allane

Fly to Kunming, China, 2 hrs. by air from Bangkok. Then travel by overnight bus to Lijiang, west of Kunming. Take a daytrip up Jade Dragon Mountain. It is the start of the Himalayas.

I believe that the rule in Thailand re closure of dormant banking accounts is two years; in other words, the bank will close your account if there has been no activity for two years. It happened to me, but that was about seven years ago, so my memory is a little hazy.

I would not rely on a "front counter" employee at a Thai bank to tell me anything about life outside of Thailand. They are so poorly paid that, in all likelihood, they have never travelled outside of Thailand, and likely never will.

It is too easy for them to assure you that your Thai ATM card will work in any ATM in the world. If it did not, and if you came back in to complain about having been misled, they would just stand there and laugh in your face.

I have used one of my Thai ATM cards in Malaysia (Thai Military Bank, I think). Another farang (also Thai resident) told me that it only works in Maybank machines. By chance, that is the one I had found first, so I can not comment on the others. So, especially when travelling in other semi-developed countries, don't give up if the first ATM you see rejects your card. Try to determine which of the local banks is most likely to have real connections with a Thai bank, rather than just pretty tellers or pretty brochures saying that they have.

I think that firstly, your GF needs documentary proof of her identity, i.e. a Thai ID card, or whatever might be issued in lieu thereof if she is from a hilltribe area.

Is there a local "mayor" ("Kamnan" in Thai), or anyone else in her home area, who might be able to vouch for her identity ? (I personally don't know what sort of guarantor might be acceptable to the Thai government.)

All Thai people are formally identified by their connection to their House Registration document ("Tabien Baan") in Thai. Most young adults (or any other adult who does not own the home s/he lives in) are still formally registered as part of their parent's household. Is she listed on anyone's Tabien Baan ? If she is, the actual owner of the house MAY be able to vouch for her.

Is she employed ? If she is employed formally/legally, she probably had to provide proof of identity to her employer. This is the first thing that any Thai person has to do when applying for a job.

With all due respect to you, I don't think that there is much you can do to help her. She is an adult who should be able to help herself. Alternatively, there must be people on the scene who could do far more than you ever could. As others have said, a "farang" coming over here and attempting to throw his weight around would only be counterproductive.

There is no "secure" internet cafe in Chiang Mai, or anywhere else on this planet. Why ? Because whoever had the knowledge to make it "secure" also has the knowledge to make it unsecure.

Bambina is right. Omnoi is in Samut Sakhon. My mistake.

Now that I have told you that Omnoi is in Nakhon Pathom, I would be interested in knowing how that bit of information will assist you. But, if it does, it was my pleasure to give it to you.

I recently stayed at the Hong Ping Hotel on Chulia Street (near the Swiss Lodge, and on the same side of the street). About 65 ringit (750 baht) per night. Credit cards accepted, which is why I chose it. (Any places which are cheaper would be unlikely to accept them.)

I have just heard a rumour of a forthcoming increase to the departure tax at Don Muang Airport ( and possibly other international airports in Thailand too ?).

Can anyone confirm the effective date of any price increase and the amount of the new fee ?

I would appreciate a reference to a news story if you have one.

Here are the postal codes for Bangkok:

10100 Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Samphanthawong

10110 Wattana

10120 Bangkholaem, Yannawa

10140 Ratburana, Thung Khru

10150 Bang Bon, Bang Khun Thian

10160 Phasijaroen, Bang Khae, Nong Khaem

10170 Talingchan, Thawi Wattana

10200 Phra Nakhon

10210 Laksi

10220 Bang Khen, Sai Mai

10240 Bang Kapi, Saphan Sung

10250 Suan Luang

10260 Phra Khanong, Bang Na

10300 Dusit

10310 Huay Kwang, Ladprao, Wangthonglang

10330 Patumwan

10400 Dindaeng, Phayathai

10500 Bangrak

10510 Minburi, Khlong Samwa

10520 Lat Krabang

10530 Nongjok

10600 Bangkok Yai, Khlongsan, Thonburi

10700 Bangkok Noi, Bang Plat

10800 Bang Seu

10900 Jatujak

I too think that the nationality of the passport does not matter. This happened to me a few years ago. My Work Permit and accompanying one year visa were being processed along with those of many of my colleagues. The Immigration Officer "rubber-stamped" all passports, probably quite quickly, and did not notice that my passport had less than one year before it expired.

The problem was drawn to my attention when I left Thailand and re-entered. The Immigration Officer at Don Muang Airport gave me a stamp stating that things had to be rectified by a specified date.

After I obtained my new passport, I had to visit both the Immigration and Labour Depts. to have the stamps replicated in the new passport. As a matter of interest, BEFORE they gave me the new stamps, they repeated the mistake in the new passport, then gave me a second stamp saying that it was a mistake, then a third stamp to correct the mistake. All of this happened at the Immigration Office; I then had to go to the Labour Dept. to have my Work Permit noted on the back page of my new passport.

My problem is i was told by Aus. Emb. and is now advertised on ABC Aisa Pacific that once passport is cancelled i cannot use again. Any one out there with Aus. passport any info on this.

You can not use the passport to enter or leave a country but you should still be able to use any valid visas contained in it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I cannot specifically comments on Aus. p/ports,however, the general ruel is

a) the passport belongs to the issuing government.

visa or other remarks made by other countries' authorities canot be cancelled or voided by anybody else.

So when the p/port is cancleed, the might cut off the edges on the cover and mark any unused page as void, but never a visa which remains valid.

Tis is my experience with Japanes and German passports, but assume the rule apply to all nationalities.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My problem is i was told by Aus. Emb. and is now advertised on ABC Aisa Pacific that once passport is cancelled i cannot use again. Any one out there with Aus. passport any info on this.

You can not use the passport to enter or leave a country but you should still be able to use any valid visas contained in it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I cannot specifically comments on Aus. p/ports,however, the general ruel is

a) the passport belongs to the issuing government.

visa or other remarks made by other countries' authorities canot be cancelled or voided by anybody else.

So when the p/port is cancleed, the might cut off the edges on the cover and mark any unused page as void, but never a visa which remains valid.

Tis is my experience with Japanes and German passports, but assume the rule apply to all nationalities.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

While walking down the street in Hat Sai Khao a year ago, I was approached by a young guy who apppeared to be working at a nearby bar. I was there on a business trip, sharing a hotel room with a co-worker, so I was unable to take him up on his generous offer. But maybe if you are there on a recreational trip, you won't have the same problem ! Sorry, I can't remember the name of the place, but it is on the east side of the main road.

Some colleagues of mine report having been able to "do their own Work Permits", by which I mean they took all the properly completed forms, (signed by the employer where necessary) into the Immigration Office. They then sat their and obtained the necessary renewals.

But be warned, if there is even one document or signature missing, the paperwork will have to be returned to the employer for correction.

I have been reading recently in the Bangkok Post and elsewhere about the serious decline in tourism to Phuket, and the failure of tourists to return following the tsunami. We are told that tourism businesses are waiting for the high season, but with hotel occupancy rates of 20%, I question how many of them will be able to wait for the high season ?

How much of the commercial gay scene remains in Patong ? What about prices for the various services provided ?

And, are there any new developments in Amphoe Muang (Phuket Town)? On the east side of the island, it should be safe from the next tsunami !

I have been told that there are two public swimming pools in the Pattaya area, one at Na Klua, and one between South Pattaya and Jomtien. Can anyone provide:

1. Specific location ?

2. Hours of operation ?

3. Are they suitable for fitness swimming, or are they "play pools" for children ?

4. Admission fee ?

I am a longtime resident of Bangkok, but I have never been to Samui.

I may soon be offered a job on Samui. I do not know the exact location of my prospective employer's business, hence the general nature of some of these questions. I would appreciate replies from foreign residents (or former residents) of Samui. If you are a former resident, please tell me how long it has been since you lived there. I would be coming to live there on a Thai salary, so want replies from people with that perspective, not from rich tourists boasting about how they paid "only" so much for something, when they have actually paid 2 or 3 times the rate that would be charged to a local person.

1. International telephone and fax service- is it available in some public centre, perhaps operated by the CAT ? Is it reliable ?

2. I would probably want to live in Nathon, but would not want to be confined there. I presume that there is a songthaew service from Nathon to outlying areas. What hours does the scheduled service operate ? What are the fares to some of the more popular outlyng areas ? Do the drivers attempt or succeed at overcharging foreigners (even those of us who live, or would be living, there) ?

3. Boat services to the mainland - I am aware that there is a night boat to Surat (maybe more than one company ?), as well as the car ferry to Donsak.

- is the night boat safe for a farang ? (i.e to get on the boat and sleep, without waking up and finding that your wallet has been stolen ?)

- if I walk onto the car ferry, is there a songthaew or bus on the Donsak end, that would take me out to the main Surat - Nakhon Sri Thammarat highway.

- is there any direct boat service from Nathon to Chumphon ? (not having to stop or change boats at Gaw Phangnan or Gaw Tao)

4. Shopping - is there any sort of western style shopping centre in Nathon - perhaps a Tesco-Lotus or a Big "C" ?

5. Apartments - Are Thai style, one room with attached bath available in the outlying areas, or do all of the Thai workers live in Nathon, and commute out to their jobs every day, and commute back to Nathon every night ?

6. Public swimming pools - is there a municipal swimming pool in Nathon, or anywhere else on the island ? Might any of the major hotels allow me to swim in their pool on a "walk-in" basis, for 40 - 50 baht per time ?

The jobwhich I may be offered has a relatively low salary, on the basis that Samui is some sort of a tropical paradise, where I would hardly need any money. But after several years in Thailand, I know that the novelty of living in a "tropical paradise" would quickly disappear, especially for someone who is moving there to work. I don't want to accept a job paying no more than what I can earn in Bangkok, if I would have to pay "tourist prices" for everything.

Any additional comments on things which I may not have even thought of would be welcome. If you have a valuable comment which you do not want to post here, you can send me an E-mail at: [email protected] Any comments received will be viewed only by myself, and not forwarded to anyone else.

Does anyone have any information about an increase in the price of electricity in Bangkok in January 2005 ? I would appreciate a reference to a newspaper story if you have one.

Where to Buy Kelp Tablets in Bangkok ?

Washington Optical,

Ground Floor of Amarin Plaza, near the back

Ratprasong Intersection (Erawan Shrine Corner)

See Wichai, he speaks English. Open Saturdays, but closed Mondays.

English Speaking Dentist near BTS line:

Dr. Pitak

Ground Floor of Northeast Building

Sathorn Thani Complex

NE Corner of Sathorn and Chong Nonsri Roads (just outside Chong Nonsri BTS

Station)

He is only there certain days of the week. He has a 2nd location elsewhere.

Perhaps a little more expensive than some...Ask price before proceeding.

With some amazing luck, I solved my own problem, and found exactly what I was looking for ! I trust that the man who helped me will not object to some free publicity:

Henry G. Joensen

Orthotic & Biomechanics Consultant

524/7 Soi Matanusorn

Mahaisawan Road

Bangkholaem, Bangkok 10120

Tel. (02) 292 - 1200 Fax:(02) 292 - 1480 E-mail: [email protected]

Where to buy insoles in Bangkok ? I prefer the semi-firm type, not soft foam rubber, or molded hard plastic.