monekyface

I am taking my gal back to the Philippines soon and we want to buy a gift for her sister. I live out in the sticks and our local Robinson sells name-brand Japanese watches like Seiko and Citizen, but the prices are laughable. They cost double what I would pay in the USA.

I know that Both Siam Paragon and Central Department Store have huge watch selections, but how are the prices? Is there any other place in town where I can get closer to prices back home? We are somewhat flexible on brand name, but don't want to dip down into the Timex/Casio level. Something very durable would be nice.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!!!!!

A Western man living with a Filipina girlfriend in Thailand is sheer brilliance. Trust me, I know.

There is a pharmacy on Sukhumvit Soi 22 close to the "Angel Bar"- from Angel head away from Sukhumvit and you will see it on the right. The guy charged me 10 baht each which is crazy, but you don't care if you just need a few. The normal price is 5 baht from my pharmacy in Silom, but they don't sell to most people who walk in off the street. I have dealt with them for years.

Another landmark is Flyers- it is like a billiards bar with food. It is at the corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 22. Angel Bar and the pharmacy are on the other side of Soi 22. There is also a travel agent on the same side of the street as the pharmacy- the name eludes me but they have great service and the manager speaks English well.

If you are walking away from Sukhumvit on Soi 22 and you get to Larry's restaurant you have gone too far. Titanium nightclub is in the mix too- can't remember if it is before or after the pharmacy.

Has anyone here rigged up a slinky antenna in their apartment for SWL? I found a couple of slinky juniors (each is 157.5 Inches or 13.1 Feet) on eBay for like $5 apiece. Seems that this would make a nice dipole antenna for 40 meters that could double as an SWL antenna. Is there a good compromise arrangement that would allow it to do double duty? I don't want to buy a tuner right now just do some listening. I might like to add a CW rig later.

One thing that I wonder about these slinky antennas is that they are steel. Surely you can't solder your coax or twin lead to steel- do people just alligator clip it on, and hope for a good connection? I am going to buy a basic shortwave radio like the one below; what kind of feedline would work best? I have heard that slinkys on a hoola hoop make a nice antenna as well.

Degen/Kaito 1102

I could also just use one of the slinkys and do a longwire arrangement. But then a tuner is mandatory, yes? I had planned on putting up a nylon rope that runs diagonally across the room just below the ceiling. If I feed it from one end, that will be great since my desk sits in the corner. I will save some of the extra nylon rope, and when my girlfriend complains about how unsightly it is I will tie her up with it. Maybe, just forget the radio altogether and get some rope.

Anyone?

Campylobacter is your issue!!! It is rampant here. I have been through the spectrum of antibiotics, up to an including Cipro, but nothing works like Zithromax. And you can get the generic (azithromycin) here as well. Zithromax destroys the proteins on which campylobacter feeds, unlike other antibiotics that provide only short-term relief because campylobacter has developed a resistance to them.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/...R40646020070214

It seems that if you do the single-dose (check with your pharmicist as I don't remember the precise dosage- two big capsules- maybe 1000mg?) it will give you a headache at least it does with me. I just keep some tylenol handy.

OK here is the real low-down. Remember that Monekyface told you FIRST.

I went to the border today (Ban Pakkard) and handed over the passport and asked "can I come back if I cross over???"

I was lucky enough to get a very talkative immigration official. First, there was this shocked look on his face. I said "Only four crossings, is that right?"

He asked me "Who told you that???!!!???" his face still registering utter shock. I said I found it online at Thaivisa.com. He wrote down the website! I didn't know this was a covert operation here.

Then he tells me "Yes, it is true. There is a limit. But you are allowed four, and on the fifth one you will be allowed to leave as well as come back, but I will be required to create a report in the computer and immigration will follow up by checking out the address where you live to see if you are working and should have a work permit."

How is that for information? I also verified that if you fly out of the country and fly back, you will start over with a "1" on your next border crossing. And what about tourist visas? Yes, I asked about that as well. He said that after your tourist visa is finished you will start over with a "1" again.

In the end, if this is how all of the border officials interpret the law, then it really makes very, very little difference to anyone. I don't see how anyone will generate one of those "fifth entry" reports unless they are very arrogant or very ignorant. Also, remember that the only address they have to check out is one that you write on the entry card. Incidentally, when I wrote the city down where I stay that was always good enough in the past. This time, they made me write down the actual location.

This is a non-issue IMHO.

What kind of up and down speeds do you get with the finished product? Is it connected to a directional yagi type antenna? How much is the air card, how much is service, and how much is the antenna? Great reading by the way- super thread.

I am guessing that someone has been to the border in the last couple days. Nothing to report? I wonder is this was just a flash in the pan, or if it is an ominous sign of real changes coming. Like others have said, even if this four border runs is enforced it still leaves a lot of options for people who wish to stay here long-term.

"Some may remember the Seoul department store that collapsed 10-15 years ago"

And remember that when the cracks first appeared the main priority was to assure shoppers and employees that everything was fine. When the rumbling started, the superintendent of the building personally went around to assure everyone that it was nothing. When he was told that the cracks in the floors were widening, he insisted that too much money would be lost by closing the store. He died along with everyone else, but that doesn't seem to be equitable. Ah, there is the hel_l thing!

Sometimes I think that concern for safety is mostly a Western idea. I was in Cambodia a few months ago and there was an idiot with a long metal pipe attempting to dislodge a branch from power lines while his supervisor and coworkers looked on with blank stares. Predictably, his genius created showers of sparks resulting in bewildered and burned shirtless cohorts. Is there something in the air in Asia that they just can't seem to see these things coming?

I don't understand why there is an Edge Gprs refill card. When I buy a top up for my Happy Dtac sim am I not getting the same thing?

"100 baht for the sim that comes with 35 hours connection time free

Renewed this month at 350 baht for 100 hours connection time"

Can I get any of this with my 1-2Call sim card? Or do I need to get a special sim? I downloaded the Nokia software to use with my Happy/DTac sim card but then I realized that I could also use my regular 1-2Call sim. How do I know the rates though?

I saw this cell phone at the local Hutch store and it looks sleek and cool. It is small and light and has a camera and it has 65KCSTN (what the heck is that?) and it says "vga". It is 999 baht. Does anyone own one of these phones? Can you comment on call quality? How is the audio and how would you rate the phone overall? Is the camera OK?

Can I use this in the Philippines as well with one of their simcards? Can I use this phone to connect to the internet using a simcard here in Thailand? I have a DTAC sim that I use as an internet backup when TOT is down- about half the time.

Thank you in advance!

Chiangrai- did they mark your stamp with a "1"?

"A foreigner who has entered the kingdom four (4) consecutive times on 15 days tourist exemption stamps, will not be allowed to leave the country and reenter Thailand. The only option is to exit Thailand and re-enter via an international airport, which will allow a further 30 day stay."

I don't understand. Everyone seems to be saying "go get a tourist visa, loser!" But this quote says that "an international airport" is the only option. So in other words, if I have these four consecutive entries, I am not allowed to take a bus to Laos or to Cambodia and get a tourist visa and come back. I have to fly. This seems to be aimed at propping up an ailing airline industry more than it targets any class of foreign visitor.

Does the count begin on June 1 for these four exemption stamps, or is this retroactive?

I've been using the 15-day stamps because I am close to the border so it is cheap and easy. Also if I organize a company and get a business visa then I have to hire four Thais. That is the law in this province. My business supports me and my significant other, and contributes to the local economy- virtually all of my income is cycled through the locals in one way or another whether it is buying goods and services or business expenses or materials for resale. We eat local food, use transportation, rent here, and contribute to the local economy in many ways.

I agree that Thailand can make their own rules and we are to respect them as we are visitors here. But to paint all of the border-runners as pedophiles and drunks with no contribution to make, well, that is simply not the case. It might be time to move to Bangkok where I only have to hire one Thai worker when I formalize the business paperwork. The monthly filings and fees will still run about 400USD not counting the single employee’s salary. It's more pleasant to live where I do now and it is better for me to invest directly in the economy than in new clothing and cars for the beauracrats, but such is life.

Thanks Hitchhiker. Much appreciated. If you would share contact information of your landlord it would be most appreciated. How much under 5,000 and how much under 40SqM? And if you want to share any wisdom about living in Rayong that would be great. Pros and cons? We are in Chanthaburi now.

Oh goodness. I am being openly mocked. Should I clarify that I am talking about 7,000 for the apartment- I do not expect internet to be included! Should I have said 3MB down and 512K up or with that be met with the same laughter?

You said it, Texpat. Too darn many people here who are maladjusted or just plain freaks. It's a nice surprise when I meet someone who can carry on a normal conversation. The majority of expats in Thailand are self-centered to the point that you can not get a word in edge-wise. And have you met many with self-esteem or a sense of purpose in life beyond booze and women?

Does anyone know of apartments in Rayong with very fast (4MB down, 1MB up) and reliable internet? The place does not have to be fancy but 40sqM or larger would be nice, and priced under 7,000 baht. I would prefer to have my own internet connection instead of being at the mercy of a building wifi. Prefer a quiet location but walking distance to shopping, food market, etc.

Thank you in advance for any replies.

I followed Yogi's advice and visited Mubarak Office on 62/3-4 Soi Pramote (Yasu), Suriwongse. It is tucked back in deeply on a little soi. They did some calling around for me on the spot to evaluate my problem, and spoke with two other parties involved. They offered a simple solution that did not involve me paying anyone- not even them. Come to think of it, maybe they are not really lawyers. Hahahahaha. Kidding- they are great and I would recommend them without reservation.

Hey everyone- My gal has a yeast infection (red and burning and itchy ) and I really want her to get well soon. She is not Thai. I have this medicine that I think is the right stuff but I don't know if it is the best, fastest solution.

If anyone can tell me whether there is a better medicine I would be SO grateful! Please, show this picture to your Thai wife or girlfriend and ask if we are using the proper stuff. I have a pharmacy here where I live, but it would be very helpful if you could let me know the Thai word for the stuff. English is of no use at all even for the very simplest of things that I need from the pharmacy.

Thanks so much guys, and I am sure you can sympathize with her (my) plight!

And to your Thai girl that might be able to help:

OK I just talked to the woman at Jack's Golf. She said Phnom Penh is a single-entry not double entry tourist visa. Also, the bus takes you to the border and you sleep there. They take your passport to Phnom Penh to get the visa then they bring it back to you. It's only single entry but man that is more appealing than the crazy long bus ride to Laos. It's not exactly cheap though, is it?

anybody know what time and where exactly the vans leave from Chanthaburi to Prum? My gal is Filipina and her stamp is done on the 30th; do Filipinas always get a 30 day stamp? Thanks a bunch for your help. If all else fails we can do a visa run from Pattaya but I have been told that somewhere in the market area in Chanthaburi (not far from the water fountain) is a place that does the run to Prum.

I am looking for a treadmill as well and I am 280 pounds. I used to run ultramarathons when I was at 200 pounds so I'm sure once I ease back into it I will use the machine a lot. My problem is I don't live in Bangkok and around here we have few choices. The salespeople do not speak English so I'm having a hard time figuring out which machine has the things I want. Also the largest motor on any of their machines is 2.75 HP and I don't think that is big enough. It might be borderline for my big size and intended use, but the machine is 63,000 baht so I don't want to shell out that kind of cash just to have to deal with warranty issues all the time. I need up-time on this machine not down-time if I am going to get back to my old level of fitness.

I am wondering if Pattaya has any stores with a good selection of fitness equipment? I could go to BKK, but that would be kind of stupid because I will need service in the future like bearings, a new belt, etc. Oh, and surely the cushioning devices (rubber, pneumatic, or spring) will go out a lot faster with a fatty pounding away on the thing for an hour or two three times per week. I don't want to go all the way to Bangkok everytime I have an issue.

I'd be thrilled to hear from anyone who has some ideas that might help me out.

Thanks very much I really appreciate it. I've looked over the forum a lot but the amount of information here is immense. Now that you have given me a specific location to shoot for it seems much more manageable! Now I am just curious about one thing- am I OK if I do the quick Cambodia run this time, and do the Vientiane one next time? Is there any disadvantage to that? And is the consensus that they are not really enforcing the 90 days in 6 months rule?

Thank you again for your help- I am grateful for the forum!!!

I'm American and am here on a 30-day stamp. If I leave at Ban Laem, can I get a visa that is good for 60 days plus a 30-day extension upon re-entry to Thailand? If I do this, is there a minimum amount of time that I have to stay in Cambodia? Are there other pitfalls to this?