tjhorner
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Posts posted by tjhorner
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2 hours ago, Nino3 said:
I'm glad you posted. I was under the impression that a PCR test was required to board for the US. Looks like the CDC is saying an antigen or NAAT (PCR) test qualifies. Your plan is to get an ATK test rather than a PCR?
Yes, antigen instead of the PCR. My local hospital, Vejithani, only does the PCR test, and while I can get the results back within about 6 hours, I don't feel like paying 5-6000 THB. I guess I could find a more local ATK test place, but testing at BKK seemed very convenient. But now you guys got me worried, probably rightfully so, about a Plan B..... though I think its a subconscious message that I want to stay in the LOS a little bit longer with the fam!!!!
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Just looked at Google maps and Samitvej is listed there at the terminal and they have different phone number listed. I've tried both numbers and no answer... I'll probably just head to the airport around 3pm ish for my 8pm departure.
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Is the hospital at Swampy doing rapid testing? Or are there any clinics there doing them?
Going to the US, so just need an rapid test within 24 hours. Figured doing it there might be the easiest.
Thanks
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I use scanmailboxes.com out of Austin, TX. Good service, reasonable prices.
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I recently took the 15 hour Cathay Pacific HKG to JFK on a B777. Very nice flight. The only downside was the 3 middle-age Chinese passengers behind me (2 men and one woman) who were up-and-down on the flight like jumping jacks and insisted on grabbing and shaking my aisle seat and a few times banging my head every time they exited their row.
It finally resulted in a heated discussion back near the galley and one of the flight attendants had too intervene. She later came by my seat and told me that she had spoken with the one Chinese gent and that he was unaware that every time he grabbed my seat while I was asleep that he would wake me up and that he and his 2 companions apologized.
And this has what to do with Thai Airways or Thailand or really anything in this thread????
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I'm an American and enjoy good beef. I used to grind my own beef for burgers. I used rump and chuck with added fat to get an 85/15 ratio. I have since found the frozen ground (minced) beef at MAKRO to be as good and a lot less work.
Agreed.... Minced (ground) beef in the freezer in the meat dept of Makro is fairly decent. I don't remember the price but it was very reasonable (or I wouldn't have bought it).
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The gf and I bought a rack of NZ lamb ribs from Makro a few months back..... Thought for sure she would hate it, but she absolutely loved it. Wished she didn't despise Mexican food so much.
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Give it a year and see how many they are clamping then.
A year hell........ I give it a month.
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In fact this specific plane, reg. # 9MMRO, in the past 10 days has been to LAX, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Beijing, Tokyo, Bali, Bangladesh, and of course Kuala Lumpur.
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According to an online flight tracker, the very same flight the day before was cancelled for 'unknown' reason.
Seems a bit strange, what was wrong with the airplane the day before? These are the questions now being asked.
2014-03-08Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Beijing (PEK) B772 (9MMRO) 12:35 AM MYT 12:41 AM 6:30 AM CST Unknown / Canceled2014-03-07Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Beijing (PEK) B772 (9MMRO) - 12:49 AM -Unknown / Canceled
Was it that specific airplane ?
Yes, I would have thought so.
They keep the same plane flying the same daily route normally.
They don't usually chop and change planes onto different routes every day.
It is almost certain the same craft would have been on that route the day before that was cancelled.
Starting to get a little suspicious. I am sure it will all come out.
That is absolutely false and an incorrect statement......
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redflag is a conservative rag created and edited by J.R. Elliott, a teabagger who is creator and editor of the tea party brief. I would read anything he says with not a grain of salt but and entire bucket. Let me make it very clear, I don't like obushma but not for phony reason the right wing liars come up with. There are plenty of real reasons to think he might should have a reservation in GitMo. Lots of luck mania, let us know just how much you, really, really enjoy the airport gestapo. I'm sure it will be an oh so pleasurable experience...lol.
You know I have noticed on previous trips it is the getting out I dread more than the entry
Usually getting in is just/or was just...welcome do you have anything to declare? No? Ok go ahead.
But getting out sheesh 3rd degree, body scans, TSA & then in line of final boarding gates an officer of which dept I know
not is asking each & everyone of us do you have more than 10k cash? Are you sure??
WTH? if it is security you would guess it would be tougher getting in than out.
But not so in my experience
Yeah not looking forward at all to it.
Wish I had just sent the kids $$ to visit me instead lol
I flew first class out of JFK in Sept. to BKK via Hong Kong with a brand new passport, in fact, it was just a few days old.
Didnt have any hassle other than I needed a supervisor to allow my guitar on board.
Had a laptop, had a carry on, nothing was searched and no one asked me anything.
Had cash, less than the eye brow amount, but close enough to show I knew the rule,
And thought it was the easiest departure of my life,
it was a 1am flight, out of JFK, and the airport was deserted, so, there may be a clue in that
On departure in Hong Kong though, they confiscated my favorite perfect fitting screw driver for my guitar pegs, and two lighters, as one is the limit.
Never had a problem in Laos, or Thailand, but after reading this thread, my passport now looks like the one's they want to scrutinize, so, I will answer their questions promptly, matter of factly, and not give anyone with power that they don't deserve, any excuse to abuse it, as that is what they are trained to do,
to train americans into obedience,
so they will go into the box cars, willingly, after disarming the people first; which is coming
We are discussing entering the US and dealing with Customs, when flying out of JFK (or any city in the US) you don't have to deal with Customs only the idoits of TSA.
The omnipresent question "you have been over there a long time, what have you been doing?" seems harmless enough. ---- Maybe "working" or "visiting in-laws".
Sometimes the questions after the first one get rather ridiculous in my estimation. I guess the more politely, clearly and concisely you answer the questions, the better chance you have of going unscathed, but to what extent do you even need to answer their ridiculous questions?
Like I said above in my book of a post..... When they start asking questions about anything other than where i've been, and how long, and especially about my GF....... I politely decline!!!!
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OHHHHH.......... How did I miss reading this post??????
Well allow me to explain what happens when one does NOT give up your password to US Customs agents........
A little background first:
I discovered Thailand about 6 years ago. After my first vacation here for a week, I decided I needed more Thailand in my life!!! And for the next 3 years I made a 29 trips from the US to Thailand; usually work 3 weeks in the States then 10 days or so in Thailand. In the last three years I began staying in LOS for about half the year for 2-3 months at a time.
I usually fly from BKK to TYO or ICN, then to JFK, ATL, MSP, SEA, PDX, SFO, LAX, HNL, and DTW. Never, Never have I had any problem/questions/strange looks/additional security checks except flying into DTW (Detroit). Every single time I fly internationally into DTW, whether its from ICN, TYO(HND/NRT), or HKG I get the secondary screening. So, in the last 6 years, out of about 50 flights, 7 times I have entered the US via Detroit and have gotten the secondary screening. Every time, I had been in Thailand, and on some occasions I had also been in Cambo, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, and/or Burma.
For a while I had contemplated getting Global Entry, but since I always fly biz class and I never check any bags I was usually first off the plane and first into Passport Control and normally lines weren't too bad with the exception of LAX and JFK...... but after a 2 hour wait in LAX I coughed up the 100 bucks and made a special trip to Atlanta for the interview. Approved. However, my next trip through Detroit, I get selected again. Same questions, where you been, how long, why, where do you stay...... same answers: Thailand, x days, my apartment in Bangkok. A few times they ask who do I visit, and I reply my GF. And few times they ask how old she is, where did you meet here, is she Thai.... and I answer politely, that's really none of your business. Sometimes they "gaze" into my back pack or roller board, but never much more than an unzip and a gander inside.... Never looked at my electronics; I usually travel with my laptop, a tablet or two, and 2 cellphones.
Fast forward to this past November, the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving..... Flying into Detroit via ICN and BKK (had been in Cambodia earlier in the month also) and a one day visa run hop to Singapore. Pass through the GE kiosk, head to the Customs stand and the lady there ask where my bags are, I reply that I live in Bangkok and maintain an apartment there and also have a house here in the states so I travel light. I kindly joke with her that I don't need any winter clothes in Thailand and shorts and flip flops do me no good in Detroit (at the time it was something like -10F outside with the windchill). She made the cursory marks on the Customs slip, ie circling Thailand and sends to secondary security, "follow the blue line", I commented "yeah, yeah I know I am in Detroit, this is the 6th time now in as many years".
So, I follow the blue line expecting the same as the past, 5 minutes or so of now routine questioning and a half ass bag search. I get to the end of the blue line, and there are 2 Customs agents standing a few meters away obviously having a very important conversation, I stood there for about 2 minutes. There was nobody else being searched; so I said to them "Is this where I am suppose to go?" They of course signaled me over. One guy was about 250 lbs and maybe 5'5" tall.... We will call him Fat. The second guy was about 6ft2in and maybe 150lbs..... we will call him Slim. Slim takes my passport and starts looking through it.
Fat ask me where I was coming from.... Thailand.
How long you been there..... Just about 3 months.
Why so long..... I live there.
You work there..... No, I work here in the states; I am a contractor and do work at cell phone towers all over the country, travel continuously. But I work 3-4 months at a time and then return to Thailand til I get a new contract. (Its always hard for these guys to understand that one can work in one country and live in another).
But before I could even finish the last word,
Slim says: You know cannot carry more than $10,000 in any currency into the US without declaring it.... Yes sir, I know that. And he continues to stare at me. It was a bit weird. A long uncomfortable pause one might say.
Slim: Well?? Me: Well what?? Slim: I said you can't have more than $10K. So, how much do you have? Me: You never asked how much I have, A little under a 100 bucks. Slim: Well, how much exactly? Me: I don't know, maybe 80 or 90 dollars, would you like me get my wallet out and show you?
Fat: Sir, put your bags on the table over here.
So my bags go on the table, and they proceed to start looking through my backpack. Slim starts the questions about do I have a GF, ask how old she is; usually I don't answer this but I responded this time. As he is going through my wallet pulling out my receipts and diligently looking at them, Fat grabs one of my tablets and starts looking through it. They are behind a table/conveyor belt with me on the other side facing them, so I cannot see what he is looking at. Slim gets bored with my receipts and picks up my my other tablet and starts looking on it. Slim starts to question me again about my girlfriend again, either where she works or how I met her.... I told him I didn't feel that was a question that I needed to answer, and I asked them what they were looking for? They didn't reply.
They spend about 5 minutes looking through my tablets, they are both leaned up against the table behind them. A third Customs guys comes up behind them and kind of leans over between them and is looking at my tablets too...... Then they the third guy points at something on the tablet Slim in searching and they all start giggling like school girls. I am just standing there with my hands in my pockets about 8 ft in front of them and about a foot from another table behind me; and I say "Really? Really? What's so funny?" Fat looks up at me and says, Sir take your hands out of your pockets and back up. I take my hands out of my pockets, look behind me and ask if he would like me to stand on or behind the table??? He doesn't respond.
Needless to say, I am now fu_king pissed!!!! I don't mind the secondary screening and question, yes its a huge inconvenience, but I understand it. The searching of the electronics, I do mind, Its an unlawful search...... Yes, I know the law, the court rulings, the precedents prior to this.
Slim ask again about my GF...... Wants to see a picture of her. I just kinda laugh and say not gonna happen. I then say, you got my tablets...... You obviously see pics of her on there. How long is this gonna take? I am so mad at this point..... the fact that they turned unprofessional and were snickering at something on my tablet. I don't know what, pics, emails???
Slim puts down the tablet and goes after the laptop and Fat goes to the cellphones. Both cell phones were dead, and wants to know where the chargers are, I am now to the point where they can go fuc_k themselves I am done being polite and cooperating, my response was something along the line of " if it was a fuc_king twinkie you could find it" Slim ask for the password to the laptop..... I'm like yeah right. He looks and says you have to give it to me its the law. I looked him right in the eyes and told him to shut the fu_k up and that I know the laws and my rights and you ain't getting shit from me. He wonders off and gets his supervisor. And hand me a slip of paper outlining the reasons for searches and how they are legal yada yada yada....... I read it briefly and tell them I ain't giving them shit. Super spouts off that they will get the password, and they will call an electronics forensics expert to come and it will take hours for them to get here and perform the search. I ask how long, he says probably about 6 hours. I say ok, will you call me when your done so I can pick it up or can you mail it to me. He responds well you will have to wait.... I tell him I know that's not the case, and that is unreasonable and if he needs to review it with his supervisor please do so.
So they call in 2 DHS Special agents, these guys are straight tools. One is trying to play good cop, all buddy buddy with. Telling me that they really just want to get me on my way and they are just doing their jobs. While the second one is playing the bad cop role..... Stating how many years I can go to prison for lying to a Federal agent. I call them out on this bullshit right away. And tell them to seize my laptop, i know the laws and they must return it in 30 days unless they have just cause and Director approval to hold it longer. And I state that I am finished answer questions and making statements without the presence of legal counsel. Bad cop says your not under arrest, so your not entitled to a lawyer. So, I ask if I am being detained, and they respond no but they have to finish some paperwork concerning this investigation. I tell them to hurry up cause its been an hour. They plead for the next several minutes for me give up the password, and I continue to defer any questions without counsel. Good cop makes a statement about how a Delta plane almost got blown up by the underwear bomber and there are thousands of American soldiers dying to protect this country from terrorist. I told him that I am a combat infantry United States Marine Corps veteran and what he and his posse are doing doesn't even compare to those spilling blood on foreign soil.
So instead of just seizing my password protected laptop, which was only windows password locked and had nothing on it. And I mean nothing except for Windows, the week prior my HD crashed and I had a new one installed at the Toshiba shop in Paragan. (Note: Toshiba will do warranty work on US purchased laptops overseas.) they seized all my electronics: Laptop, 2 tablets, 2 cellphones. **** But the real kicker, I had 3 thumb drives and 2 external 1 TB HD that didn't even pull out of my backpack. They didn't even open the 2 side pockets.
Good cop ask when I will be back at the airport, cause they could be done in a few days. Told him didn't know and just mail it when done. He continues to pry for info, wants phone number to call me at..... I'm like hello you seized my phone I won't answering calls on it, then ask for email....I just point at my laptop that is now in an "evidence" bag and shake my head.
He gives me his business card and tells me to contact him in a few days and a receipt for my confiscated goods.
Long story longer, at 32 days I get my stuff back. No evidence that they had even looked at them. I exchanged one tablet back into my company for a new one. The other I gave to my niece which I had planned to do anyways, and got a new hard drive for my laptop. I had to buy a new cell phone anyways so they never got turned back on.
Oh, and when I got my stuff back, it was all packaged up in a UPS box with each device in a bubble wrap envelope. But between the envelopes was shredded documents. And cross cut shreds but the long strips..... And whats on these strips???? Names, addresses, aliases, DOB, SSN!!!! Hundreds of different names and numbers. You gotta love that.
And when I returned back to Thailand for a week over Christmas, and back to the states on 3 Jan....... yes back through Detroit. I know, i know I am a glutton for punishment but it was it was the cheapest by like $800....... Yes, as you can probably guess got selected again for secondary.... Slim and Fat were now where to be seen and the guy this time asked where, how long. Opened one pocket on my backpack, didn't even look in and said thanks, good bye. I asked him if I was on a list or what constitutes the secondary screening. He said its random, I said every time I come into Detroit.....he cut me off and said yeap its random.
I have been in contact with a few ACLU lawyers, not that I really intend to pursue anything but I know this info could be helpful to them if they plan to appeal recent rulings.
Like I said before, I don't despise the searches, but when there is no probable cause or even suspicion........ If I was on some secret list I would think it would affect me at other ports of entry not just Detroit. Maybe the guys in Detroit are into kiddie porn and that's what they like to confiscate. Dunno
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I would try the Global Entry program. It's good for 5 years and costs $100USD and some credit cards like Amex Platinum pays the fee after you are approved. A few pages of questions have to be answered and then an interview with some pics taken and a finger printing are done. You scan your passport and fingerprint on the machine just before customs and get a slip to provide officials if asked. They can still go through your bags if they want but I hear it never happens. You also get a card for entries through Canada and Mexico
Global Entry gets you past the passport checker, but you can still be harrassed beyond that.
So much lol, and fail. This doesn't just happen to Americans. This doesn't just happen to "single males travelling from a certain place". It doesn't just happen to certain people because of their hairstyle.
At the end of a 4 year posting to Germany, Canada Customs sent agents to our base to inspect everything everyone was shipping "home". Married, single, male, female, didn't matter. They literally sat there and went through every magazine page by page, and every movie (on F/F - back in the days of VHS tapes). They brought in the dogs. They took stuff apart. They were looking for any and everything that was illegal to bring into Canada. I wasn't even allowed to bring back a special (Canadian) edition of Playboy, that had been bought in Canada, even after I showed the customs agent the info proving it had come from Canada.
That was back in the mid-80's.
I've been travelling internationally (personally and professionally) since the early 90s. Many trips to/from Thailand (as a single male). For the last 10(+) years I've been working in an ME country and living in Thailand. Once every couple of years I have to return to Canada for one reason or another.
With passports full of stamps/visas from Thailand, Cambodia, UAE, Philippines, Egypt, Afghanistan, Turkey and India, how many times have I been stopped/questioned/searched when arriving ? Zero.
I've actually been searched more often when leaving Canada, including having my phone/laptop swabbed and tested for traces of explosives.
Then again. I try to look presentable whenever I travel and rarely have more than a couple of drinks (if any - tend to dehydrate too much when flying). I have nothing to hide and maybe my mannerisms show that.
I'm that guy you see ahead of you in the line that breezes through the metal detector/scanner because he has already removed ALL metallic objects and put them in his carry-on or screening tray beforehand.
I'm the guy that whizzes through Immigration because my passport/paperwork is in order and ready to go when I get to the counter, I am polite and don't reek of booze/puke/body odour or act suspicious (or belligerent) towards the Immigration officer.
Actually, you won't see me ahead of you, because I'm usually through and gone so smoothly, hardly anyone ever notices. You usually only notice the people that are inconveniencing you. Whether it's people ahead of you causing delays, or people "singling" you out for some reason for additional "screening".
Funny how it's usually "someone else" that is the main cause of most people's problems...........
(note: It seems that in the last 10 years, I've only done 38 round trips and gone through 80 sets of Customs/Immigration in 8 different countries, so I may not have the experience that some other members here have with these matters.)
I travel in biz class and dress in biz attire. Dress pants, buttoned down collared shirt. I shower in the lounge at my stop over in Korea or Japan. And I brush my teeth, comb my hair, and usually shave before we land in the states..... so appearance isn't always a sure thing.
Topic has come up here since 2004.
I return often, and am in the target demographic, and have not been searched. I've been using Global Entry (kiosk) for a few years so no chance of a search now. Also get TSA Pre-Check so easy-peasey intra-U.S.
See a few lines up.....
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plenty of decent restaurants around.
Please name them and where are they?
Depends on what your looking for but here's a few that I enjoy:
The Red Ant on Srinagarindra just north of Hwy 7. A little upscale, Thai cuisine.
Sinthorn Steak House on Ramkhamheang near soi 85, opposite soi 42. Outdoor bbq, good prices, a lot of muslim clientele or maybe muslim owned, so no pork or beer. Have a new store at front that sells fairly decent quality beef also.
El Mariachi Taquera on Srinagarindra out towards Seacon Square; I believe to be the best in BKK, best guacamole for sure.
Lighthouse Pub and Restuarant off Seri Thai road beside the small lake. Food is ok, atmosphere is nice, good beer specials; usually buy one get one Carlsbergs.
Fourwings Hotel does a good international buffet, they also have a good Chinese restaurant with excellent dimsum. But best of all is the bar, Beer Capital BKK, Guiness and Hoegarden on tap, and probably 15-20 imports in bottle, few ciders too.
Seoul Grille hahaha..... my gf's favorite of lately...... But if you like Japanese/Korean BBQ, Nikuya in Seacon is really good; part of the Oishi Group.
BangKapi market is large and quite interesting.
Lets be honest here, the talat BangKapi stinks to high heaven on a good day, gawd forbid you should ever find yourself in the one on HappyLand.
Yes Panthip Plaza 2 is ok, as is N Mark Plaza, IT Plaza and thats about it
talat BangKapi is a noseful on occasion, but I go at least once or twice a week for fish/seafood, fruits, and veggies. Never been to the one on HappyLand didn't know it even existed.
You sound a little bitter.........maybe its time for a change of scenery!!!
Cheers
Thanks for taking the time to reply, always good to hear of other options.
Correct, I should have included a couple of smilies, I think its great out this way, maybe just take things for granted and forget whats available within travelling distance.
From above,
1, never been in it but driven past it.
2. agreed been in there a few times.
3, agreed the mrs and I both enjoy eating there.
4, been there a couple of times, nothing special IMHO.
5 & 6 not the type of food the mrs or I enjoy.
I enjoy (weather permitting) the outdoor seafood place at the back of the football stadium.
Also enjoy the seafood at Ban Chan Krung just before Seri Thai 95, indoor/outdoor eating, the wooden buildings are amazing, very popular especially at weekends.
Chocolate Ville is just a short taxi ride away and well worth a visit.
There are a couple of places at the back of Paradise Park we enjoy going to sorry cant remember the names, I did notice a couple of Japanese/Korean type places there in the ground floor of Paradise Park.
Thanks for the tips about Ban Chan Krung; will definitely check it out.
The gf and I have been to Chocolate Ville a few times, New Years being the latest...... Its a nice place also and enjoy the atmosphere.
Again thanks for the tips!!!!
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plenty of decent restaurants around.
Please name them and where are they?
Depends on what your looking for but here's a few that I enjoy:
The Red Ant on Srinagarindra just north of Hwy 7. A little upscale, Thai cuisine.
Sinthorn Steak House on Ramkhamheang near soi 85, opposite soi 42. Outdoor bbq, good prices, a lot of muslim clientele or maybe muslim owned, so no pork or beer. Have a new store at front that sells fairly decent quality beef also.
El Mariachi Taquera on Srinagarindra out towards Seacon Square; I believe to be the best in BKK, best guacamole for sure.
Lighthouse Pub and Restuarant off Seri Thai road beside the small lake. Food is ok, atmosphere is nice, good beer specials; usually buy one get one Carlsbergs.
Fourwings Hotel does a good international buffet, they also have a good Chinese restaurant with excellent dimsum. But best of all is the bar, Beer Capital BKK, Guiness and Hoegarden on tap, and probably 15-20 imports in bottle, few ciders too.
Seoul Grille hahaha..... my gf's favorite of lately...... But if you like Japanese/Korean BBQ, Nikuya in Seacon is really good; part of the Oishi Group.
BangKapi market is large and quite interesting.
Lets be honest here, the talat BangKapi stinks to high heaven on a good day, gawd forbid you should ever find yourself in the one on HappyLand.
Yes Panthip Plaza 2 is ok, as is N Mark Plaza, IT Plaza and thats about it
talat BangKapi is a noseful on occasion, but I go at least once or twice a week for fish/seafood, fruits, and veggies. Never been to the one on HappyLand didn't know it even existed.
You sound a little bitter.........maybe its time for a change of scenery!!!
Cheers
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I live in Bang Kapi also, Ramkhamhaeng 44; a little south of where Ram/LadPhrao/SriNakarindra all come together; near Mall BangKapi. Many things to do in the area. 2 cinemas at the mall, plenty of decent restaurants around. BangKapi market is large and quite interesting. There is a floating market up Ram around soi 187, went there this past weekend, definitely worth the visit.
Lad Phrao MRT is a bit far from you, but the San Saeb canal is very close and you can get near to Central World for something like 22 baht. It has many stops along the way ie Ramkhamhaeng University, Airport Link, Asoke Rd (@Petchiburi MRT), etc.
My condo (Lumpini Ville Ram 44) is quite nice, been here over 2 years. Tall building, 24 floors, has a large pool, sauna, nice fitness room. On first level, there are several laundry facilities, dry clean shop, coffee shop, 24 hr family mart, massage shop, barber shop..... And the security here is top notch and very diligent and professional. Studios rent for about 8K, 1 bedrooms (40sqm) for 10-13K depending on floor, 2 bedrooms are 20K+ (and rare). Plenty of great food soi's to the north and south.
Welcome to the area......
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Phronesis.....Invaluable info; thanks so much..
Anyone aware if any of this info has changed?
Planning a trip down to Ranong with some family to visit some family and planning on a inpromptu visa run and maybe a few hours at the casino.
THANKS
I have done this run a on a number of occassions.
At the Andaman Club Pier they have a nice airconditioned departure lounge, their own little immigration window, and secure undercover parking outside. It beats huddling with the proletariat masses (Burmese workers) at the other main immigration office and pier hands down.
Ranong itself is a nice Thai style town with some good things to do. There is no visible bar scene there so it is a good place to spend some time with your daughter.
With regard to special requirements, Thais do not need to do immigration from the Andaman Club Pier. All that is required is a copy of their ID card.
You may want to have a letter from her mum...with a signed copy of her mum's ID card also to be sure...but I would be suprised if this was even an issue. Does your daughter have a Thai ID card or only a passport?
From Phuket I suggest the following itinerary:- Leave Phuket at around 9am after the peak hour traffic has subsided
- Stop at Khao Lak for a coffee at the Khao Lak Seafood Family Restaurant. It is on the right at the top end of the main street: http://www.khaolakseafood.com/
- Stop at Thai Muang and eat lunch at one of the great Thai shop house restaurants in the main street. Amazingly cheap compared with Phuket prices
- Continue on to Ranong to arrive mid afternoon. Check in to the Apple Hip Hotel. Nice brand new clean rooms at a good price: http://www.theappleh...el.com/demo.php
- Ask the hotel to provide you with a map and some directions how to get the the Andaman Club Pier. TAKE NOTE that it is not the same pier where the main immigration is. It is located about 10 minutes drive north of town. Take a drive out to the Pier to make sure you know the route and check with the very friendly staff in the depature lounge regarding any special requirements for your daughter for the following morning. Also check the departure time for the Andaman powercat. I think the first boat leaves the Pier at 8am and then there are ones about every 45 minutes thereafter. The schedule does change from time to time, but it is usually displayed on a small A4 sized stand on the main counter of the office.
- Head back into Ranong and in to the main street for dinner. Again there are some great new restaurants popping up with an upmarket feel, but at a fraction of the price of Phuket.
- After dinner when it has cooled down a bit. Grab a couple of towels, your swimmers, and some cool drinks and head up to the Hot Springs (Nam Ron). The springs are lovely, a soak in the hot water is magical, and it is entirely free (not many things left in Thailand that fall into that category). You can lay back in the bathing pool with your daughter, sip on your cool drink, stare at the stars, and listen to the waterfall and sounds of the mountain forest in the background. Doesn't get any better than that for a working class man.
- Head home for bed and ask the reception staff at the hotel to give you a wake up call for 6.30am.
- Wake up and check out, head to the coffee shops on the main street for breakfast, and then on to the Pier. At the Pier make sure you park in one of the many undercover spots so the your car will be nice and cool when you get back.
- The staff at the pier do everything for you. All the copies of your passport etc. The price is 850THB all inclusive...visa fee...boat ticket...etc. The staff at the main counter will give you your paperwork back and then you just walk a few steps over to the immigration window and you will be stamped out of Thailand. If you daughter has a Thai ID card you can present that to the staff at the main counter and they will also make a some copies. They will then give those back you and then there is another window (next to the immigration window) were Thais go to check out. I forget the all inclusive fee that Thais pay, but it is a fraction of what Farangs pay...somewhere around 70THB I think.
- You then walk out along the pier and board the powercat. It is airconditioned but smells a bit of diesel fumes inside. The trip accross to the Club only takes a few minutes. There is no swell but it can be choppy if the wind gets up.
- Once at the Club pier your will get out of the boat and walk through Myanmar immigration. TAKE NOTE that they will hang on to your passport.
- If you want to wait at the pier and get the same boat back (without going up to the Casino) you can
- However, I would suggest that you head up to the Casino and spend some time in the complex with your daughter. There is a free minibus from the pier up the mountain to the resort. The actual gambling rooms are only a small part of the resort. It has very open architecture and you can sit and looks at a 360 degree view of the surroundings from the island. There is also a cracking big swimming pool (make sure your daughter has her togs and a towel as I am sure she will want to swim).
- There are a couple of restaurant choice...the food tries to be upmarket but often fails to reach the bar. It is a little pricey but not too bad.
- There are lots of staff in the Resort so no doubt you could have some take care of the daughter for a few hours (there might even be a crache) so you can head upstairs for a punt
- There is a poker machine (slot machine) room downstairs but avoid it like the plague as the non payout screws on the machines are wound up tighter than a ducks bum
- There used to be a fee to enter the upstair gambling room, however that is no longer the case. The lovely girls at the entrace will give you a visitors badge, don't put it on, just put it in your pocket. You will have to walk through a metal detector...and as you do have a look and a chuckle and the "no hand guns inside" sign. Inside the gambling room there are a number of card games...black jack, pock deng, etc as well as roulette tables. You go to the change counter and buy some chips.
- I always play black jack and the minimum bet is 100THB. The croupiers are all from PI and speak good English. You will be ofterred free whiskey or fruit juice while you play. As with all casinos, there are no visible clocks or outside windows...so take care you don't lose track of the time (exactly what the casino wants you to do)
- They have staff member ring a gong in the main foyer of the resort when the minibus down to the pier is departing. REMEMBER to collect your passport before you get on the Powercat.
- If you head back to the Thai pier after lunch you can then drive slowly back to Phuket to arrive in the early evening after the peak hour traffic madness has subsided.
Good luck and enjoy your precious time with your daughter. -
I'll buy them at a 50% discount.......delivered; and just the US coins.
Why not just donate them to the the Red Cross or a charity of your choice. -
The gf said that Thais use the saying "Don't Lao to me." smh......
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On a serious note, I'd hate to see a Chinese Lantern bring an airliner down. It could obviously quite easily happen.
Yeah, I don't see it really happening. Even if ingested into a engine doubt it would cause any damage and most likely would go unnoticed....
Edit: Realized some are made with metal frame, although still not certain it could bring down a plane, but the metal frame could cause damage if ingested through a turbine.
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If on the 767 the seating is 1-2-1 layout then the seats ARE 180 lie flat. The old config is 2-2-2 recliner. The new config is a 1-2-1 staggered flat bed. I prefer Delta over United because of the direct aisle access at every seat, ie no having to step over/someone stepping over you to get up and take a whiz. Plus some on the United configs are backward facing. Fly this route once a month, and at $4-5K a pop, I don't want sit facing backwards nor do I want to climb over someone who is sleeping to take a whiz.Found it...seat info really buried on the site. Seems like they do have the newer 180 degree lie flat pods on the bangkok to narita flight but not on the much longer narita to San Francisco leg...which kinda sucks. I guess 1-2-1 layout on a 767 would at least be spacious, even if the seats didn't fully recline to a bed.
However, I believe UA has the lie flat pods on both legs now of their bangkok to SFO flight.
The flying backwards doesn't bother me and the only time one can even tell one is sitting "backwards" is during take offs and landings when the plane is either accelerating or decelerating. At crushing altitude, one has no idea who is sitting backwards. The stepping over people is a pain but at least in biz class it's only one person and everyone cooperates as its just part of air travel. I'll stick with UA as I always take a seat upstairs and the price is right.
Yes, I'll take a seat upstairs on the 747 everyday of the week and twice on Sundays......
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Found it...seat info really buried on the site. Seems like they do have the newer 180 degree lie flat pods on the bangkok to narita flight but not on the much longer narita to San Francisco leg...which kinda sucks. I guess 1-2-1 layout on a 767 would at least be spacious, even if the seats didn't fully recline to a bed.
However, I believe UA has the lie flat pods on both legs now of their bangkok to SFO flight.
If on the 767 the seating is 1-2-1 layout then the seats ARE 180 lie flat. The old config is 2-2-2 recliner. The new config is a 1-2-1 staggered flat bed. I prefer Delta over United because of the direct aisle access at every seat, ie no having to step over/someone stepping over you to get up and take a whiz. Plus some on the United configs are backward facing. Fly this route once a month, and at $4-5K a pop, I don't want sit facing backwards nor do I want to climb over someone who is sleeping to take a whiz.
Just curious ....You pay $4-5k a pop for a flight between the US and Thailand....Do you originate in the US or Bangkok? The reason I ask is I have been flying this route for the last 14 years and found out long ago the "originating" out of Bangkok is "a lot" cheaper....ie...my flight costs on Business first are $3500 or less ...(usually around $3250) by originating out of Bangkok as opposed to originating in the States (Business/first Starting at $4500 and UP).....Don't know why the difference but I "don't look a gift horse in the mouth".......Maybe you use a different route....my is BKK/SFO
Yes, originating in Asia is always (usually) cheaper ex USA. My problem is my bookings are close in and usually the discount fare buckets are not available. I did score a flight in July for about $3600.... For the most part I do BKK/ATL, west coast always saves $400 or more.
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Found it...seat info really buried on the site. Seems like they do have the newer 180 degree lie flat pods on the bangkok to narita flight but not on the much longer narita to San Francisco leg...which kinda sucks. I guess 1-2-1 layout on a 767 would at least be spacious, even if the seats didn't fully recline to a bed.
However, I believe UA has the lie flat pods on both legs now of their bangkok to SFO flight.
If on the 767 the seating is 1-2-1 layout then the seats ARE 180 lie flat. The old config is 2-2-2 recliner. The new config is a 1-2-1 staggered flat bed. I prefer Delta over United because of the direct aisle access at every seat, ie no having to step over/someone stepping over you to get up and take a whiz. Plus some on the United configs are backward facing. Fly this route once a month, and at $4-5K a pop, I don't want sit facing backwards nor do I want to climb over someone who is sleeping to take a whiz.
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Nothing to do with food on the airplane...... Article discusses food safety in the airport lounge, so maybe skip eating at the lounge and eat on the plane. Sounds like a slow news day.......
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Amazing eh the economy of a country also follows that of the airline although in china airline's case it's below the economy of the country.Try china airlines or klm, not saying they are great but better than the Indian airlines. Also ethiad are cheap for business seats.
Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand
Huh? China Airlines is Taiwan based company not China....
Why not just donate them to the the Red Cross or a charity of your choice. 
Antigen test at Suvarnabhumi
in Health and Medicine
Posted
Check the CDC website, they have a great FAQ with all answers...