jitenshaman

Been looking for a simple 67 mm polarizing filter...so far no success. Where do you camera buffs find your "stuff" here in BKK?

try photofile in MBK (Maboonkrong) shopping center at BTS National Stadium exit...they have two shops....otherwise, possibly at Niks, which is the Nikon dealer in Bangkok, near to the Chong Nongsi station

Thanks for merging. And now I must criticize your taste!

I went to Royal about a year ago, and found it very mediocre. Can't remember what we had, but I do remember it being rather unpleasant. I do remember not saying anything at the time as my girlfriend was enjoying it, but after eating the leftovers the next day, she said (unprompted by me) that it wasn't very good at all.

Seriously 'though, any restaurant can have up and down days, so just kidding about your sense of taste!

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Update on our Indian adventures this week. When we come to Bkk, we try to eat exclusively Indian, as we get lots of great Thai where we live (Chiang Mai and Nakhon Sri Thamarat). Also, my girlfriend is really interested in going to India (how's that for a great Thai girlfriend!).

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Went back to Al Hussain last night with two friends, and it was a great experience again. Firstly i have to correct my previous post - the Seekh Kebabs were beef, not lamb. So yesterday we had Lamb Tikka, which my GF did like, so she is still in my good books!

The lamb was chewy and tough, but not way too much, and the flavour was great. We had Keema Paratha (minced beef in fried bread - crappy description, I know), and it was so good we ordered another.

Chicken Masala was excellent - a little oily and a little salty, but not over the top like so many other places.

Chicken Biryani was decent - I find most Biryani's boring anyways, but this was good.

Sag (green leaf - spinach) was still a vegetable and not creamed and had a light delicate taste.

The Shrimp Khorma (my GF's fav last night) was light yet creamy. The waiter called it 'sweet' but it certainly was not overly so. Not cloying at all. Lots of shrimp. Great with the Paratha!

Salad was salad - lots of cucs tomatoes and onions.

They forgot the dhal, but that was ok - we were stuffed. Oh yes, the Nan was good.

Funny place - they also have lots of Arabic foods, and they don't have Spiced Tea (ever been on an Indian train? "Chai chai chai chai chai..." echoing through the carriages.

Total, including 4 water - 1230 baht. And they deliver. And they are open 24 hours.

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Went looking for Auntie Malaysia's today, and finally found it. Looked a little dingy (which doesn't bug me - I have been to India, you know), but it only has South Indian snacks (Dosa, idli, etc etc). The rest of the menu was Northern...

Ended up just a hundred yards away at a new (6 months) Tamil Pure-Veg restaurant.

Had Masala Ghee Dosa - huge, crispy and fantastic Sambar. Also had Dahi Vada - incredibly light and fluffy lentil balls with tamarind, yoghurt and cilantro sauces (chat) - a little sweet for my GF, but I loved it.

Split one Thali - real S. Indian taste - Sambar, Rassam, a vegie dish, dahl (with a light smoky taste), lime pickle, yoghurt, one roti (chapati), one S Indian Papad (made from wheat), and Kessari (a semolina pudding).

I love my girlfriend - the only thing she wouldn't taste a second time was the lime pickle! She loved the Sambar.

Also had Tomato Uttapam - a rice/lentil pancake thicker than a dosa. Fantastic. Crunchy and still creamy.

Yes, we eat too much in Bkk!

The name of this little gem is Saravana Bhavan, and it is on that little street that is parallel to and just north of Suriwong road. Near the Hotel Manohra at the Charoen Krung end of Suriwong.

Also they have 100% Pure Veg Jain food (no onions or garlic) and a selection of N. Indian dishes too.

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Stopped to look at the India King's menu - to me it is really expensive. Almost 300 baht for a Chicken Kebab - too steep for my tastes. So unless someone can convince me that it is really a 'haute cuisine' Indian restaurant, then I will forgo the super fancy table-clothes, and eat at the more 'pedestrian' restaurants.

For what it is worth, the only really great 'haute cuisine' Indian I have ever had was at Moti Mahal in Rapongi Tokyo. Fresh herbs and spices in everything. A step above anything I have ever had. But I have eaten in plenty of super-expensive yet mediocre Indian places.

you sound like our tastes are similar...i'll have to try Malaysian Aunty's area and the place in Soi 3/1. I've eaten at a few of those places near the Royal in Chakrapret Rd, very authentic and local and cheap, nothing special though with taste. In my opinion, all the places on Sukhumvit and well known northern Indian places in Bangkok are outrageously overpriced and nothing special. I am surprised that nobody has mentioned the area near the Bayoke Tower. Walk from Petchaburi up towards the Bayoke Tower (Pratunam). When on the soi coming to the Tower, turn left about 2-300 meters before the tower, on a busy little road packed with Indians. When you reach the 7-11 (on your left), there are several subsois on your right with small places featuring Indian, Pakistani, and Nepali restaurants, very local. I have eaten in a few there that were pretty good, reasonably priced. There is also an African restaurant there.

My ex was pretty game for Indian food, we traveled together in India and she managed very well. Thanks to all for sharing their recommendations.

I heard Sek Loso is doing a gig at the Impact Arena in late June. You wont get a better blend of thai and rock than him. (In my opinion of course).

I'd have to second that. You can get a bit more info on his gigs and other at www.sekloso.net

Silly Fools also rock out pretty big time if you want to enjoy good Thai rock. Overtone Pub in RCA is probably the best art house style guitar type pub...it is run by the guy who runs Prart Music School, where some of the best Thai guitarists have studied. Silly Fools, Blackhead, the Sun (Hin Lek Fai), and Olarn Project are regular visitors. Jimmy Page popped in last year on his visit to Bkk.

Anybody check out the new Bkk Rocks Pub mentioned above in Asok? It looks good, but often these house band places are rather disappointing and overpriced.

it has absolutely nothing to do with immigration or with "new" rules...it is just Penang, and whatever the powers that be regarding Penang are playing with...i just came back from the US from a Thai Consulate, got a non B with a basic form letter, absolutely nothing else asked for...maybe the folks up in Vientiane are paying off the folks down in Penang to ensure their profits continue to rise...

Paying elected politician 50 million baht to switch sides and vote for Pueh Thai nominees.

Source?

bulls_t news.

Still I don't understand why so many farangs love so much Thaksin.

Go Abhisit!!!

Most Farangs believe in democracy... PPP won...(Thaksin won) the elections... one man one vote... sounds fair to me...

most farangs also believe in the justice system and abuse of power. Richard Nixon broke the law, got caught, and got impeached. Thaksin embezzled how many million, got caught red handed, convicted, and then fled the country after promising not to. If he is so honest and kind, let him come back, do his three years in jail, and then stand for election again.

It would be interesting to know the demographics of those posting here. My guess is that not too many backpackers who are using Thailand as a hub and just coming in and out for a month or two on their Asian sojourn are the ones posting here. I agree fully with all the above posts that talk about the finances and grass roots supports that the backpacker puts into Thailand over a course of time, and thus the new rule seems to be really limiting (i was here 13 years ago as a backpacker and came in and out a few times)...but, it seems to me that a lot of the gripes are coming from those who are expats...if you are an expat who lives here without working, here to own property, retire at less than 50 years, or whatever it may be, surely it cant be that inconvenient to pop over to Laos or elsewhere for a few days and get a tourist visa, which actually makes things way way less inconvenient than having to go to the border every 15 or 30 days...or as a property owner with an interest in staying here long term, wouldn't it even be worthwhile to pay Sunbelt or another company the money to get the paperwork to go overseas and get a non B from a user friendly consulate? So on a certain level it does seem to me that a lot of the border runners are those who are working here and who only have a day to get to the border and back. We could say on one hand that they are illegal and evading paying taxes, etc...but i know plenty of teachers, writers, and dive instructors who get taxes taken out by their employer (so somebody somewhere must be getting the money) yet they cannot get a work permit, and they certainly are not riff raff.......I think Thailand creates all these by not having any set in stone policies and so of course this is the result...i lived in Japan for many years, and the visa laws there were pretty darn clear, there were few loopholes or alternatives.

nothing will happen, learning more Thai cannot hurt, you can get ED visa and be here very long term and no visa runs at all. It works out not much more expensive if not cheaper.

Kind regards

Mac

Walen School of Thai

let's see, my 2 Air Asia flights to Udon cost me 700-1300 baht return, plus 80 baht for the bus to Vientiane, plus 400-500 baht for my hotel there, throw in a few baguettes, coffees, and inexpensive meals each night, plus beer, and we're not talking more than 5-6000 baht plus visa fees (1000 baht per entry)....comes out a LOT cheaper to do the visa run.

Again, naive.

Economics is indeed a big part of the motivation for many many westerners to live in a lower cost country like Thailand.

I think we have different mindsets. If I really believed that I was unwanted , I would find somewhere else just as cheap.

As I said everyone is entitled to make their own decisions.

there may be other reasons why the other cheap places still dont match up..for those who love Thai food, the cuisine, especially on the street, in Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos pales horribly in comparison with Thailand. Those countries also have very few good hospitals and expat friendly health care centers. Far less English speakers, expat populations, expat friendly bar/nightlife areas, and with the exception of Laos, slightly more unsafe in certain areas. Throw in incredibly poor transportation and infrastructure, and it's easy to see why people stay here, even if it does get "worse" every day.

I think that Thailand wants to get rid of what it sees as the riff raff falangs. Those who cannot be bothered or just cannot get the right visa. If you have a legitimate visa there is no problem in staying here.

Really? Then tell me how a 37 year old who's been here for 12 years with enough money to live on, most cash is in in a thai bank can get the right visa, not married, no intention of doing so either and no business???

Please elaborate.

There are a lot of folks here who definitely are not riff raff, and i agree that these laws dont really accomplish what they set out to do and only serve to alienate more people...BUT, it really isn't that big of a hassle to be legit...this past year i went to Vientiane several times...yeah, i can no longer use Penang or Phnom Penh, or elsewhere in the region for getting double entry tourist visas, but Vientiane remains user friendly...so doesn't it make more sense to hop a cheap Air Asia flight to Udon, cross the border, spend a few days in Vientiane, and have 6 months worth of legal entry (double entry tourist, 60 days each time, extendable by 30 days each time), than to cross the border repeatedly and deal with the limiting border stamps.

I know people who have done this here and paid for it, and of course some of the fees they paid went toward smoothing out the stamps wherever they were needed. It is true, the US doesn't always stamp in or out....but what would be missing would be the reentry stamp (and first exit stamp) from the country like Malaysia, showing that one left to another country and returned....as for not holding on to ones passport, most folks walk around other countries for 3 days or so with only copies of their passport while they wait for visas that they have applied from from embassies and Consulates...I was in Pakistan a year ago and got a Thai visa that took a week, had no passport the entire time.

Are you sure? I paid last time 1,200 baht (plus 200 baht express fee), that's way more than 20 USD!

bECAUSE YOU PAID IN BAHT PERHAPS?

I got my Lao visa this week from Embassy in Bkk...cost as a US national was 1400 as stated on their list, I declined the express service and got it the next day. French fellow next to me paid 1200 as per French nationals, plus 200 for express service. So I guess that is roughly the same fee as at the border (35 + 1 service charge), and I can now take the bus in from Udon without hassles.

I received a double entry from them no problems, but that was 2 years ago. I was living in WA state, went up to Vancouver, and got the visa. You might want to call them to double check and see how many days it takes. When I was there, they were even issuing triple entry visas.

Sportsmans arms and witherspoons are excellent companies to deal with.

No, one should not always go with a visa run company. I went with one 4 times, and on my own 5 times.

I have always gone on my own, and I have always gotten my visa from the Cambo Embassy in Bkk in advance. I pay them the $20, and that is that. Occasionally, I have been hassled for some tea money for "processing" the visa at the border, but I just laugh and wait and that is that.

Cost of the bus to Aranya Prathet is some 200 baht? Plus 40 baht or whatever for the songthaew to the border. If you have the time to spare, it will always be cheaper to do it yourself, provided you avoid all the border "help" and other.

I am often embarrassed to be a farang because of you winging lot. Go home and do us all a favour. Go on, get out.

maybe off topic, but why is it that there are so many jaded people in thailand compared to any other tourist destination i have ever been to?

something to do with lost property, savings, infidelity, and generally being taken to the cleaners too many times, which most of the time, the person has only themselves to blame. Perhaps also a full lack of integration. I lived in Japan for 4 years, saw exactly the same thing as I see here. Those who have learned some language, gotten out of the expat community, and seen more than Pattaya, Nana Plaza, and Siam Square might have a few nicer things to say about Thailand. In Japan, the people I knew who couldn't speak Japanese, who only frequented gaijin bars, and who never left Tokyo, usually were the same ones who complained about how bad their jobs were, how racist the Japanese were, and what a crappy country it was.

It's pretty obvious that what is good for one man certainly isn't for another. I've been to Chiang Mai several times with intentions of moving there, and every time I went, I found something to complain about. The food doesn't come anywhere near close to Bangkok, the live music scene for Thai rock pales in comparison to here, there are way too many tourists in the greater radius of the city (compared to my 99.9% Thai neighborhood in Bkk), and the pollution during the burning season is worse than Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, and Athens all put together....then again, I've got friends in CM who hate Bkk with a passion and love their lives up there.

I have the fortune of being able to work from home, so I don't deal with traffic too much here, I enjoy the pleasure of eating fantastic middle class Thai food in local restaurants seven nights a week for under $15 for a great meal for two with a beer or two, and the street life in this city dwarfs anything that one can find in any country with the same level of development anywhere in the world. Yes it is dirty and polluted, but that is not why I live here. New York is indeed a great city, but only if one has the salary to afford the restaurants, theater, and rents, and for most folks these days, that kind of income usually involves a lifetime's worth of office hours. I grew up in San Francisco, back in the days where one could work 20 hours a week to pay the bills, and then spend the rest of one's time playing music, studying languages, or pursuing whatever made one happy. It was a great place back then. Probably still is to young folks who move there today, but when I go back I am horrified. Anyways, if you wake up griping about a place everyday, you are either in the wrong place or perhaps are in need of a good roll in the hay!

I'm from the UK, got UK family living in Bangkok and would like to join them for 6 - 12 months.

I'm a freelance cameraman for TV and my partner works in TV production. We've been in touch with a few companies who have said there is a lack of good cameraman in Thailand and would be very interested in employing me - on a freelance basis.

Speaking to Hull I think I can get a B visa with out much trouble. But what about a work permit when we get there? Can you get them to work in media? and what about the freelance aspect/working for a number of different companies etc? I would hope my income would be a reasonable amount and media doesn't seem to be on the list of non-permitted jobs.

This is my first post on here, so any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

I'm a photographer and writer doing freelance here. At least in my areas, it is darn close to impossible to get a work permit if one is freelancing. There is a Media visa Non Im M I believe, but you wont be getting it as a freelancer. Your best bet would be setting up your own company, and I am sure Sunbelt can set you up with this, but it will involve some cash (not to the legal firm outside of their standard charges, but for you paying tax, hiring Thais, insurance, et al...)

Just to go back to your initial question about flying out and lack of a visa:

The earlier poster was right in that your only problem will be in the US where the airline may try to refuse boarding due to your not having a visa. I live in Thailand now, but used to go through that several times while in the US, coming here on one way or on extended month tickets. I never had problems with the Asian carriers, so if you are on Asiana, you may be fine. I did have problems on United though. A few times I was able to show stamps in my passport showing that I did this every year (coming to Thailand visa free, and then going over to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, etc) with all the stamps proving what I did...there are several ways around any problems should you have them..one, go to the airport, if they make trouble, ask to see a supervisor and tell them your plans (of going to other SE Asian countries), 2) if that doesn't work, find an internet cafe in the airport and book the cheapest Air Asia ticket online out of Bkk (2000 baht or so), 3) you can also use a credit card to buy the most expensive fully refundable ticket on Japan Airlines, Thai, or a major carrier, a return ticket to the US...and then when you arrive at your destination, go in to the carrier's office and cancel the ticket, getting a 100% refund...all of the above methods have and will work. Chok dee.

Must be stupid:

-the one who believes that Thai airways prices are the same as Air Asia

I just picked a day at random. July 1 Bangkok to Chiang Mai, return July 2.

Thai Airways Hot Deals, booked through their website: 4,380.00 THB total including taxes

Air Asia: 3,242.10 THB + 30x2 THB for 1 checked bag + 200 THB x 2 for express boarding + 430 THB x 2 overweight (15kg -> 20kg) = 4562.10 THB

Like you say, the person who said you can get a Thai Airways promotion ticket for the same price was stupid, because the Thai Airways ticket is actually cheaper. At least he's not a retard like you and the other retards who blindly think you're getting a good deal for Air Asia's crap service when actually you may be paying more than a full service airline. That Air Asia price was also a discounted ticket. If it was a full priced ticket it wouldn't even be close. The question I want to know is why there are there so many retards out there praising this piece of crap airline?

Cut and pasted from the Air Asia website a few minutes ago...

Same day, same destinations, the cheapest and the most expensive tickets are listed below...

Your TravelGoing Out

Bangkok (BKK) to Chiang Mai (CNX)

01 Jul 2008 FD 3238

Departs 1045 Arrives 1155

1621.05 BT

Going Out

Bangkok (BKK) to Chiang Mai (CNX)

FD 3238 - Depart BKK 10:45 AM 07/01/08

Arrive CNX 11:55 AM 07/01/08

Coming Back

Chiang Mai (CNX) to Bangkok (BKK)

02 Jul 2008 FD 3243

Departs 2050 Arrives 2155

925.55 BT

Coming Back

Chiang Mai (CNX) to Bangkok (BKK)

FD 3243 - Depart CNX 8:50 PM 07/02/08

Arrive BKK 9:55 PM 07/02/08

_____________________________________________________________________

Going Out Total 1,621.05 THB Going Out Total 1,621.05 THB 1 Guest @ 750.00 750.00 THB

Airport Tax 100.00 THB Insurance Surcharge 50.00 THB Administration Fee 65.00 THB Value Added Tax 106.05 THB Fuel Surcharge 550.00 THB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coming Back Total 925.55 THB Coming Back Total 925.55 THB 1 Guest @ 100.00 100.00 THB

Airport Tax 100.00 THB Insurance Surcharge 50.00 THB Administration Fee 65.00 THB Value Added Tax 60.55 THB Fuel Surcharge 550.00 THB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total Package Price

2,546.60 THB

Your TravelGoing Out

Bangkok (BKK) to Chiang Mai (CNX)

01 Jul 2008 FD 3234

Departs 1250 Arrives 1400

1621.05 BT

Going Out

Bangkok (BKK) to Chiang Mai (CNX)

FD 3234 - Depart BKK 12:50 PM 07/01/08

Arrive CNX 2:00 PM 07/01/08

Coming Back

Chiang Mai (CNX) to Bangkok (BKK)

02 Jul 2008 FD 3241

Departs 1705 Arrives 1815

1621.05 BT

Coming Back

Chiang Mai (CNX) to Bangkok (BKK)

FD 3241 - Depart CNX 5:05 PM 07/02/08

Arrive BKK 6:15 PM 07/02/08

_____________________________________________________________________

Going Out Total 1,621.05 THB Going Out Total 1,621.05 THB 1 Guest @ 750.00 750.00 THB

Airport Tax 100.00 THB Insurance Surcharge 50.00 THB Administration Fee 65.00 THB Value Added Tax 106.05 THB Fuel Surcharge 550.00 THB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coming Back Total 1,621.05 THB Coming Back Total 1,621.05 THB 1 Guest @ 750.00 750.00 THB

Airport Tax 100.00 THB Insurance Surcharge 50.00 THB Administration Fee 65.00 THB Value Added Tax 106.05 THB Fuel Surcharge 550.00 THB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total Package Price

3,242.10 THB

So to make your figures stack up you had to resort to adding 400 baht for express boarding and 860 baht for extra baggage so you could bump up the fare higher than Thai Airways, conveniently ignoring the fact that not everyone has excess baggage and few pay for express boarding as well as ignoring other cheaper flights available on the same day.

Looks like a lot of people aren't reading this thread so maybe it needs repeating. This thread is about having to pay for overweight luggage. Many people do need the extra allowance given by Thai Airways and will have to pay this charge. Some will have to pay even more when Thai Airways would probably let it slide if it's over by 5kg or so. Sure you can find some Air Asia fares lower than some Thai Airways fares, but that's not the point. Express boarding is added because if you want to compare Thai Airways which allows the civilized pre-assigned seats then the express boarding is the closest you can come to that. Without the express boarding you're comparing even more different products.

For one more example, try checking the prices for a one-way tomorrow, Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Air Asia's cheapest without any express board, any checked luggage, or overweight charges is 1942.05 THB total. Thai Airways is 2,190.00 THB total. A difference of only 247.95 THB. That's very little difference and the Air Asia flight won't give you any free drink or snack.

I agree that for some people who can book the absolute cheapest fares on Air Asia and have no checked in luggage and don't eat or drink on the plane and don't care about their boarding process, etc. they sometimes can save a lot. Other times they will save almost nothing and sometimes they will likely pay more. Add on the extras though and the savings are little at best. Clearly though the blanket statement that Air Asia is always cheaper than Thai Airways is absolutely false.

cant help with the latest penang info, but i did just get a new double entry tourist in Vientiane, no questions asked. For saving on the hassle, you might as well get a one year non B, it just makes life more comfortable, otherwise you're going to be going out every few months and possibly having to worry..

I think everyone is just trying to find a way to play with the system and stay here, not so much thinking about the future in terms of us not being able to live here..I'm 46, a freelance photojournalist, cannot get a work permit with what I do, but have enough income to stay here no problems...i'm waiting for 50 and the retirement visa...at this point, I've gone 3 years getting double entry tourist visas and one Non B as I travel to enough countries frequently enough to have this method make more sense economically than getting an ed visa or paying for a one year non B. We all do what we need to to make things work.

aah, c'est la femme....let's see, he's got a tilac and he's been missing her

Got my double entry on Monday as well, no questions asked..I had just finished a double entry non B plus have 3 years of tourist visas in my passport..Lao is still good to go...second the call for bringing an umbrella, it can be baking hot standing in line in the sun for an hour...i showed up early both for giving the application and for pickup so it wasn't too bad....i'd also advise people to print out the application form as available earlier in this post..the guys outside the embassy all want 20 baht for the paper...or you can wait until everyone goes in, and then pick up a form inside...chok dee.

I have a passport full of tourist visas and one double entry non B...(2.5 years worth)....I am about to go to Aranya Prathet and want to come back in on a 30 day entry (which would be my first)..I have been hearing that Aranya Prathet is no longer letting people in without an onward air ticket. Can anyone validate this, or is it possible to buy a "return" bus ticket to Phnom Penh that will satisfy the requirement or will they just let you in?

I have about 3 years of tourist visas and a non B in my passport, haven't had to use the 30 day VOA until now. Have been reading about all the latest crackdowns. A friend of mine with a Non Immigrant Ed recently went to Aranya Prathet for re-entry...he said there is now a sign up saying no VOA's issued here. Any truth to this at all? Any recent reports. I need to make a visa run and will be doing the 30 day thing, so just wondering if i will have any hassles...and any need for any kind of return ticket being asked for to get 30 days? I heard about a month ago they were asking, but you could buy a 150 baht bus ticket to Phnom Penh to satisfy this...

I agree.

A professional photographer will need all his equipment. which usually requires a Carnet de Passage

to clear customs. This automatically marks you as "working" and you will need a permit.

I got enough of the delicate gear through last year in hand luggage no problem. Shooting anything in a manor that any tourist might do so would attract no attention and has never caused a problem in the past.

My main concern is being too conspicuous out and about in public with tripod, camera, flash or an assistant holding up a couple of large silver reflectors etc. I can hear the voice behind me now..... "what you do?" I just need to know what piece of paper is obtainable to silence the official looking guy chasing tea money.

Basically, I would not worry about. I'm a professional photographer, have been living here 3 years. I earn my keep selling stock photos (sold outside of Thailand, money paid outside of Thailand, but do have photos from Thailand)...it is close to impossible to get a Non M (media) visa here, so there are no "legal" ways to do it. Nobody will ever hassle you about equipment or cameras (unless you are out on the street with an entire film crew). If you ever were hassled, you are here on holiday engaging in your hobby. Outside of someone having a vendetta against you, you aren't going to be bothered by anyone....for visa's sake, and this applies to any country, I have learned over the years not to put "photographer" under occupation, it sets off alarm bells (ie investigative photojournalist), so just dont put that down.