richardlg

 I did a trip to Melbourne mid December and came back late January. Made sure l had Morprom, vaccine certificate and yellow vaccine passport. 

Well l'm not complaining. Took my Thai lady to our local Amhpur yesterday for her vaccine shot. From our small village there was only her and our phu yai ban.

She was number 330 in queue and when finished she went up chain of command complaining that her farang boyfriend had missed out. Eventually, (probably got sick of her) she rang me to say come on down.

Queue no 548 and watching the people go through the various stages, all in blocks of 10, l was very very impressed.

They vaccinated about 600 thais and one grateful farang and all finished by mid afternoon.

That was Astrazenica and they used up most of their allocation. Today it's on again but with Sinovac.

15 hours ago, pattjock said:

The ThaiChana app was mentioned frequently. This app was promised to be available in English long time ago but is still not. Was this a lie or has someone seen this app in English?

Don't think there is an app. I have been using a generic QR Code reader that has been on my phone since long before covid. Scan the QR Code on entry to store and it gives you the language and entry or exit options.

On way out exit option gives a questionnaire about store which you can skip.

Had same experience Saturday evening returning from Australia. Visa exempt so had my bht 20k, proof of residence and ticket out of Thailand within the 30 days.

IO guy didn't ask to see anything, just stamped me in for 30 days. 

Had also downloaded AOT app for T8 and completed. Seemed like a very good idea but IO guy was just shrugged his shoulders when l tried to show him, as if "what do you want me to do about it?"

I did submit online after completing and got the approved tick. Perhaps l'll get a home visit during the next 2 weeks if anyone on plane comes up positive?

1 hour ago, El Guapo said:

What's the difference between non O-A vs non-O?  

Big difference for me was non O-A, based on Retirement, that l got from Thai Embassy Australia in 2008 now requires that you have Thai Hospital cover.

The insurance is expensive and not worth a cracker when your going on 73yo.

Non-O, currently, does not require Thai Hospital insurance.

39 minutes ago, richardlg said:

 

29 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Avoid non O-A at all costs. The Thai insurance killed it. 

It will work for you to obtain non-o.

This guy can advise on options @Peter Denis

Thanks but too late, had an non O-A for last 11 years. This is all about getting rid of it and getting a non-O.

And yes, got good advice from Peter at the outset.

20 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And I just checked AirAsia most flights Saigon 990baht. Cambodia always more expensive than other places. 

Check out options.

Thanks. I should to be miles in front.

Save 550 on ticket 

Plus 500 because hadn't yet transferred

O-A to new p/p. New O visa won't have to.

Plus won't have to travel from Udon Thani to Jomtien to get original O-A stamp in new p/p. Udon said issued in Jomtien so they have to transfer.

Not to mention about 65,000 baht for useless hospital insurance for 73 yo.

I'll be a happy man if this all works out.

Thanks for replying ubonjoe and asanee. Just checked and can buy Airasia DMK to Phnom Penh for 1.540 bht and will do so in morning.

Returning to BKK next weekend after 4 weeks in Aust.

47 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

 

 

Switching to a Non Imm O - retirement Visa is surprising simple, and the requirements / conditions for a Non Imm O - retirement extension or an extension based on an original OA Visa for reason of retirement are EXACTLY the same.  But with the Big Difference that the Non Imm O - retirement Visa extension does NOT require you to pour money down the drain for the expensive and basically useless bogus thai health-insurance scam.

 

Have you actually switched from OA to O Peter? Did you leave the country with no re-entry permit, obtain the 30 day visa free and then apply? If no, then what did you do?

I extended my OA in November for 11th time and also obtained a single re-entry permit.  No problems. However, now l am returning to Aust in two weeks for one month. I go once or twice a year for health reasons (l have full Veterans Affairs health cover but only in Aust)

I'm thinking that l'll probably be stopped at Suvarnabhumi on my return because no Thai health cover and considering taking out a useless Thai 62,000 bht policy before l go, just to get me back onto Thailand. My thinking is then to leave Thailand again next Oct/Nov, let visa expire, return to Thailand and apply for O visa.

Would appreciate hearing from anyone that has actually done this which l think is what OP was asking.

I have a Thai Pay Pal account as well as one in Aust.

Linked it to Krungthai debit card easy but could not use same email address as for Aust account. Opened a second Gmail account and have been using now for 2 or 3 years with no problems.

Stopped in at Yorkies in Jomtien last week, stocking up on his steak pies before returning to Udon. Yorkies were selling corned beef by the the kilo.

Didn't check the price but will be back there in 3 or 4 weeks.

They have. I saw this on Australia Network TV last night.

http://www.intersystems.com/casestudies/cache/optalert.html

Probably a bit over the top for Thailand but apparently is available and being used in Australia.

Lived on a farm for 4 years in Nong Bua Lamphu. The house had a covered concrete area on two sides that was forever getting stained and dirty. I bought soda (looked like baking soda) from a hardware shop in Ban Phu, just a few baht a bag. Wet the area first, sprinkled on a liberal amount of soda, worked it in with a long handled scrubbing brush and then used my 145 bar FASA power washer.

Mouldy concrete tank stands and walls I filled an empty Duck Toilet cleaner bottle (has a fine nozzle) with Haiter Bleach and water, once again very cheap. Squirted the Haiter on by squeezing the Duck bottle and let it run down the walls. After the mould was gone I never bothered to wash the walls because I figured the bleach would help prevent the mould coming back. Usually only had to do every 12 months.

Pretty sure I read recently that Surf Life Saving Australia had sent a contingent of 5 to Phuket to help train lifesavers there in conjunction with the Royal Thai Navy

Something I've learnt for what it's worth. When short of small denom note and drawing money from an ATM I never take the "Fast Cash" amounts but draw amounts like 9,900 or 5,900 etc..

Gives you a 500, 4 x 100 plus the 1,000's

Bought this in Jomtien yesterday at http://www.bbqthai.com/why_bbqthai.html

It's quality stainless steel and cast iron and I plan to use at home in Udon Thani where I don't have a lot of room.

Disregard gas bottle in pics, the bottle actually fits inside the unit.

Previously had a big Weber Charcoal unit for about 4 years, but left it on the farm I was living on in Nong Bua Lamphu. That was from Truvalue in Pattaya and from memory was about $100 more than the cost in Australia.