Kodan

Hey now - That was an education and that is why the Platinum is more expensive. Kodan - do we have any chance of getting 18K white gold in BKK or does it really even matter in that it will be plated with Rhodium?

Kodan - is not white gold normally plated in Rhodium here as well? Is this not what gives it such a beautiful shine? Any idea how much this might cost (in BKK)?

Scoundrals on the Internet, who knew!

Im sure you can find 18K white gold in BKK ... You could start at MBK....Yeh yeh I know MBK but it will give you a starting point. Stay OUT of the Malls to buy from even here in America. Malls have the highest mark up of ANY jewelery store. They are generally in Corner locations in malls hence they are paying for two store fronts....twice the rent for the same location.

Buying in BKK WILL BE CHEAPER. In America there is a lot of markup on the labor to create the product. In BKK you will pay mostly for the gold less for the labor.

Rhodium plating does two things.

A) makes gold look shiny. Gold is shiny anyway and will NOT tarnish like silver. 18k gold is 75% gold and will scratch easier than 14k gold (58.5%). What makes gold look dull are the fine scratches on the surface that dispurse the light reflected.

Rhodium is hard kinda like Chrome. It protects the gold from these scratches so the ring shines like new longer. Downside to Rhodium is that it wears out and has to be re-plated after a couple 3-5 years. Also if the ring is sixzed after its plated the plating must be redone or you will see where it was sized. Rhodium can occasionally bubble from the heat during sizing also.

My advice is to buy 18k Rhodium plated rings in BKK. (Unless of course you plan on buying from ME !! 5555) Make sure you are getting 18k white gold rings plated NOT yellow gold plated with Rhodium.

Also Impulse had some valid points as well. Hope this helps.

Chok Dee!!

Iand the wife came down from Buriram and stayed in the Me Mee Bungalows in January and would stay again. No 'FREE' wifi though. It right across from Mcdonalds ... close to two 7's and has street food at night across the road. 5 min walk to beach.... about $40 a night ... whats not to like?

Many good posts here.

Good advice Songh. Hope he reads this.

Not exactly Oil Pantings need love too. 555. Love in the heart last longer than love in the eye. I bet she will be a good wife. Plus I bet she will not be as bitchy and impatient as some of our Oil Paintings.

Oil Painting........ Love that term.555

Platinum is $1,680 per oz, while gold is $1,668 per oz. (Source: infomine.com)

Seems like a ring made from either material should have a similar price unless they're counting on people believing platinum is still trading higher than gold (or they're selling you a low carat weight gold alloy). It does trade higher historically, but not so much today.

You may want to relook at platinum if that's what you want.

I am a jeweler and own a shop America. Here is my advice. Buy the rings in BKK. It will be cheaper than buying in US. Even buying online you risk being sold an inferior product by a company trying to advertise a low price.

As to the Platinum vs White gold.... Platinum is close to the same price today but will cost MUCH more than white gold. Why????

1) Platinum is 60% heavier than gold

2) 14kt gold is 58% gold 42% allo. A quality Platinum product is alloyed with 95% Platinum and 5% cobalt.

So to recap you have a higher priced metal which is 60% heavier and a higher % of precious metal per item. This all leads to an exponentially higher price for platinum jewelery.

My advice is to get your white gold in BKK have it Rhodium plated and be happy! Congrats on your marriage!

Yes TRA flies to Buriram Airport. Keep in mind if you are NOT comfortable in SMALL planes you probably shouldnt do it. If I remember right its a 6 seater Navajo TRA flies. I dont have a prob with it but some do. NOK Air also flies but only twice a week.

If you have never been to Buriram keep in mind that the flights go to the Buriram Airport... not to Buriram City. Its about 30klm to the city and you should arrange for travel to City before you get to airport. buiramexpats.com offer a shuttle if schedule ahead.

Also if you take a taxi from BKK it will be about 5000bt unless you talk him down. Takes about 3 hrs to go by taxi.

Good luck ... Have fun in Buriram. Check out Patty's , Coffee Connection and Bamboo Bar if you want farangs to chat with.

So what if the land is owned by the wife well before the marriage and the farang builds the house? This looks like a real can of worms that isnt going to work out well for anyone IF the pursue it....this time.

Thanks for posting your adventure. The first time you are in a new land is always interesting and Im sure we all remember our first time in BKK when we read your story.

Good story. I always found just going to the 4th floor taxi drop off point saves a lot of time and you can get a metered cab. Basically they can say 800 and drive back to Bkk empty of get a metered fare. The trick is just being firm and walking away as soon as they pull the bullsh*t card. There is also a rail link right into the BTS Phaya Thai<maybe an Asoke stop too> station on the Sukumvit line <Sky train closes at 12am> but you can use it for further reference. Nana is actually located in a decent part of town you just have to travel 3 blocks to see it. Nana is nothing compared to Phuket and Pattaya. If you are still in Bkk there is a nice little canal water taxi that runs most of the length of Patchan Buri road for 14baht it goes up to Bang Kapi and down to the Golden mount. The Jim Thompson Silk house is also located on this waterway. Also understand the entrance to the Grand Palace is on the side and do not engage anyone in that area unless you want to end up with 4 new suits and a bunch of cut glass. The "Canal" tour is BS don't waste the baht when public boat transportation is really cheap. That area has some remarkable things all within a short walk. Wat Po, Golden Mount, Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat crazy brass spires that was built for a princess <Name escapes me same area as the Golden mount> Koh San The flower market etc etc.

Yep you can during the day but at 1 .am. there are NO meters. Its 500bt take it or leave it. I argued for the driver to turn on the meter....when he would not I got out and found another taxi.....same story. Even my thai wife couldnt change their minds. But during the day ... yeh just run up to 'departures' and snag a taxi.

So What happened to Ajay? Start a thread and disappear. Oh well .... who's got the beer?

Im glad to see you guys liked my post. Actually Im just relieved Im not alone in my experience 555. Bait and switch I tell you ...bait and switch!!

You guys also know that even though we give this info based on experience for the benifit of the neophyte farang.......It generally goes unheaded when some poor fellow is in the arms of an 'angel' .........Then.............. .......then............... .......and back to A vicious cirlce.

Gotta Love Thailand

SimonD

You poor bastard what have you done to yourself ? You got all backwards! 5555

Im pretty sure thai women realize how much power they have over us Farangs but we dont like to admit it. We are too comfortable letting them allow us to believe we are really in control.

5555

hope that they have discussed this also with their Cambodian counterparts.

As they have the rule one province=one bordercrossing.

I am sure the discussions on ownership of the obligatory casino there were sorted out months ago.

Dont you know it! This could really change Buriram, especially Prak Khonchai. Would also make more traffic coming thru Meuang Buriram. That all it needs ...more traffic. Maybe passport runs will be easier.

Any particular food stall or restaurant that you guys know that is outstanding there ? Thanks.

Just across the tracks past the bank is a great little place if you like 'guay dtiaao', they have a cart by the street. Just past that is a restaurant that sells a good 'khao gai'....keep in mind little or no english at the restaurant. Also if you cross the sky walk I think there is some more street food on your first left as you walk away from NV.

The restaurant at NVH is not bad but definately has farang pricing. Also if you want to know about the local nitelife just get to know one of the guys working the lobby. Its amazing what you can find out for 20bt. ;-)

Ive stayed at Nasa Vegas many times over the last few years. Its a decent hotel but I recomend getting the 1200bt rooms as they are well worth the money. The 800bt rms are a bit dated worn. There is a 7-11 with easy access and a pharmacy a couple blocks away.

1) As to crossing the road .. yes you can do it. There is a stop light right near by that holds up traffic or about 100 meters down the walk is a sky walk over the road.

2)Shopping ... go to Ramkhanhaeng Mall. Cross the sky walk to the same side at the City Line station hail a taxi... about 50bt each way. If you grab a taxi infront of the hotel they will take the long way around and it will be 130bt.

3)Not a lot of local morning fare on the street. If you cross over there are a few places but selection is a little limited. Nasa Vegas does have a restaurant and a breakfast buffet but the buffet is not free.

4) Night life... I think I recall seeing a couple of places on Ramkhanhaeng. Take Ramkhanhaeng under the BTS go about 3-4 blocks.... on your left.

5)Though I have never taken a taxi from Silom or China Town I would expect it to be about 150bt ... how long ....depends on traffic.