Information on where to go and what to do in Bangkok, from a South African who has been there.

Finally I am getting around to posting on our Thailand trip, we went there at the end of March. Our first 3 nights were in Bangkok. We stayed in the Narai Hotel Silom. Silom is a quite a central district and it is very easy to get around from our Hotel. Just a few steps down the road and there is a little alleyway with all sorts of little Thai restaurants.

The first thing we noticed is the heat. Thailand is very hot! When packing to go there, the only long pants you will need are the ones you wear on the aeroplane. The only long sleeve top you will need is some sort of waterproof item for when you take a boat and get soaked by the rain (but more on that later).

The second thing you will notice is the traffic – at all hours of the day the roads are packed. Tuk-Tuk drivers will offer you a lift from anywhere, to anywhere, but be careful. They often give you a “discount” if you visit a specific shop (usually silk and jewellery), which is way out of your way and very time consuming. Taxis are cheap, but be sure to ask them if they will use the meter, otherwise dont bother. I personally found the fastest and best way to get around was the Sky Train. Cheap, fast, and no traffic. From way up there in the sky you can also see a lot of the city below you as you rush past. The last form of transport we tried were the boats, also cheap and fast, and definitely an experience! There is also a scooter taxi that we didn’t try out.

The prices you should be paying for transport in Bangkok:

Taxi: 35B – there after it is metered
Tuk-Tuk: 40 – 50B for two per trip anywhere.
Sky Train: 20 – 40B one way depending on number of stations.
Boat: 20B per person

Patpong night market is madness. Every 2 steps you will get an invite to a “live show”, asked to buy a pair of jeans, t-shirt and any other kind of “made in Thailand” merchandise. It is a great experience, but I don’t recommend going alone.

Check out the huge malls (easily accessible by Sky Train) MBK and Central World are rigth next to each other, and they are huge!

There are plenty of temples to see, we only went to the ones in Bangkok, but our friends did a tour to some huge palaces outside the city. Remember the heat, and temples don’t have aircon.

The floating market is over rated.

If you are considering Netotel as a service provider please read on

Neotel’s advertising campaign is something along the lines of “Telkom takes too long to install” and “Telkom is too expensive”.

They neglect to tell you that their “super cheap 17c per minute rate” is ONLY applicable with Neotel to Neotel calls.
Also, I have had 3 Telkom ADSL’s installed in the last 18 months, each time the turn around was less than 10 days, AND  the technicians call you to confirm time and address.

Neotel never called me. From when I applied for the contract, every message I left, and every email I sent, I only ever received one call from them (see further on).

Neotel had the worst latency on the line. For a 2MB line one would expect to be able to play some online games – this is not possible on Neotel.

Also, you can’t use the phone and internet at the same time!

For this reason, along with my terribly slow download speeds (2-  16Kb/s) I promptly cancelled my contract within the 7 day window. After calling Neotel a few times to confirm that I would not be liable for anything and sending through all the relevant cancellation emails I thought it was sorted out.

All I had to do was wait for their rep to call me so that they could pay my deposit back, and collect their device. I emailed them weekly to follow up and then eventually I got my first ever call from Neotel. They said they wanted to collect the device and I told them it was fine, but I want my R500 deposit back.

Since last April when I received this call, I have not heard from Neotel until an email came through (terribly formatted to say the least). This email was a final letter of demand from a law firm representing Neotel. The way it is formatted below is EXACTLY how it came to me.

I didn’t get any first, second, or third letter of demand. Only a FINAL one.

MR *** FINAL DEMAND REFERENCE NUMBER: AN000*** Dear Sir/Madam NEOTEL (PTY) LTD // MR *** RE: NeoConnect Prime 2.5G ACCOUNT NEOTEL ACCOUNT NUMBER: R00011**** IDENTITY NUMBER / REGISTRATION NUMBER: **********081 TOTAL OUTSTANDING AMOUNT DUE: R 1,528.16 1. We hereby act on behalf of Neotel (Pty) Ltd (“our client”) and have been instructed to address this email to you. 2. According to our instructions you are indebted to our client in the amount of R 1,528.16 in terms of the telecommunications services agreement you entered into with our client. 3. Our instructions are that, despite previous demand, you have failed to make payment of the abovementioned outstanding amount. This email is send to you as last resort in an attempt to resolve the matter amicable and to avoid expensive legal costs. 4. Therefore, you are hereby demanded to make payment of the Total Outstanding Amount Due within 7 (seven) days from date hereof. 5. In the alternative to paragraph 4 above, you are hereby demanded to make payment of at least 50% of the Total Outstanding Amount Due within 7 (seven) days from date hereof. Furthermore you are requested to contact our offices and make an acceptable payment arrangement for the remainder of the Total Outstanding Amount Due. 6. Payment should be made to: MACROBERT INCORPORATED TRUST ACCOUNT STANDARD BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER: ********* BRANCH CODE: 010045 ALWAYS QUOTE YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER: AN000*** 7. Our immediate instructions are that, should No Payment be received within 7 (seven) days hereof, to approach the Johannesburg Magistrates Court to issue a Summons against your name and to obtain Default Judgement. Your name will furthermore be listed at the necessary Credit Bureaus, i.e. “Blacklisted”. 8. We trust the above action will not be necessary and look forward receiving your payment. Yours faithfully MACROBERT ATTORNEYS PER : J A ERASMUS Direct telephone numbers: 012 – 425 3612 or / 3618 / 3619 / 3626 / 3628 / 3630 / 3631 / 3633 / 3635 / 3637 / 3638 / 3639 / 3642/ 3643 / 3643 / 3644 / 3645 Direct fax number: 012 – 425 3657 Email address: _email address supplied_

I emailed them back with a bunch of email conversations and reference numbers. I also explained to them that Neotel owes me money.

Let’s see how this turns out.

Note: I’d never use a law firm that uses such hideously formatted emails.

UPDATE:

New email this morning from Macrobert. Why would I want to make an interim payment?

MR *** Gauteng 2191 Your Reference Number: AN000*** Dear Sir/Madam NEOTEL (PTY) LTD // MR *** RE: NEOTEL NeoConnect Prime 2.5G ACCOUNT ACCOUNT NUMBER: R000****** IDENTITY NUMBER / REGISTRATION NUMBER: ***********81 TOTAL OUTSTANDING AMOUNT DUE: R 1528.16 We confirm that your file has been placed on a dispute status with our offices. Detail of your dispute has been sent through to Neotel. As soon as your dispute has been resolved, we will revert back to you. Should you wish to make an interim payment towards the above account, herewith our banking details: MACROBERT INCORPORATED TRUST ACCOUNT STANDARD BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER: *** BRANCH CODE: 010045 ALWAYS QUOTE YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER: AN000*** We trust the above in order. Yours faithfully MACROBERT INC PER : J A ERASMUS Direct telephone numbers: 012 – 425 3612 or / 3618 / 3619 / 3626 / 3628 / 3630 / 3631 / 3633 / 3635 / 3637 / 3639 / 3642 / 3643 Direct telefax numbe: 012 – 425 3657 Email address: ***

This year is going to be great!

Check it out:

My friend and I closed our sideline business www.q2g.co.za (link shouldn’t work!)

My mother-in-law started a new business selling herbalife! www.herbaldirect.co.za We know there are so many Herbalife distributors out there – but free delivery, online orders, and a toll free number should get her recognised.

My mother is probably going to do some major renovations and rent out half her house.

My father-in-law is relaunching his business – for all of you who need staffing and casual labour.

My wife left one of her jobs and is much happier!

And I am going to get my first MCTS out of the way MCTS 70-536 2nd Edition

As I was about to leave work on Friday afternoon, I got a nasty surprise!

Luckily for me, the facilities staff at Mustek were VERY helpful and assisted me by making a plate to reconnect the terminal, new nuts to attach it, and the tools to perform all this.

Excuse the poor phone quality photos.

Thank you Chris.

We went camping in Dullstrrom this past weekend – I never knew I could be so cold in my life!

To top it off – after two freezing cold nights, Kieth said he had a spare sleeping bag I could have used. Nice… :/