chico

I checked on the green snakes, they were Red-tailed

Rat Snakes, harmless although they can be bite happy. As for the darker ones, there was not enough light for me to see any details on them .

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They'd be brown snakes ( same colour as your undies )

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you checked and you know they are harmless!?

do the snakes know also that they are harmless? or maybe they think they are poisonous and dangerous?

i hate to kill animals, but "only a dead snake is a good snake!"

I am afraid i am a retired insurance salesman.

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what are you afraid of:

retired?

insurance? or

salesman?

nothing wrong with that, I would be happy at least to beretired

aletta said:

Sorry Chico,but those apples in the market are probably from China or maybe Chiang Rai up North.

To blossum apple and pear trees need to spend many,many days at temperatures i think below about 10 degrees ,so no chance in Isarn i am afraid.

You'll have to go for mangos and jackfruit.

I am a little stubborn (that's what my friends say), and since I know, that f.e. grapes can be grown in the Megev, with higher year round temperatures than in Thailand, and that I have imported strawberry plants from europe, some 8 months ago, and now get fruits every day, I still have hope for apples too, just don't know where to find trees.

Hi,

I have to renew my one-year marriage visa once again in April.  Do I need a proof of money transfer from a bank ? Can I get that proof for the receiving Thai bank (Krung Thai) or I need to get the one in my home country (Canada) ? How can I get that paper at the Thai bank ?

Many thanks,

Amadeus

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you need a letter from your bank stating that you have an account, the current balance and that the money came from overseas, together with the transfer form. all documents submitted in original and 2 signed copies.

if you need more info, go to "www.imm3.police.go.th" (immi headoffice in Bangkok) or "www.thaiimmigration.com" which is the Nong Kai branch, but in this case correct and accepted.

Agree with the general flow here...

If it's a friend, or even an acquaintance asking for sincere advice, I'll be straight up and honest. If they don't ask, I'll keep my mouth shut.

If you fire off your opinions without cue, you'll only get accused of interfering, and it's pretty unlikely they'll listen to you.

Of course, the flip side of this is when a relationship goes tits up and your friend asks you "Why didn't you warn me?", with the seemingly kop-out reason of "Well you didn't ask!"

But then, common sense defines that you should seek advice from those who have been around the longest. If something seemed a bit irregular or suspicious and you didn't go seeking advice from those you can trust, well....

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depends on how you define "friend" - thai style i would shut up my mouth, serious friend i would try to bring him to see it himself, without directly telling. if he is a friend, he would understand and start thinking. i guess this is as much as you can - and should - reasonably do.

Thanks everybody.

I wasn't trying to stir up a hornets nest. I just couldn't see the benefit, and still can't.

If you were to submit your driving licence to the country to which you were travelling, and receive a copy in the local language, now thats a different thing.

Not to worry

Thanks again

Roger

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It's very easy :

* you stay here for a short time and rent a car, your national license is sufficient.

* you want to stay longer (visa extension),

buy a car

or rent a private car

you will need either an int. license or a thai license, (for insurance purposes only - the police don't care too much) which is relatively easy (and cheap) to get if you have a nonimmigrant visa (not on tourist visa) : since a couple of years farangs get the same timelimit for their license as thais:

first and second - one year, afterwards always 5 years

I try not to offer advice on any subject unless I'm asked. If I believe I have sufficient experience/knowledge to give advice when asked, I do so. If I'm not asked, I generally keep my nose out.

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that's certainly the wisest thing to do, and it keeps you probably two "friends", him and her.

For obvious reasons, many thai ladies who bring their (new) friend to the village, do not want them to get too close to foreigners who live there for long time and could "educate" them, since she fears not being able afterwards to skim their friend good enough.

she forgets, that a farang, new to his environment, loves to get to know friends, just to talk to them, also to give him advice, and if the lady blocks him from them, most likely he will not like to stay there, neither stay with her - therefore she loose.

On the other hand, if he can make friends, life in the middle of nowhere could be pleasant, and he would probably consider living there, building a house with (for) her, and so on - she wins.

I make it as you do, answers only if asked, and being careful, not to intervene.

It's up to him, to find out, if anything is wrong - telling him, would not help, he would not believe it anyway.

Living in Isaan (Burirum) and having more than two rais around the house, I wonder whether it would be possible to cultivate my own apples here?

I can find them on the local market, therefore I guess they could be grown around here, but so far I am not able to get trees through the local flower shops.

They say, there are trees to be bought, but they are not the real ones, they will have no fruits.

Anyone can help me to get apple trees? preferably sour and not too soft?

I just heard about a Thai law which says that a foreigner with tourist visas (or visas on arrival) can not stay in Thailand for more than 6 months total (out of 1 year period). I also heard that this is not a new law, but the Thai government decided to start imposing it from 01/01/2005.

Does anyone know if this is true. Do you have any more or revised information about this issue?

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There have been a lot of discussions last april, if there was such a law, and if it would be enforced in the future, but nothing since then.

Best would be to go to the official immigration website http://www.imm3.police.go.th and check

the website "thaiimmigration.com" is from Nong Kai, and does not always represent the intent of the immigration headquarters.

If you intent to stay permanently why not get a non-immigrant and consecutive 1-year extensions, to make it simole?

  Hi, I have a problem and would like some advice. I am married to a Thai woman and am up for a renewal of my 1 year non- emigrant visa next month. My wife and I left Thailand for a weekend to Maylaisa. I did not get a re-entry permit before leaving but once in the air I remembered and went directly to the Thai embasy and explained what had happened. Tey told me it would probably be OK. Upon my return I went to the Bangkok Thai emigration office and was informed that I have to leave the country and get a 90 day non-emigrant visa and then after my 90 days I have to again apply fot the 1 year visa. I this correct ?

                  Thank's

                                Gary

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Unfortunately that is right.

Leaving the country on a 1-year extension without a re-entry visa makes you lose your 1-year extension, and since your non-immigrant from before has expired, you have to go through the whole process again:

non-immigrant, not before the last month of this visa (=after at least 60 days) you can apply for the 1-year extension.

next time don't forget the re-entry!

Thank you professor.

Anyone got more info about islands ?

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Although Koh Chan is quite nice, most people forget about Koh Samet.

It is closer to Pattaya (about 95km), with plenty of possibilities to get there from

Pattaya, has still beautiful beaches and absolutely clear water, excellent (fresh!!) seafood at reasonable prices, and even, if you are looking for it, "nightlife" as in Pattaya (Phuket, Samui,...) - not as big, but ok.

Best way to go, book your transfer at any travel office in Pattaya, and - depending on how adventurous you are, with or without accomodation. Cheapest way to the island is with the ferry (50 oneway), some times you will have to wait, until the boat is full ( min 10 pax), speedboat will cost you 1200 oneway.

In february you will find plenty rooms, at any pricing, from modest to comfortabel,

average 400 to 2000 per night.

There's been a bit of talk about airline quality the last few days so I started this poll.

What is your current sweetheart airline? Why is this so?

Which airline do you hate? What terrible crime did they commit to earn your wrath?

I've done my best to include all of the carriers but there's a choice limit in the poll. Also, as I fly regularly to and from Europe, that is the route I'm interested in.

Personally, I've only recently started using Thai air after years of long haul flights with other airlines. My first impression was favourable. Economy class has plenty of legroom although I'll fly business class next time. Bit dissapointed there were no TV's in the back of the seats though. Sexy little air hostesses however but a bit dizzy. Landing was as 'Smooth as silk'.

I loved Cathay Pacific when I lived in Hong Kong.

Sri Lankan used to be great when I bobbed between HK and BKK but now I think they've gone downhill.

Air New Zealand....F**kin' crap, Cabin crew had appauling attitude. Will never fly with them again.

You are right, Thai is probably one of the best, although Eva has excellent service, including screens for everybody, free games, and the routing, apart from movies and music.

One, you did not mention, Lufthansa, is also to forget.

They had good service, but this was ages ago, nowadays they are only expensive and arrogant.

Do you fly direct with the businessmen or penny pinch on the stopover routes with all the lager louts from England. As far as I can tell, there are only 3 or 4 airlines that fly direct to/from LHR (crap airport)....

....comments about Thai Air are particularly welcome.

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Ask yourself if you really want to end it?

Have you ever been pulled over on a minor discretion and be able to pay your way out of a potentially troublesome visit to the Cop Shop with a few hundred Baht? These things have a funny habit of evening themselves out.

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absolutely right, and even if they want some money (for no apparent reason) - by talking in a nice way to him you can keep it to a reasonable amount or even nothing.

I was stopped once travelling way too fast (around 150) and after a few words he was willing to accept some money instead of the official way with office etc, "up to you" so I thought : not too much, but not too little - maybe 200 is just right?

Guess, what happened? - he gave me 100 back, " I just wanted something to buy a water" - isn't this a nice story, and I swear, it is true!

Therefore, whenever I get stopped, I think, maybe he really needs a little help, and it makes me not poor.

Just depends, how you look at it.

Interesting that from a european account you can transfer your money yourself by internetbanking.

Only problem, on my last transfer, Kasikornbank was withholding the transfer for 8 days, citing a new law (since march 204) that transfers over the equivalent of 1 million bt have to be reported to BOT and receiving bank to be contacted prior to crediting.

My guess is, that aas this was at a special high rate (one day after tsunami) they wre just waiting for the rate to go down again.

Every word as right as it coult be!

But then, have you ever lived in a european country? spend time at holiday resorts? Any difference, other than the prices?

And what about the nice things in Thailand? - for me, too many to listen them up!

Citibank is probably not the best choice for non business types but have no direct experience.  In the past the expat banks wanted to see a very large amount on deposit and do not believe they were (and maybe still are not) members of the ATM Pool for Thailand so more limitation on that use.  Do not know immigration view but if in a baht account in your name (or joint with wife) expect it is fine with them.  They do not accept atm transactions as proof of foreign source (in most cases).

What a US bank needs for foreign wire transfer is the SWIFT code for her bank, which in the case of Bangkok Bank PCL is BKKBTHBK.  They should also have the account number (required) and name/address of bank and account holder

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Is it correct that there is a new law (from march 2004) requiring a form to be filled as to what the money is for and the receiving (thai) bank to be contacted, before the money can be credited to your account, if the transfer is higher than one million bt?

I have done higher express transfers before, the money was in my thai account within 24 hours, this time Kasikorn was withhelding the money for 8 days, and then crediting me 51.83 for the euro instead of the correct amount of the date they got the transfer of 52,85,

The credit was made after I sent an e-mail to the head office asking if they were withholding the money to give a lower exchange rate, or what other reason they had?

5% a month is still realistic in rural Isaan (Burirum/Surin), but that does not mean,that some are asking 7% or up to 10%, whereas in Pattaya or Bangkok the usual rates are 10% minimum, mostly 20% and higher.

The problem with poor thai people is that too many of them have no or very little (school)-education, due to been forced to help their parents in the rice fields, f.e.,

so when they are grown up, and have their own family, they cannot support them with the little bit of land they have got. Therefore they start borrowing a little bit, not realizing and/or caring as to when and what they can pay back. therefore the due interests are mounting up, and suddenly there is no more chance to get even.

you borrow f.e. 10.000, pay little or no interests, and in a few years you will have a nice round 100K to pay - how, if you did not have the initial 10K??