Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [209]
Sor. Vorapin Gym (Map; 0 2282 3551; www.thaiboxings.com; 13 Trok Krasab, Th Chakraphong) Just around the corner from Th Khao San; offers daily and weekly training schedules primarily for foreigners of both genders. More serious training is held at a second facility outside the city. A half-day costs 500B, the weekly rate is 2500B and a month is 9000B.
Muay Thai Institute (off Map; 0 2992 0095-99; www.muaythai-institute.net; Rangsit Muay Thai Stadium, 336/932 Th Prahonyothin [after Soi 119], Prachatipat, Pathum Thani; tuition per week from 5800B) Associated with the respected World Muay Thai Council, the institute offers a fundamental course (consisting of three levels of expertise), as well as courses for instructors, referees and judges. If you’re interested, make an appointment to visit the facility, which is north of Bangkok, and watch the teachers and students at work.
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CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
The white-uniformed officers of Thai customs prohibit the import or export of the usual array of goods – porn, weapons, drugs – and if you’re caught with drugs in particular expect life never to be the same again. Otherwise, they’re quite reasonable. The usual 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco are allowed in without duty, along with 1L of wine or spirits. Ditto for electronic goods as long as you don’t look like you’re planning to sell them – best to leave your third and fourth laptops at home.
For information on currency import or export, see Click here. For details on exporting Buddha images and other antiquities, see Click here. For hours of fun reading other customs details (useful if you’re planning on moving to Thailand), check out www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/indexEng.jsp.
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DISCOUNT CARDS
The Th Khao San trade in fake student cards and press passes is still bubbling along 20 years after it began. Not surprisingly, Bangkok institutions don’t accept these cards as proof of anything. Which means the only way to get a student discount here is to dress in the black and white uniform of Thai universities…which isn’t really worth it.
Most of the major shopping centres around Siam Sq and Emporium offer a standard 5% off to tourists. To get it, you need a ‘5% off’ card, which usually comes attached to the free tourist maps from the tourist booths around town. If you don’t have one, don’t fret. If you don’t look Thai, in most cases the staff will ask if you are a tourist and, before you can nod, will have whipped out a spare card from under the counter. Once you’ve paid and had your discount, they’ll take you to the VAT Refund office for a bit more saving (see Click here for details).
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ELECTRICITY
Electric current is 220V, 50 cycles. Electrical wall outlets are usually of the two-pin type. Some outlets accept plugs with two flat pins, and some will accept either flat or round pins. Any electrical supply shop will carry adaptors for international plugs, as well as voltage converters.
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EMBASSIES
Some Bangkok embassies are listed here. For a full and regularly updated list, go to www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php and click through to Thailand and the World, Diplomatic Corps Directory and Diplomatic and Consular List to get to the list under Diplomatic Missions. For Thai missions click Directory and, at the bottom, Thailand’s Missions Abroad. In emergency situations after hours, call the relevant number below and listen carefully to the voice prompts for the duty officer’s mobile number.
Australia (Map; 0 2344 6300; www.austembassy.or.th; 37 Th Sathon Tai, Sathon; Lumphini exit 2)
Cambodia (Map; 0 2957 5851; 518/4 Th Pracha Uthit (aka Soi Ramkhamhaeng 39), Wangthonglang)
Canada (Map; 0 2636 0540; geo.international.gc.ca/asia/bangkok; 15th fl, Abdulrahim Bldg, 990 Th Phra Ram IV, Lumphini; Si Lom exit 2; Sala Daeng exit 4)
China (Map; 0 2245 0088, 2245 7044; www.chinaembassy.or.th/eng; 57 Th Ratchadaphisek, Din Daeng; Thailand Cultural Centre exit 3)
France Embassy (Map; 0 2266