twister

take care

I'm interested just moved to a bigger house in a quite area, so will think about it. Send me a PM with your telephone number and address and I might give you a call.

I Love that party I stay here now for 2 years and 3 months and have been there all 3 times. Once a year Lamai has a good free party with good music, good people and good fun. Next time you can't sleep around the 21st of jan go to the seven get a 4-pack and come down to the piece of grass on the beach in lamai. Sanook

Horrible accident. Have yet to travel by train here, but as stated in comparison to the roads it should be safer to the buses...doesn't say much however.

Not true.

It is, also in Thailand, safer to be a train passenger.

Railway carriages are immensely strong compared to a bus frame.

Just have a look at the pictures of the accident, carriages all over the place, mostly structurally sound

And compare those to pictures from bus accidents.

Also, how many passengers were in the train, 1000 ,1500?

Compare this with bus accidents.

If this would have been a bus accident, with the same amount of passengers, there would be a much bigger number of victims.

Although, as an ex railwayman I am sometimes slightly disturbed by the condition of the railways over here, I will choose the train any time.

That said, some parts of the lines are good to very good (even double aligned) and sometimes parts are hopeless.

With some extra investment in track renewing and maintenance the railways could become a major transporter of passengers and freight.

Learn to read.

I cant seem to edit anymore, but the train seems to be 362 baht. But if anybody can get it clearer it would be appreciated because I have trouble figuring out these railways

Will check the train prices and add them to the thread thanks!

Getting from Samui to Penang by bus, fly 2 phuket and bus to Samui.

Would this be the cheapest way and what would you guess for price.

I was thinking take coach to Surat-->Hat Yai || 270 baht (boat inclusive) Arrives 15:30

Hat Yai-->Penang || 280 baht Leaves 16:30 (will that small 1 hour gap give me problems?)

Penang--> Phuket (30day stamp) BAHT 1429

Phuket--> Samui || 375 Baht

Total price: 2354 Baht = 48 Euro

Prices bus now known. Anyone know a better solution or have I got my perfect run?

Thanks in advance.

Nathon

Crackdown on back-to-back Tourist visa applications

Extended screening of visa applicants

BANGKOK (thaivisa.com): -- In a crackdown on the 60-days tourist visas, several Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates has announced increased screening of tourist visa applicants. We also have several reports on the Thaivisa Forum that this practice already has been enforced by some Embassies and Consulates.

The joint announcement reads: "As there has been a number of visa applicants having entered Thailand via tourist visa and misused it to illegally seek employment during their stay and, upon its expiry, sought to re-apply their tourist visas at the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate in neighboring countries, requests for visa renewal by such applicants are subject to rejection as their applications are not based on tourism motive, but to continue their illegal employment, which is unlawful.

This is in accordance with the Immigration Act, B.B. 2552 which stipulates that visa applicants are required to clearly express their real purpose of visiting Thailand. Should the case be found that the applicant's real intention were concealed, the application will be rejected.

Please be informed that the intention of applicants to repeatedly depart and re-enter Thailand via tourist visa issued by the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate in neighboring countries in recent years upon its expiry, is considered as concealment of real purpose of visiting Thailand. Thus their visas applications will be rejected."

Foreigners living in Thailand are advised to obtain a Non-Immigrant visa, which can be extended up to one year by the Thai Immigration Bureau.

Thaivisa.com has today confirmed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, that the extended applicant screening will take effect immediately.

-- thaivisa.com 2009-09-11

Attached is an example of a Royal Thai Embassy Joint Announcement, courtesy of the embassy in Helsinki.

I was in the Thai Embassy in Brussels (Belgium) on 09/09/09, that very day, for my retirementvisa. So I got the good news that day.

Until now with the letter mentionning the amount of my pension, I could get a Non-immigrant O with multiple entry for one year that I choose above a retirementvisa for one year as I like to travel some times and don't like to go to immigration to get the authorisation for reentry each time.

But, the rules changed and now I have to fullfill all the requirements for retirementvisa: multiple certificates, papers, money, and so on. The lady at the desk calculated my income (pension) and used an exchange rate of 45 bahts for one euro and told me then that I also needed to prove that I had 800 000 Bahts in a bankaccount as I was short about 3000 Bahts a month.

As I am leaving on 20 septembre, I had exactly 6 days to get all the papers......She proposed to give me a double-entry tourist visa valid for 6 months instead. I took it.....really too scared that I could not gather all the papers before next thursday.

But now, I am worried that they are not going to let me come in one or two more times next year after this visa is finished, because I will have more than 180 days.......Or am I wrong?

I visit Thailand since 32 years , 1 month a year, until my early retirement, eleven years ago. Since then I built a house there and live in Thailand 9 or 10 months a year. Never worked or had a business! Only spent money!!!!!

And it is only since last year that I could finally get a retirement visa because early retirement was not accepted by the embassy. I have always done the things legally and gave them all the papers they asked, and you all know that is is not always simple or clear......I thought I was out of the problems now and that it would be easier from now on.......What a mistake! I feel really rejected by a country that I love. And as many here I am not far from thinking about selling my house (I have a lease for 28 more years.....).

And one more thing : as I live there since eleven year, I know very well that my pension is more than enough to live very easily in Thailand (I am a woman and don't need to pay for a lady or to take care for a family.....). I also give a job to a few people as I have a maid, a gardener and sombebody that cares for the swimmingpool and the jacuzzi, and I don't need to explain that as a woman alone I also give a lot of money to electricians, plumbers, and so on!

I feel very depressed about all this!

Can somebody confirm if I can stay more than 180 days a year with only tourists visas? Thank you!

I REEAAAALLYY feel like making a remark, but I wont.

Oxford Dictionary:

tourist

■ noun

a person who travels for pleasure.

Brit. a member of a touring sports team.

■ verb rare travel as a tourist.

Another nail in the coff.........

This one will come soon too

"Another nail in the coffin?"

Why would you say that. It's not to stop tourism - it's to stop the ILLEGAL TEACHERS.

And I hope it works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess you didn't understand the sarcasm about it being said in every crackdown topic.

This will be a problem for farang with internet business. The problem is that you cant just start a business in Thailand and get a work permit you need to employ 5 Thais. If they would get rid of that stupid rule a lot of people with internet businesses would pay tax and get a work permit. Many internet business are just not big enough to employ 5 Thais its completely crazy. They are not stealing jobs from Thai they are creating new jobs and spending money in the economy.

I fortunately am married so i dont have a problem, but they should really make it easier for internet businesses.

My problem. Internet marketer and translator.

Am looking at my options now. My dad has a company here so might be able to get it sorted through his company.

But only have one month to get this done.

Aargh.

Does anyone know why it is written in Helsinky or is that normal?

Being a fruit is not a good thing. But it is something I will not lose sleep over for one minute.

You might get an argument about that on the Gay sub-forum.

lol lol lol Nice one!

Maybe this obsession with NOT being called a farang (when quite clearly you are and always will be one) is something peculiar to the relative newcomers. Those that have come here to retire or those who are working 9-5 jobs? Maybe these distressed farangs struggle with some perceived class identity as much as their Thai peers do? They allude to working with 'more educated' Thai people or socializing with, dare I say it, 'hi-so' types?

I mean, what was to be gained from trying to 'educate' some Isaan types, especially chldren, that one was NOT just a farang. You will probably be remembered in local circles accordingly.

"Somchai, do you remember the farang that was here last week?"

"Which one? The one with the fanciful notions on OUR language or the nice one?"

I'm not trying to educate them, I just told my daughters that they know my name and can call me that. If they called me foreigner I would have the same talk with them asking them to call me by my name and not foreigner.

The word is not an English word and is not used in the English language.

It is not listed in the OED. (Oxford English Dictionary)

It is a Thai word, basically it means a Foreigner of European stock

He is a falang/farang. He is a foreigner (from Europe) A Whiteman.

.

It is not offensive, just a general term.

perhaps "khun falang" could be used as a term of address, it would sound more polite.

In other words "Mr Whiteman"

Whiteman is an English surname.

I must see I disagree. Farang is a white fruit. A fruit. Without a brain. That is white. they are not saying khohn khaao or in Thai writing คุณขาว That would be Mister White.

Being a fruit is not a good thing. But it is something I will not lose sleep over for one minute.

When I was in Isaan the daughter of my gf called me farang. I had a talk with them and explained to them that I would rather not have them call me that. I don't mind what there friends/family say. But Mae, Poo le look can call me by my name.

Nathon(Actually nickname which means cutface, but it is would i prefer to be called

There is also one in lamai. Turn left at lamai temple and it will be at your left hand.

The best salon I can recommend is Boom Salon. Turn left at the lamai temple and it will be on your left hand. She also has a salon supplies shop and sells noodles and shakes. You cant miss it. She has even done make up and hair for miss Thailand elections and goes to Bangkok for courses to keep up to date.

She has done weddings before (last week she did one actually.

If you want her telephone number send me a PM.

Good luck

If it goes up 5000 baht, that would be what... 13 baht a day. Come on guys even a thai wouldnt wine about 13 baht a day.

Ok true, it sends out a bad message, that might be a reason to live, but not the money...

Just my 13 baht.

Usually, people who intend to commit suicide also tend to leave a suicide note.

My bro didn't

I had it correct in my head, but typed it down wrong.

I will get the Visa in Stuttgart, and than fly from Frankfurt

Thanks again.

[EDIT] unless it is possible to get it done in frankfurt since this will save me around 65 euro?!?

Thanks ubonjoe. I will apply for visa in frankfurt and then fly from their also. (520 euro!!)

Thanks for everybodies input!

Nathon

Hmm. But this will involve some traveling, because now I am in the north of France so going to Paris is a big journey if afterwards I will fly from germany. Same applies if I first go back to Den Haag (Netherlands).

What if I only book for a month and then extend the flight later. Will there be any problems with the flight then. On Visahq.com it states tourist visa is not required(whatever they mean with that), you can get a 30 day stamp if you enter the kingdom by air don't you? I don't mind going to Penang later when I am together with my gf again.

Nathon

Hi all and thanks for your replies.

Just for the record. I came back in february after being in Thailand for 16 months and having the same gf for over a year.

Yes I am in kind of a hurry. Lust, passion and love are deeply within me. Atm I am kind of broke but have looooots of money coming in soon

I forgot how long it takes to get my Visa and if I have to pay the money upfront.

Yes I am in France, but I am Dutch and will probably fly from Germany

Any additional info is deeply appreciated.

Kind regards,

Nathon

Hi all and thanks for your time.

I am planning to book my flight to Thailand as soon as my salary comes.

I want to go asap since my gf is waiting for me in Isan and mis her a lot.

My plan is to book for the flight for +- 3 months, but I don't want to wait for my Visa over here.

Please only answer this question:

Is it possible to book a flight for 3 months, get a stamp for a month and go to Penang for a real Visa near the end date of my stamp?

Thanks again.

Nathon