Razzler1973

northeast or northwest nicer?   i dont like totally secluded & like good nightlife... (again basing on my experience of goa & sri lanka where secluded can be very secluded)

 

 

edit* maybe i rent a bike...  ive just seen so many bad accidents it puts me off

I think it's only really the road from Ban Khai to Haad Rin that can be awkward (even then not so if you're careful) ... the other roads linking all the other beaches are perfectly fine. Even the road up to Thong Nai Pan is almost 100% paved these days. Just a small bumpy bit for a km or two (this was couple of years back, may have changed)

I wouldn't call this a 'scam' rather someone tried it on

However, it's irrelevant if 1500 is 'a good price' or not, the guy agreed 1200. It also doesn't matter how much it costs in Heathrow

I always re-iterate the price, if they say 500 I say 500 back again at least once, maybe twice and get an ok

What's next ? Farang spotted doing the laundry to help his girlfriend ? Then big debate ensued to know what kind of visa is needed to do household chores ...

Pfft, farang doing his own laundry, don't be silly

Pratunam for me. Even without the 'buy 3 pieces for discount' thing it's still very cheap

The Chinese call foreigners 'Gweilo' which translates to 'Foreign Devil', so I guess 'farang' ain't all that bad.

I think that's just in Hong Kong (Cantonese), I think in China they may use something else?

I don't care about farang really. Even amongst fellow westerners I may refer to a westerner as a farang when describing something

I can understand in some situations, people may say 'farang, farang ...' and offer you a drink. They may not know you and we'd perhaps say 'here, mate, do you want some of this' but that's not really how they speak

You get kids staring at you sometimes but I get that here in the Middle East! There are more things to worry about than being called farang. I think if it was meant with any ill intent we'd probably pick up on those incidents

Two more places I should have mentioned in my original post:

Kin Lom Chom Saphan, 11/6 Samsan soi 3, Phra Nakhorn 02 628 8382

One of my favorites; an outdoor terrace on the banks of the Chao Phraya with a beautiful view of the Rama-8 bridge and river traffic passing by...quite casual but excellent food at reasonable prices...about B500/person. There is often a band playing and there is always a festive atmosphere as many Thai families come here for special celebrations. Weekend nights are always full.

Definitely call in advance to book a riverside table...worth it!!

It's in a tough to find location but most taxi's will know it. Bring the phone number just in case and they will give directions

There is a very similar though somewhat pricier riverside restaurant called "Baan Klang Nam" which also has excellent food. The atmosphere is a bit more formal.

288 Soi 14, Phra Ram 3, Tanon Tok 02 292 0175 Call for reservations and directions

Some of those terrace places around Samsen can catch a bit of a whiff of sewage every now and then though

This a one-off or a 'new policy'?

Balancing on a thin rope 55-stories above Bangkok traffic, Lewis, 27, took just over an hour and five minutes to walk 169 meters from the offices at Central World building to the Centara Grand Hotel [read more...]

Slow walker

I realise people are doing things on the side and on the islands it seems the crackdowns are a bit weak, perhaps cause local businesses 'need' the staff

If they are enforced 100% then they just won't be able to work. Just wondering if there was a way they could employ people in these type of jobs whilst still retaining control

You'd think the government would be into that as it means collecting regular money for visas, etc

I imagine the one around KSR must see a hell of a lot of business so probably a good, safe bet

Yes one very bizarre thing about renting in Bangkok are the "super anomylies" that exist here..

You can look at condos for 100,000THB per month in a Soi and then one building will be 40,000THB per month for virtually the same thing as the other buildings....takes time to find them but when you do they are awesome..

Before our current place we lived in a 300sqm place in Soi 23 (next door to the building where my friend paid 85,000 for a 200sqm place...right next to SKU University) that was my favorite place I ever lived in over 10 years of being in Thailand. It was (and is) a bizarre anomaly.

Why did you move, did it go up in price or something?

I don't know why people always mention how much 'hard work' it is to get a girlfriend etc etc ... erm, that's kind of life, isn't it? You meet someone that thinks or expects a few years or more out of you then they want to run the rule over you and you over them. That's courtship all around the world

In Thailand, and every other big city in the world, you can always arrange or seek non-P4P hook ups if you really put the effort in but in Thailand the P4P is even easier and more accessible

Having spent a lot of time in Asia the white anglo-saxon male that looks fairly decent can always get some interest from the local population in the right circles but whatever it is you're looking for I find you can generally find it if you look hard enough

Buying property on Samui and Tao are 2 different things. As far as I know you can't buy land on Tao but you can on Samui. I don't think there is any Chanote title land on Tao whereas there is loads on Samui

At present there are around 64 dive schools on Tao. Thinking that just having 2 operators will make things better is ridiculous. Having less companies but legal isn't the solution but I can't see the Thai Junta thinking things through in a sensible, business like fashion which is what is needed.

64 Dive Schools. No wonder there are no fish around. Best make Tao a snorkling only area. The fish would come back and so would the tourists.

This was amazing to me too, 64 dive schools on Ko Tao!!

I am not sure how the visas work for Thailand, is it like the UK that you apply and get one or is it directly tied to your job?

Here in Middle East your visa is directly sponsored by your company and reliant on your having a job with that company. Job gone and so are you within 28 days and that's regardless of if you lived here for 6 months or 26 years

We tend to renew every 3 years but perhaps there could be an annually renewed visa? Government knows where everyone is, has opportunity on annual basis to turn down renewals and ship people off. People pay taxes. Businesses are covered but no long term committment that they can stay

That's pretty much how it is here and people consider it 'home' here (when it's not really, zero rights, etc)

Had a quick google and found this:

http://www.thailande.free.fr/en/postage.php

Address of post office in Charoen Krung Road is there, 'Central Post Office'

Google also brings up the Lonely Planet forums (I expect that lot do it all the time) and it's suggested:

<YOUR NAME>
c/o Poste Restante
General Post Office
1156 Charoen Krung Rd. (New Road)
Bangkok 10500 THAILAND

Now that rings a bell so I'd go with that. No risk ... I mean, that is the address of the post office

If you can get a phone number maybe try to call or ask in the post office in Samui for BKK address but that looks like it, to me

KL is good for going out and drinking. Massive variety of places, lots of local girls and guys out drinking too. Not that expensive but decent looking bars

What do you expect ? There is nothing different or even insteresting in Bkk. Your only chance to find more food is Pattaya.

Oh dear, couldn't be more wrong really

thousands of restaurants in bkk and your asking for one. Grow a pair my friend and choose one yourself.

Nothing wrong with asking for recommendations or suggestions, surely?

In typical internet fashion we have gone from the OP picking up an apparent hooker and not paying to him robbing McDonalds charity boxes

I have never been to Climax and I try not to get myself into situations of is she/isn't she a hooker and I think you generally have some inkling but that said, I kind of get fed up with this whole 'just pay her' mentality

It's like the punter is doing the hooker's job for her. Part of her job is sorting out money or at least hinting at it. If she's having sex as a hooker and not mentioned money then she's stupid. It's not what I'd do if I was a hooker!

I think you probably needed this thread before you moved out. You've gone and made the big move here, what's your end game? What do you think or want to happen?

If it's the FIL moves out then that's unlikely, 4 years in Thailand you got to know how that stuff works, right?

Your only move is cheap place for Papa so 'you have your own space' (as you'd say to your wife to not make it look like you're chucking him out) ... I am sure she will provide food, etc. Other option is cut back on what he expends but he's also old and had his life and thinking 'why is this git telling me how much to eat and drink'!

To move back in now is like a big move of contrition and you backed yourself into this corner now by moving out instead of addressing things and talking them through beforehand

Is the missus still ok with you or is she thinking worse of you now?

Do you want a job in Thailand via an agency or do you want to work for an actual recruitment agency yourself?

Most involved in things like engineering are in KL or Singapore. Any in Thailand will deal with Thai locals and then from others it depends on their clients and what they want, of course

If someone is of no use to a recruitment company and sends in their details then don't expect a clamour to contact you and interview you. Simple. It's a business

I would guess some sleight of hand switching your bill to a dodgy one or convincing you to change his money into your THB and pointing at the exchange rate next to you both telling you how you'll make money from it

... with no one questioning why he doesn't change it himself ... cause it's a dodgy note or something

Could be ol fashioned seeing how much you have on you though

Robbing someone for 1K baht though?

Yes, I assume this wasn't a runaway job but rather a drop you off in a useless spot type deal? I.e. unloaded everyone's bags and said that's your lot

Maybe can't go into town, etc as said

It's been a loooooong time since I got a bus from KSR area and really don't see the point, there always seems to be issues

Wow, haven't heard the term post restante in years!!

Back in the day this was how you'd receive mail if you were traveling. Everyone tended to use the main central post office in BKK down Chearon Krung Road. A short ride on the Chao Praya ferry (or walk if you feel like it) ... I assume it's still there and they still do it

Usually was just your name, Central Post Office ... then official address, which escapes me but can probably google

Getting into uber cynical mode but how is she usually with her phone. Does she take it everywhere? If she does then isn't it odd someone else answer it? Why wouldn't the kid answer it or leave it (seeing as it's a number they don't know and not someone's name)

It sounds like excuses. I like the idea of handing your phone to a random Thai girl when your GF calls

End of the day it's up to the OP to be 'ok' with it in his own mind and move on.

People think answering someone's phone is no big thing but I disagree. She also wanted him to 'go relax with friends'

What was it she posted on facebook the OP wanted to talk to her about?

Anyway, this is all games, working this out or that out ... rocky road when it comes to the future, if there is one

What an odd question. What is wrong with a male answering her phone? Seems to me you are already suspicious of her and that is not a good way to have a relationship. Jealousy maybe?

Personally, no one answers my mobile, no one but me

I would never answer my GFs mobile or even a male friend's mobile

The whole story could be entirely true, of course but that's just me. For me, it always comes down to whether the girl is in P4P or just a regular girl. Yes, yes, yes, I know 'regular' girls can be just as bad or worse and not all P4P girls are like that, etc etc but ... you know, they're in the business, right and if you met them then others can and will have met them and it's her 'job' meaning she has a 'real life' back in her home town