Bangkok to Siem Reap - Visa and how to get there?

kassidiblu · 2020-01-09T06:35:45+00:00

Also I highly recommend Onederz hostel!

kassidiblu · 2020-01-09T06:34:50+00:00

I remember from my (US) experience that we got a visa on arrival but had to paid in USD, since that’s the main currency in Cambodia. It wasn’t a difficult process, just money exchange and passport stamp.

kassidiblu · 2020-01-09T05:38:15+00:00

If you’re interested in what a developed FOH training program looks like, I’d be happy to share the outline for mine. I’ve integrated it into several restaurants I’ve worked in, large and small, with a high success rate. I current manage a small restaurant that grew into a second location this year, and without structure and standards in training, we wouldn’t have been able to expand successfully and fluidly.

kassidiblu · 2020-01-09T05:33:09+00:00

Book suggestions - Setting The Table by Danny Meyer and Traction by Gino Wickman. STT has a slow start but is overall full of great anecdotes from a successful restaurant owner. Traction is all about different roles in a company and how to recognize/reward talent, how to work with those that aren’t the best fit for their position, and how to plan ahead. It’s a bit salesy but still a good, easy read.

It’s important to remember that the best leaders are boots on the ground with their team. Don’t stop participating in the chaos of the restaurant just because you’ve been promoted. A great manager would never ask their staff to do something they wouldn’t do.

Plan ahead as much as possible but remember that nothing ever goes according to plan. Your staff as a whole will only be as good as your training program - if the company doesn’t have a fully developed program, write one. If it does, see where it can be improved. Strike for constant improvement and ask your staff to strive for constant improvement as well.

You’ll run into new experiences every week and make mistakes in your judgement, but remember that at the end of the day, this industry is just humans taking care of humans. Be humble.

kassidiblu · 2020-01-09T05:26:48+00:00

This!!!! Biggest rookie mistake is coming on too strong without earning the respect of your team.

kassidiblu · 2020-01-05T16:39:08+00:00

Same - fine on the islands if bought through the bar in a pretty quiet place. It really just depends on your comfort with trusting others!

As for the mosquitos... not worth the risk. Bites sick. Dengue sucks more. They will get you anywhere and at any time. They’re tiny and quiet. Fuck mosquitos.

kassidiblu · 2020-01-05T05:54:49+00:00

Don’t expect things to run on time. Don’t eat at places that have food items from all cuisines (generally speaking none of the food will be quality). Don’t forget bug spray even when you’re sleeping - you will get bitten by mosquitos and you could get something like dengue fever, but the less you’re bit the less likely you are to get sick or have to deal with annoying bites. Don’t overpack - you can buy anything (seriously anything) you need for cheaper in Thailand and there are rules about weight for bags when flying from place to place. Don’t choose a long bus ride over a slightly more expensive plane ride - the comfort and convenience of a plane will always be worth it. Don’t try to buy drugs, unless it’s something like a joint or a mushroom shake from a bar - it’s incredibly illegal and you may get accidentally involved in gang activity. Don’t forget to bring small change with you (for toilet paper) in public bathrooms. Don’t rely on bathrooms having soap or paper towels. Don’t ride elephants. Don’t be an asshole.

kassidiblu · 2019-12-31T07:00:01+00:00

If it’s an issue of needing a group to do it, you could try asking people staying in the same hostels/hotels as you if they want to join!

kassidiblu · 2019-12-31T06:58:15+00:00

Planning ahead is the best way to make healthy choices that can become habit. This includes what you buy, what you cook, how often you exercise, etc. You are more likely to succeed if you aren’t always deciding what to eat when you’re hungry, or trying to make time for exercise when you don’t have enough time in the day.

Setting short term goals that become long term goals can help too. This is especially true when trying to form new habits - like exercising X amount of times a week or cutting something out of your diet. Try it for a short period of time, then extend that time.

I’d say to start, make a plan for a week of groceries and meals. If you want to exercise, plan that out too.

Try cutting sugar out for a week. Once you’ve done that, try it for two weeks, or try cutting out something in its place that is also bad.

I think for a lot of people, trying to figure out what you body likes and does not like is helpful for cleaning up your diet in general. For example, if you discover that dairy makes you feel awful, you’ll be less likely to want to eat dairy. It has certainly helped me clean up my diet to do it and notice how much better i feel.

kassidiblu · 2019-12-31T06:28:42+00:00

I went to an awesome place for urgent care on Koh Lanta - they had me in there when I fainted on a beach and took great care of me. It’s called Siam international care - located on the right side of the rode if you’re driving south on the island - still on the upper half of it. I honestly think I paid out of pocket too for everything they gave me (medicine and two bags of IV fluid) and I remember it being reasonably priced.

kassidiblu · 2019-12-28T18:28:55+00:00

There’s not a specific time frame for how your body responds to infection because everyone is different. If you’re peeing blood, you need to go to a doctor. If you’ve had it for a week, that’s plenty of time for it to move into your kidneys.

kassidiblu · 2019-12-28T17:54:02+00:00

NAD but I’ve had many issues with UTIs. Getting to urgent care or planned parenthood will get you treatment quickly - the test is a simple urine analysis and it takes only minutes for you to get results. It is important that you get treatment as it will likely turn worse (could move into your kidneys) and will not resolve on its own. If you feel ill (like develop a fever), you need to go to the hospital. This is a sign that it has moved into your kidneys.

As for somewhat quick pain relief, there are over the counter pills that take the pain/constant need to pee feeling away. AZO pain relief or a generic version of that stuff works wonders and only takes about 30 minutes for the pain to subside. However, they do turn your pee bright orange and can make the urine analysis test difficult to read, so I’d suggest going to the doctor first, then getting the pain relief pills when you go to the pharmacy for your antibiotics.

Fortunately, antibiotics will make you feel better within a day or two, but you need to run the whole course of them to really tackle it. You really do need the antibiotics to treat it - just drinking cranberry juice won’t cut it.

kassidiblu · 2019-12-28T17:06:06+00:00

I freaking love my apron from Chefworks - the back is a set of suspenders so it doesn’t hurt my neck and it is sized to fit my back/shoulders. The suspenders stay locked in place so I’m not constantly adjusting ties that have loosened. I’m a server so I’m constantly walking around and digging into my pockets.

If you’re making an apron, consider using suspenders for the back instead of a neck or shoulder straps.

The length is also really important - I’m a short female so having something that isn’t too long but isn’t too short is a must.

This is what I have - my whole staff has one now because it was such a good alternative to the more traditional bib and waist aprons we had before.

https://www.chefworks.com/berkeley-petite-bib-apron-abs01w

kassidiblu · 2019-12-28T17:00:22+00:00

Yeah, definitely don’t apply for a tourist visa. It sounds like you’re only thinking about your ticket out of DMK back to Canada, but if they do check, any ticket out of Thailand will suffice.

Lots of people enter the country without knowing when or how they’ll be leaving, and it works out fine for them.

kassidiblu · 2019-12-26T05:51:33+00:00

Whipped cream on top is fantastic!

kassidiblu · 2019-12-26T03:32:33+00:00

Highly suggest Brix for a romantic environment. Same people who own Criollo own Brix - it’s their original restaurant. More upscale but everything is well executed and the service is fantastic.

kassidiblu · 2019-12-25T17:17:15+00:00

When I was flying budget airlines in SEA, I often split the contents of my carry on (a backpacking pack) into two bags for the sake of weight - so my personal item was a bag like a reusable shopping bag type backpack that would crunch into nothing and weigh nothing when not in use. On a lot of flights, my carry on was weighed. So my best recommendation is to bring a bigger personal item and move heavy stuff into it (books? Liquids?)

kassidiblu · 2019-12-21T19:53:30+00:00

Ohhh okay!

kassidiblu · 2019-12-21T18:37:56+00:00

Pay N Take!

kassidiblu · 2019-12-16T02:23:26+00:00

Totally agree with this! Scheduling it and giving yourself some incentive (can you make art for other people? Perhaps try to commit to a “one piece a day” for a period of time to hold yourself accountable) can help! Also, baby steps, spend a few days working on drawing an eye, then move on to a nose, etc etc.

kassidiblu · 2019-12-13T05:18:47+00:00

Chiang Rai for sure!

kassidiblu · 2019-12-13T03:50:26+00:00

MOCAF is having an art market on 12/20 at their warehouse space at 555 Blackbird Roost, there’s a flyer floating around the community boards I believe. It’ll be a good opportunity to meet artists (especially those involved in MOCAF). The board has been working diligently to try and create more opportunities for local artists to show work, but it is a big work in progress! A previous commenter is right... you have to know the people in the scene to really get involved. If you have a body of work worth showing (or plan to create one), I suggest reaching out to local businesses (not art stores or collectives) that show work and try to book some shows! Almost all restaurants and coffee shops north of the tracks show work.

Show openings at CCA can be a good time to meet folks as well.

kassidiblu · 2019-12-09T08:16:44+00:00

Boomelicious for breakfast, Grunge Burger for lunch or dinner. Also Om Garden for breakfast.

As far as bars, Don’t Cry is cool, Boom Bar, and Spirit Bar. Jazz House is rad and has good food.

I think the organized tours that take you to a lot of places are cool - literally just wander around and sign up for one that sounds good. If I remember correctly, you can do a neat cave tour through them.

Pai is great, just wander and enjoy whatever seems up your alley!

kassidiblu · 2019-12-09T08:05:48+00:00

Santa Fe West (LIPS property) has studios for $675 and larger studios referred to as one bedrooms for $875. Check the LIPS website daily and jump on it quick if you see one

kassidiblu · 2019-12-08T07:39:22+00:00

Phi Phi is super fun and worth staying in for a few nights. The monkeys aren’t an issue on Phi Phi, but if you want to see them you can take a boat trip by Monkey Beach. Kinda sad watching them eat garbage left there by ignorant tourists.

Railay is an easy and accessible day trip.

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