KhunBENQ

Google says it's a maximum of 111 km to/from Korat (errors withhold).

I only used the stretch marked with the black bubble:

It's still not completed, plastered with 80 km/h signs and nobody cares 😁

No proper rest stop.

Just some sanitary containers.

All in all it saves a bit of time but until it is fully open to Bangna (#9) it's not a big thing.

The real horror is still there from Bangna to #1 towards Saraburi. Terrible driving.

BTW #9 also that crowded. Not a relaxed ride. Towards Bangkok multiple kms jam.

Next time I avoid that mess and go through Kao Yai again.

I didn't use it on the way south due to being unprepared.

Back north I used the exit to #201.

Coming from the south it starts somewhere before the reservoir.

There is a rather short stretch provisionally open of the M6. I drove there last week. I will add some details later.

Sign on the northern ring road at Nakhon Ratchasima:

17 hours ago, MrPancake said:

old people watching tv in pubs

Sounds like your the young party all night type.

Then "clubs" like Republic or MYST are for you.

The usually don't open before 11 PM.

(I don't speak from experience but from Instagram).

I am a boring old fart and the action around Soi Buakhao/LK etc. at 10 PM is enough for me.

But I agree that many places are quiet now even at that time (was in Pattaya until last week).

Today paid 150 Baht for a grilled chicken on the stick (gai jang).

Less or max 100 Baht in 2011.

😁

8 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Same owner?

No.

TOPS is under the "Central Retail Corporation", one of the Chinese origin billionaire families (Chirathivat family).

MAKRO (Siam Makro) has been taken over by the even more billions family (CP Group, Chearavanont family).

Enjoy the competition

23 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

How do I get screwed using this method- bank fees for receiving the transfer? Poor exchange rate converting CAD to THB?  What will the catch be?   

As above. Sent CAD in any case!
Conversion will be done at the receiving Thai bank (which one?).

The fee for that will be 500 Baht.

Exchange rates are not top end. Kasikorn e.g. shows 26.526 while currency market rate is 26.8883.

WISE: they offer special contact/advice for transferring high amounts.

Never tried so can't tell what it's worth.

On 3/29/2024 at 6:51 AM, willfreeman said:

flight from CM back to Australia via KL in late Novemeber

I would not rush to book that early.

Is the flight KL to Australia on Malaysian?

Wait for "government approval".

If you book before and it's not approved I bet you will have a long wait for your money back.

4 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I know it was BS but I was curious WHY it was BS.

History channel?

The "DiabeDerm" (urea cream/ointment) appears on many online sources like Shopee together with other urea creams (10, 20 and 40%).

Thread has two problems:

3 years old

Pattaya forum and now general health topic.

Maybe I can drag @Sheryl

to this for comment.

Quite surprising that Dermovate (not Dermavate) isn't available/hard to find in regular pharmacies?

This seems to be an imported (relatively expensive) Glaxo Smith Kline product. Cheaper stuff should be available. Cream and ointment.

2 hours ago, mhortig said:

My Thai wife will drive. Does she need an international drivers license, or just her Thai license? 

Thai driving license.

Regular 5 yr.

Temporary licenses not accepted by the rules.

Not as bad here but a thunderstorm and heavy downpour.

As a bonus we had a blackout for about an hour.

Hail and sharp drop of temperature is not unusual at this time of year. When I first experienced it was quite a surprise though.

That's for the disbelievers.

This measure has been announced since years and always been laughed at. Seems they have made it work now?

It's the first report that I come upon in the forum.

The ticket should have been sent to the address of the owner as shown in the blue car registration book.

Is that correctly updated?

Obviously the DLT does not have the details. So try your luck at the police station.

Lost control in a curve as so many.

The electricity meter is broken/bent.

Did he hit it with his head?

Copies of passport main page and latest extension/admitted stamp should do it.

Should: never tried but that is what the hotels need to identify and report. 

As we are in Thailand some hotels don't take it too serious.

We get our bill same day of the month.

Then put it aside.

Next day compare and pay with PEA app and mobile banking and still checking the recipient data.

Blind QR code scanning seems to become the new pishing. Sending money without carefully checking data?

Sorry, you better drive to the office.

Last year I paid significant amounts to a private hospital scanning the QR code at the cashier.

And believe me I still checked very carefully amount and recipient.

13 hours ago, couchpotato said:

You don't know where Chaiyapruek is in pattaya...amazing.

Goes (1&2) from the beach into the boonies.

? I know very well as a friend lives there quite close.

Seems you haven't got the joke.

From you user name I assume you go to Chaeng Wattana?

But anyway: days before and after long holiday period should be very crowded with people having exact due dates from 12 to 16 (5 days). Some go before the due date, others on the 17th as the holidays have a suspensive effect.

For the one year retirement extension you have a 30 day period before due date.

I would use it to be as far from the holidays as possible.

1 minute ago, Maestro said:

 

Wouldn't registered mail be cheaper but the postal receipt you get for it serve equally well as proof of mailing?

Would be. At the time when I used it, EMS domestic was less than 100 Baht. Has risen significantly.

Where?

Very unsual.

Do you send by EMS? (if so, has it been received)

In the past I did postal mail and send by EMS and insert a return envelope also franked for EMS.

As far as I know you can get a sticker (not stamps) for the return envelope at the post office.