Awk

In my opinion, I think the only used Blackberry you will find is a crap one..

They are extremely popular at this time with many people....

I bought my new on for 22,000 baht. Very nice

Hi,

Everytime I went to MBK in BKK there were so many phones avaliable, both new, and second hand. Chiang Mai doesn't seem to have this mecca of phones anywhere apart from central airport plaza.

Is there anyplace else I could try and look for second hand phones aside from that place that might sell used blackberry's?

Kuad Suan Kaew seems to have a much larger selection of both used and new phones, mostly located on one floor (third floor?

Can't remember for sure).

City Hall has it's gates secured and tripple rows of large concrete blocks in front of them, and armed soldiers behind. Central is closed similarly with soldiers wandering around the outside.

All banks I passed were still closed, as were a lot of shops that are normally open, in fact is was fairly quiet all round.

Do you mean something other than central/robinson airport plaza by "Central"? It was not closed an hour ago at least.

To the contrary, apart from a sign in Thai that I think was saying it was closing at 18:00 today,

everything looked perfectly normal; shops open, lots of people, etc.

UG - Central Airport is open today but I didn't go to the basement so I don't know about the banks. THe missus said Tesco Khamtien was open too.

Cheers,

Pikey.

All the banks I saw at central airport plaza an hour ago were closed, though I was just walking past them on my way, so did not specifically check

them all.

I was at La Terrasse with my wife last night (Wednesday) for the first time. It was a very pleasant dinner. We had the duck pate (excellent) as a starter. Then we had the duck breast in a pepper sauce and the pork chop in a mustard and cream sauce. The duck was perfect, cooked exactly as my wife asked. My pork chop was fine but nothing special. The potatoes, fried in duck fat, were outstanding. Both dishes also came with a side of vegetables and were beautifully presented. The only weak point was the sauces. imho, Franco-Thai has better sauces. Servings were large and are a very good value.

They have a limited menu but that is so that everything will be fresh. Well, with 10 appetizers and 15 main courses, maybe it's limited only in comparison to Chez Marco and Franco-Thai.

The service was equal to the food. It was friendly but not overbearing. I don't need to have a long conversation with the owner or staff. Others have compared the service at La Terrasse to Chez Marco. Chez Marco's service is perfunctory. La Terrasse was much more friendly. After we had a chance to taste our food, we were asked if everything was OK. And as we finished, we were asked how we liked it. In all my years in CM, I can't recall ever being asked before. Also, our bread basket was refilled before it was empty, and it's very good bread. Finally, we were offered some complimentary mini pastries after our meal. That was a very nice touch. We will certainly be returning.

La Terrasse and the other two restaurants all have their fans and for good reason. It's nice to have this choice.

Reading the glowing recommendations about this restaurant I have been there twice now, a few weeks apart, and can only concur;

very good.

Quality and service like this, in particular from the chef who has been very present on both occasions, has made me a more than

satisfied guest. Yesterday I was there with my wife and baby daughter, and the chef even cooked up a special baby meal for her,

which my daughter enjoyed, and which my wife enjoyed after my daughter had finished enjoying it.

The location and place is also very fitting for such a restaurant; a few metres down a dead-end soi of the busy Loi Kroh road. Far

enough away from Loi Kroh for one to be able to enjoy sitting outside without too much bar and traffic noise, yet very

easy to get to if you know where it is.

One never knows how long quality and service like this will last as things get more and more busy in a new restaurant, but

I for one will enjoy it while I can. ;-)

You can show the required proof of income by going to US consulate in BKK, fill in the form on the wall rack for such (very simple one-page). On the form list your monthly income, nothing else needed. Then pay the fee (has been US$30 but think it was raised to 50; baht payment OK) at the special window (not the main one with long lines), submit the form and fee receipt at the windows, wait to be called (usually about 10-20 mins), go up and swear that it's all true, get stamped and sealed. This official form is accepted as proof of income by Immigration but they will probably still want to see your bankbook.

In my case, some weeks ago, a similar form was not accepted by immigration, and I even come from a country where the embassy

wants to see hard evidence of the income. Instead I had to, in addition to the embassy letter, get a statement from my

foreign employer that I was employed and what my salary was.

This was for a one year extension based on marriage btw, my first one one. Anyone else had to show the foreign company letter?

Quite frankly, if you are so hard up on your cash that you can not afford to hire somebody to

come and brush your teeth twice a day here, you are better of packing on back to farangland.

Not unheard of, incase of certain countries. The US doesn't check and just make you swear a statement regarding your income. In those cases it is not unknown that immigration wants further proof of your income. For embasies that do actually check your income with tax papers it is much more rare to be asked for this.

So the question is, what is your nationality.

I`m from Northern Europe, and had to show proof of my income to the embassy, including last years tax receipt and last three months

payslips. I.e. I am not from one of the countries where the embassy staff will trust you on your word in this matter, as e.g. USA seems to be.

I have not heard about this before, so thought I'd post and perhaps save others an extra trip to the immigration

office.

Yesterday I was at the Chiang Mai immigration offices, with what I thought was all the papers required

for my first one year non-imm-o extension based on marriage, including a statement from

my embassy that my salary, in my western country, fulfilled the salary requirements by

immigration here in Thailand.

To my surprise, the statement from the embassy was however not enough. I also needed

a similar statement from the company I am employed by in my western country.

I tried to query her about it, and she said that was the regulations, and showed

me where it was written.

Don't know if this is a Chiang Mai-only thing, but I have not heard about it

before.

I'm not able to report the same.

I met a friend from Chiang Rai about a month ago there.

His friend ordered all Thai food, said it was great (spicy clear rice noodle seafood salad).

My pal from CR ordered tacos. So so.

I ordered the steak. Selected ribeye, and was specific to mention "rare to medium rare".

Look, for 199 B don't expect a thick piece of meat.

It came perfectly cooked, with french fries and some salad on a large plate.

I thought it was altogether acceptable for the price.

No big deal, the mileage may vary, but at 199 B for a steak dinner...

That has mostly been my experience also, though I gave up on the 199B offer a long

time ago, and instead pay the extra for the, I believe, Australian beef.

Not great, but more than fine enough. The manager also seems to do a good

job with the staff and watching the place. Tthe staff can't be too unhappy either as some

of them must have worked there for years now.

One of the better places on the road in my opinion.

dam_n. Hopefully it's back up again before the month is out, both for their sake and so I can catch a match. Thanks folks.

The places inside the city centre (i.e. on Loi Kroh road and moonmouang) also show real fights, but some of the days

it is just show fights, while others it is real fights. As far as I remember, it's free on the days it is "show fights".

I've only seen a "show fight" night once, but it was real muay thai people having a bit of a fun/jok fighting,

and then a bucket was passed around where you could stuff some money.

The best experience can no doubt be had out on the countryside, which will in addition be free,

but it is difficult to know when and where.

Fabrique might be your best bet. It's huge, and some nights packed to the brim, but usually you can find an area to claim as a dancefloor. IMO the music is better than what they played at Bubble too.

Also, the little places outside Discovery (Chiang Mai Bar?) can be fun. Usually have good house music and room to dance.

Thanks. I thought I'd shrug of my resentment towards strong two-tier pricing like mandelay and the place you mention,

but as I tried to enter on Saturday, the practice of blocking the way for me ("must buy ticket. 300 bath.)

and letting others flow through just made me feel so unwelcome I balked on it.

I've was at Discovery once some years years ago, but did not notice any small places outside, though

admittedly I did not look. Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out next time.

Hello, does anybody know what has happened to the Bubble disco at Porn Ping hotel?

This weekend it seems to have been closed.

Also, are anyone aware of alternatives? I.e. a western style disco/club with a dancefloor,

not the Thai-style "boogie around the table".

Before there was something somewhat similar in the big hotel on Loi Kroh road

as far as I can remember. Anyone know if that still exists? Anything else?

Regards,

All my time in thailand have been staying on visas that precluded a stay longer than 90d per trip, so

I've never had to concern myself about address reporting, but after getting married recently,

I extended my 60d tv for another 60d, after having previously extended it for 30 days.

I recently realized that this, of course, puts me over the 90d period regarding address reporting.

I'm leaving later this month, in a couple of weeks, at which time I've been staying in thailand for around

120 consecutive days.

Should I expect any problems at departure, due to not having reported my address?

If so, any advice on what to do before that?

Thanks,

Anyway, I do enjoy traditional Western massage, such as Swedish. However, in Thailand, when I see oil massage offered, I assume it will be a cover for sex services. I am not interested. How to get legit oil massage in Thailand? Would legit mean not going naked? In the west, you would go naked, but they use towels in a way to signal it is all about therapy and not the big O.

While oil massage is a more likly precursor to "something extra" than thai massage, it is by no means a cover for sex

services. I know several females who enjoy a oil massage now and then, without me thinking it's anything more than that.

The staff would probably take the hint if you keept your underwear on, but then you would probably end up with oily underwear.

Even in the cases where something extra is offered, a simple "no thanks" should always work. Unless you're

even more hansum than me, they're not likly to force you to accept anything.

You want Sodium carbonate in large quantity or just small amount?

Just a small amount. I have a motorcycle tank suffering from rust, and

want to try this electrolysis thing I've read about to remove it.

Still haven't found it. :-(

Soda ash was easier to find, but it seems that is sodium hydroxide, rather

than sodium carbonate. Both can be used, but apperently sodium hydroxide

is dangerous for the ignorant (me).

Soda Ash is not sodium hydroxide. This is usually called Caustic Soda in English and "Soda Fai" in Thai. Available in hardware stores in 1kg packets or as "Drano" in larger stores.

Yes, that's what I thought to, but going by the online dictionary translation of "soda ash" into thai (since I had no luck finding

what the translation of "washing soda" translated to, even though many people seemed to know what it was), and then asking in stores

for that, lead me to sodium hydroxide. :-(

You want Sodium carbonate in large quantity or just small amount?

Just a small amount. I have a motorcycle tank suffering from rust, and

want to try this electrolysis thing I've read about to remove it.

Still haven't found it. :-(

Soda ash was easier to find, but it seems that is sodium hydroxide, rather

than sodium carbonate. Both can be used, but apperently sodium hydroxide

is dangerous for the ignorant (me).

Anybody know where I can find washing soda here in chiang mai?

Thanks,

Showing my ignorance, what is washing soda? Any difference from baking soda other than the quality and quantity that might be in the package? I have heard of using baking soda but don't remember hearing of "washing soda", pe se.

Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate and Washing Soda is Sodium Carbonate.

Washing Soda is more commonly known as Soda Ash around here. One of the water treatment or swimming pool companies may be able to help you out.

Soda Ash? Didn't have luck finding it today, will try some older photoshops tomorrow. Many people

seem to know what it is, but we only get the "no, we don't, but probably X does", and it goes on.

Thanks for the tip about Soda Ash and swimming pool companies, another thing to look out for tomorrow.

Anybody know where I can find washing soda here in chiang mai?

Thanks,

Facts.

Touristvisa with 2 entrys.

I have been in Phuket for soon 60 days.

I will return to Europe april 7.

My 60 days will run out on the 31th of december and of course the imigration office is not open.

Q: Can I pay overstay for 2 days and still pay for 30 extra days?

Q: Is there gona be any problems with the second entry?

Please help a lazy Farang....

Why wait til the 31st before asking for an extension? The days of the extension are counted

from the day the current entry expires, so nothing is saved by waiting til the last

day.

Regards,

As an aside I also once tried turning around on the bridge without going into Burma but that didnt work either.

Heh. please tell more. ;-)

After last time I did this to get a new visa stamp, I started thinking that since

there is nothing I need to buy on the burma-side of the border, next time I will just turn back

into thailand, without going in/out of Burma. Why does that not work?

normal rate is 2500 for a lotto, two days would be approx 4k

Uptheos, right. We'd prefer to be a seperate group of riff-raff. ;-)

Kash, what is a lotto?

Can anybody recommend a mini-bus/tour-company that can be used to drive 12-15 people

from chiang mai to chiang rai, spend a night, and then come back the next day?

Any other ideas for how to make such a trip, appart from using the regular busses,

with all the other riff-raff? ;-)

Hello, can anybody recommend a good place for a wedding party with around 50-6o people?

Big majority of thais, but some of us farangs too. Preferably some place with a decent

karaoke setup.

If anybody knows of a nice music band in the area, contactinfo for them would be welcome

too.

Thanks,

Dont the Thais ever feel embarrassed at government offices using 'thaimail.com' type email accounts..

Really pretty low !!

Doubtfull. There's a big hospital here in chiang mai, and at least last time I looked, the contact

email was @hotmail.com. ;-)

Hello, if planing a marriage, and thereafter going from the endless tv/ve entries to a non-imm o based

on the marriage, and related extensions, is there anything in particular one should be aware of here?

Related to the visa, not the requirements for marraige that is.

Certain documents one should be sure to get? Get extra copies of? Some tips?

I've read some stories here about people being asked for pictures from the

wedding, and then, "more recent wedding pictures" (on a 15 year old marriage or so. :-/),

which sounds pretty crazy to me.

If not planning a wedding party, and thus probably not having pictures from any

wedding party ... is there anything to worry about in that regard?