CrazyExpat

When applying for a visa to enter Thailand you have a choice of applying for a single entry visa or a multiple entry visa. If you do not plan to leave Thailand during the validity period of your visa, then you need only a single entry visa. A multiple entry visa is much more expensive than a single entry visa. Do not confuse a multiple entry visa with a reentry permit. They are not the same. If you have one, then you don’t need the other. If you hold a single entry visa and leave Thailand during its validity period, then the visa becomes null and void unless you obtain a reentry permit. The reentry permit is available at your local Immigration office. You have a choice with these permits as well. You can obtain a single reentry permit for a 1900 baht fee. You can obtain a multiple reentry permit for 3800 baht. If you wish your single entry visa to remain valid, then you must obtain a reentry permit under any circumstances if you leave Thailand. There are many horror stories about the consequences for failure to obtain the reentry permit. One example occurred when a gentleman living in Thailand on a Retirement Visa wanted to go for a brief visit to Laos. He was told by an Immigration official that there is no requirement for a reentry visa when going to Laos. The Immigration official was mistaken. The gentleman did go to Laos and returned to Thailand without incident. He did not realize that upon entering Thailand again without a reentry permit he had lost his retirement visa ad it had become null and void. He was now in Thailand on the 30-dayprivilege, but he did not know it. 90 days later it was time for him, so he thought, to submit his 90-day address report, a report required from anyone staying in Thailand for more than 90 days. No matter what the expiration date is for the 90-day address report is, when you reenter Thailand with a reentry permit, you are not required to submit an address report until 90 days later. But this gentleman did not have a reentry permit. 90 days after his return to Thailand, now he had overstayed his visa by 60 days. He had no idea until he went to the Immigration office to submit his 90-day address report. That was when he was told he had seriously overstayed his visa and it was explained to him that his retirement visa had become null and void. He was shocked and explained he had only done what an Immigration official had told him to do. That did not matter. He was still required to pay a heavy fine and he had to leave Thailand and start the visa application process all over again. By the time he had completed everything and had a new Retirement Visa, several thousand dollars had been spent and he had suffered through a great deal of aggravation and frustration. If you hold a multiple entry visa, then a reentry permit is not required. When deciding whether to apply for a multiple entry visa or to obtain a multiple reentry permit, do the math. The multiple reentry permit costs 1900 baht. The cost of a multiple entry visa varies from country to country, so it is best to contact your nearest Thai consulate or embassy to inquire about the cost. If it is more cost effective for you to obtain a multiple reentry permit, then you will not need the multiple entry visa. One consideration is the fact that if you hold a multiple entry visa is usually valid for one year. You are granted an additional 90 days upon reentry into Thailand. If you use the visa just before its expiration date, then you will still be granted an additional 90 days upon reentry into Thailand. However, you can do that only once. cc ThailandVisa 2009

From among the various reasons farang become residents of Thailand, some of the more common reasons include marriage to a Thai person, retirement in Thailand, working in Thailand and ownership of holiday property. The majority of foreign residents in Thailand are those who have retired in Thailand. Becoming a retired resident in Thailand is easiest if you are eligible for the Thai Retirement Visa. If you do not qualify for a retirement visa, you may still qualify for other types of non-immigrant long-term visas If your address changes to a Thai address, and you no longer hold an address in your home country, then make sure you fulfill the legal requirements. For example, when a US citizen permanently changes his address, he is required to notify the Internal Revenue Service. Failure to comply with legal requirements from your home country could cause problems later. Residence status in Thailand, rather than simply being present in Thailand for long periods of time, entitles you to a number of benefits. It makes it much easier to open bank accounts, establish online banking, obtain driving licenses, and can even entitle you to pay the Thai price or a discounted farang price at various dual priced venues. There may be times when you must show legal proof that you are a resident. For example, you must have such proof when applying for driving licenses. The proof is obtained by getting a Residence Certificate. You get a residence certificate at your local Immigration office. You are required to present two passport photos, your passport that contains a long-term non-immigrant visa such as the Retirement Visa, and documentation that evidences your residence address. That can be bills in your name mailed to your address or a letter from your landlord. The fee for the residence certificate is 200 baht. If you choose to do so, it is possible to obtain a permanent residence permit, which entitles you to an alien registration card, which is essentially the same as the Thai national ID card. You can even become a Thai citizen if you choose to do so. The problem about the permanent residence permit is the fact that it is very expensive and difficult to obtain. You can expect to spend 200,000 baht, or more, if you wish to obtain the permit. Thailand restricts the number of these permits to 100 per country, per year and you cannot even apply for the permit other than in October, November, or December. The Ministry of the Interior announces the date’s applications will be accepted. You must be a holder of a long-term non-immigrant visa, such as the Retirement Visa, that has been renewed consecutively for a minimum of 3 years to be eligible to apply for the permanent residence permit. Once you hold the permit you are required to re-register once per year at a fee of 200 baht. If you wish to apply for Thai citizenship, you can do so after holding the permanent residence permit for at least 5 years. Few foreigners apply for the permanent residence permit unless they are doing so out of necessity. Once you have obtained the Retirement Visa, renewal is relatively painless and quite simple to do, and far less expensive than a permanent residence permit. Remember, even if you hold the permanent residence permit, if you leave Thailand you are still required to obtain a reentry permit. Failure to do so will nullify any visas or permits you hold. cc ThailandVisa 2009

Without a work permit you cannot work in Thailand. You cannot do any kind of work at all. You can own a business, but you cannot do any of the work. If you own a restaurant, for example, without a work permit you cannot take any orders, clean a table, or even refill a water glass. Without a work permit you cannot help a Thai friend with his business. You cannot even help him rearrange his shop, help him bring in any merchandise, or even provide transportation in your own vehicle to help him bring in items from his supplier. You also cannot do charity work or volunteer work without a work permit. Thailand is highly restrictive about what foreigners can and cannot do regarding any form of work a Thai citizen could have done. If you have any questions or confusion about what you are allowed to do, inquire at your local Immigration office or consult a Thai attorney before engaging in an activity that could be construed as work. If you are caught working without a work permit, you are subject to arrest, heavy fines, and even prison terms and deportation. You are eligible for a work permit only if the work you intend to do is work that otherwise would not or could not normally be conducted by a Thai citizen. If you are hired by a company or as a teacher, the company or school usually handles most of the details involved in obtaining your work permit and often pays the fees. However, do not let them convince you to begin working until you actually hold the work permit. Having an application in process does not allow you to begin working. Many foreigners try to earn extra income by means of offering private language lessons. Again, you are not allowed to do so without a work permit. You must hold a non-immigrant visa in order to be eligible for a work permit. The application process can be long and complicated. If the company your work for does not assist you in the application process, or if you are to be self-employed, then it is best to seek the assistance of a Thai attorney. Regulations involving work permits tend to change periodically, which also makes it a good idea to have a Thai attorney involved. The fee for a work permit is variable, depending on the length of time the permit is to be valid. The fees normally range from 750 baht to 3000 baht. Once you have your work permit, you must meet several additional requirements: • The permit must either be on your person or available in your place of work. Failure to have it with you when working is a 1000 baht fine. • You can only do the work set forth on the work permit. You cannot do any other kind of work and you cannot change the location of your work place. Violations can result in a 2000 baht fine and/or 1 month imprisonment. • The work permit will have an expiration date. You must obtain a renewal prior to the expiration date. If you work beyond the expiration date without new approval, the fine is 5000 baht and/or 3 month imprisonment. • If your work permit is lost, stolen, or damaged, you must report and apply for a replacement within 15 days. Failure to do so is a 500 baht fine. • If you resign or are fired, you must return the work permit to the Thai authorities within 7 days. Failure to do so is a 500 baht fine. • You must report any address or contact changes, such as a telephone number change. • The work permit automatically expires on the date your current visa expires, regardless of the expiration date of the work permit. If you renew your visa, then the permit will expire on its own expiration date, provided that date comes before you visa renewal expires. It all seems very rigid and complicated. In reality it is not as complicated as it may seem. A great many foreigners hold work permits, but Thailand is strict about violations once you hold the work permit. If you make sure you understand and follow the requirements you will not have any problems and will be able to work in Thailand. cc ThailandVisa.com 2009

Pattaya, September 8 [PATTAYA ONE NEWS] : In the early hours of Tuesday Morning, the Banglamung District Licensing Officials were back in Soi Sunee Plaza in South Pattaya to check a total of 4 bars who were known to be operating illegally following previous raids. The raid was led by Khun Pongtasit, the Deputy Chief of Banglamung District who raided the Villa Rouge Bar, the Crazy Dragon Bar, the Red Night Pub and the Sundance Bar. A total of 12 employees under the age of 18 were found and 34 employees failed drug tests. The Deputy District Chief told us that he would impose an initial 30 day closure order on all venues pending further investigations and promised to continue checking bars in the Sunee Plaza area over the coming weeks. For the article and photos, go to: http://www.pattayaone.net/news/2009/september/news_08_09_52_3.shtml

Nakhon Ratchasima is a province to the northeast of Bangkok and is often referred to as the gateway to the northeast provinces of Thailand known as Issan. Nakhon Ratchasima is also the name of the capital city of the province. The city is a medium sized city of about 150,000 people. Nakhon Ratchasima is also known as Khorat, and you are likely to hear it referred to as Khorat much more often than you will hear Nakhon Ratchasima. Why is the city also called Khorat? It is a shortened version of the city’s ancient name, Angkor Raj. Getting to Khorat is easy. The most common transportation is by bus. Buses run to Khorat from virtually anywhere in Thailand, quite often without the necessity of connecting to another bus. There are also railroad lines that feed into Khorat. From Bangkok the railroad trip is about 4 hours. If you have a car, Khorat is about 260 kilometers (160 miles) from Bangkok on Thailand’s Route 2. The road is in excellent condition. Khorat has an airport, but passenger service was discontinued in 2006 due to financial losses. There was not enough passenger demand due to the fact of its close proximity to Bangkok. Reestablishment of air transportation is under discussion, but no changes are expected in the foreseeable future. The closest airport with passenger service is the Buriram. Along with its ancient history, Khorat is rapidly modernizing. You’ll find state of the art hotels, shopping malls, and several excellent restaurants that feature both western and Thai foods. There are restaurants that feature everything from typical Thai cuisine to fine steaks, and even ostrich steaks. There are plenty of hotels and resorts from which to choose, at all price ranges. You can find hotels at prices as low as 600 baht per night up to over 3000 baht per night at the more luxurious resorts. Khorat celebrates several festivals and holidays throughout the year. Often, Khorat is a destination for farang who wish to avoid the chaos of Songkran, the annual water festival that occurs in major cities such as Bangkok, Chonburi, and Pattaya. Songkran in Khorat is much more subdued and traditional, but watch out! You’ll still be the recipient of plenty of water dousings during Songkran. Another major festival is the annual Phimai boat races. That event takes place on the Moon River, at the city of Phimai, during the second weekend of November. If you are interested in going, make your hotel booking well in advance. This event is quite popular and the hotels are usually filled. Some of the interesting sightseeing spots include: • Wat Sala Loi – This is one of the most interesting wats in Thailand. It was built in shape of a Chinese junk. • Khao Yai National Park – This was Thailand’s first national park. To this very day tourists are attracted by the fact that there are still as many as 200 wild elephants, monkeys, bears, deer, and even bat caves. There are also over 3000 species of plants. Good accommodations are available for approximately 1200 baht per night. Camping is also available. If you have your own camping supplies you can find camp sites for as little as 5 baht per night. General admission to the park is 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children. This park does not charge extra farang prices. • Phimai Historical Park – Ancient structure and archeological enthusiasts will love Phimai Historical Park. Much of it is actually older than Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. Some of the finest ruins of ancient Khmer structures are there. Admission for farang is 100 baht per person. • Dan Kwain – The province is famous for it’s hand crafted reddish, rough pottery. Dan Kwain is the center of it all, although you will readily find the pottery sold throughout the province, including Khorat. You will also find many small family-owned pottery shops, most of which still use the ancient techniques. The small shops quite often allow tourists to get their own hands dirty and “help” make some of the pottery. • Sai Ngam – If you know what Banyan trees are, then you know that these are the world’s largest spreading trees. A single Banyan tree is capable of covering several acres. Some of the largest Banyan trees in the world are located at Sai Ngam. Sai Ngam is quite picturesque, located on the banks of the Moon River. Of course there is much more to see and do in Khorat. An average stay of 3 to 4 days is suggested if you wish to see and do the major attractions. cc ThailandVisa.com 2009

Thailand has further lost its competitiveness in the global arena, ranking No 36 in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010. Once a member of the top 30, Thailand also saw its ranking drop last year to 34th place. "The country's competitiveness suffers from protracted instability. Unsurprisingly, the quality of public institutions continues to deteriorate. Ranked 63rd in this category, Thailand has dropped 20 places over the past three years. Insufficient protection of property rights (75th) and security (85th) are of particular concern to the business community," the report said. Aside from concerns over public health, Thailand's technological readiness (63rd) is also lagging. Although mobile-telephone penetration is among the densest in the world, at 124 mobile subscriptions per 100 population, the use of the Internet (21 users per 100) and computers (6 per 100) remains scarce. On the positive side is Thailand's macroeconomic performance, which is ranked 22nd among 134 countries. The situation improved slightly from 2007 and 2008. The efficiency of the labour market (25th) constitutes another strength. Finally, the sheer size of its domestic (22nd) and foreign (18th) markets is a source of economies of scale. On top of the chart is Switzerland, which overtakes the United States this year as the world's most competitive economy, thanks to a relatively stable performance. It is also ranked second in terms of innovation capacity and third in business-culture sophistication. The country is characterised by high spending on research and development, with strong collaboration between the academic and business sectors. Switzerland's public institutions are rated among the most effective and transparent in the world (7th), ensuring a level playing field and enhancing business confidence; these include an independent judiciary, strong rule of law and a highly accountable public sector. Competitiveness is also buttressed by excellent infrastructure (5th) and a well-functioning goods market (5th), as well as a labour market that is among the most efficient in the world (2nd). For the entire article go to: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/09/09/business/business_30111845.php

Many farang who wish to stay in Thailand are either ineligible for a long term visa or prefer not to obtain one. The alternative is a visa run, the slang term for temporarily leaving Thailand in order to obtain a new visa. When entering Thailand from most countries no visa is required. You are given 30 days upon arrival. At the end of the 30 days those who wish to remain in Thailand for a longer period of time have a choice of applying for an extension or leaving Thailand and then returning. In the past many farang were bypassing Thailand’s laws about long term stays by leaving Thailand and immediately returning, often only minutes after leaving. It became a revolving door and many were living in Thailand by this method. Thailand has since cracked down on this and now restricts the number of days per year and the number of times per year the authorities will accept these types of entries from those who do not hold a long term visa. In any case, when it becomes necessary to leave Thailand in order to reenter for an additional 30 days or in order to obtain a new tourist or non-immigrant visa, you are now making a visa run. You can simply leave Thailand on your own and return later, after obtaining your new visa, or you can also employ the services of professional visa run services. When leaving Thailand on your own in order to obtain a new visa, be careful about where you are going. Different Thai consulates and embassies have their own policies about granting new visas. Some are quite easy to deal with and others are very difficult. At present the Thai consulate in Penang, Malaysia seems to be the most difficult. You also have the option of using visa run services. You cannot, repeat cannot, give your passport to another party to get a new visa for you. Don’t let any visa services talk you into it. That is totally illegal and can easily result in your arrest and deportation. You must personally go on a visa run. Visa run services are usually very good and quite reliable. In most instances a passenger van is used. You and others also going on a visa run are either met at your accommodation or given instructions about where to go and what time to be there. The visa run vans leave early in the morning and return the same day. Many who do these visa runs enjoy them. They make new friends in the van, get to see the countryside, make stops for lunch, and are in the hands of people who know what they’re doing and can help you through any unforeseen problems that might occur. Often, upon entry into the country where you will obtain the new visa, the company representative will collect the passports and applications and handle the formalities himself. He does it all and you do not have to be personally involved unless a problem comes up. You do, however, have to physically be there. One of the most popular visa runs are the runs that go from Thailand to Cambodia. You arrive at the Cambodian border within a few hours. While the company representative is handling the formalities you have time to look around, do some shopping, or whatever you choose to do. There will be groups of children and beggars trying to get you to give money to them. Be wary of that and be wary of pickpockets. When deciding upon which visa run company to use it is a good idea to shop around. Different companies charge different prices. The more luxurious the transportation and the more competent and cooperative the company representative, the more expensive the visa run will be. Many people who do multiple visa runs stick with the same company once they find a company that truly satisfies them. How do you find visa run companies? Travel agents. One of the easiest things to find in Thailand are travel agents. There are great numbers of them and they all can arrange visa runs for you. Some companies advertise. Word of mouth is a good way when you are hearing from people who are familiar with the various companies. Posting on this, and/or other Thailand message boards will yield plenty of recommendations. cc ThailandVisa.com 2009 Input, comments, criticism, etc is always welcome!

I use 2 different VOIP in Thailand. 1. Vonage - My favorite. I have the World Package and can make calls to most countries for free. As long as you have high speed Internet, you can call USA, Canada and many other countries for an unlimited time and there is no extra charge. I have used it over 2000 minutes one month and there was no extra charge. 2. Skype - I like this but if I am in Thailand and call to the USA, it is not free as the IP originates from Thailand. I don't like this as if you get a Unlimited USA package you should be able to call from anywhere. That was not the case last time I tried their package. Now, I pay per minute and the cost of reasonable. I have not used the service you suggested but I would be curious to see who has used it and if good results.

By Noppawan Bunluesilp UTTARADIT, Thailand (Reuters Life!) - A Thai man is keeping more than 4,600 scorpions as pets to atone for the years he spent cooking the arachnids to sell as snacks. Scorpions, insects and worms are commonly eaten in Thailand, especially in the northern regions. But after years of serving up scorpions, Suang Puangsri, a practicing Buddhist, felt it was time to befriend them instead. "Although I was happy to have money, I felt suffering deep inside as they were being harmed by me," he told Reuters. "I felt scared that I was committing a sin." The 38-year-old has given up the bottom floor of his two-storey home to the scorpions, who scuttle about a 6 meter by 5 meter (19 ft by 16 ft) enclosure decorated with branches and stone so that very little light and heat come in. Suang buys up to one kg of live cicadas and other inspects daily to feed his pets, who have stung him so many times that he says he is immune to their venom. He also spends at least an hour every day meditating inside the enclosure, often placing scorpions in his mouth. Suang's pets have attracted a few tourists to his sleepy town of Fark Ta in the northern province of Uttaradit, and he now makes a living by selling figurines and stone carvings of ants, frogs, turtles and Buddhas. Although the $570 he earns a month is a far cry from the $860 he made selling cooked scorpions, he and his family are content. "I feel good about what is he doing. I didn't like it when he made the scorpions suffer. I'm not scared of those scorpions, but I don't dare touch them," said Suang's wife, Lampoon Pimtoom. Suang is so determined to atone for his past sins that he even buys scorpions from other people who want to sell them to restaurants. When the arachnids become too many, he and his son release a few hundred back into the forest. Suang's fixation with scorpions is unusual, but not totally unheard of in Thailand. Earlier this year a Thai woman went into the record books for spending 33 days and nights with 5,000 live scorpions. She also held a 7-inch live scorpion in her mouth for 2 minutes and 3 seconds. http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE5870S120090908

A National Anti-Corruption Commission ruling against national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon could tip the scales on the selection of his successor. The NACC has charged Pol Gen Patcharawat and then metropolitan police chief Suchart Mueankaew with committing criminal and disciplinary offences in connection with the crackdown on protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy at Government House on Oct 7 last year. It has also brought criminal charges against former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and his deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh for their part in the crackdown. A police source said Pol Gen Patcharawat would be suspended from duty as police chief pending a trial. Puea Thai Party MP for Nakhon Ratchasima and former police officer Somchai Phetprasert said Pol Gen Patcharawat would be sidelined from a meeting of the 11-member board of the Royal Thai Police Office to select the new police chief as a result of the charges. He said this would divide the votes equally for inspector-general Pateep Tanprasert who is being backed for the position by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Of the 11 board members present at the last board meeting on Aug 20, five voted against the appointment of Pol Gen Pateep while four voted for him. Mr Abhisit and one other member abstained. Pol Gen Patcharawat was among the majority of board members who rejected Pol Gen Pateep. They favoured deputy police chief Chumpol Manmai. Pol Lt Col Somchai said efforts had also been made to pressure permanent secretary for interior Wichai Srikwan to vote for Pol Gen Pateep. If Mr Wichai, one of the majority board members who voted against Pol Gen Pateep, continued to refuse to support Pol Gen Pateep, he could earn the wrath of senior figures in government and land himself in trouble over the Alpine land saga. This could cost him his job, Pol Lt Col Somchai said. NACC spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said the national anti-graft body would put forward its case against the four to the Office of the Attorney-General. He said the public prosecution would have to consider within 30 days whether to submit the cases to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. The NACC will also send its recommendations regarding the disciplinary charges against the two senior police officers to the premier to consider disciplinary action against them. Mr Klanarong said even though Gen Chavalit resigned as deputy prime minister after the crackdown, this did not mean he could escape responsibility for the damage resulting from his order for police to clear the way for lawmakers to enter parliament on Oct 7. Mr Klanarong said inquiries found Pol Gen Patcharawat did nothing to stop the violent crackdown. He said Pol Gen Patcharawat was duty-bound to ensure the safety of people when dealing with demonstrations. Mr Klanarong said the NACC had dropped charges brought against deputy police chief Viroj Phaholvej and deputy metropolitan police chiefs including Pol Maj Gen Likhit Klin-ouan, Pol Maj Gen Akekarat Meepreecha, Pol Maj Gen Wibul Bangthamai and Pol Maj Gen Chakthip Chaijinda and members of the security forces on duty that day as there was no evidence linking them to the incident. Gen Chavalit yesterday said he was disappointed with the NACC ruling. He said he had testified before the agency that he had not ordered the security forces to use force against the protesters. He said he would fight in court to prove his innocence. Mr Somchai said the NACC had not summoned him to present his version of the events and defend himself. He also said he would fight the charges. Pol Gen Patcharawat said he would continue to perform his duties as national police chief until he received a legal order suspending him from duty. At dawn on Oct 7, riot police fired tear gas at thousands of PAD protesters who had sealed the entrances to parliament. In the melee that followed, two demonstrators were killed and hundreds of protesters and police were injured. http://bangkokpost.com/news/local/23438/nacc-finds-against-police-chief Writer: PRADIT RUANGDIT AND AEKARACH SATTABURUTH Published: 8/09/2009 at 12:00 AM

Senior police say they are about to swoop on stashes of more than 100 million speed pills hidden in Bangkok apartments. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau and the Internal Security Operations Command have been sent to search for the methamphetamine pills which they say are about to be delivered to customers and dealers in Bangkok and other provinces, Metropolitan Police deputy chief Pongsan Jiam-on said. Police have searched 441 communities classified as red zones for rampant drug use to arrest users who would be sent to rehabilitation treatment centres. Pol Maj Gen Pongsan also expressed concern over the spread of "ice" in Bangkok. The illicit drug, a crystallised form of methamphetamine, was popular with wealthy drug users, he said. Police have arrested three men and seized 6kg of ice in the biggest haul in 10 years. Suthee sae Ping, also known as Neung Trokchan, 23, Sitthichai (Sith) Chotithevachop, 25, and Detdamrong (James) Wichian, 24, were arrested in separate raids on Sunday and yesterday. Police said they seized six packages of ice weighing 6kg, a Toyota sedan, two mobile phones and two bags. The drugs had a face value of more than 24 million baht, police said. Mr Suthee was the first suspect to be caught, at a parking lot at Big C Superstore's Hua Mark branch on Sunday night. Police said he was caught as he was about to leave in his car. Police found two packages of ice in his car. Police said Mr Suthee admitted he was hired by a man identified as Ek to deliver the drugs. They said Mr Suthee had delivered the drugs twice and received 20,000 baht for each delivery. His confession led to the arrest of the other two suspects. Mr Sitthichai and Mr Detdamrong were arrested at a house at Sammakorn housing estate in Bangkok's Saphan Sung district yesterday. Police searched the house and found four packages of ice. Metropolitan Police Division 4 deputy superintendent Mantharn Apaiwong said it was the biggest ice haul in 10 years. http://bangkokpost.com/news/crimes/23439/cops-launch-major-drug-blitz Published: 8/09/2009 at 12:00 AM

Premieres Thursday, Sept. 17 8:00pm ET/PT in the USA. This is perhaps my all time favorite TV shows. I love it. The CBS.com website has the biographies of all the cast members and some video clips. I see some possibilities of who I think will win but will wait till I see the first episode to do the Fantasy Game.

Welcome smoker! We are happy to have you. We are a "virgin" site in many ways. We are new to this and learning each day. There is a button at the top of every thread that says Watch Topic. Hit it and then click instantly or however you want to get the notifications and you will get them. If we can be of further assistance, let us know.

The real system is it is always best to follow the law. Thailand is smoke free inside the bars. I suggest you walk outside for a cig. It does not bother me in the least to have smoking in the bars. I know some who hate it and others who love it. I have not heard of a customer getting fined for this, but it is possible. Most likely, it will be the bar that gets fined. That being said, I was in over 10 bars in Bangkok last week and all allowed smoking.

Thanks. I do agree. If you are American, they do prosecute those that travel for sexual purposes as do some other countries. Anyone that goes with someone under 18 is crazy.

Good idea. Consider it done!

Sure. Don't believe everything you hear or see or read.

I don't think the majority see it that way. I think many want to take their photos and I have seen them get upset when this happens without their permission. If you ask politely, many will oblige.

I am into travel, good food, nice hotels and good cigars. I don't smoke cigarettes though. Sorry Smoker. I do enjoy an occasional cigar. I love working out and going on adventure trips.

It's extremely unlikely, but the Obama administration is taking its first steps along a path that could lead in that direction, with the investigation of Central Intelligence Agency interrogators involved in the war on terror. "You don't know where these things are going to end up," former CIA agent Peter Brookes told me. "They could go to very high levels in the government." The probe will focus on whether interrogators exceeded their instructions and broke the law when, for example, they choked a prisoner until he lost consciousness or threatened another one with a gun and a power drill. There is no obvious enthusiasm in the Obama administration for second-guessing the CIA's efforts after September 11, 2001 to keep America safe. President Obama has said several times he wants to "look forward, not back." Republicans immediately criticized the new investigation and even some Democrats said it would be unpopular. "This is not very good politically for the administration," said Democratic strategist James Carville. "The public clearly doesn't have much of an appetite for this." But Attorney General Eric Holder said evidence of abuses was compelling enough to require it. No one knows what other evidence will ultimately compel the administration to do. The American Civil Liberties Union, an activist organization that campaigns against prisoner abuse, says "any investigation that truly follows the facts where they lead would inevitably lead to prosecutions of high government officials," Does it sound far-fetched? One Bush administration legal advisor, Jack Goldsmith, says his colleagues were acutely conscious that the president or his advisors could someday be investigated for the steps they took or approved after 9/11. And remember that Bill Clinton was impeached for just lying about sex. Do you think George W. Bush or his top aides will end up behind bars? Sound off below American politics is unpredictable, the investigation hasn't even begun and it will take a long time. My guess is that some very important people will be watching it closely. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/04/mann.george.w.bush/index.html

BANGKOK, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Thai stocks are expected to trade in a narrow range on Monday, helped by recent gains on Asian bourses, but concerns about domestic politics may keep trade subdued, analysts said. "The market should trade sideways to lower due to profit taking. Domestic politics still affect the sentiment as investors will be cautious ahead of an upcoming protest," Chakkrit Charoenmetachai, an analyst with broker Far East, said. "Red shirt" supporters of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra are planning a big rally on Sept. 19 to push for elections, raising fears of an intensification of Thailand's four-year political crisis. Support on the main index .SET is expected at 665 and resistance at 680, analysts said. In early trade, overseas markets were tracking Wall Street higher after a better-than-expected U.S. jobs report at the end of last week bolstered sentiment about an economic recovery. On Friday, the benchmark SET index rose 0.43 percent to a one-year closing high of 668.41. For the full Article: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSBKK10047020090907

Thanks for the well wishes. It is much appreciated. I have not heard of this restaurant but will try it out on my next visit to Pattaya.

Anyone have a business that sells nutrition bars? I am looking for Zone Perfect bars in particular.

Welcome to Thailand Visa: where you don't need American Express! At Thailand Visa we are the premier site to help people like you visit Thailand and get the most out of the experience! ThailandVisa.com is your home away from home, whenever you visit Thailand, or are just fantasizing about your next trip. We have all the information you need right at your fingertips. Think of us as your personal guide to the great temples, spicy food and fabulous beaches! Thailand Visa is free and contains the most up to date and practical information you could ever need. Whether you want to take off your shirt and say Phuket on the beach or bang a gong in Bangkok, you'll find the information you want before you need to know it. Consider Thailand Visa everything you ever wanted to know about Thailand but were afraid to ask! You can come here and ask questions and get cool responses from expats who know the real deal about the Thailand experience. Feel free to debate cultural issues, gossip about the natives or just hang out! You'll never have to deal with annoying pop up ads or registration fees. Thailand is a free country and we want our site to be just as liberating as a bike trip through the countryside! So, all you have to do now is ask yourself if you are ready for the real Thailand experience! Post and play in the forums if you dare! Important note: You must post your first post in the Introduction Forum and once approved by a Moderator, all other posts will show instantly. We do this to protect the site from spammers. We can't wait to meet you! Thanks, Thailand Visa!

The Associated Press BANGKOK -- Attention Internet-savvy travellers: Thailand is giving away free trips to five lucky couples who don't mind sitting in front of a computer while on vacation. The Tourism Authority of Thailand launched a new campaign Tuesday offering five couples fully paid trips to the country's most popular cities and beaches. In return, they will be asked to blog, chat and tweet about their holiday in a bid to win a grand prize of $10,000, a BlackBerry and a video camera. Applicants should be "good storytellers" and must know how to navigate YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr, the TAT said on the contest's newly launched Web site www.utlimatethailandexplorer.com where one-minute video auditions can be submitted until Oct. 15. Thailand's tourism industry is facing its worst crisis in years, with foreign arrivals down 15 per cent so far this year because of political upheaval and the global recession. Tourism officials say they were inspired by Australia's recent highly publicized campaign dubbed the "Best Job in the World." The contest to serve as the caretaker on a tropical Australian island for six months, while promoting the destination on a blog, drew 35,000 applicants and worldwide media attention. "We got the idea from Australia," said TAT official Phanom Kaributra, who is co-ordinating the contest. "We think it's a good way to use social networking to promote Thailand." A panel of TAT officials will select 25 semifinalists by Oct. 15 and the winning five couples -- and grand prize winner -- will be chosen by worldwide online voting. Each of the five couples will be sent early next year on a six-day trip to different destinations: the capital Bangkok, beach resorts Phuket, Samui and Pattaya, and the northern city of Chiang Mai. Phanom said the couples would be free to explore but would not be encouraged to "go to red-light districts and places like that." http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090901/thailand_vacations_090901/20090901?hub=SciTech