aroydee

Hey, people... thanks for reading this and I hope I am posting in the right place.

So here is the deal, I am writing a thesis on some fieldwork I did in Bangkok this year, and part of my project refers to the music and videos made by a really amazing Thai recording artist whose name more or less transliterates into Pai Pongsathorn (ไผ่ พงศธร). Can anyone provide me with any biographical or background information on him, or at least direct me to places online where I can start some research.

Much appreciated!

Hey guys, it is Richard, the original poster here!

All of you have been so incredibly helpful, I really appreciate the spirit of mutual assistance here. I have followed everyone's suggestions, reloaded credits into the phone... and it seems to be working just fine.

I must add, however, that possibly the most perceptive comment was the one advising me to find peace and quiet by simply turning the iPhone OFF. That really does speak to the essential issue here: not just my disappearing phone credits but also my disappearing time with myself!

Thanks to all of you!

Your phone probably connects via GPRS to the internet.

Ahhh, ok.... do you know how I can prevent that from happening?

Hey... Strange issue here.... I have an unlocked iPhone 2G for which I buy "pre-paid" minutes on 12Call. I usually buy 100 or 200 baht value at a time.The phone has started using up ALL my credits immediately without much use on my part. I am wondering... do perhaps some of the data apps use my credits without my knowing? Is there any way to adjust the settings on the phone to avoid this?Thanks -- these late night trips to 7-11 are killing me!

Personally it makes me want to vomit but anyway... here you go:

ขอความสุข คืนกลับมา

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=abMuqCqSPn8

Sir_Sanuk!

We may actually agree about the merits of the video, but for the purposes of the very academic research piece I am doing it is a very valuable representation of one way of creating the "story" (the memory) of the events.

This link is really helpful and I honestly appreciate it.... I should have been able to locate it myself but could not. So, again, thanks!

Thank you, people, for reading this!

So I was on the skytrain this past week, and as we were (appropriately) leaving Siam Square station, on one of the monitors I saw a music video, kind of in the style of the old WE ARE THE WORLD, showing a group of pop stars doing a really nice song against the backdrop of various scenes of violence from the past few weeks.

I have done a you tube/google search but cannot find it, and I would really like to be able to use it in a research piece I am doing.

Can anyone point me to some way to download or purchase it?

Thanks!

My one and only trip to Phuket was made miserable by price-gouging taxi drivers and tuk-tuk operators.

I promised myself never to return to the Island again....

Some rationalization of the pricing scheme could allow me re-consider my decision, but only if it has some effect on the transport industry in reality.

I remain to be persuaded.

Hello! New York City academic professional here, planning to spend third consecutive summer in Bangkok, and looking for a fairly basic (but comfortable) place to stay. Prefer the Thanon Convent/Suan Phlu area, but more than happy to consider other areas, just needs to be transportation-friendly!

Willing also to consider an apartment exchange if anyone is interested in spending the summer in a nice Manhattan neighborhood!

Impeccable references available....

Hope this is not too early to start this process; apologies if it is.... Appreciate any and all possibilities, words of advice, etc.

Regards from Columbia University....

Richard

Why C R A P ? They just promise to fly from A to B without crashing and this is what they always do, so what's the problem ?

I wonder what people expect from airlines, especially low cost, welcome BJ ? :-)

Well, I would expect two things from any airline:

1) that my luggage arrives with my flight

2) that I am actually able to purchase a ticket on their website with my perfectly valid credit card.

Air Asia has failed me on Points #1 and #2.

Accordingly, they have lots all of my future business which, unfortunately for them, would have been considerable.

Maybe I have just been too lucky over the years. I have never had a piece of luggage abused, tampered with, or lost... until today!

My short flight from KUL-BKK arrived only a bit late, thanks Air Asia... And I arrived back here but my luggage sure did NOT!

The ground crew of the airport were helpful, but things went sharply downhill as soon as my carrier, AIR ASIA, got involved. Sure they filled out lots of forms. Then they told me they did not know where my luggage is, but they will get it to me. I did get a phone call. Hours ago. My luggage? No sign of it.

When I complained to the local branch manager at the airport he looked at me eye-to-eye, laughed and told me to file a complaint on their web site. When I told him he was being silly, he advised me that he simply told me what he is trained to tell irate customer. (Guess I am not the first!)

I flew AIR ASIA six times this summer.... and planned an additional four flights before returning to the USA. Looks like those plans need some revision. As my grandfather once said: "Cheap thing, no good!"

Bangkok Air to HK????

Prompted by this thread, I started to re-consider my Air Asia flight BKK-HKG coming up -- so I looked at Bangkok Airways, which on their home page offers a flight option on that route.

But when I try to find a flight, nothing comes up, at all... for ever.... Have they canceled service on that route? Any other low fare alternatives?

Thanks, people!

While I agree that AirAsia could use some improvement, my experiences with them this summer (I have used them about four time) has been that they are wonderful compared with CEBU PACIFIC, the Philippine low cost airline that flies BKK-MNL.

If you want an unbelievably horrifying experience, try dealing with them. For starts, their website offers low fares for online booking, takes your credit card information, then declines the charge only to simultaneously take the money from your account -- while refusing to issue you a ticket.

They refuse to answer all emails, and when you are able to reach a so-called customer service agent at their Manila-only call center, when you present a problem they simply hang up on you.

If you are looking for a truly bizarre company, try them -- if you want to maintain your sanity, avoid them!

And might this affect the cost of the ride from Jomtien to the Bus Station? How do people "negotiate" THIS ride? It always seems to ruin what has otherwise been a nice stay for me!

I know this is a late and somewhat annoying request, but...

I have just managed to piece together a last minute Thailand trip, and was wondering if anyone has a lead/recommendation for a Pattaya place to stay for any number of days between Christmas and New Years' Day.

Many thanks... prefer South Pattaya/Jomtien!

During my interminable wait at the counter of the TG ticket office, the hapless (clueless?) ticket agent told me that it was impossible to travel on the route back to New York via either Tokyo, Taipei or Seoul on any date within two weeks of my originally ticketed return date because there were no seats available in my ticketing class (not just class of service). I am, by the way, Star Alliance Gold. Somehow, I feel this should not be MY problem. They wanted me to change my August 26 travel date to sometime in mid-September. (I am a University professor and returning to New York mid-September is obviously a career-threatening move.)

So, as I previously posted, my non-stop BKK-JFK has now metamorphosized into an agonizing BKK-FRA-JFK trip. I wonder, since they never bothered to contact me, what would have happened if I just merrily showed up at the airport with my original ticket on my planned travel date?

Well, good-bye ThaiAir. It was a nice love affair, but it is SO over!

I'm leaving Sunday on what I thought was a r/t on this routing and only just found out about this.

Spent a maddening day getting the run around from both TG and the ^&*%$ travel agency who sold me the ticket in the first place but never bothered to notify me that the reurn flight no longer existed. (Majestic Travel)

Needless to say each tried to pass the buck to the other

My tickets were premium economy and, of course, the re-routings offered were all guess what, economy...and about twice as long with connections

Travle agent said she's call me back, never did, went ahead on her own initiative and confirmed for a flight on a later date with an awful routing and economy on have the first leg

Finally on my third call to TG I by chance got an agent who was actually willing to take some time in identifying the various options. Wound up with what is still an agonizing long routing but at less premium economy (SAS to Copenhagen, long layover then TG to Bkk)

In fact it is possible to change to ANA Ny-Tokyo-Bkk which is probably the most direct alternative but TG reps insist that this means economy. I pointed out that it hardly makes sense for people on discount economy and people who paid almiost twice that for premium economy to all get put into economy on a re-route. They cklaimed there was no premium economy on said flight; I pointed out that, according to the airlines' website there was. (There is.) Answer: " contact your travel agent"" (lotsa luck!) I sus[pect that a cooperative travel agent could arrange to get you into premium economy class on ANA as it does exist on that flight but mine were anything but cooperative.

Anyhow...what I did find out is that there are in fact numerous re-routing options inc but undioubtedly not limited to:

ANA NY-Tokyo-Bkk

UA NY-LA TG LA-Bkk

Luftansa NY-Frankfurt TG Frankfurt-Bkk

SAS NY-Copenhagen TG Copenhagen-Bkk

and no doubt many more altho they will try to inform you of only one option

Those with premium economy tickets beware, they'll try to put you into economy

Contrary to what TG is saying , the ANA flight does have premium economy. My guess is that TG doesn't want to put re-routed passengers there because of fare difference. I suspect that a good travel agent or a sustained series of calls/complaints to TG could overcome this, maybe with an additional small cost. If I had the time I would have tried that but as it is I lost a full day and am on the verge of leaving...

So I'm routing thru Copenhagen with a long layover (but premium econ all the way).........

Not sure whom I am more annoyed with right now, TG or the *&^{:content:}amp; travel agent. I guess it's a tie.

I flew ThaiAir JFK-BKK on June 3 and planned on flying back to JFK on August 26. While away for two weeks in Manila, I got wind of the flight cancellations from this forum. (Good thing, because ThaiAir never bothered to tell me that my flight had been cancelled!)

Passing through the airport here I stopped off to see what I needed to do. They need to re-route me. OK. Problem is, they could not. They could not find any seats in my class of service available to get me back to New York going through LAX, Taipei, Tokyo or Korea.

Finally, after standing at the counter for more than an hour, they found a seat for me on Thai Air BKK-Frankfurt, connecting to Lufthansa's flight to New York. Argh...

So I guess it ultimately does not matter to me that Thai no longer will service the modest American city of New York. After this experience, I will most certainly never fly with them again. Sad for me because I liked the airline. Sad for them because they have permanently lost a high revenue passenger.

Thanks for reading this, people!

I will be living in Bangkok for three months this summer and want to use a mobile phone (of course).

I currently have a (much beloved) iPhone, but it seems the expense of using it in Thailand is beyond prohibitive.

My question is: should I just endure the expense or can I rent a phone for a three-month period when I arrive in BKK?

Thanks for everyone's help here -- this is an amazing community.

Richard

I will be living in the Sathorn area for three months this summer, and most urgently am looking for a gym reasonably close to the area.

I once did a month at the California Fitness on Silom, and found the facilities quite acceptable even if the sales tactics there are a bit... unpleasant....

Should I stick with California, or could someone make an alternative recommendation? The only things that I require are a/c, hot showers and decent equipment and environment for someone like me: an advanced novice type.

Thanks!

Very quick translation request!

Can someone please write out this phrase in Thai font for me?

Deeply appreciate it:

"Re-locating to Bangkok June 1"

See you in Bangkok, friend....

I am going to be in BKK for three months (June through August) and considering enrolling in the Chula program language study. They seem to have their act together quite well administratively, and I assume the program, though expensive, is a good one.

Does anyone have any information (personal or anecdotal) about the course to share? Any words of encouragement or warning?

Many thanks!

P.S. I have already rudimentary knowledge of conversation Thai -- is Beginner I the right level for someone with no previous formal instruction?

Is there an advantage to spending a summer taking instruction at one of the more "traditional" institutions in Bangkok? (I am thinking of Thammasat or Chula...) Have been having some difficulty accumulating much information on their Thai-for-foreigners programs, but will continue with my search if it may be worth the effort!

Thanks for you help... and for any recommendations you might have. (I am looking for an intensive two month learning situation... like every day.... day and/or night.... until burn-out occurs!)

I have probably met this American guy, before they opened I went shopping at Lotus on Pattaya 3rd road and they had a promotion stand there.

As I am a yoga freak I decided to go in to ask for some info.

First of all the techno music there was so <deleted>***ing load that I could not hear what this promotion girl was talking about, so I kept my mouth shut and looked at those speakers...then she reduced the volume and we could talk.

I asked for a price qoute, just a simple question: How much is a year membership.

She came with all kinds of silly answers and finally called this American guy.

What a creep and what an arrogant idiot!

Ten times I told him I wanted to think a day about his offer.

He kept asking me:Where is your credit-card, why not sign up now, why are you so difficult etc etc.

He asked me my phone number and I replied I didn't know it by head.

The arrogant mother f***ker just snatched my phone out of my hands and dialed his mobile so he had my number.

Had a few calls from them which I never answered because I had already made up my mind: Not in a lifetime a membership with them!

Not even for free!

Good news is that True Fittness will open in Pattaya soon!

Have great experience with them in Singapore and Bangkok!

I can only advise: Do not become a member of this california wow shit, never!!

Wait for True Fitness to open!

And...don;t post private pictures of your girlfriend on internet...

Agreed about the Yank, I left las night as he "gave" me a few mintues to decide if I wanted to sign up and pay 28k there and then for the wife and I even after stating quite clearly that I want to discuss it further. Even asked me how much money I had on me and where my credit cards were.

Nice looking gym and we were very interested in joining but the bullshit pressure sales began to seriously piss me off & that with the feeling that we'd never be able to do a workout there without being hassled has put us off.

Hope California Wow is reading this topic and takes notes.

I met this "Yank" as well, I am sure. He is a stupid, ugly creature who speaks poor English and it is likely the only book he has ever opened in his life is one of those self-improvement things they sell at Wal-Mart.

But he is no worse than the pushy trainers who interrupt you when you are trying to work out, who demand you hand over your credit card on the gym floor, who cannot even manage to give effective training tips. It is so clear that they are only there to meet a sales quota and have no experience or training in physical fitness.

This place is such a disgrace it should be shut down at best or boycotted at a minimum.

Shame on you, "California" Fitness!

I am a member of California Fitness/Silom in Bangkok, and really have liked the place. Great facilities, good staff, not pushy, no hassle environment. So when I was in Pattaya, I was really excited about using their facility there. Wow, what a mistake.

First, the would not honor my Silom membership and made me pay a very high one day fee. But I really wanted a work-out so I figured why not and paid. Then the fun began. From the moment I entered the club, I was hounded by hordes of "fitness trainers" trying to get me to buy overpriced sessions. That started before I even got to change clothes in the locker room. When I proceeded to the upper level gym floor, they literally were standing at the head of the escalator and blocked my access to the floor. One particularly aggressive one (who had started to hassle me in the locker room), shadowed me and blabbered on non-stop about how good he was. I am an easy going guy and wanted a thorough work-out so I finally agreed to a one-time with him. He insisted on two hours. This is what I got: he stood there and watched me on a treadmill for 20 minutes. Then he gave me a perfunctory sequence of exercises to do (on machines, not free weights -- I always do free-weight workout). And to add insult to injury, he actually had other clients arriving during "my" time with him. At the end, he even dissed his other clients to give me yet another aggressive sales push.

This place is a nightmare and should be avoided by all. I plan on seeking redress against them and will publicize my experiences widely.

Bottom line: stay away from this place. Do not even go near it -- you will regret it!

I was about to start my own thread on this place, but I saw this message first, so I will join in on the conversation (and will probably start a new thread as well).

I am a member of California Fitness/Silom in Bangkok, and really have liked the place. Great facilities, good staff, not pushy, no hassle environment. So when I was in Pattaya, I was really excited about using their facility there. Wow, what a mistake.

First, the would not honor my Silom membership and made me pay a very high one day fee. But I really wanted a work-out so I figured why not and paid. Then the fun began. From the moment I entered the club, I was hounded by hordes of "fitness trainers" trying to get me to buy overpriced sessions. That started before I even got to change clothes in the locker room. When I proceeded to the upper level gym floor, they literally were standing at the head of the escalator and blocked my access to the floor. One particularly aggressive one (who had started to hassle me in the locker room), shadowed me and blabbered on non-stop about how good he was. I am an easy going guy and wanted a thorough work-out so I finally agreed to a one-time with him. He insisted on two hours. This is what I got: he stood there and watched me on a treadmill for 20 minutes. Then he gave me a perfunctory sequence of exercises to do (on machines, not free weights -- I always do free-weight workout). And to add insult to injury, he actually had other clients arriving during "my" time with him. At the end, he even dissed his other clients to give me yet another aggressive sales push.

This place is a nightmare and should be avoided by all. I plan on seeking redress against them and will publicize my experiences widely.

Bottom line: stay away from this place. Do not even go near it -- you will regret it!

I am at about a low-intermediate level in my Thai language studies, and there is an occasional useful phrase that escapes me:

Here is one I could use some help with:

How does one say, in a situation like giving a Taxi driver directions, the following"

"It is across the street from ... "

Many thanks, people!

Richard in New York