kuwaittemp

This free service brought to you by the folks that now charge $85.00 for previously free passport pages. It is good to see where our money is going.

Just to let you know, and this may not be in the appropriate forum because I can not seem to gain access, Sathorn soi 1, around the area of Pantip Court, has vehicles which moved in with a big supply of tires (to burn??).

Soi Si Bam Phern (Tajai, Lido, Kenny's guest house seem to be out of power as of 1930 16 May 2010

Happy government holidays!!!!!

Got a very strange message on my IPTV screen. "Henceforth, for some reason, we will suspend services." A few days later (10 March), I get a call for an appointment for True to come and take out my equipment. The message is essentially repeated to me. I asked about theword "suspended", saying that it indicated a resumption of some sort of service. The response... "I don't know. I also don't know why we are doing this."

A cryptic message. And I would be interested to know if anyone knows the real reason for this. A business decision??

The price was low. And I will miss Euro News. (But not Fox)

The army has not learned it lessons. You cannot win an uprising. Neither in the South, neither in Bangkok, neither in the North or North East. The army is big and slow, therefore the protestors can move quickly and strike wherever they want. if they want to disrupt the daily live they can do so. The army clear one crossing they take 4 crossings, when the army moves in, they move out, regroup and take new targets, huge armies have lost that way. There is not other solution than striking a deal which is acceptable for each and everyone.

However, at last a show of strength from a government supposed to be in place for the people. Do you want wishy washy non action or should these people be shown that there IS a law. Seems we complain about No action then complain about the action when it arrives and as to how we could all 'do a better job" We are guests...... observe by all means but armchair pontificators are no help!

What a logical and good response. Seems it doesn't need to be said, but obviously...........

I certainly agree with Nisa. So much so that I will be going back there in late Feb when I return to Bangkok. Not only did I have good learning experiences a few years ago when they were in the YWCA building, I now live only a couple of blocks away from their school.

I also recommend Thong Lor Language School. Located on Sukhumvit, you can literally descend the skytrain stairs and step into the school. One of my teachers there had a couple of MA(s), one of them in language acquisition. All three of my teachers there were good, all adapted texts a bit to what I wanted to do, and all demanded homework.

Thong Lor pricing is the same as Nisa.

A Thai degree has value inside Thailand. Full stop. It might impress someone in another country, but only until that person does some investigation and makes some comparisons.

Even inside Thailand, there is a heirarchy related to what is considered a "good" university. The heirarchy depends in part on the fame/popularity of its alumni. Employment can be based on the university attended. For this reason, Assumpton University is considered "good" if one is going into business. Prior to its university status, Assumption was primarily a business school.

Sooo..... If you want to get a degree in Thailand, plan to stay in Thailand. And even then, be sure you go to the "right" university.

The Thong Lor school was quite good for me. I did three hours per day three times a week (I later cut that back to twice a week--assimilation takes time). My instruction was one-on-one and I had a different teacher for each of the three hours. My teachers were very professional and, although they made it fun, when it was time to work (such as with writing) they did not hesitate to be demanding. There was also homework; not doing it would give rise to teacher comments guaranteed to produce guilt feelings on the part of any student.

My objective was to pass the P6 exam and I was making very good progress until a financially interesting opportunity came up in Kuwait.

I will return to Bangkok in Feb and review/resume study with Nisa language school. They are also quite good and are located in the Sathorn area, quite a bit closer to my home.

As to booking ahead, it is not necessary. I could have started at Thonglor on the day I registered. I prefer the one-on-one instruction because there is a bit of inherent flexibility. If something interfered with my schedule, the school allowed me to reschedule missed lessons with no penalty. There were no classmate schedules to consider.

What a good idea!!! I'd even leave Kuwait for this!!!

And then Nephron will have to clear up the "Thai language school of choice". Where is it? Which one is it??

For example, in the Sathorn area near a very good language school, above average accomodations can be had for around 6000 B per month-- and there are some short term serviced apartment arrangements available.

Best thing.... as mentioned above, repost with some specifics fo what you want closer to the date of your anticipated presence in Bangkok.

While there may have been several problems in this social transaction, there is a good chance gender wasn't one of them.

(refer to my username) But then...... maybe I have been here too long.

As an unregistered member of the "newbie" clique..

This has been an interesting thread to lurk through (nope, didn't mean "look"). As my user name implies, I am temporarily away from LOS (almost 2 years), and I like using TV to keep up on the ambiance (borrowed the word from the ajarn site) of Thailand.

It seems there have been a few TV Christmas parties in my absence. I want to be present for the next one and meet some of the clique(ish) personalities.

I should send TV site a present (it hasn't been naughty), but with the post as it is from here, it would be next Christmas before y'all got it.

A good site, and much appreciated for good information and updates for those of us who will soon return to LOS.

[

At least Thai students can now learn that “Meiya Noi” is not “miner wife” (as some white skin English teachers teach them) but "mistress"!

And why in the #$#%^ are the white skinned types teaching Thai students the meaning of Thai expressions?????

(Not that a reply is really needed--- this is just one of those ridiculous things that happens and causes me to react quickly)

And another periodic scam......................

Any type of "health check". To counter this, I carry an old (definitely outdated) yellow immunization record (if I lose it, I don't care). Noone has figured out exactly what to do with it or how to read it.............. so I haven't had to pay

Also (don't laugh too hard here) you can go directly to the irs site (www.irs.gov) then click on their "free filing" option. This will take you to a list of companies, many of which may be familiar to you, which have signed an agreement with the IRS to do federal returns for free. Pick the company and click.

Be careful when accessing these companies to go through the IRS link. I once used one, then went back to that company's website a few days later without going through the IRS link. There were attempts to get me to pay for information.

I have successfully used this service for 2 years. You do have to put up with annoying pop-ups as the companies advertise their premium add-ons or try to get you to file a state return (which is not free). But after ignoring all that, I have been able to file for free, electronically submit the forms without paper backup, and get direct deposit of my refund in my US bank account.

If you are doing a Bangkok Middle East run, Emirates is it. Good service during the flight (as mentioned by DJ Pat).

Both in Bangkok and Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, the service at the Emirates offices is also good. Despite what the Emirates website says (2 business days prior to the flight you mut pick up and pay for your ticket), in fact you can pick up and pay for a ticket up to about four hours prior to the flight. And that is when paying in cash.

On one of my recent Hong Kong to Bangkok runs Emirates beat Singapore Airlines as far as service.

As far as the five hour Dubai layover--- depends on your situation. When I am leaving the Middle East I use the Dubai airport bars to ease back into a comatose state.

12 months ago I shipped personal goods from Saudi Arabia to my Bangkok address. I had a promise of employment (which happened) and the work permit was "in processing". My personal goods arrived in Bangkok about two weeks after I did. I was called and told to appear at an address (presumably the transport company) with my work permit within 4 days so my goods could be cleared through customs, otherwise storage charges would begin. There was no way I was going to get a work permit in 4 days.

It was cleared up for 4000B. Total weight was 50kg (a PC and personal stuff).

Because I may soon face a similar situation from Kuwait to Bangkok, I have been looking for alternatives. The best offered so far was to contact the air carrier I planned to use and ask for the rates for unaccompanied baggage, being careful to label the baggage as personal use items. I'll probably be trying that within the next month.

Just a thought...

Pams.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As was noted earlier, she takes (and took) care of her employees............ as well as those of us (farang) regulars who got a bit overexuberant in our celebrations. I always stop to buy her a drink when I am passing through.

A lot of nostalgia for the "old" Thermae. I never made it past 6:00 AM (late 80s) then, as mentioned, on to the Honey or, if the party had to go on, the Malaysia.... back in the time when there were actual ladies. Seems some of the Thermae leftovers at that hour lived in the area anyway.

Seems like there might be material for an "old Themae" vets thread.

And then there was the guy who got carried away and told me about his covert missions with the (American) Special Services.

I offered to sell him a pamphlet about the proper terminology. Can't make up the great stories 'nless you know the words. (There might be a moneymaking idea here----- teaching wannabes credibility)

Hey guys,

i am trying to get into my Yahoo email...But its not working...and also trying using my WAP Phone Yahoo email...THe same thing not working....

Is the server currently down ????

Anyone have the same problem????Its been for the past 1 hour im trying

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just to show you it might be yahoo (and not Thailand).. we have been having this problem in Kuwait for 20-30 minutes everyday. Thought it might be server maintenance or something.

Matt,

This number is a mobile in Bangkok. He has some clients that he travels to see.

Because he is a friend of mine, I will not tell you about his impressive credentials. He can do that.

Name: Doug Hood

09 924 2071

From one of the world's larger sandtraps...................

peeraya thai language school

silom 64 building

7th floor

64 silom road

saladaeng skytrain station

022379252

019124967

this is a (very) small operation with just two

good, fun, teachers , who will make you talk thai.

reading and writing too and they can prepare you for the p6 exam if that is your goal.

as with all the schools , the speed at which you advance is down to the amount of practice / homework you can discipline yourself to do.

Apologies to taxexile and all as I use this particular area to learn how to post replies.

I am quite interested in the topic, hence the attempts.

As I surfed these forums in previous days, I noticed this school mentioned a few times. I like the description posted here (small school, but with good, fun teachers). I will also be looking at this school as a result of reading this post. Although farther from my home, the skytrain and underground make the trip painless.

peeraya thai language school

silom 64 building

7th floor

64 silom road

saladaeng skytrain station

022379252

019124967

this is a (very) small operation with just two

good, fun, teachers , who will make you talk thai.

reading and writing too and they can prepare you for the p6 exam if that is your goal.

as with all the schools , the speed at which you advance is down to the amount of practice / homework you can discipline yourself to do.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is personal experience/opinion, however.........

I am one of those who studies seriously for a while and then succumbs to the lure of "big" money in other areas. This results in interruption of studies and having to review later to get back to square one. (not the one in Washington Square).

Both in the early 90s and in the present day, I have found Nisa to be excellent. When I get out of my current situation in Kuwait, I will return to them.

Another I consider good is the Thong Lor school (at the Thong Lor BTS stop). I was reading above "P2" level and beginning to write essays after 80 hours. My goal was, and is, the P6 exam.

I will soon return to Nisa for one of the reasons that is somewhat unique to Bangkok. It is close to my home. Minimizing my struggle with daily traffic leaves me more time to study.

Also a new guy. Joined for all the great information. As my username would suggest, currently in Kuwait. Definitely a temporary thing and am looking forward to getting back to civilization (that would be LOS). Having said that, always willing to answer any questions for those thinking about coming out this way to make their fortune. Said fortune to be carried back to LOS and spent with wild abandon.