claaay

Thanks very much for the information. Siam phone says it's coming soon. I don't know what it says on the other site. I'm not a Motorola guy, just fed up with my battery going dead. The Moto X looks interesting, but I don't know what I'd do with it if I had one, seems like a phone for a more adventurous person than I. Have been reading about the one with the huge battery. I think it's called the Razr Maxx HD. Everybody says battery life is great, that's what I want. Everything else about it is cake, I don't care so much about the bells and whistles or the finer things these top tier machines have to offer. They all seem fantastic compared to my old cracked screen I've been using. I think I want a new phone from a very reputable dealer cause I was born a sucker.

Can anyone tell me if they are available in Bangkok? No one I've asked carries them in Chonburi.

Everybody I know has made the mistake of getting on that hell bus to Pattaya. Myself as well.

Sure wish I'd read this two weeks ago. Wow what an unpleasant experience! Hot, crowded, 3-1/2 hours long ride.

You know I never thought of the array of mini-marts, 7-11's and wotnot. Somebody at work here just mentioned the post offices too.

The only instant coffee I'm reasonably satisfied with is the Moccona Espresso (green label), not the Trio. Used to find it at Tesco but haven't found it at any Tesco for months except packaged with 2 fancy mugs and overpriced. Found it in a little store in Vientiane for *less than half* what it sells for here, bought two large bottles should have bought six. Anybody know where it is being sold these days at a reasonable price?

Checked a few bookstores.Anybody know where I can find one?

Hi everyone. I've lived in Bangkok for about 5 months now, and have taught English for a short while. I've agreed to be transferred to a new school in Chon Buri City in March. I haven't visited yet but will soon to have a look around. In the mean time I'm in information gathering mode on accommodation and quality of living in what appears to be the central part of the city. The area around the school shows names like Grand Chon Lake Ang Garden Village, Nong Ri Driving Range, TMC Hydraulics, Bangkok Technical (School?) of Business Administration and Ban Sawasdee Project 1. If you know this area would you please advise me on available accommodation between THB4000-7000? What do you think about living in this area? I like that it's close to the beach, but would I be correct in assuming it's more expensive towards that direction? I'm an older single guy but I don't care about "interesting" nightlife. However, a small expat community might help to ease my transition. Pool and workout facilities would be great. Lastly, I am feeling the need for at least rudimentary kitchen facilities this time around. Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated (including whether or not this is the best place to be posting my request).

Just an update on this: I found salt substitute at the Tops Market in Esplanade Ratchada.

Wow, this sounds great, thanks. I've been on the keto diet for a few months, it's going well, but I sometimes crave bread.

Do you know where I can get salt substitute?

Oh, yes I've learned about the fish sauce, it's wonderful. I used the half-and-half substitute as a means 1. getting all the potassium I need while 2. reducing the amount of sodium intake. Is there a Thai food that will do that for me? I can't get my potassium levels up to what it needs to be while reducing the amount of food I eat (trying to lose some weight).

Three slices of bacon (or a sausage patty or two), a three egg cheese omelette, quad espresso and a handful of vitamins.

I haven't had much trouble transitioning to mostly Thai food, but I would like advice on finding one thing: salt substitute (potassium chloride). I was using the Morton brand 50/50, but I have also used the 100 percent in the past and mixed it with regular table salt myself. I've checked a few markets around Chatuchak with no luck. Has anyone seen this type of product anywhere around here? I would mail order it if I had to and knew where.

While I'm at it I'll ask about another item, albeit not food related, I've been inquiring about at any halfway likely place I see--catnip oil. Supposed to be ten times more effective than DEET mosquito repellent. If you've an inkling of where this might be obtained, I'd appreciate the reference.

Thank you for the reference.

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I started using the half and half one, Morton's "Lite Salt Mixture" (about 50% sodium chloride, 50% potassium chloride) last year at home, but can't find it here. Has anyone seen this or similar in Bangkok?

I attempted to withdraw 5,000 baht from my Charles Schwab checking account using my debit card at the UOB Bank ATM in the lobby of the Rasa Tower in Chatuchak about 10 days ago. I received no cash and no receipt. I promptly went inside the bank and reported this to an agent at the customer service desk inside the bank. The agent told me I could fill out a report form or try it again. I needed the cash, so I tried it again. Ten minutes later I had 5,000 baht cash and a receipt showing a 5,000 baht withdrawal. I checked my account online later that evening and saw that it showed two withdrawals of 5,000 baht. The next day I returned to the bank to fill out a report and was told they would get back to me in a week. Monday I was informed there was no discrepancy at the ATM. I insisted what I said was true. They suggested I contact my bank. CS informed me they would file a dispute, and would get back to me in two weeks. I called UOB this morning and told them I expect them to examine the film footage, which they agreed to do. I'll check again in a few days for the result.

I'm not sure what else to do. Has anyone else here experienced this problem? Any advice? I'm feeling I won't be using ATMs anymore unless it's an emergency, especially since my debit card was withheld in December. I got it back in 30 minutes because the bank was open. That and now this has really spooked me. I started to think I've been scammed when I told my tale to a friend. He said he knows someone this happened to, and the figure was 20,000 baht. The story continued that he began taking off his clothes there in front of the customer service desk until they gave him back his money. If anyone else has heard this story please let me know--it sounds rather like an urban legend to me.

I booked a minibus trip through my hotel from Sihanoukville to Pattaya in January, paid for one ticket all the way through. I didn't have any hassles with bribes or touts at all at the border, it was just a long walk across as I recall.

As an aside, it was the connection from Cambodian to Thai buses that caused me grief. I had to hang around for hours to wait until the bus filled up before we left. It didn't matter what time the bus was scheduled to leave, they wouldn't go until the bus was full and we were packed in there like sardines. None of us were Thai speakers, the bus driver couldn't speak English and he didn't give a shit about any of us. Most horrible bus trip I've ever experienced. I've thought since probably should have paid for separate trips so would not be held hostage waiting for a particular bus service but I'm not sure, we thought the hotel knew the best way to handle things.

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I have been reading this discussion with great interest. I'll be moving to Thailand in one week to take a TEFL course in Bangkok, then try to find a job. I'm grateful for all these things to think about, and I hope lostdoll has a great experience. I had a look at what was moved over to the teaching side, and it was locked...wonder why?

Thanks to everyone for the excellent comments. It's unanimous that Rutnin is the place to go for medical services, and one dissenter on the quality of the optician available there. I contacted Rutnin, and found that they would require me to have an exam and new prescription before they can have glasses made for me. Fair enough....but since I have a recent prescription from my long time optician, I'm leaning towards taking that to Boonteng Optical and try to get them to fill it.

I didn't think about the hospitals in the area...I know Bangkok is a center of medical tourism, but that didn't occur to me. Contacts won't work for me because I'm cross eyed, among other things. Grinding in that kind of prism seems to be a very tricky thing. I already have the prescription, just need to find a place that is quite rigorous in quality control and has superior customer service.

Hi everyone. I just joined, and posted a questions about eyeglasses a little while ago. I'm about to make my second trip to Thailand in a couple of weeks, and will swing through Cambodia too.

Hi everyone, new member here. This is my first post, and I'm preparing for my second trip to Bangkok in two weeks. I have been searching this forum for information about eyeglasses, but have not found what I'm looking for. I'm not so interested in "cheap"--this seems to be what everyone is interested in. I won't purchase online. I've tried inexpensive eyeglasses many times here in the states, and never had a pair that worked for me due to a complex prescription. I'd like to wear contacts but I cannot. Neither am I a candidate for lasic. Eyeglasses have always been a rather large expense for me, so I would like to try and save some money on a pair or two of eyeglasses by having them made on my next visit to Thailand...but I'm just a little apprehensive about getting something that will work for me. I would greatly appreciate anyone's help in finding the best optician in Bangkok.