Korean Job Discussion Forums

[posco's trumpet]

[Mankind]

It means 'Have A Nice Day'. Get your mind out of the gutter son.

HAND

[Patong Dong]

Hi, I just moved to Korea direct from Phuket where I lived for 2 years, not much of an expert on Thailand as a whole but I worked in Phuket as well so I have a good feel for that island.

No, you cannot extend a tourist visa for a month, not at all, you can do it for 10 days. When I was last there the cost was 500TB and 2 photos but almost all visa and visa related charges got bumped up considerably in November I think it was.

I am not sure who said there were not many internet places in Phuket but they must not have visited in the last 2 years, they are everywhere and you will pay 1-2 baht minute in general and they can be frustratingly slow. Part of my job was signing up internet cafes to put promotional materials for my old company so, I can assure you; turn you head slightly and you will find one.

You can open a bank account with a regular tourist visa, I did. I had to pay 300 baht for my international ATM card though. I did it at Thai farmer's bank. ATM's were a bit spread out when I was first in Phuket but now are popping up at 7-11's and the like.

[Alvin Stardust]

Patong's pretty much on the mark. I've lived there for 9 years, & currently re-visit 4 times per year (Korea's a 'money-move' for a while). Internet is everywhere (very cheap, but some places can be slowish). Shame, I was enjoying the unfriendly banter between the other two bods...!

[Kiddirts]

My passport is from the USA if this will help. So I'm still a little flustered on what I should do. Also, I'll be traveling alone since all my friends won't have leave until the end of december...might meet up with them on a certain island somewhere...hence the need to have some internet somewhere. So when is it and where is it that I can obtain a tourist Visa? I'll definitely need one on the return...
Thanks...
~kid

[Patong Dong]

If you're talking about the tourist visa for Thailand you need to take your passport and photos up to the Thai embassy in Seoul. It is a pretty easy process.

[wormholes101]

Just how much cheaper is it to buy a one way ticket (back to Korea) in Thailand??

I know that if you want to buy a return ticket that lasts longer than 30 days in Korea it is horrendously more expensive than on that is less than 30 days but....

definite prices anyone??

[rapier]

Wormholes: I found it difficult to buy a one way from Bangkok to seoul. Usually only return tickets. When I eventually found a one- way, it was more expensive than a return.
Can't remember the exact prices though.

[Tiger Beer]

[Kiddirts]

a couple more questions for those that have done the thai thing...

1) Would you recommend taking a girl with you, or would that be the ultimate "taking sand to the beach" mistake. I like this chick a lot and would rather be "with her" than with "whatever happens" Just started dating...haven't hit it yet, but a trip to Thailand would speed things up.

2) How are the Western restaurants in terms of prices? Mad cheap at your average place or do they reflect American prices? A benningan's Quesadilla isn't 13,000 won like at some places I know, hmmm...

3) Don't wanna bang around bangkok if I do go solo, would rather just find a real hot girl, have her tested, done deal...are there many clinics around...how long for HIV test results?

4) Anyone been to the all-night moon party? I want to really "chill-out" any heads up on that?

A very good sight for anyone who is thinking of going is: http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/

I found this dude tells it like it is...very informative

[Patong Dong]

There are plenty of western restaurants in places like Phuket and Samui that are run by expats so they are pretty reasonable. I went to Friday's in Bangkok and although it is definitely pricier than non-franchise places it won't break the bank to do it once or twice. There are some really good places run by expats but sometimes they just can't get all the materials they need at afordable prices so it can be hit and miss in Phuket and Samui, avoid the Greek places, they just don't cut it. If you are into ribs I know a greta and affordable place run by an American in Patong beach.

There are clinics all over and a lot of girls that work in the toursit bars go of their own volition, but always better safe than sorry. Turnaround time can be short but I would think to be absolutely sure it needs to be longer than half a day. That is just a guess though. Meet a girl you like and invite her to travel, happens all the time, you'll pay for everything and she'll expect some cash at the end, and if you are foolish enough to give your proper email address she'll hound you forever with "my darling I love and miss you, my mother/buffalo is sick, can you help me..." emails

[Kiddirts]

Great prices...just hit a travel agent today...if anyone can go before December...round trip to Bangkok is ONLY 400,000 won. December 1st prices jump up over 500,000...here's the dilemna...I HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY back here in Korea as of yet. The roundtrip is only good for 30 days...hell, with no responsibilty, I might as well just come back when the weather is nicer because from there on in and as long as I stay in Korea it'll be a bust my ass part-time/part-time gig with no more Thailand Vacays or even 2 days off back to back. What are the odds 30 days is NOT ENOUGH time considering my situation...

[Mr. Pink]

[Tiger Beer]

I'll be flying to BKK this Saturday for one week.. back in Korea on Sunday Dec.7.

Airfare was 420,000 through TOPS Travel..

[Patong Dong]

Odds are good 30 days is not enough if you have the time and some cash. I stayed about 18 months longer than I planned. If if you don't go that extreme it'll be easy to go more than a month and you might be regretting it if you are hanging on a beach somewhere on island time and you have no choice but to catch the flight back.