T

TNT. Popular old-movie cable television channel. Available from the Kingdom’s lone provider of cable television service, "We’re-not-a-monopoly" UBC.

Tattler [The Washington Square]. [See entry for "The Washington Square Tattler" below.]

Taxi Cheats. Unfortunately, there are far too many of these, particularly among the ranks of the unmetered taxis, which are supposedly being phased out, but which persist. Your best bet is NOT to take any taxi which doesn’t have a meter. But even when taking a metered taxi – even one from the metered-taxi desk at Don Muang Airport, for which you pay a 50-baht premium for their supposed "honesty" – is to establish ALL costs BEFORE you get into the taxi. Some of the taxis working from the airport legally will pick you up, assuring you that everything is just fine – then, 200-300 meters down the road, the drivers want to turn off the meters, charge you a ridiculously high price, and make you pay extra fees above and beyond the legitimate extra fees of 50 baht per piece of baggage and actual costs for tolls on the expressways. The tollway costs should NOT exceed 70-80 baht for anyone traveling to central bangkok from the airport. If you find yourself in a taxi in which the driver tries to pull these shenanigans, insist he pull over and stop immediately, and threaten to call the Tourist Police; often, the mere mention of "Tourist Police" (which very well may be all the driver understands) is enough to want you to get out as badly as you want to get out. Though most of you won’t be able to read Thai, try to memorize the numbers on the taxi’s license plate, and report it to the desk where you engaged it. Also report it to the Airport Police. This generally has not resulted in any satisfaction for travelers, but that’s largely because most choose to ignore it and flag down another taxi. If enough people raise cane and threaten to depart immediately – along with their bundles of foreign exchange Thailand desperately both wants and needs – then maybe the tourism authorities, police, and other relevant agencies will wake up and crack down.

Away from the airport, metered taxis are generally honest. Unmetered taxis are to be avoided everywhere, throughout the Kingdom, where possible. If you get into any taxi in which a card which is clearly a permit of some kind carrying the driver’s photograph is not readily visible, GET OUT. Taxis are fairly strictly controlled, and any real taxi driver will have this government-issued document in plain view, usually on the dashboard or affixed to the passenger’s visor. The absence of this document almost certainly means the driver is masquerading as a taxi driver, which should set your alarm bells blaring – time to go to lock-‘n-load, and turn on the Target Acquisition Radar!

Taxi Fares. These start at 35 baht at flag-fall in metered taxis.

Taxis. [See entries for "Taxi Cheats" and "Taxi Fares," above, and for "Taxis Metered" and Taxi Unmetered" below.]

Taxis [Metered]. Metered taxis are your best bet, even at the airport [see entry for "Taxi Cheats" above.]. A few drivers will suggest a set price, particularly for short distances, but also will agree to use the meter if you insist, which you should – since the requested fare will be double or more of the actual fare. If you get into a metered (or any other) taxi in which a card which is clearly a permit of some kind carrying the driver’s photograph is not readily visible, GET OUT. Taxis are fairly strictly controlled, and any real taxi driver will have this government-issued document in plain view, usually on the dashboard or affixed to the passenger’s visor. The absence of this document almost certainly mean the driver is masquerading as a taxi driver, which should set your alarm bells blaring.

Taxis [Unmetered]. Our very best advice is to avoid them: completely, totally, and absolutely. Thais in the know can deal with them, as can a fe Thai-speaking foreigners knowledgeable of their destination, but others – including Thais not knowledgeable – will end of paying far more than the trip warrants. The same applies to motorcycle taxis and tuk-tuks/samlors [see entries for "Motorcylce Taxis" and "Samlor" above and for "Tuk-tuk" below].

Telephone Area Codes. Below is a complete listing of every area code in Thailand. Areas codes are set up one to each of Thailand’s 76 provinces, so if you know the province to which you are calling, then you can look up the province’s area code in the list below.

Texas Lone Staar Bar and Restaurant [Washington Square.]. The second bar, on your left, as you continue into the Square, away from the front gate. This double-shophouse bar is the most cowboy-oriented of all the Square bars, and as cowboy as virtually any cowboy-themed bar in Bangkok. Owned and run by "Generous" George – himself a veritable institution, having been in the bar business in Bangkok since he arrived in Thailand early during the Vietnam War years. The Lone Staar – that’s NOT misspelled! – offers some of the very best American food in Bangkok; particularly good are its chicken-fried steaks and deep-fried chicken, along with the USDA steaks on offer. Free lunch at 3:00 P.M. every Saturday afternoon (a long-time tradition of George’s) for alcohol drinkers. Cowboy music, darts, a very friendly staff, this is the place to go for those wanting to escape into a setting that one would expect in a West Texas saloon. Massive square bar, some wooden booths. Darts, television, music. (We have to admit a bias: "Doctor" Dennis eats here almost every day he’s in town; "Mekhong" Kurt lives above here; and "Speedo" Keith both lives upstairs and is night manager. So, all three creators of this web site have connections here!) Offers rooms for both short-term and long-term rental. 6:00 A.M.- about 1:00 A.M.

Thai Air Cargo Co., Ltd. For an extensive web site this privately-held air-cargo carrier, go to http://www.thaiaircargo.com/DEFAULT.HTM. This company air-freights cargo domestically and internationally. There’s a "Contact Us" Link there; the web site is in English.

Thai Buddhism. For a sub-section of Asia Travel’s excellent and extensive English-language web site that gives a brief introduction to religion in Thailand, go to http://asiatravel.com/thaiinfo.html#religion.

Thai New Year. Also known as “Songkhran,” this is arguably the biggest event of the year in Thailand.  It is the local Lunar New Year, but a date has been fixed in mid-March.  The traditional festival involves lovely customs, one of which as a form of blessing the pouring of a small bit of water on each other’s shoulder.  However, in recent decades many people, mostly young, have corrupted the tradition, roaming the streets with water cannons, and barrels of water in the backs of trucks together with buckets; these people will thoroughly douse everyone they can, and they will not listen to pleas -- most especially, in many cases, from foreigners.  If this kind of activity isn’t your cup of tea, you would be well advised either to remain indoors for the several days the festival lasts, or be anywhere other than in Thailand!

Thailand [Business]. For an extensive English-language and Thailand-oriented business site that also has links to some web sites in other languages, go to http://www.ethailand.com/express/

Thailand [Climate]. A sub-section of Asia Travel’s excellent and extensive English-language web site [see entry for "Asia Travel" above.] that gives a brief overview of Thailand’s climate, go to the following link. http://asiatravel.com/thaiinfo.html#climate

Thailand [Country and Travel Information]. ]. For Asia Travel’s excellent and extensive English-language web site [see entry for "Asia Travel" above.] that gives country and travel information, go to http://asiatravel.com/thaiinfo.html. [Note: this link will take you to the top of the page, where you can click directly on the links listed there, all of which are duplicated here.]

Thailand [Customs (entering and leaving)]. For a sub-section of Asia Travel’s excellent and extensive English-language web site [see entry for "Asia Travel" above.] that gives useful, if general, information about what one can bring in and take out (including currency), go to http://asiatravel.com/thaiinfo.html#customs.

Thailand [Health Regulations]. For a sub-section of Asia Travel’s excellent and extensive English-language web site [see entry for "Asia Travel" above.] that gives health regulation requirements for Thailand, go to http://asiatravel.com/thaiinfo.html#health. Be advised, however, that this is very vague; check with your local health authorities well before your trip to Thailand, particularly if coming from any "Third World" country.

Thailand [History]. For a sub-section of Asia Travel’s excellent and extensive English-language web site  that gives basic history of Thailand, go to http://asiatravel.com/thaiinfo.html#history .

Thailand [People]. For a sub-section of Asia Travel’s excellent and extensive English-language web site [see entry for "Asia Travel" above.] that gives a brief introduction to the inhabitants of Thailand, go to http://asiatravel.com/thaiinfo.html#people.

Thailand [Profile]. For a sub-section of Asia Travel’s excellent and extensive English-language web site [see entry for "Asia Travel" above.] that gives a country profile, go to http://asiatravel.com/thaiinfo.html

Thailand [Religion]. For a sub-section of Asia Travel’s excellent and extensive English-language web site [see entry for "Asia Travel" above.] that gives a brief introduction to religion in Thailand, go to http://asiatravel.com/thaiinfo.html#religion.

Thailand [Tourist Visas]. For extensive English-language web site that explains visa requirements, go to the excellent site Thaivisa.com. Be aware that in some cases stays of longer than 90 days are possible, even with only tourist visas. We know (from personal experience) that extensions of first, 30 days, then a second of 15 days, and finally a third of 7 days are available for Americans, giving a total of 112 days – Americans get a maximum of 60-day tourist visas in the first place. This varies by nationality. One has to travel to the Immigration Department Headquarters [see entry for "Immigration Department" above.] on Soi Suan Phu in Bangkok to renew the visa; each extension carries a fee of 500 baht, nonrefundable (even if your extension is denied), except the final 7-day one for Americans.

Also, if you are on a lengthy visa and plan to exit then re-enter Thailand, it’s worth considering applying for a Reentry Permit" [see entry for "Reentry Permit" above.], available both at the Soi Suan Phu Immigration Department Headquarters in Bangkok and near Passport Control in Passenger Terminal 1 at Don Muang International Airport [see entry for ""on Muang International Airport""above.] for a (non-refundable] 500-baht fee. For example, say you enter Thailand December 1 on a 60-day visa, but plan to make a 20-day visit to nearby countries beginning December15. You can ask for and receive a Reentry Permit, which effectively "freezes" your tourist visa – the days you are away don’t count against it. So, when you depart, still with 45 days left on your tourist visa, with a Reentry Permit, you can return to Thailand and still have those 45 days. It may be cheaper than buying a new visa in one of the other coutries, and it certainly will enable you to avoid having to go to a Thai embassy or consulate abroad, apply and pay, then wait as long as 3 working days (or longer for certain nationalities, such as citizens of The People’s Republic of China) to get a new visa.

A reminder to holders of Resident’s Permits: you are required to obtain a Reentry Permit prior to your departure from the Kingdom – if you want to retain your resident’s status. Other regulations also apply; check with the Immigration Department well before your departure, particularly if it has been a long while since your last exit, to be sure you know up-to-date requirements.

Thaniya [Soi]. [See entry for "Soi Thaniya" above.]

Thanon: literally, something like "main road," and much more reliable in meaning than is "soi"

The Vanishing Tribes of Burma. A coffee-table book by local American writer/photographer Richard Diran [See entry for "Richard Diran" above] that chronicles the rapidly disappearing hill tribes of that most unfortunate country, Burma, now officially known as "Myanmar." Diran spent enormous periods of time with members of the various hill tribes to gain their confidence and trust, ultimately photographing and writing about them in this beautiful effort to record the people and their stories before they are gone forever. Diran currently is working on a companion volume which will be far more text-oriented and correspondingly less photo-oriented than this volume. Available at Asiabooks.

Thonglor [Soi]. [See entry for "Soi Thonglor" above.]

Tilac: "Sweetheart"

Tina Bar [Sukhumvit Soi 22]. The second bar in the first sub-soi on the right coming from Sukhumvit Road. This is a single-shophouse bar with a bar, easy chairs, sofas, and coffee tables. This bar isn’t easy to find if you don’t know where it is – when you find the sub-soi, turn into it and you’ll be facing a Korean restaurant. Readily visible are Larry’s Dive [See entry for "Larry’s Dive" above], a bar on the left which caters to the gay community, and a Cuban restaurant, also on the left. This bar is beyond the Cuban restaurant, to the left rear of the Korean restaurant. Alcohol, music, friendly waitresses and bartenders. Owned by the same Thai lady who owns Toy Bar [See entry for "Toy Bar" below]. About 10:00 A.M.-2:00 A.M.

Ti nai?: "Where?"

Ti ni: "Here"

Tomato Head Bar [Sukhumvit Soi 22]. This bar suddenly disappeared in late 2000 – and we do mean suddenly. Not only is it gone, but gutted. We don’t have any news of what, if anything, will be built in its place.

Toy Bar [Sukhumvit Soi 22]. The fifth bar in the soi on the right coming from Sukhumvit Road. This is a single-shophouse bar with a bar and tables with barstools. Alcohol, music, friendly waitresses and bartenders. Owned by the same Thai lady who own Tina Bar, just around the corner behind the Korean restaurant. About 10:00 A.M.-2:00 A.M.

Transvestite. [See entry for "Katoey" above.]

Triads: Chinese Mafia-style criminal gangs

Trink, Bernard [Local Newspaper Columnist]. [See entry for "Bernard Trink" above.]

Tuk-tuk: A more common name for the three-wheeled, open-air, covered motorcycles used as taxis, also known as "samlor," the name "tuk-tuk" being based on the sound they make.