VoxVader

I've found that a lot is dependent on the player. I have a pretty cheap DVD player and only about 75% of my pirated movies play all the way through on it. However, on a good player 95% work fine. Likewise I have some DVD's that will work on my laptop, but not my bookshelf DVD player or vice versa. -Vox

Pat, thanks for the sites! -Vox

Hi all, Right now NWA fares from the U.S. to SEAsia seem to be running $300-$400 over their competitors. Anyone know why? Do they typically have a spring sale? I have FF miles on NW so I'd rather use them (plus I love being able to cut in line as a preferred customer at Narita), but I'll take a $600 United flight before a $1000 NW. -Vox

That WAS the golden age! Now all I have to get excited about is Pieman and Gabor fighting and they are far too civil. Deep down, no one likes peace... -Vox

BTW, one thing that has not been mentioned. As this is your first trip you probably should not be thinking long term just yet. Thailand does funny things to people. I had a friend who was just there and had to leave after two days as the place was turning him insane. In the "unorthodox" arena there are a lot of shady people (farangs) who wont think twice about screwing you over. And disputes are not going to be settled in the legal system. If you show up on your first trip looking for some unorthodox way of living my guess is that you are going to get fucked over by people who you wil

No. But large bouncer types probably know people who would like to get packages of labeled, sealed and shrink-wrapped "Thai ginsing" that have been mistakenly filled with dianabol. -Vox

I agree with DD. Back in the forums golden age of two weeks ago when DD joined I couldn't wait to log on, but its tragic decline over the last 14 days has truly been horrible. Oh for the good old days of early February 2004! -Vox

The young guys who work in places like Pattaya generally don't strike me as the type who had to go asking how to go about it. If you are smart and resourceful enough and deal with people well, you can find ways to make money. unless you are amazingly lucky, you are not going to find someone to give you a normal 9-5 job and you are unlikely to be working legally. Good luck, Vox

Taxi to airport. Flight to Rangoon: http://www.burma-travels.com/airfares/bang...gkok-yangon.htm If you go to Burma, give us a trip report! -Vox

Short answer: no one knows until it happens. Check back in a month. -Vox

I was once flying business class on United and thought I had it pretty good until I saw the first class cabin. They had those pod things. It looked like something out of a science fiction movie. Each passanger really did have their own personal space. -Vox

Really? Any details? The only complaint I've heard is that it gets really slow. Speed doesn't matter to me all that much because I send tiny bits of information, but information is constantly being exchanged so I need stability. -Vox

Hi Rouge, Are you in Pattaya or Bangkok? I was recently told by a trader that he had no problems with the in-room DSL at the Grand Presdient in Bangkok. But your frustration does give me concern. It may have to be Kuala Lumpur for me in the end. -Vox

Probably not in PP anymore as Svay Pak got shut down a couple weeks ago. -Vox

Just find a hotel with good reviews and pick it. Send them an email and ask for 2 nights. Once there you can extend the stay or look for another place. You'll be able to find a place if you just show up but I never want to lug bags around in the heat if I can avoid it. Just pick a place. The bed will be clean and it will have AC. That way you'll have a place to chill out for a bit, leave your bags and have a shower. Then you can scout out hotels in the areas you'd like to stay. I can recommend Eastiny Inn on Soi 8 and the Inn House on Soi 13. Both are fine (though Inn House doe

You could go with Royal Benja on Soi 5. It is not guest friendly so you wont have to deal with the scene in your hotel. -Vox

Not only does PayPal not have a branch in Thailand, but it is on their list of "prohibited countries" and accessing your account from there may get it shut down until you can jump through a bunch of hoops to get it opened again. -Vox

The idea was killed. Those who came up with it were told to go back to the drawing board. -Vox

No legitimate CC representative will ever ask you for the verification numbers on the back of your card jut as they will never ask you for your card number--if they call you. This is just a slightly more sofisticated scam than outright asking you for your number and exp. date because many people don't know what those numbers on the back of their card are for. If they call you and ask you for info you know they have it is probably a scam. Hang up and call your credit card company to sort it out. Never give out info when you are on the recieving end of the call. -Vox

Does anyone know how approriate/inappropriate it would be to rent one of the villas for a few days and have a big party there? Probably a dozen or so guys coming in and out and an equal number (or more!) of girls. How private are these places and how much noise can you make without upseting the neighbors? -Vox

Hi all, On my most recent trip I found a room for rent just off walking street (basically Soi Diamond and second road). It's a pretty interesting room: two double beds with mirrors on the ceiling above them. Couch and chairs, bar area, small dining table, TV with DVD player and small sound system. Pros: location, amenities described above. Price is good for the size of the room, location etc. Cons: a bit worn, there can be street noise in the morning (I didn't find it too bad) and he beds are VERY hard (I had trouble sleeping a friend of mine who stayed there did not). It's

Hi Stephen, There's a "modify" button you can click on your original post to put in changes such as this so you don't need to start new threads. Cheers, Vox

I just saw on another site that the last bus to Pattaya leaves Ekamai at 8:00 PM, not 11:30 as I stated (I just assumed it would be about the same as the last leaving Pattaya for Bkk). -Vox

A buddy of mine bought a tri-band phone at MBK (used) for 3200THB. Back in the US he can use a T-mobile SIM with it. -Vox

You need to get to the Ekamai Bus station on Sukumwit Soi 42. Buses leave every half hour for Pattaya until about 11:30PM, air conditioned, bathroom-equipted and non-stop the cost is 90THB. From the airport you can take a taxi there (probably about 300THB including expressway tolls). Once in Pattaya you'll have to hire a taxi to get you to your hotel (100THB). So you are looking at about 500THB to get there from the airport and you are adding at least an hour to your total journey time airoprt to Pattaya. However, if you want to spend a night in Bangkok you can stay on the Sukumwit are