mauiguy90

Yep, March Madness is here in Bangkok for the first time ever! Kudos to Truevisions who finally realized how popular the NCAA Basketball tournament is. Its more popular than the NBA playoffs because of the intensity of the competition and the ferocity of the fans.

On Tuesday night, tried to get there by bus from Sukhumvit. Bus stopped about 2 kilometers from Khao San and was told we had to walk the rest of the way due to the demonstrations. May not be a problem from the airport but be prepared to walk or jump on a tuk tuk.

Wait a minute! Are you saying the traffic police aren't effective and maybe sleeping on the job? Not disagreeing, just asking....

BANGKOK: -- Traffic policemen at all stations in Bangkok have been instructed to put more effort into controlling heavy congestion

Good job the protests aren't being held round my way because if a traffic cop put any less effort into controlling heavy congestion he'd most probably be suffering from narcolepsy.

Just for conversation purposes, where can you find a good breakfast spread for about 500 baht?

I was just a Koh Samed this weekend and looked around at a number of places, however, I didn't find anything that cheap around White Sand Beach for Songkran. If you book prior to or after Songkran, it seems like you can get some decent prices but most places were close to 2000 baht a night. Jep's Bungalows does have a set of units closeby to the beach which they will rent for 1500 baht during Songkran, which looked nice. Downside is that they are right next to the dirt road that goes to Ao Phai Beach and beyond, so it will probably get noisy fairly early. Check out their website by the same name--they apparently have a Bangkok office. Here are a few contact numbers for places there--maybe if you try to book early, they will negotiate with you.

MossMan House 038-644017 Close to the National Park, fairly new and decent sized rooms

Koh Kaew village 038-644-037 Just inside National Park area, rooms a bit small but nice

Ban Samet Hill 083-1070551 By Nadan Pier(main Harbor), nothing fancy but can negotiate with owner, free internet

Hat Saikaew Villa 038-651-535 At the center of White Sand Beach. Get room away from generators...(Lonely Planet)

Have also read that Naga has some nice rooms, although not sure if they have air con rooms. Sorry, don't have their number.

I did find that prices on the internet were often more expensive than if you go in person, altho I don't know if I would go to Samed during Songkran without a reserved place.

FYI I think Samed is a great place and compares favourably to Koh Chang, which has eroded over the years.

At the risk of creating of huge line there, I also agree. The girl is quite good although I'm not saying its the best cut in town. Since I have a lot less to cut in my senior years, the price reflects the reduction in volume of hair

Believe it or not but but 100 baht haircut place in Asoke name QB House.

Just go down to Asoke MRT, QB House is one of those Japanese 10 min haircut places. Just opposite Stevens Hair Saloon.

Its just 3 booths, the girl in the middle booth, sorry i do not recall her name(and i been going there for 7 years) she has curly hair 32 years old, worse comes to worse ask which one of them has an old Chihuahua

She cuts the best hair no word of a a lie. I tried 100 of them including 2700 baht for a haircut and no one ever did what i liked, With her, every month for 7 years, every single time great cut.

I go there too. Was 60b when I started but it went up quick. Only place I ever had a haircut where they vacuum up the bristles instead of blowing them down your shirt.

Sabai Jai would be the one located near Ekkamai? The one that serve very good chicken?

Just went to Sabai Jai with my GF the other night. Great food and very good prices--seafood is very reasonable there, unlike most other places. Ordered a large seabass with 3 flavours (Blaa Saam Rot), plate of pork ribs, yam wun sen, som tum and rice for 400 baht. Good music located in the back as well--good place to hang out and have a couple beers if there is a decent breeze.

Yes, Sabai Jai is located in Ekkamai, just past Big C but on the opposite side of the road. Personally, I don't really enjoy their "gai yaang" but like most of the thai food served there.

If you like "gai yaang" or roast chicken, go for lunch at the Som Tum Restaurant (sold out by 12:30 pm or earlier) at Sukhumvit 14, located next to the Asoke BTS station. It is also located closeby to Los Cabos, which is mentioned on this thread(Tuesday is Tacos Night-25 baht apiece). The roast chicken there is the best I've had in Bangkok and it sells out quickly every day. There is always a big crowd of thai patrons there everyday, which means the food is good and cheap. It can be hot and humid there, but the chicken is always great.

If you are looking for a hang out place, there is also a place called Suda, which is also located in Suk 14(small soi but 3 notable eating places). Suda is basically an open air place, which essentially has food for foreigners, as you can see by the clientele. Its a very nice place to hang out but before going there, you should know that it has notoriously slow service (when busy, can easily wait 30 minutes for food). However, it is still a great place to drink beer with friends, with reasonable food and beer prices. (Look for the chubby waitress-she gives the best service!) You might also want to check your tab carefully, as the mama san sometimes counts funny...

The last time I went to Chaengwattana, I found out from Immigration there that the 90 day reports are not centrally computerized. They told me that they have no records of reporting from the One Stop Centers. I'm not sure but I suspect this is the reason they told you they wouldn't accept your 90 day report.

1)If nothing else, I would make a recovery/boot disk as soon as possible before the program dies out.

2)Have you checked for viruses? Viruses tend to attack the boot program most often.

3)Also take a look at whether you can reset your computer to a date when it was working properly. Use the system restore program in your control panel.

Best of luck,

Randy

In Hawaii and probably in most of Asia, they are known to bring good luck. May he bring good fortune to you!

Thanks! Looks delicioso!!!

Just went to Sabai Jai with my GF the other night. Great food and very good prices--seafood is very reasonable there, unlike most other places. Ordered a large seabass with 3 flavours (Blaa Saam Rot), plate of pork ribs, yam wun sen, som tum and rice for 400 baht. Good music located in the back as well--good place to hang out and have a couple beers if there is a decent breeze.

The Family Moo Gatah restaurant next to the MRT station at Petchaburi is very good and conveniently located. My thai friends all recommend it. Of course, there are many others...

I've also heard that the restaurant that serves flaming "gai yaang", then catapults them in the air and has the wait help catch and serve them is still open and located close to BITEC in Bangna. Haven't been there as yet but sounds fun!

Most traditional massage girls get paid per customer. How much they get paid varies, however, with the exception of the very inexpensive massage shops, most get paid about 100 baht for a 2 hour massage. If they get a lot of customers, they do well but of course, no customers mean no money. Since they get paid every 2 weeks at many places, most girls depend on tips to survive day to day for food and normal expenses. The money they get on "paydays" tend to go for rent, utilities and money to be sent back home, depending on the girl.

Some shops do pay their girls a salary, however, those tend to be the more exclusive shops. If they get a salary, their commissions are measured against the salary and they are paid anything in excess of the salary.

So are there three MOS Burger locations, or are there more? Paragon, Central World, and Emporium? Haven't seen any others, but I love MOS Burger and hope they open lots more all over Thailand.

Future Park Rangsit has one...

Central Chidlom has one as well.

Bridge over the River Kwai mate..!!! Payback time.....

Sounds like a good tactic mate! Beat up on kids with clubs for something their grandparents did. Just line up with the rest of the Japanese bashers and racists! Let's have a tea party at the same time...

I'm sure you know everything that happened, so I'm wrong and you are right! If you don't like Japanese, just say so and get it done with, bro'... I'm sure you have lots of company!!!

But, with respect, you didn't witness it either, even in Western countries hearsay evidence isn't admissible in court.

So are you saying, or rather are your friends saying, that the som-tum guy started beating these guys up without provocation?

My friends work directly across the street from the som tum stand. There was an argument, then the som tum vendor punched one of the youths. Then his friends jumped in and used sticks to beat up the kids.

My friends, who are thai women, said that the boys don't speak thai and were customers at the massage place they work at. They felt sorry for them but couldn't do much to help. Fortunately, someone interceded and the boys ran away.

Luckylew is right, beat downs happen anywhere and in this case and in your own words the Japanese guys were at fault.

Your own story is evidence these boys were the perpetrators

Read your own post

"The boys ran away to their hotel, where they were later arrested for started the fight. They reportedly had to pay a 3000 baht fine to stay out of jail"

Sounds to me like you have your facts mixed up

Sounds like you don't understand, TIT! They were arrested for starting the fight, even though they didn't...

I'm sure you know everything that happened, so I'm wrong and you are right! If you don't like Japanese, just say so and get it done with, bro'... I'm sure you have lots of company!!!

But, with respect, you didn't witness it either, even in Western countries hearsay evidence isn't admissible in court.

So are you saying, or rather are your friends saying, that the som-tum guy started beating these guys up without provocation?

My friends work directly across the street from the som tum stand. There was an argument, then the som tum vendor punched one of the youths. Then his friends jumped in and used sticks to beat up the kids.

My friends, who are thai women, said that the boys don't speak thai and were customers at the massage place they work at. They felt sorry for them but couldn't do much to help. Fortunately, someone interceded and the boys ran away.

Will you get real?

You don't even have the facts of the whole story and you advise if anyone buys somtum on Soi 22 they might get beat up?

Is the sky falling as well?

According to your own text the Japanese boys started the fight so they got what they deserved

Never get in a fight in public with a Thai or it will be 10 against one before you know it

That is the advice you should be handing out

Yep, you are exactly right Nio! Japanese certainly have no right to argue with anyone. They should sit in the corner, and take what they are given. If someone punches them, they should sit back and take their punishment.

The nerve of them for even considering fighting back! You certainly wouldn't fight back if punched, right? Besides all the Japanese do is raise the prices in Bangkok, or even Thailand, so they deserve what they get. They deserve to be beaten with sticks and arrested for being beat up. If they don't like it, they certainly should get out of Thailand, right? I'm sure that would make you quite happy!

I'm sure you know everything that happened, so I'm wrong and you are right! If you don't like Japanese, just say so and get it done with, bro'... I'm sure you have lots of company!!!

Although this may come to the delight of those posters who enjoy bashing Japanese people, friends of mine who work on Sukhumvit 22 reported that two Japanese teens were beaten up by several thai men including a guy who makes som tum in front of the Family Mart there. Appparently they had some disagreement, then the som tum guy started hitting one of the boys and a couple of his friends joined in, beating them with pieces of wood until a thai lady intervened. The boys ran away to their hotel, where they were later arrested for started the fight. They reportedly had to pay a 3000 baht fine to stay out of jail.

This happened earlier this week, closeby to several major hotels. I wouldn't be surprised if this happened at a bar, or a sleazier part of Bangkok but am surprised that such an incident would happen in such a central area of Sukhumvit. Is Bangkok becoming dangerous, or has it always been this way? Whatever the case, I wouldn't advise buying som tum on Sukhumvit 22. You might get much more than you ordered...

Don't worry, I am subliminally listening to you from afar!!!

And believe me, I'm try to get as far away from you as possible!

You have made it apparent that you are the one with the complex!!! All these posts with no response...looks like you are talking to yourself...

And all this, when I asked simple question of whether you have actually practiced yoga in any one of these places. Oops, excuse me since from your posts, you can apparently subliminally experience entering these classes.

You are free to continue talk to yourself now. You are a l-natic...

PS Hope this keeps you up many many more nights!

Just as I suspected: A know it all with no talent and more specifically, no credentials and most likely, has never seen the insides of the very places he is criticizing!

What they are doing may be healthy, may be good for you, but the truly only resemblance is has to true yoga is the name.

You make it sound like you are a true yogi. Please elaborate your credentials--years of training, years of teaching yoga, professional certifications, awards, etc.

FYI--You should realize this is a public forum and as such, you can be held responsible for what you post.

You can check out SK Mansion which has studios for one month for 8000 baht. There are some add on costs such as paying for electricity and water, but its at a convenient location at a reasonable price. Its located about 250 meters from the BTS station at Thonglo, between soi 38 and 40. The building is about 5 years old, it has wi-fi for another 750 baht per month and is conveniently located to a soi with lots of food stalls (soi 38) especially at night. Make sure you tell them you want a one month rental or they will quote you the daily rate which is 600 baht per day.

You can also check out the Premier Inn, which is located in Suk 20. They have studios for about 17k per month with wifi and cable. You can probably get breakfast thrown in if you ask nicely. They change sheets/towels and clean the rooms every couple of days.

AUA is a great place to meet friends and hang out. I still have friends that I met 7 years ago when I attended classes there. However I also know of a number of people that go there for long periods without being able (or even allowed) to speak much thai. Each module is 200 hours so in order to do a module every two months (5 days a week) about 5-6 hours a day. After 5 hours on the first day, you will be toast! Until you complete 3 modules, the instructors don't allow you to speak thai in the classes, which means you will have to go to classes for a minimum of 6 months without being allowed to speak thai.

Put another way, if you attend classes 3 times a week, 2 hours a day, you will take 7-8 months to complete the first module. At this rate, when you've finished 2 years of study, you will be allowed to speak thai in the classes, if you still live in Thailand at that time.

Whereas, if you study thai in one of the more intensive schools such as AAA, Piamitr, Unity, Union, etc., you will be able to speak more thai in 1 or two months than you would after studying at AUA for 2 years. Take your pick!

I would like to add that AUA is definitely a lot more fun than studying at an intensive school. It just depends what you want to get out of your time studying--friends or thai language skills.