Daren

This is slightly embarrassing, but here it goes: I recently quit my job of 4 years in the South to move up to the Big Smoke, but before I left I did not pay my taxes for last year. I took the paper to the tax office and they told me I owed an additional 4,000B, but I decided not to pay at that time but to wait for my yearly bonus. After paying all my moving expenses, key money and everything else, I didn't have enough to pay my taxes even with that bonus. In fact, I've been just barely scraping along for the last 2 weeks. My new employer here in BKK generously offered to pay half of my April wages even though I don't start work until next month, but I'm afraid I won't have enough money AGAIN if I pay my taxes before I go get my new visa in Laos next week. So I guess the question is:

Will I be able to get a new Non-B if I still haven't paid last years taxes?

I'm not trying to avoid paying my dues, it's just that money has been so very tight. I have virtually stopped drinking beer altogether (and I'm sure you can imagine what a truly amazing feat that was!), and I've been dining on street food for what seems like an eternity. Using the partial wages they give me tomorrow, I could theoretically pay my rent, get my visa and pay off my taxes but that would be the end of it. I'd have to try to borrow against my next paycheck or from a co-worker (which I may well have to do even if I don't pay the taxes!). What should I do?

Feeling stressed and oh-so-very-tired of rice... can you please help?

Many thanks in advance.

Hey folks, thanks for all of your helpful input! This is what I've found so far:

http://www.thaivisarun.com/ - This is the one run by Phillip; the cost is 6,900 for a shared room, including all transport, meals and visa fees. It leaves at 8:30 from Soi 71 on Wed. and Sun. He said he uses big buses when there is enough demand for them, but currently there is not. Apparently the free tourist visas start again on the 11th this month and then he expects a huge flood of people, so he will start running the large coaches again.

http://thaivisaservice.com/ - Slightly cheaper at 6,100B for meals, visa and transport, though I forgot to ask if this is a shared room or not. The vans also leave at 8:30, but from On Nut Tesco.

I'm beginning to lean towards just doing the minivan with a bit of chemical assistance... Might not be so bad, I guess.

Any way, if any one can comment on or compare the quality of service, vehicles, accommodation, rooms or anything else, please let me know! Is it worth spending the extra 700B or so to go with Phillip?

Cheers!

I have no problem arranging a Laos visa ahead of time, fortunately I live rather near the Laos Embassy.

I've decided that flying is out - I need to save money - so I was hoping for a nice package trip to cut down on costs and hassle. Hmmm... Those minivans are most horrible when they're full, can any one comment on how many people are generally packed in?

For all you Bangkokians, what are the best deals on these two categories?

- Western Buffet with all the Bells and Whistles! (I'm thinking hotel-style here)

- "Top of the World" type restaurant - great views, food and prices(?)

Is that flying to Udon Thani?

After scouring the internet for visa run companies, I have not found a single one that does the trip in a proper big bus. The few companies I've found that do the run to Vientiane to get a Non-B, use those horrible minivans which I hate so passionately. Are there any companies that use something more comfortable than those the shoe-box death-traps?

I know, I can arrange it all myself, and I'll be booking a sleeper train and doing just that if there are no other options.

As an aside, can anyone please suggest a decent and cheap hotel in Vientiane? Looking for A/C and TV but don't really care about much else as long as it's clean(-ish).

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for that, ChefHeat. Hopefully others will give us some input too!

Thanks for posting, folks, but this is in the 'Western Food' room for a reason. Thai food is generally good, very cheap and available everywhere - unlike foreign grub!

Value, value, value - That's the Name of the Game!

As an avid follower of this thread, and all of it's awesome kitchen tips, restaurant reviews, questions, answers and rants, I found one area to be lacking: Bargain Bites! There certainly are some posts that go that direction, but wouldn't it be handy to have one thread with a great list of good deals?

So I'd like to invite all of the great TV users to post their personal "best value" eateries, specials and sales! Of course we all have different tastes and opinions of what constitutes a "good deal". For some it could mean Sizzler salad bar @ 140B, and for others it might mean buying a membership card at the Landmark - and they're both right! The purpose of this thread shouldn't be to bash others' opinions or tastes, but to share tips and ideas so that we can all eat better for less!

As a new resident of the Big Mango, I don't have a lot too offer here yet, but it would be rather tactless for me to start a thread like and not contribute. So, here it goes:

Chicken Shwarma Stand

Khao San Rd. - Just around the corner from Gulliver's, same end as the police station.

50B for a well packed pita pocket full of nicely flavored chicken make this an attractive meal, but the line-up of serve-yourself veggies makes this a very good deal! They have any thing you want in your sandwich, as long as it's chicken, but they do offer mixed salad, various pickled and non-pickled vegetables and several sauces right there for your enjoyment. I've seen hungry greedy backpackers alternating between taking bites and piling on more veg without the shop keeper even batting an eyelash.

--> It's also worth noting that this is my Thai GF's favorite doner kebab-style sandy in BKK (so far), and we've tried a fair few.

I know, I know... it's a pretty weak first post, but that's why you all need to help me out here! Also, there is a Korean Thai BBQ place down the street from me which has the standard stuff - noodles, various meats, mountains of veggies - but they also offer a "Seafood" option which includes all-you-can eat shrimp (they're so fresh they're still swimming!!), baked and boiled crab, several types of shellfish and lots of other stuff. I don't have the specifics on this place, so I will save it for now.

Let's hear about the places where you feel like you just got great deal when you're walking out the door!

Cheers folks!

The link does work for me, and I find this very interesting. Thanks for posting this.

I've always suspected that Sony, Apple and Toshiba made some of the products, but it's good to have statistics to back that up.

are you serious??? wow how narrow minded can someone be, i hope she leaves you lol. what difference is a tattoo going to make honestly, if she likes it and is happy shouldnt you be?

Are you serious??? Leave me! It would be no problem if she left me. I don’t care. Oh I’ll miss her a bit and on cold winter nights and pine for her. Gee I forgot no cold winter nights here so I guess no pining.

This isn’t a discussion about tattoos from my point of view. It is a discussion about the lady trying to establish her dominance in a relationship.

It is like breaking a horse to ride. It is like house training a cat to poop in a box.

She is trying to manipulate me into putting up with any fool idea she may have. Flexing her muscles as it were. She could have done the same thing by not cooking except I am a better cook than she. She could have done the same thing by withholding sex except she is hornier than I am.

Wow, mark45y, you're way out there. Sounds like you would do quite well with dog rather than a girlfriend - at least you don't have to train them to poop in a box!

Hey folks, thanks for chiming in with your input!

I never signed a service contract, just rental agreement - as far as I know. So I will certainly pleasantly inquire about their VAT number and follow up on that one.

Cheers!

I honestly don't think the attitude in Thailand so cut-and-dried as some people are making it out to be. Each tattoo really needs to be judged on it's own merits or lack there of. Do the tattoos look like prozzy tats? Or are they artistic and interesting?

Also it should be said that she was clearly thinking about you and what you might think when she ***called you from the tattoo shop**. Perhaps she was trying to get you down there to talk to you, but you blew her off. Perhaps that speaks volumes about how much you care about her feelings??

@Chonburiram.... and current!

@Phutoie2, I bet they were good times... In Cyprus with thousands of other seamen!? hel_l YEAH!

After a bit of research on the webernet, I have decided to recant... I submit these as evidence:

Phutoie2, I couldn't disagree more. If the history you're referring to is some Victorian, long-sleeved swimming costume-wearing, nose-up tutting era, then you may have a point. Though if you're actually interested in discussing the historical significance of tattoos, I think you'll find they have been worn by nobles, warriors, the lower classes and just about everyone in between at different times for many different reasons. Some of the earliest records of tattoos date back to over 5000 years, so if you're stuck in some dusty conservative era where it wasn't ok call to call the parts of a chicken by their real names, then I feel sorry for ya! I like to call a breast a breast (and many other names too!).

I'm not arguing that we needn't to be aware of social trends and pressures, but really, this is the 21st century! Get with the times! Besides daggers, spiderwebs and and hearts are exactly the height of tattoo fashion any more....

In this town and I suspect most smaller Thai cities women with large noticeable tattoos work in the entertainment industry. My feelings are, since she knew I didn't like tattoos her getting another one was a slap in my face and a sign that my feelings are going to be ignored from here on out.

I see you're under fire from the 'tattoo brigade'. Personally I dislike tattoos as well - ok for showbiz people, bar tarts and young rebels(though many regret it in later years) but how many 'respectable' people do you see with them. How many doctors or nurses, bank and office workers etc have them?

Anyway, the point is that it definitely was a sign of her disregard for your feelings. She already had a couple of the bloody things but she has to go and get more, knowing full well you don't want her to. To me she's showing how little she values your opinion and has no respect for you.

Next time look for one who doesn't like tattoos - believe me there are plenty around outside of 'places of entertainment'.

How could you possibly know how many tattoos you doctor, lawyer, bank employee and so-on has - they all wear long sleeves. It's ridiculous to assume that the people you mentioned don't have tattoos just because you haven't seen them.

It's fine not to like tattoos, but trying to draw correlations between getting ink done and social status, education or personality is absolutely ridiculous.

Just found this info about VAT in Thailand... and I'm still confused why it's on my bill.

VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)

The Value Added Tax (VAT) is generally imposed to goods and services supplied in or imported into Thailand. VAT includes municipal tax, which is charged at the rate of one-ninth of the VAT rate. Under the this tax regime, value added at every stage of the production process is subject to tax. This tax affects: Producers, providers of services, wholesalers, retailers, exporters and importers. A zero per cent rate applies to certain businesses, for example, the Export Of Goods Or Services, international transportation by sea or air, and the sale of goods and services to United Nations-related organizations. The trader will charge VAT on the sale of goods or provision of services to the consumer. The businesses which are excluded from VAT subject to specific business tax, businesses necessary for maintenance of life and social welfare (i.e. health care services, educational services, domestic transportation, sale of unprocessed agricultural products), cultural services, religious and charitable services. Traders who do only zero-rated supply business will not be required to collect VAT on their supplies, but can refund all VAT paid for purchase of goods and services from others. Services provided by traders residing abroad and utilized in Thailand are regarded as being rendered in Thailand and subject to VAT.

The VAT payer is required to file a monthly VAT return and pay the tax monthly, on or before the fifteenth day of the following month.

Failure to register as a VAT payer, file a VAT return, or issue a tax invoice to a customer, is subject to a penalty of twice the amount of the tax due. A monthly surcharge of certain percentage for failure to pay the VAT is levied on the tax due. In addition, punishment for noncompliance with VAT regulations allows for a maximum punishment of imprisonment up to seven years and a fine of up to Baht 200,000.

Nope, not serviced. Just a simple 1 bedroom place on Petchburi Rd. There is a pool and fitness room upstairs but surely that woudn't be it... would it?

Just moved into my apartment at the beginning of this month and I received my bill for next month under the door yesterday. It has all of the charges itemized - rent (which is broken into two sections??), water, electricity and parking. Then at the bottom - subtotal, VAT (324B) and then the total. I was not told I would have to pay tax on my rent and I've never even heard of such a thing! Value Added Tax on your home?? <deleted>?

Have you heard of this practice, or am I being taken for a ride? Why wasn't I charged (or told about) this on the first month's rent when I moved in? The building manager seem very nice and helpful so far, so I don't think she would be trying to hide anything from us. I just don't get it.

- Baffled in Bangkok

I like this thread... but I'm left feeling a bit depressed. After living in Thailand for 5 years, all of the nice posters here have just confirmed what I already believed to be true: Wine just isn't cheap here in the Land of Smiles. There are a few specials to had, but if wine is decent, it doesn't last long. And, wine in a box is very mediocre (at best), though it is affordable.

Are there any other *good* options that are readily available for reasonable prices? That Cantine Ronco sounds internesting, but no one knows were to find it in the big city. What brands do you tend to go for, triplegee?

Hmm... it does seem a bit slow for movie releases these days. R5's are usually fine though, some audio issues but typically nothing major.

For quality, speed and security, private trackers are far superior to public ones. If you need help getting onto a few private ones, PM me.

Also, you should know what the scene tags means if you want to avoid handycam copies and the like. Here's a list of common tags used by release groups to indicate the sources of files:

www.farsa.gr/forum/showthread.php?t=5304

I once had this problem with a Nokia phone. After much frustration I found that I had the offending number stored twice in my phone - once under the correct name, and there was one entry that was unnamed. Apparently the phone defaulted to the unnamed contact, and after deleting the unnamed listing, the name appeared as usual. Unnamed contacts appear at the very bottom of my phone list, thus it took some time for me to figure this out.

Around 10 - 11k for an "Pro". Check Nadzproject.com - although they're listed as "out of stock" currently.

I've heard of a few people water cooling their cooling their xbox 360, and that is a permanent fix. Would definitely be worth a look if you're having repeated issues. This should be quite possible to do in Thailand as well.

Good luck!