Thaifan

Thanks for your useful advice but after consulting several Immigration Offices I accept their recommendation not to take up work. They advise that even if I get a change of visa the chances of then returning to a retirement visa may be jeopardised. When I stop working and wish to renew my Retirement Visa it may be refused because i have already demonstrated that I haven't really retired. I cannot take this risk as Thailand is now my only home. Thanks again

Sorry!! I meant western farang. In Sri Racha they are mainly Cambodian or Laos visitors it is rare to see another westerner there but I am sure Pattaya is a much larger proportion of Western Immigrants! I also think the Officers in Pattaya will speak better English.

Thanks a lot!! I think I will go to Pattya office as they will be more used to dealing with Farang. I normally go to Sri Racha where they don't get many. I will let you know how i get on Thanks again!!!

"I know this to be true because I have personally gone to immigration with people a few times when they needed to do that and there was no problem at all as long as they had the required documentation and paid the fees." Useful information as I have been told i need to go to Singapore to change my visa 'type'. I am currently on an O-A Visa and now want to apply for a work permit.

Another sad time for Thailand!! Further proof that something needs to be done to bridge the divide. The present government cannot govern without asking the Army for help so what chance do we have of getting tourists to return?

I have a Retirement Visa Type O-A. Does anyone know whether I can apply for a Work Permit from within Thailand or is it true I have to fly to Singapore and apply for a Type B Visa first. I had retired but have been offered a job and they are happy to apply for a Work Permit for me but have said I need to leave the Country first and get a different type of Visa. Is this correct? Anyone who has experienced a similar problem your advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

No mention of retirement on mine either. Just O-A. Does anyone know whether I can apply for a Work Permit from within Thailand or is it true I have to fly to Singapore and apply for a Type B Visa first. I had retired but have been offered a job and they are happy to apply for a Work Permit for me but have said I need to leave the Country first and get a different type of Visa. Is this correct? Anyone who has experienced a similar problem your advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

I am not sure that this myth that he only appeals to the poor and those in rural areas is correct. Many of my friends are University lecturers (many of whom were educated overseas) and opinion about him is fairly evenly divided. I accept that most of his support comes from the North East but though his party didn't win seats in the Bangkok area he nevertheless got many votes. I would be interested to know the percentages of the 'educated elite' yellow shirt supporters who have only been educated within the Thai Education system and those who are overseas educated.

I have lived in many Asian countries and have never felt farang is used in an offensive way here in Thailand but agree that is not the case in HongKong, China and Japan. The only time I came across being turned away in Japan was in gay establishments where some places are reserved for 'sticky rice' so I wasn't offended.

I agree Pattaya is no fun during Songkran (mainly cos of the farangs) but an hour up the road in Bang Saen where it also lasts for 6 days it is fun without being dangerous.

Whilst agreeing it isn't good for Thailand it just goes to show what goes around comes around. If the so called 'elite' of Thailand hadn't orchestrated the Coup and driven Thaksin out of Thailand maybe we wouldn't be in the economic mess we are in now. We now have to worry that Cambodia will develop their economy to one that rivals our own. Because whatever his faults there is no doubt he is an outstanding economist. Whilst I don't condone his corrupt activities he is no worse than any other Thai politician and even if he did look after himself there is no doubt he also ensured Thailand was better off under his leadership.

All statements are very valid and that is what I like about this site - we are all free to say what we think. The Civil Libertarians often go too far with their claims for freedom. Yes, free-speech is very important and complaining about taking away peoples freedom of choice is an important freedom but it is often necessary to protect the majority from the reckless actions of a few!!!

I have to agree that they chose the wrong Country to commit their crimes in!! As I have said I don't know many Ladyboys so don't really understand them very well. Is it because they have to endure prejudice that makes them turn to crime? Are a higher than normal percentage of them crooked? Or is it just because they are different that the criminal ones get noticed more?

I agree that there is so much to love about Thailand but I think the Festivals are one of the things that make it really unique. Loy Kratong here in Bangsaen has once again been great but Songkran is something impossible to describe to people. The Festivals really must be experienced to really appreciate how special they are!!!

Justice comes to those who wait!!

So true!!! I agree the telling information here is that they were involved in the Stock Exchange. If they had been ordinary people I might have felt sorry for them being treated harshly but no - they deserve all they get!!!

I have to agree with you!! How many wars and conflicts around the World are caused by Religious conflict? Nearly all of them!! Yet Religion is supposed to differentiate between good and evil. No wonder so many people have chosen to be atheist.

Lawyers should be valuable members of society but they have earned themselves a reputation for being more interested in money than upholding the Law. I think that anything which helps Obama get his HealthCare Reform adopted and also makes Dr's less afraid of litigation and leaves them free to concentrate on making people better, whilst also preventing too many Lawyers getting rich, cannot be bad!!!

I understand the Museums point of view - we shouldn't forget him just because he was so evil. People need to be kept aware to prevent such a monster ever coming to prominence again. I think it was the wording of the 'ad' which was wrong. Maybe even a simple change like 'Evil is not dead' would have been more acceptable.

One side of me is appalled that we treat this cruel dictator the same as everyone else but another side hopes that other Asean members will lobby him to restore true democracy to Myanmar, not his pseudo-democracy which is holding elections in which his main opponent is excluded, because he knows she will win.

I lost a very close friend when he was only 30. Being the UK of course there was an inquest which took about 6 months to actually happen. In the meantime I ditched many friends because of their views about possible causes, - AIDS, Drugs, suicide, etc - needless to say they were all wrong and it was at last publicly revealed that he had a Brain Hemorrhage, so please do not just assume that Stephen Gately didn't die of natural causes.

Homeschooling can occasionally be better than good schooling but very rarely. I think carefully choosing a good school and ensuring you become active and encourage your kids to join in lots of extra-curricular interests (notice I said encourage not force)is probably best. I think some Public Schools (emphasis on some) are excellent and if you are lucky enough to live in the right place it is un-necessary to pay high fees for private schooling. I think the choice depends on the parent some choose private schools purely from a 'status' point of view. If you care for your kids you will search out the best school for them (them not you).

He did email me and try to tempt me away but I just ignored his EMail and haven't visited his site.

I agree with Bob that Thaksin didn't really harm Thailand, did do some good things and his so called corruption isn't any different to most Thai Politicians. He upset the 'elite' of Thailand however and it is them who brought him down. I think it would be quite easy to get him to agree to stay out of politics (I would think he has had his fill of it anyway), in return for a pardon and then maybe Thailand could return to getting on with attracting Tourists back and repairing all the damage the last few years of political turmoil have done to the Thai Economy.

I know i'm lucky that my home is paid for and I am happy to eat mainly Thai food, and rarely go out for a drink, but I manage on only 20,000 per month. Maybe it wouldn't be possible if I lived in Pattaya or Bangkok but the Van only costs me 100 baht when i do want to visit either of them.