Drew345

Is there a really big pharmacy near a skytrain / subway station? Usually I go to Pharmax on Thong Lor, but it involves a motorcycle taxi there and back to the station. It's a great pharmacy though. I am going to get Orlistat (fat-catching drug) and sominar (decongestant / sleeping). If there were a big pharmacy on the skytrain, that would be great. Sukhumvit would be even better.
Thanks,

Anyone ever seen or heard of an oil-free foot massage? I am going back to Thailand soon. I love the foot massage (and Thai massage too). But that oil always hangs around too long and gets into the soles of my shoes and makes them slippery or hard. I have knee trouble and can't wear sandals, or else I would just visit the massage shop in rubber slippers. Sure the oil feels good during the massage, but then no matter how hard I try I can't wash it off, and it ends up harming my shoes (even through the socks).
Is there an oil-free style of foot massage? Anyone ever ask for and get an oil-free version?

Thanks, Robert

Anyone know any podcast for Thai language learners that is in the Thai language?
I studied Thai 15 years ago while living in Thailand and now I go back every year or 2. I want to brush up before going and while I am there. My Thai isn't great, I am sure there are many people much better on the forum. But I am above basic, solid intermediate. I'll review the tone rules again myself, and get a Preply online tutor, but would also like to do more listening with a podcast. Most podcasts are in English, and for beginners. Anyone know a Thai language podcasts for learners in clear, intermediate Thai? 
Thanks, Robert

A 90 minute 0-0 tie game and "this columnist tried to gather his breath!" 

Oh, I wish I could have found the Sukumwit Hospital sooner, it didn't show up when I searched for Hospitals. But I see it now.

Actually I ended up going to a "Public Health Center" at Ekkamai station exit 3, right next to Wat That Thong. It was about a 2 hour wait. 1 hour no aircon, then 1 hour inside aircon. Prie was 200 Bt. It wasn't a bad experience actually. I'm surprised they didn't just tell me to go to Sukumwit Hospital, seems to be right next door.
Anyway, stitches are out, all is good. Thank you all.

Is there a current motorcycle taxi app, or have they all been shut down?  The Soi my hotel is on doesn't get any motorcycles and it's a bit far from the skytrain station. I open Grab app but I don't see a way to specify motorcycle, just taxi. 

I got some stitches on my finger just before coming to Thailand and need to get them removed tomorrow or the next day. When I search "clinics" I get dental clinics, aesthetic clinics, etc., but don't see anything I would consider a health clinic. I'm in On Nut if that matters. Don't want to go to a international hospital, or certainly not to any emergency room. What would I search for for a local small surgery clinic, or something like that to remove stitches?

37 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

That's how Air BnB works! You don't see the place first just  photos  and videos.

The problem is, these agents use exactly the same pictures over several different property locations. 

It seems I'll be in Bangkok for a month to do some knee rehab in Thong Lo.  I'm looking for a one month condo, On Nut would be nice. I see on AirBnB many hosts seem to be agents with many listings. So you pay to AirBnB and then they give you something they have available. I'd rather see the property first actually, especially to see gym and pool. I tried just Google search, but that gives agencies that conver the whole city. Any advice to get a one month rental in On Nut (or near Thong Lo), and seeing it first? 

56 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

What type of visa will you be entering Thailand with?

Good ideas, Thank you. I am American so I was planning on entering visa-free for 30 days, but then I would need the return ticket already booked. I will look into getting a 60 day visa to avoid needing the return ticket.

I am planning to go to Thailand from South Korea for a medical procedure (knee). The time period is a bit open, depending on how many appts needed and recovery time. It's a nerve problem, not ACL or anything too big (I hope). Does anyone have any good suggestions for things to look for, avoid when getting a ticket that probably will have to be changed. I am thinking on booking 3 weeks first, and then extending if I have to. I guess I just need to check every airline from South Korea to Thailand (there are a few good budget ones luckily), but just wanted to check here for tips too.

Thanks,

Up to now I have kept my kasikornbank account active by doing a small transfer to a Thai friend every 6 months or so. There is a bank login password, and then another PIN2 password for doing transfers. I just got an email that the PIN2 password system will be discontinued and I must move to a OTP password received by phone. I don't know if it will be by SMS message or by voice call, maybe someone already using the kasikornbank OTP system can tell me that. Anyway, I don't have a Thai phone, now when I visit I just buy a new SIM card every time. Does anyone know a way to receive a Thai phone call and / or SMS while outside Thailand. I searched for "receive Thai SMS" and yes, there are a lot of websites offering that service, but most of them you just use the number for a day, and share with everybody else online that day. I couldn't tell which ones offered a number just for me. Is there one as "trustable" as google voice for example. Rather than "search this and that", if anyone knows a specific Thai phone number provider, or another way to receive the kasikornbank OTP, or another way to keep the account open, I appreciate it.
Note: I only have one account open, so transferring back and forth between two accounts also not an option.

I guess I'm dreaming of traveling freely again, but does anyone know of gyms in Bangkok that offer short term memberships like 2 or 3 months. Last time I was there a few wanted to sell global lifetime memberships and weren't interested in monthly at all. How would I find monthly gyms like that? Maybe they exist in Thai neighborhoods, just not falang areas? 

Thanks

Thanks everybody. I like the idea about doing a small transfer donation to a charity every so often.  I just made a small transfer to an old friend and didn't bother him with an explanation. I didn't need a cell phone number OTP (one time password) to do the transfer, just did it online with my password. Maybe the phone number OTP requirement is a new thing and my account is 20 years old. 
Anyway, thanks for all the great ideas and can't wait to get back to Thailand. I'll just have to wait until both Thailand and South Korea (where I live) drop the quarantine requirements.

I used to go to Thailand twice a year for long stays. Then once a year. Then COVID hit and I haven't been there for more than 2 years. 

I have a decent amount in my kasikornbank account, so want to make sure it stays active. I log in and check it from time to time. Last year I just transferred 50 Bt to a friend there and he transferred it right back. I hate to bother him again this year.

Any creative ways to keep an account active while gone for a long period of time (years)? I guess I could just transfer the 50 Bt (or just 10 Bt even) and not even mention it to my friend. Anyway, just wondering if others have a creative solution to keeping accounts open. Thanks!

Thank you. I will make a note to do an online transfer within 12 month. Hmmm, I have 70,000 Bt in the account now. I wonder why I got the notice (It's in Thai Language). Anyway, that is great information. Thank you.

I haven’t been to Thailand for 17 months and no plans to go for immediate future obviously. I just got a message from an old friend that they got a paper-mail from Kasikornbank (TFB) that my account was about to go dormant. So they transferred 100 Bt to my account. That was really nice. TFB emails me about other things like planned service outages, strange they wouldn’t email about this issue, but whatever.

Does anyone know:

- What is the period of no-use before a bank (TFB) goes dormant?

- What happens if it does go dormant?

- Do they let you change the address to a foreign address? (I don’t plan on living in Thailand again, but will still visit once a year.)

I'll bump this again.

There are quite a few places selling the paper, as mentioned above.

It's the copy shop I am at a loss to find. Any idea of a copy shop near Silom, Siam Center or maybe Suk?

Thanks!

I need to make some Resume copies for an upcomming job fair. I would like to copy them on some decent stock paper, maybe with a little off white tint to it. Any where to get copies done like that? I looked in B2S and they don't do copies. Near Silom would be best, but Siam Center or Asoke/ Suk would also be fine.

Thanks

Does the Foodland in Silom have the small Took-Le-Di restaurant inside? I know there is one at the Foodlands on Asoke, Suk 7, and Ramkhamheang. Not sure about the Silom branch though.

Thanks,

I saw this come up a couple of months ago, just wanted to check again. Sorry if this is beating a dead horse.

As a US citizen, can I get 30 days entry from a land crossing (at Nong Khai)?

I am going to Nong Khai and there is a good chance my Thai friend will want to take me to Vientienne. His car is cleared to go, so sounds like might be fun, even though I will have to buy a Laos visa. Anyway, if I only get 15 days upon coming back to Thailand, I won't be able to go. 30 days coming back could work out good for me.

Yes, I have been to Laos umpteen times, north, south, west (never east), so I am not planning to make this a long trip if I go.

Thanks!

I'll be able to take about a 10 day trip out of Bangkok over the New Year's period. Problem is, everywhere I think of, I go "Oh no, it will be crowded". My first thoughts were Pai or Koh Chang. I now Pai will be packed because it is now even more popular with Thais than farang. Still thinking about Koh Chang. I am not really looking for a "hidden gem" or "secret paradise", just someplace out of Bangkok (but still in Thailand). Honestly, I will be taking my laptop and still working on some stuff while I am out, so really just want like an "office" out of Bangkok for 10 days. Would be great to be able to rent a motorbike there and get around.

Any idea for a place not packed on New Year (thus not what Thais think of for New Year), with motorbike rental (thus not too remote)? Hey, I love Pattaya too, but thinking of something a little farther for a 10 day trip.

Thanks,

Drew

I haven't contributed a while so I'll explain the double entry visa.

Both people are right, it is good for 6 months, and it is valid for 90 days.

Here's how it works.

You get a double entry visa (seems Vientienne is best bet).

It is valid 90 days, meaning both entries must be used within 90 days (here Entry is the important word)

Each Entry will get you 60 days in Thailand, but that can be extended at immigration for an additional 30 days.

So here's the plan to get 6 months out if it:

Enter Thailand with the first entry of your visa, you are good for 60 days.

Before the 60 days are up, go to immigration and extend it for 30 more days.

Before those 30 days are up, leave and re-enter Thailand to activate the second entry (Mai Sai is nice up north on the Myanmar boarder). Make sure to reenter before the 90 day validity period of the visa.

Now you have 60 more days with that second entry.

Extend that again for 30 more days at immigration.

So all together you have 180 days = about 6 months.

I want to go see a pretty good doctor I saw before. I've got a pain in my hip and now it's clicking and someday I'll probably need a hip replacement, so I want to keep in touch with this doctor, who seemed pretty good.

Problem is that last time he prescribed a bunch of glucosamine, which was really expensive from the hospital. I brought a bunch of glucosamine back from America and I am really stocked up well, so I don't want to buy the hospital glucosamine again.

Has anyone ever seen the doctor, then gone over to the desk where you get the medicine, and told the to leave out some / all of it?

I once asked another doctor to just tell me what I need and I'll get it outside, and she bluntly said if she did that the hospital would close. So I know it is a touchy issue.

I'd love to see the doctor, go to the checkout , and tell them give me everything but the glucosamine.

This could be useful for other times too. For Example, If I go for a throat infection, I want the antibiotics, but the pain stuff is probably no better than what I have from America, so I would like to take just the antibiotics and not the rest.

Anyone ever pick and choose the meds like that?

I see, thanks for all the info about DCC and how to avoid it.

I've been out of Thailand for a while and forgotten most of my Thai (though I am sure it will come back fast).

When you tell them to charge in Thai Baht not Dollars, is broken English the best way "Charge Baht NOT Dollars, OK?", or is using (broken) Thai language better?

Can you see the buttons they are pressing to tell them "NO", when it comes to that dollars or baht screen, is the machine in Thai or English? Or is it just up to them to do it right after being told to use Baht?

Now that I have a no foreign fee card, I want to use it a good bit this trip, so thanks for the help.