NewMind

Well, India is having a daily Earth Hour!!!

I can hardly wait for the whiners to post on Monday about the state of the power supply in Thailand.

At least it is far better than what people have in India: i.e., severe power shortages, indiscriminate power outage across all major cities with little or no electricity in towns and villages.

http://powercuts.in/reports

There are a lot of filthy rich people in Thailand. I see more expensive vehicles on Thai roads than I have ever seen on Aussie roads.

I think you will find that the car is much more of a vanity item here. There may be more people that can afford these super cars in Oz, but most don't feel the need to have an ostentatious car. I find westerners judge each other more on the type of house they have.

Yes, and westerners judge each other more based on intellect, intelligence, liberty, values, and virtuosity. Not on the type of house alone.

Just hang those involved in such barbaric crimes in the public to set an example how law makers can also deal severely with criminals.

How does it differ from visa exemption? Assuming that I have a visa-on-arrival for 30 days and It's almost used up. What options do I have? Should I do a Visa run across the borders or "go back" to my country and apply for a new visa?

I am getting confused since I came to know about the coming August 12 crackdown. So, can any one explain how can I avoid a visa run if I want to enter Thailand once my visa is used up. I think a run at the borders is no more a viable option.

Or, suppose that my 30 visa is nearing to an end, and in that case, if I travel to Indonesia (Jakarta), stay there for a couple of days, and again re-enter Thailand. Will I get a 30 day visa on arrival?

Soi 8 Sukhumvit

Where is this hostel actually situated? Sois are really bit confusing in Bangkok. Any landmark location?

Is it in Maha Nakhon? @ 8 Thanon Sukhum Vit, Khwaeng Khlong Toei, Khet Khlong Toei...

Thanks

Well I meant if it is anywhere near Jasmine city Little Italy restaurant, 8 Thanon Sukumvit, it's easy to find.

Soi 8 Sukhumvit

Where is this hostel actually situated? Sois are really bit confusing in Bangkok. Any landmark location?

Thanks

It can be done on a tourist visa. I arrived on a 60 day visa from KL and have just received my ED visa from Bkk immigration. There is a tonne of papers to do but the right school will help you out of they want your business.

That's informative. Can you specifically mention what are the additional (tonnes of papers) required beyond the ones listed in Thai immigration bureau which they might ask at the last minute?

I remember I had no difficulty in Singapore when I applied for one such visa at the ICA a couple of years back. There wasn't any hassle at all!!!

But it seems apparent from the discussions above that getting a new ED visa is a hard time; new rules for ED visa might be a big hassle to come by. So, what additional documents do you suggest?

You can pay for 6 months and get a ED Visa at some schools..

Edit: wrong site sorry, but there are Schools do a search......... this one ? http://www.tls-bangkok.com/english/ed-visa-1/

http://www.tls-bangkok.com/english/ed-visa-1/

...We are very sorry but please contact us if you are a national of one of the countries below;

(We may not be able to issue visa )

1. Bahrain　2. Bangladesh 3. India 4. Iran 5. Israel 6. Kuwait 7. Nepal 8. Iraq 9. Oman

10. Pakistan 11. Qatar 12. Saudi Arabia 13. United Arab Emirates 14. Sri Lankan 15. Turkey

You will not need financial proof to apply for the ED visa at an embassy or consulate unless the they ask to see the standard 20,000 baht proof needed for all visas. See:http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15398-Issuance-of-Visa.html

Thanks for the great info. So as far as I can understand, for the first time when I apply for my ED Visa, how can I convince them that I have a genuine interest in learning Thai, and that too, I would be able to support myself through self-financing? My course length is 3-6 months. What financial proof do I need to show them for my initial Visa? I never studied in Thailand, so please provide some further details.

As I said in my previous post you could get a tourist visa and attend a school.

-------

^Ooops, that's not correct. According to the new visa regulation, you must carry at least Baht 20,000/ or equivalent to prove you can support yourself while in Thailand for the entire period of you study. And you are not supposed to study without a student visa obtained from your Consulate. This would be illegal. That's the reason the Thai immigration is cracking down on Language schools who offer short cuts.

You have no idea, do you? Try the "Nantra" chain of boutique hotels. I stayed in one of their places at Thonglor, it's about a 7-minute walk to Thonglor BTS, and they gave me a deal of 600 baht a night, definitely a boutique style hotel and room. Not a large room but has all the conveniences you would want, and the area is very upscale with a nice mall 1 minute away.

I think you're being a bit harsh - The Nantra Retreat and Spa, Thonglor is currently asking 1.7k Baht per night on the hotel website, 1.4k Baht per night from Agoda and 2k Baht per night on Latestays. Do you have a link to get the 600 Baht rate? I often stay in that part of town when I'm in BKK, and that sounds like a really good deal for that particular property - even if the Group describes its properties as Budget, rather than Boutique.

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Thanks to you all guys. I was just looking for a decent accommodation, not preferably a dorm, but a room with shower, AC and a freezer. I don't need a TV, but expect a wifi . I saw somewhere they were giving discounts like in Nasa Vegas Hotel (675 Baht/night) which is reasonable. But I'm not so sure if I could get these at a cheaper rate in China town. I once stayed at Marcopolo Guest house, that's one of my favorite. But they don't have "wifi" in their rooms.

Nasa Vegas is a 45-year-old giant dump of a hotel right next to noisy railways tracks and not in central Bangkok at all. Skip it. Nantra normally starts from 800 baht (I was lucky to get 600 at the time) and the room has shower, toilet, minifridge, LCD TV with 30+ channels, strong WiFi (free) and a comfortable big bed. A basic breakfast buffet with bread, fruit, cereal and coffee is also included. You'll be hard pushed to find any hotels in Bangkok with a freezer, unless you rent an apartment type room which will generally be at least 2,500 baht a night.

Just visited the Nantra links. Pretty good given the price range with basic amenities.

Your coming all the way to Thailand to drink beer at the 7/11?

That's some small budget!

Not really.

I didn't mean that. I am comparing the prices around and across the South Asia and the Far East. I mostly travel in the far east, live in Hong Kong, often visit China and Singapore, and occasionally visit Bangkok, since Bangkok is a very beautiful city, and it's all becuase of Thai food, I prefer Bangkok. But since i'm continuously on a move across the region (as a travel photographer), i need to care about some extra expenses. One thing that brings me back to Bangkok again and again is the lovely combination of Thai cuisine which I enjoy with few pints of beer.

If I find the similar things (say a bottle of wine) at a lower price in some other departmental store, say Family Mart, i wouldn't bother to buy if that place is far away from my hotel.

You sure you've been into Singapore? Since when dirt & noise & traffic jams makes Bangkok better than Singapore? I live in Bangkok for 3 years and it is anything but "Beautiful".

I agree I would not describe Bangkok as beautiful. Wat Pho is thought.

Nothing beautiful about the people either they wouldn't even piss on you if you were on fire LMFAO

Thai cuisine is pretty good. I did not say Bangkok is more beautiful or organized like Singapore. It is highly urbanized, but less developed than Singapore, or even KL. I love Thai food which is rich in variety.

^ Well I assume those were just simple stains since i recall spilling wine on my passport. But anyway, that mattered so i had to get a new one.

That's tampering a Passport. Probably she would require to apply for a new one. Let me tell you this; I got my visa rejected in Singapore a couple of years back since my passport which was although not tampered, but the color of my passport's pages changed so I had to get a new one. Immigration officers are very strict on this.

Your coming all the way to Thailand to drink beer at the 7/11?

That's some small budget!

Not really.

I didn't mean that. I am comparing the prices around and across the South Asia and the Far East. I mostly travel in the far east, live in Hong Kong, often visit China and Singapore, and occasionally visit Bangkok, since Bangkok is a very beautiful city, and it's all becuase of Thai food, I prefer Bangkok. But since i'm continuously on a move across the region (as a travel photographer), i need to care about some extra expenses. One thing that brings me back to Bangkok again and again is the lovely combination of Thai cuisine which I enjoy with few pints of beer.

If I find the similar things (say a bottle of wine) at a lower price in some other departmental store, say Family Mart, i wouldn't bother to buy if that place is far away from my hotel.

I would say Bangkok is an interesting city and, to a photographer, might even be beautiful as a subject. But I'd hardly call it beautiful in the style and design senses.

Anyway, beer is far cheaper anywhere but in Thailand. Cambodia anything from 15 to 30 baht, Vietnam from 15 to 30 baht in bars and restaurants.

Edit: Forgot that alcohol taxes went up by quite a jump last year.

You still get the cheapest beer-- "Beer" beer in Hong kong which costs no more than 10 Baht or HK $2. That's probably the cheapest one you can get anywhere in the world, adjusted for inflation.

Carlsberg HK $ 6 +

Heineken $ 8

Stroh $ 5 (330 ml)

Ice $ 5 (500 ml)

Just give you some comparative prices: in HK $

Goa $ 4 Tuborg

Bangalore $ 5.5

Singapore $ 10 (42 Baht- 330 ml)

Kuala Lumpur $ 18 (75 Baht) probably the most costliest in Asia (ex-Japan).

I know people that came up from the bottom of their field to acquire formidable skills in their profession without attending college. They organically learned by themselves and developed a high level of performance power in the area of expertise; if you can do the job and you do it well no one can deny that ability and you will be unquestionably a valuable asset.

I have a good friend that is a robotics engineer for Mitsubishi, never went to collage learned mostly from books and the internet, he started at the bottom learning while working for different companies then he opened his own company designing and selling automation machines. Finally he was head hunted by Mitsubishi and given a pay package he couldn’t refuse. They were stunned when they found he only had a high school education but it didn’t matter to them he had the ability they wanted not just a fancy piece of paper, the actual skill.

If you have sufficient desire to become a teacher in Thailand and acquire the skill, no one can stop you from attaining that goal.

I agree with you on that, but keep in mind that such examples are rare, and exceptional; i.e., not common.

A degree matters most these days, and particularly that too-- in a relevant field.

Teaching English is not a joke. A maths teacher may not be able to teach English and vice verse unless she has a good command over the language (subject). Students should be taught how to avoid grammatical errors from the very beginning of their lessons. Children might risk learning poor or bad English, for which they would perhaps need to struggle in their entire future lives.

This would be a mistake to assume that all native speakers are good teachers, while at the same time, its a misconception that all good English teacher must be natives.

You can't blame the system. They can't really evaluate your skills unless you show some competence.

Omyim Lodge www.omyimgroup.com

30 meters from Chong Nonsi sky train station and just 7 mins walk from Silom and Patpong.

Promotion for June 2014

We offer 30% Discount from daily room rates

Room Type A : Rate 763 Baht ( Normal rate 1090 Baht ( Without Breakfast ))

Room Type B : Rate 833 Baht ( Normal rate 1190 Baht ( Without Breakfast ))

Room Type C : Rate 903 Baht ( Normal rate 1290 Baht ( Without Breakfast ))

Room Type D : Rate 973 Baht ( Normal rate 1390 Baht ( Without Breakfast ))

Thanks, that's pretty decent. Do they have wifi?

I have heard as cheap as 300-400 baht A night.But your talking about dormitory type stile,no air conditioning.Not my cup of tea

No, I'm not looking for a dorm. I would prefer to stay on the streets than to crowd in a congested dorm given if I don't get rooms to sleep. Yes indeed, you have decent dorms in Tokyo and Hong Kong (Wanchai), but that's a different story.

You have no idea, do you? Try the "Nantra" chain of boutique hotels. I stayed in one of their places at Thonglor, it's about a 7-minute walk to Thonglor BTS, and they gave me a deal of 600 baht a night, definitely a boutique style hotel and room. Not a large room but has all the conveniences you would want, and the area is very upscale with a nice mall 1 minute away.

I think you're being a bit harsh - The Nantra Retreat and Spa, Thonglor is currently asking 1.7k Baht per night on the hotel website, 1.4k Baht per night from Agoda and 2k Baht per night on Latestays. Do you have a link to get the 600 Baht rate? I often stay in that part of town when I'm in BKK, and that sounds like a really good deal for that particular property - even if the Group describes its properties as Budget, rather than Boutique.

Screen Shot 2014-06-23 at 20.44.37.png

Thanks to you all guys. I was just looking for a decent accommodation, not preferably a dorm, but a room with shower, AC and a freezer. I don't need a TV, but expect a wifi . I saw somewhere they were giving discounts like in Nasa Vegas Hotel (675 Baht/night) which is reasonable. But I'm not so sure if I could get these at a cheaper rate in China town. I once stayed at Marcopolo Guest house, that's one of my favorite. But they don't have "wifi" in their rooms.

Really OP if you want to transform the Thai Society into intellectual economy (since you want to teach children who are considered the future of any country), and if you really care about teaching the students in proper way by means of proper methods, you yourself need to be educated first in the art of teaching. Degrees do matter, but not as much as if, if you really have a good grasp over the subjects. Degree is just a prerequisite, consider it as a valid metrics to measure your competency. I've seen a lot of people with degrees but no conceptual understanding of the subjects they were taught or they are about to teach, and yet I've also seen some people with little formal education but highly competent in the matters of teaching. These guys according to me, are "truly" learned. Yet they may not be scholars

A teacher must have repertoires to teach her students, and should garner some respect either on account of his/her academic credentials, or teaching abilities. Those who have at least any one of these qualities, are still acceptable. Those who do not have any of these qualities, are no better than swindlers.

Your coming all the way to Thailand to drink beer at the 7/11?

That's some small budget!

Not really.

I didn't mean that. I am comparing the prices around and across the South Asia and the Far East. I mostly travel in the far east, live in Hong Kong, often visit China and Singapore, and occasionally visit Bangkok, since Bangkok is a very beautiful city, and it's all becuase of Thai food, I prefer Bangkok. But since i'm continuously on a move across the region (as a travel photographer), i need to care about some extra expenses. One thing that brings me back to Bangkok again and again is the lovely combination of Thai cuisine which I enjoy with few pints of beer.

If I find the similar things (say a bottle of wine) at a lower price in some other departmental store, say Family Mart, i wouldn't bother to buy if that place is far away from my hotel.

Yet another senseless violent crime on Phuket.

Must have been drugged up local youths, as robbery doesn't appear to be the motive.

I hope they apprehend them quickly, and get them off the streets, for the public's safety.

They should be brought to justice. These things can't be tolerated in a tourist-friendly place like Phuket.

If I recall correctly, last time i had a beer in Bangkok from the 7/11, it cost me approx. 24 baht (the cheapest one). That was 2013. I've seen that alcoholic beverages, more particularly beer prices have increased in recent periods. When compared to other city-states like Hong Kong, where a 300 ml Carlsberg generally comes at HK$ 6 (which is equalto 25 Baht ) at local convenience stores. My friends quote me that beer prices have indeed increased as one might not find the same price now.

Is it true? Can you guys confirm this?I mean if the price increase are at both the departmental stores and general shops in Bangkok? I'm on a budget.

Hi All,

I'm just curious if you guys have any idea about cheap-to-moderate accommodations near or at the city center in Bangkok. As far as I get the listings from Travel portals like hostels.com, agoda etc., I find that most of the hotels near Silom city center are fairly high-priced ( ). But some of these boutique hotels charge you anywhere between Baht 800-1000 per night. I am looking for some relatively cheap, but decent place to stay in Bangkok: i.e., in an area which is most probably not too far from Silom, neither too near to noisy areas like khaosan.

Also, please list if you know any budget accommodations in Pahurat or Yaowarat area. Last time when I was in Thailand, I used to stay at Khaosan, but which proved to be too much noisy and disturbing until I moved into Thonburi.

Thanks in advance.