Guemlum

I personally think that if you want to meet a Thai lady, you should spend some time in the country first, trying to build and establish a relationship. As cdnvic says, its better to browse in person.

People that decide they want to find a partner via one of these agencys are asking for all kinds of unknown and unforeseen problems. Some folks would say "Som nam na".... In saying that, I'm sorry if anyone has been affected in this manner. Try coming to Thailand first and meet someone in the good old fashioned way. At the same time, you will get to experience the wonderfull Thai culture.

Guemlum

Mahout, decided against the Eva flight in the end as I saved myself about 150GBP with a 1hr 45 min stopover in Abu Dhabi with Etihad. Plus the miles will be added to my frequent flyer account.

The money saved will go towards the cost of constantly entertaining her at Thai restaurants whilst here

Anyway, I'm sure with the "meet and greet" service, she'll find it impossible to get lost, but Its her that I'm trying to re-assure. I'm sure she'll get here.

Guemlum

ps... Whether you go economy class or decide to spend ten times more money to go First Class, it really doesn't matter as everyone gets to the destination safely at the same time which is really what it is all about .

Exactly!!

Here's a few tips.

I highly recommend a book called "Air Babylon" by Imogen Edward-Jones. Its an expose on the airline industry.

Cash for upgrades is a popular one. Slip a couple of fifty pound notes in your passport when checking in. Check-in staff can earn as little as 11k GBP per year so they are always on the look out for little bonuses that pop up now and then.

Quote from book.....Depending on what computer system the airline uses, check-in staff can talk to one another via simultaneous email. So when check-in staff seem to be taking an age to type your rather short name into the computer, they are probably sending one of their mates a message - usually about you or occasionally about someone else in the queue behind you. 'Have you seen the nose/tits/arse/gut on her? - to the more malicious - 'I've got a right old c..t here; can anyone suggest a screaming child for him to sit next to? They can also add comments or messages to your ticket that flash up as you arrive at the departure gate. So the cabin crew are warned in advance that a '<deleted>' is approaching or a 'difficult b..tard' is on his way and that you should be treated accordingly.

So you see, it really does pay to be pleasant at check-in.

You could also try writing 'SUG' (suitable for upgrade) on your ticket after you have checked in.This was told to me by a pilot friend of mine. However, you take the risk of the girls knowing on the departure gate, that this has been added by yourself, and subsequently will not show on their computer screen at the gate.

Me, I'm a frequent flyer with Etihad and usually fly economy. Cant justify paying an extra 1k to fly business. Although have flown business a couple of times with the miles I have earned.

Guemlum

Groove salad, SOMA FM..streaming live from net

Hi folks, was wondering if anyone's wife or gf is travelling from Bnagkok to the UK on the 8th June with Etihad.

My gf is worried she is going to get on the wrong plane at Abu Dhabi and end up somewhere like Africa or outer Mongolia. I have told her that I have arranged a "meet and greet" with Etihad at both Abu Dhabi and Heathrow, but she's still worried she'll f... up!.

Anyone?

Guemlum

Stayed at the Grand Inn Come hotel back in November. Wouldnt say it was exactly "budget" but did get it cheaper than most farangs as my gf paid for it. Was only about 10 minutes away from the airport as well via taxi. You can watch the planes land from your hotel room, if your into that kind of thing...

Guemlum

Lee, I have to agree with Markr as I recently read in another thread that the embassy do not advise you buy a ticket on the basis that she may be refused a visa, which means you'll be about 500 squid out of pocket. We left this option blank when we recently applied for a tourist visa. Got the visa and I'm still looking for a flight for my missus, but theres not alot about at the moment for 99 quid

Guemlum

You want your cake and eat it too.

man up to the fact that life is for living and you don't need mega bucks for security. You need Gumption. I suggest you read two books. Zen and the art of Motorcycle maintenance - Robert Pirsig and Jupiter's Travels - Ted Simon.

Then if you are not sure. Stay at home and forget about LOS, its not for you. just dip into it like a tourist and enjoy the snap shots. Nowt wrong with that. You'll build a nice safe nest egg for when you retire and maybe then you'll spend more time here. At least you can stop agonizing over the possibility.

Or, you'll send me a nice pm thanking me for reminding you where you left your balls. pack you bags and come out to be with your girlfriend and live a happy life in a place you seem to love and with people you can appreciate and relate to. The matter of your future will resolve itself as you keep living in the present. have faith in yourself and you will find a way.

If this ruffles your feathers, then maybe thats a hint to spread your wings...or to stop dreaming and go back to your Scott Adams depicted lifestyle.

With love,

Loz

Cheers Loz, you've cheered me up...and your advice taken on board as with all the other posts.

Guemlum

What do you do Totster, when back in the UK?

Guemlum

This is great and exactly want I wanted to hear, especially from the 30 somethings.

I had also thought about doing the full-on TEFL course back home as I had been offered many jobs in my time as a volunteer. I Still might decide to do a TEFL just incase I decide to pack it all in and move to LOS.

I've had the life changing experience as a result of my worldly travels, but has anyone just gone out there with nowt to there name and decided to stay. Dont get me wrong, I'm not skint and could lay my hands on about 30k cash. 20k of that could buy a house up in Isaan, but I'd love to stay out there permanently. Am I tackling things the wrong way around. Should I stay and earn the money here working every hour under the sun, paying upto 40% tax, shit weather..etc etc. Being away for so long would not help towards NI contributions, thus giving a meagre state pension in the future. I dont own a property as Hertfordshire aint cheap. I could quite easily get a mortgage but renting out would never cover the mortgage repayments. Do I need all that hastle.

On the other hand I could quite easily move to LOS, get a job teaching, earning 25-30k per month. It wouldnt set you up for the future though. What about retirement. My gf's son wants to join the "honourable society" known as the police force in 2 years time and I certainly wouldnt want him to take care of us in our old age. Not in the same way Thai kids are expected to take care of their Thai parents. Over the past 3 years I have adapted to the Thai way of life very easily. When in LOS, I live like a Thai, eat like a Thai, and I'm sure that on a teching salary, living day to day can be done.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Guemlum

Hi all....I'm curious as to how and what made you decide to give up the homeland and settle in LOS.

Ill give you a little insight as to how I came to fall in love with LOS.

I initially came to Thailand as an extension to my 12 month around the world trip. I took this trip a little later in life at the age of 30. Upon returning to the UK, I knew that I wanted to return to SE Asia and do something more worthwhile and fullfilling, so decided to jump on the volunteering train for 6 months up in the Nongkhai province. Once there, I helped set up a new IT centre and designed a curriculum for Basic Computing Skills and 3 levels of Photoshop. The majority of my students were from poor farming familys who at never used a computer or let alone knew what a mouse was. However, after 3 months of teaching, some of my students went on to secure jobs using computers, or advanced in their current employment. Quite and achievement considering some of those had left school at 9 years of age and farmed buffalo's.

News of this centre spread fast and was honoured with a visit from the "Minister for Adult Education", news reporters and TV film crews, who were very impressed with the courses I had designed.

Whilst living and volunteering in Isaan, I met my GF, and have been together for almost 2 years now. Some of you will be aware that we have recently been sucessfull in getting a tourist visa for her to visit the UK.

Upon leaving Thailand, I have returned several times to spend time with my gf and her family and my parents have visited Thailand on 2 seperate occasions to meet and holiday with my gf. I have now made the decision to stay in UK permanently, and holiday in Thailand as often as my job allows.

However, I would love to stay and live in Thailand permanently, but the only option for me is to earn the money here in order to provide for later on in life in Thailand. I'm only 34, so still quite young, and certainly dont have enough money to just throw in the towel back here. Not on the property ladder yet, due to the increasing cost of living here so I dont have the security of knowing a mortgage would be paid for by renting out whilst away. I'm not sure if there is a requirement for carpentry and shopfitting work in Thailand, but if there is, I'm sure its not as well paid as it is back home.

So what do you all do for work? Does any of the circumstances above sound familiar? Would you just pack up and move to Thailand?

Guemlum

Tinky winky, dipsy, la la, po...I'm sure I dont need to tell you which Brit kids program these names come from.

Aternatively, characters from the Austin Powers movies should raise a few eyebrows...

Dr Evil

Goldmember

Mini Me

Number Two

Basil Exposition

Fat Bastard

Felicity Shagwell

Alotta Fagina

Ivana Humpalot

Mr Bigglesworth

Mustafa

If your looking for good Mexican food and happen to be in Nongkhai then visit José Ramon's Mexican Cantina. He's been around for many a year and his food is superb!!! His restaurant is situated in the soi on the left of the hospital. See map above.

Specialities from Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Tortillas, Tacos, Enchiladas, Chips&Salsas and many more...Do not miss the "Beef-Tostadas"!! Margaritas, Tequilas, cool beers.

THE ALTERNATIVE IN NONGKHAI!!!!

Open from 12.00h until 22.00h

-Sundays closed-

email: [email protected]

Guemlum

Alternatively....

Etihad, Bangkok, Thailand

Office Address:

Suite 1802, 18th Floor,M Thai Tower, All Seasons Place , 87 Wireless Road, Phatumwan,

Post Code 10330, Bangkok, Thailand

Business Hours: 8.30 am-5.30 pm (Mon-Fri), 8.30 am-12 noon (Sat)

Office: +66 2 253 0099

Reservations and Ticketing: +66 2 253 0088

Fax: +66 2 252 2100

Hi mearkat, I myself, had trouble locating the desk a few weeks back.

When you arrive at Swampypoom (survarnabhumi) you will see that all off the airline desks run from one end of the airport to the other. You have to go all the way down towards one end with the desks on your right untill you see the Qatar desk. The Etihad desk is right next to them, however, it seems that the desk has been abandoned as there was a sign up a while back saying that it had been closed. A very helpful member of the airport staff who happened to be floating around the desk pointed me in the right direction for the check in desk. Hope this helps in guiding you in the right direction, even if the desk is no longer around.

Guemlum

Whether you visit the application centre or have to attend an interview at the embassy, I would always dress smart. My girlfriend and I dressed smart when we visited the UK application centre as we wanted to make an impression. Smart jeans, shoes, and smart shirt for me, whilst the missus wore trousers, shirt and shoes that covered her feet as apposed to open toed.

Some of the applicants we saw dressed in shorts and trainers while there partners wore flip-flops and looked like they were on their way to the beach afterwards. Would you wear shorts and trainers for a job interview back home?

IMO I would treat the process like a job interview. I'm not sure whether they make any notes upon application about general appearance but it doesnt hurt to dress smart.

Alternatively, dress code as per aussiestyle1983's tips

We got our visa in the end.

Guemlum

Hi, I'm looking to fly my girlfriend over to the UK in June, and EVA Air seems to be coming up the cheapest at the moment at 31700 baht for a return trip.

I always fly Etihad myself, but was wondering if anyone had flown with them and had any opinions, both positive or negative about this airline.

Thanks

Guemlum

Hi onzestan, I'm a frequent flyer with Etihad and they recently put me up in the "Oryx Hotel".

I usually have a stop over in Abu Dhabi, but only for transit purposes, then fly on to either Bangkok or London.

On my last flight, which was 3 weeks ago, I stopped in Abu Dhabi, only to realise that I had an 8hr wait for my connecting flight to the UK. I approached the Etihad guest desk and asked them what I was supposed to do for the next 8hrs. "Dont worry sir", was their reply, "we have a hotel reserved for you". Well I was completely and utterly surprised by this. The lady at the desk told me I would have to clear customs first, where there would be someone waiting for me on the other side, who would then take me to my transport. Transport was my own Mercedes limo which proceeded to take me to the Oryx Hotel. I was told this was normally reserved for their business and first class guests. Why I deserved this I dont know. The room was spectacular and I really appreciated the opportunity to have a hot shower and get my head down for 3 hrs. I was woken at 6am and another Mercedes limo was waiting for me downstairs where it rushed me back to the airport, and connecting flight.

Apparently there was another guest on my flight staying at the same hotel, but instead of putting us in the same car, we each had our own Merc.

I have always raved on about the service supplied by Etihad and that no other airline comes close at present, but this was an extra I certainly didnt expect, and all paid for by Etihad.

I am aware that there is a hotel situated in the airport, but do not know much about it so I cant help you there. I'm guessing that it is also for business and first class passengers. Hope this helps

www.oryxhotel.ae

Guemlum

Well done to you and your wife. Always nice to hear of sucessfull aplications. Hard work and honesty always pays off, and as atlastaname said, its what you are entitled to.

Guemlum

Cheers guys, I didnt think it would be a problem but best to check anyway. I'd also thought about informing the embassy of any changes to the current holiday plans should we apply for another visa at a later date. Honesty being the best policy.

Guemlum

As some of you might know, my Gf and I have recently been sucessfull in obtaining a tourist visa for her to visit the UK. I am waiting for a copy of the visa in her passport page to be sent to me, but from what she has told me, the visa is valid from the 28th May.

We mentioned in our application that we would like her to visit the UK in June for a period of 4 weeks. However, my employment situation may be changing soon, for the better I might add , but would mean that I would be working away from home for long periods at a time .

My question is....How would the embassy react if she was not to come in June as originally asked and instead came in July or August, but still stayed for the 4 week period as agreed?. Would they make things difficult for further applications?

Guemlum

Monsieur, here's just for you.....

Guemlum

And yes it is a statue of Naga on the banks of the Mekong in Phon Phisai.

Mark, thanks for that info. I downloaded the software and called the missus on her mobile and her landline number and the call was FREE!!! I couldnt believe it, FREE!!!. Thailand fell into their category of FREE destinations to make calls to. Not sure how long this will last but will definately be making good use of it. Skype on the other hand requires you to buy credit, but free if the other user has a computer and is using Skype.

Thanks again. FREE!! hehe

Guemlum

Hi guys, does anyone know or can recommend the best phonecard for calling Thailand from the UK.

I have been using the "iphone card" for many months now, and I'm sure there are better cards to use. The connection is xxxp. I have trawled the internet and founds 100's of cards but was hoping one of the regular posters and callers to Thailand could recommend. Thanks.

Guemlum