fm2002

That does sound very high. How much do the other restaurants you listed charge for corkage?

Out of interest, how much was a comparable bottle of wine to the one you took?

Most around 250 baht - 500 baht tops.

It's funny you ask about comparable bottle. I brought a Cloudy Bay Sauv Blanc which I purchased for around $26 USD or about 858 baht. It just so happened that when I finished the bottle they asked if I would like another ? They obviously thought I had bought it from them. I replied you have this wine and they responded yes. I asked how much and I think it was around 3000 baht !!!

I agree, paying corkage fee is fine, but not 950 Bt.

BTW, where did you get your Cloudy Bay? having trouble accessing good NZ wines here.

My friend brought it over for me from Australia. You can however get a good selection/quality Australian and French Duty Free wine in Vientianne and at the exit points into Thailand. Your allowed 2 bottles each person, but you can probably bring more. I do

<br />It would have been smart to check the corkage fee before bringing and drinking your own wine, would'nt you say? <img src="style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> <br />But I do agree that the fee is way out of line <img src="style_emoticons/default/mad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="mad.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

First of all, the OP has my sympathy -- that's a very high corkage fee.

I learned a long time ago to always ask the price here in Thailand before accepting the goods or service. I strongly suspect that if you had inquired before presenting the bottle, the fee would have been substantially lower. It seems that Thais have the belief that if farang don't ask about the price of something, they don't care how much they pay, so it's fair to stick them with ridiculous charges. After all, in most Thai people's eyes all farang are rich-rich-rich.

It would be interesting to see what fee is quoted if somebody phoned the restaurant, explaining that they would like to bring a group of people and bottle or two of wine. I would bet big that they wouldn't have the gall to quote the 950 baht you paid.

To make sure I called Mantra a few minutes before posting and they confirmed 950 baht.

That does sound very high. How much do the other restaurants you listed charge for corkage?

Out of interest, how much was a comparable bottle of wine to the one you took?

Most around 250 baht - 500 baht tops.

It's funny you ask about comparable bottle. I brought a Cloudy Bay Sauv Blanc which I purchased for around $26 USD or about 858 baht. It just so happened that when I finished the bottle they asked if I would like another ? They obviously thought I had bought it from them. I replied you have this wine and they responded yes. I asked how much and I think it was around 3000 baht !!!

Wanted to give everybody interested in the Mantra to be aware of the corkage fee they are charging. Below is an email I sent to them about a week ago that remains unanswered.

[To Whom it May Concern

I wanted to give you the opportunity to respond to a complaint I have concerning your corkage fee. Recently I had the pleasure of being invited by some friends to join them for Sunday Brunch at Mantra. As I'm a wine collector I thought it would be nice to bring along a nice bottle. We had a very nice meal and we asked for the bill. When I checked what the corkage fee was (950 baht) at first I thought it was a mistake. After we questioned the charge we were surprised that in fact it was correct. Let me say I was fully prepared to accept a reasonable corkage charge. I have eaten and paid corkage fees all over the world including Thailand and I have to say I have never experienced one as high as yours! The typical charge being $8-15 USD up to maybe $20 USD at the top restaurants in New York, San Francisco.

I think the venue and food is superb, but unless you lower your corkage fee I'm afraid I will not return.

Frank

Pattaya Resident]

Now I understand the amount to compare is dependant upon the country of exchange you use and as the USD is being pounded right now, is the extreme. However whatever denomination you may use or if you compare with other top Thailand restaurants, I still feel it is excessive.

Honestly I would love to return, but as anyone that enjoys wine would attest Thailand is a terrible place to find value. I myself find it impossible to justify the high cost you must pay to enjoy a good quality wine when eating out. So I'm left with the choice of no wine or bringing my own. Most of the top restaurants in Pattaya; Au bu Coin, Mata Hari, Casa Pascal etc. have reasonable corkage fees. Perhaps those that agree with my assessment with the corkage fee being charged at Mantra also emailed them they may reconsider.

You can email them your comments here:

[email protected]

(if posting their email is not allowed moderator please remove, but please do not delete the remaining content)

Yes - you will have to obtain the Lao visa on entry but can then enter/exit and return to Thailand.

Thanks again lopburi3 for the hoped for quick response from you !

It'll take about an hour for the round trip and about $35 US for the Lao visa on arrival, get that, stamp into country, keep walking forward then around to your left, and head back out.  If you want, hit the duty free shops across the pavement where the out-bound cars are in line.  Believe only ONE carton of cigs and ONE bottle of booze or wine allowed on the Thai side.

Cookbook for crossing below.

Mac

Vientiane via Nong Khai

-- If arriving Nong Khai via bus or train, take a tuk tuk to the Friendship Bridge, aka “bai sapan.”

- There's a large area prior to the Thai Immigration point where you can get a van across the bridge, along with a bunch of other passengers, baht 10 or baht 20 per person. Just queue at the window and pay. If you don't want to wait for the passenger van, or have lots of bags or kids with you, an option is to charter a van for the trip across the bridge. I often do this, about baht 250-300 and it's all yours, no waiting, easy loading of bags. To get one, at the queue window, just say “mao lot van,” which is rent a van.

-- If driving up, can leave your car in the pretty secure locked up storage area, baht 100/day.

-- If a Thai doesn't have a passport they can get a 2-3 day “border pass” there at the small office just behind the van queue area, baht 150 or so and a 20 minute or so wait. If the Thai has a passport, Lao visa is FREE and good for 30 days.

-- For others, get on your van, it'll drive to the Thai exit point, get out and go through the exit point. Get back in your van for the trip across the river, five minutes.

-- On the Lao side get out and you'll see two windows at Lao Immigration, go there and pickup a Visa On Arrival form, fill it out and turn in with your passport and a photo, cost $30-$35, or a bit more if paying in baht. Wait. Hopefully you'll have arrived prior to a bus full of tourists. You should also receive a Lao Arrival Card, can fill this out while waiting for your VOA.

-- Pick up your passport with the Visa On Arrival stamped or glued into it. Note the visa # and date, write this in on your Lao Arrival card.

-- Proceed straight ahead 30 feet or so to the Lao “arrival” booths, get a chop in your passport.

-- Go straight ahead again to another booth, perhaps pay baht 10-20 or not, varies, haven't yet figured out what this is really for.

-- Proceed on ahead to a uniformed cop sitting at the exit gate, show him your passport with visa, arrival chop, and receipt from the baht 10-20 booth. End of story.

-- Almost the end, now to get downtown, it's a 20 km drive depending on which way the drive goes. Lots of tuk tuks and taxis around, some vans, too.

-- A taxi will run about baht 250-300, a van baht 400. Opt for a van if lots of people or bags. To get a van just say “lot tou.”

-- End of story, really.

Thanks for the step by step

Yes - you will have to obtain the Lao visa on entry but can then enter/exit and return to Thailand.

Thanks again lopburi3 for the hoped for quick response from you !

Driving up early tommorow in my own vehicle from Khon Kaen to Nong Khai for a visa run. I'm a US citizen and have been on a Tourist Visa double entry (2 of them) for the last 180 days. My question is all I want is a 30 day stamp and am wondering if I can just drive up to Friendship bridge park my truck, exit Thailand, enter Laos and just turn around and re-enter Thailand ?

I'm looking for professional personal trainer, foreigner with good recommendations to bring me back to shape towards August. Preferably in Pattaya area, but I would consider Bangkok as well. Please post here or PM me. Thanks in advance.

I know of 2 such trainers in Pattaya, although you would have to be a member of Fairtex (Sports Complex) to work with them.

If you want a female trainers, there is a trainer called Suzanne who is good, and works with a few women there. She's actually a muaythai instructor, but from what I've seen in the gym and her training clients, she actually looks like a good pt. Plus she looks like a personal trainer - great body. It's also hard to miss her - clearly the tallest girl at fairtex with model looks.

Not to sure about her knowledge about nutrition - which is actually more important than you think. Nothing worse than a personal trainer who looks like shit and thinks they know everything just because they've done some course to become a "personal trainer".

The other trainer is actually my husband. While he doesn't work at Fairtex (or anyone for that fact), he will do personal training but only for guests/members of Fairtex in Pattaya. As for experience, he's a multi Australian Bodybuilding Champion and Mr.Universe, trainer & advisor of numerous australian (as well as a number of thai and other international competitors), international bodybuilding and female bb & figure champions (including myself ). He also does a lot of work with athletes from different sports in regards to nutrition.

Normally I only recommend female trainers for females only because male trainers will train female clients like men, but Shane is actually one of the few males than know how to train women. He also tells things like it is, so if you ask for an opinion - be prepared for the truth (if you don't want an honest opinion - do not ask Shane). He also prefers that clients to LEARN how to train themselves and not to rely on a personal trainer long term. A trainer can teach and advise you only so much, but it is up to the client to put what they learn into practice and make necessary lifestyle changes (the nutritional side) into practice. He says that money is best spent on those things to help you make these changes (gym membership/food/supps/etc) rather than paying a personal trainer long term.

Di

I'm a member at Fairtex and am curious what your husband charges ? Need help in both areas, but nutrition is most needed. 42 yr. old male.

I too fly this route about once a year and in the past have flown with China Airlines as their price was the cheapest business class seat I could find out of BKK. After doing a check today with the same exact dates found that EVA and China are exactly the same price. Will fly with EVA next time. In addition to newer planes I get miles. Thanks for the heads up !

In the lobby of the Star Hotel is a small cigar bar. Actually nice selection of Cuban cigars. Not sure how the recent smoking ban has affected them ?

I would highly recommend you give it another try. I've been golfing and running tournaments for my friends for 5 years. The courses you listed are in my opinion lower quality and if you tried the others you would be impressed. In fact most of my mates that come over to play twice a year are from Australia.

DMax owners,

I have a DMax GT 4x4 limited edition in black. I'm looking for accessories for it.

Hi fm2002

Hope your as happy with your Dmax as i am with mine. If you can be more specific, I (and others) may be able to help. What did Isuzu put on the beast to start with????

Dave (LS GT 4x4 4door)

Hey Dave. As maybe you remember I have the same exact truck as yours. I'm really not sure what I want ??? Be great if I could choose from a catalog or go to a shop that have all on display. SPecifically would like to have a dash cover to protect from sunlight and cracking it and maybe a hardtop for the trunk that fits flush and also can be removed without too much hassle.

Hi fm2002

I have seen a spares calalogue for Dmax at my dealers and it has most things in it that were standard on our model truck plus an extra chrome strip for the rear tailgate. I was given one of those 'carpet runners' for the dash and threw it away!! I have added reversing sensors (x4) and I think that was a good improvement. They even glow blue when activated . Carryboy seem to be the marketleaders for back-boxes and can be obtained from nearly all traders.

Dmax Dave

Dave,

Thanks for the reply. I agree a dash cover made of carpet would be an eye sore. However if I could find one made of leather matching the dashes cover I might consider it. I've considered the reversing sensors and/or the reversing camera. Is it just me but I have trouble guaging distance with the left and right rearview mirrors ??

DMax owners,

I have a DMax GT 4x4 limited edition in black. I'm looking for accessories for it.

Hi fm2002

Hope your as happy with your Dmax as i am with mine. If you can be more specific, I (and others) may be able to help. What did Isuzu put on the beast to start with????

Dave (LS GT 4x4 4door)

Hey Dave. As maybe you remember I have the same exact truck as yours. I'm really not sure what I want ??? Be great if I could choose from a catalog or go to a shop that have all on display. SPecifically would like to have a dash cover to protect from sunlight and cracking it and maybe a hardtop for the trunk that fits flush and also can be removed without too much hassle.

DMax owners,

I have a DMax GT 4x4 limited edition in black. I'm looking for accessories for it. Any one stop shops out there where I can see what's available to choose from ? I live in Pattaya and the place recommended on Sukhumvit next to the dealership wasn't really helpful.

Thanks

Never mind.. I have found the Garmin source v8 ones.

I have read on a site that is discussing conversion and unlocking (hence shall not be named) that the rotwieler maps are ERSI v7 maps simply with the copyright changed.. not good form if true as he is selling them (whatever you call that donation system !!)..

Some experimenting to be done.. Theres a cheap 6900 WinCE format GPS with Thai maps for sale at SE-ED books.. Wonder what map conversions are possible.

http://www.se-ed.com/eshop/NonBook/NonBook...mp;TypeMCode=LL

Thats the unit.. Price is now 6900 not whats listed in that webpage..

Nice looking little unit, small enough to go on MB handlebars also... All hinges on how good the maps and OS are tho.. The Garmin Nuvi range are pretty slick and run many other mapping systems. You can get a 250 non widescreen for 100 GBP on amazon.co.uk.. Also the 200w (widescreen) for 105 GBP..

Anyone else playing with cGPSMapper ??

I have a GARMIN NUVI 200W v8. You say "are pretty slick and run many other mapping systems". Can you list which ones, where you can get them and how they work ???

i think the name of the massage is called "chok wow"

Most shops should be familiar with the this technique so you should have no problems when you request it.

I tried but my masseuse just looked puzzled and said she knew nothing about kite flying.

:D

Suprised it took this long for these type of responses.

I started a post about a week ago asking about Mountain Bikes for sale in Pattaya. The only reply I got was one recommending the 3000 baht bike from Tesco. Glad I waited and had a chance to read this thread.

I to was once into biking. Back home collecting dust is my Greg Lamond fitted out w top of the Shimano. I think it weighs about an ounce. Well perhaps a bit more. I am not looking for anything like that. Just something I can ride to the gym and back 4-5 times a week (wishful thinking) and maybe something I can throw into the back of my truck and have something to ride around when get to wherever I'm visiting.

Any recommendations to shops in Pattaya where I can find good quality bikes at fair prices ???

Several years ago, on a routinue blood screening, my doctor noticed a low testostorone level. He prescribed a gel that I had to rub on my shoulders and chest. I was able to fill the prescription in the US, but have not been able to find this "testostorone gel" in Thailand. I like to stay away from injections and would rather do a gel rather than a pill. Any ideas where I might find a transdermal form of testostorone? Is Fascino's a good place to start?

Without asking Bumrungrad offered it to me. Can't remember exactly, but believe it was 2000+ baht. Really not sure if that is expensive for gel ??? Knowing Bumrungrad it probably is.

I want to start by saying I am no expert and in fact have alot to learn about HRT. Also would like to add, you really need to do your own research ! One of the BEST sources to do this is www.lef.org They have alot of information on HRT. In fact they offer a very comprehensive blood test to determine where your levels are. (HAVING YOUR BLOOD TESTED TO DETERMINE YOUR BASELINE IS VERY IMPORTANT ! ) Unfortunately you can only avail of this if you live in the USA. What I did was to take there list of tests they do and try to find someone who could do the same. As I live in Pattaya I went to PIC and BPH. When I showed them the list they were not prepared and if they could do it it would be very costly. The closest I could find was at the Wellness Center at BKK Bumrungrad and it wasn't cheap, but they could preform 90% of the tests needed.

Once I had the results as a member of LEF.org I was able to call them up and speak to a U.S. doctor to go through one by one my levels. First we spoke about supplements and other options. Have to admit I didn't bring up steroids, but I did bring up HGH and he was more than willing to discuss this with me.

DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH & HAVE YOUR BLOOD TESTED !

Hope this helps.

Too big to bring in your suitcase as luggage? It doesn't sound as though you are really "importing " the stuff, rather using it during your stay.

In hindsight that would of been the way to go, but I'm here in Thailand now and the idea of diving wasn't originally planned on.

You face taxes in Thailand or a bond which will be refunded when you ship the stuff out of Thailand

Any idea on what the tax % would be or is the tax % base and value estimation at the discretion of the Customs agent ? Can you explain the bond procedure ? I'm of course willing to do my research so if you don't know the answers to my above questions can you point me to where I might find them ?

Planning on doing some diving and thought I would air ship my personal video equipment to me here in Thailand. I have a business associate in the Philippines and so I thought I would first ship it there and than have it shipped over here. Well it's been a nightmare in Manila and after 1 week it's stuck there. I've been told it should be released soon, but after I pay way too much in taxes.

Before I have them ship it on to me in Thailand I would like to ask for advice. I'm a US citizen on a 60 day Tourist Visa. The goods comprise of a video camcorder, underwater housing and associated accessories. All are 7+ years old and I no longer have receipts.

Help !

I will never be one to claim I can read minds so nor do I know or care if KhunOr has an agenda or not. One thing I do know is his/her post was very informative and if it saves just 1 unfortunate animal from a untimely death it was worth every word whether it be bold, Arial, Verdana or #$%^ font.

Any animal that becomes a pet also becomes completely dependant and at the mercy of the owner and anyone who decides to become an owner should accept, respect and cherish this responsibility. Unquestionable companionship is a wonderful thing to experience not to waste away in a small sweaty cage!

Have been contemplating buying a dog for a while now. I've been putting it off because I have not yet acquired a semi permanent residence. One where I would know would be suitable for a pet. Second, I'm trying to determine which breed would fit Thailand’s warm climate. I have always owned Labs. My last one being Chocolate. However I'm not sure they would be able to acclimatize. Lastly, after fulfilling the first requirements I need to find a respectable breeder. I WOULD NEVER BUY FROM A MARKET! Not that you can't find loving puppies there, but instead would not want to promote, what KhunOr described, puppy mills in the business just for the quick buck.

Have looked at some ads of breeders, but love to hear from anyone out there who might know of a respectable Labrador Retreiver breeder. As mentioned not sure, but just in case.

I'm in Pattaya and would like to buy a second hand Mountain Bike.

If you have one that you would like to sell please send description, price and photo by PM'ing me here.

You are not likely to obtain more than a single entry in either location. I believe Penang has stopped the requirement to produce an air ticket out but you could be met by that requirement if not.

Wow. Received double entry from Vientianne both times with no problem. Might have to rethink my travel plans.