anais

You guys who think its a Thai thing to push onto a train ought to try NYC subways- the BTS is orderly and polite in comparison. As a couple of people mentioned the answer is management adding cars to the trains during rush hour. Before there is a fatality. Surprised they haven't blamed it on the security guard.

I moved from Manhattan to Bangkok and I call bullshit. Most Thais appear to have no idea of how to enter a train, and I often just walked tits-first into the ignorant bints who wouldn't let people OFF the train before they tried to get ON. And don't get me started about stopping for a nasal exploration at the top or bottom of an escalator.... I hope the lady recovers fully and quickly.

Sigh. Yet another obstacle for the young, the able-bodied, the bright who might, in spite of all reason, be interested in living in and building the country. Oh well. At least LOS will always have Nana and its ilk. Hope they can continue to sustain the country on prostitution ... the smart tourist money is going elsewhere.

Doesn't look like someones wife. Possibly

looks like a permanent expat of which

single Falong women in Thailand are far rarer but many types like

Thailands retirement offerings?

"Doesn't look like someone's wife." Hmmm DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SOMEONE'S WIFE.

Because, as well all know, ALL "wives" have a certain look. ThaiVisa never fails to educate.

Thanks, I'll check Country Roads ... what happened to Radio City?

I was Thai Elvis (and his backup band's) biggest fan when I lived here, back for a while and Radio City is closed! Anyone know where he's playing these days? Many thanks.

From an earlier report:

"The guest house owner Choopit do not think that the deaths that happened within a day had any connection with the guest house. She have slept in room four and five herself in a total of three nights after the death without feeling any discomfort or have been sick."

I call BULLSHIT. No way, no how.

Condolences to the families. I hope that eventually the truth does come to light.

If your going to go sailing your fancy rich yacht around dangerous seas close to the province of people starving with no money or possessions don't be surprised if your attacked!

Its like walking through a ghetto wearing a Rolex! what do you expect?

Really, soft rich white folk having 'an adventure' really should do more research and take more precautions.

Of course its all very sad and my commiserations go out to the family etc etc etc...but really!...stick to a boating lake in Surrey loves.

By that logic, anyone visiting a less-economically developed country is "asking for it." What drivel.

Interesting.

I'm a farang woman who came here largely to take a break from men, after a series of relationships. Was assured that I wouldn't be "bothered" here. Ha! It's rained men since I arrived. The one I really fell for, naturally, I met in San Francisco, and now we're negotiating long-distance. Sigh....

What I do find interesting is the number of Thai women I meet who are by no means "classic" beauties. By that I mean coarse bone structure, spotty skin, carry themselves awkwardly, etc. (I'm half French and was raised with exacting standards.) These women ARE beautiful, to their lovers, and I'm sure they have many many wonderful qualities that transcend classic definitions of sex appeal. But it's interesting when someone raves about all (or most) Thai women being beautiful. Any capital city in the world has its share of young lovelies. I don't see more in Bangkok than in Paris, or New York, or Rio.

How women age will be a combination of bone structure, temperament, and ... perhaps most importantly ... how they are treated by others. One of my dear friends died recently. Very few men who would dispute her beauty, at 18 or 83. Certainly not her husband, who practically had to fight her admirers off with a stick for 60 years. As for those who would see an "old woman," well, that's what God made prostitutes for.

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day to all those in love.

Thanks ... but he understood me. He said, "seats go back but no bed. Sleeper train runs in the morning."

Which is just ... well it's just ... too.

I caught the bus and got to BKK about 4.30, and slept late in my own bed.

I was at Udon Thani last night trying to get the 8 p.m. train to Bangkok, and was told there had been a "wreck," and that the train would not be coming until sometime in the middle of the night. Was also told, contrary to the info I'd been given, that the "sleeper" trains only run out of UT in the morning ... and the night trains aren't sleeper. That's too stupid even for words, I'd think, but who knows?

Has anyone heard anything about a train wreck? Thanks...

I think most people aren't rich enough to afford the luxury of orthotic issues.

Let's assume for the sake of the question that we are speaking of people who can and have orthotics.

I'm having a discussion with some friends in the West about not wearing shoes in the house. The subject of orthotics keeps coming up. "I NEED to wear orthotics..."

Surely foot problems are (somewhat) universal. How do people in Asia manage who need foot support? Do they carry separate house-only shoes when they visit other's homes? I've never seen anyone wearing shoes in a private home....

Will be interested to read the responses. If/when I return home, I'm repulsed at the thought of street shoes in my house....

Thanks for asking this ... my boyfriend would like to bring his birds here if we return. The pinned topic discusses other pets but has no answers on birds.

Does anyone know about BIRDS? (Not cats, not dogs, not for this thread.) :-)

Thanks!

Thanks, good to know that teeth cleaning is common here.

Brave Sir Nigel had his teeth cleaned once or twice a year in America. He's been here a little over six months, and I need a vet who will do this and knows how to do it ... usually they are given a light anesthetic.

Can anyone recommend a vet who regularly does dentistry?

Thanks!

Not sure what kind of visa you expect to obtain in Luang Prabang.

All right, Vientiane, then! (And then I'll spend time in LP...)

After checking my passport, I see that I didn't come in on my first 30 day visa until November 2 ... I'd been out of Thailand most of the fall and my one-year multi-entry was still in effect until then.

You provide all but the important information - when did you start using visa exempt entry (it is not VOA - Americans do not get visa on arrival; which is a visa you pay for and allows 15 day stay).

Why that is important is that you can do the visa exempt entry for up to 90 days in a six month period - so if you got the first one about December 20 you should be OK using them until your departure to the US on March 12th. If not you need to obtain a tourist visa.

Obviously you will also have to obtain another tourist visa while in the US to cover your future stay.

You can not obtain a tourist visa in Bangkok - you will have to go to Malaysia or Laos (or other country).

Sorry, I've been coming in and out since August on 30 day visas ... so I think I do need to get a proper "tourist visa" that's not at the airport. Looks like Luang Prabang, here I come! Thanks.

Hello,

I'm an American who came here when recruited by a Thai company. They did all my first year visas and work permit. I left the job at the end of a year. (A little earlier than that, actually.) I'm here now on a tourist VOA, as I've been hopping in and out of the country for business and pleasure. I do not work in Thailand and do not get paid in Thailand.

My current passport stamp says I need to leave by Feb. 9. On March 12 I fly to America for 2 weeks, then back here until mid-to-late June. (can leave the country if need be.) Then I'll be leaving permanently ... well at least for 6 months. If I come back after that, it will either be for brief holidays or on an expat package where I don't have to bother with immigration.

Should I go to Malaysia or somewhere and apply for a 90 day tourist visa? Can that be done here in Bangkok? I'm nowhere near 50, so a retirement visa is out. I can afford to sign up as a student, but would rather not deal with it since I'm only here a few more months.

Thanks!

-Anais

If you have any say into what type of protection you get, go for Pinnacle Armor's Dragon Skin.

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Good luck to you and stay safe.

Thank you, Ozymandious.

I am not a troll, thanks for asking, and I appreciate all the helpful advice.

I'm reporting from Iraq in July and just found out that I'm required to have a flak jacket. What I'm hearing is around $2,000 ... and I don't have it. Does anyone know where I can rent or borrow protective equipment? Thanks.

OK my friend introduced me (online) to his buddy and now he's flying 9,000 miles to buy me dinner.

Anyway, he'll be here a few days and he's said he likes slow dancing. Anyone know where bands play slow songs in BKK? My usual hangouts are strictly fast and loud.

Thanks.

I use http://www.agoda.com, they are based here in BKK.

I left my blue and orange in the States but it is more fun to watch with company, even if a girl MUST go to work afterwards.

Any pubs or restaurants that have good Super Bowl parties?

I'm not connected with the company, but I'd recommend keenpublishing.com