andie

Thought I'd try posting this here first as I think I'm more likely to get a useful response...

Does anyone know of anywhere (in the Bangkok region) that offers evening adult ballet classes, preferably in English (but Thai would be OK too).

I've done some searches and followed up a few links but the classes listed are all during the day (I work full-time so this isn't viable).

Any thoughts or pointers welcome!

Many thanks

A

I am a keen biker in the UK, but I will not ride in Thailand exept on the islands where there is not much option, and then only a scooter and not at night (when I am drinking).My insurance covers me for bikes up 100cc. I have seen more dead bodies after bike crashes in Thailand than in England, 7 versus nil) and I have been riding nearly every day for over 30 years.I broke a collarbone after a crash in China 20 years ago,lucky we had support trucks or I would have been in big trouble, I learnt from that. The guy had insurance but it ran out after he extended his trip, how many of have done that?. Not many judging by the usual self righteous TV posters....so many perfect people here. I hope the poor sod gets home, not that it sounds like he's got a lot to look forward to.

Where possible I avoid motorbikes full stop, especially in Asia: I've seen too many dead people. The only exception I make is with a couple of trusted moto guys to get to the top of my soi in Bangkok. A few months ago I (stupidly) got a moto to meet a friend at a restaurant halfway down Ekkamai at their insistence (a long term resident farang, ironically) as the traffic was dire and I'd 'be late' otherwise. It was scary as hel_l and when I told some Thai friends the next day they were indignant and said I should have got a cab and just been late - retrospectively, I totally agree with them.

It's awful what's happened to this lad and my thoughts are with his family, especially his mother - being 1,000's of miles from home in a foreign country caring for your sick son - hats off to her, and I genuinely hope they manage to get him home.

However, as has been previously stated his insurance had lapsed. Sorry, but there's no excuse. Forget to pay a credit card bill, sure - £12 slap on the wrist penalty, bit of a dent in the credit history but otherwise no lasting consequences. It's in a totally different league to making sure you are covered for medical emergencies.

I was recently in Thailand and needed to stay longer than my annual trip policy would cover me for - I phoned up and my provider in the UK wouldn't extend it so I took out cover with someone else instead to make sure I was OK for the additional 10 days. It's not rocket science and took 15 mins to do online.

Some things are OK to forget/be lapse about (bills, etc. - not paying them won't kill you) - medical insurance if you're outside the EU (or in the EU and not a national) does not come in to that category.

Tragic though this story may be I do hope it spares another family from the same heartache and makes their offspring take note and some responsibility: always have adequate travel insurance and renew it before it lapses.

Every time I've tried to bring over good chocolate it ends up as a congealed melted mess so I've given up - biscuits rule!

Ekkamai will be out of your budget. Ari as suggested and maybe places round Victory Monument might be better ideas. On Nut/Phra Khanong is also an option - I lived there several years ago but would hesitate to do so now as when it all kicked off a few months ago the trouble headed straight there after being forced out of the centre. This isn't a reason to disrecommend this area though - when I lived there 8 years ago I had the most wonderful neighbours - but like London you are never that far from a bad neighbourhood/soi - Bangkok is a big city and your neighbours are paramount.

If you like the beach idea then the coast round Rayong and beyond has numerous places, mainly Thai orientated but most are very friendly, relaxed and welcoming - and it's a stones throw from BK if the quiet life gets too much.

Minor point to omit... shoes and bras probably not that relevant then...! Anyway...

The 'Japanese' supermarket on Ekkamai (at the top end, almost opposite Soi 2) stocks quite a few Waitrose things too - even stuff I'd never go looking for like e.g. organic walnut pieces. I would also add that there are some nice new lowrise and quiet places for rent round the top end of Ekkamai - but a lot will depend on your budget (maybe helpful to get an idea of your range)

My list for what to bring is based on my friends personal preferences - all of them have lived in the UK or abroad at some point and these are the things that they miss/are expensive in Thailand (M&S tea costs 3-4 times as much so I always bring over several boxes when I've been back). For their relatives I've found that something food related and very UK 'branded', e.g. good tin of shortbread with cliche pictures of bagpipers/tartan/heather/etc., goes down well - as much for the packaging as the contents.

Final thought - things I have friends from the UK/EU visiting bring over:

1. Box of decent wine

2. Bottle of very good wine

3. Bag of wholegrain flour

4. Nice cheese

5. Depending on the time of year: M&S XMas pudding, brandy cream, haggis, sausagemeat

6. Crumpets

Things I bring back for Thai friends:

1. Tea (M&S Earl Grey is especially popular0

2. Shortbread/biscuits

3. Magazines (e.g. TES/Private Eye)

Most BTS/MRT stations are near a supermarket - e.g. Tesco seems to be everywhere here now and they stock most things - even Westen stuff. If you need to be near a supermarket stocking lots of Western stuff then Sukhumvit where there are several branches of e.g. Villa/Foodland may be an option.

There is little you can't buy in Bangkok (albeit sometimes at a price)

In my experience the only things I struggle to get in Bangkok are (and these are all related to my height/size vs. the majority of the female Thai population):

- Shoes (I'm a UK size 7, EU 41).The choices (when you can find them) are very limited, especially for work/proper shoes. However, on the upside getting shoes made to measure is relatively cheap

- Bras (again - I'm an odd size 32D/DD and even M&S rarely have my size). I have tried doing the up a back size and drop a cup size (e.g. 34C) thing but whilst I can generally get away with this in the UK I find the fit of bras to be smaller in Thailand so it's a no-go. I have found you can get bras in Singapore in more 'unusual' sizes that fit.

- Trousers/skirts: I'm 5" 7' (1.68m) - skirts I can get away with if they're a little bit longer. Trousers - forget it: I go for the 'long' length in the UK/EU - normal trousers I've tried on here are 3/4 length on me. Next in Central World used to be brilliant for stocking longer length clothing - time will tell if they reopen elsewhere before CW reopens.

- Specific cosmetics - e.g. my favourite eyedrops aren't available here - you won't find out till you get here what you can/can't get

and as an aside:

- Lemon curd/Strawberry fruit topping - I was making a cheesecake last month and couldn't get either anywhere: tried Villa/Tops/Foodland/Tesco/C4 - no joy!

- If you're over a UK size 14 (EU 40) you will struggle to get clothes that fit unless you get them made to measure

Other stuff:

- electrical appliance wise you can buy almost everything here, however if you buy cheap, expect cheap quality. Stuff bought overseas may be better and cheaper for an equivalent quality but if you have to pay to import it may not be worth the saving. The only appliance you will struggle to buy here is a breadmaker or fondue set.

- Bed linen from the EU tends to be of a better quality

Enjoy your time in BKK!

I've done a search and found nothing so am looking for recommendations for short (1-2 week) crash courses in Thai language. I can still do the very basics (numbers, simple qu's, and some of the more common characters, etc.) but am very rusty so happy to go back to dunce/total beginner level. Ideally I want somewhere that teaches the script too as I find this helps me 'get' it better. Any thoughts/recommendations welcome.

Many thanks in advance

Interesting question... I find that (regardless of language) I always struggle for a few days but mainly due to trying to remember vocabulary. After a week I'm generally back to being OK, after 1-2 weeks it's back to normal and beyond then I expand and start learning more again when it's not one of my native languages. As regards totally forgetting a language - I've never had this happen but it's rare that a few years go by when I don't speak any of them.

Thai is the only language that I've learnt which doesn't use Western script and I found that I progressed much more rapidly once I learnt the alphabet which has also helped it 'stick'.

One of the facts that no other country I am aware of has as a part of the constitution is the absolute requirement that everybody MUST[/b] vote.

Voting is compulsory (and enforced) in Australia, Belgium and Singapore to name but a few places...