sohb

New? Thai embassy in Norway, Sweden and Denmark has not issued a multiple non B for years.

Is the Qantas lounge open at Suva....?

Using various speakeasy speedtest servers (speakeasy.net/speedtest) as a gauge of net performance I was formerly able to get around 300+ kbps down on my MaxNet 512/256 connection in the day and about 430kbps in non-peak hours, sometimes even during those hours. Now I am getting about 40-50 kbps down during the day and for most of the evening. There are massive gaps /pauses during downloads (easily seen on the speakeasy test) and I'm getting far more web page timeouts than before. Skype and VoIP are unusable and I can't even maintain a 48 kbps streaming radio station. The MaxNet customer service rep I have been working with for months now tells me in writing that this is acceptable performance and that the home 512 package is "not so good" for use outside of thailand, despite working much better previously. He suggests I upgrade to "premier' service but I am reluctant to hand over any money to this company.

Anyone else experiencing similar problems? Are there any alternative providers worth using in CM?

maxnet is horrible, 1024 pack...not a k faster than the 512.

We pay a number of our staff over 20,000 baht per month, and they ae all under 30 and not university graduates. I always say that you pay someone what they are worth to your company, rather than what you can get away with.

Also, I doubt that a Lawyer earns 18k or a doctor 25k, since every lawyer or doctor I know drives a mercedes benz or BMW or equivelent.

Here in Phuket it's hard to get good staff, but I'm pretty sure someone with excellent english skills could easily pull 40,000+ baht per month.

please advice me where to send some of my friends, they'd love 40k a month - for legal work that is. please pm, or spread the word here ...

What is the minimum wage? Is it adhered to?

In particular, I'd like to know what a waitress at a small casual restauraunt makes. Just for contrast, how about a police man, or a school teacher, doctor, etc...

Minimum, wage is 5,430 Baht per month in BKK.

Part time McDonalds clerk... 24 Baht per hour

Part time Starbucks... 27 Baht per hour

Full time Starbucks .... 7,000 Baht per month

Waitress in a Diner.... 6,000 Baht plus tips.

Driver 8,000 Baht

Police man.... 6,000 Baht

School teacher ....12,000- 15,000

Doctor... 25,000

Lawyer....18,000

Secretary....12,000

Receptionist 11,000

Executive Secretary that speaks good English.... 22,000

Some other thoughts...

http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/labor_costs.asp

www.sunbeltasia.com

Well, where in Thailand does such wages apply? I have heaps of thai friends getting half or even less than what these numbers indicate, Executive Secretary getting 22k is a laugh, Receptionist at any Chiang Mai 4-5 stars hotels receving above 10k doesnt exist etc etc.

Multipack, yes : -) thanks I am off to China so anything YOU want? :-))

Well, I would've loved some giant bags of Hola Hoops : -) Plain Salt! (but won't be able to pick it up until late Jan)

lol, so now the americans are crying cause they need passports .... bs.

I need to get a motorbike transported from Chiang Rai to downtown Lamphun. I dont want to ride it there as it's too far and could be dangerous. Does anyone know of any transportation services in Chiang Rai that will do it? If so, approximately how much do they charge?

I'll drive her down for ya, 1k + gasoline :-) Or just talk to one of the motoshops (honda i.e.) and ask them how to proceed, they sure know how ...

Can anyone tell me exactly where this new and necessary wonder is "nestled" along the banks of the mighty Ping ???

Is it new construction or a take over of or purchase of an existing hotel like the Diamond?

gonzo

It was supposed to be a Amaritius project, but they've backed out, and Sofitel takes over. It's 4-500 meters to the left when you cross the river from Sheraton, 5 minutes to the Night Bazar by foot is BS, but who cares ... people staying there won't use their feets anyway.

There is no problem whatsoever finding "cheap" tickets via Singapore, Hong Kong and even Bangkok to the US. And if you don't demand direct flights there are HEAPS of options available ... don't really get your frustrations ....

The Chedi, just 3k a month....best equip in the city ...