So you want to get a driving license, but you are not quite sure how to do it. Well, by the end of this article, you'll know everything you need to know to get your license and start driving.

How to Apply for a Driving License in Thailand

1. Download DLT Smart Queue

You need to downlod the app. This is available both Playstore and Appstore. Create an account then complete the online application form.

2. Get a queue

Choose the nearest LTO office near you. Make sure you have enough time to complete all the necessary requirements. I advise you schedule your  queue during school breaks. The processing time will take up to two days or more. 

3. Prepare the requirements.

• Copy of your passport. Front page and lastest visa.
• Medical Certificate. You can get one in the hospital or small clinics. It cost 150 - 200 baht. 
• Original Residence Certificate. You can request this in the Immigration office. Just bring a visa size photo and 300 - 500 baht fee. 
• It is optional but you can also bring a copy of your license from your country of origin. It must be translated to Thai.
• If you are getting both car and motorbike license, make sure to prepare two copies each documents.

4. Go to your booked schedule.

Follow the procedure. They will require you to stamp yout residence certificate. Then submit your requirements. 

5. Complete the Test.

They will instruct you to do the Physical Fitness Test. It consists of traffic light test; red, green, yellow. Quick Response Test; stop and go. And the Perception Test; how far or near the object. Just make sure to let the staff know you are not Thai so they can slow down the pace of each test. 

6. Complete the Driving course.

You have to watch a 5 hour driving course video. The course is in Thai and it has English subtitle. I suggest you sit in front so you can read the subtitle or just read the book they provided. If you have existing driving license from your country, this course would only take you one hour. 

7. Exam

Yes, exam! But don't worry its easy, though the words and sentences are confusing. Take your time and read all the choices carefully before you answer. It has 50 items and the passing score is 45. If you failed the exam, you can retake but they will only allow one retake per day. There will be one exam per license, so if you get both car and motorbike, you have to take two exams!

8. Driving Test.

You can only proceed to driving test if you pass the exam. 

For car, bring your own car if you have. if you don't have you can rent for 200 - 400 baht. There will be 3 test. If you can't speak or understand Thai, the staff will not translate for you, unless some test taker will volunteer to translate. If there are none, request to be the last, so you have time to observe.

For Motorbike. The test is easy. You only need to mind your signal lights.

9. Payments

Car license costs 205 baht while the motorbike costs 105 baht. You can choose you payment method, Cash or Online transfer. 

10. License Releasing

Wear appropriate clothing. Much better if you wear polo shirt. 

*prices are subject to change...*

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Read and Write Thai Lesson 3 - Writing Practice

 

Practice your writing skill using this PDF writing worksheet...

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Useful Thai Expressions | Part 5

 

You might also want to read: Useful Thai Expressions | Part 4

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Super Useful Expressions, Part 5

*Intermediate Level*

1) ถูกใจไหม (thùuk-cai mǎi)

Do you like it? / Is it to your liking?

2) เก่งมาก (kèng mâak)

Very good! / Nice job! / You’re good at this!

3) สุดยอดเลย (sùt-yɔ̂ɔt ləəy)

It’s awesome/super/cool!

4) ยินดีด้วย (yin-dii dûai)

Congrats! / Congratulations!

5) ชนแก้ว (chon gɛ̂ɛw)

Cheers!

6) ทำใจดีๆ (tham-cai dii-dii wai)

Hang in there! / Keep up your courage. / Hold on! / Cheer up!

7) พักผ่อนเถอะ (phák-phɔ̀ɔn thə̀)

Get some rest.

8) ก็ใช่น่ะสิ INFORMAL (kɔ̂ɔ châi nâ sí)

That’s right! / Yeah, I am! / Exactly! / Of course!

9) ดีแล้ว (dii lɛ́ɛw)

Good. / That’s good. / Good for you.

10) เชิญค่ะ (chəən khâ)

Go ahead. / After you. / Please… / Come on in

11) แป๊บนึง (pɛ́ɛp-nʉng)

Just a moment. / Just a second.

12) ขอโทษค่ะ (kɔ̌ɔ-thôot khâ)

I’m sorry. / Excuse me. / Pardon me.

 

13) สนุกจะตาย (sà-nùk cà-taay)

This is soooo much fun! / It’s a blast!

14) ไง INFORMAL (ngai)

Hey. (Hi) / What’s up?

15) มาดูเร็ว (maa duu rew)

Come and have a look!

16) พูดเล่นนะ (phûut-lêen ná)

I’m joking!

17) ดูนั่นสิ (duu nân sí)

Look at that! / Look!

18) หอมจังเลย (hɔ̌ɔm cang ləəy)

It smells so good!

19) จริงด้วย (cing dûai)

That’s right! / That’s true!

20) ใครๆก็ชอบ... (khrai-khrai kɔ̂ɔ chɔ̂ɔp)

Everyone likes/loves

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How to make ตำข้าวโพด (Tam Khaao Phoot) Corn Salad

Sawatdii khrap! Hello everyone. In this article we are going to make one of my favorite Thai dishes here in the Kingdom. This is very eaasy to make and anyone can do it. You just need the correct tools and the right ingredients, you are good to go.

ตำข้าวโพด Tam Khaao Phoot

Ingredients:

• Boiled corn
• 2 tablespoons of peanut.
• 2 tablespoons of dried shrimp
• 5 - 6 pieces of cherry tomato
• 5 - 6 cloves of small garlic
• 4 - 5 pieces of red chilli
• 4 tablespoons of freshly squeeze lime juice
• 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon of palm sugar
• 2 tablespoon cane syrup
• 1 handful of shredded carrot
• 1 - 2 strings of string beans

Tools and Equipments:

• Mortar and Pestle
• Spoon

Procedure:

1. Crush 1 - 4 pieces of red chili along with 5 - 6 cloves of garlic.

2. Crush 1 string of string beans (cut)

3. Add 4 tablespoons of freshly squeeze lime juice.

4 Add 2 tablespoons of fish sauce.

5. 1 tablespoon palm sugar.

6. 1 tablespoon of cane syrup.

7. Mix all the ingredients by pounding using the pestle. Season according to your taste preference. 

8. Add 1 handful of shredded carrot.

9. Add 1 cob of boiled corn.

10. Add 5 - 6 pieces of cherry tomato.

11. Add 2 tablespoons of peanut.

12. Add 2 tablespoons of dried shrimp.

13. Mix them well using a spoon.

That's all! Easy right? Now enjoy your Tam Khaao Phoot! 

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Useful Thai Expressions | Part 4

 

 You might also want to read: Useful Thai Expressions | Part 3

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Super Useful Expressions, Part 4

*Intermediate Level*

1) ทำง่าย (tham ngâai)

Easy to make!

2) อร่อยจังเลย (à-rɔ̀i cang ləəi)

It’s delicious! / This is great!

3) ม่มีอะไรเหลือ (mâi mii àrai lʉ̌a)

There’s nothing left. / It’s all gone.

4) ต้องอย่างนั้น (tɔ̂ng yàang nán)

Now you’re talking! / That’s it! / That’s what I’m talking about!

5) ไม่มีทาง (mâi mii thaang)

No way!

6) ดูแลตัวเองดีๆนะ (duu-lɛɛ tua-eeng dii-dii ná)

Take good care of yourself. / Please take care.

7) ไม่ชอบขี้หน้าเขา SLANG (mâi chɔ̂ɔp khîi-nâa khǎo)

I can’t stand him! / I hate the sight of him!

8) สวยไม่ใช่เล่น SLANG  (sǔai mâi châi lêen)

She’s really beautiful! / She’s pretty darn good lookin’!

9) คุณต้องการอะไร (khun tɔ̂ng-kaan à-rai)

What do you want? / What do you need?

10) ตัดใจไม่ได้ (tàt-cai mâi-dâi)

I can’t get over her. / I can’t forget her. / I can’t let her go. / I can’t stop thinking about her.

11) ทำไมไม่บอก (tham-mai mâi bɔ̀ɔk)

Why didn’t you tell me?

12) เป็นครั้งแรกในชีวิต (pen khráng-rɛ̂ɛk nai chii-wít)

It’s the first time in my life. / This is the first time (I’ve done this) in my life.

13) จะเข้าห้องน้ำ INFORMAL (cà khâo hɔ̂ng-nám)

I’m gonna go to the bathroom/restroom.

14) เอาไงดี  INFORMAL (ao ngai dii)

Now what? / What should we do now?

Note: ไง (ngai) is short for อย่างไร (yàang-rai)

15) คอยดูนะ (khɔɔi duu ná)

Wait and see! / You’ll see! / You watch…

16) ตื่นแล้วเหรอ (tʉ̀ʉn lɛ́ɛw rə̌ə) 

Oh, you’re awake? / You’re up? / Are you awake?

17) ให้ตายเถอะ INFORMAL (hâi taai tə̀)

For God’s sake! / Damn it! / Bloody hell! / Shit!

18) อย่าเพิ่ง/อย่าเพิ่ง... (yàa phə̂ng / yàa phə̂ng…)

You wanna know, don’t you?

19) อย่ามาขวาง INFORMAL/INSULTING (yàa maa kwǎang)

Get out of my way! / Don’t block my way!

20) ใช้เวลาให้เป็นประโยชน์ (chái wee-laa hâi pen prà-yòot)

Make good use of your time. / Spend your time wisely.

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*Seat Work*

Match column A with column B. Write the letter of the correct answer on your notebook.

Column A                                                                Column B

1. ไม่ชอบขี้หน้าเขา                         a. tàt-cai mâi-dâi

2. ตื่นแล้วเหรอ                                b. khɔɔi duu ná

3. คอยดูนะ                                      c. yàa maa kwǎang

4. คุณต้องการอะไร                         d. hâi taai tə̀

5. จะเข้าห้องน้ำ                               e. khun tɔ̂ng-kaan à-rai

6.  ตัดใจไม่ได้                                   f. mâi chɔ̂ɔp khîi-nâa khǎo

7. ต้องอย่างนั้น                                g. tɔ̂ng yàang nán

8. ให้ตายเถอะ                                 h. pen khráng-rɛ̂ɛk nai chii-wít

9. อย่ามาขวาง                                 i. cà khâo hɔ̂ng-nám

10. เป็นครั้งแรกในชีวิต                    j. tʉ̀ʉn lɛ́ɛw rə̌ə

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Squid Game: "Invitation Card"

 Innocent kids games get deadly in this Korean drama series #1

Netflix #1 show from Monday is a Korean drama with a strange name, "Squid Game" released on September 17, is a nine-episode series about the world where children's games are getting lethal. Squid Game is the first Korean drama to hit number one on Netflix, hitting that milestone just four days after it's premiere. This is bloody and brutal, but addictive at the same time. Here's what you need to know about this popular program.

Warning: There are little spoilers ahead, although I will only explain the basics of the show and not who is gonna live and die.

About Squid Game

Squid game focuses on a group of desperately indebted people in South Korea. At first, they are lured into a deadly children's play, but then many of them decided to return as volunteers realizing that the games might be their only chance to win the money they need to survive. We are talking about big money here, 45 billion South Korean Won, which is equivalent to 38 milliom US dollar. But the chances of survival is quite small. Think of this as the movie "The Hunger Games" only with the competition like red light, green light and marbles.

Should you watch Squid Game?

Without a doubt, the series has a dark and bloody splatery theme. Watching children's games turn into deadly battles is puzzling and not for everyone. But the characters are well-developed and the actions move fast and never goes away for long. The main character, Seong Gihun is a desperate father who is easy to get excited but not perfect. There is a heart breaking episode where his actions result in a heinous death. Other participants  include an elderly man who becomes the group's grandfather, a North Korean defector, a gangster with a snake tattoo on his face and a highly educated man who has been the pride of his hometown but fails short of his potential. Characters are introduced quickly and smoothly and then it begins. Once you've seen an episode, its quite hard not to go back, even if all you want to do is to see who survives the next twisted game.

Squid Game "Invitation Card"

If you already watched the series, you probably aware of this invitation card. Which draws attention to  everyone who sees it. It is a business card with three distinct shapes on it. Circle, Triangle, and Square. If you receive this card and dial the number, you're in the game.

Due to the fact that this is really popular and I fancy to have this invitation card, I tried to replicate it using my limited editing skills. And for some reason, I think I did a great job.

I place it in a document file and resize the image to the standard business card size. (5.08cm x 8.89cm) And it is now ready to print. 

Have fun. 

Here's the link where you can download the image and use it on your own personal interest. I didn't put any watermark whatsoever on the image. If you want to share it to anyone, make sure to give me some proper credit. Enjoy! 

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Useful Thai Expressions | Part 2

 You might also want to read: Useful Thai Expressions | Part 1

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Super Useful Expressions, Part 2

*Intermediate Level*

1) ไม่เข้าใจจริงๆ (mâi-khâo-jai jing-jing)

I don’t understand at all! / I really don’t understand.

2) ไม่เห็นด้วยเลย (mâi hěn-dûay ləəi)

I don’t agree at all. / I disagree!

3) อย่างนี้นี่เอง (yàang-níi nîi eeng)

(Oh,) I see. / Aha. / Oh, I got it. / Oh, that’s how it is.

4) (ก็)แล้วแต่(คุณ) (kɔ̂ɔ) lɛ́ɛw tɛ̀ɛ (khun)

It’s up to you. / Up to you.

5) มันเรื่องอะไรกัน (man rʉ̂ang àrai kan)

What’s going on?! / What’s this all about?!

6) มันไม่ได้เป็นอย่างนั้น (man mâi-dâi pen yàang-nán)

It’s not like that. / That’s not how it is. / That’s not the case. / That’s not true.

7) อะไรทำนองนั้น (à-rai tham-nɔɔng nán)

Something like that. / Something along those lines.

8) คงยังงั้น/คงงั้นมัง/คงยังงั้นมัง/คงงั้นมั้ง INFORMAL

(khong yang-nán / khong ngán mang / khong yang-ngán mang / khong ngán máng)

I guess so. / I think so. / Probably.

9) ไม่มีอะไร (mâi mii à-rai)

It’s nothing. / Nothing. / There is nothing.

10) เอาล่ะ (ao-lâ)

Okay…(let’s start); Alright then…

11) เอาซิ/เอาดิ (ao-sí / ao-dì) INFORMAL

Come on (do it)! / Bring it on! / Sure! / Do it!

12) ไม่เอาน่า (mâi ao nâa)

Come on! (Are you crazy?/really?) / No…!

13) อย่านะ (yàa ná) INFORMAL

Don’t! / Don’t do that! / Please!

14) อย่ามาทำเป็น... (yàa tham pen...) INFORMAL

Don’t (act like)… !

15) อย่าเลย (yàa ləəi)

You’d better not. / Please don’t. / Don’t do it.

16) คิดอะไรของคุณ (khít à-rai khɔ̌ɔng khun) INFORMAL

What were you thinking?! (Are you crazy / Why did you do that?)

17) มีปัญหาอะไร (mii pan-hǎa à-rai)

What’s the problem? / What’s the matter?

18) อยากรู้ใช่ไหม (yàak rúu châi mǎi)

You wanna know, don’t you?

19) ใจคอไม่ดี (jai-khɔɔ mâi-dii)

I have a bad feeling. (something bad will happen)

20) ไม่ต้องห่วงหรอกนะ (mâi-tɔ̂ng hùang rɔ̂ɔk ná)

Don’t worry about it. / There’s no need to worry about it at all.

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Useful Thai Expressions | Part 1

Super Useful Thai Expressions, Part 1

*Intermediate Level*

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1. ถูกเผงเลย - (thùuk phěng ləəi) - Spot on!; Exactly!; You hit the nail on the head!

Note:

- ถูกต้อง(เลย) (thùuk tɔ̂ng; thùuk tɔ̂ng ləəi) - has a similar meaning but is a bit less emphatic.

2. นั่นแหละ - (nân-lɛ̀) - Exactly; That's it/right; There you are then; That's...(or emphasizes preceding part of the sentence).

3. (ก็)นั่นนะสิ - (nân-nâ-sì; kɔ̂ɔ nân-nâ-sì) - Quite right; Yes...; Exactly!; That's just it!

4. จะไปแล้ว - (cà pai lɛ́ɛw) - (I) gotta get going; I'm gonna go now; I gotta run

5. ไปไหน - (pai nǎi) - Where are you going?

6. พูดเล่น - (phûut-lêen) - Just joking; I'm kidding

7. อย่าพูดเล่น - (yàa phûut-lêen) - Don't joke around

8. โอ้โฮ - (ôo-hǒo) - Wow!; Oh!; Gee!; Holy Cow!; Whoa!; (shows suprise in a kind of cute, commical way)

9. ตายแล้ว - (taai-lɛ́ɛw) - Goodness!; Shoot!; Shit!; Oh my!

10. ทุกอย่างจะดีขึ้นเอง - (thúk-yàang cà dii khʉ̂n eeng) - Everything will be okay/work out; It will all work out.

11. อีกแล้วหรือ - (ìik lɛ́ɛw rʉ̌ʉ) - Again?!; It happened again?!; You did it again?!

12. ไม่ใช่ครั้งแรก - (mâi-châi khráng-rɛ̂ɛk) - This/That/It's not the first time.

13. คุณว่าอะไรนะ - (khun wâa àrai ná) - What did you say?

Note:

- คุณพูดว่าอะไรนะ (khun phûut wâa àrai ná) - is a bit longer and less casual way  to say this.

14. ใครว่า... - (khrai wâa…) - Who says...?; Who said...?

15. โธ่เอ๋ย/โธ่เอ๊ย - (thôo-əə̌i/thôo-əə́i) - Oh man!; Come on man!; Oh dear!; Shit!; Damn!; etc.

16. อะไรก็ได้ - (à-rai kɔ̂ɔ dâi) - Anything’s fine.; Whatever you want.; whatever; anything

17. หุบปาก - (hùp-pàak) - Shut up!; Keep quiet!; Shush!; Zip it!

18. บอกแล้วไง(...) - (bɔ̀ɔk lɛ́ɛw ngai…) - I told you…; I told you so.

19. อย่ามาอยุ่ง(กับ) - (yàa maa yûng; yàa maa yûng kàp…) - Don’t mess with (me)!; Leave me alone!; Bug off!; Stay out of it!

20. พูดง่ายแต่ทำยาก - (phûut ngâai tɛ̀ɛ tham yâak) - Easier said than done!; Easy to say but difficult to do

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You might also want to read: Useful Thai Expressions | Part 2

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