https://bangkok.diplo.de/th-de/service/pass/1352770

They do accept credit cards.

Thank you! The credit card machine or the internet connection wasn't working that morning.

They offer 3 options. A one-time document to fly home. A 1-year passport for 65 Euros. And a regular passport (obtain a Birth Certificate). They will also check whether the MELDEGESETZ (reporting of one's residence back home) has been observed. 

21 hours ago, Prince77 said:

Agree with Ubonjoe - you should have complained when it happened. Get a new one at German embassy. No big deal but costly.

 

By the way: what is OT?

Yep, I should have complained there and then. ** There was no list with names and a column for the entry and exit time. So why was the soldier even fingering my passport?!? 

I disagree about the "no big deal" part - I'll be stuck here for 8 days from next Monday, when the embassy will open at 8:30 am. They closed at 11:30 am, German style. BureaucRATS... That one-time document to fly home with won't cut it. They said "a week" and want to check that I reported leaving the last town on record and, drum rolls, they insist on a birth certificate.

Years ago, I couldn't get a replacement passport in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, due to my foreign spouse. As American, she needed no VISA. They demanded proof of that marriage. => Try getting the Chinese embassy to issue such a document (a new theme for  Mission Impossible 7)? 

On 12/6/2019 at 3:10 AM, IgboChief said:

I am German and lets face it: German passports are krap! My passports always fade away within 3 years simply by using them often. At any immigration, they bend it to the maximum in order to scan the laminated page, which eventually falls off.

 

Good news is: when that happens, most countries and airlines still accept it. Honorable exception: Singapore, which denied me entry, when the passport fell apart.

 

I even complained about that to the Embassy. They told me, it was a common complain and they forwarded it to the Bundesdruckerei, who just returned the blame to "improper handling" -- like I had a choice, how bushmen at any African immigration desk treated my passport.

 

Long story short: domestic flights in Thailand won't give you any issue. Boarding home to Germany won't be an issue. Boarding most flights to any other country likely won't be a problem, although some difficult countries like Singapore or Israel might call you out.

 

If you are on holiday, continue and return as planned and get a new passport in Germany.

If resident in Thailand, apply for a new Passport in BKK Embassy. Express Passports are ready within 3 weeks or so.

 

Cheers!

Thanks for your feedback!

 

Air Asia: DMK - SGN (Saigon), with an onward connection to HAN (Hanoi). A 3 months' Business VISA for Vietnam... They wouldn't have it! ** What's the point of biometrics if the fingerprint-scanning & photographing is a one-way thing? Can't use the technology to help a tourist get on a plane? Charge 1,000 THB, but don't make people stay for more than a week!

T

On 12/4/2019 at 10:41 AM, 4MyEgo said:

As much as I am all for no plastic bags, we don't breath it in, so I would be extremely happen when I read a headline saying, no more burning, or life in prison, that's because the smoke season is about to begin, and I don't appreciate breathing in the smoke, yes, yes, I know I have choices, plan B & C are in place, but one can hope, but I won't hold my breath ????

 

Wrong! Micro particles are breathed in and digested. They found those even in the most isolated areas of the planet. Pyrenees etc, miles from houses and people. It doesn't degrade quickly - and local morons love to burn it, releasing /dioxin, one of the strongest poisons known to man

b

Two soldiers sat by the metal detector of Saraburei Provincial Court. One inspected my rucksack, the other demanded my passport. The second soldier bent the paper elements backwards, then ripped  the laminated portion out, using brute force. His idea was to use some tiny device to check the hologram or read the chip of Thai id cards?

Where do they find such - - -? Oops, as a teacher, I do have a pretty good idea. Everybody will be passing and all...

Q: Is there a point in complaining to the Army? It takes force to tear a German passport apart!

Q2: What was he even dofing with my passport? No, he didn't scan it in its entirety nor note my name or ask me to write my # or anything other soldiers at government institutions usually do.

Q3: Soldiers have immunity - they can willfully destroy private property, causing 5-figure damage and not be accountable and responsible for damage?

Q4: Do you think, the entrance to a court will be covered by CCTV?

Q5: I can forget my B-Visa to Vietnam, Air Asia was very unfriendly - and the Imigration Police's biometric system won't help when it comes to confirming that foreigners are who theyr imperfect passport says they are. Mmm.

Q6: Would you just fly home, or try and get a replacement passport?

Q7: Does the German embassy take credit cards? Can they issue travel documents allowing citizen to fly home? It's not like the passport wasn't physically present!

In the past, I witnessed an Indian traveller getting grilled over the same thing.

Q: Need we all add hotel reservations to the "to do list"? Money, flight out, hotel reservation?

Is this the IO's personal whim, or is there a law justifying this requirement?

10 hours ago, el jefe said:

I traveled through 13 European countries in the past year. Only one required travel insurance -- Belarus.
Please tell us which other European countries require tourists to have travel insurance and how do they check?

 

Germaney - (unless it's one of the undocumented Merkel Guests), they make it part of the VISA process AFAIKb

13 hours ago, Is this real said:

The hospitals aren't losing money.  They've inflated all the charges made to non-Thais who can pay or have insurance that will.

The story of losing money on non-payers is told world wide.  Most is just plain bull.

I disagree. The government hospital extracting 2 teeth for what, (like 650 THB with meds and an xray included) cannot possible break even. The whole operation (buildings, staff, admin, nurses, painkillers, the dentist's salary and the equipment needs to be paid)! 

The true cost will be double or triple, JMHO.

But then, they could and should ask for an advance payment and settle up later. 

11 hours ago, worgeordie said:

How did the non payers even get out of the door.

regards worgeordie

In CA in 2001, my late mother needed to prepay like $ 500 just to see a doctor.

This year, I got dental treatment at a government hospital. It was below cost, like 600 THB for 35 minutes' work and an xray. But they could a) double the charge and b) make foreigners prepay.

Many food & drink places do that, world wide. Last month, I had to pre-pay my drink in Dhaka. No problem. 

---

Credit card companies could team up with insurers and offer additional cover. $ 50 should do nicely for everyone (cover for up to a month per holiday, proof of flights required). 

Those long-term residents, who will cover a guy in his 70s with a long list of pre-existing conditions?!?

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Result = almost no tourists.

 

I do wonder how the 9,000 foreigners treated over the last year causes 448 Million in bills to be unpaid.

Even if we're talking 10x the normal billing for foreigners.

 

Is that amount for Phuket alone? Because the number of patients, 9 k, is way too low for all of Thailand! 

Np, but I still remember getting a massage in some live music place at the urinal. Bet that has many a tourist frieak out over the years!  

On 2.5.2017 at 7:32 PM, evadgib said:

How were you fined for the failing of a 3rd party?

Appeal the fine - I had a similar issue. (My LL was fined and she grabbed it from my SD, security deposit. ** I complained, spoke to a top ranking officer about it and then took the case to the town hall. The LL was  f o r c e d  to hand over the 2,000 THB. They took photos with me having to hold the money 

What concerns me is the needless ongoing refusal to deal with this quickly. Cui bono? What exactly might motivate the son to keep stalling?

While I don't know if the fine may be increased, I do know that 3 cops showed up at my LL's house. Surely, they can pay the son a visit, too?

Life's too short for this nonsense. Hope you will find other digs!

It's 100%  h e r, the landlady's obligation. She will get fined and the cops should help you.

Can it be these people are that 2thick"? I think they want to blackmail you some more. The 2,000 THB fine was due after a delay of a few days... It also happened at the next place where I WARNED the new LL about this.

The son can get this ticked off in an hour. Take 2,000 THB + ID + TM30 form or whatever to Immigration and he will be in and out in minutes.

In the light of the blackmail and the 100% rent hike (legal??? Ask the lawyers at the town hall about that). Usually, there will be a notice period and a written letter... But this is a land where 5% a month interest is customary?

This went down badly. So sorry for the ongoing hassle.

YMMV, but I would not want to deal with these people, period. 100%? Is that even legal? Blackmail, lies, false "promises and never ending extortion? Must be some great place you have got there.

My LL grabbed her Police fine from my SD. It was a terrible fight (I went to the town hall where they have lawyers and then it was all over silly 2,000 THB SD. Still, I would not want some money-grabbing crook to get the satisfaction of her criminal plot succeeding.

Can you just move? 

Again, I would not continue to feed these blackmailers. 

Why on earth would you let hired help or anyone overcharge you 80 Baht?!?

Get "sucker" tattooed on your forehead, in Thai. Sorry, that was a joke. - But I would treat it as a small issue and smile and still get it corrected. That would likely put an end to these shenanigans.

While I've had this Ministry of Finance clause in previous contracts, I've never heard of the need to bring a government employee to a school for any reason.

Your identity is beyond doubt

If they want a character reference, they can ask for it and handle it without you being present.

OTOH, I've been given the sucker treatment countless times. Getting to sign documents in thai and such.

I would suspect some foul play with the director wanting some witness.

Contracts are only as goog as the people who sign them. Thai schools will learn this and some teachers as well. (Surprise! There are often problems regarding payment of the last salary )

How's life in the far North? Care to share?

Hear, hear! 30 k x 10 months is much worse than 12 x 25 k. And we needn't argue about that being a very low salary...

Another issue is the workload. Having 20 hours divided by classes like M4 and M5 versus a homeroom teacher's stress when she has to teach other subjects as well (or has to prepare xx lessons versus just 2 as there will me M4/1-10 and M5/1-10).

Relax - and focus on getting a job with no crazy workload or some mean management sneaking in 25 hours and then dumping difficult P1 kids on to you.

As for those 15 k jobs, I know such a government high school. They never bother with stuff like a B-Visa, a WP or anything regulated by the TCT. Someone from Cameroon took the job and thensurprised his friends on FB about his new role as "teacher".

Seems the schools brood about ways to cut costs instead of how to improve their operations.

My FB name has been KRU followed by MY FIRST NAME.

Now FB won't even let me log on.

Am seriously displeased but guess, Big Brother has reasons for this.

Have some of you stopped using FB as a consequence? Any advice?