coops

curious as to whether the process is easy or even possible for getting a tourist visa in the following places:

-nepal (kathmandu)

-singapore

-hong kong

-china (shanghai)

-sri lanka

-australia (melbourne)

-vietnam

You can apply for a tourist visa anywhere there's a Thai embassy or consulate...... Singapore is fine, and i haven't ever got one at the others but would be amazed if there's no embassy in Hong Kong or Vietnam - google for thai embassies and you'll find a list for yourself.

You can get multi entry (so i'm told by work colleagues here) in Brunei (!) - which would suit you if you're teetotal.

Can personally confirm they are also available at the Thai Consulate in Baku, Azerbaijan which is possibly exotic enough for you (Azal airlines are ok by the way). In Baku you have to apply thru a travel agent (!), oh look there's one just down the corridor...... and they may ask to see various bits of stuff presumably to stop any old Azeri riff raff from flying over - eg onward flight ticket (to which you reply you'll get it in Bangkok ), Hotel booking etc etc, copies of bank statements - basically showing a Visa card seemed to prove lack of vagrancy status sufficiently. Oh, it'll take a couple of days - unless you tell them you're leaving that night, in which case you can jump the non existant queue and get it later in the afternoon

I am sure this is true, as I trust the source completely. This must be the craziest TIT moment thus far!

Outstanding.

And very believable - after all, any hack of an architect isn't going to screw up something as simple as number of toilets to the extent so far...

Coops

Hi!

We've got some friends visiting who want to do the whole luxury cinema experience thing. They don't really want to have to go too far, so we're looking at somewhere around Siam Square, Central World, Emporium etc.

Now, from what I've heard, EGV Gold Class is meant to be the business (massaging lazyboy chairs, valet service etc), but I've just called the EGV at Siam Discovery and, this being Thailand, the only film they're showing in Gold Class is Mr frikkin' Bean!

I know that the other cinemas offer similar VIP classes, but can anyone advise me as to which one is comparable with EGV Gold Class? I've seen the sofas offered, but they're really after something with the lazyboys and waiter service...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

There's a VIP section at the Esplanade on Ratchadapisek.... the VIP theatres are separate from the regular ones which is good. Seats were 500 bht each - we saw a 3 hour long Narasuan 2 movie, so the lazyboy type chair was well needed....

The seats are grouped in two's - each separate seat has electric control of recline. The two seats are surrounded on 3 sides by a screen type affair - which increases your privacy. You get a pillow and blanket, aswell. Waitress will get your popcorn, coke, beer, cocktail etc etc....

Recommended for the occasional special occasion - think there's 2 or 3 of these VIP only theatres there, so should have a decent range of movie options available.

Good range of restaurants in the basement and ground floor too... (the ice skating rink however is way too small and looked like they'd forgotten to buy a Zamboni....)

Coops

Time to dust off my torpark program!

Word.

Everyone should have a backup like this for bypassing any censorship.

This is one of the best questions I've seen posed on TV. Disappointing that it's not being taken more seriously.......some of us don't have the time to travel to CM for the pew khao poo ying.....and wouldn't mind practicing our Japanese over a bowl of sushi. Some definitive answers appreciated....please.

AUA on Rajadamri - go there to learn thai and you'll find plenty of Japanese girls.

After months - one cute one told me "you're my type" before darting into a classroom..... she was my type too, but her husband with tattoos and half a finger missing put me off.

I wonder if you're the only toyboy on TV??

No.....

I'm 39... and my long term partner is 48.

Coops

I tell him to turn on the meter.

If he doesn't I get out.

Yes, it's as easy as that.

I've never had a cabbie refuse to turn on the meter when I point it out to them,

Basically they're just testing the newbie factor, opportunist abound,

Gave my sister this exact advice - they got out and into the taxi behind, no problem.....

PLUS

PLEASE!!!

DO NOT - NOT - NOT - stand there on the street with your head stuck thru the window discussing where you need to go... for <deleted>'s sake.... GET IN THE TAXI & tell him where you need to go. Any problem, get out and repeat with another taxi. This must be the biggest giveaway that you're ready to be had...

and it really p@isses off other drivers stuck behind your taxi while you ask if he knows where Kao san road is..

coops

But fortunately we are talking about the internet and not a cohesive 'whole' that is ever possible to properly regulate.

Searching around for methods to anonymously and simply circumvent these types of restriction is certain to yield positive results for anyone with half an hour on their hands.

On the other hand, if 30mins is too much of a hassle, get a friend in a 'free' world to email you 'Torpark' - a free version of firefox browser with built in Tor circuit.... also bypasses company website blockers - although you really shouldn't do that, obviously. Uisng a proxy, or alternative DNS server is not in any way illegal mind you, so use them freely as everyone else is anyway...

"the right way is to use DNS servers, different from those provided by ISP. lets say one in Japan, second - in Germany, third - in Taiwan. Enough to be redirected to the right sites, and kiss local restrictions goodbye." - another good tip, never tried it but may be easier/more reliable than the 'free' proxies which end up blocked or unusable...

coops

Is there any alternatives that are better?

Either the Firefox 'Thunderbird' - or try Opera web browser with built in mail program - works nicely, and in a database style for easy cross referencing etc....

coops

I had a shuttle mini pc made up for me a year or so ago at Fortune IT - ditched the floppy and stuck 2 250GB hard drives in it.

Very quiet, cute etc etc.

That shop doesn't seem to stock and build them anymore - but there are a few other small form factor pc's around.... have a wander round Fortune...

coops

Just a quick question, when you arrive to thailand with the 30 days on arrival visa, do they check to see whether you have a ticket out of Thailand at the end of the 30 days?

No - it's never been asked for at immigration.

Also i've only once had a problem with airline checkin staff looking for a return or onward ticket - that was in Australia. Show a couple of hundred dollars or a credit card and they're happy to let you go...

[quote name='Minburi' post='786819' date='2006-06

Chokechai Steakhouse; the main branch is near Mualek. Personally I have always found their local steaks to be cut too thin for proper cooking.

I have never tried their Imported steaks however.

Patrick

Chokchai steaks are ok and cheap by comparison, but as said they are cut too thin really which seems a shame. Bonus is you could take your own bottle of whisky there ....

Also recommend the Outback in Siam Discovery..... good thick, tasty and if you order rare it comes rare.... not as fancy as some but it was definitely a good steak.

coops

Or you enjoy wireless with your laptop....

get a combined ADSL modem and wireless router (zyxel is one brand that works fine with true) - conect it via ethernet to your desktop and setup the ADSL connection, then setup your wireless and you can share internet over as many wi-fi devices as you like....

Am looking for KEF Kit100 home theatre system myself.... phoned their distributor and told it can be found at Paragon dep store or Central stores (powermall) - i'll be going for a look on Monday probably....

KEF distributor is Home HiFi phone 028641317

coops

Thanks for the info coops. Let us know what you find if manage to get down there on Monday.

Central Chitlom does have a couple of KEF items and more in a handout - but their 'staff' didn't know they had any... and quite ibviously had never even heard of the brand..... so don't bother with that place.

Paragon Department store is thankfully a big improvement.

Went to the TV/Electronics floor and looking around didn't see any KEF stuff.... asked a random sales guy and *shock* they correctly pointed me to the hi-end audio area which i hadn't spotted. It's around/behind the mobile phone area...

(ps another sales person seemd to know what a SCART connector was also.... they didn't have an adaptor but this was the first one i've come across who didn't go blank at the mention of the word...)

Sales guy at the hi end audio showed me their gear - also have Mission and also some good mid sized KEF floorstanders.... they did not have the KIT100 i was looking for - but he knew exactly what it was - I'll probably end up ordering it (with stands) since i'll be away for 6 weeks for work next monday anyway...

So Paragon seems pretty good (prices are higher than you'd pay in UK.... no surprise there)

I'll try to get to the place on Ratdamri oppsoite world trade before i go - sounds well worth a visit.

I also some time looked in at a hi fi shop on Ratchapisek... it's on the Caesar's side of the road up northwards from it... can't remember the name. Had serious stuff there - Meridian etc.

coops

Am looking for KEF Kit100 home theatre system myself.... phoned their distributor and told it can be found at Paragon dep store or Central stores (powermall) - i'll be going for a look on Monday probably....

KEF distributor is Home HiFi phone 028641317

coops

thanks - looked in Amorn at Fortune. no luck......

coops

oh dear....

got a philips sl400i wireless media streamer in uk fro use over here... and it's only video output is a SCART connector.... something unheard of outside Europe it seems

Could not find anything in Fortune town... anyone know of a source for a SCART to Component or even S-Video adaptor?

May have to rummage around in Pantip.... save me some hassle please!!

coops

Addidas and Nike have cooling wear that helps also.

and Adidas are made here so you can get good 'climacool' shirts at a decent price.

Have a large golf umbrella - with the silver lining. Useful for rainstorms, but mainly used as a sun shield...... and take a handtowel.

coops