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BigAfarang

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Everything posted by BigAfarang

  1. Thank you! I definitely plan on getting this done. At least the JE. Hopefully I'll have enough time to space out the rabies shots.
  2. I'd like to get vaccinated against both of these while in bangkok this time. Any recommendations on clinics or cosdt estimates?
  3. Using innovative language Thai right now. I like it. Pimsleur is great too.
  4. They have a pretty good system for free and some very inexpensive options. There's a couple of different membership options. I got the middle tier. The next level up includes live tutoring. I don't like that you have to pay in advance, but I think the $240 for two years is pretty reasonable. I looked into Rosetta stone but read a lot of bad reviews about the Thai program. And I think I saw that it doesn't work on newer versions of windows. I think they stopped producing thai in the newer versions of Rosetta stone.
  5. This seems like a good program. Just started a week or two ago. I have already learned some new useful phrases and expanded my vocabulary. The flash card system is excellent. The lessons are 5 - 7 mins. They use what I would call a modified pimsleur method. I signed up for 3 months initially but will prib sign up for two years after that initial trial. Its around $23 a month for a 3 month subscription. $240 for a 24 month subscription. Good stuff so far.
  6. I bought linguaphone several months ago. Thankfully I got a refurbished version which was about $140 if I remember correctly. The price for a new course was outrageous. I thought this program was terrible. Please don't waste your money on it. I think someone with a serious amount of time to devote to it and massive concentration could benefit from it. But if you can only devote a half hour to an hour a day and are more concerned about speaking than reading there are better options.
  7. Pimsleur is a great program. You will learn a lot of material and it really helps nail pronunciation. Its the best method for language learning I've found so far. I just wish they made more tapes. Its a great way to learn enough basic thai that you can walk around and have at least one useful phrase for any normal situation. And it really helps with sentence structure. It's a great base to learn some sentence structure, important verbs and question words. Plenty of useful phrases like asking for something politely, where is the bathroom, hotel, resteraunt, airport etc. After completing this course, most importantly, you will be able to negotiate the price of your transaction with a girl exclusively in Thai. Excellent course.
  8. I'll have too check it out. Wonder about pseudoephedrine too. Finished my trip report by the way birdhaus.
  9. Glad to hear they made the process easy for you birdhaus. I believe narcotic means opiate based. Has anyone had any trouble with other RX meds? I brought in lorazepam, muscle relaxers, without even considering legalities.
  10. Insurance covered most of it, about $10 a pill for me. Only taken leading up to asnd during trip. I initially was taking it just as insurance against condom failure. Seemed worth it. Also, not sure why this happened, but condoms ain't getting it done for me anymore. Can't seem to keep it up with one on. And I'm def not done plowing the rice paddies yet. May try them again next year with the aid of viagara. As far as the other STDs, they are a concern, but I'm also gonna take doxycycline prophylactically. I read a study from Spain amongst gay men that said it dramatically reduced the spread of ghonnorhea and syphillis. And yes diabolic "cray cray" is asbout spot on at this point.
  11. I took Truvada, which is shown to be 97% effective in reducing the chance of contracting aids when taken properly. I took it for a week before my trip, throughout the trip, and for a week after. Definitely made me comfortable enough for BBFS. Although that may have led to other problems, ad I mentioned in a post under newbie advice. Anyone else taken this for mongering trips?
  12. A review of the Marriott executive apartments on Soi Long Suan: This review is based on a stay from 1/9/16-1/17/16. The hotel itself: I travelled with 2 friends to bangkok on my first trip earlier this year. We stayed in a 3 bedroom apartment at this property. The room was excellent. Very spacious. We easily could have had a fourth or fifth guy along. Beds were large and very comfortable. The 2 bathrooms were very nice. Shower large and spacious in master bedroom, which was great for bringing in a girl. Very nice living room area and kitchen. We could have done a lot more cooking and I intend to utilize it more on my next trip. Wi-fi worked well. No problems with the outlets and charging devices, as I've experienced in Europe. My only complaint about the room was that the in room washer\dryer did not do a great job on the drying end, usually taking a few attempts to get a load dry. Other than that a great room with a very nice street view out of the large windows. Service/staff: I work at a four star hotel, and these guys/girls far exceed my expectations. Very helpful and welcoming. Most had sufficient English, some were able to carry on a conversation. We chatted with the front door staff while waiting for cabs and one of the valets was quite friendly, with great English, and inquired about our home and plans. Very nice guy. Housekeeping was excellent. Calls for extra towels, an extra robe for my girl, anything like that, were answered immediately and the items delivered rapidly. We did tip well, which I'm sure helped in all aspects of service. Door staff was great for hailing a cab, although I've learned its better to do that yourself away from a 5 star like this, but that's a whole different topic. When we said we were going to Soi Cowboy, thedthed valet waved a cab around and yelled "Cowboy!" With enthusiasm, which I found hillarious. The desk staff was always welcoming and some of the girls were gorgeous. Resteraunt/room service: Great breakfast buffet! Up to western standards for standard bacon, eggs, pancakes. Omelette bar. Great fresh fruit. Also a variety of Thai and other Asian foods, along with some Arabian options. I think anyone from anywhere would have enjoyed the breakfast. A little pricy, 700 bhat I think, but this buffet in the states could easily cost more. We got the breakfast inclusive option for the next trip for only an extra 100 bhat per night, which is an extraordinary deal for this buffet. Room service ordered on about 7 occasions between the three of us. Always fast and of high quality. Even good eggs benedict. Nice little bar by the pool, quiet and pricy, but good for a quick drink or light meal. Pool: Saltwater pool, spacious quiet and very pleasant surroundings. Cute little elephants pouring water in from their trunks that my cute lil Thai girl loved to play under. 2 hot tubs. Had a lot of fun up there with her. She was scared of the hot tub, which was absolutely adorable, but I got her to try it. She loved the jets! No one was up there late at night. We did get some funny looks from some old Chinese ladies! Atmosphere: A good mix of travellers of all sorts. Some Arabic, many Chinese, Indians, some other Americans and Europeans. Single adult males like us as well as families. Everyone was cool and got along. My girl even waved at the kids with their families and it was all smiles from everyone. Girl-friendly: I don't know if this place is officially girl friendly, but it definitely was for me! We walked right in, the door staff greeted and waied to us. My girl exchanged pleasantries in Thai with the front desk girl. They did not ask for her ID, but I offered. The front desk politely declined saying something like "not needed." Room service was served to both of us and housekeeping was carried out with her in the room, so no indications it was not girl-friendfly, although I do wonder if that was partially due to our good tipping and overall friendliness towards the staff. Going to the same property this year and I doubt there will be any problems with the girls coming in. Seemed like a laid back place where they respect your privacy, as it should be at any 4 star or above hotel. Area: Walking distance to BTS. Walking distance to Sukhumvit. We tried to walk to cowboy at one point but I almost passed out in the heat, so that's not practical. Nice little street, Soi Long Suan. Seemed like as nice neighborhood. Great little bar/cafe across the street with live music. A Thai guy singing some great American classic rock very well. Villa market around the corner, great for stocking up on water, or booze, or food. Waslking dfistance to the high end western style grocery store down on Sukhumvit. Overall, I highly recommend this hotel. It made our stay very stress free and enjoyable. Quiet little area to escape the madness of Bangkok.
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