1 year multiple entry Visa for Thailand.

I went to apply for my multiple entry Non-Immigrant 'O' Visa at the Thai embassy today. It's my first time doing it actually.  

The documents required are exactly the same as the single entry except one thing.  The amount of money you have in your bank :P  (Thai's learning from SG, if you want to stay in Thailland for long, you must have moola :P)

Anyway, printed and endorsed my bank statements this morning at my bank and went straight down to the embassy.  There were some silly hiccups at the counter.  This is because they recently changed the rules of applications and its actually much more tedious to get approval.  A lot of the people in the Q were acutally denied on the spot or asked to come back with their more documents.

First change are the fees.  A whopping $50 SGD for Tourist Visa and $100 for single entry Non-immigrant 'O'.  It used to be free for the Tourist and Transit Visa.  $30 if I'm not wrong if you take the Non-immigrant 'O' for non-Singaporeans.  So some actually didn't have enough cash on their hands and have to rush back to their hotels to get their money.

2nd thing is the air tickets.  On their website, they actually asked people not to buy air tickets before applying for the visa as they might be rejected.  But they want to see the confirmed air tickets this time round before you even apply!  This is a big one.  Lots of people were fustrated with this change as its like a chicken and egg issue; I buy the airt tickets but you reject me how?  And I don't buy, you don't allow me to apply.  I think they really need to update their website on this one.  I see a lot of people came without a ticket and was sent home (I also kena the last time so I came prepared this time :P) 

Anyway, the Q was pretty long, waited about half an hour before it's my turn.  The same old Malay lady who serves me (quite a few times) greeted me and we chatted a bit :)  (Me old bird liao).  I asked about the 3 yr multiple entry and she said that is only for investors.  (Money again.)  Not applicable for Non -O hehe..  Anyway, all my papers were in order and approved on the spot.  Collection is tomorrow after 2pm as usual.  And one more change actually, the collection time was reduced from 2pm to 3pm only (last time used to be up to 4pm) 

So I guess I won't be going through this motion for the next 12 months.    That's pretty good news to me actually.

For those who are interested, you can see the latest fees and required documents for application of Thai Visa over here at the SG Thai embassy website.

PS:  A little update in LOS.  Called wife today and she mentioned that our flock of chickens had laid 2 eggs... hehehe.. Girl girl is very happy and she checks on them all the time.  Boy boy blur blur but oso excited :)

Same old routine again.

My visa runs out tomorrow.  I actually planned to extend it but my NS deferment for coming September was rejected so I guess I have to return back to Sillypore.  So I got my bus ticket to Chiang Mai and a ticket out of LOS.  

So I guess I got to vote in the Singapore Presidential Election. :P  Just read that all four "Tan" were granted their "CoE" (Macham buy car like dat) hehe

I guess I will have more time to blog once I'm in Singapore as I am jobless over there.  Someone want to hire me?? 

Anyway, will write more once I'm back in SG.  I won't be hauling the "Beast" back as I have my Hassy system with me.  Plan to sell it at a reasonable price and confirm my move to 6x9 format. Its a reluctant sale actually, but I need the moola more then anything else.  Maybe one day I will buy the whole system back but at the moment, rather than letting it rot in my cabinet.  Just sell it to someone who would make use of it :)

I enjoy teaching.

I simply do. :)  Ever since I started conducting photography courses way back in 2007 for SLCC, I know its a job that I would enjoy and I am a bit regretting why I never went for an education diploma.  Currently, while I'm waiting for my "office" cum shophouse to be completed.  I am giving tuition lessons to some secondary kids in my neighbour and I am enjoying every moment of it.  

I like working with teens rather than kids as they are more keen to learn and the kids here in Thailand are definitely more disciplined then those found in Singapore.  Those who took up tuitions are normally those who are really hunger for knowledge.  Do you believe that its actually the kids themselves who asked for tuition instead of their parents?  

Sometimes I do worry about our next generation of Singaporean kids.  Over here, these kids drive themselves not only for knowledge but understand the importance of education is not only in Science and Maths but in Languages, Litreatures/Arts and Humanities.   Its all about the joy of acquiring knowledge in different forms.  In Singapore, we overemphasises on just getting good grades. We keep training our kids to be efficient in exams while taking away the real joy of learning.   Don't believe me, just ask the Singaporean kids why they study and what they are studying and compare the answers with the Thai kids here :)

Yes, both will say that its for a better "future".  But do they really understand what is a better future? It's because their parents says so or is it they really understand the situation if they did not do well in their grades?

Self Employed Again

It's been more than 2 weeks since I last posted.  I am back in Thailand and have been busy looking for a job at the local schools.  Bad news is that the law changed again (as expected from Thailand) and this time, the requirements for government school's ESL teacher is a pain in the ass to apply.  Why? Because you need to have an education diploma which needs to be apporved my the Ministry of Education.  What does this mean?  It means a lot of good ESL teachers currently in government schools will be kicked out of the country as they will not be liable to apply for a teaching position anytime soon.

So I guess its bad news for me too.  My back-up plan (B) is put into first gear for the past 2 weeks and I started to hunt for a location to start my own little tution center.  And yes, I have found a perfect location.  Just down the road from where I stay, a new school was built and there are a lot of new shophouses being built around the area.  Piyaporn is going to be a very busy little village.  The school is not new actually, it's old location was at the old market and because there is a population boom in Maesai, they need a bigger school compound for the increasing number of children in Maesai.   Which means a good opportunity for me. :)

I was actually a bit "dry" financially so I was lucky my mum could helped out a bit.  We took a corner unit and bought another unit just next to it so I have a much bigger space.  It makes sense to buy instead of renting as its a good investment in property too.  Time to diversfy some stocks to property.  Singapore cannot buy (too expensive) so buy in Thailand :P

Anyway, will post more once I'm free.  Still have some business plans need to draft out.  

It's harder than I thought...

To be hired as an English Teacher in Thailand.  I have heard about the discrimination against non western folks in securing a job as an English Teacher.  They have this silly idea that a "farang" (Ang Mo) will be a better English teacher even if he may not come from a native English speaking country (Eg, France and Germany)

Its a bit discouraging but I have already prepared myself for this reality to haapen actually.  So most probably I will need to activate my Plan B instead;  Seting up my own little private tuition center here in Maesai or Chiang Mai.  Starting a buisness is no joke as it involves more money and time.  Moreover, I might need to work out my work permit by myself if I'm not employed by a school.  Which is the one major reason I wished to get employed. To understand how to get that work permit first hand before I go on my own.

Anyway, I still have till end of the month to get a job.  April will be tough as Songkran is in that month and I beleive the schools stop their hiring process during that period.  May will be the new school term so I have less than 2 weeks before reality sets in.