Page 8 of 13 FirstFirst 12345678910111213 LastLast
Results 176 to 200 of 320
  1. #176
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    11,382
    Does the boat have a scanner or do you need originals? DoingNothing and just hoping for the best is not really a plan...

  2. #177
    Thailand Expat
    Mendip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:24 AM
    Location
    Korat
    Posts
    10,777
    I like to live on the edge.

    But yeah, we've got scanners and all sorts on this boat - state of the art!

    You need the original passport (to be replaced) and the original receipt to pick up the passport.

    Here's the thing... this is supposed to be a four week trip so I'm already covered even if the passport arrives at Trendy on Monday... but I'm thinking of seeing if I can turn it into a six week trip... so long as the daughter's doing OK at home. If the passport doesn't arrive for another ten days of so this will be no problem.

    Once it arrives I will book flights to the UK for our summer holiday but I'm reluctant to do that before it arrives in case this passport worker strike really slows things down..

  3. #178
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    11,382
    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    Here's the thing... this is supposed to be a four week trip so I'm already covered even if the passport arrives at Trendy on Monday... but I'm thinking of seeing if I can turn it into a six week trip... so long as the daughter's doing OK at home. If the passport doesn't arrive for another ten days of so this will be no problem.
    Gotcha. I'd be planning on doing it safe and just the four weeks. If you miss the passport that will be a massive balls ache.

    Agreed about not booking flights without the passport. Booking on the old. Passport often requires a small or not so small admin fee to change the passport details on the tickets. But are the flight prices not soaring each day? They certainly are in Malaysia. My last trip home to Aus with family cost more than our trip to the US earlier in 2022...which pissed me off considerably. I'm all for domestic tourism now and phark off flying for good. Unfortunately SWMBO doesn't agree...

  4. #179
    Thailand Expat
    Mendip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:24 AM
    Location
    Korat
    Posts
    10,777
    I thought it would be nice to bring some closure to this part of the thread.

    As sod's law dictates, mt daughter's new passport arrived at Trendy ten days into a six week offshore trip, this around ten weeks after the first application. I say 'sod's law', because Trendy will only hold a passport for 30 days before returning it back to the UK. They were sticking to this as well, until I asked them if they could return it back to the UK sooner than the 30 days, so that the FCO could then resend it to Trendy in time for me to collect it on my way home from work. They saw how ridiculous this was and eventually agreed to hold it for an extra five days. A result.

    My daughter's first blue British passport allowing unrestricted access to... oh, just the UK.



    I had my first blue passport a year or so ago. Personally I would have preferred a burgundy one, to have been around 70k Sterling better off and still be allowed to work in Europe. But I guess that's Brexit for you, there's winners and there's losers. The Poles in Norway have certainly done well out of it, that's for sure.

    Anyway, this upcoming week I will be attempting to renew my daughter's Thai passport in Korat. Not quite as exotic as a Bangkok passport renewal trip but worthy of documenting, none the less.

    I saw that Ootai has sneakily renewed his Aussie passport in Bangkok without contributing his adventures to this thread... so to make up I may have to soon renew the daughter's Aussie passport also. I wonder if the reported spy cams are still in the Aussie Embassy's toilets? Maybe Ootai knows... although I doubt a close-up of his wrinkled retainer was what the spy cam culprit was hoping for.

  5. #180
    Thailand Expat armstrong's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    6,882
    Nice that they finally saw sense.

    Was generally a painless event for me. Although I must check when my daughter needs hers renewing..

  6. #181
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Cebu
    Posts
    13,890
    BTW Mendy, the avenue I set up to fix your visa extension issues, we also do British passport renewals.

    Never need to leave Khorat for it again. :-)

  7. #182
    Thailand Expat
    Mendip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:24 AM
    Location
    Korat
    Posts
    10,777
    ^ I'll bare that in mind, thanks!


    I had to pull the daughter out of school today for an appointment to renew her Thai passport. I was hoping that the wife could sort this while I was away at work but the passport people wanted the father to be present. This isn't strictly on topic because a Thai passport run can be done in Korat, but I think it's close enough.

    The preparations for a Korat passport run are minimal and basically comprised sticking on a shirt and a pair of jeans.



    Thai passports can be applied for/renewed in Central Plaza in downtown Korat, a 20 minute drive away. I had applied for an appointment online and were were given an 11am slot... but seeing as were ready by 9:30am we departed early. I didn't want to stay fully clad for a moment longer than necessary in the awful heat.



    After parking up we headed to the third floor to the passport office.



    And in we went. I was a bit concerned to see the number of people waiting outside the office and feared the worst.



    We joined the queue to the front desk and I took a sneaky photo. This is the height measuring machine.



    We reached the front of the queue in no time at all and seeing as were nearly an hour early for our official appointment they added us to the walk-ins. The wife filled in a form and 10 minutes later we were given ticket A0030, and it was already up to A0023. Things were going fast.

    That 1.65 was the daughter's height... she'll be 12 next week and taller than most others around here already.



    While we were waiting I sneaked another photo inside the passport office of a 4ft tall passport.



    After only around 10 minutes wait our number came up and we went through for processing. The daughter had her picture taken, was digitally fingerprinted, had a close-up pic of each eye taken and had to do a digital signature. The wife and I had to show ID and sign a form, and that was it.

    After my experience of recently waiting nearly 3 months for her new UK passport I was a bit anxious since we have flights booked to the UK on July 3rd. I asked about this and they said it would take around 5 weeks. Bollox. But, being an old hand I had taken along a copy of our flight tickets, we explained that the wife had been along a few weeks ago while I was stuck away at work, and as if by magic we were told the passport would be delivered to our house in less than a week... by 31st May. Well, that ain't bad... and I bet these guys earn a fraction of the waste of space, striking civil 'servants' in the UK who take 12 times longer to produce a new passport. Anyway, we shall see when it arrives but I think that says a lot.

    I paid the 3000 Baht fee and off we left in less than an hour. It still wasn't 11am when our original appointment was supposed to be! This had all gone alarmingly smoothly and if I'd have parked up on the third floor, B area by Gate 3G it wold have been even quicker. Maybe about 20 minutes quicker as I later discovered.



    Anyway, I'm not a 'mall' person and have only been to Central Plaza once before, for one of the daughter's Covid jabs. I thought that while we were there it would be nice to take a look in Tops to see if there were any Western luxuries around. Even though I don't like malls, Central Plaza has to be one of the better ones as all the escalators are together so you don't spend half your time traipsing around looking for a downy or uppy escalator to get around.



    While I was admiring the escalators I also noticed this pair of beauties... a rare sight in Thailand so I thought we should go down to investigate.


  8. #183
    Thailand Expat
    malmomike77's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    13,674
    ^ bit early for a nativity play

  9. #184
    Thailand Expat
    PAG's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Last Online
    19-01-2024 @ 11:31 PM
    Location
    Chalong, Phuket
    Posts
    5,123
    [QUOTE=Mendip;4506424

    While I was admiring the escalators I also noticed this pair of beauties...

    [/QUOTE]


  10. #185
    Thailand Expat
    malmomike77's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    13,674
    We'll wait for Dill to tell how much they cost a pair

  11. #186
    Thailand Expat
    Mendip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:24 AM
    Location
    Korat
    Posts
    10,777
    There seemed to be some sort of an Egypt themed exhibition going on.

    There was a Mummy.



    A couple of Zombies!



    And a load of animals with very tenuous links to Egypt but interesting nonetheless.

    A couple of owls...





    A bobcat (?) according to the daughter...



    Some rabbits for MalmoMike's next meal?



    Some silky bantams which I would love to keep with our chickens. I'm going to investigate whether they will get along OK.



    Some American four-horned sheep... (WTF have they got to do with Egypt?)



    Goats...



    Some cute little piglets...



    Parakeets?



    Guinea Pigs?



    And WTF are these? They looked like miniature hippopotamuses.



    A few creepy crawlies including this scorpion.



    Snakes and lizards...



    Some more birds...





    And finally the two camels that had initially caught my attention!



    It was like a mini Egyptian zoo right in the middle of the shopping mall, but made for a very enjoyable 20 minute interlude.

    We discovered that it was all in aid of money raising for an animal charity, so I made a 60 Baht donation and received a stuffed dinosaur. The daughter said she didn't want it... but only because she was embarrassed about walking around with it. She's at that age now, but I'm past caring so carry it, I did.

    Of course anyone married to a Thai will realise that I'd made a fatal error here. The 20 minutes spent with the animals had lengthened the trip sufficiently to require sustenance. I was hoping to head down to Tops, in and out with a few goodies, and home. But no...

    The wife had spotted a Fuji on the top floor... so back up we went for a Japanese lunch.



    A fraction under 3000 Baht... which doubled the cost of the passport renewal.



    And finally down to Tops...

    I immediately spotted these but despite never having tried Guisantes peas, I resisted. Talley's are just fine.

    They look a bit French anyway.



    But I'm only human...



    And then these... I told myself the daughter would enjoy a nice pudding on her Birthday!



    It was relentless...



    I think these will make an appearance in the Dinner thread in the very near future...



    Little did I realise that the wife and daughter had been having a field day... and had even fetched a trolley...



    3189 Baht and it didn't even cover the bottom. That's over 70 quid, FFS!!!

    The cost of the trip had now trebled.

    Time to get out fast... but they hadn't finished with me...



    And people wonder why I like to go on passport renewal trips solo!!?

    We finally left. The wife and daughter had one job between them... to remember where we parked.

    But no...

    20 minutes it took...



    At least the wife carried the shopping!



    The next passport renewal run will be to Bangkok for the daughter's Aussie passport.

    And I'll be going solo.

  12. #187
    Thailand Expat
    malmomike77's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    13,674
    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    And WTF are these? They looked like miniature hippopotamuses.
    poorly looking capibaras

  13. #188
    Thailand Expat
    malmomike77's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    13,674
    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    20 minutes it took...
    we always take a pic of the floor/bay number

  14. #189
    Thailand Expat armstrong's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    6,882
    The Thai passport process is so ridiculously easy it puts the UK to shame.

  15. #190
    Thailand Expat
    Mendip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:24 AM
    Location
    Korat
    Posts
    10,777
    ^ Yes, exactly.

    The Thai aystem seems to ne way ahead.
    Last edited by Mendip; 26-05-2023 at 11:19 PM.

  16. #191
    Thailand Expat
    Reg Dingle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    4,225
    Quote Originally Posted by armstrong View Post
    The Thai passport process is so ridiculously easy it puts the UK to shame.


    There's a lot to be said about vetting people

    That Italian nutter and his progeny in your moobahn?

  17. #192
    Thailand Expat
    Reg Dingle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    4,225
    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    I had to pull the daughter out of school today for an appointment to renew her Thai passport
    This streets ahead Thai passport system sounds ingenious

  18. #193
    Thailand Expat helge's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    11,663
    Quote Originally Posted by armstrong View Post
    Thai passport
    How long are they good for these days ?

  19. #194
    Thailand Expat
    happynz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    Today @ 05:28 AM
    Location
    inner suburb
    Posts
    11,661
    That animal exhibit is doing me a concern. Owls are nocturnal by nature. The capybara, usually the chillest of creatures, look stressed.

    Not cool, Central Korat. Not cool at all.

  20. #195
    Thailand Expat
    Happy As Larry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Last Online
    Yesterday @ 10:25 PM
    Posts
    1,256
    Quote Originally Posted by helge View Post
    How long are they good for these days ?
    5 years

  21. #196
    Thailand Expat
    Mendip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:24 AM
    Location
    Korat
    Posts
    10,777
    Yes, 5 years for children, 10 years for 16 and over. I think it used to be 5 years for adults as well but it was increased to 10 a couple of years ago.
    Last edited by Mendip; 27-05-2023 at 10:07 AM.

  22. #197
    Thailand Expat
    katie23's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    PI
    Posts
    6,590
    ^5 years only?

    @mendy - Is it because she's still a minor or is it the normal validity of Thai passports? Re: her heighg, wow she's 5'5" already!

    Just asking for comparison/ curiosity. My current PH passport has 10 years validity (renewed it in 2018, so only 5 yrs left). I think PH changed the validity of passports to 10 yrs in early 2018 (previously it was 5 yrs). But I think for minors, validity is 5 yrs only - since they'll still grow and photo/ height/ weight needs to be updated.

    Just for info (for PH passport process) - I had to get a schedule online & fill out an online form with my details. The system emails you a pdf containing the confirmation time/ date & your info, which you have to print & bring during your appointment. I chose a passport office located in a mall, since thar was nearest to my location. During the appointment itself, my pic & fingerprints were tajen. I think the passport cost P1,000 (around 800 B) during that time (regular processing, 21 working days). One has the option to have expedited processing (7 working days) for additional fee of P300 (~200 B) I think. Then one has the option to have it sent by courier (fee of ~ P100) or you can pick it up yourself. I didn't have urgent travel, so I chose regular processing time and chose courier delivery. From what I know, those abroad who need their passports renewed need to go to a PH embassy (not just sending the old one + pics) because of biometrics capture.

    Edit: I saw that my question was answered by Mendy's post already.

  23. #198
    Thailand Expat
    Mendip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:24 AM
    Location
    Korat
    Posts
    10,777
    I think it's a great system, especially if we do get the passport by next week. I offered to pay for an express service but there was no extra cost involved. It's definitely worth taking along proof of flight tickets if you need the passport quickly.

    Having to take the daughter out of school for a day was unfortunate but she's got no school holiday due until we leave. If I was home we could have done it over her Songkran/Easter holiday.

  24. #199
    Thailand Expat
    katie23's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    PI
    Posts
    6,590
    ^btw thnx for the trip report. The Japanese meal looked good.

    Re: the animal exhibit in the mall, did they have an unpleasant smell? Pigs (and I assume the other mammals) have a natural odour, which isn't pleasant. Did you notice air purifiers or similar in that area? And how did the mall staff clean the wastes of the animals? (surely they would need to pee or poop)

  25. #200
    Thailand Expat
    Mendip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last Online
    Today @ 02:24 AM
    Location
    Korat
    Posts
    10,777
    There was a musty kind of farm smell, but not unpleasant. The animal enclosures had a fair bit of straw so I guess that soaked up any pee and there were many animal staff around who I guess dealt with poops as they happened as I didn't notice any.

    It was very cool with air movement and I didn't notice any particularly strong odours.

    I thought the animals appeared calm and happy for the most part but as HNZ noticed, the capybaras looked a bit unsettled.

    Generally they were certainly having a better time of it than a lot of the animals in my neighbourhood which seem have atrocities comitted against them on an almost daily basis.

Page 8 of 13 FirstFirst 12345678910111213 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 7 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 7 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •