josephbloggs

Bugger off with your pointless pedantry for once. I was replying to a poster who said this will kill tourism (or something similar). I asked him if he really think tourists check the rules about getting foreign driver's licenses before booking a holiday. Of course they don't, so how will it kill tourism? The point I was making was obvious - that saying it will kill tourism is stupid. And yet you still find a pathetic little non-related thing to argue about. The biggest pedant on the entire forum, and not even being clever, just indulging in pedantry for the sake of it even when it has nothing to do with the point being made. What a life.

Is there a way to get this forum removed from posts that show up in "unread"? That would be amazing. I have to scroll past 3-4 posters' absolute tripe constantly and probably miss good threads because my feed is clogged up with this inane rubbish. (And yes, I know it is not 3-4 posters but probably one, maybe two, just many aliases).

Do tourists normally check the rules for getting a foreign driving license before they book their two week holiday?

No Toyota bZ4x in the list at all? I saw one today, but maybe they bought it last year...

All you have to do is go to Bangkok and you'll see them today. The BMTA already has about 500 fully electric buses in service, and Thai Smile Bus has over 3,000 in service. They are literally everywhere.

Ha ha, pressure! For me, yes. Mainly because I've lived here for so long and I am only ever hot so it's nice and it was crisp, clear weather. Not like the miserable cold you get in the UK. And my kids had never seen snow so it was worth it for that alone. We didn't get snow in Tokyo, but the Lake in Kawaguchi had icy parts and Mt Fuji was perfectly snow capped. Sapporo was so snowy. Even in the city there are parts (away from pavements) where it can be 2-3 foot deep. So all the fun of snowballs, snowmen, are just generally arsing around in it. It's really magical. I think going there at cherry blossom time would also be pretty magical, but for me it really seemed perfect in winter. I would share some pictures but they have nearly all got my kids in. Here are a few of those that don't, all in Sapporo.

I went in winter time a few years ago and absolutely loved it. We got JR Rail Passes in Gold Glass (1st class) which were amazing value. Unlimited rail travel, just go in to any JR office when you arrive and make reservations for all your trains at no cost. If you decide to add more journeys just go in to a JR rail office and book them whenever you like. Properly unlimited. A few days in Tokyo, then Mt Fuji. Two hour Shinkansen to Otsuki (which gives great views of Mt Fuji) then a cute Fujikyuko line train to Kawaguchi. We stayed close to Lake Kawaguchi which is stunningly beautiful with Mt Fuji as a backdrop. Just Google it, highly recommended. From there was passed through Tokyo and went up to Sapporo. We took the train but the Shinkansen doesn't yet go all the way to Sapporo (under construction) but it boots it up to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto which is on Hokkaido Island, then you transfer to an old slow diesel train the rest of the way. It really surprised us to be on such a train in Japan, but it was a pretty journey. Sapporo is a great city, the snow was incredible - you can ski if you want or go to mountain parks and mess around (which we did as we had young kids). Beautiful clean, deep, powdery snow. My favourite bit was drinking Sapporo in Sapporo on the side of a mountain in a mountain cabin. After that went back for a night in Tokyo then Shinkansen up to Kyoto which was a totally different experience and only a 2hr 15m journey. Beautiful old city, old temples, geishas, fantastic restaurants. Again, highly recommended. It was one of the best trips I have done and my kids still talk about it and would love to go back. Every city had a completely different culture and feel to it and they were very different to each other. I think we did all that in 10 days or so (I can't remember exactly). Just make sure you buy a JR rail pass before you go, then you can travel around the country in comfort and style and use as many trains as you like (only a few restrictions). And the Shinkansens are awesome. This is Lake Kawaguchi and the cute little train that takes you the rest of the way locally after you get off the Shinkansen. (Not my photos)

You really are pathetic. She is massively experienced, including many "front line" operational roles in the middle east. She is fluent in Arabic. You're just a loser denigrating a high achieving person just because she is a woman, it is very sad indeed, but not unexpected given the drivel you come out with all over this forum.

Oh no, you mentioned grooming. No doubt Jonny will be along soon trying to champion Yaxley-Lennon.

They still have them, although not as prevalent. I have been stopped and breathylised three times in last year maybe. My friend lives on Onnut and say he gets stopped at the same checkpoint nearly every afternoon (on his motorbike) and is breathylised. He is known to them now and every day it is "oh, really, again?", but all smiles. So they are still out there for sure.

I agree it is always better to have more than you need as it is super annoying to have to go back if you are asked for something you don't have. Just on the TM7 it is not necessary to only fill it out in ink in front of them. I always complete mine on the PDF itself then print it out - easier to read. I only sign it in front of them. And I always use Google maps.

That is true. But when I did it last year for some reason the IO sent me back down to Bangkok Bank to get a 12 month statement. I am not sure why as I had more than 400k and it was very well seasoned. So today I thought there's no difference to me really if I ask for three months or six months, so played it safe. Probably didn't need to but I have no idea why I was asked for a longer statement last time round.

You've been waiting for a Vietnamese honest cabbie story have you?

Yes, I hope those guilty and any that might have been involved in a cover up are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Disgusting people. But you talk of bandwagons which is all Yaxley-Lennon jumped on. He didn't expose anyone, he didn't help, he even nearly caused one of the trials to collapse due to his own self serving grandstanding. He is a hypocrite and only cares about his own bank balance. Keep him out of it and I'll happily watch justice (hopefully) take it's course now that Starmer has called a national enquiry - something that the Tories refused to do.

As promised in another thread here is my experience today in case it helps others keep up with requirements. Thought it was better to start a new thread than reply in the other one. I had booked an appointment for 1pm. I arrived around 12 noon to do banking and get photos. First off to Bangkok Bank to get the standard letter certifying I have more than 400k in my account. I also asked for a 6 month statement. Note: Six months is the longest they will provide. If you need longer you request it and they will email it to you the following day. I could have asked for three months but figured no harm in playing safe. Then off to the photo shop to get my photos done (100 baht for 4) and figured I would copy my bank book while there. Into immigration at 1pm. My number was called around 1.10pm. Handed my docs over: - Completed TM7 with photo. - Bangkok Bank Letter. - 6 month statement. - Bank book. - Marriage certificates Kor Ror 2 and Kor Ror 3, original and copies. - Wife's ID card, original and copy. - Wife's tabien baan, original and copy. - My passport and copies of photo page, original non-O visa, last extension, and last entry stamp. - TM30 - 90 day report receipt (I had the original as I had to do it in person last time, and also a copy) - Family photos (me, wife, two kids): 2 inside the house, 2 outside with one of them showing the house number. - Map to house. I used a screenshot from Google maps, put an asterisk on my house, and added address, coordinates and a Google map link. They asked me to sign all the copies of everything. They also gave us both a form to fill out acknowledging and agreeing with the penalties for overstaying. There was no need for a witness as others have reported at other immigration offices. A couple of mini curveballs, they asked for my kids' birth certificates. Maybe this is because they were in the photos, maybe it is because on my TM7 I had written "Stay with Thai wife and our two children" on the reason for application, I don't know. Luckily I did have them with me - original and copies. They also asked for a copy of my bank book. You would assume with a letter from the bank and a full six month statement this wouldn't be necessary, but there you go. When I got my photos done I did copy my bank book just on the off-chance, so I dug it out of my bag and handed it over, phew. All in all this document check with the IO and all the signing took around 10 minutes. Pay the 1,900 baht fee, then it goes to the big lady at the back and we leave and wait for our name to be called. I waited for around 15 minutes, name was called, passport and bank book were handed back and I have an "under consideration" stamp to go back on 14th July. So I entered at 1pm, was initially seen at 1.10pm and left the building at 1.40pm. You really can't complain about that: very polite, orderly and - dare I say it - fast and efficient. As long as you are properly prepared and book an online appointment then it is easy.