ebonykap

Felt it in Bangkok! 15th floor..., it felt more like a slow wave movement than that of a shake.

The funniest part..., I joined friends last night for a get together that last entirely too long and resulted in a nice hangover today. When first I felt it, I hesitated saying anything to my GF who was cooking dinner. Figured she'd call me Ting Tong and say it was my hangover. When I did say something, she came over to the dining room table where I was sitting with notebook, sat down and agreed..., we were definitely wobbling.

Interesting..., and we both agreed on this...., it seemed to last at least 30 seconds..., maybe more.

Bangkok 19th floor....until I read this I was unaware of the quake, but i remember at that time a really weird sensation.

I have a bad cold and had just blown my nose when I felt like I was moving to and fro...thought I had blown too hard and scrambled what little grey matter I have.

Little did I know it was the building moving, not me!

Hope everybody up there is ok, but equally happy I don't have a brain anurism (yet!)

One of my pet hates is foreigners who preface their name, nickname, handle with the word Khun or Ajarn

I have not heard the term "pet peeves" since 2rd grade when my teacher, an grandmotherly type, used it ad nauseum and that was 50 years ago.

When I first started come regularly, a couple decades ago, I always stayed in the same hotel and the Thai's greeted with that name as they knew me and recognized me on site. I liked it. so, if it bothers you, tough shit. Get a life.

When I lived in Germany, I was greeted as Herr, and in Japan as with San after my name.

In Thai culture, if you call yourself, or even write "khun" before your name, it is not correct. It is for other people to call you khun....... or write khun before your name. Probably ok here on the forum, just saying

Sorry, I cant really see a scam in this. Any normal daughter would be very upset if her father was having major financial problems. Crying on Skype....seems perfectly natural to me. UNTIL she actually requests a donation, this should be seen for what it is. Show sympathy and ask her a few questions, such as "what are you going to do?"

The minute she asks you for any amount of money, disappear quick!

I was in New York City's Central Park in the late 70's walking down the West Drive which was closed on a Sunday. There was a guy there sitting on a bench with his wife and young son. I said Hello! although I never stopped walking and he gave a big smile and Hello! back.

The guy was John Lennon with Yoko and a young Sean.

Imagine ...giving peace a chance

"Instant Karma's gonna get you.....gonna knock you off your feet"

They have introduced the hoon law in OZ, so all those bikes would be confiscated. End of story.

Not permanently for a first offence though. Our soft cock politicians watered down what the cops wanted, and it's now multiple offences before a hoon sees his car/bike taken permanently.

Yeah...the hoon law superseded the previous outdated law which was repealed to make way for the introduction of the law that was brought in to adjust the amended law which was suspended....... So many laws, OZ the police state. One of the main reasons why I am here and loving it

At Lat Phrao immigration I"m out before I go in

I did the very same thing last week. Half a page will be enough, I had less than that in my passport. Before she managed to squeeze the stamps in, I think she mentioned something about a temporary extension for one month until my new passport arrived. Not entirely sure though.

I've been waiting for 4 weeks now and no sign of the passport, but their website did mention to allow 6 weeks.

Hmmmm lost 30% of her brain huh? Does she sound like an Aussie (Australian) now? Sorry bad joke I know but I just couldnt resist...

Naaah....you have to lose at least 50% of your brain to qualify for Aussie status

I wouldn't worry too much. My girlfriend is applying for a visa in Bangkok to visit me in Australia for 10 days. The cost? 4800 baht! Australia must come close to being the number one rip off country in the world.

No....Australia is not close to being number one, it's arrived long ago!

I have no issue with any increase in fees, taxes, etc....provided they are justified and used appropriately. Therein lies the problem, not only in Thailand but in every country.

"Here I sit, broken hearted.....paid my 2baht and only farted"

Doing my rain dance now in the hope that it will totally disappear

Yangon and Ho Chi Minh submit forms in the morning, pick up passport afternoon the following day. Have done both in the last 4 months. If you can avoid it, don't use Phnom Penh....they are pains in the a##, and like others have said 4 days is the norm. However, a good agent will streamline the process for a small fee.

Congratulations Bangkok! I feel quite chuffed to be a resident in the best city in the world.

I live here because I love it, and I love it so I live here.

Sure, there's bad elements and frustrations like anywhere. But I believe it's the people who make a city what it is, and I don't think you would find another city on earth the size of bkk which has as much friendliness in abundance.

I learning Thai 2 year already and my English not affect nothing!

I am 58 years old and find learning Thai language very difficult and stressful. I am very tired after lessons and often wind up with a headache after class (and sometimes during class!). But i believe to live in a foreign country you should have some command of their language. I can speak a little, read a litle and write a little, and i intend to continue because of my motivation and desire to communicate with whoever i want and whenever necessary. I also find it enjoyable. This is, of course, only my opinion of which everybody is entitled to.

Having been a taxi driver in Adelaide for a few years before i came to live in LOS, i understand the few times i have been refused a ride at 3 or 4am. I even understand the one time i was taken on the "scenic route" from the airport to my hotel. It happens. Generally, i would say the taxi experience in Bkk is superior to my home town in terms of value, driver knowledge and availability.

About 80% of the taxi drivers in Adelaide are Indian. No problem with that if they knew where to go, could speak English, weren't rude to their customers, didn't cheat on a regular basis, and if their vehicles didn't have a stale curry aroma.

Again, many pessimistic submissions from members - how sad, or perhaps they are all depressed at sitting at home all the time? This could be a great money earner for Thailand, both in direct and indirect income and as one writer observed, Singapore recouped it's costs in infrastructure in one year, thereafter, it is money in the Bank for the Country (and yes, yes, we know all about corruption). These F1 Races are big Corporate events and that means mega bucks being spent by the likes of the Blue Chip Companies, not to mention bringing many people to Thailand for the first time, who will become frequent returners. I also see Red Bull ideally placed to be heavily involved in this with their significant F1 experience. As for preparing the venue, particularly the Member who has been watching the house next door being under construction for 18 month; I built seven houses in six months and the builder was Thai and a cracking job he did too! Mind you, I did write a Contract (in Thai) and invited him to name his completion date, with the proviso, if he over shot the date there would be heavy financial penalties.

I think this is a great idea for Thailand and I am sure they can pull it off and be highly successful, in many ways.

Spot on. The Grand Prix isn't just a car race, it is the car race. I am not a petrol-head, but i will never forget my first Grand Prix. I was fortunate to attend in a corporate facility about 3 metres from the track. Awesome. Adelaide has a population of just over 1,000,000 and the attendance was 200,000 over the four days. However, hotels were fully booked for over a month, Retail and hospitality outlets were booming and it was really one big party. Great for Adelaide, great for the economy and, i believe, great for Bangkok....bring it on!

I was living in Adelaide through its Grand Prix years. It was a hugely successful event, gave the city an international flavour and gave the economy a boost. In its 10 years there it never failed to make money, and was voted best Grand Prix in several of those years. Now in Melbourne, the race fails to make a profit every year, because Melbournians are spoiled for choice and the event is not viewed as "unique", unlike Adelaide. If little old Adelaide can do it, so can Bangkok. However, i am not convinced it would be popular enough to generate a profit.

From a Phuket perspective.

On the surface it does look like tourist numbers are down and it is almost certainly the case for traditional tourists: Brits, Germans, Scandinavians and Australians.

But where the real difference lies is in the low season numbers. Big hotels used to be practically empty from May until October. Now they have much higher occupancy rates due to the influx of Chinese, Koreans, Indians, Russians and people from the Middle East.

There are dozens of tour buses on the roads at the moment with no discernible difference between low and high season. Their expenditure is different. The groups above, especially the Asians, don't spend in bars, they don't eat in local tourist based restaurants but they eat in a group in large places that specifically cater for tour groups, they shop in the souvenir shops that the tour buses take them to, many of their tours are per-paid and arranged by the tour companies so they don't spend at the local tour shops.

The tourists are here, they are just different. And it's a trend that will continue. Not good news for small business owners but great for the large scale operations, many of which are owned by the so-called elite. Yes, as always in Thailand, the rich get richer.

From a Phuket perspective.

On the surface it does look like tourist numbers are down and it is almost certainly the case for traditional tourists: Brits, Germans, Scandinavians and Australians.

But where the real difference lies is in the low season numbers. Big hotels used to be practically empty from May until October. Now they have much higher occupancy rates due to the influx of Chinese, Koreans, Indians, Russians and people from the Middle East.

There are dozens of tour buses on the roads at the moment with no discernible difference between low and high season. Their expenditure is different. The groups above, especially the Asians, don't spend in bars, they don't eat in local tourist based restaurants but they eat in a group in large places that specifically cater for tour groups, they shop in the souvenir shops that the tour buses take them to, many of their tours are per-paid and arranged by the tour companies so they don't spend at the local tour shops.

The tourists are here, they are just different. And it's a trend that will continue. Not good news for small business owners but great for the large scale operations, many of which are owned by the so-called elite. Yes, as always in Thailand, the rich get richer.

One plus one please.

Funny, i can find so many more positives than negatives about Bangkok. That's why i choose to live here. Regarding the motto....it's fine with me. I know many major cities i wouldn't live in, and that includes many in my country (Australia)

Australia is a developed country, but in Adelaide where i come from they regularly have police roadblocks at peak times on major roads for the prime reason of collecting government revenue. Corruption in disguise?