Stocky

Hat Yai's just fine.

With the added security presence on the streets, particularly at holiday periods like Songkran and New Year, you're probably safer walking around Hat Yai than many other Thai cities. I've lived in Hat Yai the last ten years and I've not encountered any problems.

Novotel Centara in the centre of town is probably the best hotel, as said above it's centrally located in walking distance to restaurants, shopping and night-life.

Enjoy your visit.

The problem with the Mor Or (PSU) is that you seldom get an appointment when you want it, it's a teaching hospital so the staff are good but it's a public hospital. If you're on a tight budget you can get free dental care at the Mor Or if you're willing to let the students practice on you.

The Bangkok hospital might be expensive by comparison but the standard is excellent, I've had two crowns done there and the quality is better than private practice in the UK and about half the price. You can get usually an appointment for the date and time you want and they keep pretty well to the appointment time.

As with most things in life you get what you pay for.

I guess you need an optician.

I use the dental clinic at the Bangkok Hospital in Hat Yai. Last check-up and clean was Bht1,800 add about Bht500 if they take x-rays.

Brief!

Hat Yai was out for 3 hours.

I leave Hat Yai for Songkran, it's not much fun anymore. Go a little further and cross the border into Malaysia, you'll be safe there.

Every time I went past the place it was all but empty; I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.

You didn't include my December 2012 Jakarta report - no problems from Jakarta.

You're right, I missed that one, one year to the day after your previous visa from Jakarta. I have added it now.

Do you know that you could have got an additional 90 days out of your old visa by doing another border run the day before its expiration date? This would give you a chance to see Jakarta at different times of the year from one visa application to the next. Just a thought.

Yes, but there's no point, I work in Indonesia so am in and out every couple of weeks.

You didn't include my December 2012 Jakarta report - no problems from Jakarta.

I've used the visa form from the MFA website the last six years applying for my non-O at the Jakarta embassy, last time was in December, no problems.

I noticed a poster for it yesterday, the festival is on at the Municipality Park through until 30th April.

Danok and Sungai Golok are just phuck stops for Malaysians hopping across the border, they're places to avoid, unless of course that's what you're looking for.

The southern borders aren't 24hr crossing.

I usually use the Sadao/Bukit Kayu Hitam border crossing and that is open from 5am until 11pm Thai time, or 6am to 12 midnight Malaysian time.

As for responses within the Southern Thailand forum, there aren't many of us down here, and most of us have real lives outside of forums!

My TOT connection in Hat Yai is very good, Bht 590 per month for 10Mb down 0.5Mb up.

Skype works very well, both sound and video.

Beware that Internet connections in Thailand are a postcode lottery, it would be best to ask around the Internet shops in that area to see which is better locally.

Well lets say Jakarta uses an extremely favourable exchange rate!

BTW this year I had the wife sign everything because you posed the question last year, I have no idea as to whether they required the documents signed or not.

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 evening, no problems, application was submitted on 10th December and collected on the 12th.

Submitted the usual documents:

Passport plus photocopy of ID page
Application form plus 2x passport photos
Marriage certificate plus photocopy signed
Photocopy of wife's ID (front + back) signed
Photocopy of the Tabian Bahn signed
Bank book with funds of more than Thb100,000
Letter from the wife
USD200

I don't know why the fee in Jakarta comes out at USD200, but it does, it's not the agent adding a slice because the visa says Fee USD 200 as does the receipt. But as I'm here on business and the company's expense I'm not worried. The agent fee was IDR500,000.

Indeed, Hat Yai is a shopping Mecca.

Not just Malaysian Muslims, but Chinese and Indians too. Tuk-tuks brimming with overlarge Indian families is a familiar sight in Hat Yai at weekends and holidays.

Most tourists to Hat Yai are from Malaysia and Singapore, it's not really on the western tourist route except as a transit point for backpackers.

Ex-pat Golfer arrested by Pattaya Immigration

Where does it say he's Irish?

The odds of being killed in a terrorist related incident in Hat Yai are indeed laughably small.

Sure it's something I'm concious of when in crowded places during festivals, but you face greater perils daily, as already suggested Thailand's roads are considerably more dangerous.

...and the Mor Or's even cheaper if you let the students practice on you!

The dental clinic at Hat Yai's Bangkok Hospital is very good.

Thanks, that's what I saw before, somehow today I ended up on a page that lacked the advice on original passport.

I'm going to have to renew my UK passport through HK shortly. I've now no blank pages, though easy room for about 6 or 7 further entry/exit stamps. Immigration pointed this out whilst finding space when I came through Survarnabhumi the other day.

Looking at the embassy website information on passport applications the previous advice about retaining your passport and just sending a photocopy of the bio page has disappeared (or I couldn't find it). Does anyone know if you're now required to submit the current passport with your application and if so how do you get by in Thailand without any ID short of a photocopy??

Indeed the passport renewal website clearly states the following:

Please note that the passport being renewed will be electronically cancelled and is therefore not valid for use as a travel document from the moment you submit your application.

How to apply from Thailand (Renewals)

I'm in a similar situation with two and a half pages left, though I've just renewed my visa, I will be looking to renew my passport in the New Year.