wpcoe

Add to that the baht bus to hotel and it would probably add up to more than 1000 baht, the price I pay for a new car pick up with a good driver.

Hmmm. I thought I had mentioned that one reason I chose Silver Gold Garden was the free shuttle van to/from the airport.

to be fair option 2 does save 100 baht, but omits the cost of travel from bus station to condo.

Bell Travel will drop you off at your hotel or condo in Pattaya/Jomtien.

For me, a typical trip home from visiting family begins with a 2-3 hour drive to LAX airport, then 12 hours LAX to NRT (Tokyo), a short wait, then a 6-7 hour flight to BKK, arriving near midnight. I really appreciate the opportunity to break the journey, head to a hotel to take a hot shower an hit the bed for a good night's sleep and then continue my journey in the morning. That's simply my preference and choice.

Someone else feels the need to make an immediate beeline home for their own reasons, that's fine. I just prefer to break the journey and not extend that day any longer than it already is.

The way I look at it: continue the journey immediately upon landing in BKK and arrive home around 0230 or 0300, take a shower, go to bed and wake up around 1100 or 1130. Or, as an alternate arrive home via Bell Travel around 1200 or 1230. So, I basically start my day at home only an hour later.

It really has nothing to do with avoiding a taxi, or even about saving money. It's a bonus that it's about the same price. I happen to feel more comfortable on the bus, as well. Just my preference. Please don't make sarcastic comments and judgments. I'm not forcing anyone to do what I do, I just share it as an alternative to consider.

FYI, the bookstore on Phetkasem Rd between Soi 78 and the tessabahn has a sign in the side window saying: "Hua Hin Book Exchange."

The name of the store is either "Blue and Yellow" or "Yellow and Blue." Guess what colors the store is.

I wish you can test it out on your phone (if it is already jailbroken).. so that I know for sure.

Sorry, but I haven't (yet) done a jail break on the phone. I use it's features so seldom that I haven't yet seen anything that a jail broken phone could do, that mine can't ... until now.

For some reason, I'm fascinated with seeing the jail broken Touch being mirrored on the large monitor/TV. I was very disappointed to see that my iPhone didn't do that.

Well, it seems to be an "up 2 u" attitude from the license bureau folks, huh? In that case, I'll not be too concerned about it, as I don't even know where the license bureau is in Hua Hin.

Thanks for the feedback!

Recently I moved from Jomtien to Hua Hin. Yesterday I went to Immigrations and filed a change of address notice with them. Is it necessary, optional or recommended to change my address with the folks who issue drivers licenses as well? If so, do you know what documentation I need? I'm wondering if I need an address verification letter from Immigrations (and should have gotten one yesterday when I was there).

How would True (or AT&T) know that you are tethering? The 3G/EDGE signal from True still communicates only with the IP address of the iPhone, no? Are they taking educating guesses based on data usage?

I also have had the tethering randomly disconnect, but I was blaming my iPhone. Sometimes when it happens the "Personal Hotspot" option disappears from the top level menu on Settings, and I have to go to General >> Network to re-enable it. Most times, however, the tethering simply turns off, but remains on the Settings top menu (beneath WiFi). To me, that sounds like it is my iPhone playing with me, not something that True does. How would True be able to turn off tethering remotely, but keep 3G available for everything else?

You seem to be graced by the iphone gods 24 hours of battery is a dream phone for me.

Quite honestly, I don't use the iPhone all that much. It was a gift from a friend who's trying to nudge me into the 21st century.

I was told I'd get better battery life by turning off 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth. I don't use Bluetooth at all, so that is disabled. However, I use WiFi at home and in True WiFi locations, and True 3G when not. (I live in Hua Hin which has reasonable True 3G coverage.) I sometimes also use the Personal Hotspot to tether to my notebook if I'm in a 3G location and want to use my notebook.

I'm just too lazy to turn off 3G & WiFi when I know the phone won't be used for extended periods, like when I go to bed. And, it's another fuss to turn 3G/WiFi back on before I used the phone.

So, generally, my iPhone battery level drops to around 50% during a typical day of light/no use. I always plug it in to charge every night.

I have the genuine Apple HDMI adapter (there are some third party ones out there as well, I understand). Thre is no USB plug on it. One end is the familiar 30-pin (?) plug that goes into the matching socket on the bottom of the iPhone. The other end has an HDMI port and another 30-pin port so you can attach your phone to exernal power while using HDMI (or synch, or whatever else you can do via that port).

The HDMI port on the adapter might look like a USB port in a photo?

Attaching my iPhone4 to my TV, I was disappointed that it doesn't simply mirror what's on my iPhone4 screen, like it does on the iPad. Only video and audio files can be sent via HDMI to the TV, and while doing so, the videos do not appear on the iPhone screen. The video controls appear, but not the video image. I have not yet figured out how to send photos to my TV. I suspect it is possible, but if so, I haven't found the method.

That said, I saw a YouTube vido with someone using a jailbroken current model iPod Touch, and he was able to mirror from the Touch to his TV screen. The video was not about that, and it wasn't mentioned, I just happened to notice it. So, maybe there's a tweak for a jailbroken iPhone4 that will let you mirror the screen via HDMI. I think it's cool to see everything you do on the iPhone mirrored on TV, but at least the current sending of video/audio streams is better than nothing.

Oh, one other thing. I have to remove the bumper from my iPhone to make an HDMI connection. At first, I went nuts trying to get it to work. It *seems like* the adapter makes a solid connection when the bumper is on my iPhone, but after I took off the bumper, I connected with my TV on the first try.

I think this might be the Trilon company: http://www.mahaphant.com/en/our-products/product-hahaung-overview.jsp?prdid=59

My doctor's suggestion to put the damp linens/bedding in a black trash bag and toss it on the roof to steam them should take care of it. Unless, by a string of bad luck, several cloudy days occur.

My roommate did it (he had a crab infestation) and we couldn't withstand the urge to check the temperature during mid-day sun, so we opened the bag, and BOY was it HOT!

After reading one of Sheryl's posts I forgot to include clothing that was recently worn in a bag on the roof, as well.

Just took a look at the 3BB site and their packages do change quite fast. Now they have 6, 9, 12, 16 and 20 but no 8. Mine was installed about 3 months ago and the quality is equal to when it was first installed. Their site is a bit confusing as the first link below shows only 1 Premier offering at 5Mb and the above 5 no special name to them.

However the 2nd link shows several Premiere and Indy packages. Mine was based on the first link which doesn't refer to it as Indy.

1st link

2nd link

I think that second link is a year or so out of date, and they just forgot to delete it. Those 3Mb and 4Mb Premier plans have been discontinued for some time, other that folks already having them got to keep them. The 6, 9, 12, 16 and 20Mb plans are what I was offered in the local (Hua Hin) 3BB office.

I hand't realized that if I were to switch from my grandfathered 3Mb Premier plan to one of the Indy plans, that I retained the option of going back to Premier 3Mb! If that's true, I *definitely* will try one of the Indy plans when my current 6-month package expires. Probably the 9Mbps plan.

I was on Petchkasem road yesterday, and I looked more attentively: you can also take soi 6, a few meters after the College, the road is better with good signs ; coming from hua hin, it's maybe 100 meters after soi 10, on the left, it's the road I took last time

Google Earth doesn't show Soi 6 going across the train tracks, but it's dated January 2008, so the soi could have been extended by now.

Although it's a bit farther from Soi 6 to Immigrations (compared to Soi 10), I would consider it if there were moto-sai taxi guys at the mouth of Soi 6.

Thanks for all the input. I made the trek today, and the visit to Immigrations is covered in another forum section.

When I got off the song thaew at Soi 10, there were no moto-sai taxis there. I waited for about ten minutes, then decided to walk. Someplace I read it was 500m, but it must be closer to 1 km, as it took me 15 minutes to limp there. I'm recovering from a recent back injury and it was a challenge, especially in the heat. Thankfully it was partly cloudy at that time.

A fellow in passing one day while I was out drinking said he had taken a moto-sai taxi from Phetkasem Road to Immigrations, and was even joking that Immigrations must have made a deal with the taxi guys to make their new office at a rather inaccessible location. I wonder if some times the moto-sai guys are at Soi 10? If not, I guess I need to commandeer an moto-sai taxi all the way from Soi 80 where I live.

If you don't have your own car/bike, how do you get to Immigrations?

I made it to the Immigrations office today, but it wasn't quite as easy to get there as I had hoped.

In the Hua Hin forum I asked which soi to take, and was told (correctly) to get off the song thaew at Soi 10. But... there were no moto-sai taxis there! I waited for about ten minutes, then decided to walk. Someplace I read it was 500m, but it's closer to 1km, as it took me 15 minutes to limp there. I'm recovering from a recent back injury and it was a challenge, especially in the heat. Thankfully it was partly cloudy at that time.

At the office I got a number from the ticket machine, and only waited about five minutes to be called. The officer was pleasant and handed me a form to complete and directed me back outside to get copies of my passport picture page, TM.6. and current extension stamp. She wanted the original Non Immigrant O visa, but that's in an old passport, so she said okay, not to need it. :-)

I had a copy of my townhouse rental agreement and a 3BB ADSL bill in my name with the address. She kept the copy of the rental agreement, but ignored the 3BB bill.

Here's what she stapled into my passport, on the page preceding the one where the 90-day report form is attached. She made clear that my advising of my new address today does NOT affect the 90-day reporting. My last 90-day report was in April, and I will still need to report in July.

I wonder what the written note "24 hours" means? I had read (on this forum I think) that Hua Hin requires reporting an address change within 24 hours. I wonder if that note covers that requirement.

For my return trip from the office, the gal who makes the copies outside called a moto-sai taxi for me. I had him take me to the Index furniture store, and halfway there, the rain came down in buckets. Oh, well. I spent about an hour at Index just window shopping and getting decorating ideas, and by the time I left, I was mostly dry.

I'm in a similar situation as the OP. I have a Premier 3Mb/1Mb package for B1100/month, but am really, really tempted to switch to non-Premier 6Mb or 9Mb for less money. I download several US TV shows via torrents, and uTorrent usually shows download speed of almost the full 3Mbps. When my current six month prepaid package is finished, I think I will try a 6Mb or 9Mb package.

I have an Acer notebook that has an internal Broadcom (mini PCI Express) WiFi network adapter. I've read on Acer forums that the Intel 622AN is much better, is compatible with my particular Acer model and fairly easy to swap out.

Where is there a retail shop that sells such things as Intel WiFi network adapters for notebooks? I checked some of the online stores from the pinned thread at the top of this forum thread list, but none of them seem to carry them.

I live in Hua Hin, and have slim hopes of finding one here, but I make frequent trips to Bangkok, and wonder if anybody has seen them in Pantip, Fortune Tower, or someplace else?

Where would an average person find hot water washing machine or an electric or gas machine dryer that they could use in Thailand?

The front loading washing machines that I've looked at in Home Pro and appliance stores are able to heat the water. Those same places sell (an admittedly small selection of) electric clothes dryers, as well.

However, CAT still needs the NTC to reissue the permit for TrueMove to use this equipment after the NTC withdrew the permit in February.

The NTC had allowed TrueMove to use the HSPA equipment in 2009 but last June, CAT requested the NTC to withdraw the permit after CAT discovered that TrueMove had installed some HSPA base stations outside of its permitted areas.

CAT's board had allowed TrueMove to re-use such equipment in January but the NTC formally informed CAT about withdrawal of its permit in February.

Maybe it's the style of writing that confused me, but doesn't this mean that CAT screwed itself last June by asking NTC to withdraw True's permits?

The article makes it sound like True lost its permit to operate 3G in February, but clearly they are still operating it. My phone is currently using a True 3G signal. So, what is it really all about?

Good report to read!

Especially as my intended trip to Immigrations today was scrapped. A few days ago I aggravated an old back injury, and last night fell asleep on the couch in a rather unergonomic position and today am in considerable pain. I *do* want to try reporting to Hua Hin Immigrations soon, and surely hope the only reaction is the bemusement of the officers there.

Good going, MacGyver!

JOOC, what type of connection do you have with the DTAC SIM? Hard to imagine you've got enough throughput on EDGE to run four connections simultaneously.

Thanks for the explanation. Now I know what you're talking about. I had also wondered if it were self-adhesive, and you answered that as well.

I can rule out the briefly-considered window film: I looked at some at Home Pro and apparently it's not "adhesive" at all, it simply "clings" to the glass, like the protective covers on iPhones and camera backs. I doubt it would cling to the desk's finish sufficiently, nor permanently.

I bought some sand paper and spray primer to test on the bottom surface of the keyboard drawer. But, a few days ago I antagonized my lower back (previous ruptured disk) and last night I fell asleep on the couch in a totally non-ergonomic position and today am practically immobilized with back pain. So, the project (and much of life in general!) is on hold until further notice. <sigh...>

I tried a mixture of tea tree oil and water last night before I went to bed and it helped a whole lot. I think I will go get some rubbing alcohol today and do alcohol and tea tree oil. If that doesn't kill them I will resort to apple cider vinegar and garlic.

Are you also treating your bed linens and towels?

Once when I had lice, the (Thai) doctor said that unless I had a washing machine that could heat to water to very high temps, to simply take the linens out of the washer after the spin cycle, seal them in large black trash bags, and toss them on the roof for a few days. The sun's heat will sufficiently steam them and kill them. Then just put them through another regular wash cycle.

I don't know the life cycle of the parasites you're dealing with, but if it's say five days or less, I'd leave the bags in the sun for that long, to handle any second generation parasites that might hatch.

I did not demand a special taxi and isn’t about the money, It’s all about costumer service.

IMHO, one needs to choose the battles one wants to fight, and this was one I honestly don't see as worth it. The bottom line is a one-time payment of B700 after you just spent hard-earned cash on two business class seats from Europe, no? On principle, you chose to take an even more expensive limo from inside the airport? I just don't quite identify with that thinking. I would have swallowed my pride and paid the B700. What did you gain by not doing so, besides bragging rights in an anonymous online forum?

They all know that most travellers can’t use the most taxi’s waiting at the airport that isn’t really costumer friendly If you advertise to have a meter taxi service at the airport.

So, how many *other* passengers in the queues while you were there did not have their transportation needs filled by a meter taxi? "Most" of them?

I can understand you were miffed with the situation at the taxi queue, and came online here to vent, but to continue to bluster over the situation seems a little trivial, no? My (unsolicited) advice is to just let it go. It's just "one of those" TiT experiences. And, an inexpensive one that that.

ISTR, but it was several years ago, some upcountry Immigrations offices had their own "personalized" versions of forms (that had their location/address on them), but haven't heard that in quite a while. Anybody know if that's still (or ever was) the case? I remember it being in the time period of my first retirement extension which would have been around 2005.

Many thanks! Just the info I needed.