motoyen

I reckon you were spot on. I go along with the value of things being how much they are worth to you. I've had similar experiences and they've really touched me. I can be having a bad day when I just feel like exploding at everything around me, and then someone goes out of their way to show an act of kindness or simple decency and it gladdens my heart. Tipping is not part of my culture unless it's to reward extra effort and your guy showed that.

Totally agree. This guy went out of his way to try and help me and I appreciate that. He made my day and I made his. I always will tip what ever I feel is appropriate, regardless of what it does for the next man.

Does anyone own the Motorola Razr2? I've always had Motorola phones and generally been happy with the hardware, the software has been hit and miss. I'm trying to decide right now between the razr2 and an iPhone. To those that own the iPhone how accessible is public wifi in BKK? With France requiring Apple to sell unlocked phones will we see an influx of iPhones soon? Driving prices down?

I guess where I come from we earn more so we tip more. I was rewarding his effort. I could care less what others do here. Here's the map, can you find this place? http://www.bangkokgarden.com/map.html

Your lucky and unlucky, lucky you didn't get ripped off and unlucky that he couldn't provide his service in finding your destiation.

Youv'e given far to much in IMHO.

You think 85 baht is too much? Please, the look of gratitude on his face was worth far more than the $2.40.

Before I came to BKK I read a lot of warnings about crooked taxi drivers and to be honest what I have experienced here has been the exact opposite. Today I was trying to find the Bangkok Garden Apartment. I got off at BTS Chong Nonsri and map in hand I went looking for soi 24. Well I found soi 22 and (TIT) the next street was soi 26. After walking around for a bit and trying to ask the locals I said f-this and got in a taxi and I showed him my map and for the next 15 minutes he drover around trying to find it.

Well he couldn't find it so I told him to forget about it and just take me to the nearest BTS station. He then did something that really surprised me, he said "no find" and reset his meter. At that point there was 74 baht showing on the meter and the trip to the BTS station was another 41 baht. When we got to the station I asked him how much and all he wanted was the 41 baht, so to thank him for his courtesy I gave him 200 baht. I also noticed that he had a long list of hotels/apartments in English and Thai making it easier for farangs to show him where to go and he had a English/Thai dictionary.

I don't know if I am just really lucky but most of my experiences with taxi drivers here in BKK has been a positive one.

it rings once on incoming calls and then turns off

Yeah that happens to mine as well. A bricked iPhone would be more useful than this POS.

Cool thanks. It's very easy to hit the wrong button or hang up on someone when you are trying to answer the phone. PC Mag sums it up nicely:

The Chocolate's beautiful design has a learning curve, starting with opening it. You need a bit of an odd grip to slide the Chocolate open;

In this day and age of industrial design is it really that hard to come out with a phone that doesn't requite a learning curve to open it? Hello LG? Didn't anyone test this thing?

I bought the LG Chocolate from MBK when I first got to BKK and now I would like to replace it with a better phone. Will MBK buy the phone back from me? I know I'm probably going to take a huge loss but I hate this phone so much I really don't care. Just wondering if they will buy it back or where else I can sell it. Should I try Pantip Plaza?

i used to use jack golf all the time but most of the good staff have left. i will pm you a phone number for a guy who does a van run to the border south of aran. much quieter and a more pleasant experience all round. and the best thing is that they have penfolds red for 400thb a bottle. good drop too.

I could use that number too.

PM sent.

Thanks for the info. I have to ship some stuff back home too.

When you say money is no object can you give me an idea on price? I've been to couple of places and the price has ranged from 150THB to 450THB.

As a follow up question. Does anyone know where I can watch Top Gear in BKK? The season starts in 3 days and I can't wait!

With the season starting tomorrow (well for the Canucks) I am itching to watch a game. Has anyone been to this place? http://www.blueheavenbkk.com/index.php

Prednisil-N is a topical steroid cream in a small white tube.

You can buy it at most Thai pharmacies (though it is harder to get at Boots etc.)

Works wonders and also heals the bite.

Also works on red ant bites.

At 30 Baht (outside of BKK) a tube, give it a try.

I used to use Fenistil until I got this new cream, now I would not swap back.

After being bitten constantly it was a blessed relief to have something that really works

Just my twopennorth

Fantastic! I'm going to look for this stuff tomorrow. The strange thing is for the first week I was here I didn't get any bites but in the last 2 weeks I've just been eaten alive. Besides Boots is there another pharmacy I can find Prednisil-N at? Also if I write it in English will the pharmacist know what I want?

Just to update I found a perfect place for me. It's the gym on the 8th floor of the Evergreen Service apartments. 3 months is 4200THB. Hardcore lifters would probably find the gym lacking in equipment but it's perfect for me to keep in shape. There is also a really nice pool and restaurant on the top deck that is available to members. The cute farang girls sunbathing around the pool had nothing to do with my decision to join.

Back home I used to use a product called aftetbite and it worked really well in stopping the itching. Is there a similar product here in Bangkok? I went to Boots and bought a tube of Betamethasone-N creame but it doesn't seem to be doing much.

The thing is I am only here for a couple of months so any long term contract is useless to me.

You guys have been so helpful so far! I'm looking for an inexpensive gym to join. I'm only in BKK for 3 months. Today I went and looked at True Fitness/California Wow and a few others and I was surprised at the cost. They all wanted to sell me 12 months memberships with the promise that I could cancel if I leave the country. The monthy rate was between 2500THB - 3000THB with a daily drop in rate around 500THB - 1000THB.

That is almost double what I was paying back home so I'd like to find something a lot cheaper. Prefer to spend 1500THB/month max. I'm staying at a hotel right beside the Ari BTS station. Is this gym close to where I am? http://www.csmngt.com/pz_directions.htm

TIA

tnx mcl (just have to mention, what a gorgeous cat in your avatar!)

Can i just ask, does anyone know roughly the going rate for powerhouse? (As some of you mention its quite expensive). Would like to compare costs. Otherwise ill just pop in (but once you get in these places they do tend to latch on to you!)

Bump for this question as I'm interested too. Anyone got a ballpark price?

Ok 2 more newbie questions:

1) What are the Thai people smelling in the little nasal spray looking tube I see them holding?

2) What is the white paste looking stuff I see some people have smeared all over their face?

TIA

I would like to hire a nutritionist in Bangkok. I've tried google and craigslist but most of the results were personal trainers. I have a pretty specific diet requirement so I would like to hire a dedicated nutritionist who is familiar with Thai food. If you know of anyone please contact me. TIA

Hello,

I am looking to rent a studio apartment for 1 year in Chiang Mai. I will be coming up there next month to look at places. If you have something available PM me.

I have an LG Chocolate that I bought from there. It has mp3 capabilities. PM me if you're interested.

I'd be interested in which agency you used. If you can PM me that info I'd appreciate it.