MissAnge

i agree with fruitbatt, i think it is our responsibility to NOT visit these human zoos.... there are so many other amazing things to do up in the north of thailand.

there are responsible ways to visit the hill tribes and you can support them by buying hand made products directly from them. hopefully some chiang mai ladies will post info about some of the more reputable tourist agencies that provide tours to nearby craft villages.

having said my bit... at the end of the day it is up to you what you do!

my boyfriend spends most weekends out and about at different fishing parks in tonburi. he doesn't like bung sam lan all that much as he is too worried that his rod will break! he much prefers the 20-30kg range of catfish.... pm me if you want details and i can do my best to get them for you.

also, he always buys thai fishing magazines, they are all in thai of course but the fishing parks always advertise in and there are usually maps as most fishing parks i know are in the middle of nowhere!

MYMA, I'm not particularly fussy with my hair, have the same thing done everytime and am happy with the 80 baht cut and blow dry i get in my soi... however, I have friends, who like you want a quality cut and colour and they always go to Toni and Guy, they pay for it too, but it's still never more than it would be in UK pounds... I think they go to Siam Paragon? I can find out....

There is an addidas outlet on Ramkamheang Rd, well past the uni in the same block as tops supermarket (no idea what soi number, almost as far as sammakorn moo barn?).

Wouldn't go as far as saying that it's a warehouse but you can get some cheap shoes and gear there - although it's hit and miss.

I came over first when I was about 20, spent a few weeks between Ko Samui and Ko Phan Ngan. I loved it, was convinced that I was going to places no one had EVER been to. Drank way too much, stayed in cheap awesome bungalows that were everything I thought Thailand was about... and I felt safe. I've been back a few times since, am not so blind to the million other tourists that are there, buy I still always feel safe and have a good time.

I also think that Krabi is great - especially if you are quite happy going from one beach to another. It seems to be a little more expensive than the islands - although some people may disagree with me there.

They may not be into temples, but you need to make them go to at least Wat Pra Keow (Sp?) and tell them to have a massage at Wat Po....

hope this helps....

I also tend to do a big shop at home it's almost depressing trying to shop here. Marks and Spencer is expensive, but its good quality... good friend told me she found Next at Central World Plaza (is that what it's called now?) that carried larger sizes and cheaper prices than M&S... there are some cheap tailors out there too, take your fabric in and something to copy.... i still ask mum to send me stuff when i get really desperate!

I know of 3 International schools that have been raided over the past couple of days. Am I allowed to mention the names? One school (a deep shaft with water at the bottom and a bucket attached to a pulley) was raided and all foreign teachers taken to 'jail' till late last night. Just wondering if I am ok if my work permit is in process?

depends on where you ride - i cycle to work every day BUT live very near and don´t have to ride on any major streets. in that case i would really think carefully if it is possible. and of course - you are the weakest link and have always to be reday for braking, just the same if your "opponent" is a dog or a lorry...i never trust anyone besides myself ;o)

i enjoy it - but only under the circumstances i have...

give it a try. if you are a confident rider and riding predominantley in daylight you shouldn't have any problems. one of the most bizzarre things about bangkok riding is it is totally flat, and way faster than driving. confidence and skill however are necessary

thanks for all the advice (and concerns!) I guess I will just have to give it a go! I am pretty sure that I can keep off the main roads for most of the way so that should make life a little easier... one more question though: anyone know about taking bikes on the BTS or MRT?

For any ladies in bangkok who are interested, the bangkok netball league is about to get underway for the 06/07 season. There will be a second registration evening next Monday at New International School Thailand from 7pm (I think?!)... check out www.bangkoknetball.com for more details.

all are welcome - both new and experienced - it's a great way to meet new folk.

Send the mormons central office in Thailand an email. They ride bicycles all around Thailand -- even in Bangkok. true.

Not a bad idea! I do see those lads riding about a fair bit!

For those concerned that I would sit in an office all day sweating like a crack addict, thanks for the concern, but yes I do have shower facilities at work.

is there anyone out there who rides to work?

I have done a few searches for information, but I thought I would post anyway to see if anyone can offer anything a little more positive...

I am getting quite tired of sitting on a bus and getting nowhere fast so I am thinking of getting myself a good bicycle and hitting the pavement to get to work. But there are a few things I would like to know first...

Can I carry my bike on the BTS, MRT or Chao Praya Boats?

How bad is the pollution for my health? Will a fancy face mask/filter thing be good enough to stop my lungs from going black?

I am a confident bike rider, am I likely to killed (keeping in mind that I will be travelling in peak hour when nothing's really moving at all?)

Any advice would be great (advice from people who do commute on a pushy would be even better!)

Cheers

...... as an English teacher in the elementary school at Bangkok Christian College....

i find this interesting that the school being mentioned is Bangkok Christian, this doesn't explain the media circus that surrounded New Sathorn International School today.... i've a feeling that after he was let go from Bangkok Christian, NSIS may have made him an offer....

Did he have a job here in Bangkok? If so, does anyone think that this might be enough to convince schools to do background checks of their teachers?

Then again, who am I kidding....

Luckily I don't offend too easily or the shop names would put me off!

I should take a lead from you Sylvafern! I am obviously offended too easily as I just can't bring myself to shop at the FATTY SHOP!

There are also FATTY stalls at Fashion Island and Central Pinklao that I have come across. I get cheap shirts ('genuine' espirit, chaps etc) from sammakorn market for about 150 baht. Not great quality, usually turf them after a few months, but they are cheap enough and good for work.

Hi, I am currently in Melbourne and need to apply for a Non Imm B visa. I've all the documents from my employer, and they have stated on the letter that I will be applying for a multiple entry visa. My concern is that once I return to Bangkok and the school goes through the process of obtaining my work permit and extending my visa for a year that it will then only be a single entry unless I pay 3800 baht at the time of extension to keep it as a multiple entry. I can't be sure, but I think this is what a friend ended up having to do at some stage. If it's the case that I will still need to pay the 3800 baht for multple entry permit wouldn't I be better off just getting the single (as its 90 aussie dollars compared with 225).

Hopefully this makes sense to someone?!

Any advice would be great.

Thanks for all of your advice, really appreciate it... now all I need to do is lose a couple of kilos and then I will make arrangements for the photo shoot!!!

Hi, hoping somebody could offer some advice.

I am hoping to get some photographs taken of myself and my fiance as a present for my Mum. I am just wondering if there is a rule about the colour we should wear considering that he has beautiful dark skin and mine is considerably whiter. I always feel that I appear even whiter than normal when we have shots together, are there colours that each of us should wear that will compliment the both of us? Do we wear the same colour, different colours, it doesn't matter?? I've no idea....

any advice would be great

Outback Steakhouse Siam but bit pricey. Cheaper to fly to Brisbane and have a good steak there. Well almost

I've often wondered about this place, just how pricey is it? What would you think the bill would hit for 2 small starters and 2 steak dinners (who am I kidding, 2 desserts as well! )

have to agree about the world of lemmings Boo It might now mean that size 0 ladies will head straight to the clinic for DD boobs and spend the rest of their days trying to keep themselves upright!

my lovely other half always says "more than a handful is a waste" (I'm sure he would say something else if I were more, well, umm, breasty? )

Hi there Listenup, it seems that he might have to have a couple of birthday dinners!

i will keep an eye out for that book, sounds great.... (if only i didn't have to wait for birthdays to get my bloke to go out for a nice dinner with me! he says that there is nothing more romantic than sen lek naam for 20 baht!)

thanks for the link Lopburi, Neils tavern looks great....

can i just quickly add that dinner isn't the only thing for his bday... i will be letting him invite a whole truck load of his mates over for a stupid amount of whiskey which i have stupidly paid for!

I am looking for a nice place for dinner where I can get a great steak! I don't really want to go to an English pub style place, prefer a nicer restaraunt... want to take my boyf for his 30th bday, and it's the only farang food that he'll go for!

(we're in bangkok by the way.... any suggestions welcome!)

I need some advice, perhaps a point to the right thread or answer straight up....

I currently work at an international school here in bangkok, and come september I will be working for another. My new employer has assumed I will be going home for the "summer" break and has sent me the documents that I would need if I were applying for a new Non Imm B visa in Melbourne. However I am not going home, and while I could do a quick trip to Singapore, Penang or somewhere, I was wondering if I had to leave at all? I've had (as have workmates in similar situations) conflicting information about this. Some say you must leave, others saying if both schools cooperate then there is no need to leave (by this I can only assume that my Non - Imm B will be transferred?)

Any info would be great!

i am also thinking of heading into Laos for a 3 week holiday in july... anybody know about travelling at this time of year? i am a bit concerned that we might be rained out? (sorry to take this thread on a slight tangent jaylord)