perousing

moving to isaan can be a culture shock to some more used to the beaches. not sure where you are now, but the beach area's are set up for farang's ie phuket, pattaya where there is lots of shopping centres and restaurants for farang's you will not find these in the same abundance in isaan but maybe thats what you want to get away from, rent for 3,4months befor you make any commitments. anyway best of luck what ever you decide

Hi ,could anyone explain , help me out, a relative coming from Europ to visit me wants to buy something in 24 carat gold .I believe in Thailand there is no use of Carat but Bath .Is this correct ?So , what is the same in Thailand as 24 carat gold ?

hi as i understand thai gold is 22 carat ie for jewerley and 23 carat for cold ingots

i am not 100% sure on this and some other members will correct me if i am wrong

Is there anywhere to get a nice hookah and good quality sheesha in BKK? thanks!

pattaya have many hookah----- soi6 sheesha---- jenny's bar

Where T.F. is Buririm?

maybe its near salf london

the police say they can not stamp out the problem of coruption !!!!!!!!!!!! i wonder why !!!!!!!

When I was in Chiang Mai befriended a police officer in a Restaurant who at the time was waiting for a large order to be filled. He let me know that he was taking food home to his family. When his food order was complete he did pay the bill.

The next day I met him and a few of his fellow officers for dinner. (I paid) We ate at a BBQ restaurant where the food it set out raw and we cook it at our own table. They were good natured and very friendly. The staff did seem to show them unquestioning respect but they did nothing while I was with them that would indicate that they expected anything special.

I forget how much the bill was for the 3 of us, but I do remember that I gave the waiteer 1000 baht and got back a few hundred Baht in change.

paul you said "you met him and a few of his fellow officers" then you say "the bill for the 3 of us" well him and a few officers plus yourself dont make 3 just a bull sh-t story paul

You obviously dont know who Paul is...He's famous around these 'ere parts (J.T loves him )

If you dont believe me just look at how everyone took to him in his last few threads

Actually if you did read his other threads you would hardly be bothered about such trivial details as how much a few or couple is

no no NO...Even with lunchtime police escorts Paul is still worried about his personal security in LOS, AND as a result,has CANCELLED his holiday

...Just when we were gonna roll out that red TV carpet for him

hi ozz yes i have came across paul threads and posts before, a remarkable guy, to say the least

When I was in Chiang Mai befriended a police officer in a Restaurant who at the time was waiting for a large order to be filled. He let me know that he was taking food home to his family. When his food order was complete he did pay the bill.

The next day I met him and a few of his fellow officers for dinner. (I paid) We ate at a BBQ restaurant where the food it set out raw and we cook it at our own table. They were good natured and very friendly. The staff did seem to show them unquestioning respect but they did nothing while I was with them that would indicate that they expected anything special.

I forget how much the bill was for the 3 of us, but I do remember that I gave the waiteer 1000 baht and got back a few hundred Baht in change.

paul you said "you met him and a few of his fellow officers" then you say "the bill for the 3 of us" well him and a few officers plus yourself dont make 3 just a bull sh-t story paul

hi rot not sure if it is the same bob, but i think it is, he used to do my company accounts for me, tel 0811715492

could the MODS move this post to the pattaya forum, instead of the pattaya sub forum.

tourist police volunteers again!!!!!!!! when are we going to hear something good about them

sorry this is of topic mahatin i have been looking for a good photo for my avater and pinched your attach photo, it made me laugh so much, hope your ok with it

Not my intellectual property, mate, forget where I half-inched it.

Thought I recognised it in the visa forum.

What I really wanted was a pic of a Thai glass-fronted bottle-furniture, whatever you call it, cooler?

hi mahtin just an update on avater!!!! mods asked me to remove it!!! ie not appropriate

If anyone is due down to Kap Cheung office in the near future, I would be grateful if you would kindly doublecheck/check this statement posted on our local Surinfarang site????????

Latest from the mouth of the aforementioned horse, 10 minutes ago, Immigration are to man a small 'shack' close to the Chong Chom border crossing where 90 day reporting may be effected. Believe what you wish!

This is a worryingly sensible Thai solution to the hundreds of expats having to visit(or maybe post) 90 day reports?

Dave

apperently there are only 150 expats in buriram and surin. not hundreds

It was just a suggestion to help you get a better answer

thanks

i've been using the internet for almost 75 years. anything you want to know about yourself?

how long has the internet been around then

I'll admit it: We hated Bangkok the first time we visited. Let's just say the capital city of the fabled Land of Smiles didn't exactly leave us feeling happy. My husband David and I started our 2005 whirlwind 11-week Southeast Asia tour with a ton of enthusiasm, but November in Bangkok quickly took the wind out of our sails. It was hot, crowded, smelly, polluted, noisy, and downright unappealing. Roaches roamed the streets, tuk tuks repeatedly tried to run us over, and the air seemed too thick for humane breathing. Our introduction to Asia wasn't looking good.

But then something changed. We had the good fortune to embark on a farther-reaching global journey in 2007, this time taking in cities like Cairo, Addis Ababa, and New Delhi. And suddenly, Bangkok didn't look so bad. In fact, compared to these other capitals, it was downright modern and orderly and - dare I say it? - serene. Bangkok became a refuge from the more chaotic places we encountered on that trip. It became our second home.

We found an affordable cozy hotel whose staff remembered us time and again. We shared ferry rides with monks along the Chao Phraya River. We mastered the SkyTrain, met great people, ate amazing food, discovered Thai massage, and got off the beaten path on numerous occasions. With each repeat visit, our love for the city increased exponentially, to where it's now one of our favorite spots on the planet. Bangkok can do that to a person. It has a sneaky way of growing on you.

Here are my five hot tips for a trip to the Thai capital:

1.After visiting the requisite (and crowded) sites of Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, and Wat Arun, consider heading across the Chao Phraya to the lesser-visited Thonburi neighborhood. It's the childhood home of the current King's late Princess Mother, and there's a great walking tour here that takes in several splendid temples and interesting sights. Wat Kalayanamit is perhaps the most impressive, housing the largest Buddha I've ever seen in Thailand. And Wat Prayoon is definitely the funkiest stop: it houses a number of odd shrines, a crematorium, and a grotto. A highlight here is purchasing food from a vendor, borrowing a stick, and feeding the turtles and fish that swim in the pools surrounding the temple.

2.Get a massage. Or two. Or ten. Seriously. With starting rates at 200-300 Baht (about $5.86-$8.90 USD) for an hour-long foot or Thai massage, body work in Bangkok is a ridiculously good value, not to mention insanely therapeutic after a long day of sightseeing. We treated ourselves just about every night. Sure, some parlors are better than others, but don't judge the strength of a Thai girl's hands by the size of her body. The tiniest of women can work out the toughest of knots. And most of the places are on the up and up, although you should use discretion. If a place looks unclean or shady, skip it.

The tiny sois off Sukhumvit Road between the Phrom Phong and Thong Lo SkyTrain stations offer endless locations, as does Silom Road between Silom 18 and Thanon Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra. (Note: Bangkok addresses can be confusing. Locations are often referred to by "soi," which is a Thai term for side street. So Silom Soi 18 might be called Soi 18, and Sukhumvit Soi 24 might be referred to simply as Soi 24 or Suk Soi 24.)

One note of caution: Bangkok's infamous Patpong district is probably not the place to seek out a legit massage, unless you're looking for a different type of body work.

3.For a taste of Thailand beyond Bangkok, hop a train from Hua Lamphong Station, and day trip several hours north to the ancient Siamese capital of Ayutthaya. Dating back to the 14th century, it's a peaceful town perfect for touring by bicycle (or elephant, if you desire). We spent the afternoon riding around ancient temples and giant Buddhas, and eating pad Thai from a street vendor. Take the third-class train with the rest of Thailand, and enjoy a local's view of the country.

4.Eat on the street. No, not literally, but do check out Bangkok's endless array of awesome sidewalk cafes, where you can rub elbows with the locals and grab a meal for about 75 cents. It's helpful to know a few words of Thai menu lingo, such as gai (chicken), goong (shrimp), muu (pork), or phat phak (stir-fry vegetables). Our rule of thumb: Always look for a wok. We Westerners tend to get into trouble with the local grub when it's not properly cooked, and having your food fried usually takes the parasites out of the picture.

If you're needing a Western fix, Bangkok's not short on slick, modern shopping malls that offer surprisingly good selections of tasty affordable treats. The basement food court in the glitzy Siam Paragon is our fave spot. Leave your preconceived notions at the door; the Thais put American mall chow to shame. Combine this with the heavenly air conditioning, killer gelato, and multiplex movie cinemas on offer, and you've got the perfect recipe for a great escape from Bangkok's steamy street scene.

And don't miss the Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Stock up on souvenirs for your friends back home, then grab a cold beer and a cheap plate of food. You'll dine under the stars and might even be treated to free Thai music from the concert venue here.

5.For around-the-world travelers, Bangkok makes a great hub, not just for its proximity to a variety of exciting Asian destinations, but for its Western conveniences, too. Stock up at a Tesco (the U.K.'s answer to Wal-Mart) on everything from Q-tips to vitamin C to bras. (Watsons and Guardian pharmacy stores abound as well.) The awesome English language Dasa Books has a great selection of second-hand fiction and travel guides; they also buy back your used books, which frees up space in the 'ole backpack for more Thai silk scarves and boxer shorts (can you ever have enough?). The Bangkok postal service is cheap and reliable: Consider shipping home your stockpile of souvenirs, extra clothes (or donate them), and backup CDs of your photos

Fabulous! what a great work you shared...even I'm a real Thai (not the Bangkoker), I do love the things you suggest and still am interested in some tips you've viewed! Thanks for sharing this vision

thanks saved to favorites will try some out next visit to bkk

This is almost an impossible question.

State your priorities:

1. Price

2. Location

3. Eye Candy

4. Beer Quality

5. Open Air/ Air-Con

6. Food Available

7. Ex-Pat Long-term or passing tourist

8. Bar girl availability/Non Bar girl availability

9. Music: Loud/Soft

10. Beach Front/Back Streets

etc. etc. please be more specific.

Thanks!

ok and thanks syd

i like the atlantic bar in second road across from big c although i will admit gone of the boil a little just now. where do you think the best bar is !!!!!!! ie good music ,, plenty of girls,, friendly,, and good service

Hi Everyone!!

I am Annete. Glad to meet you guys here. I look forward to having useful

and entertaining time here.

Thanks & Regards

Annete Duffel

hi annete not so sure about useful but entertaining for sure

went there about 3months ago with wife and daughter, had a great time, spent 3 hours,, with plenty of shops and food stalls, cost nothing to get in, which i must say surprised me, will go again on our next visit.

BIG PIZZA across the road from soi16 naklua also wood oven very good pizza also good italian food

i see the national tourist police commander has a white polo shirt, someone in another post suggested this shirt for the pattaya foreign tourist police assistants,

i think it looks much better and smarter than the black one, and would help the image of these assistants if they were to change to this shirt

Pattaya, September 14 [PATTAYA ONE NEWS] : On Monday Afternoon on Pattaya Beach, Police Major General Addit, the National Commander of the Tourist Police led a Beach Clean-up operation participated by Pattaya Tourist Police Officers, Thai Volunteers and Foreign Tourist Police Assistants. The event was held to promote the work of the Tourist Police here in Pattaya and the emergency number 1155 which can be used by Tourists 24 hours a day should they require assistance. The General thanked everyone for their tireless work assisting Tourists who come to Pattaya and advised everyone to work extra hard for the forthcoming High Season months.

Source:

http://www.pattayaone.net/news/2009/septem...4_09_52_4.shtml

good to see them in there white shirts!!!!

you could get a metal frame made to go over the squat toilet. i know of someone who did this before, funny to look at but did the (job) see your local metal worker or they will build a farang toilet for you in 2 to 3 days inlaws will be happy to, new toilet for them. anyway all the best on the happy day.

,

9job)

the second button down the right side that changes the spoken languages between thai and english also changes the thai writting