adelwich

OK. I lied! One last question.

I'd like to make an early morning trip to Doi Suthep to get one last look at this beautiful city. I can wake up very early, or just stay up very late. Does anyone know the best time in the morning to do this? This probably sounds like a stupid question -- nay, it is a stupid question -- but can you see the sunrise from the temple? (I'm not entirely oriented as far as east/west is concerned, but it seems like the temple should face east.) And, finally, where would I go -- early in the morning -- to catch a songthaew that will take me there?

Thanks!!!

Aaron

Hi,

My summer in Thailand is drawing to an end. (sob!) Just wanted to say "thanks" to everyone on the board for all of your help with various questions. I have just one last question:

Spilled a drink on my very nice gaming laptop, and ended up buying a second laptop to do all of my work. When I get back to the states, the insurance company will either fix or replace the gaming laptop.

It was already going to be difficult to bring two laptops on the plane, but in the wake of the current hysteria, it seems practically impossible. (I'm not worried about the international leg. It's getting from Los Angeles to San Antonio that troubles me.)

So, I was wondering if anyone might have suggestions about the best place to go in Chiang Mai for shipping a single laptop back to the United States. Price is a concern, as is safe packing of the equipment.

Thanks again. You are all very lucky to live here, even if there *is* the possibility of the occasional earthquake.

Aaron

Hi,

My notebook is on the brink of collapse, and I was wondering if it is possible to lease/rent machines for short-term use (e.g. two weeks) in Thailand.

Can't imagine that this is actually possible, but figured that it was worth asking.

Thanks!

Aaron

Bummer!

Oh well. I would have signed up for it anyway. Was just hoping that I would be able to use it on this end of my trip. Thanks, Monty!

Hutch does not have coverage in Chiang Mai!

So there is no internet access over there. Voice and SMS is available though through a roaming agreement Hutch has with CAT...

Major drawback of Hutch is indeed the limited coverage, basically greater Bangkok, Eastern Seaboard and a bit in the South...

http://www.hutch.co.th/networkcoverage/web...coverage_en.htm

Hi,

While in Bangkok last month, I jumped through endless hurdles to sign up for Hutch's "wireless broadband" plan. The speed is terrible -- sometimes even slower than dial-up -- but it's nice to have an always-on connection.

I will be in Chiang Mai for the next two weeks, writing and researching. Assumed that I would be able to use the modem, but the error messge says: "Access was denied because the username and/or password was invalid on the domain."

Apparently, this is a generic Windows message. Found a Microsoft document, and none of the troubleshooting tips worked.

I wonder if there is a different number that people call in Chiang Mai to reach Hutch? Is it even a viable option up here? I'm currently dialing #777. It makes sense that there woudl be a different number for this area. I mean, at the end of the day, we're talking about a modem here.

Also, can anyone point me toward useful resources for Hutch technical support? Their site is a nightmare to navigate even with a higher speed connection.

Thanks for your help!

Aaron

Thanks!

Aaron

Hi,

I contemplated posting this message in the "travel" forum, but my question is not really about travel. It's really about finding a good place to work productively.

As my ten week work-vacation in Thailand comes to an end, I am hoping to find a comfortable location where I can hide out for a week to write up my research and prepare my syllabi for next semester back in the US.

Ideally, I would like to find a nice hotel that offers an excellent deal for long-stay (7-10 day) packages. Flat rate high-speed Internet access is essential. I'm willing to pay a bit extra for the Internet access as long as I don't get taken to the cleaners. If the hotel itself does not have Internet access, I might be able to use my Hutch wireless broadband but the Hutch connection has been unstable and slow.

It would also be nice if the hotel and surrounding area encouraged some sort of relaxation. I'm not averse to a healthy nightlife nearby, but will spend most of my time holed up back in my room. I considered visiting Pattaya and trying to find a hotel that is away from the nightlife, but don't know if it is possible to find relaxing facilities in that region.

Lastly -- if it is not too picky -- a decent fitness center would be awesome.

Does anyone have suggestions about where I might seek out such a retreat? I've budgeted approximately 2000 baht per night on lodging, after the long-stay rate is factored in. I've considered going back to Chiang Mai for a week, but figure that I should probably seek out exposure to someplace new.

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Aaron

Thanks all. The head of the department has signed a letter, and I will bring this back to the merchant. Hope it works, though your messages have given me a sinking feeling.

If this doesn't work, I will fall back on dial-up for now. Does anyone know if the ADSL providers also require a work permit in order to subscribe to broadband Internet?

Just out of curiosity, does anyone have any theories about the reasoning behind this requirement? It seems very odd. It's like requiring that someone have work permit in order to make an international phone call.

Aaron

Hi,

Apologies if this is a FAQ. I quickly searched the forums, but have limited Internet access and could not dig too deeply.

I am a visiting scholar from the United States, and have been hired by Ramhkhamaeng University to teach two courses during the summer. Armed with my letter from the director of the institute, I was issued an employment ( visa from the Houston office. No problem, right? I am supposed to teach from July 1 through August.

After being completely reamed for Internet access by Genesis Blue in Chiangmai, I resolved to sign up for the Hutch wireless broadband package. It isn't cheap, but it's significantly less than the crooks at Genesis Blue charged.

But... Hutch says you have to have a work permit to sign up for the wireless broadband account. What is the deal with that? I showed them my visa type, and a soft copy of the letter from the Institute director. They've asked for a signed hard copy of the letter, which is fine. I'm working on that now, but am worried that this will not be enough. Is a "work permit" different than the B visa that was already issued? How long does it take to get? And why on earth do they require this in order to sign up for broadband Internet access?

(I was going to make a comment about how unfair this policy seems to be, but I'm an American citizen and I've heard from colleagues in many other countries that our Immigration office is even worse, so I'll just bite my tongue.)

As a related side-note: Any recommendations for quick and dirty dialup providers in case Hutch continues to block my efforts?

I just keep telling myself.... "Cool heart. Cool heart. Don't get upset. Cool heart. It will all work out. Don't be a stupid farang who loses it. Cool heart." But I'm like a junkie when it comes to net access!

Thanks,

Aaron

Next week, I begin teaching college courses at Ramkhamaeng University. Especially during the first few class meetings, I would like to dress up. I'm hoping to wear a sports coat or blazer, with nice dress shoes, slacks, shirt, a thin tie, and belt. I'm not actually trying to find a suit, but a lightweight and crisp look that conveys my respect for the students and the university.

I guess this would be analogous to something you might find at Banana Republic (in the US), Armani Exchange (in HK), and G2000 Men (in HK). I'm tall and relatively slender, and am able to fit into Thai sizes.

I hope to find something that balances cost and quality. I will be wearing these clothes back in the states as well, so I should be getting something that won't fall apart in a few months.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Men, what are your favorite places to shop? Women, where do you wish your men would shop?

Thanks in advance for your time!

Aaron

Wow. My previous posting was deleted because it was bilingual. I'm very shocked, but realize that I'm a guest in these forums, this city and this country and should follow the rules. Apologies for using Thai in the previous message.

My name is Aaron Delwiche, and I'm a visiting professor from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Contrary to widespread misperception, Trinity is a small liberal arts college and *not* some sort of evangelical institution like Bob Jones University. The number of religiously-inclined students is surely higher than the national average, but that can also be attributed to the location of the school in Texas. We have a historic connection to the Presbytarian church, but this has no impact on the courses or the teachers that are hired.

I am studying the popularity of on-line games among Chiang Mai gamers, and would love to speak to people in the area who play these games. Perhaps you play such games yourself? Or your kids might play? Or the friends of your kids? Or colleagues at work?

If so, please tell them about this project. If they are bilingual, I can interview them on my own at any time. If they prefer to conduct the interview in Thai, my colleagues can help with translation and interpretation. For more details, see:

http://www.trinity.edu/adelwich/thai/index.html

This is not connected to any marketing projects. Findings from the study will be posted on the web site in both Thai and English. I will also report on the findings in articles and conference papers. For more background on me, see:

http://delwiche.livejournal.com

http://www.trinity.edu/adelwich/worlds/students.html

http://www.trinity.edu/adelwich/mmo/students.html

Those of you who are shocked that games are a legitimate study for academic research are encouraged to investigate:

http://terranova.blogs.com

Also, I should note that anyone under the age of 18 must have the permision of their parents or guardians. And all interviews will be conducted in a safe, public place such as a coffee shop or restaurant in a public mall. If parents would like to be present during the interviews, this is also OK. I can interview both of you at the same time.

Also, in case it is not clear from the above explanation, we are also interested in talking with gamers of *any* age, from teenagers to 70+.

Thanks for your help. Feel free to send any questions to me at the addresses on the project site.

Aaron

A friend just directed me to a very useful resource for calculating appropriate wages for skilled labor in Thailand. I posted it in the jobs/investment forum at:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=71793

I hope that others find this useful. Thanks to everyone for your help.

Aaron

This posting is intended to highlight a terrific reference that can be used to determine what constitutes a fair wage in Thailand.

The Board of Investment of Thailand maintains a useful breakdown of labor costs for skilled job categories in Thailand. This chart should be very helpful for visiting scholars, writers and foreign investors who are working with Thai citizens.

For experienced workers, the BOI recommends the following:

+ Executive secretary (35,000 baht per month)

+ Sales (22,000 baht per month)

+ Office staff (15,000 baht per month)

+ Office manager (49,995 baht per month)

+ Web designer (27 - 38,000 baht per month)

+ Programmer (24 - 27,000 baht per month)

+ Information Technology (90 - 100,000 baht per month)

Entry-level positions are also detailed:

+ Computer programmer (14,000 baht per month)

+ Accountant (16,250 per month)

+ Customer service (7,700 per month)

+ HR manager (22,500 per month)

+ PR manager (18,000 per month)

As of June 2006, these are considered fair wages to pay skilled knowledge workers in Thailand. The site will surely be updated regularly, so be sure to check this address for the latest figures:

http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/labor_costs.asp

[Edited by Scouse.]

Hi Chanchao, Black Artemis, and Mark45y,

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my message. Your recommendations are sincerely appreciated.

Aaron

Are you going to do questions on gaming? I have a few thai friends all 20-21 and fluent in English.

Hi Black Artemis,

That's great. As a matter of fact, I *will* be asking about gaming. I'll send you a private e-mail with my contact information. Thanks!

Aaron

Hi,

After living in Texas for the past two years, the opportunity to spend a month in Chiang Mai is thrilling. I envy those of you who have made this city your long term home.

As a relative newbie, I have a ridiculously long list of questions for more experienced city residents. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions that you can provide for any of these questions.

Aaron

-----

1. During the next two months, I will be hiring two or three bilingual research assistants to help with a research project that examines game parlors and on-line games. What would be a reasonable hourly rate for this type of skilled work?

2. If one needed to talk with a doctor about refilling a legitimate but relatively obscure prescription (i.e. not something stocked in most Thai pharmacies), where would be the best place to go?

3. Is there a tobacco shop in town that would be likely to carry Export A cigarettes?

4. What is the best way to view Thai popular movies with English subtitles? Do most Thai movies in the theater have English subtitles? What about DVDs? I realize that some people have low opinions of Thai films, but I enjoy all types of popular culture.

5. This is probably a pipe dream, but can anyone recommend bars, clubs or coffee shops that encourage relaxed conversation between farang and Thai youth (18 - 40)? I'm not looking for a pickup joint, just someplace where my girlfriend and I might be able to informally chat with Thai youth.

6. In a similar vein, can anyone recommend bars, clubs or coffee shops that are good places for meeting expats in Chiang Mai? We've investigated a few bars, but people are usually deeply involved in conversation with their friends. Are there regularly scheduled events that focus on meeting newcomers?

7. Can anyone recommend a shop where one might find affordable t-shirts created by Thai designers? For an example from Bangkok, see:

http://www.gridskipper.com/travel/bangkok/...gkok-173024.php

8. Short of wearing a suit, what is the most appropriate way for a man in his mid 30's to dress when meeting with Thai colleagues? Are polo shirts common? Should the shirt always be tucked in a professional context?

9. In your opinion, what are the best cooking schools in town? Are there any schools that we should be sure to avoid?

Thanks again for taking time to consider these questions! If this thread remains archived, the answers might be useful to other visitors in the future.