Stocky

Just considering my visa options.

My existing non-O multi expires mid-March, I'll be back in the UK for several weeks in April so logical option is to apply for a new multi non-O whilst I'm there. I've only previously obtained visas from the Birmingham consulate, sadly no longer with us, can someone confirm I can make a postal application to the London embassy.

From what I've read all that's needed is as follows:

• my passport
• completed application form (x2)
• passport photos (x2)
• copy of Thai marriage certificate (signed by wife)
• wife's tabian bahn (signed by wife)
• postal order for £125 made payable to "The Royal Thai Embassy" with passport number written on back
• self addressed return envelope 'Track & Trace' prepaid

As far as I can see I don't need to include evidence of funds.

Alternatively, I've got to go across to Malaysia (KL) early in March, so could detour via Penang and renew my multi-O there, but it's an unnecessary detour if I can readily renew via post whilst in the UK.

Air quality in Hat Yai is good, sunny and a nice breeze.

Wife's suggested the "organic" shop in Hat Yai Nai, she's bought coconut oil from there before.

It's on the left hand side of Thanon Phetkasem as you're heading out of town.

Coordinates:  6.999929, 100.451539

Seen coconut oil in Tops @ Robinsons Hat Yai.

It's about 4hrs by train from NST - HDY.

You need to catch either Train 451 or 455, departing 06:00 and 09:58 respectively.

Going back it's either Train 456 or 452, departing 09:18 and 13:50 respectively.

Fares are peanuts.

.

I'm happy enough with Kaspersky, I don't think there's any secrets on my computers the Russians would be interested in. If I did change I'd probably go back to ESET NOD32, though for the tin foil hat brigade that's probably no good as it's a Slovak company (former Soviet Blok country).

But what are the options for the paranoid?

Avast - Czech
AVG - Czech
Avira - Germany
Bitdefender - Romania
Comodo - UK
ESET - Slovak
Kaspersky - Russian
McAfee - USA
Panda - Spain
Symantec - USA

2 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

The only country in history to actually pay its war debts.

 

Britain civilised the World, and made extreme sacrifices in the process of protecting it last century, while others sat back and profited then took the credit.

 

Britain is still the measure of what a civilised country should be, you only have to look at Thailand to see they copy Britain to try to prove their legitimacy. The military uniforms, the judiciary, etc. All trying to emulate Britain even now that the Empire is long gone. 

 

But the Empire does remain, and will forever as a force for good against evil, even if evil ends up winning in the end. 

Much truth in what you say, but that is then and this now, it's a threadbare country living beyond its means.

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

The sales price is equivalent to one-third of its the Foreign Office’s annual budget of 1.2 billion pounds

That's a lot of Pimms.

15 hours ago, orchis said:

good

????

At what level is this good for anyone?

The level of intrusion on the national park is minimal. Whilst I agree there is a need to prevent encroachment and to prosecute offenders the penalties ought to be measured against the damage done.  Seeking to turn the clock back  is unrealistic, there is no way that this development is going to be undone and the area returned to pristine nature, that's not how Thailand works. If it does actually get demolished, rather than given to family & friends, the building rubble will be dumped somewhere along the road into the mangrove swamp. What jagged remains will soon be occupied by squatters who'll erect some temporary shacks and litter the place with discarded plastic.

Meanwhile the hundred odd employees will be out of work.

Win - win, I think not.

Better to have made the company responsible purchase an equivalent piece of land adjacent to the park in another area and have that rehabilitated and incorporated into the park.

.

On 27/01/2018 at 11:45 AM, catman20 said:

have been eating Brazil nuts

I've a nut allergy so I'll stick to my 40mg Simvastatin daily. I've been taking statins for over 15 years and, touch wood, not had any problems, last blood test was 198 mg/dL with a cholesterol ratio of 2.6.

1 minute ago, shady86 said:

Effect of Brexit.

No, just the realities of a threadbare country living beyond its means.

55 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Given the quality of service offered, or should I say, not offered, by the Embassy, many wont miss it.

Indeed, seeing as most of the embassy function has been outsourced it's hard to understand what on earth they do all day!

Lots of trendy new places at the east end of Thumnoonvithi, the studenty end of town near PSU.  Had dinner yesterday at roof terrace restaurant/bar just off Thumnoonvithi on Prachayindee at the Rise Condominium complex.

Good Evening - (Phone: 089-6464215) (7.006859, 100.487896)

Roof terrace restaurant and bar up on the 3rd floor of the Rise Condominium complex. Mix of traditional tables and sofa-couch coffee table seating. Nice, breezy, roof garden setting with live music. Food is mainly Thai and a little western / Thai-confusion, not a huge menu but the food was very good and the service quick and attentive. Dinner, main and dessert + plus drinks, for five adults and two children came to Bht3,300. The place is open until 1am and given the extensive cocktail menu I guess it becomes more of a drinking venue as the night goes on. We enjoyed it so will be back.

Well the main road and bridge cut straight through, I'm at a loss to work out what "protected mangroves" it actually encroached on. The resort occupies the strip of land between the coast and the road. It sits amongst the casuarina trees rather than the mangroves.

That's a great pity, it's a nice resort and we've enjoyed staying at many times. I could think of so many crappy Thai resort developments that should be bulldozed, but the Anantara Si Kao resort isn't one of them.

1 hour ago, PremiumLane said:

Instead of the meaningless corporate waffle, would be nice to know exactly how this will be of benefit.  

I would think the benefits were outlined in the press release, I've just highlighted them in bold.

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

The move to New Delhi will maximise the benefits of new technology that allows visa decision-making to be independent of the country of application.

 

It will drive efficiency savings and achieve greater standardisation of visa decisions around the world, according to the release.

Though undoubtedly the main driver is cost savings for a cash strapped government, obliquely touched on with the ambassador's comment about "value for money to the UK taxpayer", note that's the taxpayer, not the applicant.

22 hours ago, malagateddy said:

farang restaurants and bars

Check this list out

Here's a list of my current favourites around Hat Yai.

Western

De Van Cuisine - (Phone: 074-351438) (7.007237, 100.475424)
The Basil - (Phone: 081-8919321) (7.000930, 100.492144)
Wine Society - (Phone: 090-7130525) (7.001368, 100.491034)
Wine Village - (Phone: 074-800157) (7.009659, 100.487101)
 

Pub Food
Gap's Garten - (Phone: 074-231230) (7.0043368, 100.486776)
Quigley's Irish Bar & Restaurant - (Phone: 074-239168) (7.001475, 100.472079)
Homeless Bar & Grill - (Phone: 080-5339553) (7.004859, 100.473582)
The Swan Pub - (Phone: .) (7.004281, 100.4729181)
Post Laser Disc - (Phone: 074-232027) (7.0043286, 100.4722463)

Thai

Samila Seafood Hat Yai - (Phone: 074-351353) (7.008960, 100.473542)
The Cottage - (Phone: 089-6793444) (7.013320, 100.485294)

Kan Eng - (Phone: 074-246138) (7.003058, 100.473291)

Other Asian

Hashi Japanese Restaurant - (Phone: 074-221988) (7.005342, 100.486309)
Tongpoon Vietnamese Restaurant - (Phone: 074-357831) (7.005519, 100.484472)
A Little Dim Sum - (Phone: 098-0105599 ) (7.001319, 100.472152)
Seoul Korean BBQ - (Phone: 074-239246) (7.0139581, 100.4766102)

.

Songkhla Town is fine for a day out but it's pretty dead for night life. As for the beach I prefer to go a little further south to Sakom, the beaches there are cleaner and there are a few nice little resorts that do a good lunch.

Hat Yai is more popular with Malaysian & Singaporean tourists so there are far more Chinese, Chinese-Thai style restaurants here than western. It's not overflowing with farang; if that's what you're looking for better stick with the usual haunts of Pattaya, Phuket and Samui.

However, that said we do have some good western restaurants here in Hat Yai, The Basil has already been mentioned, but there's also Wine Connection and De Van Cuisine, all three are loosely Italian/French style. There's a good German restaurant called Gap's Garten and the Homeless Bar and Grill does American style burgers and ribs. If you fancy something different we've a few Japanese restaurants, a Vietnamese and a Korean BBQ.

Lots of bars and music bars around town, three main areas, central around Thumnoonvithi Road, west side of the railway line on Rajuthit Road there's the Hansa complex, and east end toward the Prince Songkhla University (PSU) on Thumnoonvithi Road there's another strip of bars more popular with students than tourists. There are a couple of clubs in Hat Yai, Bix in the Hansa complex, and Zounds on Thumnoonvithi toward PSU.

It's a long time since I needed to stay in a hotel in Hat Yai, and I'm not about to venture into a sub Bht1,000 establishment anyway, but we've many hotels in town would suggest you look through Agoda and the like I'm sure you'll find what you want.

.

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

A better question is would Trump want to go to the wedding? 

Probably not, as he prefers to be the sole focus of attention.

CNY is February 16th this year. Yes it will be a busy weekend in Hat Yai, many visitors from Malaysia and Singapore. Lots of fire crackers and lion dancers.