Back Soon I Hope

monsterman · Nov 7, 2019

Hello Folks I have been in Europe for last 8 month returning soon,, I hope as I am having serious problems getting a proper VISA ,,I cant do marriage visa as i have problems with my wife ,she is being difficult ,, I ,cant do retirement as I dont want to keep big assets in Thailand banks anymore,,, i have lost faith and trust ,,, cant get a multi entry non O from any Embassy in europe as they no longer issue tham ,, they tell me i must get one in Vietnam,,,, They wont issue me a Multi entry Tourist visa either as I have too many stamps in my passport ,, they will issue me a Single entry tourist visa , but thats not much use if I get called away on an offshore job which is very likely ,, i have the funds in Europe ,, and property in Thailand so its all a bit stressful,, i just want to come for 4 or 5 months and ride and relax,, ,,

once i arrive a will probably move my Bike and tools to my mate alex;s house ,, I fix his bikes and he has a spare room,, from that base i want to chill and travel ,, and see what transpires..,,need to give the Ducati a good check over , before i travel to far

plan is to go to Chiang mai and north ,, maybe cambo again ,

The visa worry is biggest concern ,, I will speak to an agent once i arrive see what can be done ,, I am not spending so much time in LOS anymore due to work and my old dad in UK he is 90,, plus my Thai daughter Kat is in UK pursuing her career as a horse trainer ,show jumper , and casino croupier and most of my work is now based in europe ,, i am semi retired {retarded} ha ha

another worry is that due to age and pre existing conditions I cant get decent medical insurance that is not eye waterinly expensive ..

are there any new rules regulations i need to know about ???
cheers

DavidFL · Nov 8, 2019

I would have thought that new O-A visa wouid be the best way to go. Do they have them available in the UK.?

monsterman · Nov 9, 2019

Hi David The O/A one was not mentioned to me when I have been applying in london ,, and now its too late as to get CRC check would take about 6-8 weeks according to Sussex l police ,, the medical is not a problem.but medical insurance is ,a potential problem , lots of pre=existing conditiomns or prior medical history even though i can pass offshore medicals means many companies wont give me a quote or when they do its too expensive,,, when im working corporate insurance for mariners covers me.

I have been through this before when in Thailand have spoken to AA in Pattaya and brokers in UK

Maybe next year that might be worth pursuing ,, I can get an NON IMM O Multi entry in Ho ch Mihn .
can u take bike into vietnam now ??

monsterman · Nov 12, 2019

Just had my application for METV tourist visa refused ,, reason ,, My employers are not a UK company ,,,,,,,they are Norweigan ,,,, to get any long term visa even tourist visa from london embassy you must show minimum £5k in UK bank which i have and a UK employer ,,,thats the 3rd application I have made to london embassy under the NEW RULES and have now lost £375 in visa fees for nothing ,,, Im not the only one ,, my mate Russell who goes to Thailand every year as a MuaiThai training is having same bullshit problems ,,,

Pattaya reliable VISA agents KEY visa have told me Im going to have to do a side trip to savanaket or Hochiminh to get a Multi entry O visa based on marriage ,, currently they can do them there , no medical or employment papers needed and less stringent finacials ,,,but London and most EU embassies are now aweful ,, apparently its the new Evisa system rolled out in europe by the Thais .

its ridiculous

monsterman · Nov 21, 2019

Just got back from 800km 12 hour round drive today from Brighton to Hull consulate with a visa ,, i was in and out in half hour ,the place was busy with people coming from all over UK ,, all had had tales of major issues with Evisa system faliure and bad deals and ripoffs with London Embassy ,same problems being reported at embassies all over EU too !!!!

, Nice English Manager and Manageress at Hull told me the Evisa is run from a server in Bangkok Chaeng wattana HQ and its hopeless as it Thai made software cooked up by civil servants , Thailand was told to use the VFS software they All other nations seem to use for visa but as usual they went their own way .
Also to add another layer of complication all applications on Evisa are checked IN THAILAND by Thais ha ha who probably cant read english or any other language ,,its a fiasco ,,,all the screwups and complications emenate from Bangkok like a bad stink ....

monsterman · Dec 4, 2019

I have been back 6 days now ,, its a bit hit and miss ,, my ducati has a fault ,,it was fine when put to bed 8 months , ago but bits of the wiring loom and injectors are disintegrating like dust after 18 years of heat and sun ,, even though its kept mostly indoors ,, NO spares available in LOS as usual so my trip has started on a low , , have borrowwd a ER650 bike but ,its not to be used for touring which was my plan ,,

looking into rentals but in Pattaya its all crappy sports bikes or cruisers or scooters

Since i Have been away there has been a mass exodus of long term expats many businesses have closed ,,, things look dire for the local economy ,,Many Thais complaining about high inflation ,, price of veg in Pattaya markets has more than doubled this year ,,many people even wealthy ones seriously considering leavimg ,,,no water in the local lakes either l
hotels are not full,, all around the area even out in Chantaburi and rayong place looks more shabby and dusty than usual,, some of the biggest manufacturers re also pulling out of the big industrial estates ,, FORD and MAZDA are closing down in Thailand and moving to Vietnam ,,

Prices here are now double that of UK for most everyday items and services ,, and thats not down to the crap £ baht exchange rate how can that be ???

Is the party over ??whats it like up North

I hve also noticed that there are Zero police road checks going on ????? the cops are no where to be seen around Pattaya Rayong Chonburi ,,,its weird ..

Im enjoying thai food and fruit ,and ambiance and heat , but im a bit shocked

Ian Bungy · Dec 5, 2019

It is the Same all Over Thailand. The Party is well and Truly over! Everyone is suffering and Businesses are closing left right and centre! It is a Buyers Market at the moment as everyone is trying to Off Load and abandon the Sinking Ship! If You look at realistic facts Vietnam, Philippines and other destinations that guys are shifting to all have their own problems so can't see the point in moving actually! The Military Government needs to change here before things will get any better! Fingers crossed!

monsterman · Dec 6, 2019

yes Ian ,, its true everywhere is FUXXED UK too with Brexit ,, all of EU is in chaos ha ha ,, im chillin ,, although the ducati is a problem have ordere d parts from UK but is the immobiliser id dud ,, that cant be fixed in Thailand ,, The ducati dealers here have the equipment but dont know how to use it to flash the ECU to disable need for immobiliser ,, but in UK i can be done and in USA and OZ ,,, TIT !!!
I may purchase a Benelli 300 so i can tour around ,, I have borrowed one many time over last 2 years and they are brilliant for a 300 twin ,, I can get a 3 year old used one in mint condition 19k kilometres for 50,000 off a guy leaving soon .

then i can take my time over a full restotation of the ducati like i do in UK ,, paint, powder coat ,, refresh everything from the ground up till the bike is like new again ,,

just completed a full refurb on my monster 750 in UK

i will probably come up to CMX after new year and will drop in ,, down here im billy no mates as so many people have left ..

monsterman · Dec 14, 2019

bike is now fully stripped ,, found a passivator for the nuts and bolts and brackets had to order more parts from UK but its moving forward ,, meanwhile I have use of a CRF250

monsterman · Jan 16, 2020

rebuild is progressing very slowly awaiting parts back from Powdercoaters , painters and platers,, swing arm finally came out using a 30 ton press ,,bearings were rusted solid ,, part from UK delayed paoted 3 weeks ago ??

i doubt i will get the bike completed before i have to leave in march ,, mai pen rai,, enjoying riding the scooter ,,
word on the street in pattaya and around the dealers is business is dire ,, sales of bikes has crashed ,, and 2nd hand prices are going down too due to masses of repossed bikes and cars and lack of farang customers ,, chonburi immigration reported that aver 20,000 long term one year visa holders for retirement, business etc did not renew in 2019 ,, massive exodus ,, affecting property values too,, ,,the local thais are VERY Worried ,, tourist numbers down 40% too,

but enuf of the doom and gloom its still nice not being covered in ice and snow and being in the wind even if its only 113cc ha ha and the thai food is wonderful,,

monsterman · Feb 24, 2020

Progress report
dealing with Thai contractors and companies recently has been very up and down ,, sent my Ducati Frame, wheels , swinging arm , and other bits off for powder coating also the Tank , mudgurds and other parts off for repainting and decals ,, and swinging arm off for polishing and a load of nuts bolts brackets andsmall parts off for Yellow Zinc passivating ,,,
I was ssured that the colours and finishes I chose from these companies , would be what I specified .....

WHAT actually happened was not quite that!!!!!!!

The frame and wheels were specified anthracite powder coat , 2 engine cases were specified as satin black powder coat and foot rest mounts were specified Silver powder coat what I got back was everything SILVER powder coat !!!!!! its a lovely quality job but ???
oh and the polished swing arm was POWDERCOATED silver like the frame ....

Then the paint work I specified RAL 1028 which is Melon /Yellow and is a classic 1974 ducati colour a type of orange ,, with black decalling ,,,,what I got back was Classic ducati rosso red and white decalling , again its a lovely quality job ????

and the yellow zinc passivate plated parts came back standard silver zinc plated ?????? again an excellent quality job but??????

Im not going to make a fuss ,, its just not worth it,, they just dont get its and the bike will look lovely and like new when finally assembled but WTF , why cant the Thais do what they are instructed and promised to do ????? Its always like this even for the biggest companies thats why the always have Chinese, Westerners or Japanese managers so it get done right
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MONSTERMAN !!!!!

Im back to UK Thursday and still need mechanical end electrical bits from UK bike is all ready for reassembly later in the year when i return .
slow progress and lots of frustration ... also going through a painful but inevitable divorce after 23 years at same time , and i have been ill with very nasty lung infection be glad to be back UK ...
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