Stocky

I'm about a kilometer away, I thought it was a blown transformer as all the ups's started beeping and clicking. Then I heard it was a bomb. There was one earlier outside a 7-11 in town, I didn't hear that one but I'm told there are five people injured.

Thai Lion Air have started flying from Hat Yai with some interesting routes.

Hat Yai - Bangkok (DM)

Hat Yai - Kuala Lumpur (Subang Airport)

Hat Yai - Medan (Sumatra)

Hat Yai - Surat Thani

Hat Yai - Hua Hin

The Bangkok route is 6 flights daily, not so sure about the frequency on the other routes. They're using 737-900s on the Bangkok route and ATR 72-600 turboprops on the other routes. All the aircraft are new.

I hope they succeed, I miss the FireFly flight from Hat Yai to KL Subang it's far better than arriving at the LCCT.

Jakarta is OK for a multi-entry non-O.

...does anyone buy Lonely Planet guides anymore?

Sure and I'm comfortable enough in Hat Yai, but IMHO a farang living in the southern states of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat is putting themselves in harms way.

A farang in Yala, even in Betong, could be a tempting target.

Thanks

Can anyone tell me if the Sathorn / Wittayhu junction open or closed?

i wasn't referring to Hat Yai, but more places like Krabi, and Phuket

I suspect there's rather a large queue!

Hat Yai's a good place to live, this will be my eleventh year here and I don't want to move either.

There's a huge variety of food on offer down south, Hat Yai is probably one of the most culturally varied cities in Thailand and certainly one of the most tolerant. Yes southerners are brusque, talk fast and lack some of the softness of places like Chiang Mai but at least things move along at a reasonable pace. I seem to manage fine with English and broken Thai, sometimes a little Bahasa helps as well.

The city has grown significantly over the last couple of years with new housing projects all over the place so there's plenty of accommodation for rent.

Because of the troubles to the south there's probably a greater police and military presence on the streets of Hat Yai than you'll see anywhere else, certainly there have been bombings but the odds of it being you are considerable less than your chances of being killed on Thailand's roads - by far the greatest danger in this country.

Easy connections either through Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or vis road through Alor Star or Panang mean the Yellows/Reds can't stop me getting to work which is a big bonus.

If you want to live in a medium size city with good food, plenty of shops, a small but vibrant nightlife and good transport connections Hat Yai's not a bad place to be. If you want the excitement of Bangkok, Pantong or Pattaya, the quality beaches of the west coast or the mountains of the north, Hat Yai's not for you.

Does Hat Yai have any farang areas?

Malaysians and Singaporeans yes, but it's not really a farang destination.

"Lots" is something of an understatement, it looks like a large multi-storey car park with a shopping mall, rather than a mall with parking space.

Linux Mint.

If my Thai wife can use it and feel comfortable with it anyone can.

Have been using Linux on my desktops at home for the last three years, currently have Linux Mint 15 installed which runs perfectly.

Yeah thanks, though its more the security tools aspect associated with Kali that I am interested in. If they can all be run on Mint, then that's my answer probably

The MATE desktop, though Cinnamon isn't hugely different.

Linux Mint.

If my Thai wife can use it and feel comfortable with it anyone can.

Have been using Linux on my desktops at home for the last three years, currently have Linux Mint 15 installed which runs perfectly.

Is this a new requirement?

I'm here on a multi-entry non-O (marriage) visa. Two year's ago when I renewed my UK passport I just exited Thailand showing both passports, immigration didn't have a problem with this. I continued showing both passports until the visa expired and the new one went into the new passport.

As for Trang and the south in general bombs are the least of your worries, death is more likely to come in the shape of a badly driven vehicle.

If you need regular fixes of exotic cheeses then you're best to stay in Bangkok.

I live in Hat Yai and my cheese options are pretty much limited to NZ Cheddar, Gouda and Edam. Tops often has some brie, Camembert and Danish blue but they're usually over-ripe and over-over-priced. If I want something different I have to pick it up in Bangkok.

Tops is on the groundfloor near McDonalds & KFC.

Went there on Saturday.. bad idea, traffic was chaos and the mall was heaving with rubber-necker bumpkins.

There are several store still to open so plenty of 'Coming Soon' hoardings and they're still finishing off parts of the mall and doing a general clean up.
But it's a welcome addition to Hat Yai, the TOPS Market seems to stock a few extra luxuries not to be found in the branches at Robinson, Centara or Diana.

That's not the issue. The airline can refuse you boarding because the return date on the ticket is after the 30 days stay granted on arrival. Depends on the airline and on what sort of day the check-in clerk has been having but it could seriously mess your day up. So to be safe, better to get a visa.

I wouldn't even bother with KL. Savannakhet Laos and Penang are still doing them.

As is Jakarta, I renewed my multi non-O last week in Jakarta.

The visa has no address on it so why would they accept that for proof of residence ?

I guess it depends on whether they wish to establish your address to the level of town, street and number or just to country - if the later then the visa will do it.

The suggested list, as noted in other posts, contains some oddities and curious omissions like utility bills, something most banks will accept.

Just an update on applications for a 1 year Multi Entry Non-O (Marriage) Visa at the Jakarta Embassy.

Received my passport from the agent this morning, no problems, application was submitted on 11th December and collected on the 13th.

Submitted the usual documents:

• Passport plus photocopy of ID page
• Application form plus 2x passport photos
• Marriage certificate plus photocopy signed by the wife
• Photocopy of wife's ID (front + back) signed by the wife
• Photocopy of the Tabian Bahn signed by the wife
• Bank savings book showing sufficient funds, there was more than Thb500,000 showing this trip
• Letter from the wife
• USD200

As I'm in Jakarta on business I make use of an agent to sit in the traffic, they collect and return to my hotel once all done, their fee was IDR500,000.

No mention of flood prevention work in the South?

Flood prevention is almost impossible in the eastern coastal plains of the deep south.

They are low lying and the high tides and big waves are preventing the emptying of rivers in the sea.

Factor in the monster N.E monsoon (Nov-Dec) and you are done.

No it is not. Most of the Netherlands is below sea level. It will not be cheap but it can be done.

But there's no political advantage in it.

Pheu Thai know there are no votes for them down south, and The Democrats take the southern vote for granted.