KhunBENQ

Bit late on the thread and maybe mentioned more than once. Location and signal strenght is the decisive factor. As you use a mobile phone you are dependent of the quality of the phone in terms of signal reception. Particularly upload speed can go down dramatically (which makes video call etc. a PITA). Likely all phones have a feature hidden somewhere in phone, SIM, status.. to show signal strenght. values from -90 dBm down are bad. At about -115 dBm connection fails completely at my phone. If you can't find the feature on the phone install an app like: "Network Cell Info Lite" (for Android, don't know about iOs)

No need to mention what the letter is for. It's completely generic like the letter for immigration (which actually has no reference to the purpose). Simple states that you are the owner of the designated account and the current balance. Seems you never have seen such.

Use Brave browser ???? Seriously: just found that Chrome shows B.E. while brave shows A.D. So it seems Chrome related. Or does my Brave browser use a different search engine. Will have to check

And again no restrictions for Soi Buakhao?? Hell that will be a mess. Even without special event it was chaotic earlier this month.

From last years: fireworks started on platforms on the sea facing Pattaya beach. Not much to see from Jomtien. Not even think of using a two track vehicle for transport. Motorbike taxi might work?

At what bank/branch? I guess it's not in Pattaya? Having another Thai ban account may help as a reference. A bank letter from the other bank.

The farce started when they planned this as usual for July. Only after making the deal Blatter and his mafia gang had to admit that it is frigging hot in Qatar (ignoring all warnings). That happens if you are carted around in AC cooled limos. Total ignorance. Maybe not too well known: former FIFA boss Blatter as well as his successor Infantino come from the same south alpine Swiss canton of Valais which has a bit of a reputation like Sicily ????

Nice a.s kick for a major sponsor. Hope this rotten FIFA, corrupt to the bones will get more of that. Massive boycott of merchandise goods. And hopefully all major favorites blown away in first round. Final with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Would be a blockbuster. What's next? FIS organizing downhill ski in Saudi Arabia because it's good for the purse?

Forget to mention to the OP. Of course children, grand children and close relatives are the first in row to pay. Foreigner can donate depending.

No book, no buy. Don't pay in full before your name is in the book updated by the DLT office. If the seller does not agree walk on.

Christmas magic in Pattaya? Go to the mall and enjoy the plastic trees and plastic decorations? Jingle bells, White Christmas, Rudolf..., Feliz Navidad etc. etc. basically 24/7 from some squeaky speakers. Clerks in convenience stores/malls and bar girls with funny Santa hats? Drives me insane. As others wrote: look for Christmas dinner of your choice/nationality. But that's it. Don't forget that there is no public holidays for Christmas. Business as usual.

Neighbor bought his basic Honda Wave to ride out to the fields. Never bothered to register.

That's for the no status farang. No face to save.

As others wrote: total cost depends much on the status of the family and the deceased. How many guests invited? Cheap food and drinks or better quality? Cremation without party is a complete disgrace (for homeless, criminals). Spanning over three day event in certain stages is usual. 50k for a start but 200k is still not excessive. And yes, part of the cost will be covered by some community "insurance". There is a minimum amount per household (100?) but again depending on the status of the donors it will be 500 and more. So make sure you are not just presented with total cost but doing the summation. In a way you are just a big donor.

At the land border I had no problem. Have no experience with flying. But unlikely different.

Always funny for me (non English) when US English argue about UK English ????

The important details are missing Hotel on Soi 8. I have an idea which one it is. A constant stream of Indians walking down to beach from there. The katoeys must have a great time. Lots and lots of complete newbies to rip off. Not those "know it all farangs"

And up here we get the leftovers Forecasts show some rain for the same time.

Hope they learn from other countries where this is standard. Try to find an open high voltage line or overhead transformer in a Swiss or German city area/walking street.

Let's hope so. There has actually quite a number of power cable burying taken place. Was surprised to see many high voltage lines going underground (no overhead transformers). On Naklua Rd, at BigC Extra and others. In Walking Street you see housings with meters for voltage/current. Did I still see overhead transformers? I don't think so. These beasts were always dangerous. Once a music club burnt down by a transformer explosion.

Both true and in Pattaya City some cleanup had been done. I have seen that and taken some pictures. So if they want they can find the unused cables. It's just lazyness and not bringing profit. But these are communication cables. The loops are fiber optic cable. Should not result in such fire. There must have been some real power/transformer involved. This little fire can not match the spectacle taken place some weeks ago at 2nd rd, Soi 15 ????

Looked it up and to no surprise it's a costly excursion. One way in the morning about 4k to 5k. Return flight same day might be more than 10k. Might well be that Kuala Lumpur is cheaper and more choices.

I hesitate to answer on this. Likely flying in would make a difference. I wasn't aware that the rule applies to Laos citizens and that they need to use passport instead of an ID? Better open a new thread here. Or can I get @ubonjoe to help?

Sure, it's technically possible. Just yesterday I saw a a video of a Bangkok based vlogger coming back from his Laos short trip with Thaismile flight from Vientiane. I don't know about schedule and prices. If schedule allows you could also fly back without using land border. Or spend a night in Vientiane. Seems a lot has developed since I was there in 2011.

? If I write July I mean this year of course. And plenty of other reports in the forum (many doing border run to get rid of Non O-A visa). I have described in some detail in other threads. Border is open and business as usual before COVID. Only exception is that Laos might still check for vaccination or ATK. No such at entering Thailand.