Griffin09

I have actually considered building some type of acoustic wall on the back side of our property. Costly? Probably. 15 - 20 meters high? Will need some engineering advice, not just the regular guys that slap a bunch of bricks together. Would it keep out the noise? Not sure.

Thank you everyone! How do I find out contact info for the immigration offices such as phone numbers and addresses? Do I need to schedule an appointment or just show up early and grab a queue ticket? Do they have phone numbers that work?... so far I haven't been able to contact a single office. But I would really like to actually talk to someone and make sure that I understand the requirements correctly BEFORE i show up there.

There are many expats living in Bang Saen and the surrounding area. Your best bet is to just go to the office in Sri Racha. It is on the road that passes by Samitivej Hospital down by the harbor. There are actually a couple of people there that speak English. Good luck.

"A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanging but is the skin of a living thought and may vary in color and content according to the time and circumstances in which it is used"

I believe this was Oliver Wendell Holmes (US Supreme Court Justice). Basically, all languages, words or phrases change over time and should be accepted, respected or rejected by the populous based on their meaning and impact on the culture involved. Having said that, the gov't should be in power to govern the nation and see it grow and move forward not to micro manage it's culture or it's language.

Hopefully I am not taking the title of this article out of context:

[Visa overstay issues causes confusion]

What is so confusing about this law? Step-by-step:

Arrive and receive a stamp with a date on it.

That date arrives.

Pack up and leave.

No issues....

[the currency's strength was mostly based on the positive balance of trade -- reflecting robust exports -- rather than speculation.] Even though my export business is suffering because we now have to charge the customers more based on a US$ FOB? Robust exports? What great spin the gov't has!

When I purchased a car, the dealer required a 3,000Bt deposit on the red plates. Once the white plates were issued it took a month to get that deposit back. Games!!

The banking system here is a business and should charge for the service of using their ATM network. However, as noted, the 150 Bt charged by Thai banks is at a level known to most as "gouging the customer". We are stuck with whatever charge they decide on because there are very few other options. T/T charges would be even higher depending on the amount that is transferred into the country. Transfer fees within the same bank's system (inter-provincial transfers) especially if accomplished over the internet are also outrageous. On top of all that is the timing. Bangkok Bank sends a transfer to UOB in the morning but it is not available at UOB until the "late afternoon". Why? A transfer is sent from a major bank in Europe (in Thai Baht) and it takes 5-7 working days to be available in a Thai Bank. Why? This type of action may have far greater effects than people realize. If people think that business in this country is down only because of the political trouble they need to consider all the facts. The banking examples here are just a small part of the many reasons that foreigners may decide not to invest or buy products from Thailand.

A curfew from 11:00pm to 5:00am has been declared in the following provinces:

· Ayuthaya

· Bangkok metropolitan area

· Chaiyaphum

· Chiang Mai

· Chiang Rai

· Chonburi

· Kalasin

· Khon Kaen

· Lampang

· Mahasarakham

· Mukdaharn

· Nakhon Pathom

· Nakhon Ratchasima

· Nakhon Sawan

· Nan

· Nong Bua Lamphu

· Nonthaburi

· Pathum Thani

· Roi Et

· Sakon Nakhon

· Samut Prakarn

· Sisaket

· Ubon Ratchathani

· Udon Thani

After all this noise about tourism declining, they still only gave me 15 days for a visa on entry today at Aranyapathet!

Rumor says the red shirts are moving out to many other parts of the country. I need to drive from Chonburi to Aranyapathet to clear my visa in the next couple of days. Is there a website that reveals whether or not some of the roads will be "safe" and also if the border crossing is open? I certainly don't need any problems from any group of people out there that may wish to do harm. Suggestions?

I went to a PTT station a few days ago and asked for 30 Bt worth of 91 for my motorcycle. The attendant refused, saying that I must buy 40 Bt worth. Is there a law/rule/regulation/promotion/program that says you must buy a minimum of 40 Bt worth of gasoline/petrol now? Will dealing with cheating/surly pump attendants also be part of the new 'coloring' program?

Does this mean that many of the passengers tend to ignore the Platform Gestapo's whistle?

Thank goodness this woman was not electrocuted!

Public prosecutors charged that the crime took place from October 6 to November 30.

Oddly enough, it took them about 8 weeks to be offended.

The work permit - the booklet itself - must be turned in to the Labor office within 7 days of terminating your employment or it will cost 1,000 Bt penalty. The company may do this for you but it would be better to do it yourself so you know it gets done. This may or may not reflect on getting a work permit with a new employer but why take the chance?

If the visa is good until March 2010 and the entry stamp does not require you to leave until that date then why go? The Immigration Dept and the Labor Dept do not yet have cross references to check this sort of thing. Having said that, if you are told that it is illegal then you should leave right away but I have never heard of them telling you to leave on the day you stop work? There must be some reasonable grace period. This would give you plenty of time to look for a new job.