connda

This high season is pretty low, increased competition for money, police owned jet skis, corrupt police everywhere, why is anyone surprised this shit is happening? These Irish guys will go home and tell their friends, who will tell their friends, etc etc , next high season even lower, blah blah.

This is not Disney Land people, pay attention.Give then what they want, the police are in on it, and live to play another day.

The best thing to do is: don't rent jet skis (or any other equipment) in Pattaya and Puket. If you're an expat who is living here, educate you're friends who are visiting to the types of scams that are being run here. You can eventually put these jerks out of business by simply boycotting their services. Maybe and even better idea -- find a different location other than Pattaya or Puket. There are many other beautiful places to visit in Thailand where the service providers are relatively honest business-people trying to make a living without ripping off tourists. Just don't play the game.

Try Dokmai Massage on Thapae Soi 1. It's a small place owned by a very friendly, English-speaking Thai woman named Ooy. She does oil massage and traditional Thai massage. Oil massage is 250 baht / hr and Thai massage is 200 baht / hr, although you could probably talk her into a discount. She even has an espresso machine in case you want a coffee fix (which I do).. There is a shower in the restroom. Ooy is a wealth of information about the local area and she really helped me when I visited Chiang Mai. I've attached a Google Earth placemark to her business. Enjoy!

Dokmai Massage.kmz

There are many guest houses all over CM, especially between Thapae Road and Loi Kroh Road, and inside the moated area.. Many rent on an extended basis and you can probably get a room with a fan for between 2000 - 3500 baht. I suggest just coming here, rent a room for a couple of days and walk around to the various guest houses until you find something that you like within your price range. There are numerous places to rent bikes also. Generally a 125 cc bike will run you 150 baht a day. Obviously cheaper if you rent by the week or month. Again, just walk around - they are everywhere. However, they will want your passport for collateral. This is standard practice. Make a copy of your passport to carry with you. If you want something bigger than a 125cc, look up Tony's Big Bikes Chiang Mai on the Internet. If you want a nice massage, try Dokmai Massage on Thapae Soi 1 (see Google Earth placemark). The owner, Ooy, is a very nice, talkative Thai lady and she can give you all sorts of information about the local area and a great massage too. She helped me find a place for 2000 baht a month last year. Have fun!

Dokmai Massage.kmz

Dongtawan. On Loi Kroh next to the night bazaar isn't bad. It has a decent pool also.

But as Heybruce said you might want to broaden your search.

I agree with the Dongtawan Hotel. The Fitness center is located on the 4th floor. Well equipped with both free-weights and machines, although the free-weight selection is a bit limited compared to clubs I've used in the U.S.. They have a pool outside on the roof, but it's not really a lap pool. Membership fee is $1000 baht a month. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the facilities are well maintained. Located at the end of Loi Kroh on the right side of the road just before you get to the Night Market. They have a parking garage and the fitness center will validate your parking -- i.e., free parking.

Try Prirate's Cove. Nice owners and staff. Very airy. Free internet. And the food's pretty good. They also rent motorcycles. See attached Google Earth placemark.

Pirates Cove Bar.kmz

I have a question here; have you been diagnosed and tested positive for Dengue?

Yes, I was.

I came down with Dengue fever about two months ago. Since then, I've been experiencing fatigue and a loss of energy on almost a daily basis. I've been trying to eat right, get rest, and even exercise to get my energy levels back to normal. I just read on the internet that Dengue can cause long term, post infection fatigue. Dandy!

Has anyone had any experience with fatigue after getting Dengue? How long did it take you to start feeling OK again?

Up in the N/E corner, inside moat road, there is a bike shop where I've seen a variety of bike accessories and they may be able to help. Possibly a little longer "goose neck" mount to raise up more or different bars altogether?

Great. Thanks for the map link.

You can lower the seat (saddle) as the thai people do.

Yeah...can't drop the seat. I've got "farang" legs. Not the short stubby Thai variety.

I recently bought a mountain bike that I'd like to have modified. The handle bars are simply too low for me to ride comfortably. The bars are set at the highest position -- can't raise them any higher.

So, I'm looking for someone who can do custom bike work. I need to have the handlebars reshaped or rebuilt. I like the bike, but I don't ride it much. I'm forced to lean too far forward which makes my back uncomfortable.

Anyone know someone who can do custom bike work in CM?

Thanks!

I've been having my family forward my mail to me in Thailand, but the longer I live here, the less my family seems to be willing to help me. I'm not being told when I have important mail arrive and it takes forever to get them to mail important documents to me. However, I need to maintain a physical address in the US for a number of reasons. So, I'm starting to believe that a mail forwarding service may be my best answer.

Does anyone from the US who is residing in Thailand have any experience using USA-based mail forwarding services. I'd like some feedback from people who have had first hand experience with US-based mail forwarding services (both good and bad) who can make informed recommendations from personal experience. So please -- don't reply with "look on the Internet".

Thanks!

I seem to recall having seen links at some point, but the best I know of off the top of my head are:

http://bet.obec.go.t...8/news/scan.pdf

It contains an explanation of all the test parts and has some sample questions.

Also this:

http://www.karn.tv/thai.html

Scroll to the รวมข้อสอบ section and download the ป.6 test (direct PDF link here). These sample tests are intended for Thai children, not foreigners, but will perhaps give you more of an idea of the level of questions to be asked.

This definitely will help. Thanks for the info!

Does anyone know if there are any published study guides and practice tests for the Pratom 6 Level Thai Language Certification Test which is approved by the Thai Ministry of Education.

I'm interested in any resources that have been published explicitly to prepare students for this test.

Thanks!!!

Naga

"It should be a couple of years before banks can recoup the loss with other kinds of revenue."

Translation : We can raise the international ATM fees from 150 to 300 baht the first year, and then from 300 to 600 baht the next year. If the farangs don't like it, they can go home. And the stupid tourists can go vacation in Malaysia or Vietnam. Otherwise they can pay.

Yeah -- I just started having the same problem connecting to Facebook a couple of days ago. I don't get the MICT message, but Facebook will simply not load completely. ISP is Maxnet. Tried Firefox, Chrome, and IE with no success. Tried changing my MAC and IP addresses but no joy, so they don't seem to be targeting individual computers although they may be targeting the router's.

I tried connecting with https and it worked. I've added HTTPS Everywhere to my Firefox browser and all is well. You can download the Firefox plug-in at https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere. The plug-in is configurable and you can write your own Javascript-based rulesets.

This is a cultural issue at many levels: whether it's the diversion of resources to enrich certain "entitled" individuals who feed at the top of the educational food chain; to Pu Yai school administrators who will not lower themselves to interacting with the rank-and-file teachers; to the teachers who find it impossible to enforce anything that resembles educational diligence and excellence in the classroom to the utter detriment of their students; to the students and parents who believe that learning will somehow take place if the student simple shows up for class -- no thought or effort required once you're there because of course, the teachers are not allowed to fail students. The rigidity of the Thai cultural system simply does not allow positive change to happen.

The only way change happens is when change in embraced. That sounds simple enough. Change requires a willingness to change, and then an investigation of the organizational processes to determine what works and what is truly lacking. But that involves self-critique, and self-critique leads the admission that perhaps there is something wrong with the system, and identifying defects in the system leads to loss of face -- and ain't nobody from the highest head of MOE down though the system to the lowest student in the most destitute, underfunded village school is going to suffer a loss of face. Uh Uh -- No way -- Ain't gonna happen here! There is no working feedback loop -- those of lower status won't risk rocking the boat by offering opinions and suggestions to their superiors and those with higher status don't want to hear it anyway. Maintain the status quo at all costs. So the system remains broke.

The educational system in Thailand is culture bound. It needs to become culturally acceptable to embrace change for the betterment of the country though the education of the Thai children. And until some enlightened, altruist, educated, and capable individuals are able to come to power within the political and educational bureaucracies of this country, then you can pretty safely bet that nothing is going to change for the better anytime soon. Which is pretty sad because pretty soon, Thailand is going to have difficulties keeping up with the Zhang's, the Najib's, the Nguyễn's, the Suharto's, and Guptas in this rapidly developing Asian region. But ironically, that just might be the catalyst needed for change!

Anyway I go to the bed now for I go to shopping tomorrow.

Thanks all for the information!

Implement a 15% flat tax on everyone and then get rid of the bloated bureaucracy. More taxes revenue generated with less government -- Problem solved. And all that should happen just about the time hel_l freezes over...but there you have it.

I thought at one time I read that the O-A Retirement visa had to be funded from sources outside of Thailand. But I also read a lot of posts that just indicate that you only need 800000 that been in a Thai bank for 3 months with no mention as to the source of income.

So theoretically, lets say that I've been living and working (and paying taxes) in Thailand for 10 years, and I decide to retire. My funds have been made within the country, but I've saved the required 800000 baht to qualify for the visa. Is the source of the income going to be a problem?

I'm seeking advice from anyone with experience raising dairy cows in Thailand. I'd like two raise one or two head for personal dairy consumption (and to sell any excess). We live in Lamphun province and have approximately 15 rai of land. I'd prefer to pasture graze the cattle.

How do I get started?

Thanks!

Heck, you know...15 billion to build it and 15 billion spread around to various "friends" in order to grease the skids. What the heck -- It's Amazing Thailand!!!

I mean really? If you're a Farang, log on to Thai Visa and vent all you want. Hey! We all have opinions and this is a great place to voice them. But!!!

Actively being involved in Thai politics or social protest movements is shear stupidity. If your not a citizen, then you're a guest. It's not your country. So, if you can't comprehend that there are "lines in the sand" that you just don't cross, then you're probably going to be joining Mr. Purcell at some time in the future. Stupidity tends to be self-correcting.

And as for Mr. Purcell? Well...Bon Voyage dude!

Correct.

Cool! Thanks for the information!

You will just change the reason for your extension of stay. Yes you do with your wife and present financials of 40k per month or 400k in bank for Thai wife extension of stay.

Your visa ended long ago; either when the expiration date was passed (multi) or on your entry (single) and since that time you have used permitted to stay and extension of stay to remain here. You are just changing that extension of stay reason.

Lopburi3 -- That actually almost makes sense.

However, this is where a get confused. I've been told that I have one (1) day to exit the country if my employments ends ( I signed a piece of paper acknowledging that fact). However, if I understand you correctly, I have to leave because my extension is based on Employment -- and -- this really does not have anything to do with the original Non-Imm B visa that was issued a couple of years ago because the original visa just got me into the country the first time -- does that sound correct?

Therefore, if I am granted a 1 year extension based on Marriage, then I'm eligible to remain in the country for the duration of the extension even if my employments ends -- is that correct?

I'm still trying to understand this, but I keep seeing conflicting information.

I work and I have a Non-Imm B visa. Last year I extended the visa based on employment.

This year I'm going to extend the visa based on marriage. My wife and I did a "dry run" to our local immigration office to make sure we had the necessary documentation. I'll be applying with my wife present next month. I'll apply 30 days before the my visa expires.

Do I have this concept correct:

I'm extending my original Non-Imm B visa, but the extension is based on marriage instead of employment.

* This will not change my visa from a Non-Imm B visa to a Non-Imm OA (True or False).

If my visa is still a Non-Imm B AND my extension is based and marriage AND my employment ends what happens next???

* If I have a Non-Imm B visa that has been extended based on marriage, is the visa still valid for the duration of the extension, or -

* Is my visa now invalid therefore requiring me to exit Thailand to apply for a new Non-Imm OA, or

* is there some other process that I'm not understanding.