The SkyTrain (BTS) is also just a short walk away, that will take you to most of the rest of the city really quickly. Try and avoid taking taxi's place in the daytime as much as possible - can't stress enough how f'n horrible the traffic is.

that's a great hotel and a decent price. it's not 5 stars though which is all i was saying. you'll be paying closer to $200 a night for a legit 5 star hotel, though you may get something for $150 a night with the great deals that have been on offer. even $200 a night is incredible compared to elsewhere in the world and worth it for a few nights if you're on a budget.

Just bought one two days ago, 1K baths a new nokia phone, 50 baths de sim card, calling in Thailand 1 bath per minute. Cheap and ready to use.

some info on the cdma:

i used it in my car while driving, and had a stable connection in the remote area of central thailand. u can see the cat towers all along the road. its a real alternative to adsl, and is mobile, so i am happy.

bkk, new years: def will consider going there with the wife. dream sounds nice, unless we stay with some friends.

A lot of the $200/night places are kind of old anyways. Like there are nicer rooms in the newer $70/night hotels anyways. I wasn't impressed with the rooms at The Peninsula but the rooms obv have great views.

In other news, I just got a tour of the new Marriott serviced apartment building on Suk 24 and the rooms were very nice. Restaurant downstairs is very good too. If any of you ballers wants to stay there long term I can prob get you a decent deal. 2 bedrooms were spacious and 108k baht/month. 3 bedrooms aren't finished yet but will occupy the top floor, penthouse style, at like 165k/month.

i stayed at le meridien bangkok recently for about 160 a night. less than a year old i think.

Yeah, so I know this guy who got teh HEP B, turned yellow, his liver almost failed, and did not enjoy life for about 2 months.

i think i'm also gamblin with the hep. i got the single shot, but not the three stage one. not that it makes it okay for you not to do it, but if you're a moron, you're not the only one here.

You can just get the shot whilst you are out here, right? Sure any hospital would do it

How often do you need to get the shots? I know I got the shots when I was a kid entering gradeschool but figured I'd probably have to get it again?

I couldn't find anything definitive googling but I think I might actually be in the clear. Anyone know if getting them as a kid means you're fine?

Besides, it's curable right? I'd be back in the US within 2 weeks anyway.

Once you've had the full set of shots I think you are good for 12-15 years. Just go to your local doctor and ask, they should know what you need and get them done for you straight away. That's how it works in the UK anyway. I doubt the shots you had as a kid will cover traveling to south east Asia

I believe one version of the Hep is incurable so I would advise getting those shots. I got the 20 year protection and had to get two shots with 1 month between them so make sure you start in time...

you need the 3rd shot after ~6months from the first to get the 10+ years protections

the first 2 within the first month won't give you that long

The "guy I know" who got the HEP, was innocultaed for evertying under the sun (including HEP) whilst in the military for many years. His shots were prob about 10-12 years prior to getting the HEP. I would not trust on childhood shots for protection.

As for cure.......ummm at least fro HEP B there is minimal treatment mostly supportave care and severe diet adjustments.


Once again. I think you should at least start the cycle of shots before coming to Thailand. Some protection is better than none.

Okay talked to my doctor and getting Hep A, Typhoid, and Tetanus tomorrow. They said If you get the Hep shots as a kid you should still be Hep B covered and Hep C there is no vaccine for.

I also found this website that is easy to read about recommended Thailand vaccinations

http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destin.../thailand.html

Thanks for the help guys just booked my flight

i bought a flying ticket to bangkok today and just read about the ladyboys. this stuff is so ugly. then i made this test: http://www.bangkokpicture.com/nightl...thekatoeys.php ... really horrifying... now i really worry about accidentally picking up one of these ****ing pieces of ****

noob visa question: I got a double-entry tourist visa. It is good from October 28 to December 26. Do I have to leave Thailand during this time? If not, can I leave and come back again for another two months?

Apparently tourist visas are now free instead of costing 1000 baht to apply for at the embassy.

don't worry, you'll probably make out with one in your first two months. after that your radar will be strong enough to avoid them.

Tourist visas have been free as a temporary exception to stimulate tourism for most of 2009.

With your double-entry tourist visa you can stay in Thailand until December 26. At that point you can get a 30-day extension by going to an immigration office and paying 1900 baht. After that, you have to leave the country, but you can come back right away on your second tourist visa. Then you can do the same 60-day stay+30-day extension again.

k so i got my visa taken care of and i booked a flight out of thailand 90 days after i arrive, this is fine right? i can just go to get the extension and nobody will fk with me flying into bkk?

Re: hep B

Get the shots, even if you won't be able to get the full package. Every additional shot offers more and more protection for a longer time so it can't hurt. And you can get your boosters here if the timing is right.

Hep B is endemic in SE-Asia and it is a serious illness. The virus is a lot tougher than HIV and more transmittable. Most people get very sick and feel like crap. Some die (very rare). 10-20% develop chronic hepatitis (got it 4life yo) which can be fatal if not handled correctly and means huge lifestyle changes (drug treatments, no alcohol, huge issue with future partners etc.)

Any guys living here that haven't gotten their jabs: you are dumb.

Jigsaws' tips are correct, i am just adding that remember to check the "ENTER BEFORE" date on your visa (the sticker). you have to use the 2nd entry ONE DAY BEFORE this day or it will be expired

assuming you got the visa from vientiane so the enter before date will be 90 days from the day you applied for it

i need a normal camera (about 10 MP) for my thailand trip. r eletronics cheaper in thailand? should i buy it there?

electronics are more expensive than in the US

i read how easy it easy to open up a bank account at say bangkok bank or the green KASIKORN BANK. basically my plan is to walk in w/ my tourist visa and 10k baht or whatever. my question is funding it.

-How do the people who live there get money into the thai bank account from overseas? I have a usa saving and checking w/ bank of america. can money from this usa bank account be transferred online to the savings account of a thai bank account like kasikorn or bangkok bank? is there fees from transferring your money online from your usa savings account to your thai bank account, if it can be done? do i have to make sure my bank here in america will allow me to transfer to a bank there first, or is the transferring done more with the thai account online?

thanks, 2.5 months till bkk!