nephilim

Hi All,

I recently did a visa run to Georgetown and got a triple entry tourist visa - easy, as always. However, coming back into Thailand the border guard asked me what kind of visa it was - he was confused, I was confused etc etc because under "Category" instead of TR as usual it has MT... does anyone else have this? The guard reckoned it was a typo (!) so I just smiled.

But having just read the new rules about back to back tourist visas (Link) I'm wondering - this is my 3rd tourist visa in a row. Is it a new category identifying me as being on my last visa perhaps?

Any ideas, would love to hear them!

thanks

Neph.

DVD trading would be cool

I've been here a while now and have bought about 150 dvd (mostly 9s) and have been able to find most things I want "beyond top 10". I tend to favour the 4th floor in World Trade Centre - there's a very big stall, near the back which they call "IT Walk" (but there's nothing there). It's close to the Isetan end and next to a "legit" dvd shop.

I also like Fortune City as they tend to have a good selection as well.

Malaysia was no better than these places and, I found, a new scam: they

ll print the box as DVD9 but stick a DVD5 in there before handing over. Most places in Georgetown will tell you you'll get a DVD9 for 8RM which is very cheap. In reality, look for the 13RM dvds - they are 9s. The assistants also seem to want to push a new format called "DTS" which, of course, is not a format, but a sound type. They are just trying to pull the wool over susceptible tourists I guess.

PS2, PC and XBox stuff is all still far cheaper and more varied than BKK tho.

Slightly OT, sorry, but I'm off on a Visa trip to Georgetown and have never been there so am wondering if there's anywhere good to go to find games and software (yeah I know, I can get it all in BKK.. I know, I know but...) I did like the chinese market in KL and wondered if there were anything similar in GT?

Cheers!

Neph

Simple question, how long does it typically take to drive (not bus, car) from Hat Yai to Georgetown?

Many thanks

Neph

Have you ever noticed how all the social groups you see around bangkok are for women? pick up any of the english language magazines and you'll find the American Women's Group, the A-NZ Women's Group, BAMBI, International Womens gr... oh you get the idea.

I've never once seen a "mens group".

I wonder why that is?

A) we are all online instead

we only come here to work / drink / Bargirl

C) we are all antisocial

D) i dunno.

Of course, even in my old country, there were lots more women groups than men groups.

neph.

--

www.whatistheshape.com

Hi all

Does anyone know if the Thai embassy in Penang is closed over Songkran and, if so, what days exactly? Their phone is always engaged!

many thanks

neph

HI all,

Couldn't think of a better place to post this... anyone know of any skate parks in Bangkok? I mean decent ones, not a group of 12 year olds in a park

thx all

Neph

I ended up joining the Olympic at Patunwam Princess - 23000B for 1 year. I must say, am very happy there. I go most days between 8 and 10am and it's pretty empty. The facilities are great, loads of machines, TVs on most of the cardio machines. Staff are helpful - if they see you doing something blatently wrong, they'll help you out and are always happy to help when asked.

You get towels, a locker, great changing facilities and so on.

All in all, very nice indeed. Puts places like the marriot, westin and sheraton to utter shame

thanks for all the replies

Neph

thats not too bad... where was that?

neph

Hi all,

I'd like to join a gym here in Bangkok. Ideally it would be close to Asok BTS - but I've seen the Sheraton and the Westin and wasn't impressed with either. I've seen the Olympic at MBK / Patumnam and *was* impressed - I just would rather one closer to home.

Does anyone have any tips?

Many thanks

Neph

Hi all,

I figured it's *probably* MBK 6th floor, that cluster of 3 games shops right near the escalators? But whats a good price? Does anywhwere include "free" games in the package?

Thanks all,

Neph.

Hi all,

I'm on my last 60day entry on my tourist visa and want to apply / pay for the final 30 day extension. When should I do this? Can it be anytime before the expiry date?

Also, where do I go to do this in Bangkok?

Cheers!!

Neph

My double entry tourist visa is about to expire, fully and so I'll be flying.. somewhere... to apply for a new one. Does anyone have any advice on where is current the best place? I remember certain embassies would never give more than a double entry and stuff.

I'm going to choose between Singapore, KL, Penang, HK. Maybe HoChiMin or Hanoi.

Does anyone have any experience at these, that is current? Is it still possible to get 3 and 4 entry visas?

Many thanks

Neph

Hi all,

I can't say I believe this, and can't find any mention of it on the forum, but I thought I'd better ask...

I've heard a rumour (not from a reliable source) that if you have a 60 day multi entry tourist visa (as I do) that the "law" has changed to say that you are required to be out of the country between entries, for a month.

Like I said, I don't believe this but would like to make sure...

thanks all,

neph

Great, thanks for that, I'll go and see them.

chjeers

nephilmi

My g/f and I (english / portuguese) live in Bangkok and I can say that we have no trouble, it's much more pleasant than when we lived in London, for sure. We don't get ripped off either - Thai's seem to quickly see when you are a local, rather than a tourist.

The hardest thing, I think, is making friends. You only really get exposed to those at work, and sometimes it's nice to have mates outside that life.

Neph

Excellent, thank you for that,

neph

Hi

I read ( i think) that you can extend a normal multi entry tourist visa, on the last entry by 30 days - is this right? I have just done a visa run to PoiPet, got my next 60 days all fine. So, obviously, in 60 days I have to leave the country and get a new multi entry (or just do monthly visa runs... yuck).

Does anyone know if, how and where I can get this extension?

Many thanks

Neph

Hi

I Know my prescription - -2, -2 - but can anyone tell where a good place to buy lenses is, in bangkok? Is it possible to buy them without having an eye test? What sort of prices am I looking at?

Many thanks

neph

Hi

Thinking about getting a PS2 as s/w for my Xbox is so slow to arrive out here. WHere's the best place to get one, pref pre-modded? If not, wheres the best place to get one modded, and what sort of prices am I looking at?

I assume the manchine will be a Japanese model?

thanks!

Neph

pc? ... Pantip

xb?... mbk or parts of pantip, takes some hunting

ps2? ... just about anywhere it seems.

gba... mbk for prices

yeah tried there, tried all the malls and obvious places to no luck tho...

Hi.

First off, not looking for pirate games (I already know where to get them). What I'm after is a video game shop that specializes in imports, especially XBox. I've found XBox systems in MBK, Emporium and so on - but I already have the system (PAL, Modded, from UK) - what I want is additional hardware - leads etc.

But I can't find any "legit" shops, except for that PS2 place in Siam Centre.

Anyone help?

thanks

Neph

Hi all,

We (g/f and I - UK and Portuguese) are heading to the Poipet border this coming weekend and, instead of trying to do it all in one day have decided to spend the night.

So, wondering - can anyone suggest a nice place to stay in either Aranya Prathet or Poipet... Though, I think, we'd rather stay in Thailand . By nice, meaning aircon, hot water and UBC.

But any suggestions would be nice.

Also, does anyone know of a site where we can download the visa application forms for Cambodia, to save time on hanging around filling out stuff at the border?

Thanks all,

Neph.