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MMan

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Posts posted by MMan

  1. Several hotels sell fitness club memberships for locals and I'm guessing those may include pool privileges. The Kantary Hills has one of the best pools and hotel fitness rooms in the area (the pool is large and gets sunshine so the water is not so cold as others), though don't know the cost.

    You can get a 6 month membership at the Centara Duangtawan fitness center for 8500 thb and I think (not 100% sure) it includes pool privileges. One year membership is 12,000 thb.

    • Like 1
  2. I bought insurance from BUPA when I first moved to Thailand, though after turning 50 the premiums increased so much I decided I would forgo insurance (after weighing the premium costs, the coverage limits and how little quality health care costs here). The situation might be different for you depending on your financial situation. BUPA and a few others have worldwide coverage that will cover you in most countries though they usually have a disclaimer for the USA.

    I once came close to buying from AIA (which I think once stood for American International Assurance), though was turned down because I am an American. Scared the crap out of me when my agent called to say I was refused by AIA..Two days earlier I had gone to the AIA head office for a physical exam and required blood tests. Greatly relieved when she explained it was only because I was on American.

  3. I download the forms and instructions from the IRS website. You can then complete the forms on your computer, print and mail via Thai Post Express Mail Service (EMS) to the IRS. Thai Post gives you an online tracking number and you can follow it all the way to when received by the IRS. If sending to Austin (the instructions tell you where to send) it is OK to print on A4 paper.

    http://www.irs.gov/

  4. Driving around town today amused by the election posters. In the Tha Pae / Night Market area...

    Candidate # 15 is a pretty face.

    But who is Candidate # 3, the angry looking dude with the sunglasses and mustache?

    Looks very much like the always entertaining Chuvit Kamolvisit, but he is from Bangkok. Or maybe these are just posters for his party?

    post-43097-0-61369300-1391246107_thumb.j

  5. Have gone to Mae Sai many times for a 90 day passport stamp. Went today and things have changed since October. Now faster and easier than ever.

    In the past you would sometimes have to wait a while. Then an officer would use a PC to type up a card they gave you, which took a few minutes. And they would hold your passport while you went shopping - you could then get it back 15 minutes or so later at Emigration across the street. Always made me a little nervous about them keeping my passport.

    Today no waiting. Many immigration officers sitting outside their little room. One smiling officer greeted me and took me inside. Asked if I was just there for shopping. Me: "Yes, only 15 minutes or so maybe". OK. Paid my 500 baht and he gave me both an Entrance and an Exit stamp, then handed the passport back and smiled again. No waiting for them to type up a card. No holding my passport. Took less than 30 seconds.

    At Emigration there was a sign saying 'show your passport', but nobody there to stop you. Thought about just walking past, but decided to show my passport since there was no wait and didn't want any problems returning to Thailand. The officer saw I already had an Exit stamp, smiled and said "OK, have stamp already", handed back the passport and waved me on.

    :-)

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  6. I used Northwheels in the past but now use Avis.

    Northwheels Chiang Rai office is in town, not at the airport. They will send somebody to meet you at the airport and do the paperwork there, and will also send somebody to meet you again for dropping off at the airport. But at times I had to wait for them.

    One time in Chiang Mai I had a reservation with Northwheels there, but they had no car for me when I arrived. After checking, they discovered they had made a mistake and accidently reserved a car for me in Chiang Rai. They had no cars available in Chiang Mai that day so I rented from Avis, and have been using them ever since.

  7. I like Santiburi CC - my favorite golf course in Thailand.

    Like the Le Meridien Chiang Mai, and especially Favola restaurant (yes pricey but I have the Starwood discount card for Thai residents).

    Like the easy drive to Mae Sai & quick over the border and back when I need a 90 day passport stamp.

    Like the people here too.

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  8. Yes Pantip Plaza is a sad sight these days. Chi Chang closed when their megastore opened in Promenada. The office supply store closed when their store in Central Festival opened. It's a trend seen all over Thailand - small IT shops are closing and the big stores are taking over, similar to the IT scene in the US. Was probably inevitable - I was always surprised by the number of small shops here anyway.

  9. For sure there will be 'shake out' of stores. But that part of town looks set to be Chiang Mai's major growth corridor for some years to come and Promenada is well located for access from several directions.

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  10. I like Promenada. Easy to get to. Easy to park, get in, get what you want and get out. I usually go on a Saturday or Sunday, and there are many people there. Wish it had an anchor department store like a Robinsons though. For Rimping works well to, and unless you go during peak hours you can usually park reasonably close.

    Before I would go to Central Airport. Traffic around there is always a pain and so is the parking garage (though outside parking not too bad if you can get close).

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  11. I've been living and working (and paying a lot of taxes) in Thailand for several years, on One Year Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant 'B' Visas. Until today, every time I've entered Thailand I've been given a 90 Day stamp.

    Today I did a border crossing and back at Nong Khai / Vientianne, but was only given a 30 Day stamp upon re-entry into Thailand. I did not notice it until after I had left Nong Khai. My Visa does not expire until July.

    Did they change the rules? Or did Immigration just make a mistake? The taxi driver I hired in Udon Thani to take me to Nong Khai and back said he thinks if I had stayed overnight 1 night in Laos I would have been given 90 days, but obviously he's no expert on immigration law.

    Anyone with expertise able to answer this?

  12. I was at the Dusit D2 yesterday, and one of the staff told me they have had many groups cancel because of the protests (Asian Tour Groups I presume as they get many of those). Seem to be fewer Chinese in town right now than normal.

    I am in the tourism business and my experience is that Asian tourists are the first to cancel because of any political unrest (whether Chinese, Japanese, Koreans or Singaporeans). North Americans, Europeans and Australians are more likely to shrug it off as political demonstrations are more common in their countries. Back during the Red Shirt protests one farang tourist told me "I've been through 2 wars, political protesters don't scare me".

  13. Personally I prefer the Night Bazaar Dukes. Haven't noticed a difference in the food, though I seem to get better service at the Night Bazaar location. Khun Gai and the staff there are great. I like the views of the Night Bazaar action too.

    My favorite item is the Cajun Chicken sandwich. Big and juicy chicken breast with cajun spices (I add Tabasco too) and what is probably the best sandwich bun in town. Fresh lettuce and a perfect tomato slice too. I also really like Duke's pizza, salads and burgers. And of course the value for the money.

    I saw one other poster mentioned having a harder time with rich western food after being in Thailand a long time. While I really like a good burger or steak, my system has a harder time with beef now that I don't eat it so much. I don't get sick, but feel bloated much of the night & next morning, especially if I have beef and fries. So I now prefer smaller portions of beef and fries, accompanied with a good sized salad. The riverside Duke's location has a small burger on the menu that is just right for me. The Night Bazaar Dukes only has big burgers on the menu, which are way too big for me... but if you ask they'll make the small burger for you (the newer staff may not know about that so need to talk with someone who's been there awhile).

    Very drinkable and reasonably priced house wines too.

    For many people who live here though I can see the appeal of the riverside location with convenient parking, a bigger & more diverse menu, and no need to fight your way through the sidewalk vendors.

    Haven't tried the new Promenada location yet but hope to soon. It looks very nice.

    • Like 1
  14. My Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant 'B' Visa has expired, but just before the expiration date I did a border run and got the 90 day extension. I am now in the extension period.

    Next month I will go to my home country and get a new Visa for another one year period (I will do that before the expiration of the 90 day extension).

    But what happens if I wish to leave Thailand for a short trip and come back, BEFORE I go back to my home country and get the new Visa?

    I assume I cannot re-enter under the expired Visa.

    And what about my work permit? It is good until November, but as I understand it is only good as long as my Work Visa is current.

  15. Blue Canyon has had legal and financial problems for as long as I can remember, with management and staff turning over frequently. One time when there was a dispute over ownership a group came in and took all the computers away. Another time the employees walked out because they had not been paid for some time. And then last year they suddenly lost all their carts (they said due to 'maintenance', though my guess is the leasing firm or finance company took them because the club was behind in payments). Eventually they got carts again. Maintenance tends to go up and down to. I heard a rumor they currently have no head greenskeeper because the last one left suddenly.

    It's a shame as the courses and clubhouse are good. They also built what was probably the best golf practice facility in Thailand if not all of SE Asia, however it was a financial flop and I heard conditions have gone downhill.

    All golf in Phuket is overpriced compared to elsewhere in Thailand. At one time it was THE place for holiday golfers visiting Thailand. But since then there is now equally good golf elsewhere in the country at much better prices. Most golf tourists now go to Hua Hin, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. Even in High Season it is never a problem to get a tee time in Phuket... little wonder.

  16. There was a golf shop across from Lanna GC where I was able to buy good quality used Pro V-1 balls last year (don't remember exactly but I think about 800 baht for 10 balls). Stopped by there twice in the past week and closed both times, with a sign (in Thai) on the closed security door. I think maybe they have moved or gone out of business. Does anybody know? Or more to the point, where in Chiang Mai can I buy good quality used Pro V-1 balls?

    .


  17. I've done that drive countless times over the last 10 years. The scenery is nice though there isn't much of interest along the way. About half way there is a tourist stop with what looks like a big Khmer temple, and there are some hot springs there. There are several coffee shops along the way and it seems like 1 or 2 new ones every time I make the trip. On the south side of Chiang Rai the white temple is well worth seeing.

    If you are not in any hurry you can take the more scenic route up through Chiang Dao and Thaton. Even better mountain scenery that way.,, however much of that route is 2 lane roads and when you get stuck behind a big slow truck or bus it can be a long time to get around it.

  18. The CNN home page (international edition) lead story right now is "Smugglers Fuel Dog Meat Industry", complete with a picture of poor dogs tightly packed in baskets on a truck, and the picture caption says "It doesn't matter if the dogs are family pets or strays. Smugglers are snatching them, packing them in tightly packed baskets in Thailand to sell in Vietnam, say animal rights activists".

    Great worldwide publicity for Thailand. Hope this will embarrass the government into taking more serious action on this.



    • Like 1
  19. My Sony Experia Android works fine in the US for data / internet. As I'm not there for more than about 2 weeks I just keep my Thailand number with AIS, rather than signing up with a US carrier for a local number. Of course there are international roaming charges and I buy an overseas data package before I go. After I determine about how many MB I think I'll want to use I just call AIS to inquire what they can offer. I think last trip I got a 50 MB plan for maybe 2000 thb (though I can't really recall the amount).

  20. Best steak I've had in Chiang Mai was at The Chedi - not surprisingly it was also the most expensive (and came with no sides which are extra).

    Other less expensive places where I've had a good steak (though sometimes better then others):

    Duke's
    Chez Marco

    An OK steak though not as good as the above:

    Kantary Hills
    Holiday Inn

    Best Thai steak I've had anywhere was at the Green Table, a new restaurant on Nimmanhaemin Soi 12 in the Kantary Terrace. They said it is some special beef that they get from a University farm. Not as good as a good Australian or Argentine fillet, but for Thai beef it is the best I've had.

  21. " Better looking women though- northern girls really have it! "

    Actually I think many of the girls (and ladyboys) working the farang beer bar scene in CM are not from the area. You won't find many light skinned Thai-Chinese girls in Loi Kroh bars (the karaoke joints in other areas that cater to Asian businessmen though do seem to have lots of them out front ... though I'm not so familiar with those places - went in one once and left after 30 minutes with a shockingly high bar bill - which I paid though I ignored all the staff with their hands out asking for tips as I was leaving).

  22. TIME and MONEY - American travelers usually have one or the other, but rarely both.

    Thailand is a long journey from the states... for most it is 20 - 30 hours across 8 - 12 time zones. That makes it impractical for a one week holiday. You really need 2 weeks to do it right.

    If you are gainfully employed in the American private sector you may only have 1 or 2 weeks vacation time per year (unlike many other western countries where it seems 4+ weeks is common). If you've been with the same employer many years you may get 3 weeks or more, however taking a vacation longer than 1 week is uncommon, and many bosses are not comfortable allowing you to do so. Even with a fairly high level position in a large well regarded company, I was only able to take a 2 week Asian trip by scheduling it over Thanksgiving Holiday, a short 3 day work week when little is going on in corporate America, and then staying in contact with the office daily via email and Skype. Even with that, my boss still let it be known he did not like it.

    Those employed outside the private sector (education, government, military, religious / non-profit organizations) often do get more generous annual leave time, and may have positions that make it easier to take an extended holiday. However those jobs do not generally pay well. So those people go the Lonely Planet route, saving up and carefully planning their trip to get maximum bang for the least bucks... a road that leads to Chiang Mai. And those are the type of American you often find in Chiang Mai, along with young travelers who haven't yet settled into a career or taken on family obligations.

    Working Americans with the resources for a 4 - 5 star beach holiday are more likely to be limited to considering a 1 week trip within North America.

  23. Any comments / feedback on the Leelawadee or the other Thai places located very close to the Le Meridien? Have not been to any but I see the Leelawadee got a very good review on TripAdvisor.

    I really like the F&B at the Le Meridien, but of course it is on the pricey side so if I am staying there a few days would like to try some local places too.

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