[Help requested for visa logistics -- can 60 day visa be deferred?]

Thank you for your help! 

We will simply enter on March 16 with the 30-day Tourist visa, transit to Cambodia on March 18, and then re-enter March 29 with the 30-day Tourist visa as well. Then on April 24th or around there I guess we can apply for the 30-day extension at the local immigration office, which I guess will give us the ability to stay until May 28. 

[Help requested for visa logistics -- can 60 day visa be deferred?]

I could use a little help figuring out my visa logistics. Specifically, I'm wondering if it's possible to receive a 60-day visa, and then choose not to use it when I enter Thailand so I can save it for an upcoming trip. 

 

I'm not a resident of Thailand nor am I trying to be one. I'm based in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

I need to be in Thailand for a family function from April 3-June 1.  I also need to bring some items to a family member in Thailand on March 16th, and then cross overland into Cambodia to meet some other family who are flying in to meet me there, then return to Bangkok by air on March 29th. 

 

There is no Thai embassy in KK, so I will need to go to Penang to apply for the 60-day visa. 

 

I think I have two options: 
1) Enter on March 16th on the 30-day visa. Exit March 18th to Cambodia. Then re-enter by air on 30-day visa on March 29th, and try to get an extension on April 28th for another 30 days at our local passport office. The problem with this is that I have an important function on May 1st, and really shouldn't miss it trying to get my extension / being denied (does that ever happen?) 

2) Get my 60-day visa in Penang. Enter on March 16th and try to convince the passport officer to give me the 30-days-on-arrival and defer my 60-day visa for my next entry. 

 

Option 2 seems like the best, but is it even possible??? Can you wonderful visa experts help me sort this out? Thank you so much for your time and advice. 

 

 

 

[An International Survey of Durian Lovers]

Is anybody here a durian lover?

I'm working on a study to submit to the Chanthaburi Durian Symposium this summer about the beliefs and attitudes of Western and Asian durian lovers. I would like to invite (politely ask, cajole, and beg a little) you to participate in my survey. So far more than 500 people from over 30 countries have participated, and the results are already pretty interesting. The goal is to collect the opinions of over 1,000 durian lovers.

The link is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/durians1

The survey takes about 5 minutes and is pretty painless. Thank you very much!

[Attamee Puja - why does only one temple celebrate it?]

A few years ago I was traveling in Uttaradit province in Thailand and was invited to attend the Attamee Puja festival at a temple there. It's basically a very flashy religious play about the cremation of the Buddha that happens about a week after Visakha Puja.

The people in my group told me that this temple is the only one in Thailand to celebrate Attamee Puja, but they didn't know why. They were also hazy about who the characters in the play were. This was a group of TAT officers.

Does anybody know anything about this ceremony? I've been curious about it ever since. It was a very cool event and you should totally go if you are ever in Uttaradit in June.

[Why do people love durians? A survey]

Hello,

I read the Thai Visa every day but almost never comment - I'm a lurker.

Today I want to ask if there are any durian lovers here, and furthermore, if you would be willing to participate in a survey about what you think about durians. The link is here:

REMOVED AS PER FORUM RULES

The idea is to explore the beliefs and perspectives of people who love durian all around the world. So far we have had participants from 27 countries.

I hope that if you like durian you will join us by taking a 5 minutes to fill out the survey. I'm very happy to answer any questions.

Much thanks!