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skydancer
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Posts posted by skydancer
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I've been looking for acidophilus also and have only gotten strange looks from the pharmacies where I have asked for it. Was told to go to a hospital and ask for it at Tesco Lotus pharmacy. Thank you for the info. I will try the pharmacy close to Chalong circle. I am lactose intolerant so the Yakult (had to look that one up with Google) and Yogurt won't work for me - give me intense stomach cramps. Googled Betagen and can't quite figure out what it is. Sports supplement? I'm looking for something to help with digestion.
Skydancer
Thats great, thank you. -
Thanks for everyone's help in recommending places to spend the night. I will check out the web sites recommended and make some notes but I think we will have an adventure and wait until the evening of 4 July to find a room. I was hoping for something 800 baht or less and it looks like reasonable places can be found for that amount. Since we don't know our way around Phuket, perhaps the TV members we meet can point us in the right direction.
See you all Tuesday evening.
Skydancer
Skydancer, booking over the internet might save you a few Baht, but probably negligible as its the low season and you should be able to get a decent walk-in rate.Quite a few budget hotels in Patong here:
http://phuket.sawadee.com/hotels/patong.htm
or if you want to stay at a guesthouse, a few listed here:
http://www.phuket.net/directory/bungalows-...ouses/index.htm
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Can I put myself down as a maybe for the piss-up?
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Britmaveric,
As Newbies, my husband and I would like to come to the pissup but we live on an island and the boats stop running at 9PM on weekdays. We will need a place (in Phuket) to spend the night. Would someone be willing to tell us where we can get reservations for an inexpensive room for the night? Nothing so cheap that it is unbearable, but we are on a budget. Do we need to reserve a room now or do you think we can find something 5 days from now (and counting down).
We don't know our way around Phuket yet but I think we can find Joes using a map. Feel free to email me if you want to share specific directions from Laem Hin pier or hotel info.
I'm really looking forward to this get together. I am so bored living on this small island that I could scream. In reading the posts it seems like most of you have a good sense of humor. It will be nice to meet some English speaking folks, even if a few of you speak with funny accents, but then the Thais tell me that I have a "Californian" accent, whatever that is. Americans do seem to be a minority here.
Croc, glad your mother is getting better.
Skydancer
Apologies.
Was due to fly into Phuket on 1/7. My mother was hospitalised yesterday, all being well I will now be travelling on 6/7.
Sorry to miss the soiree.
Croc
Hope your mum gets well quickly mate - thoughts are with you and your mum!!
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A few months before we moved to Thailand I bought a nice Dell desktop w/ 19" monitor. I've only looked at a few computer stores in Phuket but what I've seen made me long for my Dell. I couldn't sell it for what it was worth and the prospects of replacing it with similar quality didn't look promising so I decided to bring it to Thailand. I had read on this site about paying excess baggage charges to bring your computer as luggage so I gave it a try.
In May 2006 I brought my desktop to Thailand in 2 hard-side suitcases; computer in one, monitor in the other. My luck, I got stopped at Phuket airport customs and had my luggage searched. First time I have ever been stopped. First time I have ever brought 4 suitcases. The agent got extremely animated when he saw the computer and monitor. Suddenly, I was surrounded by 5 agents and questioned for what seemed like ages. My husband stood there looking at his feet. You would have thought I was a suspected drug smuggler instead of an older lady with 2 extra pieces of luggage. I brought the original invoice with me and they did ask to see it. Then the calculator was whipped out and they started calculating. I had to pay a $500 (US) cash bribe to get it through. They originally wanted over $1,000 but I think it was my respectful demeanor and tears that got them to lower the amount. I had read the custom rules and sincerely thought I could bring a computer into the country if I had the intention of taking it back with me when I left. I don't regret having a nice computer here, but my experience with customs shook me up, and the $350 excess baggage charge plus the $500 bribe made it a very expensive decision. I could have bought a low end laptop for $850. Next trip home I will buy a Dell Latitude notebook and bring only a couple small bags of luggage. I should be able to sail through customs.
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Thanks Goldenbead. Husband just bought a dryer today. That will help with the clothes molding and I will make a trip to Home Pro tomorrow to pick up some dehumidifier packets.
This is so different than living in the desert. I need some coping skills.
Skydancer
This is our first rainy season. Every day I seem to find something else that has mold on it - my Birkenstocks, eye glass case, camera case, wallet, the mattress we are sleeping on, pillows, our luggage, basically anything that can absorb moisture. We have fans in every room to keep the air moving but only screens on the windows. Everything feels damp to the touch. I'm having to throw away a lot of things and rethink my idea of how many personal possessions I really need.
When we first arrived I only left out a small amount of clothes and put the rest in air tight bags. That worked great. I put our books and anything else I thought would mold in plastic boxes. Then I bought some towels and bedding and put them in a plastic dresser. I guess there isn't enough air flow because everything that I store in the dresser molds. Aargh! I can't use a wooden dresser because it will be eaten by bugs. Guess I need to go buy another plastic box. They are stacked 4 deep around my bungalow! I had a beautiful house in the US with nice art work and furnishings but here I have bare walls and lots of plastic boxes.
There are small packets of dehumidifier available at many shops around Phuket now. I saw some today at HomePro. All you do is open the top, put it wherever you want and it absorbs the moisture. Not sure how long they last but they do keep the damp down.
Mold isn't a big problem for us. There are lots of bugs but the screens should keep them out.
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Rebeckah,
Great picture!
The two things that have been hardest for me to adjust to is the weather and the bugs.
My husband and I moved to Thailand 4 months ago. We moved from a high-desert climate (in the US) to a small island off of Phuket. I don't know what type of climate you will be moving from but in Phuket you physically need to be able to withstand high humidity and heat for half of the year and less heat but even higher humidity for the other half. Before moving here I had no experience with tropical living and it is getting me down. This is our first rainy season. Every day I seem to find something else that has mold on it - my Birkenstocks, eye glass case, camera case, wallet, the mattress we are sleeping on, pillows, our luggage, basically anything that can absorb moisture. We have fans in every room to keep the air moving but only screens on the windows. Everything feels damp to the touch. I'm having to throw away a lot of things and rethink my idea of how many personal possessions I really need.
When we first arrived I only left out a small amount of clothes and put the rest in air tight bags. That worked great. I put our books and anything else I thought would mold in plastic boxes. Then I bought some towels and bedding and put them in a plastic dresser. I guess there isn't enough air flow because everything that I store in the dresser molds. Aargh! I can't use a wooden dresser because it will be eaten by bugs. Guess I need to go buy another plastic box. They are stacked 4 deep around my bungalow! I had a beautiful house in the US with nice art work and furnishings but here I have bare walls and lots of plastic boxes.
I haven't been here long but email me if you would like to talk.
Skydancer
Rebekah ....
you decided to try and move here before doing the reseaarch?
Get busy with the forums and LEARN!
If you are young and cannot survive here well for MONTHS without working you may want to reconsider your choices
Thanks for the advice.... noted..and agreed with..... which is why i am here on this forum; doing my "homework"
.....We are not thinking of moving until much later in the year so have still quiute a bit of time for my research....just thought that as much guide books etc i can read the advice i will/may recieve here from people who have already made the move may be more realistic and "human"thanks again.... but no worries ...am no youngster anymore
...and will continue my research -
Any suggestions for an acupuncturist in Phuket? We are moving there in May 2006.
I have keloids from surgery and acupuncture is the only thing that eases the pain. For those who don't know, keloids are abnormal scar tissues. Mine can't be removed via surgery because I will create even worse keloids after repeated surgery to the same site. Have already had two surgeries using the same incision site.
I have tried lots of other things to help with the pain and acupuncture works the best. I don't want to use pain pills for the rest of my life.
Thanks for any references.
im not sure of the exact address, but its near hualumphung train station in bangkok -
In Jan 2006 we flew from US into Bangkok using United. By the time we collected our luggage it was after midnight. It took us over an hour from the time we got into the customs line till we cleared through customs. I didn't check to see how long it took to deplane, pick up our baggage and get into line. I started looking at my watch when we got into line. Maybe it was just a bad time/bad day. The lines were extremely long and it seemed like every line had some people in it who had problems that took forever to resolve. I remember that it was after 2 AM when we arrived at our motel in Bangkok. We took a domestic flight to Phuket another day.
In Feb 2006 we flew into BKK from Singapore and cleared customs in a matter of minutes. That time we arrived in the AM and only had carry-on luggage.
Last week we had a panic flying back to the states - when I booked our flight I had a choice between waiting several hours between flights or making them close. There wasn't another option that didn't cost several hundred more. I chose the tight schedule that left us 45 minutes to deplane, get our luggage, go through customs and make our connecting flight. It was a mad rush and we had to run through the airport. I got very emotional (after 25 hours of no sleep) and convinced myself that our connecting flight had left. We got on the wrong shuttle and that took up precious time. It was awful. Finally made it to the connecting flight gate less than 5 minutes before the plane was scheduled to leave. I was in tears. Luckily the flight was late and was not overbooked. I will never book my flights so close again.
We are in the US now but are returning to Thailand in May 2006. I would love to fly directly to Phuket but it is really expensive. It is cheaper and easier for us to fly into BKK, check our luggage into storage, spend the night in BKK and fly to HKT on a domestic flight after we are rested.
Best of luck to you.
Skydancer
Hi,
I will be taking a vacation in Phuket; unfortunately, I was unable to get a direct flight, so I have to fly into Bangkok first. Now, I assume that I would have to clear Immigation and customs in Bangkok and not Phuket(since, presumably, Phuket would be a domestic flight). My main problem is that there is not much time between the two flights, so clearing Immi on time might be a bit difficult in order to catch the Phuket flight. Any thoughts?
That depends who you fly with, and if it's a connecting flight, I arrive every year with Thai from Copenhagen and go to the domestic departure lounge, customs and passport check done in Phuket on arrival.
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Hi Pusa,
I understand about being sick of having a vacation and wanting to do something meaningful. There is a small village close to where we are building a house and the mayor of the village approached me (via an interpreter) and asked if I would be willing to teach English as a volunteer. The village is very poor and can't afford to pay for an English teacher. I am thrilled to be of service and will start teaching in May (when school year begins). In the beginning I will only teach a couple of hours a week because I don't have any experience teaching English and want to start slowly. Currently I'm doing research and gathering supplies. PM me if you are interested or if you have tips to share.
Hello, my name is Bjorn Nilsson, I'm 25 years old from Sweden. I speak and write fluent english and I'm looking for a job as a teacher. I have taught children in Sweden as a substitute teacher, and I love it. Now I would like to give my help where its needed in thailand. Anybody knows somplace? Maybe even at the school you are working at? I do need a bed and food daily, but i'm not more picky than that.Please notify me if you see an opening, or know of something that might be of interest for me..
Please send me a PM. I'm currently on Koh Phangan, but sick of having a vacation. I want to teach!
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Eech, we are flying into Phuket in a couple of days and you have scared the xxxx out of me. What is the safest method to get to my motel?
absolute scumbags, the lot of them -
Thanks to everyone for your advise. Prior to posting I was searching the airport layout for the word "lockers". I never would have thought that left luggage meant that I could store luggage there. I thought it was a place to go to claim your luggage when your bag arrived late - on a later flight. Live and learn.
Skydancer
if you are in downtown area, there is a left luggage-counter at Hua Lamphong Railway station too, and cheaper than the one at the airport, as far as I remember..... -
Thank you, Soju.
Your information was just want I needed. I laughed about your overfilled bag because I have had to sit on mine before to get it zipped. No way I could get all of the stuff back in if it was searched. We will get to the airport extra early to assure for time to find the left baggage facility.
Deborah
There's a left baggage facility at the airport in BKK. There's one (or maybe more) in one of the international terminals, I don't remember which terminal though. And another at the domestic terminal. But it's not cheap. I remember something like 100 Baht per day, but they might have a discount for longer periods, though not sure about that. At the international terminal they wanted to open and search my bags before leaving. But it took me 30 minutes to get it closed during packing because it was so overfilled, so I wasn't about to open it again. I went to the domestic terminal left baggage and they accepted it without having me open it. -
Visiting Thailand for 60 more days. Booked flight with AsiaStar and just read the baggage inforamtion and realized that we have too much luggage. Husband and I each have one large bag and one carry-on. Also have my purse from hel_l that my husband says I could live out of for a few days (ha ha).
Our large bags exceed 20kg check-through limit and carry-on exceeds 7kg limit. We have trimmed down as much as possible by giving away clothes, shoes, books, etc., but my medical equipment and electronics are where the weight is and I can't get rid of those. The excess baggage fine is quite stiff and I would have to pay it for all flights. Also want to fly to Krabi, Chiang Mai, etc.
Is there a convenient place in Bangkok for us to store luggage? The motel where we are staying doesn't have a facility to store luggage for an extended period of time.
Does anyone in Bangkok want to store some luggage for me? Do you know of a place where I could store it? Would need to access it between trips to dip into my store of vitamins, special lotions, etc.
Skydancer
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You are right, the laugh is on us. Hubby screwed up royal in the tipping department and the TAT (Thai Association of Tourism?) overcharged us on travel arrangments. Bang Saphan is a small town and the story of our extreme over tipping seems to have circulated. Hands seem to pop out all along our way and we have been tipping, but much, much smaller amounts.
The truth is that we are moving to Thailand because I needed to stop working due to my health and we were unable to live in the states without two incomes. Husband's monthly SS payment is not very large so we will learn quickly how to save money. Our income is now 1/3 of what it was.
Yes, we could use a guide to help us. Anyone out there willing to meet with us and give us some tips? We will be coming back to Bangkok the first part of Feb to plan our next place to visit.
Skydancer
We can settle this amicably if there is a house either side of the new arrivals -
Just wanted to let everyone know that we made it from RDM (Redmond, Oregon) to BKK (Bangkok) okay. Entire flight (with layovers) over 24 hours and it took a while to get to our motel. By the time we got to bed at 4 AM we were exhausted. Everything went pretty smoothly. I asked for wheelchair assist at each airport and that was an adventure in itself. About gave the little gal in Narita a hernia. Took 5 guys and a hydrolic lift to get me off the plane at BKK. No, I am not that heavy but one look at my butt and the guys at BKK argued about who was going to push me around. We tipped well so the loser may have been the winner after all.
Paid a travel agent $1,200 tb for the nice bus from BKK to Bang Saphan and the driver put us on the local bus. Tickets were $200/ea. Hmmm. Got lots of local color as we stopped to let people off and on. A/C stopped working along the way and driver took out tools and fixed. Took something like 7 hours for the trip. No taxi available at local bus stop at Bang Saphan. Two motorcycles magically appeared. You should have seen us with our luggage balanced on the front of the cycles, racing down the road. I have not ridden on a motorcycle since I was a teenager and I squeezed the dickens out of my driver. Even squealed in his ear once. Quite a ride. Husband royally screwed up and overpaid them. The driver asked for $250 and husband paid them $2,500. I saw the money change hands and the surprised look on the driver's face and almost asked for the money back but driver didn't speak any English. I decided that it was better to "pay it forward" and talk to hubby in private. He was embarrassed when I explained what had happened.
Staying at SuanLuang Resort for a month. Lovely place - food and staff are excellent. Bungalow is not up to US standards but this is Thailand. Hope to get on right bus for return trip to BKK.
Will let you know how the SIN visa run goes.
Learned my lesson and will get visa taken care of properly before we return to Thailand. We have decided to retire here.
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Skydancer
Yes people have been stopped and some have even missed flights because airlines can and do enforce the provision as there computer screen will give them the information that you require onward transportation within 30 days. Although it is unlikely Thai Immigration will check those that appears of means. Although it is usually not an issue when it becomes one it is not a pleasant start to a long awaited vacation. It is best to cover all bases. -
LOL
I read your post to husband and he told me to "lose the cane" before we get to SIN. Honestly, I hope I am healed enough by then to not need it but the threat of whacking him with it is getting lots of mileage.
Thanks for the directions. Will definitely use them.
Cheapest hotel in singapore is Hotel 81 Geylang Rd << 850 Baht Per night (No Breakfasst)Isn't that the red light district ?........stay there and skydancers cane will definately be coming out..............
Skydancer just to help you get your bearings...........when you come out of the hotel go left walk to the crossroads cross the road to the right and walk approx 300 yards, Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is on the opposite side of the street..............take the train heading to Jurong East.........the Orchard Road (for shopping) stop is the 2nd stop from Dhoby Ghaut.
Have fun.
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Bought tickets from BKK to SIN. Leave Wed, Feb 1, return Sat Feb 4. Used jetstarasia.com to book. Price was quite a bit higher than AirAsia but still half of what I was originally going to pay for Scandinavian Airlines.
I now have tickets to show outbound flight within 30 days of arrival in Thailand.
Booked 3 nights at City Bayview Hotel. Thanks to thaiflyer1 for that recommendation.
Whew. It took all of you to make this happen. Can't thank you enough.
It/ll be Hubby keping an eye on you and the credit cards if you go to Singapore.............shop till you drop.Here's a starter for a room try Asiarooms.com and search for the City Bayview Hotel in Bencoolen street 2600 baht/night inc breakfast( 2 pax)..........ive just stayed there its fine and fairly handy, 5 mins for the transit system.
If moneys no object then the Marriott is in the prime spot on Orchard Road but its 6700 baht/night inc breakfast.
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After reading about AirAsia problems (on the forum) I was afraid to use them. Even their website is funky. I wanted to Fly to Panang on Feb 1 and return Feb 4 but on the drop-down selection bar for flight dates it shows two March 2006 but no February. I couldn't have booked on line if I wanted to. Took this as a sign to not use them.
Before I booked the overpriced tickets to Penang I talked to husband and he doesn't want to go to Penang. He would rather go to Singapore - thinks the sights will be better. That's okay, he can look all he wants but I'll beat him with my cane if he touches. (grin).
Used the great search feature on ThaiVisa to get info on Singapore visa run. Found out about JetStarAsia.com. Price for round-trip flight from BKK to SIN is very cheap. I hope they are a better airline than AirAsia.
Haven't booked motel yet but used Octopustravel to do initial search - ouch - prices seem high. $72.00 US, and up. Will get airline tickets purchased before I go to bed tonight but may have to research motel more tomorrow.
You guys and gals are great. Keep the advise coming.
Deborah
900bt if you go end of January BKK to Penang rtn for 2 days -
Thank you all for your advise. I am so angry at myself for creating this mess.
Last week I researched "rush" visa options and they wouldn't work due to the holidays. All consulates that service Oregon are closed until Jan 3rd (per phone message when I called).
Will buy round-trip airline tickets from BKK to Penang. Just priced and cheapest was $318/ea. Didn't plan on this expense but it seems to be the best solution. I'll order the tickets today so that I will have outbound e-ticket to show to United when we board international flight (to BKK).
Our inbound tickets could be changed for a $300 - $400 penalty (each ticket, each change) so changing them to show outbound flight within 30 days is cost prohibited, as would be changing them back to outbound in 90 days. Flight from BKK to PEN is cheaper than paying the penalty.
I can't express how much I appreciate your assistance. It is nice to know that help is there when you need it.
Deborah
I'm with the Air Asia option.Buy tickets online to Penang departing just before your first 30 days is up, bring the confirmation email to show your airline that you have onward flights within 30 days as required by Thai law.
Then buzz down to Penang on those tickets and get tourist visas (60 days per entry), no more visa runs, problem solved.
QED.
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I checked out the youth hostel web site and it is amazing. I've only seen one youth hostel and it was nothing like this.
I loved the comment "Accessability for the disabled, wheelchair users, people with manual disabilities and walking difficulties, people with reduce hearing and the deft are welcome." I am having problems walking and admit to being a little daft but I have excellent hearing.
Great recommendation for SuanLuang. I hope they respond to my email and are not booked.
Send me an email if you would like to meet.
I really appreciate your help.
SkyDancer,This one, in Ban Krut, mentions that it is suitable for disabled
http://www.thailandbeach.com/accommodation.htm
SuanLuang I can personally recommend and I expect to be there mid January so I will look out for you. You can sit on the beach and watch the full moon rise up.
A lovely spot.
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I didn't get the visa forms to our closest consulate in time.
I'm the detail person in my family and I thought I had this covered. Husband has total faith in my ability to keep everything in order. I'd love to blame my oversight on the craziness of the holidays or the exhausting task of finishing up my projects at work while trying to clear 27 years of accumulation out of the house we just sold. It doesn't matter - I blew it.
I thought our visa would be processed in a couple of days. Wrong! The day I was going to send our forms in I read the FAQ at Los Angeles consulate web site and found out the normal processing time is 2 weeks, "not" including air delivery time to/from. It was 14 days before our departure with Christmas looming. I didn't want to chance it.
End result: Husband and I have airline tickets for 90 day visit but no visa.
Arriving in BKK at 11:30 PM on Jan 5. It will be after midnight by the time we get off of the plane and pick up our luggage. Will there be someplace at the airport, this late, that can assist us in getting a tourist visa?
As U.S. citizens we can stay for 30 days without a visa. Will we be in trouble because we have outbound tickets that exceed 30 days?
Do we simply go to the motel, get a good nights sleep and sort things out the next day? If so, where?
Ideas?
Suggestions?
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I did a search and found Suanluang Resort Bang Saphan, Thailand and sent them an email. It looks lovely and is just the type place that I am interested in. Also found some places in Ban Krud Beach. Have sent emails and hope to hear back from them.
Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for - a place to rest and close to a beach.
Deborah
BangSuphan and BanKrut are nice coastal towns that are quiet.I would book via the internet and get a monthly rate, no need for an agent.
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Thank you Thetyim. What site would you recommend me to use when booking?
Deborah
BangSuphan and BanKrut are nice coastal towns that are quiet.I would book via the internet and get a monthly rate, no need for an agent.
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Husband and I are coming to Thailand for 90 days (Jan 5 - April 3). I am currently in a walking cast and can only walk short distances. I will need to rest and heal for at least a month before being able to play tourist. Am hoping that lots of massage and walking on the beach will accelerate healing.
I would like recommendations for a nice coastal town to stay at and the name of an honest agent that we can use to secure a rental. We are an older couple that loves nature and not partying. We would prefer a quiet location. No nightclubs or karaoke next door.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions.
Deborah
.....We are not thinking of moving until much later in the year so have still quiute a bit of time for my research....just thought that as much guide books etc i can read the advice i will/may recieve here from people who have already made the move may be more realistic and "human"
Breast Cancer Alternative Treatments
in Health and Medicine
Posted
N&M,
My heart goes out to your friend's wife. I have had breast cancer 3 times and after 10 years and 7 surgeries I am still kicking. I refused to use any traditional treatment other than surgery. As part of my search for a cure I had my dental fillings with mercury removed and it made me feel better. I don't claim to be cured or even suggest that anyone else should take on the medical establishment like I did. It was really hard to be excluded from support groups and to be cursed and yelled at by allopathic doctors. Email me if you would like to know what I did that helped and what didn't help. I can also tell you about a clinic in China that I would dearly like to visit.
Skydancer