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81

Although you do cross a bridge into Burma at Mae Sai, it is technically a land border crossing, so yes.

Just back from three weeks there over Christmas, and there’s still plenty of them around, but I suspect that is the aim.

HG[/quote]

You guys know a lot about Thailand so I was wondering if you could help me. What’s the best way to get from BKK to Mae Sot? And from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai?

I was going to do the bus or train but not sure. I think we’ll just fly from Chiang Mai to BKK if it’s not too expensive.

ATM cards, I always forget my 4-digit pin number because I never use it. I can just use the 6-digit number from my Taiwan bank account right? I don’t feel like exchanging money to USD if I can just go to the hole in the wall.

Thanks in advance for your help. :slight_smile:

82

I hate buses, and will always opt for a plane or train trip where I can, so I suggest, if you’re not taking flights - which are pretty cheap actually at around Bt2,500 odd one way on the furtherest routes - taking the overnight train with sleeper to Chiang Mai then up and back via bus. I guess it would be more efficient, time wise, to take a bus to Mae Sot from BKK, then from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai and train or plane back.

Dunno about Taiwan ATM cards, can’t recall from the days when I had one, and I’m in HK now with a four digit PIN.

Cheers.
HG

83

thanks a lot for the heads up Chen, I am in Pattaya right now actually

so all the banks charges around 33baht per traveler’s check when you cash it, it’s suppose to be free when you buy the check and cash it out isn’t it?

but the exchange rate is better for traveler’s check vs cash…about 1 baht more…why is that?

84

Aiyo! Sorry. No idea. I never use traveler’s cheques. I only ever use ATMs.

I’m heading back to Pattaya on Friday to pick up my boy, who is currently being beaten half to death on a daily basis at a Muay Thai school, and heading off to Koh Samet.

Cheers.
HG

85

[quote=“Huang Guang Chen”]I hate buses, and will always opt for a plane or train trip where I can, so I suggest, if you’re not taking flights - which are pretty cheap actually at around Bt2,500 odd one way on the furtherest routes - taking the overnight train with sleeper to Chiang Mai then up and back via bus. I guess it would be more efficient, time wise, to take a bus to Mae Sot from BKK, then from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai and train or plane back.

Dunno about Taiwan ATM cards, can’t recall from the days when I had one, and I’m in HK now with a four digit PIN.

Cheers.
HG[/quote]

Thanks a lot for your suggestion HG. I think we’ll do the train from BKK to Mae Sot (if it doesn’t take too long) and then the bus from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai. Sleeper train from Chaing Mai to BKK is a good idea and can save a night in the hotel as well. I hope the overnight trains are clean enough in Thailand because if not I’m gonna get an earful from the miss. :scooby:

86

Wait, wait, wait! The train is overnight from BKK to chiang Mai, but maybe in the day on the way back. Also, I’m not sure the train even goes to Mae Sot.

Here’s a website with Thai train info.

HG

87

ok just got a bike ticket for going the wrong way in one way street…he said to go take the ticket and pay it at the station and go back to where he was to get my license back…when I asked can I do it tomorrow he said do it today…he will be off in 1 or 2 hours so I should come back before he is off…what’s up with that ? any idea how much is the ticket…maybe I will just get another international permit when I get back to Taiwan…probably cheaper that way…actually anyone know how much is the international driving permit in Taiwan? thanks

88

Just got mine today, all I needed was NT250, two pictures, ARC and drivers license.

89

ouch…should have just forget about the ticket and get the permit in Taiwan…costed me 600 baht to get the permit back…was going to try to slip the cop 200baht and get the permit back but he was like no no no no…go to station, ticket receipt only…lol oh well I still got serveral days left here I shouldn’t drive without a permit

90

Bummer! You must have got the only honest cop in all of Pattaya! His name wasn’t Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, was it?

HG

91

lol no clue…oh well

post up some pictures of your son’s training! let’s see

92

Sure. Here’s a youtube of the club. They train 7 hours a day. :astonished:

HG

93

nice…I want to try it out sometimes…when I have time

94

hey Mr Chen I rented a 125cc hayata bike for 212baht a day…any idea what’s the cheapest rate I can get per day? for like 7 days…thanks

95

You serious? Bt212, not Bt202? Normal rentals are around Bt150-200 a day, so you’re clearly being screwed. Well, that’s the rate elsewhere, but Koh Samet is a little more expensive, for some reason.

Might I suggest consulting the good folks at Thai Visa to prevent such exorbitant ripoffs in the future?

HG

96

ya totally got ripped off…it’s that escape rental in Soi Boukaw…rented a 115cc bike before and it was 166 baht a day and I rented for 9 days…not going back there again…found some small rental place near walking ST for about 150 a day for a 125cc! but that was after I have rented the bike.

Should I lock up the wheel (with wheel lock) when I park it? I was too lazy to do it I just find some busy street and park it, but Pattaya is pretty safe isn’t it.

thanks for that forum…checking it out now! btw Thai airway is talking about doing 45 to 55% off in their flights nationmultimedia.com/breakin … nal-prices
nationmultimedia.com/breakin … s-approved

however still do see those 45-55% off in eztravel

97

Mate, I was joking! I was surprised you got those odd numbers, as even your most unscrupulous Thai sleazebag will usually opt for a round 150 or 200 rather than some odd number.

Is Pattaya safe? No way! Has to be the most dangerous place in all of Thailand, except possibly Poipet on the Cambodian border. :laughing:

Check the Crime pages at Pattaya People for a glimpse into the normal madness that is Pattaya. The key issue in Pattaya is that it;s a sleaze magnet for global idiots, and the closest city to Cambodia, making it a perfect place for Cambodian undesirables to hide out and do their worst. Then there’s the Loatian and Burmers illegals, and a vast array of Thai drug addicts and felons, all fueled by the city’s love of drunkeness, ice, yaa baa and assorted madness. Still, despite the truly appalling incidence of unspeakable violence, it’s usually ordinary crimes of opportunity that will get ya.

That said, I was back there with the missus dropping the boy back to his Muay Thai camp for a couple of days before heading back to HK yesterday and had a great time.

HG

98

Pattaya safe? Depends what you mean by safe! It’s one of the few places in the world that I’ve been that has freaked me out. Heard some interesting stories - probably half urban legends- about the place. Apart from the silly stuff I could deal with (some weirdo Japanese guy following me into a bathroom!), I never felt that someone wasn’t watching me and sizing me up. Never actually got robbed, though.

Easy to get to from ChonBuri, though, my glorious abode before I made it to the Plum Town.

Edit Just as HGC said. Didn’t read his first.

99

ya I rented the bike for 9 days and it’s 1900 baht for 9 days so 212 per day…

wow I better be careful the next time I am in Pattaya…usually I go there by myself until late at night…have been there 3 times now and so far so good, need to be more careful!

100

There’s an insane figure I read somewhere that of all the Brits that die abroad, 20% of them die in Thailand, even though 0.6% of foreign travel by Brits is to Thailand.