cers

Make sure that whatever you are plugging in is "switched off" first.

It is probably an arc as a heavy current load is connected to the bad quality sockets

that are prevalent in Thailand.

Thanks, but what is an "arc" ?

There are loose wires inside the socket. VERY typical. Get it seen to.

But it happens at different spots in my room, and also the mobile socket (don't know the correct word) reacts with a (very small) explosion, so that would be a lot of loose wires.

It is unregulated 220 VAC what else would you expect and your place is probably not grounded, (no third ground pin), which is why that happens

No dangers there, normal

Thanks and glad to hear it's nothing dangerous. Still, I am curious to know why I've only encountered this situation here, in a place well maintained, and nowhere else in Thailand ?

There are loose wires inside the socket. VERY typical. Get it seen to.

But it happens at different spots in my room, and also the mobile socket (don't know the correct word) reacts with a (very small) explosion, so that would be a lot of loose wires.

When I put a plug in the sockets in my room, quite a few sockets react with a "mini explosion" (a small noise and a small light). Is this an acceptable situation here in Thailand, maybe due too high humidity, or is this possibly a dangerous situation ?

Is it a good idea to apply film on a notebook screen ? If not, why ?

I have the choice between a notebook with or without bluetooth. In which case(s) does one use "bluetooth" ?

Great !

If I delete something from a Memory card of a digital camera, is it really lost and cannot be restored ?

more like an infection of lungs, irritation by food or chemicals, maybe allergy (cats, dogs, birds) than a common cold.

most probably you have tried different remedies and you do take care of yourself, but avoid air con and cold drinks.

Thanks. I found out a few days ago that not using my air conditioning, does decrease the problem, so it looks like the problem is air con-related.

I've got a cold, including coughing, since about one month. No fever. Because I don't trust Thai doctors too much (I've had some unfortunate experiences), I haven't visited one of them yet. I'm afraid I will be given antibiotics which might not really be necessary.

I hoped my cold would heal by itself, but I'm getting a bit worried now. My question is : can a treatment for these symptoms (cold, coughing) easily be diagnosed by a doctor or is it a "hit-or-miss" situation ?

Are there any "alternative" medicines available in Thailand for high blood pressure ?

Mercury: The Skype rate page displays calls to Netherland landlines - without VAT at 0.021UScents / minute. At today F/x it now works out to 0.71THB/minute.

CERS:

The card as being sold at Central, Emporium, Siam Paragon, Boots, Foodland, Tops etc including the BTS. Having said that, some of them are usually sold out/unreplenished. You can also call the call center at thaitelephone (02-713-8955). If you don't want to use your credit card, they'll may offer other options.

I bought my first one at Boots (ask the cashier) - since then been using the website. CAT may have other cards - see that the access code is 1544. When you buy subsequent cards, you can keep transferring value to the original one and keep the same original password. Denominations from low of 200THB to as high as 1000THB.

One last thing - the relatively higher rates from CAT is justifiable if you use it for business calls. The other cards are passable, sometimes good, sometimes not so great - but never horrendous, so Ok for personal use.

Thanks again, tpkhk !

Are there any phone call cards available in Bangkok which I can use to make cheap phone calls to Europe ? I am especially interested in cheap phone calls to the Netherlands.

There seem to be quite a few of these around.

the website - thaitelephone.com - sells them online. Like it says on the site - you can also buy the cards at various outlets shown on the website - BOOTS, 7-11, Siam Paragon etc.

Under the products tab - they have 3 types of cards.

I-talk card. 0.95Baht/minute to a landline in the Netherlands. 8baht/minute to a mobile. You need to pay local call charges to access the dial in menu. Advantage with this is that it recognizes the number you are calling from (register upto 3)- so no need to enter a long password each time.

Thook Jung card - 0.95baht/minute to a landline in the netherlands. I don't know anything about this.

Cat Telecom 1544 card - 2.5baht/minute to a landline in the netherlands. Mobile @14baht/minute.

I find the Cat Telecom card to be of better call quality. The call to access the menu etc. is toll free. You need to enter a 10+digit password each time - but the toll free access across the country.

Skype PC > Phone will cost you about 0.68baht/minute - the cheapest option.

I've seen cards like Zay Hi etc. Bought it once or twice - Didn't have much luck with call quality.

Hope this helps.

This sure does help, tpkhk ! One more question, though : where can I buy those Cat Telecom cards ?

Are there any phone call cards available in Bangkok which I can use to make cheap phone calls to Europe ? I am especially interested in cheap phone calls to the Netherlands.

Where in Bangkok can I get YinChiao tablets, which is Chinese Herbal Medecine ? And where can I consult a good (Chinese) doctor which practices Traditional Chinese Medecine ?

if it's not severe yes-but if I have to work and it's more disturbing

Yin Chiao Tablets - Chinese Herbal Medicine

...but ONLY the Original - herbal ingredients ONLY!

it seems that there is at least one copy on the market,

containing caffeine and acetylsalicylic acid .... this is NOT the Original!

Where to get the real stuff, in Bangkok ?

Whenever I got influenza in combination with fever, I always let the body heal itself, as long as it took. But are there any quick cures ? (I am not referring to the Mexican Flu.)

Thanks !

The last I heard, he disrobed to run a charity.

Thanks. Do you know in which temple he did reside before disrobing ?

Who knows at which temple "Phra Peter" stays ? He wrote 2 books and used to stay in Nakhon Sawan. Anyone knows ?

I would like to have a brief description about how to do a visa run to cambodia via poipet/aranyaprathet. I am interested in the border crossing part : aranyaprathet-poipet and vice versa.