seesip

dont forget the only nok air flight gets you to udon around 5pm enough time to get to

vientiane and go to the embassy next morning. ibis hotel good in the centre

returnflight in the evening so ple\nty of time to pick up passport and make it to the airport, from the thai border private taxi to udon airport 1000 baht

So if I catch that Nok flight to Udon at 5pm I still have time to get to Friendship Bridge and through Laos customs--meaning they don't close up before then?

I suggest you take an early AM flight to Nong Khai and then the airport shuttle to the border. Look around for other foreigners going to the Thai consulate and share a taxi to take you there directly. You should make it in plenty of time, but try to confirm this with another source. (I never rush these trips so I fly the day before I go to the Thai consulate.)

I think the place I stayed was called the Vientiene Star Hotel. I booked via Agoda and paid maybe US$20/600 baht per night. It was perfectly acceptable and even came with a small breakfast.

You can get your visa the next day, but if I recall you have to wait until the afternoon. Still, you should have time to get over the border and to the Nong Khai airport in time to make the late flight to Chiang Mai, but again, confirm this with another source. Getting back to the border and to the airport quickly might take a bit of cash.

Great, thanks. What airline did you fly?

I'm hoping to make the trip as short as possible. Any advice on flights / hotels would be greatly appreciated. Also wondering what time the embassy opens, and what time you're able to pick up your visa the following day (assuming you can get it the next day). Thanks.

The pho looks legit from their pics. There's some other decent spots around town--two in Meechok that are good but the pho is a little bland. Might have to make a trip out to Saraphi one day.

I was on the fence but the menu looked tasty so I gave it a shot. There were a few people in there last night, maybe 3 other tables. Apparently they haven't done much advertising yet, but if they keep the quality up they could do well in that spot.

Tried this place for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. Nice mellow interior, comfortable seats, big windows showing the kitchen and pizza oven. Pizzas were good--thin crust with nice blistered crust. Pork chop was really good, nicely browned with rosemary cream gravy. Even got a chilled beer glass! It's definitely worth a try if you're around this area. I was a surprised this place got a harsh review a few weeks ago, I'm glad to have another option around here.

He's sinned, the Sod!

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Well done.

There are hundreds if not thousands of pizza dough recipies out there... do a Google search and enjoy the results of your own efforts - far better than the stuff you would buy from some supermarket.

I've made dough myself a few times and it does taste good, but buying fresh made has it's moments.

I will consider "enjoying the results of my own efforts" but I've heard if you do that too often you go blind ...

You can buy the pizza bases at makro prepaid, not sure but wouldn't surprise me if they sold the dough to roll yourself.

Its in the fridges by the way.

Yeah I saw those at Makro but actually those crusts look pre-baked, so I gave it a pass.

I was hoping I could buy some from Duke's or Pizza Company to cook at home--anyone tried this before and how did it turn out? Thanks.

Makro has textured soy protein, the dried kind--at least the Mae Rim branch has it. There's a vegan restaurant and temple on the ring road that passes Ruamchoke, it's West of the Rimping intersection about 100m. Can't miss it it's got a big statue of Guan Ying in the back. They sell supplies there too in the restaurant.

There is a few of them next to each other on suthep road.

Going west from the moat, you get to sirimangklajarn road on the right, don't go there, but keep going straight about 100-150m on the left. If I'm not mistaken, they have those barber twirly things hanging outside the front to signify its a barber shop. I usually go to the one that has 1-2 steps to go up to the shop - there is a long wooden chair out the front. There is about 10 barber seats with all male barbers, and they do shaves if you want it.. I think the shop(s) to the left of that might be hairdressers instead of barbers, but not sure.

I second this recommendation--the one I've been to is all female barbers but it's not a unisex salon it's a typical blue collar barber shop. They do a really nice job, take their time, you get a brief shoulder rub too. Well worth it if you''re in the area. I remember there's two or three in a row, but the one I've been to I remember is a bit larger than the others and female staff.

Specifically for orthodics. Thanks.

I use dtac on my galaxy note 3 phone and then switch it on as a hub to use my galaxy tablet and it works great ..we watch movies online and only woth 3g or H+ it seems fine

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Is there a limit to your data plan? I have dtac 3g on my phone but after a certain amount of use it gets downgraded to a regular connection. I only reach that when I'm trying to download big files etc.

I need a fast and reliable connection for a few days. Hoping to find a mobile usb stick or something like that--the hotel connection is slow and intermittent. Any suggestions? Thanks.

I'm curious why the fires are so localized to SE Asia on this map, and large parts of India and China don't show fires. Is it due to a seasonal difference--meaning they burn off the crops at a different time of year?

This is a 2011 animated map of fires through the 12 months and China/India get hit hard also but peaks in April. Click on image to see the animation. Large file so give it time.

post-566-0-07657200-1358414445.gif

Thanks... interesting. I would have thought the fires in the U.S. would show more West Coast during the summer. But the SE/East seems to get most of the action.

Noticeable by this map. Fires are in neighboring countries.

I'm curious why the fires are so localized to SE Asia on this map, and large parts of India and China don't show fires. Is it due to a seasonal difference--meaning they burn off the crops at a different time of year?

I like how she actually dips her ugly rump in the water. Interesting technique.

I want to buy a stand for my mountain bike, so I can use it like an exercise bike. I believe magnetic resistance stands work well--anyone know of a source in Chiang Mai or Bangkok? Thanks.

Coming to meet some relatives who will be in town for a few days. We usually stay on Suk not far from Nana BTS. Hard to tell how bad things are in general--is it safe for a family visit or will we be holed up in the hotel room the whole time? Is the violence very localized? Thanks for any advice.

I was thinking of either Kamthieng or Warorot market--any other good places in town? Thanks.

I've never had one at my current location, just used mobile phone only. Anyone know the number to call for service setup? Thanks.

I went a few weeks ago and they did a really good job.

Yoga Bright next to Index Furniture and Big C on the super highway. Good tough classes, nice facilities.

Promenada has some guys selling camping gear, including several varieties of folding camp chair. They had one that's a super small stool that fits in a small bag, plus some bigger ones with arms and cup holders, etc. They're over on the same floor as Duke's near Chi Chang.