I'm in my late 30s, but I have nothing to do but gym and chasing girls. You have to time it right, go after 2 pm. Let the moring crowd wait in line. Then you just pick up your passport the next day. Take less than an hour.
yes, you have to get it in your home country. Are you planning to stay here long term. If so, then do the dtv, it is 5 years and you can get it while you're here.
I had to go into the jomtien office. Apparently I left the country and I have to go in as my first visit. But it only took me 5 minutes to drop it off and I picked it up an hour later.