Thailand’s Three-Year Non-Immigrant Visa “B” option

If you are visiting Thailand for business purposes, you may want to consider applying for a three-year Non-Immigrant Visa “B.” This visa allows businessmen to enter the country multiple times over a 3 year period so long as each visit does not exceed 90 days (However, employment of any kind is strictly prohibited).
Applications must be submitted to the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate-General in the applicant’s country of residence (or at the Royal Thai Embassy which has jurisdiction over his or her country of residence). However, it should be noted that Honorary Consul-Generals are not authorized to issue this type of visa.   
When submitting an application, the basic documents required include:

1. An application form completed in full and signed by applicant.
2. A passport valid for travelling to Thailand with sufficient remaining validity. 
3. Two passport-sized photographs (4x6cm) taken within the previous 6 months.

Additional documents that may be requested could include the following:

1. National Identity Card, Residence documentation or valid proof of identity.
2. A letter from the employer giving details of the applicant’s position, length of employment, salary and purpose of the visit(s) to Thailand. If the applicant is self-employed, he or she must provide documentation of his or her business undertaking such as business registration and details of business operation. 
3. Copies of correspondence with business partners in Thailand.
4. A letter of invitation from trading or associated partners/companies in Thailand.
5. Corporate documents of associated partners/companies in Thailand such as:
- Business registration and business license.
- List of shareholders.
- Company profile.
- Details of business operation.
- Map indicating location of the company.
- Balance sheet, statement of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30) of the latest year.
- Value-added tax registration (Por Por 20).
6. A letter of recommendation from previous employer or business associations of which the applicant is member.

The visa fee is 10,000 Baht and this is non-refundable.

Price comparison: Moleskine desk calendar

Since 1997, Moleskine has offered an assortment of notebooks, diaries, and city guides as companions for creative professionals – especially those who travel. Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for a Moleskine desk calendars in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that prices varied considerably with Brussels having the highest price, New York the lowest and most Asia cities having prices somewhere in the middle.
Price Comparison*

Brussels	€27	US$39.25
Frankfurt	€25	US$36.34
Shanghai	248 Yuan	US$36.32
Bangkok	970 Baht	US$29.24
Singapore	S$41	US$29.33
Kuala Lumpur	99 Ringgit	US$28.89
Rome	€20	US$28.35
Paris	€19	US$27.64
London	16 Pounds	US$25.98
Hong Kong	HK$198	US$25.53
New York	US$21.60	US$21.60

* For 2010. Prices based upon exchange rates as of December 16, 2009.

Dress codes in Indonesia

If you are traveling to Indonesia, you may be wondering how to dress appropriately and how the dress code in Indonesia compares with other countries you have visited. Hence, the Conde Nash Dress Code Guide (which is available on the Conde Nash website and is also downloadable in pdf format) offers a very handy and useful reference guide for how to dress appropriately in a number of countries around the world.

According to the guide, ties are not seen during meetings in Indonesia as modesty is considered important to Indonesian moguls. Instead, they wear batik button-downs with khaki pants and closed shoes. On the other hand, women have ponytails and wear plain dresses with long sleeves, lipstick and blush. However, notable jewelry is left at home. 

On the street, flip-flops are not seen. Instead, wear heel-covering sandals, sneakers or ballet flats paired with Levi's or Lee jeans. In addition, wear a shirt with a collar as a sign of respect.

At parties, men usually wear khakis instead of jeans and sneakers instead of loafers while cotton is not considered formal enough to wear out for a night on the town. Instead, choose synthetics in vibrant prints. Moreover, women need not wear heels as Indonesian men are typically five feet two inches tall and Indonesian women average four feet ten inches in height.

And remember, Indonesians are very modest. Hence, nude bathing at the beach or in rural areas (i.e. seemingly secluded rivers or lakes) is a bad idea.

Mumbai travel related videos

Mumbai is one of the most progressive and modern of India’s city but it is also a place filled with contradictions such as ultra-hip restaurants and clubs sitting along side some of the largest slums in the world. Hence and should you be visiting Mumbai soon, this Geobeats video provides a good overview of what Mumbai is all about:

Some of the finest Victorian architecture in the world can be found in Mumbai and this second Geobeats video gives a good overview of it:

Finally, this last Geobeats video will help visitors and would-be residents a good overview of Mumbai’s different neighborhoods:

Senior Executive (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 161) for Australia

If you are a senior executive employee of a major overseas businesses with significant net assets and a genuine and realistic commitment to participate in the management of a new or existing business in Australia, then you may want to consider the Senior Executive (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 161). This visa is also the first step towards being granted a permanent Business Skills visa (after two years).

In short, the visa is intended for senior executives from overseas who have gained the skills to successfully manage a business in Australia. With this visa, applicants can:

• Establish a new or an existing business in Australia.
• Travel in and out of Australia any number of times for as long as the visa remains valid.
• Bring their family, including their partner and any dependants, with them to Australia. They will have work and study rights.

In that business, applicants must also do at least one of the following:

• Develop business links with international markets.
• Create or maintain employment in Australia.
• Export Australian goods.
• Produce goods or services that would otherwise be imported.
• Introduce new or improved technology.
• Add to commercial activity and competitiveness within sectors of the Australian economy.

Applicants may also need to complete a monitoring survey to keep the Department of Immigration and Citizenship informed about their business activities in Australia. In addition, applicants will need to be under 45 years of age and must pay a non-refundable visa charge when a visa application is lodged. The first installment due is A$3,360 and a second installment of A$3,510 is due for dependents 18 or over with less than functional English.

Price comparison: Christian Dior lady’s wallet

Christian Dior along with its competitors Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Versace and Prada is one of the best known names in luxury retail and fashion. Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for a Christian Dior lady’s wallet in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that prices were actually highest in Asia and lowest in Europe and North America. However, we assume that these prices are for an authentic Christian Dior lady’s wallet.

Price Comparison*

Shanghai	5,500 Yuan	US$805
Jakarta	7.3 Million Rupiahs	US$774
Singapore	S$980	US$703
Bangkok	23,000 Baht	US$693
Kuala Lumpur	2,260 Ringgit	US$664
Hong Kong	HK$5,100	US$658
Brussels	€445	US$656
Rome	€420	US$619
Paris	€400	US$589
London	360 Pounds	US$585
New York	US$574	US$574

* Prices based upon exchange rates as of December 9, 2009.

The world's weirdest travel gadgets

For the discerning traveler, there are more than a few quirky travel products on the market. Hence, Travel+Leisure magazine has recently compiled a list of what they describe to be some the wierdest travel gadgets currently available. These gadgets include:

• Travel Bidet from Skymall.com for US$44.95.
• Metal-Detecting Sandals from Hammacher.com for US$59.95.
• Touchscreen Cell Phone Watch from Hammacher.com for US$199.95.
• Self-Propelled Suitcase from Hammacher.com for US$1,300.
• Pickpocket Alarm from Amazon.com for US$14.99.
• Banana Protector from Lazyboneuk.com for US$6.50.
• Movie-Screen Eyeglasses from Skymall.com for US$179.95.
• Disinfection Scanner from Skymall.com for US$59.99.
• Huge Swiss Army Knife from Hammacher.com for US$1,400.
• Personal Seat Protector from Surefit.net for US$14.99.

As you can see, some of the above products are more useful (the pickpocket alarm) than others (metal-detecting sandals?). However, I tend to agree with the writer who noted at the end of the article that “it’s possible that many of these items will one day be as widespread as the once-oddball toaster, but we wouldn’t bet on it.”

Top 10 travel safety tips for women

Travelers and female travelers in particular always need to be mindful of safety. Hence, a recent post containing safety tips for female travelers by woman road warrior Carol Margolis on SmartWomenTravelers.com is well worth reading. Her top 10 tips (which she goes into much more detail about in her post) include:

1. Always have your rental car key in your hands before heading out to your car.

2. As you are walking to your car, act as if you are talking with someone on your cell phone, even if you are not. 

3. When nearing your hotel late at night, phone ahead and ask for an escort to meet you at the main door.

4. Place maps, car rental agreements, GPS systems and anything else that marks you as a tourist into the car’s glove compartment or your bag so it is not visible.

5. Keep key information in your cell phone.

6. Request room locations that are more secure.

7. Upon entering your room, do not use the double bolt until you have checked that there are no unwanted visitors in your room.

8. Upon entering a hotel elevator, stand near the controls so that you have access to the Emergency button, if needed.

9. Have identification on you at all times.

10. For international travel, dress like a local.

In addition, Carol’s post has also included a helpful list of items for women to keep in their purses or laptop bag that could also save your life when traveling. Hence, her post is well worth reading by any woman who travels on a regular basis.

Global Traveler Magazine’s "GT Tested" reader awards: Best airports

Global Traveler Magazine has recently released the results of their annual "GT Tested" reader awards and to no one’s surprise, many of the top ranked airports were in cities located in Asia:

Best Airport in the World:

1. Seoul Incheon Airport
2. Singapore Changi International Airport
3. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
4. Hong Kong International Airport
5. London Heathrow Airport
6. Kuala Lumpur International Airport
7. Munich Airport
8. Kansai International Airport
9. Centrair Nagoya
10. Zürich Airport

Best Airport Lounges:

1. Delta Air Lines Sky Lounge
2. United Airlines Red Carpet Club
3. American Airlines Admirals Club
4. Continental Presidents Club
5. British Airways Executive Club
6. Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse
7. South African Airways Cycad Lounge
8. Emirates
9. Cathay Pacific Airways Marco Polo Club
10. Asiana Airlines

Best Airport Dining:

1. Denver International Airport
2. Chicago O'Hare International Airport
3. Dubai International Airport
4. Hong Kong International Airport
5. Singapore Changi International Airport
6. Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport
7. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport
8. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
9. Detroit Metro Airport
10. Newark Liberty International Airport

Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents:

1. Korean Air
2. Asiana Airlines
3. Malaysia Airlines
4. Swiss International Airlines
5. Singapore Airlines
6. Lufthansa
7. Cathay Pacific Airways
8. Emirates
9. Etihad Airways
10. Qatar Airways

The survey itself was conducted from January 1, 2009, to August 31, 2009 and used open-ended questionnaires answered by 25,951 respondents (members of the travel industry were barred from participating in the survey).

Global Traveler Magazine’s "GT Tested" reader awards: Best airlines

Global Traveler Magazine has recently released the results of their annual "GT Tested" reader awards and to no one’s surprise, many of the top ranked airlines were based in Asia:

Best Airline in the World:

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Lufthansa
4. British Airways
5. Korean Air
6. Swiss International Airlines
7. Virgin Atlantic
8. United Airlines
9. Qantas
10. Asiana

Best Airline for First Class:

1. Emirates
2. Lufthansa
3. Qantas
4. Etihad Airways
5. British Airways
6. Korean Air
7. Cathay Pacific Airways
8. Singapore Airlines
9. Jet Airways
10. Qatar Airways

Best Airline for Business Class:

1. British Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Korean Air
4. Lufthansa
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Emirates
7. Jet Airways
8. LAN
9. Air Canada
10. United Airlines

Best All-Business-Class Airline:

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Lufthansa
3. Swiss International Airlines
4. British Airways (new)

Best First-Class Seat Design:

1. Swiss International Airlines
2. Etihad Airways
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. United Airlines
5. A siana Airlines
6. Emirates
7. British Airways
8. Qantas
9. Korean Air
10. Singapore Airlines

Best Business-Class Seat Design:

1. Korean Air
2. Swiss International Airlines
3. British Airways
4. Virgin Atlantic
5. Etihad Airways
6. Singapore Airlines
7. Air New Zealand
8. Qantas
9. Asiana Airlines
10. United Airlines

Best Airline for Premium-Economy Class:

1. EVA Air Elite Class
2. British Airways World Traveller Plus
3. All Nippon Airways Premium Economy
4. Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy
5. United Airlines Economy Plus
6. BMI Premium Economy
7. Japan Airlines Premium Economy
8. A ir New Zealand Pacific Premium Economy
9. Scandinavian Airlines Economy Extra
10. OpenSkies Prem+

Best Airline for Onboard Service and Flight Attendants:

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Korean Air
3. Thai Airways
4. Singapore Airlines
5. Jet Airways
6. Etihad Airways
7. Malaysia Airlines
8. Qatar Airways
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Emirates

Best Trans-Pacific Airline:

1. Thai Airways
2. Asiana Airlines
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Korean Air
5. United Airlines
6. Japan Airlines
7. Cathay Pacific Airways
8. All Nippon Airways
9. EVA Air
10. Malaysia Airlines

Best Airline in Australia and New Zealand:

1. Qantas
2. Air Pacific
3. Air Tahiti Nui
4. Air New Zealand
5. V Australia

Best Airline in the South Pacific:

1. Air Pacific
2. Qantas
3. Air Tahiti Nui
4. Air New Zealand
5. V Australia

Best Airline in Southeast Asia (Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Ma laysia, Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines):

1. Malaysia Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Thai Airways
4. Royal Brunei
5. Silk Air
6. Asia Air
7. Philippine Airlines
8. Vietnam Airlines

Best Airline in China:

1. Air China
2. Hainan Airlines
3. China Southern Airlines
4. China Eastern Airlines

Best Airline in Central/ South Asia and India:

1. Air India
2. Jet Airways
3. Kingfisher
4. Biman Bangladesh Airlines
5. PIA

Best Airline in North Asia (excluding China):

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Korean Air
3. All Nippon Airways
4. Japan Airlines
5. EVA Air
6. Cathay Pacific Airways
7. Dragon Air
8. China Airlines

Best Airline to Japan:

1. All Nippon Airways
2. Japan Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Delta Air Lines/Northwest

Best Airline for Security:

1. EL AL Israel Airlines
2. Lufthansa
3. Swiss International Airlines
4. British Airways
5. Air Canada

The survey itself was conducted from January 1, 2009, to August 31, 2009 and used open-ended questionnaires answered by 25,951 respondents (members of the travel industry were barred from participating in the survey).

Price comparison: Philips Imageo Candle Light prices

Philips Imageo Candle Lights offer the same glow and gentle flicker as regular candles but they are a much safer alternative to candles with open flames. Hence, they are ideal for homes, restaurants, hotels or any place where candles are appropriate.

Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for a Philips Imageo Candle Light set in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that prices were highest in Asia and lowest in Europe.

Price Comparison*

Bangkok	2,350 Baht	US$71
Hong Kong	HK$480	US$62
Rome	€40	US$60
Singapore	S$70	US$51
London	29 Pounds	US$48
Frankfurt	€28	US$43
Brussels	€27	US$41
Paris	€24	US$36

* LED rechargeable; Prices based upon exchange rates as of December 2, 2009.

Useful travel videos about the Philippines

Should you be planning a first trip to the Philippines in the near future, Geobeats has produced a couple of short and useful travel videos that are well worth watching before you go. The first video you should watch covers Filipino etiquette that business travelers will find particularly useful:

The second video worth watching covers public transportation in and around Manila but of course, business travelers would probably prefer a taxi or rental car over a Jeepney!

Although English is widely spoken or understood in the Philippines, the third video you should watch covers some basic Tagalog phrases that will definitely impress local Filipinos if you were to make an effort to learn and use them: