Dr. Burrito

Anybody know the phone number for Pyramid Restaurant on sukhumvit 3/1 or anything as good as them?

thanks,

dr. b

We need to sell our house in Watcharapol area. Anybody know any good realtors?

Thanks,

Dr. B

As long as you've got all the paperwork signed sealed etc, and your marriage wasn't a party in the park, then you should be fine. Was it registered with the US Embassy in Bangkok? I know in my case I had to sign some papers and give over some photo copies at the British Embassy I presume it'd be the same with the US.

It was a proper down to the Amphur and watch then use 20 stamps at 3 desks marriage.

However, you brought up something we did not do which was register it at the embassy. Perhaps that is what she is talking about or why I might need to register it at the local courthouse here.

Thanks for the input.

Dr. B

Hi,

My wife and I are in America and she is undergoing a ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS from a tourist visa to a permanent resident with a green card. So far so good as paperwork is being processed, biometrics data taken and now we are waiting on her interview.

She has been talking to one of her friends in Thailand who already has a green card and she is telling her we should get re-married in America. I have tried to patiently explain our marriage in Thailand, almost nine years ago, is as perfectly valid here as it is there according to what I understand at least of USA law. Am I wrong? Should we be getting married again here with new paperwork? Or perhaps her friend is confused and maybe we need to file copies of our paperwork from Thailand at the local courthouse here so it is on record.

Any insight or experience in this matter by anyone?

Thanks,

Dr. B.

I once found a website for a company in Pattaya that provided really posh van rentals, but well, computers, hard drives, etc.... lost it.

Does anybody know of any company, Bangkok or Pattaya, that provides truly posh van rentals with drivers that speak English?

Thanks,

Dr. B

The same reason when they put ice cubes in a 40k bottle of red wine......

Gerd

Good one, Gerd :D

What brought up the discussion anyway? As to organic, the pesticide thing is a pretty real issue, but the yammering the organic crowd does about fertilizer is a bit different. A plant sees the food as food, regardless of the source. The quality of the food is what is critical.

Well developed compost and organic fertilizers that deliver high quality food to the plant yield corresponding results, but end of the day, nitrogen is nitrogen, be it from fertilize or otherwise.

Pesticides, well, they can be nasty business depending on how they are applied, when and to what kind of produce. Thin skinned fruit such as apples, strawberries and the like, tend to soak it in more than something like a tomato. Also, end of the day, pesticides are more about creating produce for sale than for consumption. Who could care less about a few blotches on their fruit if it is from their garden, but in the store, the mass percentage of people still go by looks, whether that translates to taste or not, thus the advent of the commercial chemical industry as it applies to produce.

SO growing organic for home use makes perfect sense. Plant a few extras for the rabbits and you still make out without polluting your colon. But unless you are a true expert at creating organic fertilizer, you might want to use the additional help of the store for that area.

Trying to highjack the competition's thread? Sad.

Both Fuji Super(market) branches have a Japanese restaurant called Jinya. The one in Suk 33/1 should be across from the market, on your right hand side when you come into the soi. You'll want to be fairly well-versed in Japanese food, at least know the names of the dishes, to be on the safe side. Last time I went , the menu had Japanese dish names spelt out in roman alphabets only, no pictures.

Why the hassle? Basically it sells really authentic, informal Japanese food (as opposed to flashy dinner party/banquet type) for a pretty good price. It's a joint that caters to Japanese expats. I frequented the place for several years when I lived in Bangkok, and got an addiction for chirashi sushi there. Caveat: it's been a while since I've been to Jinya, so the info may be inaccurate.

If you want something a little easier to navigate, Ootoya should be very good. They're non-sushi and can be found in several department stores. I've only been to the branches outside of BKK (several times in Tokyo and Taipei), but their food is just wonderful. Very good deep fried stuff like pork cutlets - they just might make you look down on the miserable breadcrumbs of pork chops elsewhere, I know I do. Be warned that most meals are in the 1000-calorie range, even if they don't look that rich; I saw the info on their Japanese website.

Personally I would avoid the Thai-operated chains like Zen or Fuji. They tend to be not so authentic - while this is a difference even Japanese people can live with, I've had Japanese food in Japan and I need stuff to be as close to the real thing as possible. Happy Hunting!

Yikes. Let's forget all the chain restaraunt froth. Ootoya is okay but that is it. Obviously 'Fuji' is a disgrace.

I know a fantastic izakaya style Japanese up around Soi 33 but can't recall its name. It was Japanese only (except me) and was uber -authentic and very delicious. Let me come back to you-- I will make a trip to find out within a couple of weeks. It was also hilariously cheap.

We need to break this subject down into the best...:

kaiten sushi

sushi

izakaya

yakitori

ramen

Western-influence

kaizen

other

...it is the world's tastiet food. Japan has more Michellin stars than France.

mezzoninny is not referring to Fuji Restaurants, rather the FUJI SUPERMARKET, which houses the small Japanese Sushi restaurant inside near the front door. For Bangkok, that sushi is quite good.

The other posts about L.A. though do remind me it is Wonderland for Japanese food, even the expatriate Japanese say this too.

Dr. B

That is it. Thank you very much

Dr. B

Sh!t on a stick, you guys keep going on and on about the beef. I am not a fan of water buffalo or under cured road kill and knotty old Brahma cow muscle anymore than anyone else, but there are other options here.

You do know about Thai-French? I can't find a web link for them, but they are no slouches and it is definitely not stringy, tough as hel_l Brahma meat. If you search this forum, you will find more information on them and even directions to their facility, so you can see it for yourself.

Perhaps they are using Thai-French at T&S, who knows. I went back again after a long absence and the overall experience and food it is still just a touch above tolerable anyway, but that's me.

As to the Thai-French thing, I can say with certainty, I know what I am talking about. As, when I am in Texas, I for one, do not eat Mexican beef or even Iowa Pack. We select two bull calves every year, deprive them of their male pride, then combo feed them on grass & grain. Subsequent to that, we go to a local slaughter house that specializes in butchering and aging beef for local ranchers.

When we sit down to a fine non-vegetarian meal of beef, it was raised out behind the house. So go try Thai-French and expand your horizons. They also have their own butcher shop in the same little complex as Villa near Sukhumvit 33.

Dr. B

Hi All,

Does anybody know the name of the massive condo at the Ekkamai Skytrain station and perhaps a website for it?

Thanks,

Dr. B

Sorry about that. I should have indeed stated my location, which is in fact, Bangkok, so please do pass along the information.

Thanks,

Dr. B

I need to have a driver with a car from time to time to pick up clients and ferry them about. Does anybody have a name and number for anyone reliable with a nice car?

Thanks,

Dr. B

AWD,

Wikipedia confirms your reply. Thanks for the lead.

Dr. B

Hi,

Jut curious if anybody here knows he proper names for the limestone rock formations that jut straight forming those vertical hills. They're hardly big enough to call mountains, but there has to be some proper geological term for them.

Any information from the geologically enlightened is appreciated.

Dr. B

And then you find the answer on Wikipedia about Karst Formations

got to love it

Hi,

Jut curious if anybody here knows he proper names for the limestone rock formations that jut straight forming those vertical hills. They're hardly big enough to call mountains, but there has to be some proper geological term for them.

Any information from the geologically enlightened is appreciated.

Dr. B

What is in Thailand now is Crap-Mex...........and overpriced at that. Two places are offering food that is much better than the others.........one I have tried (Tacos and Salso) and the other I have not tried but believe the reports (Miguels in Chiang Mai).

The rest should just shut their doors and try something else.

I VERY MUCH agree!

I am sure this has been said before but this is about Mexican food not Texican food!! I spenty 3 months in Mexico and loved the food I had many fish taco's I fell in love with tamales and would definitely go to a mexican restauraiunt if it had authentic mexican food.

Totally agree with you, beammeup. Good Mexican food is good Mexican food! Mexican food from Mexico is amazing. Tex-mex and Cal-Mex can be the bomb too if you prepare it right. Let's see if you like my Mexican food...

When does it look like you will open? I agree, good Mexican food is good Mexican food, though I was told I was wrong in my review of a competitor of yours down the road.

I look forward to trying your place.

Dr. Burrito

I know it's a long shot but have you tried the TV channels for a contact? Their soap operas quite often carry brand new Porsches etc. on red plates so must be dealer cars lent out.

Hi and thanks for the idea. It never hurts. I have been doing web searches, finding more used and new dealerships and such, but I go by the old adage, 'Leave no stone unturned,' hence my posting here.

Regards,

Dr. B

Hi,

I need to source a high-end car for a commercial shoot, something that would be a driver's car, so to speak. I know there is a Porsche Dealership down on Poetchburi and the used car import place across the street from it (I assume the Porsche place might have used cars too) but am looking for any other options as well.

I don't personally know of a place that rents late model high end cars, say a Jaguar or something nicer. There must be other used dealerships as well, but its a big town.

Any input would be appreciated.

Dr. B

We stayed at Wanna's Place in one of their small buildings near the back. It was a few months ago, but a great rate, 800 baht a night. That being low season, that may have changed.

The management were great people. It was on the beach and their are also rooms that overlook the beach itself.

Here was the view from our room.

I have been out to the wife's village, to her relatives' village and to other small towns. Sorry, but overall, the utter filth, and I don't mean of the dirt variety, appalls me. People tossing trash on the ground, walking past trash on the ground, playing with trash on the ground.... lovely.

I could live in the countryside on our own piece of property, but as to living with people that treat their home, others' homes and their town live a trashcan, no thanks. Top that off with yeah, the human noise factor, and no thanks. Frankly, I prefer the snakes.

Dr. B

Your video can likely be done, but, yes, there are rules, procedures and government paperwork. You could contact myself, via PM, or any one of several other Film Board Certified producers (of which I am one). Shooting without that opens you up to a lot of issues, but that's not to say it can't be done of course.

Dr. B

Hi Ben,

Thanks for the input. I sent you a PM.

Dr. B

Hi All,

Just a few questions if I may. My wife is in the states with our children for school. She is on a tourist visa and would be required to come back in March of next year. What I am wondering is the wisdom in trying to apply for a green card there or some change of status in her visa to facilitate a quicker issuance of one here in Bangkok when she comes back.

Does anybody have any experience with this or know the best process for doing things that works both legally and time-wise. We just hate for her to be separated from the kids any longer than required, so want to do something that will make that as minimal a time as possible.

We are both pretty committed to the kids being in school there for at least a few years, so we want to do something that will make that a smoother and easier process.

Thanks,

Dr. B