DDBKK

On 20/12/2016 at 9:57 PM, Seligne2 said:

If I were to do a word association game with the word "Thai", hospitality would not  be anywhere on the list. Some of the things that would be are:

Plastic

Family-oriented, despise Mother Nature

Ignorant

Materialistic

Deferential to authority

Sexy (ladies-ladyboys)

Opportunistic

Honest (with strangers)

 

I could continue in this vein for some time without  hitting on the word "hospitable"

I feel sorry for you. 

Good luck. You sound like you need it. 

There's a couple in BKK that I wouldn't recommend hanging around especially if you've had a drink. 

To the left of the main road (Ratchadamnoen Klang road) down by khao san/grand palace. There's a neighbourhood there that's pretty sketchy at night. 

Klong toei also has a reputation although I've never personally heard of anyone encountering it. 

In saying that I've foolishly ended up in some random locations in the early hours of the morning after a hard night out and never felt in the slightest bit threatened anywhere in Thailand. 

The Thais do tend to have a "you don't <deleted> with me and I won't <deleted> with you" kinda attitude. Which is nice. 

Oh, almost forgot. Kho Tao is a worthy mention. Clearly some VERY dangerous people in charge there.

Large bungalows can be had around chaloklum area for 5K bht per month. Not bars on windows but then I don't think I've seen any bungalows on KP with bars on windows - which tells you all there is that you need to know.

As others have said, visit, rent a scoot for the week and ride around to get a feel for the island. Party's are mainly in the south with the lively bars etc.

have fun!

Thanks for the replies. Reassuring words!

LL88 - Yes I am a UK passport holder. Her UK visitor visa of 6 months expired a month or so back.

All other points are covered for applying for the French visa in the same way that they were for the UK visa so fingers crossed that there shouldn't be any issues.

I'll update on the outcome in due course.

Hello all!

A little background before I pose a few questions which I hope someone can, from experience or knowledge, help clarify a few points for me prior to my GF submitting her application for visiting France in a month or so....

I'm originally from the UK and now, due to a contract with my company, reside in France and will do for the next couple of years.

My GF came over to visit me in the UK last year successfully and we are now about to apply for a shengen visa for her.

My question is, has anyone been in a similar situation as ths? is there anything out of the ordinary that I should consider including in the application that the French embassy in BKK may need to see because I am British, living in France?

I have sent over to my GF the original copies of my UK and international contracts with my company, as well as all my housing, insurance documentation - all of this is additional to the paper work that was supplied for the UK visa and will be supplied for the French visa also, albeit with updated info.

I'm more than certain that because we have successfully applied for the UK visitor visa that we shouldn't encounter any issues with the French, but then again, you just never know.....

Any helpful info greatly received.

Thought I'd bump this as my Thai GF has just been through the visa application process for a 2 month visit and we experienced the following:

Applicaition submitted to VFS - Morning of Tuesday 2nd July

Email from Embassy to say decision has been reached - 19th July

VFS Posted passport/documents - 23rd July

Received in the post (Samut Prakan) - 24th July

It turned out to be quite a long wait but thankfully everything has gone smoothly for a first time applicaiton and she flies to the UK this Friday. Happy days!

I don't have time to read to read all pages so i can only hope that someone has already mentioned how black markets operate on a national scale and how our understanding of western economics do not apply to a country that for most part does not pay tax.

"The department targeted 1.98 trillion baht for the fiscal year ending Sept 30".

http://www.bdo-thait...n-the-news/4335

Now do yourself a favour and find the corresponding figures for the UK and see how they compare as a ratio of tax collected vs population (in the context of GDP of course), you may be surprised.

Here's the raw data, maybe sombody can figure out the comparative ratio before I get back from the gym:

UK GDP = $2.43 trill

TH GDP = $346 bill

Population UK = 62.6 mill

Population Thai = 69.5 mill

Tax collected UK = 466,634 mill (2011)

Tax collected TH = 1.98 trill.

Congratulations on completely missing the point I was trying to make. Did you read the black market part or just blissfully ignore that part?

Do yourself a favour and google it!

I don't have time to read to read all pages so i can only hope that someone has already mentioned how black markets operate on a national scale and how our understanding of western economics do not apply to a country that for most part does not pay tax.

Yok-Yor on the river do a fine feast. Can't get much closer to the fireworks if you tried.

River City side - simply ask the guard to call over the boat and hop aboard.

Only ever stumbled across a couple of streets at night that have put me on edge but for the most part as already mentioned it's because they were dimly lit and nothing actually happened so more than likely my own sense of unknown than anything else.

Some parts of East London at night are a different ball game than anywhere I've been in BKK...

Whens the best time to travel to Thailand?

simple, about 40 years ago......

They say Myanmar has the same feel now. Personally no experience.

That's one more variable, if wanting to travel to neighbouring countries, avoid rainy season in south and the chilly winter up north.

I spent some time traveling Burma last year and although I know nothing of what Thailand was like back in "the good old days" other than some pics I've seen and a Pan Am promo vid, I'm almost certain that if Thailand was like Burma is now then the people who claim it as a golden era are delusional by In vino veritas.

Granted, Burma is worth a visit for a few weeks to hit the trails but when you're sitting eating thai food outside a cafe close to traffic at Hualamphong thinking "ahhhh civilisation" after returning from Yangon to BKK it hammers home a point that as untrodden as the Burma path is, which it isn't really, I'll take LOS any day of the week.

Edit...

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?

Provides rich cultural narrative from the counter culture period in american history. There is also the plus of having a silverscreen adaptation with almost the exact same narrative which could prove useful in depicting the "mind expansion" aspects of the book.

Cheers guys, will give them a try.

Folks!

I'm shall be in BKK in a couple of weeks time and would like to pick brains on any bars that may be showing the Le Mans 2012 24 hour race....?

I'm aware that bars wont be open for the full 24 hours which is when the petrol heads turn on wifi streaming.... but a few cold ones watching some coverage in a BKK bar would be the next best thing to actually being there....

Any info on which bars to drop by and check out would be grand!

Cheers