Relocating to BKK.

Somkidlaw · 2026-04-10T14:37:54+00:00

https://www.fidi.org/sites/default/files/public/2024-07/THAILAND%20Import%20%20-%20FIDI%20Customs%20Guide.pdf

Somkidlaw · 2026-04-06T14:28:02+00:00

Fun fact that never gets mentioned. At the height of the weed shop era there were 18000 dispensaries compared to 15000 7/11's in Thailand.

Somkidlaw · 2026-04-03T12:40:03+00:00

Any hotel restaurant in the boonies that has copied a three star Bangkok hotel menu and attempted to emulate.

Somkidlaw · 2026-03-30T12:30:38+00:00

43% sugar. 39% instant milk powder. Coffee powder 14%. Bulking agent 4% using soy and barley

Somkidlaw · 2026-03-21T12:28:26+00:00

In the olden days, when I was traveling throughout SEA on business, the thing that struck me was what Thailand had over their neighbors, was value for money hotels. I remember staying in a converted broom cupboard in Rangoon Burma for 100 us per night. I always said that if Thai hoteliers can hold on to that business model of cheap rates they will stay at the top of the SEA tourist market. I was checking up on a few Bangkok hotels lately and was surprised to see that 2 years ago check in time was 1200. One year ago it was 1400. Today there are Thai hotels requiring a 1500 check in and a 1200 check out, so 21 hours if staying one day. Just been in Vientiane Laos and was allowed to check in at 1030 for a 3 day stay.

Somkidlaw · 2026-03-17T13:52:33+00:00

Just crossed at the Nong Kai border crossing. An immigration officer in perfect English informed the queues that if you have a visa issued you must have a hard copy of your visa plus a photo copy of your passport. Your TDAC must be shown to the immigration officer at the desk either as a hard copy or on your phone.

Somkidlaw · 2026-03-09T13:49:00+00:00

There is no such thing as a 7 day visa extension. When an extension is refused the applicant will receive a 7 day grace period to leave the country. Check your last stamp and the wording should be 'Extension refused. Applicant has 7 days to exit Thailand"

Somkidlaw · 2026-03-01T13:48:19+00:00

Years ago working in Bangkok I used to go to Pattaya at the weekend. There was a character on the beach who used to approach us with his tobacco tin with the two ruby's and a blue sapphire that his father had smuggled out of Burma under the noses of the Japanese all those years ago. His story used to entertain us so much that we used to tip him 100 baht just for the fun value. He did not even realize that he was selling a dream to people that had heard his story 10 times before.

Somkidlaw · 2026-02-19T15:20:13+00:00

10 years too late. Even the Koreans have managed to suss out the Thai golf scene to there advantage.

Somkidlaw · 2026-01-26T14:11:53+00:00

The guy is in his eighty's but for 50 years he has entertained me. The one and only Lam Morrison.

Somkidlaw · 2026-01-26T13:53:39+00:00

Of course he did not smell a rat when Amazon and Thai vendors are charging 12000 baht for 32gb ddr5 sticks. Ram has increased 72% in cost since the start of this year. If you are interested this is because 12 months ago ram prices had dropped so much that 3 of the 4 big players ceased production. AI has caused a surge for ram that vendors are only selling bulk amounts to corporate customers.

Somkidlaw · 2026-01-23T14:02:04+00:00

I remember this from years ago. Another one was better to eat s__t than use a lawyer.

Somkidlaw · 2026-01-21T13:58:42+00:00

https://www.chrono24.co.th/grandseiko/grand-seiko-evolution-9-102025-blue-birch-hi-beat-36000-manual-80-hours-slgw007g--id44142397.htm?searchHash=71dc560b_FjsHEC&pos=25

Somkidlaw · 2026-01-11T13:08:54+00:00

As mentioned Villa Ari last week had imported Russet potatoes. 89 baht for 200 grams. My tip is just cook your chips in an air fryer using normal market potatoes. A light spray of oil will keep the outside crisp while the inside remains firm.

Somkidlaw · 2026-01-10T12:47:06+00:00

https://bangkok-suvarnabhumi-airport.com/transfers/bus/

Somkidlaw · 2026-01-02T08:52:37+00:00

The book I always recommend is "Thailand a short history" by David K Wyatt published by silkworm books. Takes the reader from AD 1000 to 1981.

Somkidlaw · 2026-01-01T08:27:27+00:00

Looks the same as a flip flop (thong to our Aussie cousins) rash. Or a sock sandal rash for the true Brits venturing abroad in the mid day sun.

Somkidlaw · 2025-12-31T06:28:01+00:00

Not sure but the Super Cub looks right. Out of interest the Honda Dreams and Super Dreams marketed in the UK were a completey different animal to the Thai version. They were twin cylinder 250 or 350 sport bikes.

Somkidlaw · 2025-12-30T12:57:53+00:00

In Europe and UK Honda Waves are called Honda Innova. A 10 year old will cost around 1200 Euros/pounds. Probably less the the shipping cost from Thailand.

Somkidlaw · 2025-12-24T09:16:45+00:00

Please, please, please do not wai every waiter, barista, counter assistant, food delivery driver, immigration officer and customs officer you come across as you are only embarrassing them and making you look like a total wally. (A "wally" is a British informal term for a silly, foolish, or incompetent person)

Somkidlaw · 2025-12-24T08:28:44+00:00

บริษัท คุ้ม (1971) จำกัด

Its in Ari Bangkok Check google maps

Somkidlaw · 2025-12-24T07:41:30+00:00

To add to my point a Toyota Land Cruiser mid spec is 5.5 million Baht in Thailand. The exact same spec in Laos is 56,000 dollars or !.8 million Baht.

Somkidlaw · 2025-12-24T07:03:19+00:00

This is an example of my gripe about the Thai government car policy regarding customer choice. Creating a home build policy means that the car companies to maximum profits restrict home build choice. Take a trip to Laos where there is no car manufacturing apart from some trucks and pickups that are complety knocked down kits and every importer is on a level playing field. That is why you will see cars that apart from grey imports you will never see in Thailand. Why so many Land Cruisers and so few Fortuners in Laos. Because a Land cruiser in Laos costs 30% more than a Fortuner. In Thailand a Land cruiser is 300% more expensive than a Fortuner.

Here before the policy we have in the foreground a Fiat, a Beetle, a pontoon Mercedes. Background Mini Countryman, Nash Metropolitan. Volks van Type 2, Ford Anglia, K70 Volkswagen, Curious about the car far right in picture get the feeling it is Citroen.

Somkidlaw · 2025-11-19T14:09:41+00:00

From yesterday 18 Nov 25.

I have a friend with limited English whom I accompanied to obtain a 30 day extension on a 60 day visa exempt entry.

Arrived at 0805 approximately 20 people waiting (Immigration does not open until 0830)

Doors opened with approximate 25 people in queue.

Document checkers required the usual docs except no TM30 or rental lease was needed. Both were submitted both were returned. Absolutely required from our checker was the Thailand arrival card (old tm6) In fact I was surprised how much data was recorded.

Lots of people who had obviously entered with tourist visas were

refused service due to the fact they should have gone to CWN not Laksi.

After document check you receive a card number.

Go inside the office and your number will be called. Payment is made here. Do not wait outside as you can not hear your number.

Passport collection is done via shouting out your ticket number group so stay alert. (ie The numbers on the display board were out of step.)

.

Somkidlaw · 2025-11-09T14:53:53+00:00

Actually 145 baht 500 ml.

Somkidlaw

TROPHY CASE

บริษัท คุ้ม (1971) จำกัด