TheSiemReaper

^45 sqm ? ..Thats huge and big enough for one permanent resident at least .Lived in similar for several years ,although now with wife and family i live in a 3 bedroom house .

How is 45 sqm huge? It's a box not a home.

Leave it outside. Wait for someone to steal it... problem solved.

....I will definitely use condoms when receiving oral sex from any woman in Cambodia and even protected intercourse with a condom worries me as they aren't a 100% guarantee. Has anyone on here received unprotected oral and come away from it without an std?

real men dont kiss and tell LOL

but here's a little

i have NEVER had oral sex with a condom>> whats that like, did u pay for it?

Dengue ( i got it here in Phuket) is MUCH worse than any std,

Have also had Hep A and Malaria but not in Cambodia

I haven't had any vaccination's in decades an been living here since the 80's

Personally i think u should remain in Japan, ur not ready for Cambodia nor is Cambodia ready for you.

Well, I usually get both unprotected and protected oral from different sex partners, but if I meet with a sex worker...I definitely use protection every time. I used to receive oral from sex workers unprotected and I would get an std almost every time. There are some super thin condoms here in Japan that actually grant some feeling, unlike most condoms that just feel like they numbed you down there lol.

I'm sorry to hear that you got dengue, Hep A and malaria.

Would you say dengue was much worse than Hep A and malaria as well? I heard malaria sucks because there is no vaccine, so you have to take pills for it to go away.

About how long to the symptoms of these terrible infections start to go away after you take some medicine/receive an injection?

Malaria is much worse than dengue most of the time. And there is no way to cure malaria - you just have to ride it out. Same for dengue.

NO, not at all! this is a laid back place, a heaven for who seek for tropical beach

Lol. You must have led a very sheltered life to consider Sihanoukville heaven. There are many, many nicer (and equally cost-effective) beach resorts in South East Asia.

Having just spent the morning in the morgue - I'm not really looking to argue over this. The person in question was often a bit of a plonker. However, it does appear that the accident occurred because he was cut up on the road by the other driver. Sadly, if he'd been wearing a helmet; he'd probably have been OK. As is he's never going to be OK again. He was 38 years old. Show a little decency and save casting stones until you stop sinning yourselves.

We've had this discussion this week already. You can ship a new Kindle from Amazon to Thailand as long as it is not the ad-supported model. You can ship an ad-supported brand new one for less money using a seller on Ebay selling brand new ones. Postage on ebay includes taxes in Thailand. The ad-network doesn't function in Thailand.

It's almost impossible that a foreigner will not have a wallet on him be it a expat or a tourist, more likely scenario

would be that he was relieved of his valuables by a heartless bystander or other person/s unknown right

after the accident....it has been known to be widely practiced in many places around the world....

Almost impossible? BS, I don't even have a wallet. I only take cash with me. And if I think I might run out of cash, my ATM card.

To the poster above, sorry you lost your friend. But these stupid farang on motorbikes are killing Thai people all the time. Who is going to pay for the Thai woman's injuries/loss of income/ wrecked motorbike? If she recovers she will be scarred for life because of his stupidity/ selfishness.

Was the farang even insured? They are a burden on the hospital system here.

These farangs make Thailand dangerous for Thai people going about their lives. I know a Russian bloke who killed a Thai woman on a bike in Pattaya two years ago. He admits it was his fault, he fought tooth and nail not to pay compensation to the girls family (spent time in jail rather than coughing up about $5,000), he had no insurance, no license and absolutely no remorse.

He did cop a severe beating at the scene from the angry Thais who witnessed it.

Yes, he was insured. And accidents happen - I suspect that as many farang (if not more) are injured by Thais than vice-versa.

I know this guy and he was my friend. It's not at all impossible he wasn't carrying a wallet as he only ever carried cash. He'd had an argument with his girlfriend before he went out in a huff. RIP my friend.

And can we not speculate about people's motives here - he had nothing but good things to say about Thai people and indeed the Thai police who had helped him out only a couple of nights before.

If you walk into a bank in Thailand; dressed smartly, with a passport and a rental contract, with a Thai (who can translate) in tow and a decent sum of money to deposit - you will have no issues whatsoever opening an account both local or foreign currency. If, on the other hand, you turn up in a wifebeater, shorts and sandals with 1,000 Baht and a tourist visa - you will be told to sling your hook 9 times out of 10.

If the bank thinks you're a decent person with large sums of money available to them - they will want your business. If they think you're an ignorant *** with no money - not so much.

It's Asia so do things the Asian way. Or don't and whine about it on ThaiVisa instead.

Nancy has the right of this; it took a tourist visa, a rental contract and a nice Thai co-signatory to open my account in Bangkok Bank. No other documentation required; which is as it should be according to their internal processes.

Thanks everybody. My normal electric bill is very low, about 430 baht or so. And I love it like that. It's a no brainer. I don't have a lot of extra cash lying around so it is important to me to keep expenses down when I can. I don't use AC too much, just occasionally at night in the hot season. I keep reading about inverter tech, also applied to Air Con. Can someone tell me what it means? We do cook at home quite a bit but it is just the two of us. I can get a new 9.2 something-or-other Electrolux at half price for 7500. It's only about 2000 more than the smaller 5.2 something-or-other (is that cubic feet?). I was awed by it's beauty and the half price deal. So the question came up in my mind is it going to just be that extra 2000 baht initial splurge or am I going to be paying a lot more electric every month and cursing myself? I suppose it's not an AC where the "cold" just ebbs away quickly. It is retained.

Any input on the Electrolux brand? All I know is that they used to have vacuum's that cost an arm and a leg sold door to door.

When your electricity bill is that low... it's possible it might have a dramatic impact. I can't imagine ever getting my bill that low... even when I turned off the A/C for most of a month in Winter it was more than double that.... somewhat envious really.

What's your current electric bill? It would be easier to tell what a "substantial increase" means if you shared that piece of information.

5555. No.

Using a shared Wi-Fi connection? They're probably blocking torrent clients as they see you gobble up data. They're blocked in my apartment block too... so I use my 4G connection instead.

As I've said several times now, I've HAD a Kindle. I've used a Kindle. I've also had and used Kobo and Sony e-book readers. Lots of experience with them. AND, experience with the iPad Mini. I find it to be every bit as good an e-reader (or better!) than all of the dedicated e-readers. This statement is based on several years of experience with both styles, not on advertising copy. Please stick with your Kindle if you wish to. But when you want to read Time magazine, or a science book with color diagrams, let us know and we'll lend you our iPads.

I'll stick to a laptop for those things. Bigger screen, much better for diagrams, images, etc. works incredibly well and has done for years. Does much more than an iPad Mini ever could too...

My Kindle works fine with diagrams and images. Sure, it doesn't do colour - how many books with colour pictures do most adults purchase or read? When it comes to that kind of work - the book is usually very expensive and best rendered as an actual book with lovely, shiny, glossy photo quality that no screen will render as well (because calibration issues).

Simple. Adults with different priorities to yours. Your 'solution' is not the only one and misses the whole point as to why people may wish to use an e-reader. Just because YOU only wish to read b/w text books doesn't mean that others do and it doesn't make your preference for hard copy books where colour is involved the best option for many.

Yeah, answering a different question doesn't actually progress a conversation. How many books with colour pictures do most adults purchase or read? The answer is very few.

More to the point those that care about rendering images buy paper books at that point. And if they wanted them on a screen - they'd probably choose something bigger than an iPad Mini with its limited screen real estate to view it on.

This is borne out by sales of devices, sales of books and indeed the way publishers approach these things in general. You can yowl for the iPad Mini all you like; it's a great general device. It is, however, not a very good e-reader and that won't change no matter how much you would like it to.

You can't turn backlighting off on an iPad Mini. The screen is lit from behind (as are all such screens) thus the light shines directly into your eyes. No light = no image. It's the same as turning the screen off.

Kindle uses an E-ink screen and there is no lighting used to produce the image at all (it's a black image) and then (with the Paperwhite) a light is projected forward onto the screen (hence front-lit) to enable the text to be easier to read.

There is no comparison in terms of ease on the eye between backlit and frontlit (just like a book) devices. You can do much more with an iPad Mini but there is a trade off for that functionality and that includes - it's a poorer e-reader for those who read a lot.

I stand corrected... You can't turn off the backlighting 'completely.' What you can do is adjust it to a comfortable level for 'most anyone's comfort.' I find that I keep mine at about 3/4ths intensity, just as I do my phone. I read a couple of hours on my Mini every day, and find it just as comfortable as I did when reading on my Kindle.Or my Kobo. Or my Sony reader, all of which were e-ink designs. So really no trade-off at all, except that you can do so much more with it. I'm not really sure why you think its "a poorer e-reader for those who read a lot" though.... Have you spent much time reading on a Mini to make that comparison? I've spent a few years with Kindle, Kobo, and Sony readers, and now a few years using the Mini iPad. If anything, the ONLY significant drawback to the Mini would be that it's a bit heavier than the dedicated e-readers, so if you prefer to read in bed, plus have strength problems with your hand, I'd certainly recommend an e-reader over a Mini. Other than that, for reading comfort, they are about the same (despite the advertising to the contrary,) there is no need for external library software for file conversions if you want to read other formats, and the prices reflect the limitations of the e-readers.

It is a poorer e-reader because it's a back-lit, heavier device, with lousy battery life. There is no comparison between any kind of tablet, mini-tablet, or smartphone and a dedicated e-reader in terms of quality of reading experience. That's the trade off. There would be no dedicated e-reading devices if the tablets/smartphones did a better job of it.

It's the same reason that a DSLR and a good lens beats your iPad Mini's camera. That a top of the range MP3 player eats your iPad Mini for lunch when it comes to music playback. And so on...

Generalist devices are always going to be worse at a job than specialist ones. I have no issue with what you read on at all (they're your eyes) but there is zero doubt (read all the tech press for confirmation) that the Kindle is the best possible device on the market today for reading books on. It doesn't matter how much you love your iPad Mini - it doesn't do the job as well as a Kindle but in exchange it does lots more jobs than the Kindle.

Also, reading in direct sunlight on a shiny reflective screen with no front lighting? No fun at all.

Provided you don't read ANY books that contain ANY images / diagrams or whatever, and especially any that are reliant on colour, in which case, it doesn't matter how much you love your Kindle, in those cases it doesn't do the job as well as a well specced tablet. Boils down to what you need it for. As to the weight, Ipad Mini is heavier sure. 298 gm vs 205 gm for the Kindle. We're not talking massive difference or earthshaking changes in comfort. There is no 'one size fits all' best. The Kindle is best ONLY for text only books. It simply boils down to what the INDIVIDUAL needs it for and, in some cases, the Kindle is crap.

My Kindle works fine with diagrams and images. Sure, it doesn't do colour - how many books with colour pictures do most adults purchase or read? When it comes to that kind of work - the book is usually very expensive and best rendered as an actual book with lovely, shiny, glossy photo quality that no screen will render as well (because calibration issues).

No flights out of Battambang. You'd be better off doing your Vietnam visa through a travel agent in Siem Reap - yes, it costs extra but not as much as wasting a day travelling to Battambang and back. Though Battambang is genuinely lovely - worth seeing and won't take more than a day or two to see.

But yes, you'd need to return to Siem Reap or head to Bangkok to fly to Vietnam after visiting Battambang.

Traveling back to Bangkok to head east to Vietnam would be a ridiculous waste of time and money. There are numerous flights out of Siem Reap and also Phnom Penh. However, by the time you wait for the plane to leave you could already be in Ho Chi Minh just by catching a bus. Or a taxi to Phnom Penh then a bus. The bus service from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh now takes around 30 minutes less than it used to since the opening of the Mekong River bridge at Neak Luong. From Battambang to Ho Chi Minh can easily be done in under a day.

It might be a ridiculous waste of time to go to Bangkok to fly but it is much cheaper than flying from Siem Reap thanks to budget airline availability. The bus from SR to PP is about the most miserable experience in Asia and worth avoiding - same for taxis. Better to fly to PP on Basaka (or other budget airline). The bus journey from PP to HCMC is quite nice and the border is one hundred million times better than Poipet but it is, as with all bus journeys in Cambodia and Vietnam, incredibly long for the tiny distance you are travelling.

​It will take far longer to travel back to Bangkok from Siem Reap, than from Battambang (or Siem Reap) to Phnom Penh. And by the time you've shelled out for a bus to Bangkok, or a taxi to Poipet and then some other transport (van or bus to Bangkok) plus taxi back to the airport, any cost savings compared to flying from Siem Reap will have been eroded.

Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh by bus is now 5 to 5.5 hours, used to be 6. It may only be 240km, but it doesn't take "incredibly long" and it includes up to an hour spent at the border including a meal stop (20-30 mins for the meal stop and 30 mins at the border).

Unless you're a cheap Charlie, a taxi from either Battambang or Siem Reap to Phnom Penh shouldn't cost all the world and you can be in Phnom Penh in around 3.5-4 hours from Battambang, 4-5 from Siem Reap. I've had drivers who've brought me from Battambang to Phnom Penh in as little as 2h45m, though 3.5 hours is more realistic.

From Siem Reap to Bangkok will take 7-8 hours in the direct bus, and a similar amount of time if you catch a taxi to Poipet, where it could take you an hour before you are on the Thai side and from there it's still around 4 hours to Suvarnabhumi airport, assuming you catch the Aran-Suvarnabhumi bus (which doesn't even leave from Rong Kluea market but from the bus station 6km away), otherwise the minivans don't even go that way but will take you to Bang Na Trat road or Rama 9, bypassing the airport altogether.

All in all, a poor suggestion. Travelling directly eastward to Vietnam, whether by plane, bus or taxi, or a combination thereof is the way to go. Now if the OP were flying to Singapore or Manila, that would be a different story (even with direct flights from Cambodia) - going to Bangkok would make sense.

I have done Siem Reap to Bangkok (using taxis) on a regular basis in 5 hours (and occasionally less). It's a much better journey than Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. The airport assuming you fly from Survanabhumi is actually less far than Bangkok central too.

Me, I'd fly from Siem Reap because costs are not an issue. I would never catch another bus in Cambodia and will catch taxis only when flying is impractical (for example when moving large volumes of stuff - my last flight from Bangkok was business class with 60Kg of luggage, I couldn't fly it out of Siem Reap though because the excess baggage would have been crippling and there's no business class from SR to Bangkok), so I took a taxi to Bangkok and the airport.

5 and a half hours plus the border is not a reasonable time to travel 240 km. I've done PP to HCMC on a bus and the actual time taken was closer to 8 hours. Not as bad as the bus from SR to Bangkok which took more than 14 hours mind you. Basically **** using a bus in Cambodia. Though I liked the trip across the Mekong on a bus that was pleasant but not worth the other 8 hours of being on a bus. I would rather shoot myself than go on a bus from SR to PP or from Battambang to PP.

However, the OP asked about Bangkok and it is a viable alternative to going to PP. It's 5 hours from SR to Bangkok airport and then a 2 hour flight to HCMC. That's 7 hours. It's 4-5 hours from SR to PP in a taxi or a 1 hour flight. Then it's 5-8 hours on a bus. That's 6 - 13 hours of travel time.

Yes, you can store a thousand books on an iPad-Mini if you want to, but I doubt you'd need to. I find 50-100 at a time gives me more than enough choice when I've finished one and want to start another. And yes, ALL of the various reading aps that you can use in the Mini will 'bookmark' your place, and re-open to it if you wish. Or, if you read two or three books at the same time (I like to read one 'thriller/action' book and one philosophy or science book at the same time, switching as my mood hits) you can open to which ever bookmark you wish. You can annotate if that is your style, use dictionaries, link, etc., etc.... You can add the Kindle app so your Mini can read 'mobi' format books, or half a dozen other e-book reader apps so you never have to deal with changing formats. It even comes standard with "iBooks,' Apples own multi-format reader that can also be used for Audiobooks which will also 'bookmark' so you can listen to your favorite book while walking or driving. Apple's audiobook format is m4b, which will start up from where you left off, so you don't have to search as you might have to with mp3 audiobooks.

The backlighting on an iPad-Mini is completely adjustable. You can turn it off if you wish too, keep it low or turn it high. You can change fonts in ALL books, not just a select few, adjust font size, line spacing, page margins... completely shape the page to your own preferences. I read 2-3 hours a day on an iPad-Mini, but there IS one serious drawback to them.... Because you can so so much MORE than just read a book on a Mini, you might be tempted to make a Skype call to your friend, watch a new movie, read the news from BBC, CNN, or Bloomberg, learn how to cook Pad Grapow Gai, look up the answer to a question, or keep track of your stock portfolio. For me, (and it's why I switched away from a Kindle, Kobo, and Sony readers which I used for years,) I only want to carry ONE device that can do everything I want, not just read a book. Kindles are great. They just don't do enough.

You can't turn backlighting off on an iPad Mini. The screen is lit from behind (as are all such screens) thus the light shines directly into your eyes. No light = no image. It's the same as turning the screen off.

Kindle uses an E-ink screen and there is no lighting used to produce the image at all (it's a black image) and then (with the Paperwhite) a light is projected forward onto the screen (hence front-lit) to enable the text to be easier to read.

There is no comparison in terms of ease on the eye between backlit and frontlit (just like a book) devices. You can do much more with an iPad Mini but there is a trade off for that functionality and that includes - it's a poorer e-reader for those who read a lot.

I stand corrected... You can't turn off the backlighting 'completely.' What you can do is adjust it to a comfortable level for 'most anyone's comfort.' I find that I keep mine at about 3/4ths intensity, just as I do my phone. I read a couple of hours on my Mini every day, and find it just as comfortable as I did when reading on my Kindle.Or my Kobo. Or my Sony reader, all of which were e-ink designs. So really no trade-off at all, except that you can do so much more with it. I'm not really sure why you think its "a poorer e-reader for those who read a lot" though.... Have you spent much time reading on a Mini to make that comparison? I've spent a few years with Kindle, Kobo, and Sony readers, and now a few years using the Mini iPad. If anything, the ONLY significant drawback to the Mini would be that it's a bit heavier than the dedicated e-readers, so if you prefer to read in bed, plus have strength problems with your hand, I'd certainly recommend an e-reader over a Mini. Other than that, for reading comfort, they are about the same (despite the advertising to the contrary,) there is no need for external library software for file conversions if you want to read other formats, and the prices reflect the limitations of the e-readers.

It is a poorer e-reader because it's a back-lit, heavier device, with lousy battery life. There is no comparison between any kind of tablet, mini-tablet, or smartphone and a dedicated e-reader in terms of quality of reading experience. That's the trade off. There would be no dedicated e-reading devices if the tablets/smartphones did a better job of it.

It's the same reason that a DSLR and a good lens beats your iPad Mini's camera. That a top of the range MP3 player eats your iPad Mini for lunch when it comes to music playback. And so on...

Generalist devices are always going to be worse at a job than specialist ones. I have no issue with what you read on at all (they're your eyes) but there is zero doubt (read all the tech press for confirmation) that the Kindle is the best possible device on the market today for reading books on. It doesn't matter how much you love your iPad Mini - it doesn't do the job as well as a Kindle but in exchange it does lots more jobs than the Kindle.

Also, reading in direct sunlight on a shiny reflective screen with no front lighting? No fun at all.

Sorry about the B2S screw up. One of many senior moments. I was wondering if the Ipad mini4 will store all the books as well as open them to where I left off. Or any of the other devices that people use. I do read a lot and have an extensive library. Also do all the other devices have a list I can just go to and click on the book. Sorry for the questions but I really am not tech savvy at all.

Yes, you can store a thousand books on an iPad-Mini if you want to, but I doubt you'd need to. I find 50-100 at a time gives me more than enough choice when I've finished one and want to start another. And yes, ALL of the various reading aps that you can use in the Mini will 'bookmark' your place, and re-open to it if you wish. Or, if you read two or three books at the same time (I like to read one 'thriller/action' book and one philosophy or science book at the same time, switching as my mood hits) you can open to which ever bookmark you wish. You can annotate if that is your style, use dictionaries, link, etc., etc.... You can add the Kindle app so your Mini can read 'mobi' format books, or half a dozen other e-book reader apps so you never have to deal with changing formats. It even comes standard with "iBooks,' Apples own multi-format reader that can also be used for Audiobooks which will also 'bookmark' so you can listen to your favorite book while walking or driving. Apple's audiobook format is m4b, which will start up from where you left off, so you don't have to search as you might have to with mp3 audiobooks.

Sorry about the B2S screw up. One of many senior moments. I was wondering if the Ipad mini4 will store all the books as well as open them to where I left off. Or any of the other devices that people use. I do read a lot and have an extensive library. Also do all the other devices have a list I can just go to and click on the book. Sorry for the questions but I really am not tech savvy at all.

As long as you're using some kind of library software - yes. The trouble with an iPad Mini is it's backlit and that means over time; it's much more hard work to read on than it is to read on a Kindle. No biggie if you don't read much but I read 5-10 novels a week on my Kindle and I couldn't do it on an iPad.

The backlighting on an iPad-Mini is completely adjustable. You can turn it off if you wish too, keep it low or turn it high. You can change fonts in ALL books, not just a select few, adjust font size, line spacing, page margins... completely shape the page to your own preferences. I read 2-3 hours a day on an iPad-Mini, but there IS one serious drawback to them.... Because you can so so much MORE than just read a book on a Mini, you might be tempted to make a Skype call to your friend, watch a new movie, read the news from BBC, CNN, or Bloomberg, learn how to cook Pad Grapow Gai, look up the answer to a question, or keep track of your stock portfolio. For me, (and it's why I switched away from a Kindle, Kobo, and Sony readers which I used for years,) I only want to carry ONE device that can do everything I want, not just read a book. Kindles are great. They just don't do enough.

You can't turn backlighting off on an iPad Mini. The screen is lit from behind (as are all such screens) thus the light shines directly into your eyes. No light = no image. It's the same as turning the screen off.

Kindle uses an E-ink screen and there is no lighting used to produce the image at all (it's a black image) and then (with the Paperwhite) a light is projected forward onto the screen (hence front-lit) to enable the text to be easier to read.

There is no comparison in terms of ease on the eye between backlit and frontlit (just like a book) devices. You can do much more with an iPad Mini but there is a trade off for that functionality and that includes - it's a poorer e-reader for those who read a lot.

I guess my definition of a good burger must differ from some of these places that serve up burgers made with this tower trend. Stuffed full of salad, pickles, gunk and whatever and stacked 9" high with a crap burger that they've tried to make look like a fillet steak, smothered in cheap mayo and/or some other dressing.

My idea of a good burger is a tasty moist patty, maybe with a leaf or two of lettuce, tomato and onion AND that I can then eat with one hand and enjoy it without having to snap my jaw bone open to eat it, without squirting 8 oz of gunk and goo all over the place our without having to resort to using a knife and fork. Places that serve up stuff looking like the above pic to me have lost the plot as to what a burger is.

I don't really want any kind of salad on burger; it's not health food, there's no need to pretend. Cheese and bacon are excellent accompaniments. I can live with mushrooms, eggs, more cheese, even more cheese, and that's about it. When I want a salad, I'll have a salad. No need to mix two meal concepts to come up with something less tasty than either on their own. In particular veggies make the bun soggy on a burger... and I hate that.

Better just to agree that nowhere's perfect and we all have our preferences. For me Thailand is paradise compared to some of the places that I have lived and it's OK compared to some of the others but it has what I need at this point in my life. That's enough for me. No need for lists of what's right or wrong with anywhere. We are the fortunate few in the world who can choose where we live rather than having that forced upon us through economic circumstances... whenever you don't like somewhere so much it's become intolerable - leave and don't look back.

I saw the Paperwhite in B2S today (not sure what B2K is but I could only see one shop selling them in Central - B2S). As has been said, price I think is the problem. As with many things here: Electronics + Import = Mega Bucks. Double the price compared to the USA - 7,990 baht. Bargain. Not!!!

I only find Kindles useful for novels and I don't read enough of those to have a device dedicated to it. Unless you want to faff around with EBay I'd much rather pay the 5,000 more for an iPad Mini 4 that can do all the things that it can do BESIDES being an e-reader AND display books reliant on graphics and / or colour MUCH better than an Kindle. That's just my circs though, if I wanted something JUST for novels or B&W text a Kindle would be fine, but definitely not at double the price.

Sorry about the B2S screw up. One of many senior moments. I was wondering if the Ipad mini4 will store all the books as well as open them to where I left off. Or any of the other devices that people use. I do read a lot and have an extensive library. Also do all the other devices have a list I can just go to and click on the book. Sorry for the questions but I really am not tech savvy at all.

As long as you're using some kind of library software - yes. The trouble with an iPad Mini is it's backlit and that means over time; it's much more hard work to read on than it is to read on a Kindle. No biggie if you don't read much but I read 5-10 novels a week on my Kindle and I couldn't do it on an iPad.

Is it best to get the early ? And somebody told me if you pay extra you can jump the queue is that correct.

You can pay to jump the queue but if someone grasses you up - you'll lose your money and be sent to the back of the line...

I think the Kindle that won't ship to Thailand is the one that comes cheaper because of the ads. Pay a bit more and get the ad-free one. I ordered one for my son , a Paperwhite model about a month ago. Yes, comes by UPS in about a week. If you order via Fleabay is the warantee valid?

You are correct. I didn't pay attention to that in my post above. When I bought mine a few years ago and shipped here, it was without ads.

Kindle Paperwhite 3G, 6" High-Resolution Display (300 ppi) with Built-in Light, Free 3G + Wi-Fi

by Amazon

Price: $209.99 Free Shipping for Prime Members

Select connectivity and other options after adding to cart

In Stock.

This item ships to Mai Rim, Thailand. Learn more

Ships from and sold by Amazon Digital Services LLC. Gift-wrap available.

Connectivity: Wi-Fi + Free 3G

Much cheaper without the ads... and they don't work in Thailand anyway. :-) So, it appears I was half-right, half-wrong, mea culpa. :-) I'd still go the ebay route again, I think.

Why not just go to B2K at the Festival Central and get one there?

Cost. It's much cheaper to do it via Ebay.