Sporting Dog

No problem to do a rental between BKK and KK - whether there will be an extra charge for one-way drop off will depend on how long the rental is for. Usually if its more than 3-4 days there will be no extra charge.

I've done it a few times - if you are travelling between decent sized places and use one of the bigger franchises then it won't be a problem.

(I use a consolidator and choose from Budget, Thai Rent-a-car, SixT etc)

If you are able - get a visa from the embassy prior to going - then you just go thru immigration.

the letters just allow you onto the aitline and then its a scrum to get the visa (on arrival).

I've done it both it both ways a few times - the only downside to the visa from the embassy is that they need your passport.

(I'm in Aus so I send it to Sydney - comes back in less than a week with the visa stuck in)

However, the true thief was caught this morning with goose in belly:

she'll probably eat that snake too!

I had emergency eye surgery at Rutnin (vitrectomy and retinal re attachment) and they were great. My treating ophthamologist back in Australia was very impressed with the work they did.

And they even gave me foot massage to ease the stress before going into theatre.

Thanks SunsetT and SantiSuk.

I'll probably try to leave the car at a hotel carpark, or catch a bus from Khon Khaen and then back again.

(anyone done the bus trip from KK - how long? do they have decent buses - I looked on the NakhonChai Air site but I don't think they do KK-NP).

I plan on visiting Laos at Xmas - I want to drive a hire car to Nakhon Phanom and leave it there for a couple of days while in Laos.

Are there safe/secure places to leave a car near the bridge across the river (like they have at Nong Khai)?

Anyone ever done this?

thanks...

Flying into Nakhon Phanom in a few weeks - arriving at about 4pm. I want to cross over to Takhek in Laos on the same day.

Does anyone know if that is doable? It will be a saturday and I'm not sure what time the bridge closes. We'll be using public transport from the airport.

Also I may end up driving there - is there a secure place to leave a car for a couple of days near the bridge - like at Nong Khai?

Also if I do get a car I thought I may have a look around - maybe go up to Wat Phu Tok up further north.

Anyone been there - is it worth the drive? Any other suggestions of places to visit? If we've got a car we'll be coming from/to Khon Kaen.

Thanks for any advice

but, as mentioned above, air travel is cheaper now than it has ever been.

Take a coupla mangy soi dogs with ya, or cirrhosis of the liver.

Its not greed - its high season. High demand = high prices and its the same everywhere in the world during high season. I don't know why anyone is surprised

fantastic pics - thanks, my wife is gonna love seeing these

You did the right thing by going to watch the football.....there's plenty of football coming up so I'd make the effort not to miss any of it. Good luck.

Perhaps you could report her as missing to the Thai police and then they can contact Singapore with the required details.

Good luck

I've been looking at flights recently on that route - by using the mutistop option you can price a stay in phuket before flying onwards - doesn't cost any more.

True mate. Black ops- Thaksin dead.

Maybe they could get a few farangs from the bars in nana/ cowboy etc - I've met quite a few that have claimed to be on r'n'r from black ops

You'll get a taxi at the airport - last time it was 1500 baht.

Or better still hire a car for about 1000 baht a day ( at the airport - haggle a bit) - and then you can have a look around khao lak too.

I've used Latestays, Sawadee, Agoda and a couple of times, Directrooms, and I've booked online many times. Never had problem with any of them. If I don't know the hotel I use tripadvisor to get some reviews, and I always check the hotels own site. I usually check them all and there have been times when a two week stay has resulted in hotel vouchers from 3 or 4 different companies.

Latestays is consistently the cheapest but you can't book until about a month prior. Sawadee often has lots of deals (extra nights etc) out of high season and has a pretty good selection in thailand. Agoda has a good website and I've got rooms on them when the others are showing no rooms but they are consistently more expensive for the same rooms, they are less likely to have specials, and I think they usually take the money immediately upon booking. Some of the best deals have come from hotel's own websites.

I've never seen a price for hotels or airfares on expedia or orbit etc that couldn't be beaten on other sites - maybe thats because I've only booked from either LOS or AUS and the good prices are in the US etc.

I would assume that fairly extensive business experience would be needed? An MBA is a pretty common qual these days.

I've used Fast Car rental - via this - site a few times. They are just a 3rd party agent? and the actual cars came from Thai Rent A Car. I think I've used them 3/4 times in Khon Kaen, once in Chiang Mai and once in BKK.

Only once was I disappointed withthe car - BKK - but I guess it comes down to the actual renting company. Khon Kaen has always been good. Their prices have always been better than anything else I could find - including Thai Rent A Car direct via web. Though I would check them a few first as promotions come and go.

So they're OK.

I've stayed at the Rachawadee a few times over the last couple of years and every time it has been enjoyable with no problems.

We usually get a couple of rooms (adjoining) and its really cheap - we used to stay at the Sofitel but a couple of rooms for a week is now quite expensive.

I like the pool and the grounds - laid back and peaceful, and I've spent a fair few hours laying relaxing with a few cold bevies.

I don't mind being out of KK as I usually get a car anyway to do a bit of touring around the area.

Probably the only down side is that breakfast is pretty ordinary (but I can live with that) and it sometimes gets a bit noisy with weddings and they sometimes have business seminars and events there.

The restaurant over the road (the Greenleaf???) is OK but the Kinaree restaurant at the hotel is very good.....initially we were reluctant to go there as breakfast was ordinary, and often hotel restaurants are a ripoff, but this one is great. Lots of thais come to eat there - we had dinner a few times, beside the 'geese' pond. It says it's 5 star restaurant, dunno about that, but it is good food and prices - worth a visit even ifyou're not staying at the hotel.

....and I've got no vested interest etc in this hotel!!

pic I took of the swimming pool - last October

The real point is that even if you do have some leverage over the employer, YOU will pay a price too, and that is all you should be considering. YOU have been breaking the law, and just because your employer has been complicit doesn't mean you'll get off easily if the law gets involved. Also be careful about threatening anyone with anything - if that is what you mean by leverage.

Also bear in mind that performance is not a one-sided assessment - we all have seen situations where employees honestly feel they have performed well but unfortunately no-one else agrees. Most businesses usually don't wantto get rid of the money-earners without a good reason.

Good Luck!

The situation must be frustrating - but if some doctor is red flagging the application because TB is (some sort of) issue, then I guess you'll just have to jump through the hoops. The immigration lackeys are naturally going to err on the side of caution.

I'd still contact the embassy and say that you're very concerned with the doctor's diagnosis and what it means for your Gfs treatment program. Point out that the Thai specialists hve no reason for any concern yet the Oz docs have recommended medications - WHY?

Also liver function monitoring is required when taking TB meds as this is the main side-effect of treatment. ??

I'd also ask the Thai specialist to contact the Aus doctor (in a professional capacity) to ascertain why treatment is required. I've had specialists do this in Aus and Thailand - with no problems whatsoever. In fact I would have thought the Thai specialist would be very interested to find out why the divergence of opinion.

Good luck - my wife had a few health issues when she did her spouse app (meant I had to go back to Aus and leave in LOS for three months) but we got thru them despite the hassles and aggravation.

I think that immi will always take the Aus doctor's opinion over the others (depsite the fact that there is more TB in SEA). What sort of specialist was the Thai doctor - respiratory physician or just a doctor.

Perhaps more concerning is that the Aus doc believes that your partner has had TB exposure. I recently returned a positive mantoux - nothing on th x-ray. (I've worked in hospitals for years and it is not uncommon that health workers return +ves s they've had exposure - also in Thailand many people will get exposure without knowing). Apparently TB will remain inactive for most people but remain in their body unless they receive treatment which I assume is what your partner is getting -a TB preventative drug. And thats good - it means after the treatment she will be TB clear and hopefully able to enter Australia. TB is a disease on the rise, and the newer strains can be very difficult to treat. Naturally Australian health authorities need to be vigilant and there are fantstic TB support facilities for immigrants etc i Aus.

I would write to the embassy and outline your concerns in the context of your gf's health - that you've received these conflicting reports and you would like to clarify the situation. Ask for a copy of the Aus doctor's report - they don't just make things up. This may turn out to be alucky break - your gf may end up healthy and TB free in the long run.

Good luck

Can't offer any advice but good luck, the future must be lookinga bit bleak at the moment but I'm sure you'll get thru. Small steps will get you a long way eventualy.

The spouse visa is being held up due to Australian doctors insisting on her completing a course of treatment for TB. I assume the panel doctors are in Thailand. The x-ray might carry more weight as a diagnostic indicator - I have had dealings with the WA TB Clinic (wonderful service that they provide) and they used XRays for the main diagnosis.

I would think it highly unlikely they will allow entry on a tourist visa because

- Australian doctors believe she has/had Tb or exposure

- You'd need to show substantial funds to cover the costs of any potential medical treatment during the stay as a tourist - full-price is hugely expensive.

- by applying for a spouse visa already, there are indications that she wants to stay in Australia. (Tho your post says "gf applied for an Australian spouse visa earlier this year" but later says "will be a problem in applying for an Australian spouse visa in the near future")

However no harm in trying - good luck.