arbiez

TV usually found in armrest opposite the food tray or anchored to an arm that swings under seat (again bolted to the armrest).

Bruce, I mis-read something in the following quote that I interpreted as the poster saying it was a new place under less than a year. It's the whole just coming back from Hua Hin thing where my comprehension went off the rails. Sorry about that. My comment was questioning the poster on time (I'd been there several times and over a period longer than within the last year.)

TGAR Co just opened in Pattaya??? Are you guys sure about that???

Dude, TC: Rated best locals spot in all of SF--7 years running according to the Guardian. Good Call.

I just took a quick look and it's about 1200 from SFO to BKK on United and about 125 r/t SFO to LAS on Virgin America (VX). Another bonus is that VX arrives/departs from int'l terminal. The current frugal deal (no Star Alliance mileage accrual) Singapore SFO to HKG $882 r/t (I think $105 more to accrue miles) JetStar Asia HKG to BKK $128 (sing$) ($978 r/t with 2 week advance)

Can someone post a link to the article? PS: Is it possible that Royal Thai will just reacquire the airline like United recently did with TED resulting in no real change other than elimination of dual branding.

Just out of curiosity . . . How much does a similar condo cost in this complex? (for purchase)

Hi, I'm a member but a newbie to this forum. I'd like to know if it is possible to pin this partucular topic as it seems to me this would be of interest to interested newbies. This is something I'd certainly consider the next trip. I'm not a great golfer and I would like to join the outing on my next venture. Thanks and regards, -rb-

I just did a quick check on Singapore and found 1067 r/t leaving on the 15th and rtn on the 29th. Of course you would probably need to check if these fares include miles (star alliance) and restrictions. SFO-BKK and includes taxes and surcharges. Of course personal opinion is that saving a few bucks and losing the miles is illogical. 8448 SFO to SIN and another 500 from SIN to BKK each way.

swp a couple of things come to mind immediately 1) I hope you sued based on the events at the 1st hospital. Certainly some malpractice there somewhere 2) I hope you go to LOS and have a BLAST ! ! ! (perferably with $$$ from item 1)

This is probably not the right place for this kind of inquiry. Nevertheless, I have some questions for the expats who may run operations in APAC or have their own companies. Also any frequent travellers from western world on business trips working in manufacturing or operations arena. I seek to find a cheap plastics company for injection mold and production of a plastic product. This would be a 3rd party vendor relationship and I seek a reputable company. Ideally, this company would be in Sing, Taiwan, PI, Malaysia or Vietnam. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks

Thanks for this info. I learned two things: 1) The guy driving around Patts in a recent model Hemi Dodge Ram pick-up truck (American spec left hand drive) is either really stupid with his money or so loaded that he doesn't care about taxes and duty. I have no idea about the guy who owns the elephant sanctuary with the vintage 67 Camaro. (Bad paint but the inside looked clean) 2) Sell just about everything and use the cash. What I don't know is this? The last time I was in BKK, I saw a Volvo dealer. How much does it cost to sell the Jag and buy a new MBZ, Saab, Volvo or Alfa? I've seen all those makes in BKK. (Don't remember seeing a Jag, but I assume if Ford and Volvo are there, then certainly one can find a Jag.) Also, how easy is it to find reliable a mechanic to fix a old Triumph? I can't imagine that would be easy. Certainly makes one rethink the car thing and I am a real car junkie -- Detroit bred through and through. Sorry about the hijack

I actually think you'll probably have more of a problem with a long term reltaionship with Thai staying at your place vs. the occasional night with bargirl and/or frequent nights with occasional bar girls. When in BKK, I've stayed at a friends condo and no problem with ST or LT. However my friend has relationships with TG for a set allowance and she moved in with him. It only gets interesting when he breaks up with them. The conflicts can be quite public and quite threatening. But if your plan is just to have "my friend u" types over, I don't think this is too much of an issue providing that you live in an area with expats. The Thai/Falang thing is already expected. Again, just my 2 cents.

I'm not too concerned about the IT group finding out. Once on board, I can say that I'm on vacation and working through it. Or that I'm doing some other work in Singapore and went to LOS for ___ period. What I am concerned about going into an interview and saying, "I want this position so I can live in LOS". I think it changes the dynamic of the interview process and perspective of the people doing the interviews. Hopefully it's simple after that.

Well I was using the 180 days as a part of the recent visa enforcement that as I understand it, requires someone entering the country as a tourist to only stay 90 days within any 180 day period. As such, I would need to leave LOS for 90 days after 90 days. (3 months in, 3 months out, then I can return for 90 days). As I understand it, this ruling is being enforced in a more stringent fashion post-Thaksin to eliminate/reduce the number of people doing 30 day visa run turnarounds and thereby staying in LOS indefinately. So, the maximum that I'm able to stay within any 180 period is 90 days. (Assuming that I do not have an "O" Visa for 1 year multiple exits.) I don't know if this is limited to USA as I've read that some folks in the UK under 50 can obtain a 1 year multi-entry tourist permit. I didn't see that on the Thai consulate site for the US. Granted that I don't fully understand all of this and that is why I've asked on this forum. I know this isn't an ultimate answer, but I figure someone on this site can point me in the proper direction and I'll seek legal and official guidance from the appropriate authority. (More than likely, an attorney and an accountant orginally from US currently doing business in LOS with experience in such items.) My plan is to not advise my potential employer of my actual locale. As far as they would know, I live in Reno or Las Vegas and that would be my "permanent" address. So, I would be a US employee working for a US company in a US state (by virtual means) with my pay being deposited in a US bank that I access with my US ATM card. I'm sure that if they knew I planned to move to LOS, the salary would be reduced to a LOS salary. I'm also pretty sure they are not planning to offer a work permit. (I may ask them about living in another country, but I'm not mentioning LOS. Perhaps Costa Rica or Canada.) I think the intrepretation would be akin to a vacation in which I do some work (as I've done on previous trips). In summary, not being paid by a Thai company and not servicing Thai customers. This is very good to know. I've experienced issues with internet in BKK as recent as February 2007, but I don't know what level of ADSL my friend has in his home. I never experience this issue at the Westin as I assume the Westin has a T1 pipe at minimum. If I go this route, I'm sure I'll get the best media access I can obtain and may consider my locale based on type of service. Again, Many thanks Final Item: A Google link for a Rube Goldberg machine . . . http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2367646121273499414

Joe: As for your contact family watching their own TV, you'll need to have them get an additional TV box just for you and preferably one with the built in DVR. You'll definately want your own box. As for the bandwidth, I've seen the High Def Slingbox run over a wi-fi connection, so a good consistent web access "should" work. With that said, I'd probably get the highest speed DSL available in a residential unit and that may cost you a bit extra. (The latter part being a reference to Vidman's comments.) I don't know how residential service works in LOS. Where I live, I can obtain at least 3 different speeds of DSL, cable broadband and satellite broadband is available, but I have no idea how that works. I've used bit torrents, but takes a substantial period of time to download.

Thanks for all of your replies. The answers are similar to what I expected. As I look at it now, I will be a US employee based in the US in a virtual telecommute assignment. As such, I would assume that I would only pay US taxes (and I'd "move" to a state that does not have state income tax, like NV). For the visa, I'm pretty sure that I'd need to do the 60 visa with 30 day extension. From the looks of it, USA does not have a one year tourist visa unless you're over 50. Based on this, I would assume that if I actually go through with this, I'd work in LOS for 90 days, go "somewhere" (US, Singapore, Snookyville, etc.) for 90 days and then return to LOS on day 181. Follow up question to the last point . . . Mr Mango: Are you saying that the Visa run is made at day 60 (before 30 day extension) or are you saying as I assume that you need to go on an extended 30 day visa run on day 89 or 90 (and that Visa run is 91 days away at a minimum) Please advise on that part. Final comment on this entry. You mentioned the broadband speed and reliability. I've also heard and experienced this. My question for you in this regard . . . does it vary at different times of the day? (My assumtion being that service and reliability might pick up in the evening-late night as there should be fewer users at such times.) I also assume that Pattaya service is less favorable than BKK. (Unknown about Chiang Mai and/or Phuket -- My experiences regarding serivce on Phuket is great.)

Joe, I read the entire post. As I understand it, user . . . Lives in LOS. Wants to watch sports package (either UK or US) not normally available through normal cable/satellite in LOS. I know a few people that currently living in LOS and/or Singapore who have basically decided to pay cable or Dish at "home" (home of origin = US, UK, etc.). Typically this is in the form of a family member with a slingbox attached. Simple case: Retiree in LOS attaches slingbox at home of son in USA (let's say Chicago). Son attaches slingbox to a TV in Chicago along with a DVR. In turn, Retiree in LOS attaches computer with video output card to TV (like DVD or VCR). Then user just changes the source button on TV to the computer and sees slingbox as separate option. So . . . Cable A: Thai cable or satellite Video 1: DVD Video 2: Slingbox (through computer) So, when you want to watch Thai TV, hit the source/input button to go back to LOS channels. Setup is not that difficult, actually. And most of the setup is in the US attaching the slingbox to TV in US. Software needs installation on computer in LOS, but not that difficult. In other words, you don't have to be a tekkie. However, if you can't install a home theatre of set the clock on a VCR, then this is probably not your option. It really helps when a fan of a team that doesn't really get on TV all the time. In other words, all White Sox all the time. Another advantage: SuperBowl with US commercials. I watched the SuperBowl in Patts this year. it was really lacking with the commercial blackout. If you elect to go this route, I strongly recommend the DVR option available with the US cable. This way you don't have to watch it live. Again, it was just a suggestion. Of course if you don't have a friend/family member in the US or UK, this won't help. It is an optional cost for the Slingbox, but the other option mentioned also costs more than normal local LOS basic cable service. What's a couple hundred bucks if you're retired in Asia? It's still cheaper or a better quality of living than retiring in US or UK. FWIW, I first saw a slingbox in action in LOS. (Sounds like a business opportunity to me. A small business installing everyone's slingbox setups. HHHhhhmmm . . . George are you reading this???)

Hi, I have a question for ex-pats from USA. I have been interviewing for a job and I've been given a couple of options. One that allows me to continue with upward progression in current career path that requires a relocation to Florida. In our conversation I was also offered an opportunity that allows me to telelcommute 100% of the time. In other words, I will work from home. I just need Skype phone, a PC and broadband. While instead of furthering my career with promotions, the latter job is primarily relgated to client support. The salary will probably drop in half to around $50-60k USD. I'm sure that you know where I'm going with this, but . . . Questions: Are there any other ex-pats over there doing the same thing? If so, how was your transistion? (I'll need to start here in the states for a few months and then set up something there and transfer overseas while taking a "vacation".) I've heard that Internet absolutely sucks in BKK. Regardless of format, (broadband, DSL, etc). I've been advised that it goes down almost everyday. This is unacceptable for me as my job depends on this. What kind of tax considerations do I need to take into account? In light of the more stringent enforcement of visas, how can someone under 50 move there? I understand the need to do Visa runs, but as I understand it, I'm not allowed to stay there full time with the weekend flight or bus run to obtain consecutive 90 day visas. Any guidance??? Are there any other considerations that I haven't thought about? At this point, I'm unsure if I'll choose BKK, Patts or Phuket. I just assume that I'll try one and then move onward if I don't like it.

What you really need is a Slingbox. This allows you to watch your local TV from home in LOS. Basically, you just need to pay for cable/satellite service for friend family in US and have them attach the sling box and a separate DVR for you in US. You then access your slingbox over the internet (preferably with your PC attached to your TV in LOS). However, you can attached to a laptop and view anywhere. US details: us.slingmedia.com/ UK details: uk.slingmedia.com/

Got it. Thanks

OK, I'm looking in my controls and it indicates both an avatar and something else called a personal picture or personal photo? What's the difference?

If you're going for American style BBQ, I'd go with American Rib or Tequila Reef. The use 'dry rub' on the ribs.