torpedo1970
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Posts posted by torpedo1970
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Good to see the riff raff creeping out of the woodwork all of a sudden.
Immigration seem to be doing something right at last.
Agree 100%. There is no excuse for over stayers. Maybe one or two days, but months and years, then you are very aware of that you do something illegal.
I have been here nearly 10 years, used up 5 passports with different visas and stamps and not had a single day over stay. And it is simple, down to respect of the law in the country we are guests in.
They should remove the max cap of 20K, if you overstayed 2 years the fine should be 365.000. then maybe people would stop overstaying ?
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Third rule of visa runs, follow technologybyte's advice above
Some Embassies may have had a lighter approach in the past at least for singles of whatever type, but times are changing.
And KL is not one of them
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Save the environment or line the fat cats pocket ?
It is a good question to ask.
As a westerner we are always "trained" to protect the environment save the rain forest etc...
was on my monthly shopping trip, Tesco Lotus. just about to pick up some soap
cost 59 Baht
right next to it was the plastic bag refill, 49 Baht
and as a westerner i go on autopilot to pick up the refill........
But then hang on a minute it seemed very light.... so i stop and start looking more in details....
protex-family-liquid-hand-soap-250ml - 59 Baht
protex-family-liquid-hand-soap- Refill 200ml 49 Baht
So not only am i to save the environment i also have to line the fat cats pockets at the same time? By paying more per ml for the refill
so, sure, i got my 250ml - and most likely not going to buy a refill ever again....
Thainess
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Agree, treat all of these 3 in 1 'coffee' products with caution, they are sugar (typically 40-50%) and creamer (30-40%) laden. Good for emergencies only.
Ingredients listed in order by most volume:
Sugar - 58%
Creamer - 27%
Coffee - 15%
they should now call it sugar milk with a hint of coffee flavor?
If you want instant, it is better to just buy the coffee and mix with less sugar
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This post is nothing to do with the wisdom or otherwise of the OP teaching his own children or about his visa.
He simply asked about others view on cost of living......
Silverado did get it very close to reality
My answer is that it is not what cost, but what standard you want? A little how long is a piece of string.
You can live on 20.000 Baht a month in a rural village, eating Thai food for 30 Baht a "pop", it is tried and tested. and it included my rent at 3500.
But that does not include very much of luxuries and no car.
as you add these on the price piles up too....
Good luck
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If you have painting as a hobby, and after done, shipping the painting back to England for safe keeping. you are in the clear.
And when a order for a picture is received it should be sent from the UK to the buyer. meaning that all business purposes is done in UK.
The only thing you are doing is as a digital nomad confirming the order and sending e-mail to the person distributing your orders.
if you pack and distribute from Thailand you are breaking the law on a retirement visa.
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"I'd rather go to Vietnam than Laos...for many reasons. If i cannot, how about Penang or Phnom Penh?"
Sounds like you are a little all over the place....
Cambodia does a one year multi entry business visa for $ 280.
Not sure about Vietnam
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Yes you are right.
At my condo, there is a 50% drop in rentals according to statistics.....
I have the same experiences, had many fellow farrangs that have moved out of Thailand and that is after being here a long time.
Most have actually gone to Cambodia.
Reason?
Cambodia is like how Thailand was 20 years ago.....
Very easy visa, paying $ 280 and you get a one year multiple business visa.
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I think we can expect a price increase for (at least some categories of) extensions sometime soon. This is especially so where they want to conduct spot checks at the applicant's address.
That is well possible.
And why not invent an arrival tax for all visa exempt tourists
Arrival "taxes" for all arrivals have been added several times, but you don't see it because the airlines have been the one adding it to your ticket price....
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Numbers down, price up.
that is Thainess
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I have been down this rabbit-hole once or twice before.
The answer is very easy..... or so they told me.
The 30 day extension application is from the date of handing it in, so they do not let you choose that you want it from.
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it could cost you a lot more if you would get caught along the way to the border
I agree with this one.... Pay for a 30 day extension or go 2 days earlier to Myanmar (Burma).
Last time i went to Laos we got stopped twice on route by police (not immigration) they checked (all on the bus / van) all passports dates looking for targets to shake down..... A one day can cost as much as 50.000 to avoid being thrown in jail , taken to court and deported from Thailand....
A lot of people here are talking like the overstay does not matter,
And they are right IF you don't get caught, the fine is 500 a day with max 20.000 Baht...... But if you get caught even 100 meters from the border the story can end up as i mentioned above....
TIT
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No need to say anything as long as yo write visa number on arrival card.
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Not in KK but I have organised a couple of charity events on behalf of The Tree of Life Orphanage in Buriram. It's run by an American guy called Rodger. They have both FB and web pages for info.
I totally disagree on TOL.
I agree, i am a firm believer of the more hands on approach as i have seen far to much of the events and charity "skimming"
When i lived in Pattaya a group of us went and purchased a pick-up load of stuff, toys, nappies, milk, dresses, blankets etc, twice a year, and spending a day together with the children.
That way it is one step shorter of "things not ending up where it should"
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Thanks everyone and all the experts for responding to this thread.
Does anyone happen to have the application form for vientiane laos visa on arrival?
and
an application form for my double entry tourist visa @ the thai embassy in laos?
These would be most helpful , as noted by a poster, its going to save me a lot of time!
There is more info here
http://www.laos-guide-999.com/visa-on-arrival.html
http://www.laos-guide-999.com/support-files/laos-visa-on-arrival-form.pdf
There is also a arrival / departure card (same as Thailand) but not available online
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Visa application form: http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/upload/pdf/VisaApplicationForm.pdf
I don't have the one for the Lao visa on arrival.
I am sorry to say that i have used this form last week and was told to fill out a new version that they not yet have uploaded to the website... jumping through hoops etc... :-)
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Anybody here that can give any info about orphanages in or around Khon Kaen.
Also info on how to best help, and yes i will not just give moeney as i know it never end up to those deserving the most.....
Thanks in advance for all useful info
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i will give you my 2 cents on you questions, as a self proclaimed expert (done this a number of times, with many experiences)
first of all you have a 80% chance of not making it if you arrive at Udon Thani 7 am. that is also if it is a friday with no ques in the Consulate.
They stop giving out que numbers at 11:30 am, and i have seen that they stop giving numbers out at 10:30, also the person getting number 350 at 10:29 nearly crying.
it depends a lot on day of week. Mondays seems to be worst, where as many visa running agencies from Pattaya and Bangkok run mini vans on Sunday night up. so when they open at 08:30 there is already a long line of almost 50-100 people waiting.
Last few times i have opted for the lazy version, going on nakhonchai air first class bus from Bangkok to Nong khai it leaves from Bangkok at 21:00 (ish) arriving in Nong khai at 8:00 am (ish) and saying that i would be before you if you fly to Udon, mind you i do it on a Thursday arriving on Friday morning, and then i "just" make it before Consulate close.on Friday, meaning i will need to wait to Monday to pick up visa, but a lot of less hassle with 300 people in line to get visa....
bus is a great experience, with "business class" seats (configuration 1+2 so you can sit "alone" ) getting served food and drinks on the way, TV/radio and game station in each seat. nearly flat bed seat with massage.... then a Tuk-Tuk 100 Baht from bus to border
OK, back to you other Q's : in Udon airport there is a van service just to the right before you go out of airport, van cost 200 Baht and leaves when full. takes about an hour ++ since they seems to drop of all others before reaching the friendship bridge.
copared to the van service from Udon Thani Central shopping it is a rip-off. same service, but it cost 50 Baht
Thai Imigration is a breeze, then you get a 15 Baht bus accross the bridge.
Lao immigration is a hit and miss when it comes to time, as it has taken 5 min. to 1 hour... depends on their mood i guess.
you go to the visa on arrival to the left number one, there you get paper work to fill out.
cost of visa is 25 or 35 dollars depending on your country of passport. there is a surcharge of 1 dollar before 8 and after 16:00.... or if you pay in Thai Baht it is 1500 Baht (this is included any surcharge)
after handing in papers and payment in number 1 they tell you to go over to number 3 to wait....
during all this you will be aproached by taxi touts. just smile and say no thank you... they are there to rip you off, thats their job....
after you get the passport back, you already got your stamps so you walk past all the ques and lines.... (it looks strange) then you get to the card gates where everybody else have paid to get a card... you just walk to the left where there is a manual gate holding up your visa they will let you through, only once have i been told to go to the card booth to get a card for free showing my visa....
after that, there is immigration officer checking passport again....
you then smile and say no thank you to all the touts again.....
Accross the parking to the right there is a bus stop with a bus that takes you to the bus station...... 6000 Lao Kip (25 Baht) it takes about 30 min. ++
The taxi touts usually quote 200 Baht for a taxi/tuk tuk or 100 Baht for sharing one with others( Lao people never pay more than 6000 KIP for sharing)
Getting from the bus station to the consulaate is next step it is 1 Kilometer and the tuk-tuk would ask for 100-200 baht (a huge rip off if you ask me) so i usually walk now.
Make sure you have passport pictures and copies of your passport picture page (2 required) you will also need to get a copy done at the embassy of your Lao visa page and stamp page of entry to Lao. 5 Baht per copy.
handling such numbers they have a pretty good system, you wait for your number hand in papers then get them back to go inside to another building to number 6 to pay....
guest houses around the consulate is many and they are about 500 Baht (not included breakfast) and the standard is Asian.... dont expect to much, and be happy if it is clean and have Air-con, some dont just have fans.
I have personally figured out that i stay in a hotel across the road from consulate (100 meters away) it is a 3 star hotel, clean and have air-con. price is around 900 Baht ++ BUT it includes a big breakfast buffet with fried egg and omelet station.
the hotel is called Douangpraseuth Hotel and you can find it on Agoda. finding food or breakfast outside hotel will easy cost you 3-400 Baht for farang food.
There is a Pizza Company shop just accross the road from Consulate.
so back to your original dilemma, i would say you should stay in Vientiane 2 nights so you can be at the consulate at 8:00 AM as the que starts.
having stayed in Thailand for many years i am surprised how expensive Lao is in comparison. Tuk-Tuk especially, they will ask for 100-200 baht for going around in a relatively small city, so i have been enjoying walking a lot more than i do in Thailand....
it is more about the principle than being a cheap charlie. since the Tuk-tuks dont really bargain i have been told no a huge number of times when i tell them what i think is a reasonable price in comparison to Thai prices....I really enjoy Vientiane, look a lot like a french village and there is many small cafe's around the centre, with french pastries etc etc..... but it is pricey...
Good luck on your first trip,
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A nation's treasure is in its scholars.
Chinese Proverb
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My advice is to continue enjoying Thailand as a tourist
Your "dream" is most likely un-achievable
Sorry
I love Thailand too! just to stop someone from calling me a Thai basher,......
but i would second this...
You should enjoy and continue to love Thailand as a Tourist.....
as a foreigner you can only own 49% of a business.... and even if you manage to make some good business.... the envious Thai's (someone in a power position) would make sure you loose some... to level out.... (or to pay bribes, or protection money)
As a Foreigner... as that is whatever you/we would be even after spending 30-50 years here.... we are only meant to spend money here... not make any....
The foreigners you see that own a shop as you stated are most likely married to a Thai.... but even then they are not owning more than 49%....
You can always dream, but be very cautious
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'Thais are a soft-spoken people, so please do not raise your voice in public or you will shock the locals'
GTFOH what planet are these people on??
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Seriously officer, i don't know why it catch fire.....
when test drive have many red light flashing but car work fine...... may pen rai
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Looks like some Kenyan have not been paying the "Tea-Money" to the right persons....
TIT - This is Thailand "No have" variation
in General Topics
Posted
Somewhere along the line. Someone decided that a falang have money maak maak so he don't mind to make merit for them. Hence the 90K baht missing.
TIT