josephbloggs

5 minutes ago, tukkytuktuk said:

The journalist in London has better information than the Thai journalist actually at the cave in Chiang Rai?

 

The Thai coverage though is absolutely astounding. Live streams, tv channels, news media channels, tweets, facebook, instagram, line, you name it. Every man and his dog are watching, praying, hoping. It's the first thing you do in the morning, check the latest update. The last thing you do before you go to bed.

 

Do you think the Thai journalist is concerned with the English updates, when this is now international news. CNN, BBC, ABC, etc..

 

I use google translate and search the social media to get the latest news. Then I use google chrome to translate webpages. It's fast and easy to do.

 

Evening Standard, just checked their updates and they're 2-3 hrs behind the latest.

 

No mention of the drilling taking place now.

 

No mention of a local who came forward today with a new possible entry point to the cave.

 

No mention of robots, submersible, lazer mapping, 

 

No mention of the recent interviews with the family members of the trapped boys.

 

Just quotes from this expert and that.

Calm down, I wasn't saying it was the best coverage.  I just find the updates on the two well known sites less frequent.  Until a recent one about drilling on "the other" site there was no update since 11.45am.  Similarly on this one.

I'm looking for information just like everyone else,  just trying to share a link which people may find useful - not saying there is nothing better out there on any medium.

19 minutes ago, Bangkok Ape said:

Standard Thai bashing going on from the usual barstool engineers and cave rescue experts typically based in Pattaya, Thailand.

 

 

Yep.  As sad as it is predictable.

18 hours ago, SteveMack said:

  Any more Info on anything to do or go in sngapore is appreciated, Thanks again, Steve Mack

You should definitely go to the Gardens by the Bay.  Really really stunning, and it's free to walk around there.  You can choose to pay to go in to to the domes, or up on the Skywalk, but it's just a nice place to walk around anyway.

I've flown Scoot to Singapore a few times and they are perfectly fine with decent planes.

Normally I'll go Thai as their prices are pretty good if booked in advance, plus they fly the A350 on that route which is pretty nice if the timings work for you..

20 hours ago, Wake Up said:

Last time it took 1 1/2 to 2 hours in BKK CW. Will try to get next multi entry permit at Swampy. 

Yeah, it was surprisingly simple and quick.  You don't need to do anything either; just write down your address and sign the completed form (they fill out the form for you) - that's it.  

Hi JAS21,

Whether the other immigration hall is to the left or the right depends on which gate you are coming from.  Basically whatever the first one you come to is - if it looks busy - you carry on in the same direction and you'll get to the second one.  There are monitors showing you how busy the other one is.

I come in and out twice a month on average.  I've only had one bad one where the queue went all the way through the "snake" and back down the concourse (same at both halls) but it moved quickly and only took 40 minutes which is acceptable considering how busy it was.  Most desks were manned.  Came in on Thursday last week at 2pm and there was literally no queue at all.  Plenty of manned desks and you could choose one to walk straight up to.  The days of long two hour queues and closed desks is long gone (in reality that only happened on a couple of occasions).  You can still get a lot of people but they tend to have a lot of desks open so it moves. In my experience - and I travel a lot - 10-15 minutes is the norm.

Of course there are occasional exceptions, so for peace of mind book the fast track service as linked above - it is excellent.

5 hours ago, wpcoe said:

There used to be monitors by the ramp leading into the immigration lobbies showing you which might have shorter lines.  Are those monitors still there (and in use)?

Yes they are.

On 6/7/2018 at 8:02 AM, chicowoodduck said:

Any trip to Suvarnabhumi Airport....heading out of LOS is always a treat.....?

In a refreshing thread about positivity it didn't take long for one of you to pop up did it....

I assume you haven't returned since your last trip to the airport?

39 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

Are these issues the reason we have to catch buses from the plane to the terminal.

No.

Just now, brewsterbudgen said:

I wonder how many people missed their flight?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Dunno - luckily I only needed to get home.  I have no idea how long the service was eventually down for.  But there would have been a massive knock on effect as trains from behind would have been totally full for a while.  No trains leaving Suvarnabhumi either (although the trains were working in the other direction obviously after our one stopped there would have been a lack of trains making the return journey).  At rush hour on a Friday too, lovely.

Outstanding effort by the SRTET tonight.  About 6.30pm tonight our train to Suvarnabhumi stopped at Ramkhamhaeng, people got off, people got on, doors closed.  Of course it was packed but that is not unusual - everyone managed to squeeze on.  After five minutes we hadn't moved and the doors opened again.  15 minutes later we still hadn't moved, the platform was getting busy.  After 20 minutes the security guards told us to get off the train.  We all got off, then the train drove away.

Not once in the whole time was there a single announcement or explanation of what was going on - what the delay was, how long it might be, or why, eventually, we were being asked to get off the train.  Nothing over the intercom (the electrics were still working - aircon and lights were fine - and so was train operation as it drove off after it was empty), nothing from the station staff and guards, not a word.  Things can go wrong but they should at least inform the passengers but literally not a single word from anyone.  After 20 minutes I left and went to find alternative transport so I don't know how long people were stuck for in the end.  What was amazing though was the patience of the Thais.  Not one person moaned, but also not one person asked what the heck was going on.

I'm not one of the ARL haters - I think it provides an excellent service.  But the SRT / SRTET really need putting out of their misery.  No standards, no training, no pride.

5 hours ago, kwilco said:

The fact is that these sort of collisions happen with the same frequency in Countries like the USA and UK, but the death toll is much lower.......so what's the explanation?

No they don't.  People do not get run over on the hard shoulder in the UK.  Firstly, if you break down you pull to the hard shoulder and get out of your car and off the hard shoulder.  Secondly, trucks and cars never ever drive on the hard shoulder to undertake or to use it as a shortcut if there is traffic.

It is tragic but there is no education about the dangers here.  Remember the policeman getting killed by the actress when he pulled over for a nap on the motorway?  

As Scorecard says, call them on 02 645 5555.  I have done it many a time to cancel a lost card, they speak English, then you can get a new card at any branch - Just take your bank book and passport.

I also agree that the Union Pay card is useless.

I came through on Thursday.  Absolutely empty and through in a couple of minutes.

Does anyone know if this is available through the Fast Track security / departure area?  If travelling out business class do we need to use the standard (queue-tastic) regular security and check in?

13 hours ago, Jeremia Juxtaposed said:

Ah..Sorry.

 

You can fill in the forms, give them a photo and get issued an International Driving Permit (driving license for abroad!)

Ah got it, thanks.

2 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

leave on time as trafic on Bangkok roads is unpredictible, as well as the security or mainly immigration queues...I make it a principle to leave at least 6 hours before departure of the flight.

That is a bit excessive.

6 minutes ago, Jeremia Juxtaposed said:

In T3 Departures you could check in, then go to the post office, get an IDP then go through immigration.Easy.

What is an IDP?  International Departure Passenger?  Something else?

But please, what do you need to post at the airport?

I'm really confused now.

13 hours ago, Jeremia Juxtaposed said:

This episode and their move to T5 with no post office for an IDP did it for me. Never never never BA again..

Why do you need a post office?  And why does that put you off BA?  Disclaimer: I would never fly BA myself, just wondering about the post office thing.  Why not fly from another terminal and fly Emirates?........but I don't get the post office thing.

All makes perfect sense.  Thanks again.

11 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

When does your current 90 day entry end from your visa end? You could get a re-entry permit to keep that entry valid when you make your trip. 

Or you could apply for a single or multiple entry non-o visa based upon at the embassy in London while in the UK.

You can get a work permit and work with a non-o visa based upon marriage.

You will find it difficult to get a non-b visa without a work permit application approval letter.

Hi Ubon Joe,

Thanks for the quick reply.  I'm going to be away next week and back on the 17th so I'll get another 90 days from then.  I may have one other trip just before the UK which would give me almost another full 90 days after the UK but not sure yet.  So I'd be able to get a re-entry permit at the airport and maintain what's left of the 90 days?

I didn't know you could get a WP on a Non-O, that's interesting.  My money and my income is now in Singapore so may be better to apply there rather than London?

And sorry for the questions, but if I go for another non-O would you recommend switching to a non B when the company is established or does it not matter?  Only when I have had non B's in the past they've always been 12 or 24 month with no requirement to leave, only do 90 day reports.  But with the non O I only get 90 day entries each time.  Is it possible to get a multi entry non-O that gives you a year at a time without the 90 day entry restriction?

Thanks again for your help.