[Bangkok to Vientiane visa run options]

Have an appointment at the Vientiane Thai Consulate in a week (Monday, April 22, 9am) and am wondering what the best current options are for getting there from Bangkok. I've previously (very long ago) taken a Nok Air flight to Udon Thani and then a bus to the border. Another ancient run was via a van that I hooked with at the On Nut Tesco parking lot on a Sunday night. I guess just taking an AirAsia Bangkok-Vientiane might also be an option. Any recommendations? Thanks.

[Over 10,000 Covid Cases In Chonburi Last Week]

This absurd "they lied to us" nonsense has been beyond ridiculous for a long time now. It says nothing but how much the speaker has zero clue about the scientific method and about science itself.

 

So to spell it out for Covid, it has ALWAYS been said from the very beginning that this was a NEW VIRUS. That means they, the scientists, had much less to go on from the start, and, as such, their understanding would likely significantly change as more was learned. As more research was done and data collected the virus's virulence (and mutations) became better understood as did the efficacy of various vaccines, so that NECESSARILY public health recommendations also changed. THAT'S HOW SCIENCE WORKS. And that has been the experience with Covid research. So continuing with your imbecilic "they lied to us" does nothing but communicate what an idiot you are.

[Prevent your retirement visa in Thailand from expiring]

My experience with the current version of online 90 day reporting is the window is 14 days before to 7 days before the reporting date. For example, my submission has been rejected when I've done it 16 days before, and it's been rejected when I've done it 5 days before. But it's been accepted when I've done it 9, 10, or 11 days before.

 

 

[Miss Thailand 2023 is Chonnikarn Supittayaporn of Chiang Mai]

Some better photos of Chonnikarn:

 

 

[Gambling mad Thais bet billions on World Cup - and are arrested in their thousands!]

Totally confused at first by the headline for the link to the article ("...flutter..."). But have now learned still another quaint Briticism courtesy the Asean Now news writers:

 

[Sixteen people injured after pickup truck crashes into a baht bus in Thalang, Phuket]

What a retarded term, "baht bus." How about "bench bus" since that's what's characteristic about them: seating is on two benches facing each other. After all, the actual Thai word is something like song taw which just translates to two benches.

[Sending Thai baht to USA, baht to USD options?]

I do this every month online. I have my SCB account linked to my US bank and just send away. I get near market rates (e.g. today SCB gives 34.92 THB/USD vs. the market rate of 34.79). And only pay an additional flat fee of of 300 baht.

[Tuk-Tuk driver fined and sent for attitude adjustment training after ripping off tourist]

[quote]a couple from the island state having a ding-dong with a belligerent tuk-tuk driver on the streets of Bangkok.[/quote]

Didn't know they were still made.

[Certificates for land belonging to Thailand’s Juangroongruangkit family revoked]

In the Bangkok Post story on this, the Juangroongruangkit family were issued the deeds in 1978, but the land was not converted to a forest reserve until 1984.

[Online 90 day reporting available from April 1st]

On 1/8/2022 at 5:28 PM, WhatsNext said:

My first one with the new system was just rejected, but after double checking : I saw that i entered my 90 days application too early by about 2/3 days. I will try again next week. The old online system was instant and a little easier, plus it just didn't accept your application for the 90 days if you were too early.

Is there a specific window like the last system?

 

From my looking at the page it seemed they just wanted you to apply within two weeks before your reporting date.

 

I submitted mine on Jan 5 with a reporting date of Jan 10. And I just got an e-mail back that my application was rejected, with no reason given.

 

All it said was, "Please contact the Immigration Branch Office in your residence area."

 

So it looks like I'm going to Immigration tomorrow. I live in Bangkok, so my question is, should I go to Chaeng Wattana or Muang Thong Thani?

[Gold shop robber dressed in food delivery outfit - owner who fought back is shot]

What are "sunnies" ?

[Army’s Transport Plane Serves COVID Patients]

 

Camouflage paint scheme polished to a glossy shine. ????

[Thai Private Hospital Association reduce price of Moderna vaccine]

The font of stupidity in this thread is really jaw-dropping in its magnitude. What seems to have completely escaped the minds of those talking of the free enterprise system and the right of private hospitals to make a profit is the fact WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. This is a deadly virus whose current Delta variant is far more contagious and quickly spreading, sickening countries who thought they were safe. With continued and likelier worse mutations a real possibility, anything short of a total worldwide treatment effort with EFFECTIVE vaccines could truly have existential consequences.

 

One of the essential purposes of modern PUBLIC HEALTH is to prevent and combat exactly this kind of infectious disease. And it's in the basic self-interest of any country (or economy) to have a healthy population if it hopes to grow and prosper. So you can dream all you want your libertarian dreams of free enterprise and profitable private hospitals, but nothing will come of it when so many become sick or are dying. Effective vaccine distribution *IS A PUBLIC HEALTH AND GOVERNMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY* including the bearing of all costs. The world is in a truly threatening time now and the speed of these more harmful mutations in both their evolution and spread should once and for all bring a reality check to those still doubting the seriousness of this.

 

For me personally, I would easily and gladly (almost) pay 5000 baht or more if I could just walk into a hospital or clinic tomorrow and get a Moderna shot. I actually even registered a month ago for one through the Thonburi Hospital Group LINE interface, but have not yet gotten a reply (though my girlfriend has). But at this point, after all the reports of delivery delays, shipment changes, contracts somehow still not signed -- all in addition to this nickel and diming over the price -- has made me now feel 'the hell with it' I'll just wait until it's actually here and available to sign up. I've already had my first AstraZeneca shot because I wasn't about to wait until October (at best) for a Moderna.

 

But again, my personal ability to have these choices is NOT how PUBLIC HEALTH should function if we care about our survival. Climate Change has also often been called an existential threat, but it continues to be just slow and long term enough to make the deniers believe they have credence. Covid-19 is in some ways a similar threat, but this time (as others have also observed) the time scale is now so compressed that its reality is truly before us.
 

[BMA Increases Frequency of Public Place Cleaning to Contain Covid-19]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/health/coronavirus-hygiene-cleaning-surfaces.html

[How party fever in Bangkok’s decadent nightlife scene spawned Thailand’s 3rd wave]

14 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Former MP and massage-parlour tycoon Chuvit Kamolvisit has dubbed Krystal Club “Club Thai Ku Fah” (Club Government House) for reportedly hosting certain high-powered politicians.

 

Like him or not, that is funny as <deleted> ! ????????????????????

 

And the Bangkok Post is reporting that Prayuth is already looking into suing anyone for saying that.

[Thailand’s ‘Hi-So’ elite blamed for new Covid-19 cases forcing closure of nightspots]

11 hours ago, Flying Saucage said:

In fact the "Pfizer" is an development and innovation of BioNtech Germany, owned and led buy Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci, immigrants with Turkish roots, who also are the scientists behinds the development. They cooperate with Pfizer with Pfizer, and Pfizer has been mainly in charge of testing, production, marketing and distribution. So, I prefer to call it BioNtech vaccine rather than Pfizer for these reasons.

 

I guess they will get the Nobel prize for medicine this year, together with the guys behind Moderna.

 

That would be a crime.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/health/coronavirus-mrna-kariko.html

[UK vinyl spending on track to overtake CDs for first time since 1987]

[Not getting the Groucho Marx connection.]

Possible bug in the LINE posting system.

[Supreme Court accepts graft case against ex-NACC deputy secretary-general]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E-yBnEuYD4

[Prepaid 711 Card or any prepaid card to allow shopping at only 1 type of shops ?]

1 hour ago, scoupeo said:

 

 

do you remember what was the process to get it ? complicated as only Thai know how to do it ?

 

When I originally got mine it was as simple as going to a 7-11, asking for one, and paying 200 baht for it -- I never went through any registration process. The card worked fine for the first couple of years, and then after, that every time I tried to top it up, the cashier said there was an error and they weren't able to. One was able to find an online registration form that required a Thai ID card number, which as a foreigner I didn't have, the implication being the card was now only for Thais. After a couple more attempts I found a cashier who was able to point me to Thai Smart Card company, the manager of the card, located in the Silom Complex Tower in Bangkok. Because I had really come to depend on the convenience of the card, I went over there and a friendly tech support guy helped me through a paper form that allowed foreigners to register for the card, and then personally made sure I was fully set up in the system. This was over two years ago and everything's been fine since. As far as getting a new one today, I don't know except probably trying first by just going to a 7-11 and asking.

[Prepaid 711 Card or any prepaid card to allow shopping at only 1 type of shops ?]

7-11 still has a physical plastic top-up card; I have and use one myself for purchases under 100 baht (for over 100 7-11 will accept a credit card, which I also use). I've had my top-up card for a few years, but have never seen 7-11 really promote it.

['We must end this uncivil war,' Biden says, taking over a U.S. in crisis]

 

[Anguished trader posts CCTV footage of women defecating at night in Udon Thani market]

21 hours ago, donnacha said:

You should probably get that checked. Sense of humor loss can sometimes be a sign of more serious problems, such as incipient Alzheimer's.

 

More likely you should get your empathy checked if you think there's anything funny in these puerile 'jokes' about people in such desperate situations.

  21 hours ago, Lodestone said:

I'm sorry, I'm not getting any of these jokes.

[Anguished trader posts CCTV footage of women defecating at night in Udon Thani market]

2 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

Was the trader's shop named "Poo Ping"?

I'm sorry, I'm not getting any of these jokes. In all likelihood these people are homeless (maybe you've heard Thailand's economy isn't doing too well at the moment) and simply have no other alternative for relieving themselves -- and they're probably doing so at night in the hope of having some privacy. I've lived in the lower Sukhumvit area of Bangkok for a number of years and witness daily how much worse the homeless situation has become. The difference is there's a place -- I think it's maybe the Nana gas station Mcdonalds -- that allows toilet and shower access for I've heard 10 baht.

[ImmeService Android App (for 90-day reporting)]

Once approved, how do you get the PDF with your next reporting date off the app to print and put in  your passport? I've had to resort to a screenshot which is a poor substitute.