JohnnyK

Looks very good for 500+/- a day.

Bear, I have found they are not a whole lot better or worse than any other major carrier. I prefer private carriers such as Eva. As airports go I think CDG is crappy. Poor and very expensive food selections, crappy shopping (was better some years ago). Bottom line, its shite compared to Schipol. I think you will be pretty bagged by the time you hit BKK as 8 hours is a long layover and you are going against the clock (jet lag is much worse going west to east).

And of course the old standby, Welkom Inn with entrance on soi 2. Has a real nice bar frequented by lots of office girls, secretaries, dental assistants, nurses etc.

koh chang 5 hours by mini bus and ferry book at koh chang travel soi 11 (aka soi honey inn) for hotel pick up. BYOBG, many K9s there.

Collect the roaches, cut off the paper and roll 'em up again.

No Alan, the idea is immersion. They must learn to listen as well. You can't learn to speak properly if you never hear the language as she is spoke. At the level most Thais are at, explaining is not on. Technique is to present new language in a context and start by asking simple questions designed to let students "discover" the new stuff. The learning doesn't take place from explanations, it's from acting and interacting using the new language. Modeling and repetition are key. The golden rule is avoid TTT "Too Much Teacher Talk". Explaining puts the focus on the teacher who really should be a guide and a facilitator (similar to how a BG teaches you about Thailand ). Don't centre the lesson on the teacher, let the students be the centre. Explanation is most useful at the higher levels once some real fluency has been obtained. Most Thais, even "advanced" learners, never get there as school learning seems to disagree with their genetic make-up.

King Kong installed a cappucino machine last year, if that's any help.

In the ESL world Thailand is well-known for: 1) Paying crap wages 2) Not discriminating between drunk backpackers and properly qualified & experienced teachers. He's white and can stand up is often enough for them (see #1). 4) Large unruly classes eg. 40-50 students all with the attention span of a gnat 3) Extremely poor attitude toward learning (skills & education don't get you a good job, daddy does) Pattaya jobs might pay 30,000 at the upper end. Not enough to enjoy the delights of funtown. If he wants to experience Asia and earn decent money I recommend Taiwan. Taiwanese are fun, smart, value learning and easy-going. Japan offers high wages but high costs and big housing hassles. Korea is a bit grim, not much fun. Trust me, I've done it.

if you really want to watch your budget, keeping it for essentials , you can get a month at V&M Terrace for 6700 +utils =7500/month. Lots of value around if you go a little of the well-worn track. Remember, there's always parking at the mall if you're willing to walk 200 feet while the yokels drive around in circles.

magpie, I can't agree with your first point. I like Pete the owner of Skytop but I'm not impressed at 450 a night, frankly. Apex is better as it has a pool and brighter rooms for the same price. V&M Terrace on soi Buakhow at 400 is better as rooms are bigger, brighter and there's a pool and nicer outside bar and brekkie. Intown Holiday at 500/night if you stay 2 weeks is way, way better for an extra $1.50/80p a night.

Apex hotel brekkie also 95 baht, samesame as Lek samasame owners. Thumbs Up is pretty good, 95 for full English and sweets nearby for a nice digestive.

It's one of BiGD's fave nosheries, he just falls out of Skytop and he's there.

wombat, i tried this but the smilies weren't the rude ones. theywere far too polite, cutesy-wootsy stuff. thanks for the tip in any case.

Apex is 450, about as cheap as it gets for anything above a shithole. Rooms basic but ok, pool is in the shade just beyond the dining area so diners can enjoy your sleek-as-a-trout body as you flop poolside. Front desk has displayed faulty math skills on numerous occasions when settling bills. Said faulty skills never seeming to be in favour of the punter. 95 baht brekkie buffet is not bad and can set you all day, pretty samesame as Lek Hotel buffet (same owners). Excellent location, walk to Mike Mall in 2 minutes then through the a/c to Beach Road. Hop a bahtbus to soi 7/8, soi 6 when you just gotta go, or Big C and the soapies. Laundries on the side sois and web cafes.

I really like the smilies here, does anybody know how I can D/L them to use elsewhere?

I wouldn't try a steak at Tequila Reef, not after the tasteless slop I got that was pretending to be ribs & chicken. BTW BiGD, I notice the esteemed Pukky cropping up in some of your recent posts. Miss her?

Pay my airfare and I'll pack it for you. Even for a long stay you don't need to bring much. You can buy pretty well anything you need and cheaper than at home. If you are a really big guy (220lbs+) then you probably should bring shirts and T-shirts as even Thai XXL is not that big.

Exactly. Why the hell should they have to do the running around, standing in line for you?

yes there is its downstairs on the main floor can't remember what it costs but its not much

Emil, do they have a sign outside advertising the free BF for extended stay? great marketing ploy!

My experience is they will cut 10-15% in the blink of an eye. Some places encourage longer stays at a discount (western thinking) while others won't budge from the daily price (LoS thinking) and will lose a potential 3-week occupant. Just ask and if they don't want to discount then go next door, lots of hotels and in the end what do you really do there? I have found the level of service and amenities samesame at 500-550 as at 750-800 a night. Do the math and its a free ST every 2nd day.

IMO the best way to CM is the overnight sleeper train. Go 2nd class air con lower berth for about 700THB. The beds are clean and comfy, you get a good night's sleep unlike on a bus, there's a family atmosphere on board as its full of Thai families, good scenery at daybreak. You arrive around 9am ready for a nice day out in CM and you haven't wasted 12 hours on a bus or 4 hours arsing around with airports for a 1 hour flight. TIP: Bring a roll of bumwad and a bottle of water. The toilets are pretty bad and you don't want to brush your teeth from the tap (if its working!). You can book the train and get your ticket at Pattaya railway station. Take a taxi there, tell the driver you want to go to "rot fai" (train). He will know.

Whataver you do with the girl you met on the chat site, DO NOT under any circumstances give her more than 5000 baht a day!

Try V&M Terrace on soi buakhow across from Family Mart about 80 yards in from Central Road. Quite a few expats there on long stays. Nice clean rooms, a/c, cable, really nice staff, 2-key safebox in lobby, nice little bar with pool table, good falang brekkies, small pool in front (bit noisy but you can cool off). One month is 6700 + electric and water so maybe 8000 max. all in. Location is excellent, banks around the corner, soi7/8 a 3 min. walk and same to Tops for 24/7 fast internet and baht bus for quick run to soi 6. Lots of good places to eat and tons of shops/services on Central Road. Haircut 50 baht along soi buakhow on the right just past the curve. Get a room on the back side and you can see trees and hear birds in the morning. Good luck

Do not get into an argument. Smile and walk away. It doesn't matter if you are right, you can get seriously hurt no matter what size you are. Use common sense about carrying money around. No condom? You are a fool if you don't cover up.