SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[GeneT 0]

Here's another website selling Thai cookware:

http://www.templeofthai.com/cookware/

Must be run by a Thai (based on pricing policy):

sticky rice steamer basket: $6.00

sticky rice steamer pot: $10.00

sticky rice steamer set (basket and pot): $16.95

Yeah, I saw this site but missed that pricing! Thats too funny... Sounds like there should be some places about, thanks for the help.

[rin and john 71]

We saw the sticky rice cookers at a few Asian stores near us, but our biggest problem has been finding Isan food to eat with sticky rice. Not a lot of luck in that department.

We rarely eat sticky rice (in two years Rin has probably only made it 5 or 6 times). I think everytime it has been to eat with fried or grilled chicken.

What type of Isaan food are you looking for?

Yea, I've done the fried chicken thing w/ sticky rice. As far as other foods, I'm not entirely sure of the English names, and neither is Kat. Whenever I go over to her parents house near Udon, they always prepare a bunch of different stuff that we eat with sticky rice. Again though, I'm not sure what any of it is called, unfortunately. The only thing I can sort of describe is baby jackfruit which has been turned into a paste and mixed with chili powder (along with some other spices, I assume, that I also cannot identify). I know, I'm not much help.

EDIT: It would be nice if we could find whole tuna (not that processed stuff in a can). I remember eating that with sticky rice often. We saw it in one Thai restaurant in Chicago, but neglected to ask where they got it from.

We buy frozen tuna fillets (vacuum packed and frozen) at Kroger. Most of it is imported from Thailand. It's even suitable for sushi (we actually had sashimi tuna last night). Rin slices the raw tuna thin, chops up thai chilies and green onions over the tuna, then drizzles it with soy sauce. A little wasabi on the side. Yummy!

[Kang Lang 7]

we are very lucky since we are in california so we have loads of access to thai accoutrements...but just out of curiosity for those of you elsewhere try a nearby buddhist temple they often sell those kinds of things on site (here anyways) and it's nice because you can also support the temple/monks.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I will tell you from experience living in Cambodia for 6 continuous months, alot of Thai preserve foods are bought from farmers in Cambodia. Along the Koh Kong and Hak Lek border southeast of Thailand alot of trading between the Cambodia merchants and Thai merchants there.

The Thai merchants buy stocks of these fishes, crabs, and other fisheries from the Koh Kong merchants and process them in Thai. It drives the costs of food high in the poor Cambodian world.

As much as the I love the Thai foods, I dislike their politics as much as the Cambodians. Why not used the land border verdict that was settled by the UN? Argh...Driving me crazy. Who cares who owns what in the past? Didn't Spain own a big part of America in the early 16th century? Times has changed.

[BokGao 0]

I was not aware of any hospital in Udon being on the US Embassy in Bangkok's approved list. (See below)

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/med...ctionsfeb09.pdf

As well, it might be helpful to say what 'got even worse than before' as some diseases are curable and others are not i.e. some may not prohibit her entry into USA while others shall.

Well she passed. Thank god for that so we don't have to seek that route. I don't know if there was some kind of exception made but Lao citizens but Udon seems to be their choice even though the clinic is Vientiane is much closer. A lot of Lao ladies here whom I've spoken to have gone to Udon for their medical.

It had something to do with the chest xray. Whatever they look for in the chest xray. She was taking medication that they gave her.

Anyway much relieved. Now it's waiting for the interview. We will be preparing for that.

[AaronLV 12]

One more step done (Almost). We had our AOS interview today. Went fine except the file from the Bangkok embassy from the K1 has not made it here yet. The officer said he requested the file and it should take a week, and then we should get a letter in two weeks with the approval. Apparently his last thai case a few months ago, he had the same problem, they never sent the paperwork from Bangkok.

[Mountain Climber 186]

Congrats!!! Hope everything goes smoothly so you can get you actual green card soon.

[NillandNan 0]

One more step done (Almost). We had our AOS interview today. Went fine except the file from the Bangkok embassy from the K1 has not made it here yet. The officer said he requested the file and it should take a week, and then we should get a letter in two weeks with the approval. Apparently his last thai case a few months ago, he had the same problem, they never sent the paperwork from Bangkok.

Progress..

Great posts about where to score some good cookware etc. Nan wants to take her cook stuff with her, but I am afraid with all her shoes, clothes, and everything else, there will not be any room... I hope we can find some stuff local on oahu in sept/oct. Anyone else with a thai wife down in HI?

Neil

[Kang Lang 7]

One more step done (Almost). We had our AOS interview today. Went fine except the file from the Bangkok embassy from the K1 has not made it here yet. The officer said he requested the file and it should take a week, and then we should get a letter in two weeks with the approval. Apparently his last thai case a few months ago, he had the same problem, they never sent the paperwork from Bangkok.

Congrats!!!

[rin and john 71]

One more step done (Almost). We had our AOS interview today. Went fine except the file from the Bangkok embassy from the K1 has not made it here yet. The officer said he requested the file and it should take a week, and then we should get a letter in two weeks with the approval. Apparently his last thai case a few months ago, he had the same problem, they never sent the paperwork from Bangkok.

Progress..

Great posts about where to score some good cookware etc. Nan wants to take her cook stuff with her, but I am afraid with all her shoes, clothes, and everything else, there will not be any room... I hope we can find some stuff local on oahu in sept/oct. Anyone else with a thai wife down in HI?

Neil

Pots, pans, and whatnot will be OK. Probably a waste of time to bring a rice cooker or water heater as they most likely will be the wrong voltage (220 vs. 110).

[NillandNan 0]

One more step done (Almost). We had our AOS interview today. Went fine except the file from the Bangkok embassy from the K1 has not made it here yet. The officer said he requested the file and it should take a week, and then we should get a letter in two weeks with the approval. Apparently his last thai case a few months ago, he had the same problem, they never sent the paperwork from Bangkok.

Progress..

Great posts about where to score some good cookware etc. Nan wants to take her cook stuff with her, but I am afraid with all her shoes, clothes, and everything else, there will not be any room... I hope we can find some stuff local on oahu in sept/oct. Anyone else with a thai wife down in HI?

Neil

Pots, pans, and whatnot will be OK. Probably a waste of time to bring a rice cooker or water heater as they most likely will be the wrong voltage (220 vs. 110).

Yeah I already have a huge rice cooker, mostly think her mortar pestle set, and pots and pans will just be too heavy/big for luggage. What did you guys do that already brought your wives to the states? I was planning on bringing a large empty suitcase so we can fit more of her stuff. I travel pretty light, but we will be moving Nan out of her apartment... Lots o' stuff

[cdrrck24 0]

Hey guys, I looked thru this thread pretty deep but after 50 pages I gave up. How do you find out when the BKK Embassy received your K-1 packet from the National Visa Center? the NVC told me to call 0116622054000 but the lady (although very nice) did not know what I was talking about.

[daboyz 36]

Hey guys, I looked thru this thread pretty deep but after 50 pages I gave up. How do you find out when the BKK Embassy received your K-1 packet from the National Visa Center? the NVC told me to call 0116622054000 but the lady (although very nice) did not know what I was talking about.

Send an email to:

visasbkk2@state.gov

Make sure you put this in the subject line:

Inquiry: BNKxxxxxxxxxx (case number that you received from NVC.)

[rsn 135]

What did you guys do that already brought your wives to the states?

I brought one small suitcase for me, and 2 large suitcases (one inside the other) for her. She also had one of her own that she used. Most airlines seem to allow 2 bags per ticket for international travel. Also, you could probably just buy suitcases for her in Thailand without spending too much money. Good luck.

[daboyz 36]

One more step done (Almost). We had our AOS interview today. Went fine except the file from the Bangkok embassy from the K1 has not made it here yet. The officer said he requested the file and it should take a week, and then we should get a letter in two weeks with the approval. Apparently his last thai case a few months ago, he had the same problem, they never sent the paperwork from Bangkok.

Progress..

Great posts about where to score some good cookware etc. Nan wants to take her cook stuff with her, but I am afraid with all her shoes, clothes, and everything else, there will not be any room... I hope we can find some stuff local on oahu in sept/oct. Anyone else with a thai wife down in HI?

Neil

Pots, pans, and whatnot will be OK. Probably a waste of time to bring a rice cooker or water heater as they most likely will be the wrong voltage (220 vs. 110).

Yeah I already have a huge rice cooker, mostly think her mortar pestle set, and pots and pans will just be too heavy/big for luggage. What did you guys do that already brought your wives to the states? I was planning on bringing a large empty suitcase so we can fit more of her stuff. I travel pretty light, but we will be moving Nan out of her apartment... Lots o' stuff

I had a full apartments worth of stuff there that I acquired living there for 3 years. I gave it all to her sister. Dishes, linens, etc. When I went to pick her up, I brought minimal clothes for myself. We put everything in one suitcase and came back.