josephbloggs

FWIW, I saw two BYD Atto 3s today. I'm in a small northern English, pretty run down, seaside town. I didn't expect to see any BYDs at all on this trip but was quite surprised to see two in one afternoon of walking around. No idea how much they cost here though. Seems they have quite a few dealerships already. And like I said, advertising heavily - they obviously have a plan.

Yes, you can. I did it a week or so ago. Very easy and takes 10-15 minutes. Allow 30 minutes in case it is busy and you'll be fine. A family of four got there just before me but I was still out in 10 minutes. Go through immigration Zone 2. After security, you come down the escalator and turn right, the desk is at the far end (before immigration), you can't miss it. If you arrive with the form filled out and photos it is 1,000 for a single entry. But pay an extra 200 baht and they fill out the form and take the photos for you. Just give them your passport, write down your address and they do the rest - couldn't be easier. They hand your passport and completed form back and tell you to walk to a window and place it in a tray. 10 minutes or so later they'll call your name out to go and get it, then you go to immigration counters as normal. You can also get multi-entry reentry permits there but I forgot the price. I think 3,900 if you do all the form filling and photos and the same extra 200 baht if you want them to do it.

That is untrue. The employer can cancel it. When I left my last job we agreed a date for me to finish, then on that day they went to immigration to cancel my visa for me - I just gave them my passport and didn't have to go with them, I went and got it back once it was done. Easy.

I had a ride in an OGC Grab, though it was nice inside and solid. Can't get over the pig ugly looks of the 07 though.

You should tell them when you decide you want to leave, allowing for your notice period. WP and visa can (and should be) be cancelled on the same day you officially leave.

I gave up fact checking EOW's mystery no context posts a while ago. He just keeps them coming and I can't be bothered. It's now boring, deliberately misleading, stupid, pointless and childish. I just don't understand what motivates him to search for random clips and post them here when most of them turn out to be utter nonsense. Why bother? How you can hate a type of propulsion so much that you have to search for someone's YouTube not being able to be played while driving (common and sensible) and posting that it means the car is broken? It is illogical and, frankly, idiotic. Oh, and he never ever responds when it is debunked. But no doubt he'll be along again tomorrow with another gem, polluting the thread even further.

My God, it's like being in the school playground. Yes, I admit, I'm biased for or against EVs, which ever one you think - I can't keep track any more, but well done, you win.

Not sure where you are going with this but it is just odd. If I admire EVs I should immediately sell my ICEVs and buy an EV? What financial sense would that make? And then if a new model of EV comes out that I like I should immediately sell my EV and buy a new one? Do you do that with your phones? A new Samsung comes out which you think is cool so you would sell your one year old iPhone and go buy a Samsung?? Or would you continue with your iPhone then when you are ready to buy a new one consider the Samsung? Strange logic, strange argument. Mt latest ICEV is still pretty new and I am still paying off the finance with just a few months to go. I bought it just before EVs really started to take off and, I admit, I didn't think EVs would float my boat, but I have since spent three days with one and toured several 100s of kms in it. For my own reasons now is not the sensible time to go and buy a new car when the one I have is still perfectly modern and desirable. But when I do buy a new car it will be an EV, 100%.

That literally makes no sense at all.

Why would I be biased? I don't own an EV, I own two petrol cars, not even hybrids.

Slightly off topic but I am in the UK for a couple of weeks. BYD are major sponsors of the Euros. Pitch side electronic hardings, TV Commercials for the Seal during the breaks. No other car manufacturer is advertising at the Euros at all. Like it or not, BYD has major ambitions (and I do like it even though I don't own one).

@ExpatOilWorker I notice you didn't post the video of the petrol station fire in Pattaya. Weird, anyone would think you might be biased.

Also another reason why you take any video EOW posts with a massive bucket of salt. It is tiresome - no context to the videos, no write up of what happened, just anti-Chinese nonsense. Getting very very boring now.

I agree. I have been at Nai Harn in conditions like this. The yellow and red flags we really close together and they were only letting people go in a narrow area where they could see what was going on and intervene. Sadly people do think they can go where they want and they do their best to control it. Inside those two flags was really rough. Outside the flags was just too dangerous. RIP to the poor guy, so sad. And to think there's one idiot who constantly posts on here that Thailand doesn't have dangerous seas or currents.

Not any more. The ARL was handed over to Asia Era One - a private CP-led consortium - maybe 2-3 years ago. Before that it was run by the SRTET which is the same company as the red line.

We'll agree to differ then. Maintenance was definitely an issue under the SRT (which is Thailand's most incompetent government agency)( but hopefully under Asia Era One it will be better. They already improved the stations adding better signage, better access, and TOILETS!! But time will tell. Safety? There's never been an accident on the ARL as far as I am aware. I remember one on the KLIA express when two trains collided. The entire thing was also suspended a few years ago for a couple of years only returning to full service last year. It's not faster either, both systems run at 160kmh, but it may seem that way as it covers a much longer distance and doesn't stop like the ARL does I am at BKK now, having travelled on the ARL from town and it was fast, cheap, and comfortable and dropped me right in the airport. I think it has it's flaws but overall it is a decent system. Finally, the KLIA Express takes you to KL which is a turdhole. the ARL takes you in to Bangkok. 🙂 Agree to disagree.

Not correct according to Richard Barrow. The metre gauge terminal Vientiane station is about 25 minutes away from the standard gauge high speed Vientiane station. Different places entirely. https://x.com/RichardBarrow/status/1800046052781019194

No.

It is ten times the price, there's one comparison.

What amazing insight. And what have you based that enlightened opinion on?

Eh? there's no such thing as Easyflow, and what is this 28 day cycle? Easypass is a device that you top up online (or in physical offices) and you are deducted every time you pass a toll. You need to make sure you have credit or the gate won't open. Works on most expressways if not all (it didn't use to work on the Don Muang tollway but don't know if that has changed). You have an RFID device stuck on your windscreen that the gates read. M Pass is exactly the same and is interchangeable. Originally Easy Pass was for the number 7 and other Bangkok expressways excluding the ring road (number 9). M Pass was for the ring road and excluded everything else. A few years ago they made them interchangeable so Easy Pass and M Pass both work on the same tolls. M Flow is something different. There is no RFID device, you register your car online and the cameras recognise when you pass - there are no toll gates. You can be charged on your credit card or direct debit, or you can pay monthly. This only works on the number 9 ring road currently. They are supposed to roll out M Flow for all tollways this year but I haven't seen anything happening - probably why they won't issue the OP a new M Pass because it is being superceded.

Yep, Picadilly Line King's Cross to LHR would cost £6.90 / 315 baht, take an hour, be packed, no seats, no luggage space, and have about 20 stops. And no aircon. Or you can take the Heathrow Express form Paddington for £25 / 1,165 THB for a 15 minute journey. You'll probably get a seat. By the way this is the most expensive train journey in the world per passenger mile. Or the ARL from Phaya Thai to Suvaranabhuni is 45 baht / 95 British pence. Aircon, fast, convenient, ends up right in the basement below departures, unlike the Heathrow Express. I know which I would prefer. @rabang is just a basher with no argument. "Narrow"?? It's the same width as any other train.

Hilarious nonsense. So they spend billions/trillions so it easier to control protests if they want to hold them in the government capital? Really??

Yes, it is much improved. Very very pleasantly surprised after going back for the first time in 15+ years. The pier is much better and more organised. There is also now a high speed catamaran service from Ban Phe. I haven't used it as I prefer to go by speedboat but it looks very nice. The only development I don't like is that speedboats from the mainland now can't drop you directly on your beach. Every boat has to dock at the main pier, and then there is an organised set up to pay the park fee. It is way more organised and makes sense, but I did like just rocking up on a speedboat right outside your hotel. The road is now a proper road. And even the 7-Elevens there don't give out plastic bags. It's clean.

They are every ten minutes in off peak. Every 6 minutes or so in peak times.