SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[afisher 0]

Jackfruit and Durian, my two most hated of all fruits.

Dragonfruit, now there's a quality fruit!

[AaronLV 12]

I own one almost identical to this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=180348400267

I bought it in Thailand for around 3,000 Baht back in 2003. It is the best! Rice always comes out perfectly, never burnt; nothing sticks, period. After purchasing it, I became a rice snob and wouldn't eat at restaurants whose rice was stale, overcooked, etc.

Obviously this Japanese import would be cost prohibitive for most, but if your significant other is willing to send or bring one from Thailand, they may still be in the 3,000 Baht range. It does not have a transformer to work internationally, so you would need one of those as well in USA.

I was going to pick one up before I left Thailand, but I wasn't sure how well it would work with a transformer. It seems most of the quality rice cookers here are super expensive. We were able to find a Panasonic SR-TMB10 at Frys for 60 bucks. It works really well, never burns or overcooks the rice.

[Danno2 0]

The Sharp may be a rebranded model. Check this out...

http://www.zojirushi.com/ourproducts/ricec...icecookers.html

[*Robert* 2]

With regards to a "rice steamer", I have a feeling your girlfriend meant a sticky rice steamer pot and steamer basket.

What you're also going to need, is a mortar and pestle, as that is a MUST in Thai cooking.

As for rice cookers, I have a National brand, and can leave rice in it over night no problem.

[*Robert* 2]

When it comes to rice, we buy 25# bags of either Lucky or Elephant brand Jasmine rice, and a 25# bag of Wang Derm Sweet rice.

I have a rice dispenser that can hold up to 75 pounds of rice, and conveniently dispenses it in 1,2, or 3 cup portions in a drawer at the bottom.

For those of you thinking... 25#s?!!!! Believe me... it won't last that long!!!

Don't forget to get a nice pre-seasoned Wok and accessories, and start stocking up on all the various sauces, curries, noodles, and seasonings. The first trip to an Asian store is NOT going go be cheap! And count on spending $100 buck on each subsequent trip! Of course this is addition to buying all your other groceries at you local grocery store.

[BishopMnA 0]

Hello All,

I wonder if Thai people 'worry' about the type/brand of rice cooker as much as the westerners apparently do. I suspect not...

In our example, I did research etc prior to AAm arriving in the USA about the different types of rice cookers. I thought to get one for her before she arrived. But, then I decided to let her pick one out when she arrived.

About a week after she arrived, she picked out a $10 rice cooker from Sam's club (I'm sure I would have spent over $100 if I had chosen one for her). She said that rice cooking is not hard, don't need to waste money on fancy cooking <haha> She's been making rice with that same rice cooker for 2 years now and its always perfect...leaves it in there all day...keeps it warm...everything...

I have to admit though, my wife in an incredible cook...she's really got the 'touch' when it comes to cooking...

Over the past couple years though, she has built herself up a nice 'kitchen'...because I was the typical bachelor before she arrived...my kitchen was 99.99% empty <haha>

Now she is branching out and trying to cook Italian food. She's found that she really likes that...

Peace! MK+JC+AK

[ladywhite 0]

Hello All,

I wonder if Thai people 'worry' about the type/brand of rice cooker as much as the westerners apparently do. I suspect not...

......About a week after she arrived, she picked out a $10 rice cooker from Sam's club (I'm sure I would have spent over $100 if I had chosen one for her). She said that rice cooking is not hard, don't need to waste money on fancy cooking <haha>

I just have to agree....

I am personally not picky when it comes to rice cookers. My friends who were students (10+ years ago) were the same. We just wanted a rice cooker that did the job and in a size we wanted (actually, the cheaper, the better). We didn't care about the brand.

I bought a rice cooker (Aroma is the brand) from Wal-mart for $10 in 1997. I am still using it now.

I think rice cookers do the same job. But the more expensive ones tend to be big and have more functions other than cooking rice (e.g., warming rice or having timer). I personally don't need those functions, so picked the simpliest and cheapest one.

[Danno2 0]

I personally don't need those functions, so picked the simpliest and cheapest one.

That's so Un-American

[bill13060 0]

So, has anyone had their interview lately? I'm getting nervous because ours is on Jun 3rd. Just trying to find out some experiances people have had lately.

Edited May 18, 2009 by will92104

[daboyz 36]

So, has anyone had their interview lately? I'm getting nervous because ours is on Jun 3rd. Just trying to find out some experiances people have had lately.

Frank and Meow had theirs within the last few weeks. Frank had the usual 221g nightmare, Meow skated through. It seems to be hit and miss at this point.

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

So, has anyone had their interview lately? I'm getting nervous because ours is on Jun 3rd. Just trying to find out some experiances people have had lately.

Frank and Meow had theirs within the last few weeks. Frank had the usual 221g nightmare, Meow skated through. It seems to be hit and miss at this point.

Yes, just as a follow up from an emil I sent to the Embassy on Thursday May 14th.

I got this email from them this morning.

-------------------

Dear Mr. Frank xxx:

The K-3 and K-4 visas have been issued for the applicants on May 15,

2009.

Regards,

Correspondence Unit

\--------------------------------

shes getting on the bus tonight to arrive in BKK Embassy in the morning to pick them up.

I wont be happy till she has them in hand and out of the Embassy.

Its not over till the fat lady sings.

(Disclaimer: sorry to any of you who might be physically space challenged, like you Daboyz)

[Danno2 0]

I would like to know how far out the packet 3 to packet 4 waiting list is. I think USCANDUAL has been waiting 4+ weeks. These changes sure have thrown my Chada support plan for a loop. (give notice early / I pay 5 weeks of salary so she leaves immediately after interview) That would have saved me 30 days of waiting for her to qive notice after the interview. I have to say I feel pretty lucky. We have been open to her employer about the issues and it seems they have not tried to hard to find a replacement. Maybe Chada's personality is rubbing off on them.

(just a little bit lazy) as she likes to call it....

Edited May 18, 2009 by Danny and Chada

[scandal 951]

I would like to know how far out the packet 3 to packet 4 waiting list is. I think USCANDUAL has been waiting 4+ weeks. These changes sure have thrown my Chada support plan for a loop. (give notice early / I pay 5 weeks of salary so she leaves immediately after interview) That would have saved me 30 days of waiting for her to qive notice after the interview. I have to say I feel pretty lucky. We have been open to her employer about the issues and it seems they have not tried to hard to find a replacement. Maybe Chada's personality is rubbing off on them.

(just a little bit lazy) as she likes to call it....

Danny, I'm considering our waiting time as having begun officially on April 8. That's the date the embassy records as having received our completed Packet 3. As today is May 18 that makes our wait 40 days - almost 6 weeks. No end in sight. This is rivaling the length of time we spent at NVC (50 days). We seem destined to take the slow road. As long as it leads to a visa I guess that's ok.

Thanti hasn't given notice yet at work. She's working through the end of June. In about a week her supervisor is going to want to set the shift schedule for July, so that would be the logical time to give notice that she wants to quit effective on June 30. I'm really hoping we get some news on an interview date before the shift schedule is set.

Here's the last email exchange we had with the embassy last week:

Subject: RE: IV Inquiry Case BNK2009xxxxxx

Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 11:42:59 +0700

From: Visasbkk@state.gov

To: xxxxxxxx@hotmail.com

Dear Ms. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Your case is waiting for the interview appointment at the moment. The IV Unit will be in touch with you after the appointment has been scheduled. For your concerns over the validity of the petition, after the case has been transferred from NVC to the Embassy, the consular officer is competent to extend the validity of the petition for you. Thus, the case can be processed further the expiration date in the petition has already passed.

Regards,

Correspondence Unit

From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 8:43 PM

To: Bangkok Visa(Bangkok)

Subject: IV Inquiry Case BNK2009xxxxxxxx

To IV unit,

My Application data;

Name: Miss xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Petitioner name: Mr.xxxxxxxxxx

Case No. BNK2009xxxxxxxxxx

The U.S. Embassy has received my returned Package 3 materials through the mail on April 8,2009.

What is the processing?The valid NOA.2 of our case from 01/14/2009 to 05/13/2009.

It was expired ! Because of after we got NOA.2 our case was stuck at NVC.almost 2 months.

We are looking forward to receiving your earliest convenience date,if it can be set in May or begin of June that will be very nice.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[magic girl 0]

I would like to know how far out the packet 3 to packet 4 waiting list is. I think USCANDUAL has been waiting 4+ weeks. These changes sure have thrown my Chada support plan for a loop. (give notice early / I pay 5 weeks of salary so she leaves immediately after interview) That would have saved me 30 days of waiting for her to qive notice after the interview. I have to say I feel pretty lucky. We have been open to her employer about the issues and it seems they have not tried to hard to find a replacement. Maybe Chada's personality is rubbing off on them.

(just a little bit lazy) as she likes to call it....

Here are some info kha ;

Waiting for Packet 3 , K-1 Visa!

1.(์nut67).......................รอ P.3

2.(Khak)....................รอ P.3

3.yayui...............................รอ P.3

4.(e pikky)...................รอ P.3

5.Epaล่าม.......................รอ P.3

6.(ompiga)...............รอ P.3

7.(dandelion)..............รอ P.3

8.(pumpim)......................รอ P.3

9.(May).......................รอ P.3

10.(niingz.cale)............รอ P.3

11.(Ladda06)...............waiting for Case Number

Packet 4 , K-1 Visa!

1.(Chada_s)................= 12-May-2009...= 7 days

2.(nsorakul)..................= 12-May-2009...= 7 days

3.(plam sring).............= 12-May-2009...= 7 days

4.(Koy)......................= 12-May-2009...= 7 days

5.(Ladypp).................=

6.(Ket)......................=

7.(Bo-usa)....................=

8.(nathapimol).................=

9.(ompiga)...............=

10.(kulya)....................=

11.Molly..............................=

12.Krirati.............................=

13.(Chaba).................=

14.(paemy).................=

15.doshinobi(Bia)..................=

16.nickygurl.........................=

17.Appleinbangkok(เปิ้ล)..........=

18.(Joy_14)................=

19.(annieshee)l...........=

20.(0nanong)................=

21.(noonie)..................=

22.(Bung).....................= 29-April-2009...= 20 days

23.Kat(Kety)....................= 27-April-2009...= 22 days

24.(Kritsana).................= 22-April-2009...= 27 days

25.(Dang_sweet)..........= 22-April-2009...= 27 days

26.(Aj_polly).................= 21-April-2009...= 28 days

27.littel_thai_girl...................= 16-April-2009...= 33 days

28.GreenNut.........................= 10-April-2009...= 39 days

29.(Sujirarat)..................= 08-April-2009...= 41 days

30.(magicgril)................= 08-April-2009...= 41 days

31.Lilly................................= 08-April-2009...= 41 days

32.(phinanta)...............= 07-April-2009...= 42 days

33.(ja_ae7216)...............= 04-April-2009...= days

34.(ppiyanart)................= 30-March-2009.= 50 days

35.pambam..........................= 28-March-2009.= 52 days

Tons of friends waiting for P4 we will have lots of friend on the same day !

[THAILOVE 0]

I would like to know how far out the packet 3 to packet 4 waiting list is. I think USCANDUAL has been waiting 4+ weeks. These changes sure have thrown my Chada support plan for a loop. (give notice early / I pay 5 weeks of salary so she leaves immediately after interview) That would have saved me 30 days of waiting for her to qive notice after the interview. I have to say I feel pretty lucky. We have been open to her employer about the issues and it seems they have not tried to hard to find a replacement. Maybe Chada's personality is rubbing off on them.

(just a little bit lazy) as she likes to call it....

Here are some info kha ;

Waiting for Packet 3 , K-1 Visa!

1.(์nut67).......................รอ P.3

2.(Khak)....................รอ P.3

3.yayui...............................รอ P.3

4.(e pikky)...................รอ P.3

5.Epaล่าม.......................รอ P.3

6.(ompiga)...............รอ P.3

7.(dandelion)..............รอ P.3

8.(pumpim)......................รอ P.3

9.(May).......................รอ P.3

10.(niingz.cale)............รอ P.3

11.(Ladda06)...............waiting for Case Number

Packet 4 , K-1 Visa!

1.(Chada_s)................= 12-May-2009...= 7 days

2.(nsorakul)..................= 12-May-2009...= 7 days

3.(plam sring).............= 12-May-2009...= 7 days

4.(Koy)......................= 12-May-2009...= 7 days

5.(Ladypp).................=

6.(Ket)......................=

7.(Bo-usa)....................=

8.(nathapimol).................=

9.(ompiga)...............=

10.(kulya)....................=

11.Molly..............................=

12.Krirati.............................=

13.(Chaba).................=

14.(paemy).................=

15.doshinobi(Bia)..................=

16.nickygurl.........................=

17.Appleinbangkok(เปิ้ล)..........=

18.(Joy_14)................=

19.(annieshee)l...........=

20.(0nanong)................=

21.(noonie)..................=

22.(Bung).....................= 29-April-2009...= 20 days

23.Kat(Kety)....................= 27-April-2009...= 22 days

24.(Kritsana).................= 22-April-2009...= 27 days

25.(Dang_sweet)..........= 22-April-2009...= 27 days

26.(Aj_polly).................= 21-April-2009...= 28 days

27.littel_thai_girl...................= 16-April-2009...= 33 days

28.GreenNut.........................= 10-April-2009...= 39 days

29.(Sujirarat)..................= 08-April-2009...= 41 days

30.(magicgril)................= 08-April-2009...= 41 days

31.Lilly................................= 08-April-2009...= 41 days

32.(phinanta)...............= 07-April-2009...= 42 days

33.(ja_ae7216)...............= 04-April-2009...= days

34.(ppiyanart)................= 30-March-2009.= 50 days

35.pambam..........................= 28-March-2009.= 52 days

Tons of friends waiting for P4 we will have lots of friend on the same day !

I am not sure because our case got forwarded over to FPU(FRAUD PROTECTION UNIT) so I have no clue how long it will take sorry.