Thailand Non-Visa Topics

[*Robert* 2]

Sadly, we're back.

It looks like it has been 100+ degrees for 50+ days this summer in Austin, TX. Ouch! Bangkok's weather was in the high 80's to low 90's.

We traveled around quite a bit on this trip. Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Chaiyapum, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Toa, and Phuket. Wife's family up North, East, and South. I have friends that live in Bangkok and Phuket.

The number of tourists, everywhere we went, seemed to be wayyyyy down and the prices that we were paying for things seemed a little higher than the last time we'd been in Thailand.

Oh, and there was substantially more neon on Soi Cowboy than a couple of years ago! Other than that, everything seemed to be about the same.

Still plan to retire in Thailand.

dvd

Sounds like a great trip, even with all the traveling! Sounds like the trips I used to take when I lived in the Marshall Islands. Have been to all those places except Mai Sai, Phetchabun, Chaiyapum, and Koh Toa, but I've been to many others to make up for it!

I really enjoyed my trip to Koh Samui. Was that your first time to Koh Samui, and how was the economy there?

Not surprised that prices are a little higher, in order to make up for the drop in tourism. Will have to get back to Soi Cowboy to see the new lights!

I'm totally with you on the retire in Thailand part!

[dvddvd 0]

Sadly, we're back.

It looks like it has been 100+ degrees for 50+ days this summer in Austin, TX. Ouch! Bangkok's weather was in the high 80's to low 90's.

We traveled around quite a bit on this trip. Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Chaiyapum, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Toa, and Phuket. Wife's family up North, East, and South. I have friends that live in Bangkok and Phuket.

The number of tourists, everywhere we went, seemed to be wayyyyy down and the prices that we were paying for things seemed a little higher than the last time we'd been in Thailand.

Oh, and there was substantially more neon on Soi Cowboy than a couple of years ago! Other than that, everything seemed to be about the same.

Still plan to retire in Thailand.

dvd

Sounds like a great trip, even with all the traveling! Sounds like the trips I used to take when I lived in the Marshall Islands. Have been to all those places except Mai Sai, Phetchabun, Chaiyapum, and Koh Toa, but I've been to many others to make up for it!

I really enjoyed my trip to Koh Samui. Was that your first time to Koh Samui, and how was the economy there?

Not surprised that prices are a little higher, in order to make up for the drop in tourism. Will have to get back to Soi Cowboy to see the new lights!

I'm totally with you on the retire in Thailand part!

Koh Samui's economy is down. My wife's aunt, who lives there, said her business is down 50+ percent. Also, I talked with a dive shop owner who said his business was down 30+ percent.

It was kind of nice to have room to move around the island. It was high season, but it didn't feel like it. Things will turn around though. Oh, the dive shop owner was saying that they just can't get a break. Tsunami, bird flu, political coop, global economic disaster, swine flu, red shirt protesters, etc......... I felt for him.

[thongd4me 69]

Sadly, we're back.

It looks like it has been 100+ degrees for 50+ days this summer in Austin, TX. Ouch! Bangkok's weather was in the high 80's to low 90's.

We traveled around quite a bit on this trip. Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Chaiyapum, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Toa, and Phuket. Wife's family up North, East, and South. I have friends that live in Bangkok and Phuket.

The number of tourists, everywhere we went, seemed to be wayyyyy down and the prices that we were paying for things seemed a little higher than the last time we'd been in Thailand.

Oh, and there was substantially more neon on Soi Cowboy than a couple of years ago! Other than that, everything seemed to be about the same.

Still plan to retire in Thailand.

dvd

Sounds like a great trip, even with all the traveling! Sounds like the trips I used to take when I lived in the Marshall Islands. Have been to all those places except Mai Sai, Phetchabun, Chaiyapum, and Koh Toa, but I've been to many others to make up for it!

I really enjoyed my trip to Koh Samui. Was that your first time to Koh Samui, and how was the economy there?

Not surprised that prices are a little higher, in order to make up for the drop in tourism. Will have to get back to Soi Cowboy to see the new lights!

I'm totally with you on the retire in Thailand part!

Koh Samui's economy is down. My wife's aunt, who lives there, said her business is down 50+ percent. Also, I talked with a dive shop owner who said his business was down 30+ percent.

It was kind of nice to have room to move around the island. It was high season, but it didn't feel like it. Things will turn around though. Oh, the dive shop owner was saying that they just can't get a break. Tsunami, bird flu, political coop, global economic disaster, swine flu, red shirt protesters, etc......... I felt for him.

We went to Phuket & Samui after the Tsunami (May 2005) and prices were down and it was pleasant in April.

I rode a motorbike around Phuket & all the way round Samui by myself and didn't break my 50+ yr. old butt,

even if I've never ridden in the States. The exchange rate seems to be more favorable now, but I take it

the prices in Baht were higher because there was a lot less traffic. They gotta survive somehow.

[Kang Lang 7]

3 weeks in China and my family survived. whew am i tired but glad to be back in weather cooler than hades! my family is from guangdong originally but most live in hk now where i grew up and lemme tell you beijingers and shangainese (where we spent most of our time) are very different! an incredible experience differences notwithstanding.

[thongd4me 69]

3 weeks in China and my family survived. whew am i tired but glad to be back in weather cooler than hades! my family is from guangdong originally but most live in hk now where i grew up and lemme tell you beijingers and shangainese (where we spent most of our time) are very different! an incredible experience differences notwithstanding.

I'm sure there are cultural/culinary differences between Beijing & Shanghai

but are there linguistic ones as well (Mandarin in Beijing & Cantonese in Shanghai)?

My SO was in China last year and enjoyed it a lot (teacher junket).

[Kang Lang 7]

yes the differences were not subtle but still a great experience. in terms of language officially mandarin is the official language including in hong kong where i am from but cantonese is spoken widespread there as well in southern china. shanghainese is the local dialect but mandarin is for all official business. in china each region has it's on local language some more than one which can make even communicating in mandarin difficult because of the accent although for me it didn't matter unfortunately i don't speak mandarin. i speak cantonese and some of my family village dialect (we call it the language of the old people i suspect it will be extinct in a generation ).

it was an amazing experience though and i enjoyed each of the 3 cities we visited for different reasons it was like a pilgramage for me. sadly the air quality rivaled bangkok. such a mix of history and modern times i actually would love to have a year to travel the country.

what part of china was your s.o. in? did she teach thai or english?

an interesting note for those usc's going to china a visa for us is $130USD but for any other nation it is $30USD. ah so luck to be "rich" americans.

[thongd4me 69]

yes the differences were not subtle but still a great experience. in terms of language officially mandarin is the official language including in hong kong where i am from but cantonese is spoken widespread there as well in southern china. shanghainese is the local dialect but mandarin is for all official business. in china each region has it's on local language some more than one which can make even communicating in mandarin difficult because of the accent although for me it didn't matter unfortunately i don't speak mandarin. i speak cantonese and some of my family village dialect (we call it the language of the old people i suspect it will be extinct in a generation ).

it was an amazing experience though and i enjoyed each of the 3 cities we visited for different reasons it was like a pilgramage for me. sadly the air quality rivaled bangkok. such a mix of history and modern times i actually would love to have a year to travel the country.

what part of china was your s.o. in? did she teach thai or english?

an interesting note for those usc's going to china a visa for us is $130USD but for any other nation it is $30USD. ah so luck to be "rich" americans.

She was there for a week, attending a seminar at Beijing University & got to visit some Chinese schools and

the Great Wall. The last time I was in BKK (April '08) the air quality was bad (due to the traffic) but when

she was in China she did complain of the air quality being worse. They have been doing a lot of transportation

public works in BKK hopefully to alleviate this somewhat, but when Robert Moses made all those 8-lane

highways in NYC people just bought more cars & they got crowded sooner than expected.

In BKK she teaches Thai (her major) but the Thai teachers at her school are so jealous because

her English (spoken & written) is so much better than theirs. When the administrators want her to

teach English the English teachers object, so she just continues to teach Thai. In any case it's their loss.

You should read about Jim Rogers' travels in China (both by motorcycle & Mercedes SUV).

He lives in Singapore now with his young American wife & 2 daughters. He says Asia is the

wave of the future. His books are well worth reading even if you have no interest in investment

or finance.

You may have heard of Malcom Forbes' motorcycdle junkets in China.

Malcom was nothing compared to Jim Rogers. He's the real deal.

http://www.jimrogers.com/

[*Robert* 2]

[*Robert* 2]

3 weeks in China and my family survived. whew am i tired but glad to be back in weather cooler than hades! my family is from guangdong originally but most live in hk now where i grew up and lemme tell you beijingers and shangainese (where we spent most of our time) are very different! an incredible experience differences notwithstanding.

Glad to hear the trip went well. As someone who has lived in Taiwan, and traveled many times to Hong Kong and Singapore, I completely understand about the differences.

Welcome home!

[thongd4me 69]

Does anybody know of any national/regional festivals or celebrations taking place

between October-December, besides Loykrathong and the King's birthday?

[Kang Lang 7]

3 weeks in China and my family survived. whew am i tired but glad to be back in weather cooler than hades! my family is from guangdong originally but most live in hk now where i grew up and lemme tell you beijingers and shangainese (where we spent most of our time) are very different! an incredible experience differences notwithstanding.

Glad to hear the trip went well. As someone who has lived in Taiwan, and traveled many times to Hong Kong and Singapore, I completely understand about the differences.

Welcome home!

thanks!

i spent a few days in taiwan a few years back. i loved it there! (even though secretly we hongkongers are not supposed to get along with them rubbish)

[Kang Lang 7]

ok guys can i get a little help?

i can't believe it but my 2nd anniversary is in 17 days! (also the month we started dating 5 years ago yes i'm lame i know) and i am hoping to get a bit of help. i have squirreled away a bit of dough for a gift and wondered if i could get your opinions.

we could do a mid week vegas getaway so we are there on our actual anniversary (we don't drink or gamble but the one stereotypical thai thing about my husband is he looooooves to eat! )

or

i could get some great seats to a niners game (oh how i love my niners and i heart mike singletary)

and a nice dinner

or i am open to any suggestions that you guys might have

[Kang Lang 7]

In BKK she teaches Thai (her major) but the Thai teachers at her school are so jealous because

her English (spoken & written) is so much better than theirs. When the administrators want her to

teach English the English teachers object, so she just continues to teach Thai. In any case it's their loss.

You should read about Jim Rogers' travels in China (both by motorcycle & Mercedes SUV).

He lives in Singapore now with his young American wife & 2 daughters. He says Asia is the

wave of the future. His books are well worth reading even if you have no interest in investment

or finance.

You may have heard of Malcom Forbes' motorcycdle junkets in China.

Malcom was nothing compared to Jim Rogers. He's the real deal.

hmm not sure what happened to my original reply?

good on your fiancee, all one can do is muddle through. i definitely agree that asia is the wave of the future, said with no small degree of pride. i do hope however with economic improvement that light will be shed on human rights violations that go on in the region or better yet that it brings about change.

[AaronLV 12]

we could do a mid week vegas getaway so we are there on our actual anniversary (we don't drink or gamble but the one stereotypical thai thing about my husband is he looooooves to eat! biggrin.gif )

I would say this is the one. There are some unbelievable deals on rooms and flights to Vegas. 49.00 one way from SFO on virgin america. I go to SF quite a bit. You can goto the all you can eat Seafood buffet at the Rio, I am sure it would fill him up.

[*Robert* 2]

we could do a mid week vegas getaway so we are there on our actual anniversary (we don't drink or gamble but the one stereotypical thai thing about my husband is he looooooves to eat! biggrin.gif )

I would say this is the one. There are some unbelievable deals on rooms and flights to Vegas. 49.00 one way from SFO on virgin america. I go to SF quite a bit. You can goto the all you can eat Seafood buffet at the Rio, I am sure it would fill him up.

Not to mention more Thai restaurants than you can shake a stick at. I still confirm that Lotus of Siam is one of the best Thai restaurants in the US that I have been to!