forcebwithu

Same is true here as it is any country, do the things you like to do and you'll easily meet and begin to hang out with those that share the same interests. As it sounds like you lead a fairly active lifestyle, you might want to consider coming to one of the local Hash House Harrier runs (walkers too, so don't let the running part put you off if you're not into running). The PH3 meets every Monday, and the Pattaya Jungle H3 on Sunday every two weeks. I'm partial to the Jungle as they do a lot more besides the hash runs every two weeks. Check out the links provided to see if this might inter

The old walkover bridge is now history. While work on the new bridge appears to have stalled. The support columns have looked like this for the past couple of weeks. I'm guessing on this, but at the Klang intersection it looks like an overhead track has been constructed for lifting and assembly of the heavy underpass components. Pouring concrete for another section of the underpass roof.

The white bridge is temporary. The permanent bridge is the one under construction in the pic below. Construction on the support posts on either side of Suk has also begun, one of which you can see in this pic.

Pics of the new, temp bridge and views from the new vantage point. If you're vertically blessed, or carrying an umbrella, better remember to duck as you exit the temp bridge on the east side. They've started work on demolishing the old bridge. The new bridge is taking shape. New vantage point is now closer to the action. Measure twice... Bend once.

Surprised you got "I don't know" as a response, which in the Thai way of thinking is loss of face admitting they don't know something. My experience, and from what others have reported, most times it's "not have". Whether true or not, that response covers the fact they don't know and thus no loss of face.

For those interested in seeing construction progress from start to finish (???), here's a link to a photo album with pics that start just shy of one year ago, 11 Jan, 2015.

New overhead walkway is now 2/3 complete. And a couple of shots of the work going on at the south end

Pictorial update from yesterday afternoon. Not much to see that's different from the last update. Looks like we'll soon have a new vantage point to shoot pics from.

As noted in my earlier post I was able to obtain a re-entry permit. But even with that stamp in my passport I couldn't be 100% sure my visa was still good as there was a chance their computer system was dumb enough to allow issuance of a re-entry permit w/o a valid visa. The only way to be 100% certain was to travel out of Thailand and return. I just completed such a trip and I'm happy to report I now have an admit until stamp that matches my current extension to stay of 16 Nov, 2016. It still boggles the mind that immigration officers that should know this shit almost managed to convince

As MM stated, ACH transfer to Bangkok Bank is the most economical way to transfer funds to Thailand. If you're really intent on continuing to use wire transfers, Chase allows online initiated wire transfers. It's what I used to use until I switched to using ACH transfers.

Update from this afternoon. A poster on another forum had snapped some of the same views from three days earlier. I noticed something in one those pictures I'd not seen before, and that was a gap in the south fencing. So today I kicked my mtn bike into high gear and peddled down Suk, executed a sidling u-turn in the dust and gravel, and sure enough the way in to the south side of the construction site was wide open. Peddled up unchallenged to the new road surface and snapped off a few exclusive first shots of the exit of the underpass. As you can see in these shots the view fro

LOL. You're the doc. I'll keep that in mind next time I get a sniffle.

Good to hear you found a close in supply. I ended up sick and never made it out to the run.

There's plenty of eucalyptus groves outside of Pattaya. Run through them all the time on Hash runs. We have a run this Sunday. If I see some I'll cut some branches for you.

Decided there was no need to argue the point, and no need to find someone to check the computer as to my visa status. Simplest was to just go ahead and get a re-entry permit for the extension to stay that took effect on the 16th. Figured they would have to access my computer record to enter the new permit, and if there was a problem with the visa they would let me know then. As it turns out my morning visit to immigration was quick, painless and fruitful. I now have a new re-entry permit with no drama involved. The key was not asking any questions, just submit the documents and let the chi

It just occurred to me that in all this back and forth with various immigration officials, I never once saw them reference a computer record of my visa status. Everyone did what I was doing, and that is looking at the date stamps and coming up with their own interpretation of my visa status. The reason I started thinking about this is because I realized when one re-enters the country, the admit until date has always been the permitted to stay until date on the current extension to stay, assuming of course a valid re-entry permit. In my case that would have been 16 Nov, 2015 and that was wh

I'm really in the dark on the hoops one needs to jump through to get a new visa. Because I don't know, I'm relying on the lady that handled the correction to my 30 day stamp to guide me through the process. And because I'm relying on her help, I bite my tongue while I sit in her office and witness her spending 90% of her working time watching TV, playing with her phone and chit chatting with her co-workers. That's what happened on Monday when I came back to collect my corrected passport. She hadn't done a damn thing with it during the 30 minutes I left it with her. So I had a seat and watched

A few snaps of the construction progress from earlier today. Wonder what height restriction they'll have on the underpass. The trusses seem a bit low for anything higher than an SUV. Backhoe looks like he got stuck backing out of the way of the hole digger No worries though. Did a self rescue with a push of the bucket Can see in the background they're almost ready to concrete in another roof section.

Since an extension to stay is for a period of one year, my error was thinking that meant the new one would start when the old one ran out. Lesson learned and I won't be making that mistake again.

I just learned of a gotcha with the extension to stay and re-entry permit valid until date. Earlier this year I got a Re-Entry Permit with a valid until date of 16 Nov, 2015, which coincides with the permitted to stay date of my then current extension to stay. On 29 Oct, prior to my visit back to the States, I applied for and received a new extension to stay with a new permitted to stay date of 16 Nov, 2016. I then left Thailand on 4 Nov and returned on 13 Nov, 3 days before my Re-Entry Permit and current extension to stay was set to expire. Upon clearing immigration on the 13th,

Poster on another board had links to these articles on the construction here, and in Phuket. Sukhumvit-Central tunnel 15% complete Sidewalks repaired in Sukhumvit construction zone Phuket underpass tunnelling delayed by rains Steer clear: Locals plan on-site protest of underpass delays Work progressing slowly here. Pics from yesterday afternoon.

Progress on the underpass roof. And the view to the south.

Got the email notification.

I'll have to post something worthy of a reply to confirm.

I'm getting the board notifications, but not email. Checked my settings and they look good. Nothing in my email account's spam/junk folder. At least the more important and visible issue of hung posts has been resolved.