allane

You don't mention the total number of students that you are being asked to teach. You may wish to limit it by grade, or number of rooms, so that you are not teaching too many rooms per week during any one period. You can always agree to expand your workload once you have some experience.

I followed a link another poster provided about PIT, personal income tax in thailand. I did not fine any tax forms there. So, if I am teaching in Thailand, and I am a non-resident, do you file a tax form so you can claim your deductions and allowances? I have seen posters say taxes are taken out of their pay check. OK, fine, but how do you claim the reductions?

Also, the PIT link said after 180 days you are a "resident" and foreign income sources are taxed. Hmmm. That seems a bit dodgy. I am assuming that is a non-player, as the US will happily be taxing my other incomes from my investments, stocks and bond transactions etc.

You seem to conflating a number of issues here:

1. If you are a "non-resident", how do you teach in Thailand - do you commute in from some other country every day ?

2. What "deductions and allowances" and "reductions" are you referring to ? I know of some which can reduce the amount of income tax payable in Thailand, but not of any which might result in a credit (cash coming back to you).

3. I gather that you are an American. As a non-American myself I am not the best-informed on this issue, but I understand that for American citizens, there is some process where you may be able to apply to have Thai income tax refunded to you; however my understanding is that you have to pay the Thai income tax first, and then apply to have it refunded to you. (Thai employers can hardly be expected to apply one method for Americans, and another for other foreigners.)

4. Of note, since you state that you are a teacher: Thai income tax is due March 31 of each year, for the preceding calendar year. If you are on an annual contract that has some other end-date, that is irrelevant.

An awfully hard question to answer because it is so broad, but here are some general comments/guidelines:

- banks - normally 8:30 - 3:30, Mon. Fri.

- Govt. offices 8:30 - 4:30, M.-F.

- Post offices - 8:30 - 5:00, M - F, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Sat.

- Private sector professional offfices - generally, they open and close later than what I was used to in my home country (Canada). There it was usually 8:00 - 4:00, or 8:30 - 4:30. Here it is later, even as late as 10:00 - 6:00, for places that work an 8 hour day.

- large Shopping Malls: approx. 10:30 - 9:00 p.m., but individual stores seem to have the freedom to close earlier if they wish. And, someMalls don't evenn open their doors until 11:00 a.m.

-neighbourhood Big "C", Tesco-Lotus, and similar stores: generally 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

- street side small stores: generally 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. In most cases the owners lives on the premises. After dinner, they may be relaxing in the back somewhere, but will come out to serve customers on demand.

If coming in from out of town, allow plenty of time for Bangkok traffic jams, and don't rely on doing business with anyone just before the close their doors.

I have not done this exact trip myself, so this is an educated guess:

I think that unless you want to return to Bangkok, you are going to have to go from Pattaya - Rayong - Chantaburi - Trat, changing buses at each place. This would not be as bad as it sounds, local bus service in Thailand is very frequent, from about 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

From Trat, you need to take a songthaew (pick-up truck with bench seating in the back) to Laem Ngop, then a ferry to Gaw Chang.

This part may be dated information, so my apologies if the situation has been corrected: I have heard reports of unscrupulous Thai's, with an official looking stand set up on the pier at Laem Ngop, selling farangs "boat tickets" which are either greatly inflated in price, if not completely worthless. Watch whatever the Thai people making the trip are doing, and do the same as them. I am sure that you can buy your ticket at the last second as you board the boat. It is rush seating, with no reservation required.

Sorry, I don't have a direct answer to your question, but here is what I would do if I were you:

Take a bus from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal to Amphoe Muang, Nakhon Pathom (Nakhon Pathom City). Stay on the bus until it gets to the Nakhon Pathom Bus Terminal (baw-khaw-saw in Thai). Here, I am referring to the bus terminal which is southeast of the town centre. I am NOT referring to the main downtown bus stop, which is just north of the chedi.

I presume that if you ask around the bus terminal, you will be directed to whatever transportation goes to your destination. Presumably there is a local bus or songthaew (pick-up truck with bench seating) service.

Unless your Thai is quite good, it would probably be advisable to have your exact destination written in Thai if possible.

Try this website: www.dnp.go.th

I am type B - (negative). Reply here if I can be of any assistance. I will check back here at about 3:00 - 3:30 p.m today, April 28. Or, leave me a Private Message, if you can make that function work for you.

I have had a Visa card at Siam Commercial Bank for several years now. The payment date is always the same, plus or minus one day. As far as I can determine, my statement is always printed on the same date., and they seem to give me the benefit if the cutoff date is a Sat., Sun., or holiday, i.e. they print my statement on the following Monday instead of the preceding Friday. The payment due date appears to be 21 days after the print date.

I pay at the ATM which gives me a receipt, and credits my account immediately.

Any foreigner who has been in Thailand for even a week should know enough not to sign a form for any sort of direct debit from your account. The morality of the Thai public may eventually develop to the point where that works as well as it does in the west, but I don't think that I will live to see that day. And, if you are old enough to be reading this, I don't think that you will either.

Banks, schools and government offices are normally closed Apr. 13, 14 and 15. Regarding tourist attractions, my guess would be that museums etc. are likely to be closed, temples would remain open.

I suggest that you think carefully before proceeding. Even if it is easy to get it started, it might be very difficult to get it stopped, when you eventually want to.

If you Google-search "Nakhon Nayok Catholic School", just like I did, you should find two mentioned in the first four results, just like I did.

The free buses are those red and cream ones which have a blue lettering on white background sign above the front windshield, and also above the doors. There seem to be some free buses on all the routes served by red and cream buses, though as with the timing more generally, when the free one will come is up to chance.

I know the free period has been extended once, until when I don't know.

Several years ago, I met a 71 yr. old foreign woman who was teaching at a Thai univ. I didn't specifically ask, but, I presume that she had a Work Permit. And, she had not been here very long, so would have been well over 65 when she got it. In her case, she was highly qualified, with a Master's Degree in her field.

I also used to work with a 65 yr. old foreigner, again a highly qualified individual. He definitely had a Work Permit.

Try this website: www.railway.co.th, or, send an E-mail to: [email protected]

I live in the Chatuchak area. I found a Lat Phrao post office (opposite Carrefour Lat Phrao) near my place.

I was looking for my missing parcel and I was told to go to the Chatuchak office instead. Any idea where that is?

I think that you were at it, assuming you were at the P.O. on the south side of Latprao Road, about 1 mile east of Phahonyothin Road. As well as searching my brain, I consulted my maps, which do not indicate any other P.O. that might be considered as the "Jatujak Post Office". And, the one you were at is located in Jatujak District.

The one which Bkkjames mentions on Phahonyothin, the Saphan Kwai Post Office is one Skytrain station away from Jatujak Park.

I do know of some others. If the above list does not include one close to you, give me an idea where you are. I may know one nearby.

Ask some returning tourist to bring you a sack of rice. I understand that there is a Thai driver's licence in every one.

There is one quite well-known place, which I can not recall the name of, as I have never eaten there. I do recall that it has only a Thai language sign in front. When will you be in Bkk. ? I can read Thai, and don't mind walking by the place next time I am in the area.

FYI: This is one example where the romanization of Thai does not work very well (re: the name of the road). If you say "Pan", as in frying pan, no one will understand you. It is closer to the English word "bun".

I need to go to Soi 44 Ramintra in BKK tomorrow.

I am going by mini-bus from the North and was told, by someone who lives in BKK, to go to Rangsit and get a taxi from there.

Surely I would be better to go to Victory monument and get a taxi?

Looking at the map it is 21 kilometers from Rangsit to Ramintra and near 2 kilometers from Victory Monument to Ramintra.

Or am I mistaken?

Sorry for misreading your Post. I see you want Soi 44, not Soi 14. My directions are still valid, you will just have to go further east on Ramintra Road. You will need to go about 7 - 8 km from Phahonyothin Road.

I need to go to Soi 44 Ramintra in BKK tomorrow.

I am going by mini-bus from the North and was told, by someone who lives in BKK, to go to Rangsit and get a taxi from there.

Surely I would be better to go to Victory monument and get a taxi?

Looking at the map it is 21 kilometers from Rangsit to Ramintra and near 2 kilometers from Victory Monument to Ramintra.

Or am I mistaken?

As I scale it from a map, it is approx. 13 km from Rangsit to the intersection of Ramintra and Phahonyothin Roads. It is about the same from the Victory Monument to the Ramintra/Phahonyothin intersection. If you are coming from the north with a driver who knows Bkk., have him let you off at the Laksi Plaza intersection. You will see two tall office towers to your right as you approach it. Chaeng Wattana Road runs west (to your right), Ramintra Road runs east (to your left).

Get a taxi, and head east on Ramintra Road. Soi 14 will be on your righthand side, after about 4 km.

In general terms, stories like this one are not referring to foreign teachers, unless specificlly stated.

If this business is associated with a similar one in Bangkok, it is "13 Coins", not "18". Try searching that. I have never stayed there, nor do I know anyone who has.

Do a Google search for "Hamilton International Bangkok". They do/did have an office in the Maneeya Building, which is next door to Amarin Plaza. I do not know whether this business is still a going concern, at this location or any other.

An important point which is sometimes overlooked by new foreign teachers:

You file your income tax return, and pay any amount owing, on a calendar year basis. The deadline is March 31, for the previous calendar year.

If your contract is on an academic year basis, that is irrelevant.

Bus # 551 departs from the NE quadrant of the Victory Monument, then goes eastward along Ratchawithi Road.