SirDougless

Due to the question (best DSLR with an expected price under $2,000) I'm not sure the OP should be buying a DSLR!. Check out micro 4/3rds or even a decent compact such as Canon S100. If you must have a DSLR, I'm happy with a Canon 60D with a 15-85 'everyday' lens, but, that is after 30 years of using an A1. Nixon will have an equivalent. The Canon 650D looks good value IMHO if you shoot video.

Go the Hammers! Not sure why some seem to be focused on the 'managers'. Surely it's the team you support or hate?

This is about all I can think of: http://www.manilaoceanpark.com/.

You might find Manila a little quiet over Easter as some workers will go back to the provinces to see family.

The fact that you get a gout attack at age 24, have high uric acid levels, take daily doses of 'bicarb' and have been prescribed Allopurinol idicates you have a problem worthy of professional help. See a qualified specialist doctor before you are crippled with white puss oozing out of your toe joints. Sorry, but that's the reality.

... without death following the people doing it it would not give the people doing it the thrill, I say let them have it their way... if people want to commit suicide in a fun way, who are we to stand in their way.

Indeed, who are we! Darwin's principle of Natural Selection and the survival of the fittest. Everything happens for a reason, however, I still find it sad for the surviving families.

...I have successfully applied for an Oz visitor's visa for my wife 5 times now...

Most get a 12 month multiple entry, or TR, after the first 3, but each to their own. Someone has to keep the Aus Embassy and DIaC busy ...

nothing is confiscated if items were bought duty free at Suvarnabhumi and kept in the sealed bags the shops provide.

I departed Swampy Nov 15th to Perth and could not buy liquor at any of the duty free places, the only explanation given was the destination Australia does not allow this but no reason why. On the way back duty free Perth was willing to sell any amount of liquor to me but I declined for the prices were laughable three times what you have to pay when arriving in BKK and using the duty free for arrivals.

I have traveled to Australia about 10 times and found it is becoming more like the USA immigration- and customs wise. Perth arrival was horror and would justify a new forum and being boycotted.

From the Australian Customs' web site:

"Alcohol

If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring 2.25

litres of alcohol duty-free into Australia with you.

All alcohol in accompanied baggage is included in

this category, regardless of where or how it was

purchased.".

Someone is confused.

No one is confused as the restrictions have nothing to do with Customs, duty free allowances or Swampy. They are anti-terrorist measures used by the US & Australian governments for the last 5 years. The airlines are required to enforce them. Australian airport security is 'trusted' such that you can pickup duty free goods after clearing customs. Other airports are not, thus when travelling to Australia you have to be searched at the gate. Methods vary - Phuket searches you on boarding at the jet bridge, Manila searches you before entry to the gate lounge. They are just ensuring that you have no liquids in containers over 100mls. Very inconvenient and in the case of some airports, very ineffective.

The German style helmets are great for around town and fit better than the Thai plastic buckets as for the Nazi stuff most need to just move on, bit like 9/11

And both styles will do little to protect the head in an accident. Evolution is a great thing ...

A Filipinos first language is Tagalog not English...

A Filipino's first language is their local language (Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilongo, Hiligaynon and more than 100 others) . When they go to school they are taught their local language as well as Filipino (which is largely Tagalog) and English. Not many cultures that embrace 3 languages.

I have stayed there many times; I am 5'8 an it is above waist high. He did not stumble over this balcony ...

So have I, and I beg to differ. Perhaps this pic will refresh your memory about the height.

RIP to the great inventor of our time

Mmm, maybe the great marketer of our time. He took other people's inventions and popularised them.

Many years ago, I met some filipino people in bangkok. They seemed like nice people and they invited me to their house for dinner. They then proceeded to try and con me into playing a card game to cheat some "rich lady" out of her money. They showed me how to play and how they were going to cheat this "rich lady" by signaling me to tell me what cards this "rich lady" had. Of course, I had to put up my own money to play. Hahahaha! I could see that they were up to no good. So, I told them I had some place to go and LEFT! I had to be careful and watch my back - fortunately they did not try anything. I told them I am alerting the police of this but I never did because I could never prove any of it.

Bottom line - Always be cautious when dealing with strangers. If anything seems suspicious, get out of there.

Same thing happened to me in Bangkok in 1983, although these were Thai. I soon realised I was the target, said gambling was against my religion and left. They are very good at befriending naive travellers (my first trip to Thailand). The guy said he was the Immigration guy that stamped my passport (may have been but then they all looked the same to me ). Over a soft drink he explained that his daughter wanted to nurse in Australia, wanted my advice, yada yada. Next thing I was at his place in suburbia for dinner, then the cards came out. Had to make my own way back to the city.

This looks like a inviting place

http://www.angelesbeachclubhotel.com/

There's no beach in Angeles and it's way more expensiv than the OPs budget.

Also no point taking coal to Newcastle.

But there is sand around the pool! And the beds are bigger than king size.

I'd be very concerned about any Phils accom for less than PHP3,000 a night if I hadn't seen it.

My main 'on camera' lens is a Canon 15-85 IS and the IS does make a difference.

The 100mm Canon is reviewed here and does well:

http://www.dpreview....m_c16/page6.asp

Sigma claims 4 stops for the 150mm, which is impressive.

As they are newer designs than your existing lens, there should be other improvements as well.

What's the fuss? DIAC suggest that most overstayers leave (voluntarily) within 6 months of the offence ...

The only thing that seems to have 'deserted' you is your common sense.You get a copy of ANY contract after it has been executed. No matter what country you are in. If you didn't then don't whinge.The law in most countries helps those who help themselves.

Are you still confused?

If so, how have you survived life this long?

Seriously, it is so obvious! You must be joking ...

Chances are that the 'wasabi' you had was 'artificial'. Real wasabi is very expensive, so outside Japan you would usually be served horseradish (a hundredth of the cost) with green colouring. Nevertheless, both are from the same family of root vegie, and both lose their bite (which is mainly nasal) when exposed to air for a time. The flavour 'evaporates'.

yeah seems the airline with the NO CRASH record is making sure it keeps it that way...

QANTAS does not have a 'no crash' record. They have lost aircraft and had fatalities. It is just that none of them have been 'jets'.

This advice is too late for the OP but there is a quick and slow way to every government process is Asia. It is always up to you which one you take. 'Facilitation fees' can save you a lot of time and agony.

I am reporting this as someone has altered my post - I did NOT say 'I am gay' it's against forum rules to alter posts

Think yourself lucky, my post 6 pages ago alluding to 1st April got deleted...

From memory, and it's been a few years, there was a place with snooker tables upstairs in the Phayathai building. Snooker doesn't seem to be that popular as Thais have a short attention span. I used to play 9 ball at the place in the bottom of the Times Square building near Suk Soi 12 (but there were some serious Thai pool sharks there). The Thai restaurant next door is worth a visit.

A 12 month multiple entry visa tells you on the visa itself when the last date of entry is. 12 months after the visa is granted. Utilising the visa for multiple 3 month stays is no problem, however, some suspicion would be raised at the point of entry (say Sydney airport) if the only departures were 1 day visa runs to New Zealand. Use the visa wisely. 9 months out of a potential 15 is OK. 15 months out of 15 means the risk of being refused entry is much higher and if that happens then further visas will be problematic.

PS, make sure you disclose the knockback and reasons on your next app. Don't let the knockback discourage you from doing another one soon.

The knockback reasons were the usual ones.

Post 27 sums up the financial requirements very well. I would add that you'll be getting her travel insurance.

Telephone records will enhance your 'relationship'. So will pics with the family. Note that at this stage the 'relationship' is only important to establish your moral obligation to support her whilst she is here. Love, marriage plans etc are not required. Neither is monthly support.

IMMI also have to be satisfied that she will return to Thailand and not end up in a brothel (the stats for SE Asian females doing that are OVERWHELMING!). She must demonstarte ties to Thailand. The fact she is a teacher is good. A letter from her school detailing that she has been granted 2 weeks leave would help.

Do not let the girl do the visa app by herself. Thais attention to detail isn't good. You do it and then go with her to the VAC to lodge it. Not sure why, but it does seem to help. They'll want to flick through your passport anyway and will want a copy of it.

Once you've done one successfully (and she went home) the others will be easier even if they are for 3 months.

Brief her on what she can and can't bring through customs and make sure she understands. She'll probably be the last one through on her first trip anyway.

Good luck.