TotallyOz Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 The process is clearly laid out for all on the Indian Embassy of Bangkok's website. Basically, you need to have your boy special fill in all the online application. Make sure that every field is clearly answered. If no answer put NA. Once you fill out everything on that application (be sure he or she has all their parents names, cities of birth etc.) you take the application to Sumkumvit 25, 1 Glas House Building and 15th Floor. They will make sure all if fill out correctly, that you have 2 passport photos (be sure they are good or they will send you out to make new ones), a copy of your passport and the application. You will have someone check all this info, get a ticket to meet with an Immigration Expert and then your BF is on his own. If filled out properly, there should be no issues. You pay the fee 1830 baht and are told a decision will be made in 3 days. I found all this easy. The hard part was getting the right spelling of all the names, streets, etc for his family as the application must be filled out in English and not Thai. I did see several agencies there were there with bulk passports for Thais. I am sure these services do all the legwork for you. However, if you are in Bangkok and follow the instructions, it is pretty easy. They issue for Visas for 6 months. I hope this helps with anyone who had questions about their loved one getting a visa to India to see all the great historic places that the city offers. Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 23, 2012 Author Posted May 23, 2012 Almost forgot, on Soi 23, there is a photo shop for the photos. They put the guys in a suit and tie to make them look professional. What a brilliant idea! It really does change the appearance of the application to see the person in a nice suit and tie. I never knew the BF looked so hot in a suit! : Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 I never knew the BF looked so hot in a suit! Your BF would look even hotter with the Emperor's new clothes on Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 23, 2012 Author Posted May 23, 2012 Your BF would look even hotter with the Emperor's new clothes on hehe. Thanks. I have always liked the thuggy look myself. But, the suit today took me for a spin. Quote
kokopelli Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 If given a choice of all the places to visit in the world, India would not even be on boy special's list. On my list it would be low down but above N.Korea, Afghanistan, all the "stans", Iran, Iraq etc. Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted May 24, 2012 Posted May 24, 2012 If given a choice of all the places to visit in the world, India would not even be on boy special's list. On my list it would be low down but above N.Korea, Afghanistan, all the "stans", Iran, Iraq etc. Same same me. I get the impression that Michael is going on a business trip. Labor is pretty cheap there. Programmers for web sites, etc? Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 24, 2012 Author Posted May 24, 2012 Not sure why India would be on a list at the bottom of someone's ToDo list. It is a country full of amazing places, palaces, museums and sites. And, in 20 years, it may be one of the 3 superpowers (China, India, Brazil) but that is just my opinion. And, yes, I am going party for business. Well, most for business. But, I have always wanted to see the Taj Mahal and other sites in India. I would regret not ever seeing them. I would also love to go to some of the other places on KoKo's list of places he has no desire to visit. When I retired 10 years ago, I wanted to visit the entire world and I got stuck in Thailand. I love it but it has held me back from traveling because I enjoy it so much. It is now time to start seeing other things and when this trip to India came along, I was thrilled. Maybe I'll be back into my wandering spirit and buy my Tuk Tuk for my around the world trip! Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 24, 2012 Posted May 24, 2012 It is a country full of amazing places, palaces, museums and sites Industrial and much of rural India is so ridden with poverty that I found it pretty hard to take. On the other hand, the splendours of India, especially in Rajasthan, are unbeatable, extraordinary sights. To miss them is to miss some of the wonders of the world. but above . . . all the "stans" There is one 'stan' that I really wanted to visit about 10 years ago, but never got around to it - Uzbekistan. It has three of the most important cities from the old Silk Road days - Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent. Some of the Islamic architecture is absolutely stunning. 2,500 years ago, Samarkand was as important as Rome and Babylon, and as beautiful. Once I have done my trips to Petra and Tibet, perhaps I'll try to get there. Samarkand There is no credit for this pic. It came from this site - http://www.advantour...n/samarkand.htm Quote
firecat69 Posted May 24, 2012 Posted May 24, 2012 Almost forgot, on Soi 23, there is a photo shop for the photos. They put the guys in a suit and tie to make them look professional. What a brilliant idea! It really does change the appearance of the application to see the person in a nice suit and tie. I never knew the BF looked so hot in a suit! : NoNoNo I want a picture of you in a suit. Now that would be HOT LOL Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 24, 2012 Author Posted May 24, 2012 NoNoNo I want a picture of you in a suit. Now that would be HOT LOL LOL When I was 28, I started working from my home. At that time I swore I'd never wear a suit again. To date, I haven't. Quote
kokopelli Posted May 24, 2012 Posted May 24, 2012 LOL When I was 28, I started working from my home. At that time I swore I'd never wear a suit again. To date, I haven't. What a shame, I was looking forward to a photo of you and boy special in your birthday suits. Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 24, 2012 Author Posted May 24, 2012 What a shame, I was looking forward to a photo of you and boy special in your birthday suits. haha that is not a shame, it is blessing you are not subjected to such a sight. My Boyfriend was afraid of the dark... then he saw me naked and now he's afraid of the light. (Rodney Dangerfield - paraphrased) Quote
kokopelli Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 Not sure why India would be on a list at the bottom of someone's ToDo list. It is a country full of amazing places, palaces, museums and sites. And, in 20 years, it may be one of the 3 superpowers (China, India, Brazil) but that is just my opinion. After spending hours on the phone with customer service reps from India regarding computer and internet connection problems I have a very negative opinion of India and what they have to offer. As far as Brazil and India becoming superpowers, that will never happen. Even China has so many problems such as over population I don't see them as becoming a superpower although they have made great advances especially by copying and stealing technology from the USA. Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 25, 2012 Author Posted May 25, 2012 After spending hours on the phone with customer service reps from India regarding computer and internet connection problems I have a very negative opinion of India and what they have to offer. As far as Brazil and India becoming superpowers, that will never happen. Even China has so many problems such as over population I don't see them as becoming a superpower although they have made great advances especially by copying and stealing technology from the USA. I have spent half my life dealing with Indians in business and I can honestly say that I am probably 10 times more frustrated with them than you. But, that does not make me not want to visit the country. It should be a truly eye opening experience for me. I hope it is anyway. As far as Brazil, India and China go, we will just have to wait and see. The US and UK and Russian are on the outs. Who do you think is on the In Road? Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 25, 2012 Author Posted May 25, 2012 Good News! The BF got his Visa to India. He just called me and he picked it up from the Embassy. We took it in for him on Wednesday Morning and it is now Friday Afternoon and it was approved with no problem. Once you do all the paperwork, cross all the t's and dot all the i's, it is really simple to get. Looks like I'll be taking my honey on a honeymoon. Or, at least to the Taj Mahal. Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 After spending hours on the phone with customer service reps from India regarding computer and internet connection problems I have a very negative opinion of India and what they have to offer. As far as Brazil and India becoming superpowers, that will never happen. Even China has so many problems such as over population I don't see them as becoming a superpower although they have made great advances especially by copying and stealing technology from the USA. I am in complete agreement with Koko. Adobe tech support has reps in India and if you understand them at all they are frequently wrong. This has put me off buying Adobe products, but there isn't much else to choose from. I don't see Brazil or India becoming superpowers, either. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 I don't see (China) as becoming a superpower although they have made great advances especially by copying and stealing technology from the USA. A pretty sweeping statement - the bit about stealing technology. Sure. Some they stole. But just about every developing country steals in one way or another. How do you think the Japanese car industry really got started? They stole from the US Big Three automakers who made and sold about 85% of all cars in Japan between the World Wars. Then came protectionism and Japan used the technology. How did some countries get nuclear technology? They basically paid spies to provide it. I'm not likely to be around in 25 years, but if I were, I'd make a bet that China will be a greater superpower in 2037 than the USA. Quote
kokopelli Posted May 25, 2012 Posted May 25, 2012 A pretty sweeping statement - the bit about stealing technology. I'm not likely to be around in 25 years, but if I were, I'd make a bet that China will be a greater superpower in 2037 than the USA. It's easy for Kokopelli to make sweeping statements since he doesn't know what he is talking about. But China is a master at stealing industrial secrets and technology. And you are right about nuclear technology especially nuclear weapons. All nuclear weapons in existence are based on technology stolen either by spies or traitors from the nuclear weapon designs developed during WWII by the USA and allies. As for superpowers in the future, likely the country with abundant natural resources and the best education system along with a national commitment to research. Quote
Guest travelerjim Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 Good News! The BF got his Visa to India. He just called me and he picked it up from the Embassy. We took it in for him on Wednesday Morning and it is now Friday Afternoon and it was approved with no problem. Once you do all the paperwork, cross all the t's and dot all the i's, it is really simple to get. Looks like I'll be taking my honey on a honeymoon. Or, at least to the Taj Mahal. Wonderful! Enjoy your holidays in India together. Please report back on your shared experiences... as I am interested in possibly taking my bf to visit India too. tj Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 As for superpowers in the future, likely the country with abundant natural resources and the best education system along with a national commitment to research. There was an interesting interview with the respected American writer Thomas Friedman as part of a programme about the development of China as a superpower on the BBC last night. He said that what Americans should fear about China now is not its communism, but its capitalism. China is pressing ahead with all the things America used to be known for - including education, development of infrastructure, research and development, and a host more. But the US is tearing itself apart internally and treading water, basically doing nothing to ensure it is able to compete with a strong China. What he would like to see is "a strong America counterbalancing a strong and thriving China, and not one where you have a strong and rising China and an America that is uncertain, weak and unable to project power economically and militarily it historically did." It reminded me of that excellent book by Paul Kennedy "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers" in which he examines the relationship between economic change and military conflict between 1500 and 2000. His basic thesis is that all great powers develop economically, eventually over-expand militarily and territorially, and then are unable to pay the bills for those expanded ambitions. Although published before we knew about Al Qaeda, 9/11 and America's ruinously expensive military expeditions into Iraq and Afghanistan, he could see then the signs of America's relative decline (rise and fall is all relative). As he pointed out 25 years ago - The task facing American statesmen over the next decades, therefore, is to recognize that broad trends are under way, and that there is a need to “manage” affairs so that the relative erosion of the United States’ position takes place slowly and smoothly, and is not accelerated by policies which bring merely short-term advantage but longer-term disadvantage. It might be useful if every member of the US Congress received a copy of the book as mandatory reading! Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 26, 2012 Posted May 26, 2012 Back to the topic! For anyone visiting India, an essential companion is a book titled “Plain Tales from the Raj” edited by Charles Allen. Published in 1975, it was based on a series of BBC radio programmes in which English men and women who had lived in India under British rule gave their accounts of what life was like. One amazon reviewer sums it up: “If a first-time traveler heading for New Delhi tomorrow could take only one book on the plane . . . this reader would recommend "Plain Tales from the Raj" for the journey . . .The anecdotes to be found here are priceless at times, causing some good laughs in nearly all of the twenty-one brief chapters while intermingled with some very sobering passages as well.” It is filled with fascinating insights into what life then was like – many hilarious, as in the description of the young English ladies who would come over for the Christmas holidays to stay with relatives and friends, seeking husbands from amongst the wealthy colonial elite. They were known as “the fishing fleet”. If they returned home alone by Easter, they were known thereafter as “returned empties”. There’s even one gay anecdote concerning, I seem to recall, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the largest and most wealthy of the Indian states. The Nizam was a fabulously rich ruler who allegedly had some 6,000 servants. Many were extremely handsome young men for, although Hyderabad was a Muslim state, this Nizam was gay. One day, the state’s English tax inspector arrived to examine the books, suspicious that the Raj was not being given his due. This man, a middle-aged married bore from somewhere in central England, was accorded an honour guard and thought nothing of the beauty of all the young men in its ranks. Entering the Palace and being greeted by the Nizam’s major-domo, the suggestion of a hot bath and a short nap after the dusty journey was welcomed. The inspector was shown to his palatial quarters where he found a full bath already awaiting him. Nicely relaxed and in the exquisite dressing gown prepared for him, he proceeded to the huge bed. As he drew back the sheets, he was startled to find a naked young boy of questionable age. “What on earth are you doing in my bed?” asked the inspector. “I am here for you, sahib – a gift from His Exalted Highness.” Shocked, the inspector told the boy to get dressed and out of his room. Equally shocked, the boy asked, “Why?” Whereupon he withdrew a very long silk scarf from his derriere and said, “See - I am clean!” Plain Tales from the Raj: edited by Charles Allen Published by Futura Publications Quote
TotallyOz Posted June 4, 2012 Author Posted June 4, 2012 We are looking at trying The Oberoi Amarvilas hotel in Agra. Does anyone have any experience with it? One of the things they offer is a Hindi commitment ceremony. This sounds lovely and I was thinking of doing this but not sure how they would take it being 2 guys. Advice? We need one hotel in Agra as we have one in Delhi lined up. Thanks. http://www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_amarvilas Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted June 4, 2012 Posted June 4, 2012 Michael - I don't know the hotel, but as it was ranked last year the 4th in Asia and 14th in the world by Travel & Leisure magazine, I would put money on its being considerably above the Intercon in Hua Hin! Being so close to the Taj, it seems rather like the Park Hyatt in Sydney which has a view of the Opera House from every room. I assume you noted their pool is closed from 8th June. So if you want a break from the heat, you'll be be stuck with the shower in your room. Quote
