SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[AaronLV 12]

Aaron, I assume you can recommend some good authentic Thai restaurants where we can all reminisce about the good times in Thailand?

That is going to be tough to recommend a good place. So far every where we have tried I have been rather disappointed, compared to what Nam cooks at home. There are two places that have been recommended, we just have not made it there yet. I am sure we will prior to August, so by then I should have a good recommendation.

[*Robert* 2]

Aaron, I assume you can recommend some good authentic Thai restaurants where we can all reminisce about the good times in Thailand?

That is going to be tough to recommend a good place. So far every where we have tried I have been rather disappointed, compared to what Nam cooks at home. There are two places that have been recommended, we just have not made it there yet. I am sure we will prior to August, so by then I should have a good recommendation.

If I remember correctly, I went to a place called Royal Thai Restaurant on W Sahara. The food was great, the wait staff was great. Compared to the Thai restaurant in Honolulu, it blew them away.

Maybe Aaron and his wife can stop by and see if it is still up to par?

I would be up for a gathering. It sounds fun!

[AaronLV 12]

If I remember correctly, I went to a place called Royal Thai Restaurant on W Sahara. The food was great, the wait staff was great. Compared to the Thai restaurant in Honolulu, it blew them away.

Maybe Aaron and his wife can stop by and see if it is still up to par?

I would be up for a gathering. It sounds fun!

I just looked up the address, I will have to swing by and check it out. There is another place called Lotus of Siam, that is supposed to be really really good, it has been around for a very long time. We just haven't had a chance to go.

[dvddvd 0]

[quote name='ThaitoUSA' date='Apr 19 2009, 04:28 PM' post='2853954'

With regard to International DL, Maryland requires it along with DL from the foreigner's home country. My fiancée got it about 3 weeks ago at the center near JJ Market. If you get off the Skytrain by the market, there are clearly marked signs in Thai and English for the Driver's Service Center (cannot remember the precise verbage). She gave them about 400 Baht, two passport sized photos, showed her Thai DL, and got it in less than 30 minutes. It's valid for one year.

Does anyone know if you can pay a little more and get the International DL without a Thai DL?

If you are in Texas ... I recommend taking the class , the test is given at the end of the course ... at the school (and they hinted around at actually helping the students along on the test). If you do not take a class and go straight to the DMV to take the test .... and fail ... you no longer have the option to take the test at a school. We found this out after the fact.

My wife went straight to the dmv and scored in the 60's (you get three tries). We then decided to enroll her in the class ... only to find out that she's no longer able to take the test at the school because she's already been to the dmv .... she can take the class ... but, not the test. She's stuck with the dmv

She's going to retake the tests this summer after we return from Thailand.

Oh, also .. a buddy of mine translated the test for his Thai wife and she passed with flying colors (wink wink). They wouldn't allow me or anyone else translate for my wife. I think it depends on the day and the staff who are there at the time. So, you might want to try that approach as well.

We'll be in Thailand in June and July ..... we'd love to meet up with some folks from vj. Anyone going to be there during those months?

Dvd

[daboyz 36]

Hilarious:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thaksin-Rap-t258446.html

[*Robert* 2]

If I remember correctly, I went to a place called Royal Thai Restaurant on W Sahara. The food was great, the wait staff was great. Compared to the Thai restaurant in Honolulu, it blew them away.

Maybe Aaron and his wife can stop by and see if it is still up to par?

I would be up for a gathering. It sounds fun!

I just looked up the address, I will have to swing by and check it out. There is another place called Lotus of Siam, that is supposed to be really really good, it has been around for a very long time. We just haven't had a chance to go.

Ooo Ooo... That's the place!!! I was on the wrong side of Sahara! It was Lotus of Siam we went to, and that place is great. I looked at the website and remember the inside. You can pretty much order what you want to. No need to look at the menu!

[*Robert* 2]

If I remember correctly, I went to a place called Royal Thai Restaurant on W Sahara. The food was great, the wait staff was great. Compared to the Thai restaurant in Honolulu, it blew them away.

Maybe Aaron and his wife can stop by and see if it is still up to par?

I would be up for a gathering. It sounds fun!

I just looked up the address, I will have to swing by and check it out. There is another place called Lotus of Siam, that is supposed to be really really good, it has been around for a very long time. We just haven't had a chance to go.

Ooo Ooo... That's the place!!! I was on the wrong side of Sahara! It was Lotus of Siam we went to, and that place is great. I looked at the website and remember the inside. You can pretty much order what you want to. No need to look at the menu!

Here's the website for Lotus of Siam. http://www.saipinchutima.com/ It was the reviews that made me pick this place, and we were not dissapointed. They recommend reservations, because it isn't that large and located in a strip mall. We were lucky and got in without reservations, but it wouldn't hurt, especially since you guys live there and can plan ahead.

You HAVE to go there! They specialize in Northern Thai food (aka Issan) and they don't hold back on the heat!

[Danno2 0]

Our bump in the road- The Police Report

Well our extremely good luck hit a little bump today. Chada went up to the police station to order the report and no one offered a "fast service'. She asked about it on-site and called later and they said it was 10 business days. So its May 6th before we can submit packet 3. LOL, I just knew we were not going to pull it off.

So if you want the fast service you need to go with your SO in order for you to be "fee worthy".

[bill13060 0]

Our bump in the road- The Police Report

Well our extremely good luck hit a little bump today. Chada went up to the police station to order the report and no one offered a "fast service'. She asked about it on-site and called later and they said it was 10 business days. So its May 6th before we can submit packet 3. LOL, I just knew we were not going to pull it off.

So if you want the fast service you need to go with your SO in order for you to be "fee worthy".

I don't even know if going with your SO will help anyone out. I went with my wife and they also said there is no fast track. The only thing that helped us out was that we were already married and the guy said it would be a little faster by only a couple days. So, counting the weekends, it arrived in the mail in about ten days.

[daboyz 36]

Our bump in the road- The Police Report

Well our extremely good luck hit a little bump today. Chada went up to the police station to order the report and no one offered a "fast service'. She asked about it on-site and called later and they said it was 10 business days. So its May 6th before we can submit packet 3. LOL, I just knew we were not going to pull it off.

So if you want the fast service you need to go with your SO in order for you to be "fee worthy".

I don't even know if going with your SO will help anyone out. I went with my wife and they also said there is no fast track. The only thing that helped us out was that we were already married and the guy said it would be a little faster by only a couple days. So, counting the weekends, it arrived in the mail in about ten days.

I need to ask my wife again how she did this. She never even went to the police department. She had it mailed to her somehow in Chiang Mai, and it only took a couple days.

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

Our bump in the road- The Police Report

Well our extremely good luck hit a little bump today. Chada went up to the police station to order the report and no one offered a "fast service'. She asked about it on-site and called later and they said it was 10 business days. So its May 6th before we can submit packet 3. LOL, I just knew we were not going to pull it off.

So if you want the fast service you need to go with your SO in order for you to be "fee worthy".

i dont know about that. i was there with my wife on the 9th and they werent given it up before the 27th. we had song kran week thrown in there too.

[scandal 951]

Here's the website for Lotus of Siam. http://www.saipinchutima.com/ It was the reviews that made me pick this place, and we were not dissapointed. They recommend reservations, because it isn't that large and located in a strip mall. We were lucky and got in without reservations, but it wouldn't hurt, especially since you guys live there and can plan ahead.

You HAVE to go there! They specialize in Northern Thai food (aka Issan) and they don't hold back on the heat!

You're right Robert, that does look very appealing based upon the reviews and history. I'd love to try it out!

I just wrote an email to Danny, and at the end of it I tossed in a reference to this plan for a Vegas summer trip. I thought I'd post that paragraph here for all to see:

"I'm getting kind of excited about this idea of a VJ convention in Vegas this summer. It really sounds fun. What I'm thinking of doing is going to Brazil for about 7-10 days in early/mid July, and then going to Vegas with Thanti in either late July or early Aug, whatever works best to coordinate with you & Chada, and the rest of the gang. Seems like Scott and Robert are interested, Aaron is a local, and Pete may be available too. I can just picture the whole gaggle of Thai wives going off shopping and gossiping together, while us guys hang out in the casinos and bars, gambling and drinking till they come back and show us how they've overspent our credit cards!!!"

[HYENA 4]

I've been reading through VJ about drivers licenses and it appears most are getting hassled until they get their green card (if it's a temp gc, they can't renew once they're in between temp/perm gc, it appears they're outta luck.

Would you suggest an international DL (since it will be many months till she gets here, obviously at this rate)?

I was reluctant at first since it would be difficult to be a new driver then switch sides...but then again, I do OK in Thailand after some time. What does the peanut gallery think?

I do need to get her driving as soon as possible here...just trying to figure whether or not to have her take driving school there, then get intl DL there so she can drive here. My state is MD.

Thanks!

Edited April 21, 2009 by HYENA

[ThaitoUSA 15]

In order for foreigners to get a driver's license in Maryland they need:

1) DL from home country (Thai licenses have English on them, so no need to translate)

2) International DL

3) Take the knowledge test

4) Take the road test

5) sit through a 3 hour drug and alcohol awareness class and pass the test

6) take an eye exam

I am not certain what additional criteria would be necessary if she didn't already have a Thai DL since she'll have to take the tests regardless.

I had my fiancée get the international DL, so she can legally drive from the day she arrives.

[HYENA 4]

In order for foreigners to get a driver's license in Maryland they need:

1) DL from home country (Thai licenses have English on them, so no need to translate)

2) International DL

3) Take the knowledge test

4) Take the road test

5) sit through a 3 hour drug and alcohol awareness class and pass the test

6) take an eye exam

I am not certain what additional criteria would be necessary if she didn't already have a Thai DL since she'll have to take the tests regardless.

I had my fiancée get the international DL, so she can legally drive from the day she arrives.

Yes. Earlier discussions talked about difficulty switching sides (left to right) but I think your method and reading US websites this may be easier. Thanks!