From Monday the 31st July

The Australian Embassy will be at 181 Wireless Rd.

Lumphini-Pathumwan.

Thanks for useful info. Would you happen to have relevant details in Thai for the taxi driver?

1 hour ago, SouthernDelight said:

Thanks for useful info. Would you happen to have relevant details in Thai for the taxi driver?

How about the same map in Thai. http://thailand.embassy.gov.au/files/bkok/Flyer A5 TH.JPG

 

 

 

Thank you kindly!

I was hoping it might be nearer the BTS or MRT, but sadly not. Still, there's always a motorcycle taxi at Lumpini that can take you to the Austrian Embassy. 555

 

Would you happen to know the language they speak now?

Last time I was there it was, very, very poor English.

And impossible to see anyone...had to sit with the receptionist and explain to a  'supervisor' over the phone that I just wanted to drop off a couple of documents. Major drama!!

It would be nice to speak to a person from the home country. I called the Thai Embassy in Canberra once...guess what...Thai people with good English.

 

I pity any poor bugger who actually needs help from this incompetent bunch of taxpayer funded bludgers....apart from  'consular assistance' whatever that means.

Edited July 26, 20178 yr by tryasimight

From their current beautiful building and grounds to a god-forsaken monstrosity that is supposed to look like Ayres Rock or something - I'm so happy I no longer pay taxes in Australia. 

8 hours ago, tryasimight said:

Would you happen to know the language they speak now?

Last time I was there it was, very, very poor English.

And impossible to see anyone...had to sit with the receptionist and explain to a  'supervisor' over the phone that I just wanted to drop off a couple of documents. Major drama!!

It would be nice to speak to a person from the home country. I called the Thai Embassy in Canberra once...guess what...Thai people with good English.

 

I pity any poor bugger who actually needs help from this incompetent bunch of taxpayer funded bludgers....apart from  'consular assistance' whatever that means.

Well I was there yesterday and the Thai lady that dealt with me spoke perfect English, as, if I remember correctly, have all persons working there when I pay my yearly visit.  Not only that, she had a sense of humour, we chatted briefly about the move to the new location and furthermore, she was extremely helpful.  Maybe you were just unlucky?  Further comments would be appreciated, but bear in mind that we are not talking about their competence, but their ability to speak English.

7 hours ago, lordblackader said:

From their current beautiful building and grounds to a god-forsaken monstrosity that is supposed to look like Ayres Rock or something - I'm so happy I no longer pay taxes in Australia. 

I was told it was a security issue. If that's the case and that is the new embassy, then I would say they have made a security issue.

 

17 hours ago, mikosan said:

I was hoping it might be nearer the BTS or MRT, but sadly not. Still, there's always a motorcycle taxi at Lumpini that can take you to the Austrian Embassy. 555

 

It appears to be only 500m from Lumpini but I know that can be quite a walk sometimes in the middle of a Bangkok summer.  As you stated, motorcycle taxis are always available at the sration exit.

7 hours ago, mikosan said:

I was there yesterday and the Thai lady that dealt with me spoke perfect English, as, if I remember correctly, have all persons working there when I pay my yearly visit.  Not only that, she had a sense of humour, we chatted briefly about the move to the new location and furthermore, she was extremely helpful.  Maybe you were just unlucky?  Further comments would be appreciated, but bear in mind that we are not talking about their competence, but their ability to speak English.

Yep, I agree.

 

Have been there several times and the Thai's I dealt with all spoke good English.

 

I've never had to wait a long to see someone either.

Edited July 27, 20178 yr by Will27

17 hours ago, tryasimight said:

Would you happen to know the language they speak now?

Last time I was there it was, very, very poor English.

And impossible to see anyone...had to sit with the receptionist and explain to a  'supervisor' over the phone that I just wanted to drop off a couple of documents. Major drama!!

It would be nice to speak to a person from the home country. I called the Thai Embassy in Canberra once...guess what...Thai people with good English.

 

I pity any poor bugger who actually needs help from this incompetent bunch of taxpayer funded bludgers....apart from  'consular assistance' whatever that means.

You're right, it's all about cutting costs though - you would never have an Aussie employed by the Thai embassy in Canberra yet there are hardly any Aussies employed by the Australian embassy in Bangkok. It feels weird being assisted by Thais when it's supposed to be your embassy. The Swiss, American, Cambodian, Vietnamese and many other embassies all have mostly local staff from their home countries assisting foreigners and their citizens. During voting, there tends to be one Aussie and one Thai person. I always try to bypass the Thai person and talk to the Aussie one when that happens. In future I'll probably remove myself from the electoral roll though, most expats do it eventually, there's no point in wasting time and money on the journey to get to the embassy on something that I don't have much control over.

 

The Aussie embassy is good for getting stat dec docs, that's about it - mind you, I doubt any Thai living in Australia would ever be required to go to their embassy for a similar doc just to get something simple done like a driver's licence extension. It's weird how the Department of Land Transport thinks a hand written address that you wrote with an official looking stamp and signature is more official than the very same address that is printed by them on the back of your expiring licence!

Edited July 27, 20178 yr by jimster

10 hours ago, mikosan said:

I was told it was a security issue. If that's the case and that is the new embassy, then I would say they have made a security issue.

 

Yeah, far easier to surround that building with tanks and soldiers to ward off an attack than the old one :)

 

It's still extraordinary ugly though. 

i went to the Embassy today, perfect English, the lady looked Thai, but i could hear her Aussie accent, she'd definately spent a significant period in Australia or is Australian.