djlowz

As long as your friends that are sticklers for their comfort don't mind the cost then it shouldn't be a problem. Expect to pay around the 25-35,000 baht for your own boat though. I think you will find that they are not that particular when you tell them how much it is going to cost. You also have to ask yourself do you really want to be going to Tao at that time of night in a small boat ? You would be better off making a party of the overnight boat like we used to going from Chumphon. Get some beers and some food and enjoy the sail. The boat from Chumphon was ideal as you could set up on the top deck and had the most wonderful views of the heavens as you chugged along.It would also be cheaper from Chumphon as its closer

Cheers for the replies guys.

Hmm sounds a bit pricey. Not too sure how much they're expecting to pay but I'm certainly not going to pitch in with them if it's that much!

That's OK I guess we'll have to see how it goes when we arrive. My hopes are that one of the locals will do it for a good price but I might be clutching at straws!

Thanks anyway guys

Hi all,

I am hoping someone can help me out. It's been a little while since i've visited Thailand and i'm a little bit out of the loop.

I have a flight to Surat Thani from Bangkok that lands at 7pm. From there myself and some friends are going to Koh Tao where we have accomadation booked. Unfortunately it looks like the only boat that leaves after 7pm is the 11pm (8 hour) night boat. Personally I don't mind taking this boat but my friends are a stickler for comfort and would rather not.

Is there any chance of taking a private boat from Surat Thani, or even Chumphon to Koh Tao? And if so does anybody know the name of any company?

All help would be great.

Cheers, DJ

No worries guys, cheers. Might stay in Bangkok and come up to Chiang Mai after the New Year.

How about Spicy!!

Spicy.. Oh god I remember that place.. Ah that's a big N O thanks.

yes Dance Party, you know that thing you go to and dance, it's kind of like a party!!

sorry dj I do not know at the moment, but I'll ask around for you

Thanks womblejamie, much appreciated.

Dj

Klong Prao is the longest and quietest beach. There are large resorts here but they are spread out with areas of undeveloped beachfront between them. Where I am on Klong Prao there is about 400 - 500 metres of beachfront with no development.

White Sand beach is the busiest and most touristy, if you want to spend the days in a deckchair outside a beach bar it is for you. Kai Bae still has some charm and is popular with older backpackers and families who prefer 2-3 star bungalows to hotel or large resort accommodation. And Lonely beach is good if you want to hang out with the gap year students.

You cant really walk between the beaches - too far to be a comfortable walk. So rent a scooter or rely on the infrequent and expensive songtaews if you want to see other beaches during your stay.

Thanks a lot mate, you have proven to be a very useful source of information.

Cheers,

Dj

Thanks a lot Chiangian, you have definitely helped me with your recommendations.

Your analysis of me is correct to a degree, I guess i'm not your typical backpacker, having lived in Thailand previously. However I am mid 20's, probably wouldn't mind drinking buckets with the travelling crowd and as i've been home for quite some time now i'd probably like to engross myself in the backpacking scene again.

I'm not too picky with accomodation and by the looks of it I will definitely be able to find a double room for 800baht(ish). My last question I guess is which beach is the best to stay on? From the looks of it it's just Klong Phrao, Kai Bee and White Sands Beach where all the touristy spots are. Does it matter out of those beaches or are they all pretty similar?

Thanks again,

Dj

Hi guys,

Just wondering if there are any big new years eve parties in CM this year? When I say new years eve party I mean big dance festival with headline DJ acts. I'm tossing up whether to spend New Years in CM or Bangkok this year.. It seems like CM has nothing in terms of big dance parties from the research I have done, but there must be something big on somewhere.. Any suggestion guys?

Cheers,

Dj

Fantastic. Thanks for the suggestions guys, Narcissus is definitely the winner so far.

Dj

usually there is something outside central, but if nothing else, there is always khaosan rd - all night all street party

Nah not interested in central which I imagine is more of a family thing with fireworks etc. Not interested in khao san either. I'm looking at something more along the lines of where you have to pay 1000 odd baht to go and see a reasonable DJ, like what they have everywhere else in the world on New Years.. Or do they just reserve this for Koh Phangnan?

Hi guys,

Just wondering if there are any big new years eve parties in Bangkok this year? When i say new years eve party I mean big dance festival with headline DJ acts. It seems like Bangkok has nothing from the research I have done, but there must be something big on somewhere..

Cheers,

Dj

Easy to get a fan room for under 1000 baht/night on any beach. Next to KP is Tiger Huts and down in Lonely Beach you cant move for budget places. But depends on what type of place you want - are you backpacking, whoring, in search of peace and quiet etc

For AC rooms under 1000 baht/night you'll have to stay off the beach but can still find plenty of roadside resorts with rooms available in mid December.

There a re a couple of small gyms here. On the west coast, Paradise Palms on Pearl Beach has one and in VJ Plaza at the northern end of Klong Prao beach you'll find someone has stuck some free weights and machines in a couple of shop units and it is now a gym.

Wow thanks a lot for the information you sound like you know quite a bit about the island.

I am backpacking so I would prefer to stay in that type of area, preferably close to one of those gym if that is possible but that's not essential. Based on that information what area/beach/guesthouse would be your best recommendation if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks.

K. P. Huts.

The fitness centers are called "girls".

Ha, cheers! Was more after weights training not stamina but I'll keep that in mind anyway..

Hi all,

I'll be traveling to Koh Chang with 1 friend in mid December. We plan on staying for about a week and are both on a fairly low budget. So I am just curious if anyone knows of any cheap gems on the island where we could pay no more than 500baht each (1000baht max for a room)? I'm also curious to know if there is a fitness centre on the island?

Thanks in advance guys!

Dj.

Hi all, I'm coming back to Bangkok in early December and am only staying for a Month. During that time I would like to stay in a reasonably priced apartment, preferably 2 bedroom with a gym and pool, location is not too much of an issue - somewhere around suk/silom or close to khao san would be good. Price range 10,000-15,000 baht. Any suggestions? Thanks guys.

I like the sound of drink specials.. If you can assure me it's a place you can dance I am in!

Is there a pissup tonight?

I don't know, but count me in if there is, I haven't met any of you guys yet. I'm shooting hoops till it gets dark then i'm ready to boogie.

Dj.

Two lines? ok here goes

A frustratingly addictive place that brings out the best and worst in me. When I am not screaming my head off, I am laughing it off - mostly at the greed, generiousity, beauty, ugliness, kindness and thoughtlessness ,but funny thing about it, despite its obvious faults, it is home.

Brilliant. Just to add - once you scratch a little bit beneath the surface that's when you realise the good is sometimes also the bad. Overall I enjoy living here, except for the god dam_n TRAFFIC!!

Thankyou all.

I realise it is illegal to work without a work permit, however I only obtained the job on the 24th to start on the 27th, and my Visa runs out on the 6th. The school is going to organise a work permit for me but as I understand it is a bit of a lengthy process so that looks like my only option.

Hi,

I currently have a 2 month tourist visa (which expires in one week) and believe I can extend it for one month. Firstly, where abouts is the imigrations office located and what time is it open to? All next week I will be teaching until 3:30pm each day. Secondly, what documents will I need in order for the 30 day extension to be approved?

Thankyou,

Dj.

I'm just new to Bangkok so i'd love to come and meet a few of you. Count me in.

i`ll put money on them.....garry ablett jr is amazing! like father like son

Grew up with little Gaz - he's a freak that's for sure. Watching his old man play was amazing, have never seen a gene with so much pure talent.

Crow Boy - very very unlucky for your mob not be lining up against my mob this weekend, I can't believe how much St.Kilda pumped Essendon by! Anyway you should do away with Collingwood nicely, but I think a Hawthorn or Bulldogs matchup will be hard for you to get through to the third round..

Lieutenant Dan?

Thanks to all for your tips and advice. I made the lengthy trip first thing this morning to the nearest Thai consulate and applied for a tourist visa - 60 days with the option of extending it another 30, which should give me plenty of time to find a job. I'm impressed that they will have it ready for me tomorrow where I'll look forward to the lengthy drive again! I feel a lot better now, thanks all.

Dj.

Hi all,

I've been reading through quite a few posts regarding visa issues and I am now a little bit concerned. My current situation is that I have a one-way ticket booked for Thailand in 6 days, my intention was to try and find a teaching job within the first one or two months of my stay and transfer my 30 day visa exemption to a Non-Immigrant B visa during that period.

My worry is that I read a post saying this - 'Do not come to Thailand without a visa. Without a visa you will need to show a ticket out of Thailand within 30 days. If you don't have one the airline will probably not let you board the airplane'. Will this be the case if I don't have a visa and only a one-way ticket?

Secondly, my understanding of the visa exemption is as follows - You are entitled to a 30 day stay with a limit of 90 days maximum (two border runs) within a 6 month period from the first day you entered the Kingdom. I am presuming that after that 6 month period is over it resets and you are allowed a further 30 days within a 90 day limit? The reason I ask is that I did some voluntary work in Mae Sai in January/February this year in which I left and re-entered the Kingdom twice.

Considering I am set to leave in less than a week I am getting a bit nervous about this now. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Dj.