ddharder

Most probably a restricted occupation.

Meh, little is truly restricted in Thailand. If I'm buying a house, I'd be more than happy to hand a farang a few thousand baht under the table for an informed and objective opinion. No doubt many others would be as well.

After the dress police have educated the Ruskies perhaps something can be done about the lard asses wearing nut huggers on the beach. What are you guys thinking???????

I was thinking the same thing. People are offended by the male form when everything about Pattaya assaults the senses (not always in a bad way )

I hate when Thai call Russian farangs...

They should call them Thais? It means foriegner.

Sounds to me like there is a business opportunity for a farang who has a background in building inspection. Keep it honest and his/her reputation might offer a decent living in LOS.

And in other news, studies have shown that journalists present misleading headlines and misrepresent study results...

The poll found that 20.7 percent of the respondents smoked and the lowest age at trying their first cigarette was five. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed drank alcohol and the lowest age in starting drinking was four.

Bell curve? Outliers?

The US can never default on a dollar-denominated debt. You may default after they dilute it though.

You're so worried about $3 you start a thread about it? You are worried that someone who probably makes less than that a day got one over on you? Something is seriously wrong with you. This sounds like a trollish comment, so sorry about that. I'm just amazed at the pettiness of the OP.

It is impossible to have such a conversation with a Thai,

Interestingly, I've had many Thais--especially Thai women--tell me that it's virtually impossible to have an intelligent conversation with most farangs. I wonder why that is?

Probably because their English leaves a lot to be desired.

You're on their turf.

Teaching jobs are easy to get if you don't care about the pay and a work permit. If you are lucky enough to have a BA in Education and a certification to teach in your native country then you can talk here all you want and get paid well for it. Teaching here is fun if you don't need the money.

Sounds like a fantastic diversion. Do you live in Bangkok? Where are these doctoral students you speak of?

I was in India a few years ago during an election ban. The restaurant still served alcohol, but just did so in a hush, hush manner and put it all in glasses so no bottles were out in the open.

Papa Joe's. Their pizza is GREAT. By any standard. Located on Rat-U-Thit behind Charoen Optical, about 200 ms from Bangla towards Soinamien. Not much of a venue, but... yummy. Try the Italian sausage w/bell peppers.

Does anyone know if they closed Papa Joe's? I just wandered around the Optical place as well as asked around and just got a few puzzled looks or was told to check the next soi down. I finally gave up and had a shavarma.

I just arrived in Phuket today, so my observations will likely be quite naive. I spent a few months in Goa India a couple of years ago, and after returning, I thought of a plan I might try if I returned.

In Goa the beach is loaded with kids begging for money from western tourists. I'm sure western tourist would appreciate a cleaner beach environment, so I thought of recruiting a few of the beach kids, providing them with signs and a mission to clean the beach for a small, voluntary fee from the tourists. That is, I would provide them with a sign they could carry, or wear around their neck, that promised an hour of beach patrol for a 100 rupee donation. 100 rupees was the price of a very, very cheap lunch for the sunbathers, but it is more than a rice worker makes in a 15 hour day of hard toil. It seems to me to be a win win situations, but for one small (big) problem. What do they do with the trash when they gather it?

Anyway, if I see it here, I might give it a go. Maybe it will catch on and work out its own kinks.

If you were paying 100rupees an hour i can guarantee where that rubbish will go, it will be back on the beach whilst you're tucked up in bed ready to be collected again for another 100 rupees an hour the next day, the following day you will have 50 kids and more litter.....

LOL, a valid criticism, and you're not the first to confront me with it.

But is there nightlife? in the area?

Balance is the key here.

I really do hope these guys release the little bastard in a safe area.

I do not always trust locals when they say one thing. If they say the sky is blue, I have to get my lazy ass off my chair, put my french fries on the table, straighten my wedgie out, pick my teeth, and slowly, hurtingly and grumpily walk towards the window to see if it is indeed blue.

You have my vote for the most endearing message board post (not just this board) of the month. :jap:

I just arrived in Phuket today, so my observations will likely be quite naive. I spent a few months in Goa India a couple of years ago, and after returning, I thought of a plan I might try if I returned.

In Goa the beach is loaded with kids begging for money from western tourists. I'm sure western tourist would appreciate a cleaner beach environment, so I thought of recruiting a few of the beach kids, providing them with signs and a mission to clean the beach for a small, voluntary fee from the tourists. That is, I would provide them with a sign they could carry, or wear around their neck, that promised an hour of beach patrol for a 100 rupee donation. 100 rupees was the price of a very, very cheap lunch for the sunbathers, but it is more than a rice worker makes in a 15 hour day of hard toil. It seems to me to be a win win situations, but for one small (big) problem. What do they do with the trash when they gather it?

Anyway, if I see it here, I might give it a go. Maybe it will catch on and work out its own kinks.

I just arrived in Phuket today and have a hotel a short ways away from Patong Beach. So far I'm impressed by the cleanliness compared to places like India (which I loved, so don't get me wrong) but I feel like I'm stuck in a bit of a tourist trap at this current location.

The beach is not all that impressive and the tourists hoards and prices, well, I'm trying to keep a positive spin, so I'll let you fill in the blanks and move on with one small note, I would like to experience a little bit of "real" Thailand, not just a Hard Rock Cafe-type export, which I see everywhere here in Patong. A little background. I'm an American who has lived in Russia for the past 6 years, as well as several other countries before that, and I love experiencing the real cultures of other countries and getting to know locals as opposed to the tourist versions of them and just other westerners like myself.

I plan on staying in Thailand for a month minimum and perhaps up to two months. I would like to be near a nicer beach, but not so secluded that there is no nightlife available. Is Kata the best alternative?

Any suggestions will be much appreciated and I will follow up on them by visiting so thank you in advance.

If you showed the check-in staff at the airport the printout of your itinerary without pretending or claiming that it was anything else you did not falsify (fake) any document and if the airline staff was happy with that document and gave you your boarding pass that is up to them.

*writing from a holding cell in the Moscow airport after the staff intercepted my message -- just kidding *

Semantics aside, presenting them with an itinerary was a viable option for me. It will depend on how people perceive risk and what country they try this in, but I just mentioned it for anyone who might be facing a similar issue. I'm now happily in Phuket, having traveled here on a one way ticket and a small bit of deception, even if in my mind only, that may or may not have been an issue for airport personnel in Russia.

Anyway, I wish to thank the board once again for all their advice. It led to a smooth border crossing and what looks to be so far as a wonderful time in what has so far presented itself as a wonderful country.

In case anyone is interested, I'm past security inside the Moscow airport. I bought a one-way ticket and prepared fake ticket to Penang 3 weeks from today by printing the preliminary itinerary from Expedia. This worked like a charm. No one blinked or made a single comment regarding a return/ongoing travel ticket. It may not work as smoothly in other countries, but in Russia it worked fine.

What's wrong with fed-exing his visa application to the Moscow RTE/Consulate? Taco, curious if your visa was free or did you have to pay a visa fee?

I'm planning on leaving next week, so I'm not that enthused about waiting on the embassy here. It sounds like Penang will be an interesting side trip anyway, so as long as I can do that I'd rather go that route than deal with Moscow.

The OP states 2 or 3 month trip so do not believe there is any return ticket within 30 days and that could mean not being allowed to board aircraft without some form of onward travel ticket within the 30 days allowed by a visa exempt entry. Once in the area is should not be any issue getting a tourist visa with a short trip out to cover 60+30 more days.

The OP in Post 10 implies that he will indeed be carrying a return ticket within 30 days. Something to do with the charter company's pricing. It sounds weird to me too.

I'm actually not going to bother with the charter, as I found a cheap ticket via Aeroflot. I will also purchase an outgoing ticket to Penang so that I won't have a hassle at the airport.

Spacebo Dima, I agree, it's an issue here in Russia.

Can anyone comment on whether the info FarangBuddha provided is accurate? Will I run into any problems if I go in without a visa and apply for a visa via a trip to Penang or elsewhere?

Thanks

I would just fly in and get your 30 day entry stamp...then a few days before expiry, head on down to Penang (by van or air) and get a tourist visa and return for another 60 days. These will give you the 2-3 months you want.

Of course, The Thai embassy in Moscow and the Peterberg's consulate should be able to issue you a tourist visa, which also gives you the time your require.

I'm wondering if anyone can comment further on FarangBuddha's post. I have contacted the consulate in Petersburg and they cannot give me a visa as I am currently registered in Moscow, 500 kilometers or so away (long story).

In any case, it would be far more convenient for me to just fly to Thailand as FB suggested, then apply for a visa in Penang after arriving there. Would I run into any issues applying for a 30 or 60 day visa in Penang?

Thank you for all your help. You guys are all great.

Sounds like a reasonable plan, but make sure you have a high degree of confidence in the authority of the answer you get. That's because it is usual for people NOT to be allowed to board flights to Thailand if they lack a visa or a flight out of Thailand leaving within 30 days. If they do say yes, you probably should book your flight to Penang (Thai consulate) anyway which will leave before 30 days in Thailand, so if there is any problem on boarding, that would strengthen your case. You could also choose to visit Kuala Lumpur instead if you like big cities, as that's where the Thai embassy Malaysia is located. Also note these kinds of problems are for boarding flights to Thailand, not at Thai entry point at BKK because the immigration officers there rarely check for flights out.

I haven't arranged for travel yet, but I spent a few months in Goa India a couple of years ago. The cheapest flight arrangement in that instance was to book a charter through the travel agency with a return flight a week or two later. I didn't use the return flight and made arrangements to return to Russia a few months later. I'm guessing it will be the same this round. I found a Russian tour to Phuket for $550, which includes a round trip ticket and hotel stay for a few days. Alternatively, I checked direct flights and was quoted over $1000 one way.

IOW, boarding the flight shouldn't be an issue if I understand you correctly.

That would work if they let him on the flight.

I'll probably catch a Russian tour charter flight so my travel agent will advise me before hand if they let me on. I'll call the consul tomorrow and if it's a problem getting a visa here, I'll do as FarangBuddha suggested.

Thanks again everyone!

Thanks, you guys are fast and saved me a lot of trouble had I just chosen to wing it.