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Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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Zark

Joined: 12 May 2003 Location: Phuket, Thailand: Look into my eyes . . .
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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Lumpini Stadium is the place for Muay Thai. A cultural treat.
Actually, Lumpini Park is an extra cool place for a Sunday stroll to see the people out with their karaoke machines singing in the park. |
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desultude

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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SweetBear wrote: |
RachaelRoo wrote: |
Hey Sweetbear, I'll be in Bangkok for 6 nights - Sunday to Saturday. So I should be able to change money at the airport even at this time? I'm worried because a friend of mine said everything might be closed.
Any river tours you can recommend? |
Yes, no worries at the airport, it's my favorite airport actually, a lot of stuff going on. I arrived in the early hours of the morning there once, changed my money, got a massage, it was great !
However if you are nervous, change enough for an emergency. Always a good idea anyway.
I haven't taken a cruise yet, have been toying with that idea ( heading up there soon again) but was also contemplating taking the water taxis instead and using that money for something else. Virtual tourist has an excellent forum/travel site by the way :
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Thailand/Central_Eastern_Thailand/Bangkok-1445238/TravelGuide-Bangkok.html
Hope you have fun
sb |
About changing money- why not take an ATM card instead? There are lots of machines in the airport and elsewhere. Last time I was there, I had a stash of won for traveling home cash, and it was swiped out of the hidden place in my backpack that I thought was safe. It was 150,000 won- not a huge hit for me, but enough to take care of the cleaning lady's family for a long time.
Why invite trouble- use a card and take the cash as you need it. |
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desultude

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="itaewonguy"]
coolsage wrote: |
Don't use a tuktuk under any circumstances; it's the hot season there now, and the air in BKK is never good. Splash out on an aircon taxi. They're cheap enough. quote]
I disagree its not a real trip unless you have experienced a TUK TUK
100 bht should be enough for your tuk tuk travels,,,
cab always go by the METER! |
Save the tuk-tuk for a smaller town- summer in Bangkok, at street level, breathing in those fumes? Your lungs deserve better. Air con taxis (make sure the meter is running!) are the way to go. I love tuk-tuks in Siem Reap, and Chiang Mai, but not Bangkok. |
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tiger fancini

Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Location: Testicles for Eyes
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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Go shopping!! MBK is an awesome shopping mall, where you can get most things. Siam Square is only across the road and there's some pretty cool places there too.
I enjoyed going to the cinema in Bangkok. At first I wasnt quite sure what the socks and pillows and blankets were for, but once the air con kicked in the auditorium cooled down big time and they were a godsend.
If you like adrenaline rushes, then be sure to take a motorbike taxi. Granted, they are not everybodies cup of tea but I rather enjoyed the terror, and trying to make sure my limbs didnt connect with any of the cars we were wizzing past/squeezing inbetween was fun!
If you do decide to stay in the Ko San Rd area, see if you can find some thai herbal whiskey. We got some from an outdoor bar set up in a garage forecourt, that was just around the corner from the top of Ko San (near Gullivers bar). I'm not totally sure whats in it, how its made, whether its legal or not, but it sure is good stuff!  |
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SweetBear

Joined: 18 May 2003
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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desultude wrote: |
SweetBear wrote: |
RachaelRoo wrote: |
Hey Sweetbear, I'll be in Bangkok for 6 nights - Sunday to Saturday. So I should be able to change money at the airport even at this time? I'm worried because a friend of mine said everything might be closed.
Any river tours you can recommend? |
Yes, no worries at the airport, it's my favorite airport actually, a lot of stuff going on. I arrived in the early hours of the morning there once, changed my money, got a massage, it was great !
However if you are nervous, change enough for an emergency. Always a good idea anyway.
I haven't taken a cruise yet, have been toying with that idea ( heading up there soon again) but was also contemplating taking the water taxis instead and using that money for something else. Virtual tourist has an excellent forum/travel site by the way :
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Thailand/Central_Eastern_Thailand/Bangkok-1445238/TravelGuide-Bangkok.html
Hope you have fun
sb |
About changing money- why not take an ATM card instead? There are lots of machines in the airport and elsewhere. Last time I was there, I had a stash of won for traveling home cash, and it was swiped out of the hidden place in my backpack that I thought was safe. It was 150,000 won- not a huge hit for me, but enough to take care of the cleaning lady's family for a long time.
Why invite trouble- use a card and take the cash as you need .it |
You know I suggested that to my sister for her visit, but she said that her bank card ( UK issued) would charge her high fees every time. Maybe not a problem for other card holders? I had always used my ATM on previous trips. |
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desultude

Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:15 am Post subject: |
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SweetBear wrote: |
desultude wrote: |
SweetBear wrote: |
RachaelRoo wrote: |
Hey Sweetbear, I'll be in Bangkok for 6 nights - Sunday to Saturday. So I should be able to change money at the airport even at this time? I'm worried because a friend of mine said everything might be closed.
Any river tours you can recommend? |
Yes, no worries at the airport, it's my favorite airport actually, a lot of stuff going on. I arrived in the early hours of the morning there once, changed my money, got a massage, it was great !
However if you are nervous, change enough for an emergency. Always a good idea anyway.
I haven't taken a cruise yet, have been toying with that idea ( heading up there soon again) but was also contemplating taking the water taxis instead and using that money for something else. Virtual tourist has an excellent forum/travel site by the way :
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Thailand/Central_Eastern_Thailand/Bangkok-1445238/TravelGuide-Bangkok.html
Hope you have fun
sb |
About changing money- why not take an ATM card instead? There are lots of machines in the airport and elsewhere. Last time I was there, I had a stash of won for traveling home cash, and it was swiped out of the hidden place in my backpack that I thought was safe. It was 150,000 won- not a huge hit for me, but enough to take care of the cleaning lady's family for a long time.
Why invite trouble- use a card and take the cash as you need .it |
You know I suggested that to my sister for her visit, but she said that her bank card ( UK issued) would charge her high fees every time. Maybe not a problem for other card holders? I had always used my ATM on previous trips. |
Yes, they charge fees- still cheaper and safer than being robbed! |
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Grotto

Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 4:17 am Post subject: |
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You can change your money at the airport and you usually get a slightly better exchange rate there than you do at a bank.
Use traveler cheques....you will have to cash them in at banks but at least they are safe.
I cant remember the name of the tour but it starts at a hotel(they pick up guests from several different hotels) and then you get bussed to several temples over 3 or 4 hours.(some shopping at some of these sights). They stop by the largest reclining Buddha in Thailand. About noonish you stop at the river and get on a large air conditioned boat and have a very nice buffet lunch and meander your way back into Bangkok via the river. The tour ends at a very upscale mall and then they bus you back to your hotels. It was pretty cheap and very interesting.
Not exactly sure but I think this is the one: Tours
Price (THB)
Time
Booking
Ayutthaya Cruise
Adults - 1,600
07:30 - 17:00 Daily
Book this tour
Includes: lunch, tour and transfer to/from your hotel. |
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RachaelRoo

Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Location: Anywhere but Ulsan!
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:16 am Post subject: |
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Wow. Bangkok is AWESOME. I'm here now and it's incredible.
Grotto, today, I took that tour you suggested and you were right, it's great. The reclining Buddha was a real real sight! Also Wat Mahatat was something I'm glad I didn't miss.
Shopping here is fantastic too - not only are the clothes of a good quality and cheap, but everything fits perfectly. I can even buy shoes that fit my my extra wide size nine feet.
And I can't believe how many people speak English! What the hell is wrong with Korea? The maid in my hotel speaks fluent English, along with sales ladies in the department stores, taxi drivers, and just about everyone I've talked to.
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! It's gonna be hard to come back to Korea after this trip. |
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travel zen
Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Location: Good old Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
And I can't believe how many people speak English! What the hell is wrong with Korea? |
Very Funny! You sound a little colonial/imperialist, but thats what's funny
At least people in Korea are polite (enough), you should try China.
Have a great time. |
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justagirl

Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Cheonan/Portland
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
What the hell is wrong with Korea? |
Well....maybe they didn't have lots of English colonies around! (not that Thailand was a colony, but most of SE Asia was colonized by England, France, etc.)  |
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Masterjazz
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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I think yolll find taht everyone involved in any aspect of Thailands tourism industry(that generally includes hotel maids) will speak perfect english. Toursim is their no.1insudstry and earner , this is the only reason and nothing to do with colonial issues... |
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itaewonguy

Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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Masterjazz wrote: |
I think yolll find taht everyone involved in any aspect of Thailands tourism industry(that generally includes hotel maids) will speak perfect english. Toursim is their no.1insudstry and earner , this is the only reason and nothing to do with colonial issues... |
thats right..
you ever hear people saying, "IM going to korean for a holiday"
no one comes here so they dont really need to speak English..
thats way Korean is good, only in Korea.. |
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