Two Plus Two Newer Archives

Two Plus Two Newer Archives (http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/index.php)
-   MOD DISCUSSION (http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/forumdisplay.php?f=52)
-   -   Post deleted by Mat Sklansky (http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/showthread.php?t=222300)

NewTeaBag 05-24-2007 07:37 AM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
[ QUOTE ]
Does this mean I'll get to see tanks?!

[/ QUOTE ]

LOLZ Unlikely, but if you do, possibly with flowers sticking out of their gun barrels like the last coup.

WhoIam 05-25-2007 05:05 AM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
In another thread that got locked, Mmerli wrote [ QUOTE ]
We are looking for a few more people to come with us. A house with 4-6 people will probably be the most fun.
We are currently looking at Phuket as the best choice since we prefer beachy area and stable internet connection is obviously extremely important.
I want to point out that we are all ssnl/msnl players so we are not going to rent a huge palace over there, but a comfortable place should be possible without going broke.

[/ QUOTE ]
First of all, Phuket is not the place to go for a stable internet connection. The best I can say about it is that it often worked when we wanted it to. This is referring to our second connection because our original wasn't functional for over 8 days before we switched companies. Thailand broadband isn't even in the same league as what we're used to in the west. I can't imagine what 6 simultaneous users would be like on the connection we had.

You say you don't want a palace, but a place with 4-6 bedrooms is going to be pretty baller by definition. Like anywhere else, real estate in Thailand is all about location so you're going to pay a lot more for a place near the beach or the center of town. NewTeaBag and I looked at some places that were huge and inexpensive, but they can best be described as being in suburbia, and this was something we wanted to avoid.

Any place this large is going to have maid's quarters and hiring a maid would probably be worth it with so many people. For about $150-200/month you can get someone full-time who's trained to deal with Westerners.

NewTeaBag 05-25-2007 09:01 AM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
[ QUOTE ]
In another thread that got locked, Mmerli wrote [ QUOTE ]
We are looking for a few more people to come with us. A house with 4-6 people will probably be the most fun.
We are currently looking at Phuket as the best choice since we prefer beachy area and stable internet connection is obviously extremely important.
I want to point out that we are all ssnl/msnl players so we are not going to rent a huge palace over there, but a comfortable place should be possible without going broke.

[/ QUOTE ]
First of all, Phuket is not the place to go for a stable internet connection. The best I can say about it is that it often worked when we wanted it to. This is referring to our second connection because our original wasn't functional for over 8 days before we switched companies. Thailand broadband isn't even in the same league as what we're used to in the west. I can't imagine what 6 simultaneous users would be like on the connection we had.

You say you don't want a palace, but a place with 4-6 bedrooms is going to be pretty baller by definition. Like anywhere else, real estate in Thailand is all about location so you're going to pay a lot more for a place near the beach or the center of town. NewTeaBag and I looked at some places that were huge and inexpensive, but they can best be described as being in suburbia, and this was something we wanted to avoid.

Any place this large is going to have maid's quarters and hiring a maid would probably be worth it with so many people. For about $150-200/month you can get someone full-time who's trained to deal with Westerners.

[/ QUOTE ]

This may be true but also it may be true that our place, "Vista Ville" were not so on the up and up about what they were providing. In my current temp spot, I am playing on a stable 500K, shared, TOT connextion with no problems of any sort.


PS WRT to vista ville: Leaving day proved to be quite an episode that involved significant argument, Puk nearly getting in a fight with the agent, Jit, smiling vista ville maids, an engish speaking man named, Victor (who no one had seen or heard of before) on the phone, an angry owner, the signed lease contract which Jit then claimed to not have understood when she signed it, and eventually a Tourist Police Officer mediator.

The end result was I got douched for 1200 of the deposit (they originally wanted to withhold 5000). So next time we meet up you owe me a beer Singha!

xxThe_Lebowskixx 05-25-2007 09:20 AM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
KING WARNS JUDGES ON DISSOLUTION

Trouble sure to follow

His Majesty the King yesterday expressed his grave concern over the upcoming Constitution Tribunal verdict on the future of two major political parties and asked the country's top judges to do their best for the country and yet brace themselves for heavy criticism.

The message, which emphasised the country was on the brink of possibly another major crisis, was conveyed to top Supreme Administrative Court judges who were granted an audience to present the monarch a gown to commemmorate his 60-year reign.

The King described the verdict, due next Wednesday, as a "highly important" decision, which would cause a lot of trouble no matter how it turns out.

"It will be a highly important decision, which will cause you [judges in general] trouble no matter what," he said. "There will be trouble whether political parties remain or not, because [on one hand] political parties need to exist."

The monarch said even he himself was not supposed to speak out on this delicate matter.

"Regarding this issue, you [Administrative Court judges] are not supposed to say anything because you are not involved. Even I can't say if there should be or there shouldn't be political parties, or whether parties should be dissolved or not. That's why I said the gown you gave me gave me trouble. It came with no power. Whether one will wear the gown or not, there will be no power. Just like you. You have no power [regarding this matter] as well," he said.

The King asked the visiting judges, led by Supreme Administrative Court President Ackaratorn Chularat, to "rightly interpret" what he was trying to say.

"Whatever court you belong to, judges need to make the right interpretation, otherwise the country will be doomed," he said.

His Majesty reiterated that the upcoming verdict and reaction present Thailand with a potential crisis.

"You [Administrative Court judges] have the responsibility to judge, but not with the hammer. You can only decide within your heart whether the Constitution Tribunal makes the right ruling. Your responsibility and duty are to criticise the ruling. I have no right whatsoever to say if they are right or wrong, but in my heart I have to know whether they have done right or wrong. If they are wrong, there will be trouble whether or not political parties remain. I have the answer in my heart but I have no right to say it. Neither do you. But you must have the decision in your heart as to whether the Constitution Tribunal is right or wrong.

"But there will be trouble and damage, whatever ruling is made. Any decision can be a mistake. Therefore, there has to be some criticism. If there can't be official criticism, there has to be personal one. That's why I told you, you brought me trouble by bringing me this gown, because this gown means I'm also an Administrative Court judge.

"[We] can't issue any ruling because we are not the Constitution Tribunal. Being the Constitution Tribunal, they have the right to be involved in many things. But if you listen to radio over the past two days, there has been heavy criticism about the courts. You [Administrative Court judges] have to find a way to protect your fellow judges.

"...You took responsibility following what I said in Hua Hin over a year ago and consequently many things happened. And those things have their causes. But the things got entangled. And soon they may be more so. You must be well prepared to dispense some criticism - not as judges, but as individuals or specialists - to prevent our country from sinking and people saying we have done nothing or trying to solve the problem.

"You have the responsibility to prevent the country from sinking, to give more knowledge to knowledgeable people, or to educate those who have no knowledge, so that they will know which direction Thailand should take. You can think, and you can say it, because you are the ones with the knowledge. Please keep on trying to improve our country's situation, which is not good at all this year," the king said.

NewTeaBag 05-25-2007 01:20 PM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
Next Weds should be fun for yall in Bangkok. I'll be happy down in Phuket.

I think the King's public statement to the judges was a definite warning but also a thinly veiled message for the general populace for calm in the face of whatever the Weds decision should be.

I imagine should the most extreme end come out (low liklihood) and both of the major Political parties get the 5year ban then there will be heavy protests possily spilling into riot. That said, many of these protestors are paid travellers from the Northern provinces certainly willing to shout for money but prob far less interested in fighting/bloodshed over The Thak Sik Thai or Democratic parties.

ski 05-25-2007 01:42 PM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Koh Samui / Thailand first timer - Chaweng or Lamai?

I'm going to stay at Koh Samui for 10 days in June. I'm going with my spouse. We're near our 30s.

Things that we enjoy doing on a holiday:
<ul type="square">[*]Snorkling (coral(ish) beaches preferred)[*]Sun bathing (on the beach, not the pool)[*]Eating local food (in restaurants)[*]Some kind of a privacy[*]Shopping[*]Live music + few beers[*]Other activities (safaris, excusrsions etc.)[/list]
Things that we (she [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]) dont enjoy:
<ul type="square">[*]Crowded beaches (o rly)[*]Sound of jet skis (o rly)[*]"Spring break" athmosphere (past that)[/list]
So far the Nora Beach Resort (3800 TBH/night) on the northern Chaweng Beach looks like the winner. I'm gonna make the reservation for the first three nights from that hotel unless something comes up in this thread.

Also, any general tips for a first time traveler like me?

PS. So far I only have my flights booked to Bangkok so feel free to suggest other places than Samui if you feel so. Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

3800THB/night sounds on the sicker side of sick in terms of prices IMO. Not been to Samui, but you could easily fulfill all your desires/requirements on multiple parts of Phuket without ever coming into Patong (most touristy/nightlifey part). If you want some advice bout specific areas/accom on Phuket drop me a PM.

PS I'm 33 with a 31yr old Long term Thai GF. So this isn't coming from a "young spunker".

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks nice, the north part of Chewang beach isin't hooker central like a lot of Chewang (and lamai).

Check out "Jungle Club" while you're here. One of the best places to bring a gf I think.

WhoIam 05-26-2007 04:42 AM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
I was concerned that we had broadband from two separate companies and had problems with both of them. This may have to do with being so far off the beaten path--let us know if you experience any trouble.

I don't understand how there was a problem with Vista Ville. We added a number of explicit clauses to the lease that were signed and initialed by both parties. I think one said something like "the lease can be terminated at the end of any month by either party with no penalties." Meh.

I'm glad I'll be in Laos on the 30th. I can't wait to see how they blame farang for this.

Atomic 05-26-2007 02:25 PM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
This is a online diary some photog keeps and it has a 7 part photo tour of his month long trip to Thailand.

http://www.ikeepadiary.com/diary/200...ame_index.html

WhoIam 05-27-2007 04:29 AM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
[ QUOTE ]
This is a online diary some photog keeps and it has a 7 part photo tour of his month long trip to Thailand.

http://www.ikeepadiary.com/diary/200...ame_index.html

[/ QUOTE ]Nice, we need more trip reports like this. So far I've just looked at part one--those are some ugly ladyboys in that show.

edfurlong 05-27-2007 02:53 PM

Re: Ask Degen Anything About Living In Thailand
 
[ QUOTE ]

http://www.ikeepadiary.com/diary/200...ame_index.html

[/ QUOTE ]

This has me super pumped. Thanks for the link.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:40 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.