camerata

Thailand Post wouldn't accept my pink card for sending an EMS mail today. The notice on the counter says it must be the original passport (for foreigners) and says it is mandated by the Narcotics Control Act. It applies to registered domestic mail too.

I'd be interested to see the relevant article in the Narcotics Control Act.

In the meantime, I suggest you tell the guy at the post office that he should call the Khet or Amphur that issued the card, so that they can confirm to him that it is a valid form of ID in Thailand.

The actual wording of the notice is pretty vague: "According to the notification of the Prime Minister's Office about Narcotics Control Act B.E. 1976..." So the main message is that this is coming from the PM's office.

I cannot find anything in that notification that says that foreigners must use their passport: http://www.thailawforum.com/database1/Narcotics-Act-part3.html

Either I missed it or your friendly neighbourhood postman just made that up. Or, of course, the translation is wrong.

Well, I went into the same post office today, different counter, and the lady said pink card was fine.

Here's the notice, if you want to check the Thai version.

Thailand Post wouldn't accept my pink card for sending an EMS mail today. The notice on the counter says it must be the original passport (for foreigners) and says it is mandated by the Narcotics Control Act. It applies to registered domestic mail too.

I'd be interested to see the relevant article in the Narcotics Control Act.

In the meantime, I suggest you tell the guy at the post office that he should call the Khet or Amphur that issued the card, so that they can confirm to him that it is a valid form of ID in Thailand.

The actual wording of the notice is pretty vague: "According to the notification of the Prime Minister's Office about Narcotics Control Act B.E. 1976..." So the main message is that this is coming from the PM's office.

If I remember correctly, at the time I got my PR I would have had to wait 5 years to apply for citizenship, but I retired just before I reached the 5 years. I can't say I was ever very interested in citizenship, though.

Thailand Post wouldn't accept my pink card for sending an EMS mail today. The notice on the counter says it must be the original passport (for foreigners) and says it is mandated by the Narcotics Control Act. It applies to registered domestic mail too.

I tried to use my pink card when buying foreign currency at Superrich today but they insisted on a passport (since I was giving them baht). Perhaps this is just because they want to make sure I am a bona fide traveller before they sell me foreign currency.

Has anyone tried registering a mobile SIM with the pink card? At 7-11 they just stick a Thai ID card in their Electronic Purse gadget to register a SIM, so presumably the pink card would work too.

I think in future when I travel upcountry I'll be taking the pink card (incidentally, the officials at the district office call it "the Pink Card") and a photocopy of passport details and entry stamp.

I don't know how opening a bank account with the pink card would work since our name is not printed in English. Surely it would mean that Thai would be the primary language of the account and they would need some other document to get the English spelling? In my case, Immigration got the Thai spelling of my name wrong on the Residence Book, so it doesn't correctly reflect the English spelling (i.e. "Cameraka").

I've had mixed results checking into hotels with a driving licence. Often, they have a specific registration form for Thai or foreign guests, and so they prefer a passport for foreigners. Even with a passport I get asked about a visa or "Where is your white Immigration card?"

Yes, the bank account that I opened with the pink ID card shows my name in Thai.

You won't have problems checking in at hotels if you use the pink ID card instead of your PP without TM card, or your driver's licence.

If you book through Agoda etc do you type your info in Thai?

I don't know how opening a bank account with the pink card would work since our name is not printed in English. Surely it would mean that Thai would be the primary language of the account and they would need some other document to get the English spelling? In my case, Immigration got the Thai spelling of my name wrong on the Residence Book, so it doesn't correctly reflect the English spelling (i.e. "Cameraka").

I've had mixed results checking into hotels with a driving licence. Often, they have a specific registration form for Thai or foreign guests, and so they prefer a passport for foreigners. Even with a passport I get asked about a visa or "Where is your white Immigration card?"

I was referring to what I am told verbally when I show them my red Alien's Book and tell them (in good Thai) that I have been in Thailand for decades. From reports from other members, it seems you have a better chance of a discount if you are with your Thai family rather than visiting solo.

Now next thing is to test what happens in any "tourist price attraction" when presenting the card

That should be interesting. Even with an Alien's Book I usually get told, "Discount for Thai citizens only!"

Right. I have been asked for my passport near the Burmese border, and then on one occasion they asked why there was no visa. I tried to explain I had an Aliens Book, but not with me, but they just didn't get it. Anyway, they could see my last entry stamp, so they moved on to hassling the Burmese on the bus.

Yes, 8 and then 10.

But maybe the citizen's number beginning with "8" makes the PR status obvious to the police.

however, the back of the card states that you cannot leave your "area" unless you have an alien certificate [meaning permanent residence status] or unless you have written permission

Ack! If I had the card I think I'd be reluctant to show it at one of those military checkpoints near the border in Tak or Chiang Rai without my Alien's Book to back it up. Printing "Permanent Resident" on the card would seem to solve the problem. And now they have gone and changed it!

I thought the whole point of the card was to stop everyone from having to carry the red book or the documents the migrant labourers carry.

Great! So you need to make an appointment before turning up?

Will they accept the one-page extract from the tabien baan or does it need to be a copy of the real thing?

OK, so Google Maps has it right, and National Stadium is the nearest station.

Isn't Khet Pathumwan on the corner of Soi Chula 5 and 34? A longish walk from Hualamphong MRT?

I assume the application form is in Thai only? Anyone applied for the pink card in a central area like Sukhumvit or Pathumwan?

There is already the Little Bangkok Sangha, based in Bangkok. Chiang Mai has Green Papaya Sangha. Not sure about Pattaya.

I think the following extract presents the Theravada view of mind and illusion, i.e. that the thoughts created by the mind don't reflect reality. In some Mahayana texts, the mind is assumed to be just thoughts, and since thoughts are impermanent, they are illusory - therefore the mind is an illusion. To me, the mind is a function of the brain, not in itself an illusion.

It is always when we fail to see the true nature of things that our views become clouded; because of our preconceived notions, our greed and aversion, our likes and dislikes, we fail to see the sense organs and sense objects in their respective and objective natures, (aayatanaana.m aayatana.t.ta.m) and go after mirages and deceptions. The sense organs delude and mislead us and then we fail to see things in their true light, so that our way of seeing things becomes perverted (vipariita dassana).

The Buddha speaks of three kinds of illusion or perversions (vipallaasa, Skt. viparyaasa) that grip man's mind, namely: the illusions of perception, thought, and view (sa~n~naa vipallaasa; citta vipallaasa; di.t.thi vipallaasa).[2] Now when a man is caught up in these illusions he perceives, thinks, and views incorrectly.

He perceives permanence in the impermanent; satisfactoriness in the unsatisfactory (ease and happiness in suffering); self in what is not self (a soul in the soulless); beauty in the repulsive.

He thinks and views in the same erroneous manner. Thus each illusion works in four ways (AN 4.49), and leads man astray, clouds his vision, and confuses him. This is due to unwise reflections, to unsystematic attention (ayoniso manasikaara). Right understanding (or insight meditation — vipassanaa) alone removes these illusions and helps man to cognize the real nature that underlies all appearance. It is only when man comes out of this cloud of illusions and perversions that he shines with true wisdom like the full moon that emerges brilliant from behind a black cloud.

The aggregates of mind and body, being ever subject to cause and effect, as we saw above, pass through the inconceivably rapid moments of arising, presently existing, and ceasing (uppaada, .thiti, bha"nga), just as the unending waves of the sea or as a river in flood sweeps to a climax and subsides. Indeed, human life is compared to a mountain stream that flows and rushes on, changing incessantly (AN 7.70) "nadisoto viya," like a flowing stream.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel186.html

Anyone know of an acupuncturist or acupuncture centre in the Bangkok area with some experience of treating neuralgia symptoms?

Anyone have any experience with the Acupuncture Centre at Bangkok Hospital?

Previously the vans stopped at Naresuan Soi 2, near the guesthouses. In January they dropped me off near the bridge and the tuk tuk drivers wouldn't budge from 150 baht to go to my guesthouse, which they assured me (since I speak Thai) was the Thai price. In February it was the same thing. Tuk tuk drivers come to the van and insist it is the last stop, as does the van driver. They insisted on 100 baht to a guesthouse within walking distance. Normally, prices are around 60 baht around town.

What's worse is the vans do all kinds of detours - to Wang Noi etc - for Thai passengers but stop short of the centre of the old town where the foreigners are going. I saw two farang who wanted to go to the bus station. We passed the bus station and they then had to get a tuk tuk back over the bridge.

In many tourist destinations in the North, the bus station has a board with tuk tuk prices to popular destinations displayed. Also in Nong Khai. But what can you do when the van doesn't stop at a bus station?

There are plenty of interesting temples there: Wat Phumin (famous murals), Wat Phra That Chae Haeng, Wat Phra That Chang Kam, Wat Ming Muang, Wat Suan Tan, Wat Phaya Wat, Wat Phra That Khao Noi (big golden Buddha statue), and Wat Nong Bua (murals) about 40km to the north. The night market is pretty good.

As long as the laity shower monks with money, some of the monks will use it to buy cool gadgets. After all, many of them are only in the monkhood temporarily.