wowpow

Just put it down to another Muslim charm offensive and thank goodness that there are great places like Thailand where such things happen very rarely.

Like,our diplomat, davethailand I am conditioned to find overt public displays offensive. it very much depends on how much and where. In a family type bar it should be minimal but in a go-go bar then more can be acceptible. Sometimes it is nice to hold hands but I don't like it when it's done with a "look at us gays we don't care what you think" attitude.I do find the Thai same sex affection endearing - the motorbike taxi boys lying around ontop of each other or arms around the shoulder or holding hands and it seems non-sexual.

Thais seem often to ignore over affection and I am often surprised at Thais with young children choosing areas of Jomtien gay beach where quite a lot male to male molesting occurs - it certainly does in my deckchair. I am amused that Pattaya schoolchildren are taken to Alkazar shows as part of their education.

For me one of the major joys of Thailand is the sexual freedom and one can flirt with practically any man and he will smile and maybe giggle even if he is not interested. What a great place.http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/style_images/1/icon4.gif

When you look at the degree of success in Homosexual relationships in the West, it becomes all the more remarkable that any form of relationship can work with the vast differences between Farangs and Thai boys and yet it happens.

I think that Farang-Thai relationships are more often Dominent/Subordinate (on the surface) than in the West where the 'ideal' seems often to be a joining of equals.

I don't understand Thai culture but I do understand it quite a lot more than some farangs who have lived here 18 years and speak Thai.

ChrisP maybe you could start by reading Letters of Uncle E on Floatinglotus They are well worth a read if anyone has any interest in gay Thailand and I think there is a book of them.

I would also recommend 'Culture Shock Thailand' for a glimpse into Thai lifetyles and beliefs.

I would suspect that some study of Buddhism would help but I have not found any reading which tells me what it is like for Thais with their mix of religions and ghosts and respect.

I live in Pattaya and mix with the ex-pat gay community. The most common form of relationship seems to develop into a Father-son sort of thing - with the farang as the Papa and the Thai 'taking care'. It is incredibly rare for the relationship not to have some financial involvement - nigh impossible. A Thai expects an older person to pay for meals and such and a trickle of advantage if not actual cash. I do know of an instance of a rich Thai living with and supporting a much older Farang.

Great fun - thank you

I read that when Carlsberg came to Thailand they cloned Singha - the then most popular beer. I think it tastes pretty good - certainly when compared to Carlsberg UK's product.

They have closed production in Thailand but does that mean they are ceasing sales or will they import from another factory possibly Malaysia. Brewers seem to like operating from one big central factory and spens a fortune transporting what is mainly water.

Everyone that I know goes for Heineken. I think it's because it tastes nice.

I just loooked up Chang Beer's TCC website and quote "

Chang Beer - Best Selling Thai Beer

       Chang Beer is Thailand's best-selling beer. Positioned as "Another Degree of Thai Beer" with two venerable white elephants symbolizing strength and solidarity of the Thai society, Chang Beer became the brand leader just within a few years of launching in 1995 and now has enjoyed the leader position of more than 62% at the thai beer market since 2001.

       Chang Beer's full-bodied, smooth taste is truly expressive of the finest quality natural ingredients that have gone through a technologically advanced and meticulously controlled production process. Quality control extends to every stage of production, starting from the selection of malt, rice, hops and water, through fermentation of the hopped cereal solution with a special strain of yeast to filling and final packaging of the product. Furthermore, batch testing is done continually to ensure Chang Beer retains consistently its perfect body, heady color and characteristic flavor.

       As true testament of its unique taste and quality, Chang Beer was awarded a Gold Medal at the 1998 Australian International Beer Awards in the lager category, and has maintained as well its status as "The # 1 Thai Beer."

Please note that "Quality control extends to every stage of production starting from the selection of RICE?[/b]

Thai Air Return Fares are published at:

Phuket Bt 5250 or some budget at c Bt3200

Chiang Mai Bt4340 or some budget at Bt2800

Singapore Bt6240 - no budget

Air Asia's crazy prices are not all flights and not all days. If you are bargain hunting then you have to hunt and have flexible dates unless you are just very lucky. As I am saving Bt5280 I am comfortable arriving in Phuket at 23.00 hrs. After a good day in Bangkok I will fly and then sleep and wake up at the Phuket Tropicana gazing out to sea and breakfast on our balcony. The seating is not a scramble as they collect boarding cards and filter people onto the plane. If anything its easier than allocated seating as the plane tends to fill up from the front. The Thais don't seem to scramble for seats as they don't care about leg room.

One thing which is unlikely to effect many is that the insertion of dates on theri website won't work with Apple's Safari Browser but ti does with Explorer.

When phoning to complain about a problem or ask help I find that being put on hold and then cut off is a regular tecnique in Thailand. You must get straight through to a supervisor to stand any chance.

www.airasia.com

Bangkok International to:

Khon Kaen from THB 99

Chiang Mai from THB 299

Phuket from THB 299

Hat Yai from THB 399

 From/to Singapore Changi Airport

Bangkok from S$ 23.99 /

THB 499

I just booked a return to Singapore for Bt960 + exit tax Bt500 yuk! I had a return to Chiang Mai for Bt1040 and am off to Phuket for Bt2450 for two return. Ain't it great. The only constraints are free seating and 15k baggage but excess at Bt50 a kilo is OK.

I will post this on general messages as well but I thought it of general interest as it might well stimulate travel.

www.airasia.com

Bangkok International to:

Khon Kaen from THB 99

Chiang Mai from THB 299

Phuket from THB 299

Hat Yai from THB 399

 From/to Singapore Changi Airport

Bangkok from S$ 23.99 /

THB 499

I just booked a return to Singapore for Bt960 + exit tax Bt500 yuk! I had a return to Chiang Mai for Bt1040 and am off to Phuket for Bt2450 for two return. Ain't it great. The only constraints are free seating and 15k baggage but excess at Bt50 a kilo is OK.

I will post this on travel as well but I thought it of general interest as it might well stimulate travel.

Tipping is NOT the custom in Thailand. Thais usually just leave the loose change - thats why some bars put a lot of change in the change. I have never actually heard of a Thai person refusing a tip - I lie, when I left my mobile phone in an Internet shop and went back later the young student cashier refused Bt100 gratuity.

Taxis do not expect a tip unless you have farang tourist stamped on your forehead. For a fare of 62 baht they happily accept Bt60. Restaurants and bars are similar. Often when farangs tip their Thai friend will remove some and say "too much".

I am not an advocate of mean-ness just suggest that you are aware of the norm before you make your personal decision to leave something or not. Americans seem to be incapable of not tipping and have many hangups on the subject - they are browbeaten into thinking that everywhere in the world is the same as the U.S.

A useage of the word 'tip' iis unique to Thailand. This refers to a payment for sexual favours and in this case To Insure Prompt Service is not the definition.

My dictionary has ensure as a meaning for insure. I guess that is really encorrect.

I copied this from a poster on Lonely Planet Thorntree site but caanot now trace it there or in The Nation when I search. if it is a troll it's a brilliant one so:

Bar opening times - another Cabinet review today! - implimention delay look likely

from The Nation

Review of zoning draft tomorrow

Published on Feb 16, 2004

"The Cabinet is scheduled to review draft legislation on closing times and entertainment zones tomorrow. The result will determine whether the authorities will be able to enforce a midnight-closing rule on all entertainment venues outside designated zones starting March 1.

"We will have to stick to the old rule until the ministerial regulation on entertainment zones comes into effect," Local Administration Department's director-general Prasart Pongsiwapai said yesterday.

The current rule allows entertainment venues to remain open till 2 am, depending on their type of services. Nightclubs can operate until 2 am, discotheques until 1 am, and lounges, bars and massage parlours until midnight.

"We will wait and see how the draft will come out," Presart said.

The midnight closing time, which is scheduled to take effect on March 1, will require all entertainment venues outside "designated zones" to shut their doors by midnight

Venues in the designated zones will get two more operating hours.

However, the enforcement of the new rule will be possible only after the entertainment-zoning draft legislation becomes law.

The draft, if approved, will regulate the designated zones. It is being prepared by Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piumsombun and has already won approval from Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

Meanwhile, massage-parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit urged the government to rezone entertainment areas and award more operating hours to tourist zones.

"Areas with large number of tourists like Patpong and Sukhumvit should be allowed to remain open till 3 am," he said. He recommended that the number of tourists in an area should be a major factor in determining at what time places must close.

However, even in areas with a light concentration of tourists, Chuwit called for a 1am closing time.

Chuwit planned to submit his proposals to the Office of the Prime Minister tomorrow".

TIT = This Is Thailand - An increasingly Amazing and Astonishing country.

Smiles from Time Magazine's 'Verbatim'

"The most appropriate word is 'screwup' "

Jakrapob Penkair spokesman for the Thai Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra blaming beaurocratic incompetence for the Govt. slow response to Avaun flu.

" There are many degrees of how you tell the truth...That is why we don't speak straight-forwardly, beacause we read minds and we speak what the other side wants to hear"

also by Jakrapkob Penkair on the Avian flu crisis.

[Edited on 17/2/2004 by wowpow]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

CABINET DECISION: Anger over midnight closing time

Full story

BANGKOK: The Cabinet yesterday endorsed a new regulation for a midnight closing time for most entertainment venues, while allowing nightspots in designated zones to stay open two hours longer.

After a brief discussion on the proposed regulation, the Cabinet agreed to an earlier decision by a government committee which called for different closing hours for nightspots in different zones, Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont told reporters yesterday.

Owners of night entertainment venues yesterday denounced the decision, labelling it a death sentence for businesses and bad news for tourism.

Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piumsombun’s committee in charge of combating vice at entertainment venues proposed the different closing times on Friday. The new closing times come into effect on March 1.

All entertainment venues outside the designated areas, including food shops selling liquor and music, will now have to close at midnight instead of the current 2am.

In the designated zones, nightclubs and bars can stay open until 2am, while pubs and discotheques are required to close at 1am.

Shops selling khao tom (rice porridge) can stay open all night as they are not covered by the new law, Pracha said.

However, the shops must comply with relevant laws, such as the smoking ban at all food outlets.

In Bangkok, the zones designated for entertainment venues cover the Patpong area and New Phetchaburi and Ratchadaphisek Roads. The Interior Ministry regulation will be imposed under the Entertainment Venue Act, which came into effect early last month but sets no specific hours for entertainment venues.

Pracha voiced concern, however, that entertainmentvenue operators could take legal action against the Cabinet for breach of their constitutional rights.

But Purachai told the Cabinet he had no such worry, he said.

The deputy interior minister said that personally he believed the same service hours should be applied to all night entertainment venues to allow easier supervision and enforcement for authorities. But the ministry was ready to follow the decision.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told the Cabinet yesterday that efficiency of enforcement rather than a possible violation of the Charter should be the main concern, the source said.

Somyos Suthangkoon, who heads an association of entertainmentvenue operators, said the early closing time would have a severe impact on most nightspots.

Allowing nightclubs and bars to stay open for only three hours a day was “strange”, compared to eight hours for massage parlours. “Everybody knows massage parlours is the front for what,” Somyos added.

Praphan Pumchaosuan, leader of entertainmentplace owners in the Patpong area, said yesterday that shorter service hours would drive away foreign tourists.

The new regulation will take effect in all provinces, except Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Samut Prakan and Uttaradit, where the zones for entertainment places have yet to be designated, deputy government spokeswoman Sansanee Nakapong said yesterday. In the four provinces, the current opening hours will be retained.

Praphan Pumchaosuan, leader of bar owners in Patpong, said yesterday shorter service hours would drive away foreign tourists.

The new rules will take effect nationwide, except in Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Samut Prakan and Uttaradit, where entertainment zones have yet to be designated.

-- The Nation 2004-02-10

I was interested to see bruno's post that a Passport with three months life is required to apply for 30 days entry permission for tourism purposes. Then I found the Royal Thai Consulate General in Los Angeles site where it states that 6 months is required. I would be interested to know Bruno's source and any other confirmation of the length required.

I was under the impression that, some years back, European Union country's passports cannot be extended or have more pages inserted.

It's going to be interesting to see what the French Embassy have to say about this. It seems very unlikely that they do not have the facility to speedily issue a new passport or a temporary one.

I have had no problem exporting funds from Thailand to the UK though you have to state a reason such as 'personal expences'. I was charged 1% but maybe some banks have fixed charges and use SWIFT which charges me a fixed UK£20 to send any sum here. I heard that some were borrowing the 800,000 baht from friends to apply for retirement Visa so they changed it and require it come from abroad in overseas currency.

I have been advised that there is no tax liability for monies brought into the country whether tax has been paid in ones home county or not - many wise ones have offshore investments.

Tax is liable in income generated in Thailand, as one would expect.

If one comes to Thailand for a 30 days no visa required is a passport with 6 months validity required by Thai Immigration? and by airline?

EASTERN SEABOARD

FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL

MOVING LTD.

397/109 La Terraza, Casa Espana,

Moo 12, Pratumnak Road, Pattaya,

Cholburi, Thailand

Phone : (6638) 306 330

Fax : (6638) 306 331

Email : [email protected]

Representatives from this company did a very good presentation to us at the Pattaya ex-pats club. They seem to have a good knowledge of Thai Customs and Exice and the Tea Money scenario. They are International and should be able to advise you well and quote. Two friends of mine used them when moving to Thailand for retirement/working and both were pleased with the service and price.

As I understand it once your Visa is granted for 1 year you have 6 months to bring in personal effects without paying any duty.

A friend of mine, who has lived in S E Asia for over 18 years mostly in Thailand, was recently asked to provide evidence of a return/onward ticket when he came to Thailand requesting a permission to stay for 30 days. Despite speaking fluent Thai and having numerous credit cards and a Thai bankbook showing several hundreds of thousand bahts deposited, and a passport covered in various Thai permission to stay, Visas and work permits, he had a hard time getting entrance but eventually did.

My understanding is that Thai Immigration have a rule requiring evidence of a return or onward ticket. They have not enforced this for decades but have done so recently for persons requesting a 30 day permission to stay and coming from a country which is entitled to that. I cannot find any confirmation of this other than in Lonely Planet Guide.

I think that the airline situation is that many countries have such a rule. If they fly someone into a country with such a rule and that person is refused entry, the airline is oblidged to return the passenger and to carry the cost if the passenger cannot or refuses to pay. Some airlines enforce the rule and others knowing that Thailand was not checking allowed passengers to travel without a return onward ticket. A senior check in guy at Heathrow told me that EVA Air don't bother but with Thai they check that the passenger has or appears to have adequate funds to purchase a ticket. This may have recently changed.

I would like to see Thaivisa include confirmed information on this rule into the website as it is a great source of anxiety to tourists.

Also I would like to know if this just applies to the Permission to stay 15/30 days on arrival or to all Visas.

I would ask advice on what happens in the case on someone who has a return/onward ticket out of Thailand which is dated after the 30 days granted on arrival e.g. if he intended to apply for a ten day extension or planned to exit Thailand but return for another 30 days permission.

British Embassy Link

"Consular Services we provide include:

Issue/renewal of passports

lost/stolen passports

Registration of births

(Application Form, click here)

Notarial Acts (Including documentation required to marry in Thailand)

Letters of support for Thai driving licence / Thai visa applications?

Passport Applications

Requirements

- 2 recent indentical photos (2" size)

(We require two RECENT, COLOUR photographs)

- Completed form

- Current passport

- Consular fee

Fees (£ = 75 Baht) WHAT?

- 32 page passport = Bt. 4,238.00

- 48 page passport = Bt. 5,078.00

- Child's passport = Bt. 2,738.00

FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE

Your previous passport will be cancelled and returned to you. It is your responsibility to ensure that any valid visas are transferred into the new passport by Thai Immigration/the relevant Embassy.

Payment (by post)

- Cheque: payable to British Embassy

- Postal orders: Nana Post Office, Bangkok 10110

- To return passport by EMS please add 30 Baht.

A passport or birth certificate takes 5 working days from receipt of a completed application."

extracted from British Embassy website Bangkok - it's a good idea to register with them online incase of any trouble.

Please look up the embassy website if visiting there they have very restricted hours. It is best to download the application form and arrived with it completed and all the photos and stuff.

If you are in Phuket then I think it would be convenient to apply by mail. You would, of course, keep photocopies of the passport, visa and TM form. When you get the new passport they return the old one which is cancelled. You need to visit Immigration to get the visas transferred to your new passport. The woman at the office in Bangkok is one of the most unpleasant I have encountered in my life. The other people there are most helpful.

I was asked for my boarding card when I went to Singapore post SARS. The reason was so they could contact persons from nearby seats if you became infected.

The only reason that I can imagine they see it for is when a few planes land at the same time it can prove where you came from and what flight.

When I arrived at Bangkok International last October there were signs on the Immigration desks asking passengers to show their boarding card. I had dumped mine and was worried during the 45 minute wait to get to the desk. Is this still a requirement?

I wonder if the new rules about Boarding cards and Return/onward tickets are something to do with terrorist control or leftover SARS rules. Maybe they just like persecuting arrivals?

How lovely it would be to arrive at a well staffed Immigration Hall and be promptly greeted with a smile, wai and "Welcome to Thailand our latest new requirement is....." and similar when the formalities are over - I am a dreamer?

Immigration require onward/return ticket

Two friends - respectable mature men - recently, were requested to show a return/onward ticket when they arrived in Thailand. This requirement has been known about but not implimented for decades - some airlines will not fly you without such a ticket.

One friend who has lived in SE Asia for 19 years, mostly, Thailand, had hassle getting in even though he speaks good Thai. He was returning asking for 30 days for tourism, from working in Cambodia.

I wonder if this inconvenient regulation is being applied to everyone, just those asking for 30 day permission or just occasionally? Have other contributors been asked for proof?

The London Thai Visa office lurks in a dingy basement on Queen's Gate. It closes at midday, closes for Thai and UK public holidays and does not like to deal by post. You have to leave your passport there and go back a couple of days later to collect. If you phone in you can get recorded information at premium rates.

The Birmingham Office answer the phone and give polite advice and they like to deal by post and do so promptly.

I speak of two years ago so maybe different now.

The beer of choice seems to be Heineken though other beers outsell it as they are cheaper.

Thailand seems to hve been very fortunate in it's beer quality. Singha is a strong, very good, well made and tasting beer. All foreign breweries setting up in Thailand had to at least produce as good a beer to be successful - not a problem for the Dutch breweries but Carlsberg just copied Singha successfully.

Coming from the UK it great to have so many excellent beers around. Coming from the US it must be fantastic.