daveh

My LG TV died just out of warranty few days ago. I've read a common problem is blown capacitors. I took it apart and didn't notice any though, so was thinking about taking it in for service. I'm in Pattaya, and I only have a motorbike, so not sure how to get out there and be cost effective.

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I'm here on an ED visa. From this, I hear I qualify to get a Thai driver's license http://www.thaivisa.com/thai-driving-license.html .

 

I want to know is there some kind of online study guide available in English? With the new 90% to pass rule in force, I don't want to chance having to give up two days to get my license.

Thanks.

To answer my own question, zero wait time for my check in, security, or immigration. This was non-curfew hours.

Does anyone know how the current wait times at BKK have been affected by the coup? I have a flight out tomorrow afternoon (non-curfew hours) and was wondering if I should arrive much earlier than I normally do for any extra checking that might be going on. Also, I will be returning soon and suspect there might be extra checks while coming back as well. Anyone have any first hand recent experience?

Was Sukhumvit Soi 11 open last night? Climax and the little van bars?

I'm not sure how Western Union works from Thailand to the UK, but when sending money from the US, you send it to a person, and a city, not a specific bank or account. When creating the transfer they will give you a reference number. Then the person picking up the money needs to show ID with exact matching name, and must provide the reference number and know the exact amount and who sent it.

Western Union is going down the toilet in the US as competitors are offering the same service at a much cheaper price.

A Laotian friend of mine was asking how difficult it would be for her to get a work permit in Thailand. I haven't the slightest idea what rules apply to Laotian.

Does anyone have a link to a good run down on what is required for a Laotian to get a visa and work permit.

Thanks.

Not sure if this is the correct forum, but I figure woodworking is a "hobby" so should be okay.

Are there any woodworkers here? I'm curious what the cost of wood is in Thailand.

I was thinking of making a cutting board back here in the States. I was surprised to find the cost of the variety of hardwoods I planned to use to make a 19"x14" board will top $45 in California.

What is the cost of such woods as cherry, walnut, oak, maple, and teak?

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I was not aware of the option to pay at the bank or 7-11 while in Thailand. Now, I'm not so worried about it.

Thanks again.

I'm planning a trip to Thailand soon. Normally, I book my Thai domestic flights (Air Asia, Bangkok Air, or Nok Air) well in advance on the internet. However, this trip I'm uncertain of my exact domestic travel dates and destinations.

It's been many years since I've purchased a "last minute" ticket from a travel agency in Bangkok. I'm curious what the price differential is between purchasing a ticket on the internet in advance or last minute, compared to from a travel agency last minute.

The reason I think about purchasing from an agent is I'm concerned about using my credit card in an internet cafe.

Thanks in advance for any advice and input.

In March, my wife and I were driving the back roads of Rayong at night. Around Ban Pae, we passed what looked to be a shadow puppet show on the side of the road. It was a mobile show and there were only a few people sitting watching it. Basically, it was a screen that had a back light, and behind the screen the performers used puppets to cast shadows onto the screen.

I'd not seen this in my many visits to the kingdom. If we were not in such a hurry, I would have stopped to take a look.

Has anyone watched one of these?

I'm sure they now have a rule that you cannot pull people over under BTS stations.

This happens outside of Thailand as well. When I was a kid, I had a job delivering pizzas. One day a new guy was about to go on his first run. Pizza came out of the oven, into the box, sliced, then under his arm sideways. Probably the shortest lived pizza ever.

I think this is one of the things holding Google+ back. They have so many people who have their profiles suspended because their names don't sound real.

I have set up a public Google Map so that anyone who spots this early activity can mark it and help warn others. If you don't know how to add placemarks in Google Maps just post your observation here and I'll add it. The more you describe the better - precise location (i.e. where on Beach road), how bad (complete all-out water-war or just a kid with a toy-shooter).

Link to Pattaya Songkran 2013 Activity Map (Google Maps)

Thanks for the map. I'm putting on my phone now. Here's the QR Code for it.

By the way, they were in front of Mike's heading towards walking street.

I came to Pattaya to experience Songkran here. However, I suspect I will regret it. I plan to leave on the 16th, so hopefully I can make it out okay.

However, today, April 11, I've already seen idiots (male and female) on Beach road spraying people around 9:30pm. It sounded like they had eastern European accents when they yelled "Songkran" then spraying people. They got an ear full from some Russians that were not amused. They also got a somewhat full can thrown at them, but it didn't make contact.

Does anyone have any idea how difficult it will be to take an early afternoon taxi from Soi 13 on the 16th?

I read on TV that there are some pet shops out near Sukhumvit on Thepprasit Road. As I've never tried to use any form of public transportation in that direction, can anyone advise me on how to get there? I'm on soi 13 near second road.

Yes, everyone should give up driving their cars just so you can keeping driving yours. OR, you could quit complaining and move somewhere where there is less people and cars.

This reminds me of the saying, "You are not stuck in traffic, you ARE traffic."

I had those fish in a small pond I had in my backyard in California as well. Never fed them a thing and they lasted years. Finally, I drained the pond. My wife being Thai, she made me catch all the fish first and move them to some other place so they would not die.

possum1931, on 16 Mar 2013 - 20:34, said:

Again, this is not Thai bashing, if you come across an accident when you are driving or riding a motorbike, no matter whether it's involving women or children, you ignore it and get away, because if you become involved, they will most likely try and get money from you, or even blame you for causing it. You are Farang, you have plenty of money. That's the way the Thais see it.

Last week, while riding a motorbike in Phuket with my 22 year old Thai niece. We passed a Thai guy going the other direction on his mobile. Shortly thereafter, we heard a clang. I stopped the motorbike and looked back. We saw that he had driven off the road and a curve in the road, and hit the guard rail.

My first instinct was to go over to see if he was okay, but then I thought more about it. Worried that somehow I could be blamed, I thought a little more. Since I had my niece with me and she was an adult, I figured if I helped him and he blamed me to the cops, then my niece could be a witness that we had nothing to do with the accident. Just when I was about to U-turn, he got up and my niece told me I shouldn't help because of what we've all heard.

Since he was up and limping to his bike, and had a mobile phone, I took her advice went on our way.

I have no problem giving up my seat for the elderly or a pregnant woman, however, I allow the younger children to stand while I sit.

I remember one time where a woman with two kids and several bags of groceries was taking up a bunch of seats on a bus. It looked like she was having a tough time just trying to keep her kids calm. However, she pulled one of her kids onto her lap and the groceries in hand and on her other child's lap so I could have a seat. I felt guilty, but I did take the seat offered to me.

This brings up a pet peeve of mine. One crowded train/bus, if there is a seat available in front of you, sit in it, don't stand in front of it. If you are standing in front of it, you are effectively taking up two spaces since no one else can elbow their way through the crowd to sit at the seat.

I didn't know the make mini-SIM with cut out micro-SIMs. That's a really good idea.

Usually, I like to just rush out of the airport. After waiting at immigration, then for my baggage, I'm ready to start my vacation.

I'll try to remember to stop and get my card first instead of my usual visit to 7-11 after checking into my hotel.

Does it cost any more in the airport versus 7-11? I remember once when I flew into Chiang Mai, they were handing out SIM cards for free.

Don't remember which carrier I prefer, DTAC or AIS. I'll have to research their 3g (4g in Thailand yet?) coverage maps.

I'll be bringing a Nexus 4 into Thailand during my next trip. It takes a micro-SIM. During past trips, I just purchase a SIM card in 7-11. I don't ever recall them asking if I wanted a micro SIM or not.

Does 7-11 sell them? If not, I highly suspect any mobile shop will either sell them or sell the full size and have a trimmer available.