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house516

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Everything posted by house516

  1. This is my favourite Sukh hotel. Good combination of location, price and room. The washer/dryer is the lynch pin for me.
  2. When using online translators, it's important to use proper grammar, non-jargon and unambiguous words. Use big words! It's easier for translating.
  3. I maintain that higher class hotels are better at discretion as long as you are. If you and your guest look and like you belong then you will. If you want to see how the rich enjoy life, hang out at the Mandarin and watch the old boys with hot young busty play things draped on them. You can bet nobody from the hotel is going to challenge these guys.
  4. I don't know a lot but yes - khrap/kah - khrap is also used at the end of most sentences and phrases to maintain a polite tone. Like most asian languages Thai uses tone for defining meaning and less so for expressions of intent or emotion. Khrap is used by male speakers and Kah is used by female speakers. If you find your self in a situation that calls for even more politeness or to express regret use 'nah khrap' at the end of your sentence. no - my Khrap/my - my (often spelled 'mai) is used to express a negative Taxi - everyone says taxi hello/goodbye - sawatdee khrap toilet - hong-nam The toilets are where? - Hong-nam yew tee-nigh khrap? The question word (tee-nigh/where) is usually placed where the answer would appear in the sentence eg: Hong-nam yew tee-nah kah. /The toilets are there. you - khun/coon thank you - khob khun khrap excuse me - koh tode khrap - can be used to get someone's attention or 'pardon me' one - nung Most food stalls sell only one sometimes two dishes. Point at what you want and say 'Nung khrap'. 2 - song, 3 - sam, 4 - see, 5 - ha, 6 - hoke, 7 - chet/jhet, 8 - baat, 9 - gow, 10 - sip the food stalls prices are often in multiples of ten, so knowing how to recognize these can be important. 20 - yeesip, 30 - samsip, 40 - seesip, 50 - hasip, 60 - hokesip etc The girls know how to say bigger numbers 5,000 baht ;) The number 5 is used instead of lol because it is pronounced ha - 555 = hahaha. You will see it on advertising everywhere and after you fall in love and are texting your new tgf My experience is limited, anyone can feel free to correct me.
  5. If you are considering riverside, I have stayed at lebua at State Tower and Centre Point Silom. Both are nice, have good breakfasts included with the right reservation and are definitely GF. lebua is a step above Centre Point in condition but also in price. You should be able to find both on sale if you have the time to look. I go to lebua every couple of years for a few nights.
  6. It's been six months since I've been in Bkk but as I remember, the Rabbit card is only good for the BTS. In my opinion, it's a good idea. Day passes are too expensive and having exact change to buy individual tokens is a major hassle. If you are planning to be there for more than a few days, I recommend buying a rabbit card. As I return at least once a year, I keep the card and bring it back to use the next time. You can buy the equivalent for the MRT but you will likely use it less.
  7. >>Simagu I spoke to the CATSA guys at the airport I work at. They accept the tamper-proof bags from duty free shops and duty free purchases made on airplanes. Also, they thought the TSA tape to re-seal a bag was unusual but that they would accept it as CATSA has their own tape for doing the same thing. So, no problems making a connection in Canada with a duty-free purchase if it was sealed by the people who sold it to you. One caveat: You must not leave the airport. You must go through security soon after passing through Border Services. If you leave the airport or take too long to go through security, you will have to re-pack your purchase into checked luggage.
  8. Thanks for the report. A fair amount of info to be gleaned for those thinking of staying in LOS.
  9. It may have been lucky on the Canadian connection but the bag did exactly as intended for getting through US customs. My neighbour is a Canada Border agent. I'll ask her for clarification. However, I normally don't buy duty-free as I find the prices to be jacked up. My example is Santo Domingo coffee in Dom Rep. At the resorts, it's $15US/pound. At the duty-free, it's $10US/pound. At a local grocery store, its about 200 pesos ($4.60US)/pound. Also, what is the deal with duty-free in Thailand? You can buy duty-free after arrival - even downtown, as long as you have a foreign passport. Is this normal elsewhere?
  10. Many if not most duty free shops can seal your purchase for connections. Recently, I bought some Brugal rum in Dom Rep. The duty free folks sealed it in Santo Domingo. In Newark (US), security decided they wanted to 'swab' inside the bag. They ripped open a hole and then sealed it again with their own TSA-labeled tape. Arrived in Toronto (Canada) for another connection and there were no problems. Two connections, two seals and 3 countries. Ask the clerk if they can seal your purchase before buying. As a matter of custom, KLM provides sealable bags for the 'jin houses' that they provide to executive passengers. This is to get your Danish jin onto a connecting flight.
  11. I like topics like this and look forward to more responses. Thanks for the great pics Kopite and BKKSC. 1. Learn the BTS, MRT and ferries. Nothing will help you get around the city easier at a reasonable price. 2. Even if you aren't into flowers, its difficult not to be impressed by the mass on offer at the wholesale market in Chinatown. Pak Klong Talad. At the least, if you are going to Yaowarat, try to saunter by. 3. Try eating at one of the bigger roadside eating areas. There's one beside/under the overpass near Ploenchit BTS station that is good. And another area in Suk Soi 38 that is on my list for next trip. I recall an awesome breakfast at Ploenchit of Beef and Basil, rice and fried egg for 30 baht. 4. Stock up on sunglasses at MBK for 2 or 300 baht / pair 5. Chatuchak Market is a must. Be prepared for a long, hot day. Take water. 6. Go to a gold shop in Yaowarat or MBK, even if only to look around. I bought myself a baht of gold on the last trip. But before you buy, read up on the difference in purity and weight of Thai gold. Download one of the many Thai Gold Apps for your phone to monitor the price. 7. Foot massages are a great excuse to get out of the heat, have a cold water or hot tea and a relaxing rub. 8. Take a walk around Lumpini Park. Join in the Tai Chi or yoga groups. Watch the Monitor(?) Lizards. Jog. As an added bonus there is an elevated foot path from Suk Soi 10 to the NE corner of Lumpini. 9. Wat Pho and Wat Arun are a short ferry ride across the river from each other. Go to one in the morning, stop for lunch and a massage, then continue to the other in the afternoon. You can get a decent lunch, on the water, at the ferry station at Wat Pho. 10. Stay hydrated. In addition to the free water from the hotel, I go to 7/11 and buy the gallon(?) bottles of water for less than a dollar. I use that to refill smaller bottles for my day trips. Lumpini Park Flower market Eating at Ploenchit beside the overpass Ploenchit
  12. I have the Pimsleur Thai course. It's 30 - 1/2 hour lessons. Just listen and repeat. It's a great starting point. Pretty sure we know each other, contact me on FB.
  13. Most countries frown on a foreigner being in their country without a proper resident visa for half a year or more. It establishes residence for income tax and other reasons, even if you are in and out. A friend of mine ran into this problem in Canada with his British GF. Given the close relationship between the two countries (no visa required for tourist reasons) it wasn't even on their radar until Border Services was about to refuse her entry. She had to promise she was applying for permanent residency before she could return. It's worth a call before making any commitments.
  14. I don't know about the hotel room or rentals, but given the tightening of measures on tourist visas, I suggest you check with the Thai consulate near you to see if you need a visa. The scuttlebutt on the Thaivisa forum is that visa runs are becoming a thing of the past. You are planning on being in Thailand for almost a 1/2 year, it would be a shame for it to work the first 3 times you enter and then the fourth time the immigration officer sends you home. Just send a quick email, tell them your travel plans and ask for their opinion.
  15. Interesting conversation, such was the point of the post. I find it difficult to imagine the whole scene to disappear anytime soon. But I recognize the possibility of a determined new PM with the backing of the military and other, less adult oriented, tourist operators to make a potentially significant change. Even if there were significant changes, I would think that the low-key in club FLs will always be around.
  16. I agree with Kimao and Homo. I've spent 15,000 baht for 2 people at one of the restaurants at lebua an 10,000 for two at the other. It was money wasted. I'm perfectly willing with spending that kind of money but it's got be worth it. On the other hand, if you stay there, the included breakfast buffet is awesome.
  17. Not directly Bangkok news but it could affect the way Bangkok officials react depending on the relative success. The news story notes that "they had been set an arrest target of 100 sex workers a night." The colonel calls it his way of bringing happiness to Pattaya. They seem to be targeting street walkers but it has to be unnerving to the bar owners. Link they had been set an arrest target of 100 sex workers a night. - See more at: http://www.thephuketnews.com/fearing-military-pattaya-rushes-to-eradicate-sin-48483.php#sthash.8ykzYmeE.dpuf they had been set an arrest target of 100 sex workers a night. - See more at: http://www.thephuketnews.com/fearing-military-pattaya-rushes-to-eradicate-sin-48483.php#sthash.8ykzYmeE.dpuf they had been set an arrest target of 100 sex workers a night. - See more at: http://www.thephuketnews.com/fearing-military-pattaya-rushes-to-eradicate-sin-48483.php#sthash.8ykzYmeE.dpuf they had been set an arrest target of 100 sex workers a night. - See more at: http://www.thephuketnews.com/fearing-military-pattaya-rushes-to-eradicate-sin-48483.php#sthash.8ykzYmeE.dpuf
  18. I have stayed at Phachara, in a studio room, not a suite. They do have suites but the studios are large too. Everything in it was modern - the kitchen, the bathroom, TV/DVD player, furniture - everything. Although it is clearly a somewhat dated building as the hallways are not wide like a new building, the doors seem a little smaller, the moldings have an older design to them that does not quite fit the modern furnishings. The kitchen had 3/4 sized fridge with freezer in top cabinet, small appliances, such as microwave, coffee maker, toaster, flatware, utensils, etc washer/dryer for laundry The bathroom was small, modern with shower. I had a good supply of hot water always. The living area had a comfy sofa and chair for visiting/drinking/watching movies on the large screen TV and DVD player. The bed was comfy and clean. There was not much view from my room. Elsewhere, there is a small fitness centre and swimming pool on a middle floor. The fitness centre had some treadmills, bikes and some sort of weight training equipment. If there were any free weights, they were small and few. The pool is just outside of the fitness centre overlooking soi 6. The restaurant downstairs had a breakfast that was included in my room. They had basic western fare as well as Thai and maybe some Japanese. Booking your room with breakfast, at about 300 baht extra per night, is a good value if you intend to feed your overnight guests. However, it is a small uninteresting buffet. If you like to have a better breakfast, or if you usually wake alone, or if you just like to sleep in and get your brekkie elsewhere, skip the included breakfast. I will return in September for a week and I intend to fill my fridge with fruits and other snacks for evening and mornings. I like Phachara for the service, the room and the location, and I consider it to be a good value for a quality room.
  19. For those located in Canada and planning a trip to BKK, Air France and KLM have a sale on to Asia for all classes now. Booking ends April 25 and departure is through December 2014. I just booked business class in September for $3500 r/t YUL-BKK. It's not as handy for those on the west coast but for anyone in central Canada these are some decent prices, especially business class. Stopover in Paris or Amsterdam is permitted. As both airlines operate and book as one, their are many options for travel times and connections.
  20. I am not in Bkk now so I won't try to answer your questions about the current events or conditions. The embassy area on and around Wireless Road is nice with easy access to transit via BTS. I have stayed at the Renaissance and two Grande Centre Points in that area and recommend all of them, but they are definitely not a low cost option. According to Seat61, the train to Chumphon leaves BKK from the Hualamphong Station which is at the end of the MRT (metro/subway) so easy access. Be sure to check out the Seat61.com website if this is your first time traveling by train in Thailand. Loads of info. You can get schedule and fare information at thairailticket.com but you cannot buy tickets online anymore. Just buy from a ticket window at the station.
  21. Interesting but this would make more sense as a connection for arriving customers, especially at Swampy. The cost and convenience of a wen from Victory monument is difficult to beat; including the time when considering the extra distance to DMK, waiting for security, waiting for check-in, more waiting, getting to your hotel. Last time I returned from Hua HIn, my gf and I took a private taxi and I think it cost 2,000 baht. Quicker, less expensive and more convenient than a plane.
  22. I've been meaning to give a shout-out to this place of business since I returned last month. In particular I am referring to the massage shop as I never tried the hair cut. Of course now that I have waited the details are fuzzy but I will try. Late one morning, I was looking for a place on Sukhumvit for a good foot massage. My thinking is for a $10 or less you can get out of the heat for an hour, sip an iced jasmine tea and have a great foot massage. Why wouldn't you? Based on absolutely nothing, I walked into Friends Hair Cut and Massage between Soi 8 and 10 Sukhumvit. The girls directed me up a steep circular stairs and I found myself in a large room that looked half finished. As it turns out that is exactly what it it was. Along one wall was a row of new, comfy looking leather recliners. Their setup looked nice. Across from the recliners, was a small raised platform of mattress separated by curtains. Their setup looked out of place and not particularly nice. I was greeted by a beautiful lady by the name of Khun Ja. I think that's correct. I said Jan? She said no Ja. K. Ja is about 40 and possesses a classical beauty not unlike Katherine Hepburn: slim but athletic, confident, very nice to look at and talk to (not that I've spoken to Kate). She gave me the best foot massage I've had in a long time. In particular, she did not use that little stick others use to painfully rub on your foot bones and on the end and in between your toes. I tried to make small talk but mostly sat in silence. However, I was not going to let the opportunity of a beautiful lady slip away without asking her out. I invited her for a drink. She politely and tactfully turned me down explaining she was very busy and had no time. This at least led to an interesting discussion. Turns out she has owned the massage operation since August. As such she has been working non-stop since she took over. But I think that is to be expected in a new business. She is putting money into upgrading the fixtures and furnishings as she can afford to. This explained the mix of old and new, tasteful appointments. It is her intention to give the entire place more of a true spa feeling. As I was the only person in there, my massage went into overtime and we sat and talked for a while after. I returned on two further occasions and had a foot massage and a Thai massage by 2 of her employees. They were decent also. I encourage everyone to support this very nice lady's efforts. Her business card says foot, Thai, oil and aroma massage. If extras are on offer, it was not obvious. My best guess is that they are generally not on offer and would be unusual. But hey, I could be wrong.
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