General Reports

[quote=asheron; 1115238]i just want you guys to know i caught chlamydia in bkk, and i always use a condom.

and it's the most painful thing in the world every time you [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord134][CodeWord134][/url] it burns like fire and yellow puss seeps out the end of your dick 24/7

so be careful i would not wish it on my worst enemy. i also caught it in my eyes and got conjunctivitis and they went bright red like the devil, and burned.

just be careful guys, i'm lucky it wasn't something more serious.

ruined my entire holiday, and looked great being picked up from the airport looking like a dieseased rat. [/quote]wow it doesn't have the usual symptoms of chlamydia but gonorrhea. either way when this happens it can be either (and often both) and can be treated with one dose of each of two medicines and starts to get better in less than 12 hours:

for chlamydia 1000 mg azithromycin in a single dose.

for gonorrhea 400 mg cefixime in a single dose or an injection of ceftriaxone at a doctor.

that's it. how long did you let this go on to ruin your vacation with medicine available everywhere and no doctors on the planet who cannot identify and treat it the same efficacious way?

[quote=asheron; 1115238]i just want you guys to know i caught chlamydia in bkk, and i always use a condom.

and it's the most painful thing in the world every time you [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord134][CodeWord134][/url] it burns like fire and yellow puss seeps out the end of your dick 24/7

so be careful i would not wish it on my worst enemy. i also caught it in my eyes and got conjunctivitis and they went bright red like the devil, and burned.

just be careful guys, i'm lucky it wasn't something more serious.

ruined my entire holiday, and looked great being picked up from the airport looking like a dieseased rat. [/quote]you should have just gone to the doctor straightaway; they have meds that can cure that within a few days. i caught it a few years ago. burned like fire when i peed and there was a cloudy discharge. the yellow discharge doesn't sound like chlamydia. best go to the doc to find out exactly what it is.

anyway, i caught chlamydia from a bar near soi cowboy. siamese twins. it's a small bar next to the offshore. her name was ploy and she gave a great bbbj but it unfortunately came with a price. went to the doc for some meds that turned my [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord134][CodeWord134][/url] orangish-red but was fine within a few days.

At the risk of reporting information that must be common knowledge to some, my first experience with the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link was excellent, and seems an especially good option for single travelers. I wasn't expecting it to merit mention here, but it was harder than I expected to find clear info on it before my trip, a lot of my searches showed outdated info, and I saw NO ONE else actually using it when I arrived. Had the entire express train to myself.

For anyone who hasn't used it already, here's a basic rundown from arrivals at Suvarnabhumi:

1. Take the escalators to the basement of the terminal.

2. Follow the signs along the way, continuing even when you see find yourself completely alone for most of the walk, as I did.

3. You'll come to an information booth where you can ask about schedules and options. I was told about express (non-stop train to Makkasan for 150 Baht, followed by taxi to hotel or connecting MRT to Asoke, etc.) and non-express options (much cheaper, at 15 to 45 baht depending on destination, but more stops so takes longer). My destination was near Asoke, but both express and non-express trains continue past Makkasan to Phaya Thai if you're heading further west into town.

4. No need to purchase a ticket. Pay when you exit.

The express train was waiting empty when I got to the boarding platform and left within a minute of getting on, in spite of or maybe because I was the only passenger on the entire 170-seat train. 15 minutes to station followed by a 10 minute taxi ride to Asoke. Time was more important to me than fare, or I'd have taken the cheaper non-express option.

Worked great for me as a solo traveler, though for travelers in groups there's less benefit I guess.

There's more comprehensive info on other sites like the one I'll post below. But I couldn't find anyone actually recommending using it, so thought I'd put this out there:

[url]http://bangkok.sawadee.com/airport/airport_link.htm[/url]

[QUOTE=Typhun; 1121701]At the risk of reporting information that must be common knowledge to some, my first experience with the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link was excellent, and seems an especially good option for single travelers. I wasn't expecting it to merit mention here, but it was harder than I expected to find clear info on it before my trip, a lot of my searches showed outdated info, and I saw NO ONE else actually using it when I arrived. Had the entire express train to myself.

For anyone who hasn't used it already, here's a basic rundown from arrivals at Suvarnabhumi:

1. Take the escalators to the basement of the terminal.

2. Follow the signs along the way, continuing even when you see find yourself completely alone for most of the walk, as I did.

3. You'll come to an information booth where you can ask about schedules and options. I was told about express (non-stop train to Makkasan for 150 Baht, followed by taxi to hotel or connecting MRT to Asoke, etc.) and non-express options (much cheaper, at 15 to 45 baht depending on destination, but more stops so takes longer). My destination was near Asoke, but both express and non-express trains continue past Makkasan to Phaya Thai if you're heading further west into town.

4. No need to purchase a ticket. Pay when you exit.

The express train was waiting empty when I got to the boarding platform and left within a minute of getting on, in spite of or maybe because I was the only passenger on the entire 170-seat train. 15 minutes to station followed by a 10 minute taxi ride to Asoke. Time was more important to me than fare, or I'd have taken the cheaper non-express option.

Worked great for me as a solo traveler, though for travelers in groups there's less benefit I guess.

There's more comprehensive info on other sites like the one I'll post below. But I couldn't find anyone actually recommending using it, so thought I'd put this out there:

[url]http://bangkok.sawadee.com/airport/airport_link.htm[/url][/QUOTE]Hi Typhun,

What time of the day did you arrive?

If time was at a premium, a taxi via the arrivals level would have been much faster and only a 150 baht dearer.

No traffic issues getting to Asoke, have done this trip dozens of times.

I always find it good to chat to the driver on arrival, often pick up some good info and extend the contact network. Not all taxi drivers are rip off merchants, some have been very useful over the years.

Tuck

[QUOTE=Typhun;1121701]... Time was more important to me than fare, or I'd have taken the cheaper non-express option...[/QUOTE]I tried the cheaper non-express option at the end of November last year and it cost me then 30 baht to go to Asoke (15 baht from the airport to Makkasan + 15 baht from Makkasan to Asoke using the MRT subway). The whole trip lasted about 35 minutes, but I would not recommend it if you have heavy luggages with you (that was not my case then, so that's why I tried this option) as you have to walk quite a bit at the interchange.

[QUOTE=Friar Tuck; 1121722]Hi Typhun,

What time of the day did you arrive?

If time was at a premium, a taxi via the arrivals level would have been much faster and only a 150 baht dearer.

No traffic issues getting to Asoke, have done this trip dozens of times. [/QUOTE]It was a late evening arrival, about 10 pm or so. This was my first time using the new airport, so I wasn't sure how much improved the traffic situation would be over the old one. I also remember at the old airport that the queue for metered taxis could get pretty long, which is partly what motivated me to give the train a try. Good to hear this is not such an issue anymore at the new airport.

[QUOTE=Typhun;1122073]It was a late evening arrival, about 10 pm or so. This was my first time using the new airport, so I wasn't sure how much improved the traffic situation would be over the old one. I also remember at the old airport that the queue for metered taxis could get pretty long, which is partly what motivated me to give the train a try. Good to hear this is not such an issue anymore at the new airport.[/QUOTE]Typhun,

Meant to say take a taxi from the "departures level" not arrivals.

Tuck

What is the world coming to?

[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8316553/Thai-airline-hires-ladyboys-as-flight-attendants.html[/url]

Careful lads-that beautiful flight attendant may not be what she seems.

AM

[QUOTE=Angus Magee; 1122170]What is the world coming to?

[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8316553/Thai-airline-hires-ladyboys-as-flight-attendants.html[/url]

Careful lads-that beautiful flight attendant may not be what she seems.

AM[/QUOTE]As ladyboys can be seen in a multitude of jobs, including what I have seen in the last year as receptionist, dental assistant, driver, accountant etc, I am not surprised to see that they are now flight attendants. In fact, I feel a lot more comfortable with them in that role than, as happened to me recently, when I encountered one working in the male underwear section in a department store!

[QUOTE=Angus Magee; 1122170]What is the world coming to?

[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8316553/Thai-airline-hires-ladyboys-as-flight-attendants.html[/url]

Careful lads-that beautiful flight attendant may not be what she seems.

AM[/QUOTE]If In doubt check their undercarriage LOL,

[QUOTE=Simian;1122478]As ladyboys can be seen in a multitude of jobs, including what I have seen in the last year as receptionist, dental assistant, driver, accountant etc, I am not surprised to see that they are now flight attendants. In fact, I feel a lot more comfortable with them in that role than, as happened to me recently, when I encountered one working in the male underwear section in a department store![/QUOTE]Better in that job that disguised in a bar to the horror of some mongers.

This morning at 9am I had to go pick up my Address Verification letter from Immigration in Jomtien Beach. (When I took my forms to be processed yesterday afternoon I had to pay 200 baht for each copy that I wanted.) It took less than 1 minute. I left there and went to the Eastern Verification Center to get my driver's license. I took a friend with me who is an interpreter for the military. She is here from Bangkok to work with the U.S. Marines while they are here.

I followed what I thought were the right directions. After going much farther than the directions specified I decided to stop and ask. My friend however did not want to ask. Nobody at the gas station knew where the driver's license place was. My friend told me to keep going in the same direction. After many more kms I told her to ask the guy who was stopped at the light next to us. She would not. She told me to keep going. She said that every Thai person does not know where everything is. I said yes but you never know who knows what if you don't ask.

Later on we stopped at a light next to a police station. I was about to pull over and ask them when I saw a white guy on a motorbike next to me. Turned out he was from Australia and was on the way to pick up the registration for one of his vehicles. I followed him to the registration bureau. It turned out that was not the place I wanted but at least I know where to go now when I get to that step. He told me the exact directions of where I needed to go. The problem was that when I turned out of Pattaya I made a right, but I should have made a left. I was at least 50km from where I was supposed to be.

I turned around and followed the easy directions that he had given me. Then it started to rain. I made a pit stop at 7-11 and got a snack trying to let the rain pass. It was all clear, until about 5km from 7-11 when it started to pour. I pulled over and we got under a shelter which had benches with a couple of other drivers who had made it before us. I was soaked but my friend who was on the back was pretty dry. We stayed there about an hour. The rain did not appear to be going away so we had to get back on the road with the drizzle. It was about 20 more minutes before I pulled up at the Eastern Verification Center. It was 12:30.

I had to twist my friend's arm to get her to ask the people at the desk what I needed to do. (Why did I bring her along again?) The lady checked my paperwork and told me to come back and get in line at 1pm. I met a guy from California while I was waiting. He had just taken the computer part of the test and told me what to expect. During that time I decided that I might as well get a license for a car as well. (Each license is a separate card.) The guy said I would need an additional set a paperwork. I took my package across the street and had the 5 pages copied for 2 baht each and brought them back. I then had to sign each page because they were copies.

They then directed me upstairs where the testing takes place. My number was called and I joined the rest of the people who were being tested. First we did a color blind test. It was a usual chart but instead of reading a hidden number as we do in the west, the guy pointed to the yellow, green, and red dots in the chart and we had to call out the color. Next there was a peripheral vision test where we had to say what color the light was that was flashed at the corner of our eyes. The choices were red, yellow, or green as an actual traffic light. The last test was for reaction. We had to sit and press the gas pedal while the light was green then quickly switch to the brake within a certain amount of time when the light changed to red. The guy signed off on both sets of my paperwork and directed me to go pay the woman at the front.

I sat down until the lady called me. I had to pay 360 baht for both the 1 year licenses together. (When that expires I have up to 1 year to come back at which time I will be issued a 5 year license.) I sat down again and waited for a lady in another partition to call me in to take my photo. I went back out to general population and about two minutes later she called me back to get my finished cards.

The thing about this process is that I pulled the whole thing off with only the normal tourist visa. I was a little afraid at first because Immigration had put the expiration of March 3, 2010 (the date my visa expires) on my letter. Then of course that was the date on my actual tourist visa, however nobody ever said anything about it. I was, however, prepared to give a love gift of 500 - 1000 baht in case it came up. I told another American resident of Thailand who was there while his English friend did the process as well. He said that I was lucky and while my luck was running hot I should go get a bank account as well. I told him that was exactly what I intended to do. I went back downstairs, showed my friend my cards, and we rode back off into the rain.

I asked the gentlemen who I met at the driver's license office which bank would be the best to open up an account. I had the intentions of going to Kasikorn (green). The English guy had an account at Kasikorn and the American guy had an account at a smaller bank that I can't remember. They told me that if I am concerned with the amount of ATMs then Kasikorn would be the way to go. They also said that Bangkok Bank (blue & orange) was the only one with a location in the USA (New York). So if I wanted to make deposits or whatever in my home country that would be the way to go. When I got back together with my friend she told me that she had Siam Commercial Bank (purple).

I was soaked on the ride back to Pattaya while the rain persisted. I was making a bee line to Central Festival to go to the bank. While riding down Sukhumvit I passed a Siam Commercial Bank. Soon after I saw a Kasikorn so I made a U-turn. I went into the bank dripping wet. My friend told the lady that I wanted to open an account. The lady invited me to sit in a chair at the desk but I declined because I did not want to soil / wet the chair. I just stood by the corner of the desk and made a personal puddle.

Although the lady spoke English all of the forms were in Thai. All I had to do was give the lady my passport, tell her my address, and sign by the x's which she had written on the various forms. I gave her 1000 baht to deposit into the account. She asked me if I wanted an ATM card to which I responded in the affirmative. She said that she would take 350 from the 1000 deposit for the card. She took a generic card out of the cabinet, entered it into the computer, and we went outside to the ATM for me to set my PIN. I asked her when would I receive the card with my name on it and she said that the generic one would suffice. But if I must have one then it would be another 300 baht and it would arrive by mail within 2 weeks.

So we went back into the bank and I gave her 300 baht more. If I had known in the beginning I could have avoided the charge for the generic card. I left the bank with all of my paperwork and made the wet 15 minute drive back to my room.

Where can I get the best currency exchange rate in central Bangkok? For € money.

Heard of a place called 'Superrich ' somwer in Chitlom. Any reviews?

Thanks

[QUOTE=Bugzy 69; 1123564]Where can I get the best currency exchange rate in central Bangkok? For € money.

Heard of a place called 'Superrich ' somwer in Chitlom. Any reviews?

Thanks[/QUOTE]BTS Chitlom Station. Super Rich kiosk is towards exit #1 heading towards Gaysorn Mall. Currently they offer the best exchange rates.