diogenes

I have just noticed that the offical Thia Visa website says that since I have traveled through Panama I need to have the Yellow Fever vaccine.

I believe it takes about 2 weeks to have this vaccine kick in and I live in a Caribbean country that does not offer such shots.

My only hope is to find a clinic while I am in London on my layover next week. But that would not solve the time requirement issue for the vaccine.

Has anyone else had any experience with Thai Immigration/Customs on having the correct shots?

And what are the odds of them picking out the Panama stamp in my passport with 15 pages full of stamps? Or if I get the shot in London, that they look at the date?

I would hate to get kicked out of Thailand for a 72 hour part in Panama City. But is was a good party and I highly recommend the country for anyone who has not been there!

Thanks.

If you have a computer and want to watch or record television, i highly recommend the El Gato EyeTV approach. (This is for the Mac, but I imagine you DOS, I mean Windows, folks have something similar.)

www.elgato.com

For a couple hundred bucks, you can watch and/or record any program. You can also record any show in the future via the internet interface.

Last month i recorded over 50 movies from TCM. The are in MPG format and less than a GB per movie.

They even have a new wireless system that you can broadcast to your laptops. I can just access my movie library or cable connection on my my main hard drive while I move about the house.

Tivo is too expensive if you have a computer with a large enough hard drive!

Happy viewing.

So many issues for us non-tech types to understand, this is all more than I need or want to know.

I just want the most US channels I can get and if it costs me some serious baht for a system and for the monthly subscription, so be it.

But I want to pay for what I see, so I do not want a cloned card system or decrypters!!!

I personally find these to be forms of theft from legitimate businesses and their investors. Business who must pass on these costs to their paying customers and are not able to grow, provide better services and add more channels. I dont buy this "air is free" justification.

This personal morality does clash with how I feel about the legal UCB monopoly in Thailand. If they don't offer the services, I see that as their problem and poor business management. So I have no problem investing in a system to acquire the channels that I want from alternative sources. (Yes, I am a free market capitalist and do not believe there is any economic justification for a broadcasting monopoly.)

Does anyone know of a legitimate sort of consultant/biz who can be trusted to do the right thing? I don't want to know about this stuff, i just want to hire someone professional to get it done. All I want to know how much, how many channels and how soon?

Mostly, I am looking for things like the TCM and AMC movie channels. (I am an old movie fanatic.) What about picking up the US networks off any of the birds?

Lastly, I can not handle the biased propaganda promoted on CNN "Clinton News Network", does anyone know of a service that offers alternatives like Fox News or MSNBC?

A global verion of DirectTV would be ideal.

Good karma and happy viewing to all.

It has always amazes me, but I would rather stay in a hotel with pets than small children!!!

A heck of a lot less noice and damage.

Though many places let children stay for free and you can not even pay extra for pets.

Of course - i would also pay extra for no children. Nothing ruins a vacation than other peoples screaming kids.

Thanks so much.

She is a beautiful golden retriver, small in size but has a big heart and loves everyone.

i would be very happy to provide a deposit, especially since i am confidant nothing would happen.

I currently live in the Caribbean where the locals are deathly afraid of dogs. It is very amusing to see them avoid her at all costs when all she wants to do is be friendly. Of course most of the white expats do have large dog just to repel the locals - who are most likely in search of a new television.

Thanks again.

Any recommendations of a place to stay where I can bring an extremely well mannered K9?

Thanks.

I just booked the Thai Air flight to Phuket from BKK.

I paid the extra $20 for the business class ticket.

Did i just get ripped off or is it worth the money for someone who hates to fly?

Greetings,

I am bring in my Golden in later this month and all the best hotels are major leauge dog unfriendly. No Peninsula, no Sukothai, no Oriental, no Four Seasons, no...well you get the idea.

I did find one hotel but it does not really meet the concept of splurging to celebrate my arrival in Thailand.

So either i immediately fly to Phuket and skip a few days in BKK, or find a place for her to crash.

I am a little concenred because she will have spent over 30 hours in a create and she has never been created before. Not sure I want her to spend time with a stanger because she has never been in a kennel before either. (Yes - she is major leauge spoiled.)

So can you tell me more about your recommendation and provide an email address if you have one?

Many thanks.

PS. Does anyone know if i can go see her during the 11 hour layover in London?

For all my new Dharma friends in Thailand, here is a little info.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be in Miami next month, I think the dates are September 19th to the 22nd.

My old center in Miami is helping with many of the events and teachings.

If anyone is interested in making the trek to Florida, I would be happy to try to assist you with things like finding a place to stay and making sure you can find space for the teachings.

Unfortunately, I am still not sure if my move to Thailand will prevent me from returning for this special event. (I am in the Caribbean.)

I look forward to joining you all shortly in the frustrations of Thai visa issues. Maybe we can organize a monthly expat Buddhist border run? Bringing a monk along might help simplify the visa issues at the border.

Peace and good karma.

Does the lack of response to this question indicate a business opportunity?

I am coming to Thailand (from the Caribbean) to study the path of the Buddha and experience the culture of a Buddhist country.

The Thai government certainly does not make it a simple process and I will be doing the tourist visa thing to get the ball rolling. I hope once I find a teacher that I can simplify the endless visa issues.

For the serious student I would recommend looking into Nepal, they seem to be much more Buddha friendly. (Just no scuba diving or golf.)

I also hope to visit teachers in other countries like Vietnam and Japan for the more Zen approach. Once I figure out which school I relate to the most - I will try to make the full time move.

I wish you much success and karma. I am very interested in hearing of your experience since I have also given it some consideration.

Peace.

I would prefer a glass of vino over a pint anytime, so where is the best wine list without having to hang out in a resort?

Some apps, tapas or cheeses to go with it would also be nice.

Am I correct in assuming the wines are mostly Aussie and French?

How are the costs of wines when compared to the rest of the world?

Cheers...

Ok, soccer, cheap beer, bar girls and pool are one thing..but where to go for a nice wine list, a good app and watching the world pass bye in peace?

To some of us watching drunken horney westerners hitting on BG's is boring. If not depressing.

Also any advice on local hangouts for divers?

Next round is on me...

I have more than I need in the way of CPU power, but what is the tariff to bring it all in???

After shipping and duties I am trying to calculate if it is easier just to buy new there? Or am i looking for an excuse to upgrade????

Why any country would tax computers which only makes the country more competitive and educated is beyond me???

I am hoping to move to Thailand soon and have questions as to my permit options?

I have a biz in the US that I can manage via the internet. I have been in the Caribbean for several years living without a work permit since none of the business comes from or takes place here. Which is the difference for me between a $7,000 work permit and a $1,000 residency permit.

Admittedly, the argument can be made both ways as to whether I am conducting business or not?

So would the Thai government think I am working? They would never know I am conducting business though at some point i might like to hire an assistant and that might put me on their radar screen.

Would it be wise to just incorporate though the capital requirements would really not make it a economically wise decision for me. I am not that large of a business and do not have that sort of scratch sitting around.

I am also a PADI divemaster. So would it be possible to get a work permit for that activity if I can find a part time gig? I will not have the time or energy to do it full time.

Lastly, the main reason for my moving to Thailand is to further study Buddhism. Are there any permit options for that?

So if I do not go with (or can't get) a work permit am I stuck running for the border on a regular basis?

I would always prefer the simplest approach with the least government involvement possible, but I want to keep it legal.

Do any of these permit options effect brining in my personal effects?

Wishing everyone a wonderful day and many thanks for your advise and recommendations.

PS. This is a wonderful website any much appreciations to the creators.

Zebra and I have the same ideas: Thailand, scuba diving and Macintosh computers.

I am moving to Thailand in a few months and I am wondering if it is better to bring my Mac's with me or just buy a new once i get there???

I know the FedEx shipping is a couple hundred, but are there any duties to deal with on used computers? And will I get any hard time bringing in things like hard drives and accessories in my luggage?

I have the Duel G4 with a 20" but would love the G5 and the 23" display.

Also how do the costs compare to the US?

Thanks and see you soon.