Ciaran Mc

Thanks to all who posted; I'm heading to Koh Tao because it's somewhere new in Thailand for me. Thanks again, I'm sure I will be on this forum after my trip looking for more advice. And I didn't even know about Mermaids and Aquanauts in Bangkok - if I like diving I'll get more information.

my wife has just completed her PADI open water with master divers in koh tao ... very very good .... but they r based on mae head which is not where most of the night life is ... i did a days diving with scuba junction and they were pretty good, based on sairee beach and a bit cheaper than master divers.

good luck and enjoy ur diving !!

Mentioned this in a previous thread, but thought I would start a new topic.

Is anybody aware of a new regulation for foreigners living in Thailand .. That you now have to have a copy of your passport authenticated by your Embassey/Counsel .. then translated into Thai and vefiried by the Thai MFA before you can marry ?? I had never heard of this before, but it seems that all (most) of the Amphurs in BK now require this for foreigners marrying in BKK.

Please note this is for a foreigner marrying an Asian non-Thai .. not marrying a Thai .. any feedback/experiences appreciated !!

is copy of ur passport authenticated by your embassey (or consul), translated into Thai and verified by the MFA now required ... because it appears thats what the amphur at sukhumvit soi 54 is asking for ... hoping there's been a misunderstanding in the translation process !!

It is not required, but asked for by some amphurs as they want an "oficial" translation of your name. If you have a problem, simply go to another amphur/khet where a large number of foreigners live.

If yu have a work permit or Thai drvers license, your name in Thai will be in there and they can simply copy it from there.

thanks Mario ... came as a bit of a bolt from the blue yesterday as i hadnt seen this requirement anywhere before ... in fact a friend of mine got married in this amphur end of last year and he wasn't asked for this ... quite strange ... but then TIT !! i really shouldn't be surprised !!

is copy of ur passport authenticated by your embassey (or consul), translated into Thai and verified by the MFA now required ... because it appears thats what the amphur at sukhumvit soi 54 is asking for ... hoping there's been a misunderstanding in the translation process !!

Hello members, So I need to get an Affirmation To Marry document from the British Embassy? Do I simply turn up at the Embassy with my passport and ask for this document?

Then I get it officially translated to Thai and verified at the MFA Office in Bangkok? Where would I get this official translation and what is the MFA Office in Bangkok?

Thank you.

if u have an irish passport .. u will need to go to the irish consulate ... and it's somewhat more complicated as to documentation required !!!

some great shots and good advice .. thanks guys and gals.

geeezzz ... ok dumb question ... what mode and settings do u guys use to get such great shots ??

my night time photos suck even more than my day time photos !!

is somebody familiar with the following types?

1. Canon Powershot SX 260 HS

i've got the older version SX240 ... good little camera.

doesn't have the image quality of sony rx100 or canon s100 .. but has a very good zoom and decent image quality.

This story just doesn't add up, and I am not accusing anyone of anything. It's just bloody bizarre.

she probably made a big scene about the over stay, and yelled obscenities at the officers, so they planted the camera on her to teach her a lesson, stupid girl, she should've just paid and moved on quitely, she was at fault.

it's frightening how truely stupid some people really are !!!!!!

Ethihad airways and I think one other middle-eastern fly direct to Dublin

With Etihad you have a stop over in Abu Dhabi

u do have a stopover ... but i find Etihad a top notch airline and usually fly the bkk-abu dhabi-dub route ... i actually appreciate the chance to stretch my legs for a while after being sat in an airplane for more than 6 hours.

also stopovers with Etihad tend to be relatively short !!

how much do u want to spend ??

Get a waterproof one like I bought...well i bought 2 just recently....cos one drowned.

Good for songkran, beach and such places.....all watersports

i wouldn't wanna buy (or recommend) a waterproof camera that drowns !!

I really do despair...

Instead of initiating a discussion on the initial impressions of new arrivals into Thailand, I get told I am drinking in the wrong bars, talking to the wrong people...

I no longer expect an intelligent answer to this, so will let you all tell me once more how its my fault..

well did u ever stop and think that's because u r talking to the wrong ppl and drinking in the wrong bars. i've been living and working here for 10 years and haven't met anybody yet who's lost "everything" to anybody or to his/her kin !!!

i've seen plenty of whining about it online though ... so yeah ... it probably is all ur fault !!

I visit one of the following bars, on average, 3 times a week (Dubliners, Mulligans, Aussie, Robin Hood) and golf at the weekends....

have u any idea where the money to buy/finance most of those bars came from ????

and drinking there no wonder u meet so many losers !!!

apologies if anybody has already pointed this out as i haven't read the rest of the posts yet !!!

i think clubhouse on sukhumvit 23 is showing the fight this sunday ... that's where i'm hoping to watch it anyway !!

The Canon G15 looks a possibility. I'm also thing of the Panasonic G5. These are my top two choices at the moment.

i'd go for the panasonic g5 ... pity u don't like sony as their nex range is excellent !!

"So ideally I'd like a camera that can take video, that has decent zoom. "

i'd suggest either canon sx260 or panasonic TZ30

Thanks guys .... guess I'll try a trip with one of those 2 companies doing a day trip with 2 fairly shallow dives !!

i used this company for the Halong Bay - Cat Ba island tour and found them very good. Decent boat/ship, good rooms and food. Tour guide was also very good and accommodating !!

... it was $156 for 2 night / 3 day trip and i would definitely recommned the 2 night / 3 day trip as (IMO) the 1 night/2 day trip is just too short !!

http://www.vega-travel.com/?f=North&op=9&p=44&id=61

Hi All. I've got just over 40 logged dives, but haven't dived for 5 or 6 years so looking for a refresher course just to get back into the routine before I start diving again. Maybe do a couple of shallow dives in a location with decent visibilty and not much current.

I'm hoping there's something in or around the Pattaya area, preferably on a weekend.

Thanks for any input/advice.

Ciaran

I’m amazed at some of you guys calling NG a <deleted>. The guy is a genuine legend in UK and anyone that knows anything would list him as a favorite act. Quite simply, if you don’t like NG you are probably a <deleted> yourself who likes Phil Collins or something equally as <deleted>.

i've been to oasis in BKK and NGHFB here also ... enjoyed both concerts, NG is still a moaning manc <deleted> though !!!

just because Liam's a bigger <deleted> doesnt stop NG being a <deleted> also !!!

Radiohead or Muse ... Muse were supposed to play here few years back, but they had to cancel !!

try AV center (or similar name) in panthip .. and ask for their best P&S for around 5,000 baht.

anything by canon, nikon, panasonic, etc ... should do a job for U. one thing about P&S cameras, they all tend to struggle in low light conditions

The rx100 is way overpriced. I had also considered the Fuji XF1 which is a re branded x10 but that's not out yet. My gripe with the gf3 was too much noise in low light. Of all the m4/3 cameras Panasonic seem to be the least competent of the lot.

sony nex range ... only draw back would be limited range of lenses available !!

And it does indeed have proven health benefits, that is not a matter of opinion but one of clear scientific fact. However, many of these benefits (e.g. reduction in risk of HIV and other STIs, and reduction in other infections) can also be obtained through careful hygiene and safe sex, and other benefits, such as a reduced risk of penile cancer, affect only an extremely small number of people anyway. So while there are definitively health benefits -- sufficient to offset the cost of the procedure which was the original issue behind the thread -- these are not of sufficient magnitude to necessarily outweigh other considerations, except in populations where HIV prevalence is extremely high and hygienic conditions very poor.

any links to scientific research to back up this fact !!!!

and if u get these benefits from proper hygiene and safe sex i don't think having part of ur dick cut off is any kind of advantage !!