curtklay

For Christ's sake...have you guys ever heard of good manners?

My guess is a moth. Looks like a type of "Hawk Moth"

The pink one is an "elephant hawk moth".

The green one is an "oleander hawk moth".

The green one is very common in our yard.

Why do we have this discussion? Drinking water in TH does not contain any minerals, it's as clean as distilled water.

This discussion keeps dragging on mainly because you keep posting inaccurate nonsense.

True. But you fail to mention that the "rules" mean absolutely nothing.

You know that as well as I do.

Best advice is check with your local office, and then be prepared for anything.

As said, the insurance should be in the name of the car owner. Then specify who the named drivers are in the insurance policy.

Drinking water is most certainly NOT the same as distilled water.

It's more than one or two offices requiring funds seasoning using the combination method.

Play it safe and leave it in there for 3 months prior to applying for an extension.

Thais are not well versed in gift giving.

At Christmas time, all you see in the stores are gift baskets filled with that bird nest crap.

Better have that sign read "ring the bell once".

Otherwise they'll stand there pushing the button like kids on Halloween.

Craig:

What a nightmare! Sincerely sorry for you; not just the flooding, but all the personal trauma as well.

Are they really going to be able to "fix" all that? I would think that the lingering contamination and mold danger would be extremely high, requiring a lot more than just drying out and new flooring. Like I said, they had to cut out the drywall in our US house because it soaked up so much water. I could see black mold growing on it before they even got started. They literally gutted the whole house. Be sure you're getting a complete and competent repair to USA standards. That flood water looks like sewage, and I would not be comfortable moving back in until getting a clean bill of health by contamination experts. Down the road, it could be very dangerous to your health.

I sure hope everything works out for the best. But remember, this is Thailand. You have to be super diligent. I know you've got a million things going on, but don't let even the smallest detail slip by you.

I will never know why bad things happen to good people, but my thoughts are with you. Good Luck!

(P.S. I too have always had positive experiences using Agoda.)

I did get it restored each time at a competent body shop recommended by my Honda dealer.

After all, that's what insurance is for.

And I will admit that while I was expecting a nightmare, they did an excellent job including paint matching.

I think Mr. Shots estimates may have a little humor attached. At least I hope so.

I would have dropped a log.

You're not ruining your car in Phuket , it gets ruined all over Thailand. People here have absolutely no respect for other peoples property. The mai pen rai - attitude rules here. You park your car in a public place and it will be damaged.

My beloved car has been bashed 3 times. Twice in parking lots while I wasn't even in it (of course, no notes left). And once, rear ended at a red light by a drunk.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."

Duplicate post.

Sorry to hear about the flooding, Craig. I know what you're going through. We got flooded back in 1995 in Sacramento, CA. 9 inches of water in the house. All furniture, carpets were ruined, drywall had to be cut out 3 feet up from the floor. Just an incredible mess. We had to move out for 2 months while they rebuilt. Even though we didn't have flood insurance, our carrier graciously covered everything to the tune of $30,000. It was traumatic, but actually turned out in our favor after all was done. Practically a new house.

Hang in there, my friend. Things can only get better from here.

Try good manners, appreciation and patience.

How to Begin: Rebuilding Life From Within. Love yourself, unconditionally. Release your bottled up emotions. Make time for long walks, alone. Avoid living beyond your means. Nurture your inner strength. Stop apologizing for being you. Surround yourself with positive people. Embrace your situation, whatever it may be.

Yes, that is their standard operating procedure. Their attitude is pretty much "take it or leave it", and that is not uncommon here in Thailand. I had a similar issue as you, and complained to a Supervisor about no one ever calling me back. She said, "Sir, I personally promise you I will call you back within the hour". Of course, she never called back at all.

In the past couple weeks, I have been to my local immigration office, Ram Hospital, and Kasikorn Bank, and noticed that all of them are still using Windows XP on their computers. It seems odd that large organizations such as these don't seem to be afraid of all the potential disaster we were warned about. If they aren't concerned, why should the home user be?

Has anyone actually heard of anyone experiencing problems using XP since Microsoft dropped support? Or was it all just a load of bull to sell new software and computers?

Didn't the bank update your passbook when you got their letter? They certainly should have if you are doing the 800k baht or combination method.

If you do the minimum income method, you shouldn't need to show a passbook at all. (If you're American with the embassy letter.)

I keep the 800k baht in the account all year; no transactions other than an interest payment which was shown in the updated passbook. The 3 months of statements showed nothing different. So why were the statements needed other than to make me jump through a hoop, and prove they are the boss?

I had the same issue at Nan Immigration in July. For my previous 5 annual extensions, all I needed was the bank letter and updated bankbook. This time they also wanted 3 months of statements. When I questioned it, they said it was new policy. Sent me off to Kasikorn to get copies. Since I keep the required amount in the account all year, the statements amounted to nothing more than 3 blank pages. Absolutely pointless.

Please don't point out that the 3 months of statements has been the rule for a long time. It's buried in their mumbo-jumbo which is impossible to keep up with. If they don't tell you about it and don't enforce it over 5 years, it's not fair to selectively bring it up depending on their mood. Especially when you drive 2 hours to get there. If I had known statements were required, I would have happily obtained them when I got the bank letter.

Once again, more ambiguous and inconsistent nonsense effected by individual offices. Wouldn't it be nice if all immigration branches complied with the official regulations, and if any changes are made, an advance notice would be announced on their website? You know...kind of like the way things are done in the real world?

If you're looking for actual Tonic Water, Schweppes is probably the only one you'll find. I have found it at Tesco, but not stocked in the soda department. You may have to ask for it, or show them a picture.

Soda Water made by Singha or Chang is available everywhere.

And after he's been executed, can we please allow drinking alcohol for passengers on the trains again, please?

Talk about knee jerk reaction! This guy's credentials were not checked before the railway company employed him. He then committed a most atrocious crime while under the influence of drink and drugs, so what do they do?

Enforce a strict vetting progamme before employing anybody? Have periodic on the spot drink/drugs tests for all employees?

No, they just have a blanket ban of alcohol on all on all trains for staff and passengers alike - ridiculous!

I used to use the night train regularly from Bangkok to Surat Thani, and enjoy a drink or two in the buffet car, and smoke a cigarette or two before "hitting the sack". Not any more! With the advent of cheaper air fares, I see no enjoyment in being stuck on a train for 12 hours (at least - and that's if it's running on time - which is a rarity) being literally forced into bed by about 8.30 pm like a naughty schoolboy, and counting cockroaches to help me get to sleep!

Wow...how horrible for you.