Elvikingo

Best of all, right at the shore of the beautiful lake of Viang Yonok. Excellent food and very friendly staff. www.viangyonok.com

Also see the article in Newsweek: The Destruction of Thailand's Global Brand - Newsweek

"Thailand's scores on the TOEFL exam, the test of English skills for students heading to university, now consistently rank amongthe lowest in Asia"

I don't know if this was mentioned already, but I usually find the level farang speak Thai opposite their level of income, the better the level of thai the worse the income is....

Could it simply be just be a coupling of Thai natural jingoism,

and the desperate need to generate more income for their airlines,

and increase Suvarnbuhmi landing fees and kickbacks from them?

Every thing is FINE if you use USE AN AIRLINE...

Maybe King Power is feeling the pinch?

Does nobody realize Thailand is nothing more than a 3rd world country? Average income, average age and average death don't get them anywhere yet......

Nepal -> India (Calcutta) ->boat the Andamans (3 days) -> boat to Phuket....

- you think a 200cc motorbike is cool

- you start talking with your mom and friends at home in baby english

I've seen them several times between 2am and 4am, wandering for alms on sukhumvit just when the bars tend to empty......

The Tachilek market aboe Mae Sai in Burma got Alpinestars and other good brands (boots, jackets, trousers etc).... Stuff looks original and is priced original..... might be worth a try....

Chiang Mai got a couple of farang antique dealers, I suppose they might give you a fair price.....

Friend Children - India

Hillside 4 Condo at Haew Kaew Rd, 4th floor. Big gym, usually quiet, just 100 baht per time you want to go. No membership required....

Chiang Rai definitely got the cheapest and smoothest assfalt in Thailand. Even with my iceskates I'd go the same speed as any motor cyclist! With 30 km/h you can make a 30 to 50 meter slip easily, it's fun if you know what you're doing!

cheers and happy songkran

Raoul

I went to Laos last month to apply for a multiple entry 1 year non B (new job in bkk). They gave me a single entry 3 month with a red stamp which tells me I need to show my workpermit to the bkk immigration to get the multi entry 1 year visa. Very nice, as I needed to go to Singapore last week and had to cancel this trip due to this visa stuff. Now I actually decided not to take the job in bkk, as money (and taxes) are better in other parts of asia but am still with this "incomplete" non B visa in Thailand... I'll see what will happen, but they can't keep me in this country if I don't want to be here...

go to http://www.toyznet.com/modules.php?name=ca...ex&cPath=77

cheers

Raoul

Survived Chiang Mai - Ubon Ratchatani in 1 day on a 400cc bike. Did another roundtrip Chiang Mai - Bangkok last week. Roads are fine just don't go crazy. Have fun!

Raoul

Motorbike! It's a nice road and now a lot better compared to a few years back. Done it over 10 times, it's worth the curves....

Cheers! Raoul

Go to http://www.handintravel.com/ and contact Mr. Dzung. He got the best visa arrangements possible and definitely a very reliable travel agency. Visa at arrival is one of the easiest arrangements but contact him first. Visa's that way are definitely cheaper then going to the embassy in Bangkok.

cheers and enjoy the stay!

Raoul

Maybe a post on average age of the expats in chiangmai? Most seem either backpackers or 60+...

Be happy they didn't dare to serve tiger ..... agree with the stupidity of the existence of that place

Death cause no. 1 for farang outside their home country = traffic

Get to Singapore. Good money if you got a degree in quite a few areas, cheap flights between Sing and Thailand anyway. Working during weekdays, spending weekends in Malaysia/Thailand/Indonesia...

Had trouble Januari this year on a flight from Bangkok to Amsterdam with a transfer in Frankfurt. Had not been around Europe for a while and their airport regulations definitely are sticter. Bought a nice bottle of whisky in Bangkok, but in Frankfurt they confiscated the bottle. Had quite a few email going from King Power to Airport Customs in Frankfurt but never got the money back.....