SDH

Riverside is the restaurant/bar isn't it?  Part of it is open air I think?

That wasn't the one I was describing.

My geography of Chiang Mai isn't so great, but it was about 10mins from the town centre.

The cool bar I went to had big glass windows looking out to the garden, a small bar next to the band area.

I think I remember a lot of blue/green lights, and the toilet area had low walls at the urinals/wash basins.

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Sounds like "Song Saleung " to me. Out west on Canal Rd.

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Song Saleung...You evr been there?

No kidding so what happens to him then...Does he just go away or what?

Well, I doubt there is a concrete list of what bribe is needed for what situation, but anything 'serious' that you can still bribe your way out of on the spot involves this double withdrawl thing usually..or so I am told.

I've heard that if you get pulled down to the station it's a different ball game depending on the characters involved.

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I forgot this in my tips to Jesse the other day...

What ever you do try and get out of the shit before you get to the station.....The sh*t has hit the fan at that point and you can bet your a*s 100k isn't going to cover it.

Hah my credit card only has a $1,000 limit

I think the going rate is about 100'000 baht?

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100,000 baht for a get out of jail free card? I will be bringing in $4,500 Canadian...

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Jesse,

Would you be bringing that in cash? If so what date will your flight be arriving? hahahahahaha

I've often wondered if all people are cheaters? I know myself I can be a very good guy for about 2-3 months of time then the next thing you know I'm out cheating wether it be with a woman, man, Thai, Farang or whatever! Sometimes I think it's the copious amounts of booze guzzled that night or day or whenever it happens.....But at other times there's no drinks and most of the situations are some what bizarre (like when room service gets ordered and the drinks come and next thing you know wham bam thank you man, as the other is out shopping) You know times like that.

So is it just me or is everyone a dawg cheater like me???

I have just been made an offer for a position (middle management) with a large multinational insurance company.  The position is based in Bangkok, with the following key requirements:

- MBA from top tier B-school in Europe/Australia/US

- around 5 years experience

I have been offered:

- USD $25,000 base salary per year

- Accommodation for 2 years

- USD$1000 relocate allowance

I am not sure if this is the right kind of money for an MBA graduate in Thailand.  The figure seems pretty low, given that they only want western grads with western experience. 

Anyone have an idea whats the right ballpark?  any website that gives salary range for MBA grads working thailand?

cheers!

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I don't know about MBA grads but for a Thai to get a visa card they need to have a salaried position that pays a minimum of 30 k/baht a month...That's a whooping 731 US/d a month, this is for up and comers as I've been told a visa is very hard to get in Thailand. Now I've got no idea what middle management is anymore so.....

not much more than a small market, pretty dull and slightly depressing. get on a boat to Chang is my advise

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No beach, clubs or fun nothing like that huh sounds dull as it can get.

Thanks Man.

Trat,

I've heard all about the memorial to the sunked ships...but is there anything going on there besides being the gateway to Ko Chang??

It's likely that they only test for methamphetamines.

Don't base a decision to do anything on this, but the reason I say this is the hospital on Beach Rd Soi 4 in Pattaya has done my last two annual exams for my work and I always checked the blocks for comprhensive drug tests whether requested or not (since I was sure I was clean). The hospital stated that they were only capable of meth tests, not THC or others. They would have to send to Bangkok for that. Seems strange to me but TIT.

I know the cops may be using different tests, but the more comprehensive , the more expensive so I bet they only look for the serious stuff.

This is a bad place to even think about doing drugs, just drink heavily like the rest of us.

A pot smoker has THC that may show up a month after the last smoke but I think it's safe here if thats your only drug vice.

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Alright, thanks a bunch.

I never knew about these before and I thought I had done solid research on Thailand! Especially since a lot of the guys I know that have gone there are people into heavy drugs... one guy told me (which I don't believe this at all) that Thai police don't care much about pot just any other drug is taboo and extreme consequences.

He told me a story about some guy with an ounce laying on his bed and the police were looking around other bungalo's due to a break in and his door was open with his bag of pot on the bed and the cops walked in, took all of the baht in his wallet and said "Don't keep your door open." and left.

I have no clue if that is true or not... but, aren't the Thai police also less concerned with farangs because they don't want to mess with their tourism industry so they are more likely to go after Thai's?

I've also heard that Thai police will target Westerners because they get comission off of the bribes farangs pay to get out of jail.

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Jesse,

Research on Thailand and it's ever changing legal system that is multi-layered (poor, middle class, wealthy and ultra stinking rich)is hard to do without actually living here for a while so I'll give you some tips.

1) Don't touch any drugs in Thailand.

2) Don't hang around people that are doing drugs as you're guilty by association (say you're in hotel room and they're doing drugs).

3) If you think it's safe and there's no police presence...think again (they're evrywhere) especially at full moon parties and night clubs.

4) You can be busted for buying dope (any kind) from an under cover cop.

5) The Canadian Govt. cannot and will not even attempt to help you if you're silly enough to get caught.

6) Unless you would like to have a very extended holiday at the Hilton come here and get stupid drunk like all the rest of us.

Have a good trip!!

When the boys in brown show up to the venue selected for "hassle of the night" and line evryone up for the piss test....Does anyone know what happens to those who test positive or purple??

Many times I've read about 200 odd people being hauled down to the station, but that's the last I ever hear.

Hopefully none of the TV members are stupid enough to expose themselves to this situation...However if you have some experience?

What happens if you overspeed the ^ limit ^ on the highway in thailand.

Jail or just a lot of $$$$$$.......

Anyone who can describe this..!

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Sure there's speed limits in Thailand and they have signs along the road just like in farang land...The only difference is they don't use radar much or for that matter photo radar....(This happened to my friend) On the highway the cash cow is the check stop (much more efficient) However some times if you're driving along in a car and pass them they will pull you over (depending on the make of car) and get their cashola right there.

I personally have only been squeezed for speeding when going through the city on my bike @ 150 km's, they were pissed and as they couldn't catch me there, they dropped by the house for their cash 1 k/baht (as I said they were pissed) anyway we had a laugh and they left like nothing happened with me promising to be extra good next time.

Pujun,

You've been asked your nationality and I've not seen the answer, or maybe I'm to stupid to find it! So could you answer ...It's driving me crazy to know and one other question you always talk about travel and other peoples careers but for some reason yours never comes up...Are these guys tricks or friends??

I qut my job today! I was going to quit on the cutoff date for the pay period but going in on a Monday when it will probally be raining? Screw that! Only one less day... 8 less hours $200 less... meh no biggy.

14 days and counting till I visit the kingdom 

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Jesse,

Man I wish I was 19 again I'd quit this "RAT INFESTED SLAVE SHIP" and return home to CM Thailand and relax, ride my bikes and party.

Good for you man you only live once!! Have fun in LOS.

This may sound stupid but I really need some advice on this...yesterday I sent my gf (she works in the same office as me) a text which simply read 'Tired'. However, I buggered up sending it and sent the same message to a totally plutonic female friend of mine at the same time without realising; Leter that evening as we cuddled up to a DVD I got a message back from plutonic friend which read 'Why you tired?'. My gf went stony cold and threw me out of the house. What can I do to sort this out?

HELP!!

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You've got to be joking?

Everyone who has a Thai's around them wether they be GF's or wannabes knows they scan your mobile at regular intervals (say like whenever it's not in your hand or pocket) If she thinks you're a guilty dawg she would've grabbed for that phone and checked sent messages...Here's the problem, if you're not entirely innocent in the text department you will have deleted messages etc.

Good Luck

this is for those of you who have had more than one relationship here.  my thai boyfriend has become a drain on my energy and patience. he is a good guy, but not a good boyfriend. we don't think alike at all, and i just don't feel anything for him anymore.  i am moving to a new house and i don't want him to come along. he has already left in a fit, but he will come back playing sweet and i don't want to fall for it this time. the thing is, i basically support him. should i-

1- let him stay with me until he finds a new place and a job (i already know this one should be NO because he simply never will)

2- buy him a bus ticket home and tell him don't let the door hit his ass on the way out

3- or because he wants to stay in the same village, give him one month's rent to move out, and tell him we can be friends. maybe pay him once in awhile to run me to market until he gets on his feet.

whaddaya think?

I think you should select option # 2 with the exception of buying the bus ticket...Instead invite a few of his buddies over and spend the bus ticket money on Lao Cao and through him a little getting his ass kicked out the door party!

the hard part is not the telling him to leave, it's the making him stay gone. and there might be cultural things i should take into account- advice appreciated!

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I keep noticing the boys in brown stopping all the motorbikes.  They stop people with helmets and with out helmets.  Anybody know what they check for?

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Here's a new one..I'm riding down Mae Jo road and of course not wearing a helmet and don't have a plate or for that matter license, passport nor any other form of identification. However when they pulled me over I did have something they were very very interested in...A large bag of KFC that I was taking home to satisfy the hunger of all the left over drunks at my place. So because I'm not that bright at the best of times the one that stopped me sent me and the chicken over to the Sgt. who was licking his chops with a fat little Corp.....We had a deal one box of chicken which is I think about 10 hunks or 400 baht or so! I was happy and they were feeding their greedy little faces before I turned the corner to my place.