MrBugsy

I used to always get mad when people would stare. Never to the point where I would say anything rude to them. But it would really piss me off. I found it much easier and more fun to play along. If I see someone staring at me or at both of us if I'm with my wife I usually smile and stare back and/or wave hi at them. Most of the time it makes them stop and get a smile out of them. Sometimes if they keep staring I'll just ask them "mai kuey hen khon lor la krub?". MOST of the time they get real shy and stop staring.

Another good one is when you notice someone staring walk past them without looking at them and right as you approach them look into their eyes as you say "ja eh!!!" like you are talking to a baby. They will sure as shit not be expecting that. It's made for some funny moments at least for me.

Thanks for all the replies. I decided to keep my bike lock in hand while I ride because it's more than just the 7-11 dogs that try to attack. The route I take has about 3 other areas where I have to be careful. The bike lock is a nice piece of cable with a metal piece on the end. It's worked great so far. I haven't had to hit any dogs yet which is nice but I came pretty close with 1 in particular. I know he is just being territorial. Luckily I hear him barking when I get close and when he runs to me I get off my bike and put it between him and myself. I have the cable in hand and swing towards him and that sends him off. I stand my ground as he tries to come back and move towards him and his space. Eventually he backs off completely and then I get back on the bike and continue on my way. I do the same thing almost everyday that the dog sees me but it seems he is backing away sooner and with more ease each time. I'm sure the locals get a good laugh at it but I don't care much. I like the idea of carrying a squirt gun but it might be hard to carry while I ride.

First I would like to say I LOVE dogs. I have a few of my own and look after and care for them well. Not so much the case with most dogs we come across in Thailand though. I ride my bicycle for exercise in the mornings and it's not uncommon to get attacked an chased by a dog or 2. The worst is when I go to my nearby 7-11. It's located at a PTT pump and there are 3 dogs always hanging around there. When I ride up to 7 they bolt straight towards me pissed of and trying to bite me and the bike. I haven't been bit yet but there have been some close calls. Especially yesterday. It doesn't look like these dogs at 7 belong to anyone. They are just street dogs that I guess claimed that area as their own.

My question is Do you know what would be the legalities of me pepper spraying a dog that attacks me? I know I would feel really bad to hurt the dog but it's either me or the dog and I'm not going to get bit just because I like dogs. I thought about carrying a stick to give them a good wack but I might fall of the bike trying to swing at them or ride into traffic.

Anything else besides pepper spray that night work?

Just got my fiancés passport renewed and our newborn her thai passport. Will be mailed out to our home in 5 days. Easier than I thought. Little tough finding the place though. But you can ask around and the locals will help you out.

And 100 years ago they were predicting the death of radio. These predictions are just PR for the magazine and nothing more. This article is laughable. The market is more likely to grow not shrink.

Radio is actually dying. Everything is moving to the Internet. More and more people are listening to internet 'radio'. Perfect example - Tom Leykis.

This is a great topic! I keep my diet really healthy. Not hard to do where I live either as we live off our land mainly. I limit my sugar, MSG, sat fat, and sodium intake as much as possible here. The closest 7-11 is about a 20 min motor Ike ride into town. Every once in a while when I crave something a little more western I head down to 7-11 for my fix. Sometimes it's the sausages other times it's the microwave meals, or sometimes the sticky rice/BBQ pork burger. I have yet to try the Korean and Japanese meals. Maybe next time. It's ok to splurge once in a while. And the closest fast food we have from us is about 40 mins away. Which is only a choice of KFC or Pizza Company. And we already know there is no pizza at pizza company.

Wondering if anyone can recommend a clean hotel nearby the US Consulate in Chiang Mai. Will be staying for a few days. Have our newborn with us so I want to make sure the place is clean. I found New Mittrapap hotel for 252 baht per night through Agoda. Sounds a little too good to be true. Although the price sounds great but my babies well being is more important. Are there any decent places for less than 600/ night?

Thanks lopburi3. Just got a 60 day extension for 1900 baht. Immigration officer was really nice too. She told me after 60 days I can cross the border and come back into Thailand and have another 15 days. After the 15 days I can return to that specific immigration office and they will grant me another 60 days!!

Wow. I can just imagine that. I'm sure he didn't mean it in the wrong way but I can understand hearing something like that and it would t sit well with me either.

Just recently had a baby as well. The hospital staff was trying to force us into doing a c-section although we wanted to give a natural birth. The rate of c-section births is pretty high at this particular hospital and I'm sure it's on purpose. So anyways, they kept trying to scare my wife saying its not safe for the baby to go past 40 weeks. Kay blah blah. The. The doctor comes and says "Up to you of you want to wait. But baby can die. Umbilical cord go around neck and choke baby. Baby dead. No good".

the whole time when he was saying this to me he was motioning with his arms as if he was wrapping a rope around his own neck and choking himself with it. He was even rolling his eyes back and dropping his tongue out his mouth to accentuate the "suffocation".

Didn't know if I should laugh or cry. I kept thinking if a doctor in the US did that how well would it fly over with the Mom and Dad to be.

"Thailand only"

Sentosa in Singapore might be a better option for you. Google it, it's really amazing.

I'm looking to get a crba and US passport for my newborn. After looking through the consulate website I find that no being married to the mother of the child is more of a problem.

My fiancé and I haven't married yet because we have applied for a K1 visa for her to go to US with me.

Anyone have any experience with this and can shed some light?

Do I need to get a DNA test, or have paternity established in court or both??? So confusing.

NASA hotel on the other hand for 12000 for the month is a pretty good sounding deal to me.

Actually the price is for the hotel not apartments. I never book directly with the hotel but rather off sites like Agoda or Expedia. They give better rates. The apartments at NASA require 6 month contract. So not an option.

Hatter, we aren't picky on where to stay in Bangkok. We aren't really going out anyways. Most of our time will be spent in the room just looking after the little one.

Wow. I think NASA vegas is probably my best bet. 12000 for a month with electricity and water included. Can anyone beat that???

There's really nothing homosexual about it. I can't speak for the men the OP saw, but a lot of athletes or just athletic men either shave, wax, or trim their body hair. It keeps things more sanitary.

So far the best deal I have found is at NASA Vegas Hotel. Little under 12000 baht for a months stay. I know it's more expensive than apartment but I can't sign a long term lease need to go monthly. The only apartments I have found so far that are monthly aren't very clean or safe.

Again I have my newborn and fiancé with me.

How much is the place you stay at Chaos?

Hi guys. I was wondering if I could get some recommendations on apartments in Bangkok. Living up north at the moment with fiancé and newborn baby. We will be staying in Bangkok for a month or 2 before flying back to the states.

We've lived all over Thailand besides Bangkok. Almost everywhere we go we seem to run into the places and people that are scammers. I would really like to avoid it during my last few months here.

Looking for a place that will rent month to month basis. Must be clean as well. Most apartments we've stayed at are poorly built in my opinion. For example rooms that offer AC but the windows don't close all the way or the room isn't properly sealed.

Does anyone know if any apartments have electricity and water included? Wifi would be nice too.

Lived in the shit holes for too long now just wannabe to enjoy the last couple months here.

Thanks in advance.

Getting married in Thailand would not benefit us. The K3 visa is a much longer process than K1.

I guess we will try our luck at the immigration.

Hi everyone. My first post here but I have been browsing the forums for quite a while. It's kind of a long story but I will keep it as short as possible.

I have been living is Thailand for about 2 years now with my fiance. Visa runs are a pain in my ass just like everyone else. I live with my fiancé in Phrae. Since last year me and the fiancé decided we want to go live in America. We are both getting a little tired of Thailand and I want to take her to America as she has never been. And we plan on getting married there. So when we looked up possible visas for her we decided the K1 fiancé visa would be the best option. Tourist visa would be near impossible for us.

In July 2011 my fiancé became pregnant. (this was good news for us, not the "Ohh shit we messed up" type of pregnancy). Finally by October I went back to America by myself to file for her k1 visa and came back to Thailand in January.

Before coming back to Thailand the Thai consulate would not give me a 1 year visa for purpose of visiting family as we weren't married yet. Even though I had all the documents to show that we are planning on getting married in America but we have to wait for her to get her k1 visa. And she's pregnant etc... They didn't care. Instead with no hesitation they gave me a 3 month education visa off of a letter I had from a Muay Thai gym saying I'm going to go "study" Muay Thai there.

Fast forward till now. Our baby was born last week. Our k1 visa is getting closer but I still think there is a couple months left before she goes for her final interview. My current education visa will expire at the end of this month (April 2012).

So finally for my question. Is there anyway possible for me to either change my ED visa to a Non immigrant O visa or extend the one I currently have longer than 30 days without having to do a visa run to Burma or Laos? Any advise would be much appreciated.

Sorry again for the long post.