Marksamui

Normally when I am in Samui I manage to get in one night at La Dolce Vita (I think that is how to spell it) in Chaweng. Always found the pizza and resaurant as a whole to be very good.

But...............am i missing somewhere better?

Any others I should try?

For me Samui is boring.

I was only ever on holiday there (doing a long stay in between jobs, abt 6 months) and I found the place in the end to be depressingly boring. What is there to do on Samui? Not much, gets repetitive. Its a small island which on the whole is a bit of a dump.

Sure you got some very decent beaches, but the towns (Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Bangrak (which is just a road)) offer very little. Getting around the place is a massive pain in the arse and when you get somewhere it was probably not worth going too. It really is SAME SAME but SAME......

For me I would go back to samui maybe every couple of years for a short holiday only if I was staying in a 5 star hotel where I could sit by a decent pool and relax. To stay longterm is just not something that interests me, due to there is nothing in Samui of interest.

For me Phuket is a much better place. Better beaches, facalities, everything. Although it still has its problems.

Saw the film Bangkok Dangerous last night as wondered if anyone knew:

1 What is the name of and where is the resturant that he goes for a Thai meal with the deaf girl is?

2 Where is the cave temple that he goes to with the Thai girl?

Anyone who has seen the film should know where I am talking about.

Thanks

If your talking about the restaurant when he is eating tom yum and sweating the name is Nathong Seafood Restaurant.... Huay-Kwang. That is one of my favorite seafood places in Bkk, I go there all the time. It is next to the Pornsiri Driving Range...

Ok great, that is the one. It looks nice. I don;t get to Bangers much but when I am next in town I might check it out.

The temple cave looks to be some way from Bangkok, anyone any ideas how far it is?

Thanks

I saw them filming it in the witches tavern on thong lor about 2 years ago, I remember they made a huge fuss because Nicholas Cage was there... I haven't bothered seeing the movie yet but maybe thats it.

Just googled Witches Tavern and I don't think that is the one. The resturant looked to be on the edge of a lake (maybe the river?).

BTW - the movie is pretty good. I enjoyed it.

Saw the film Bangkok Dangerous last night as wondered if anyone knew:

1 What is the name of and where is the resturant that he goes for a Thai meal with the deaf girl is?

2 Where is the cave temple that he goes to with the Thai girl?

Anyone who has seen the film should know where I am talking about.

Thanks

Just purchasing a 3 bed property in Phuket (Pak Lok).

Brand new and managed to get a fully fitted western kitchen, 2 air cons, landscape garden and all legal fees paid thrown into the contract. As well as a discount from the asking price!

For new developments shop around and you can find a deal. I got the impression that they are not going like hotcakes at the moment.

For resales the sellers are pretty desparate I found. I would have brought a resale but did not find one I really liked.

tiger definitely check hand baggage weight. Air Asia is sometimes yes, usually no (in Thailand).

by the way for those who didnt get the email, Air Asia now offering assigned seating rather than free-seating starting soon

Unfortunatly they are. Well some good news is that the front seats are half the price of Tiger seat chooser.

The thing I hate about this is AirAsia normally would board very quick due the the free seats as everyone wanted to get near the front, now they know where they are sitting people will drag their arse to the plane and i will sit there waiting for them for 1/2 an hour or more. I like the free seating bundle on board approach for these budget short fights. Gets people on the plane quicker.

Hand Luggage max weight is 7kgs and many times with Air Asia I have been asked to put my hand luggage bag on the belt so they can check the weight.

People saying they never check is not true, as I have been checked a number of times by Air Asia and Tiget Air when flying into Thailand. I always get asked in Singapore, never in Thailand, so maybe it is some staff in some countries that check it when others don't.

I am buying a house in Phuket and would like to know what saterlite I need to arrange in order to get HBP boxing PPV, or regular HBO boxing?

I am looking for the ceapest basic group which has a collection of English channels, Kids channels and the boxing. Which saterlite company is the best/cheapest for this requirement? Truevision, astro I have heard the names but wondered what was the most reliable?

Thanks

Can someone give me a breakdown of the procedure to get a GST refund when you leave Thailand?

I have see the counter when I clear immergration but what do I need apart from an invoice and my passport?

Thanks

So it looks like it is possible then, just a little more running around then sticking a DD form on the bottom of your bill like you get in most other countries. Still once its done, its done!!

Going back to Oz in a couple of weeks, BKK -SNG-Darwin, Anyone had any hassles with Tiger Airways and their 'Third Off Fares' Do I have to check in 4hrs early as it's International. ( Are they open at 4 am ??) Plane leaves BKK at 0905. Any hidden charges besides luggage allowance

Krading

Tiger Airways open checkin 2 hours before departure and close it 45 mins before.

You need to pay the luggage separatly. I think its SG$10 for 15kgs and then you can top up by 5kgs upto 30kgs. If you don't top up and are overweight they will charge you for the extra and they are not flexible.

On the whole Tiger is a decent lowcost airline.

You land/depart in the Budget terminal in Singapore, so be careful as is it not that big if you have a big connection.

Mark

If you know what go's in sausages then it might put you off for life!!!

Ever seen how Black Pudding is made .... Witnessed once, still makes me sick just thinking about it ...

Never seen black pudding being made, but I know what go's in theme!!Maybe if they was not cooked 100% Thais would love them!!!

Sausages, burgers, pies, all have cheap meat in them. Some cans of dog food have better meat.

We used to use ox lungs and hearts in our mince beef to add weight and make it more redder !!!

Syl

If you have ever had a Fray Bentos pie, the steak and kidney cheap one out the tin, it does smell like cat food before you cook it. Tastes good though...

Anyone know where I can get them in Phuket?

Ok, so where are the decent fishing spots that you should be able to catch something decent?

- I know that there are some decent beaches in Phuket, are any worth fishing from? The beach at the airport looks like a great place to sit for the morning but does anyone catch much?

- Freshwater fishing? Is there much in Phuket? I have driven past some lakes on the way to Patong coming from the large Tesco's, can you fish in them, they look like they contain fish.

- Any rivers that you can fish in?

- Any carp/catfish fishing places? I know in Samui they have a place called TopCats, anything similar on Phuket?

Thanks for you recomendations....

I am buying a house in Phuket and would like to know what saterlite I need to arrange in order to get HBP boxing PPV, or regular HBO boxing?

I am looking for the ceapest basic group which has a collection of English channels, Kids channels and the boxing. Which saterlite company is the best/cheapest for this requirement? Truevision, astro I have heard the names but wondered what was the most reliable?

Thanks

Can anyone help? Or at least let me know of the saterlite operators that you can use in Thailand?

Also who are the options for broadband providers?

Despite them being in the flight schedule until the end of March it would appear that you cannot book Tiger Airways between Singapore and Phuket on the monring flights at all until April when the summer schedule comes out.

For anyone looking on the internet you can only book the evenings and when you phone up (and finally get through) they say that there is no scheduled flights in the morning and no one knows why! That really, really annoys me!

Still you can book on the Summer schedule from April onwards (at least at the moment).

Quick question, am buying a house in Phuket and want to pay the Electricity bill (and water) by direct debit. My wife says that maybe in Thailand it is not possible but I think it must be. Is it possible and what provider does this?

Thanks

Hi, looking for a shop which sells decent, fresh english sausages in Phuket?

I have seen in Tops in Central and Carrefore but they are hotdogs or bratwerst, not really what I want.

Thanks

I am buying a house in Phuket and would like to know what saterlite I need to arrange in order to get HBP boxing PPV, or regular HBO boxing?

I am looking for the ceapest basic group which has a collection of English channels, Kids channels and the boxing. Which saterlite company is the best/cheapest for this requirement? Truevision, astro I have heard the names but wondered what was the most reliable?

Thanks

Thanks everyone,

I know Jim in Penang quite well (about 6 years now), I will email him and see about Penang... last I heard was not the best place for visas anymore (almost 2 years ago though... been a while since I needed a new visa).

So no one has had any luck in Singapore then?

All reports are that Singapore do not issue Multi Entry Visas anymore. while Penang has eased up a bit. Also some good reports from Phon Phen. (I can never spell that)

Singapore do still issue Multi Entry visa but only to residents of Singapore. For Tourists I think they only do singles (and then I think only Tourist not non-o)

You can get a two month visa if you fly to Singapore and it only takes a day. Budget airlines to Singapore are not expensive at all.

You can extend the 2 month when in Thailand for another 30 days.

me and my friend are moving to koh samui from Bangkok, what is the best way to go there from bangkok, and how much it costs, our budget is not great

Also I would stay there for like 2 months, any suggestions about a 1 bdr place with adsl, for below 15000 per month

Really appreciate help, we are two girls from England

Of the budget alternatives i think the lomprayha service is the best one. You buy tickets in kao san road. 6 or 7 hours bus from kao san to chumpon. Then 4 hours with the catamaran, with stop on koh tao, koh pagnan and finally you end up in maenam on koh samui. 1200 baht.

There is similar priced alternatives with train/bus.

For 1000 baht extra you can fly...I know her budget is not great, but 2,200 baht to fly is it that much extra??

Edit: oh Airport tax! Another 570...... humm, over twice as much then.

So then how are you supposed to get a Thai visa if you are flying to Thailand from a country without a Thai embassy or consulate?

You send your passport to the nearest Thai embassy/consulate to you. Nothing wrong with that.

The answer from immigration about zones is correct but not enforced by immigration. If you are in a country with more than one (not honorary) Thai consulate they divide the country up by "zones". They also assign embassies to handle relations with certain countries when there is no embassy in a nearby country.

The only time you would have a problem if you left the country and sent your passport away for a visa would occur if you were entering at a border crossing because they check to see that you entered and left the country you are coming from and would notice that you have a new visa not issued in that ciountry. At the airports they don't do it because you have people arriving from many countries at the same time. Also some countries don't stamp your entry and departures in your passport.

Its not strictly true that you can get a non-o visa in any thai embassay as long as you are out of Thailand. Passport holders of some nationalities are required to apply in their country of residents and in some cases you need to be a resident of the country you are applying. I think Singapore will not issue a Non-O unless you have a green card. They will issue tourist visa. Its the same for a visa to the uk in Singapore from the UK embassy. You need to be a resident in Singapore to apply.

So you have to leave Thailand but make sure where you go will issue. If in any doubt go to the country which issued your passport and get one there.

Anyone know the process of getting a 2nd passport? I know it is possible, i used to work wih guys who had 3 or 4 passports they would use and never sure how they managed it. When i went to the UK embassy and asked if I could have another passport they said they would cancel the existing one and give me a new one (which they did). Only way I can think to do it is to tell them I have lost my passport and get another one and then countine to use the "Lost" one for travel. As long as I did not use the "Lost" one when entering or leaving the UK I can't see a problem, right?

I think its valid for 3 months but it probably depends on the local amphur office if they will take it or not, I would check with them.

I really can't believe you did not even have the form countersigned and they still issued it!

Twice, in 1997 and again in 2007 ....

It would appear that the rules are enforced in the different British embassy passport sections around the world the same as they are enforced in different Thai embassy visa sections around the world - they all have the same rule book, but make their own rules up on a country by country basis!!

Anyway, i would not risk it but you can basically get anyone to sign the darn things anyway, which kindof makes the whole process pointless which is the point at least we both agree on!

Oh roll on 6 o'clock and I can get out of this place called the office!!