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Date: 1st May 2012
Background Check
I've read different things in different places. Some say you need a background check and some say nothing about it. Which is it? Also, does you background check have to match your passport? Lastly, how do you find schools that are willing to pay for the flight (upfront hopefully)?
From Blog: The Cockle guide to living and teaching in Vietnam!
Background Check
I've read different things in different places. Some say you need a background check and some say nothing about it. Which is it? Also, does you background check have to match your passport? Lastly, how do you find schools that are willing to pay for the flight (upfront hopefully)?
From Blog: The Cockle guide to living and teaching in Vietnam!
Deserted Beach at Ao Wok Tum
Oh, I like this deserted place ;)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 14th April 2012
Yes....
...I think you may well be right there Mell. Thanks :)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Yes....
...I think you may well be right there Mell. Thanks :)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 14th April 2012
The northern beach you dont know the name of.
I think, that might be Ao Chalok Lam. I stayed in 3 Euro per night beach hut there, with my daughter around 6 years ago. I dont suppose you can get huts right beside the beach there anymore, for that price.
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
The northern beach you dont know the name of.
I think, that might be Ao Chalok Lam. I stayed in 3 Euro per night beach hut there, with my daughter around 6 years ago. I dont suppose you can get huts right beside the beach there anymore, for that price.
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 14th April 2012
Yes of course :)
I frequently hire it out for parties and other social events, although use of its weapon of mass destruction will obviously cost extra. I do actually have the full Darth Vader kit, but not the face mask as I can't breathe or drink beer with it on ;) Thanks for the comment guys :)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Yes of course :)
I frequently hire it out for parties and other social events, although use of its weapon of mass destruction will obviously cost extra. I do actually have the full Darth Vader kit, but not the face mask as I can't breathe or drink beer with it on ;) Thanks for the comment guys :)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 14th April 2012
Death Star...
Can we work out some kind of hire agreement with you on the Death Star? There are a couple of places we'd like to blast away! Oh...do you have a Darth Vader helmet to wear too?! Now we reckon that would be a good one to wear to a Full Moon party, can you imagine how many stoned/drunk people you would freak out with it? Yes, we are evil!
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Death Star...
Can we work out some kind of hire agreement with you on the Death Star? There are a couple of places we'd like to blast away! Oh...do you have a Darth Vader helmet to wear too?! Now we reckon that would be a good one to wear to a Full Moon party, can you imagine how many stoned/drunk people you would freak out with it? Yes, we are evil!
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 14th April 2012
:)
Thanks for your kind comment :)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
:)
Thanks for your kind comment :)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 14th April 2012
really funny;-)
great blog and great photos;-) Totally enjoyed it and now I know what to expect should we decide to visit this island next month;-) Beata
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
really funny;-)
great blog and great photos;-) Totally enjoyed it and now I know what to expect should we decide to visit this island next month;-) Beata
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 14th April 2012
Thanks Bob :)
Yes, self control is most definitely a virtue when you are control of a behemoth like this. Reversing is the hardest thing to do though as I can't see anything from my poop deck. I freely admit that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is my fault and I sideswiped the Capital Gate tower in Dubai a few weeks ago on my return from a fact finding mission over Iran.......anyway, enjoy the beaches I did, which must be a first for me :)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Thanks Bob :)
Yes, self control is most definitely a virtue when you are control of a behemoth like this. Reversing is the hardest thing to do though as I can't see anything from my poop deck. I freely admit that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is my fault and I sideswiped the Capital Gate tower in Dubai a few weeks ago on my return from a fact finding mission over Iran.......anyway, enjoy the beaches I did, which must be a first for me :)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 14th April 2012
Many thanks Dave :)
I hope you had a lovely time in KL with the TB gang! Yes, it was at your behest that I decided to do something about my bringer of destruction and will now, henceforth use it only for recreational and of course, lurve purposes ;)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Many thanks Dave :)
I hope you had a lovely time in KL with the TB gang! Yes, it was at your behest that I decided to do something about my bringer of destruction and will now, henceforth use it only for recreational and of course, lurve purposes ;)
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 14th April 2012
ALIENS ARE ABOUT
A touch of paint only disguises the intent of a Death Star...the Alien inside...this time benificent...describing the wriggling mass of Earthlings...gorging under the Moon. Glad you found a place to park...and enjoy the view...one of your funniest blogs...great read & pics.
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
ALIENS ARE ABOUT
A touch of paint only disguises the intent of a Death Star...the Alien inside...this time benificent...describing the wriggling mass of Earthlings...gorging under the Moon. Glad you found a place to park...and enjoy the view...one of your funniest blogs...great read & pics.
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 13th April 2012
I was wondering how you would approach Koh Pha Ngan...
I love that picture of the Death Star hovering over the beach. It must have taken quite some self control not to annihilate the zombies. The beaches look beautiful and restful.
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
I was wondering how you would approach Koh Pha Ngan...
I love that picture of the Death Star hovering over the beach. It must have taken quite some self control not to annihilate the zombies. The beaches look beautiful and restful.
From Blog: The Curious Case of Koh Pha Ngan
Date: 8th April 2012
Ahh...
I will look forward to your upcoming blog as always. Somehow, I didn't think that I was the first to spot that rather suggestive looking geological feature ;) As for Ko Pha Ngan....the northern half was absolutely gorgeous, but I'm not going to give too much away at this stage..... :)
From Blog: The Joys of Koh Samui
Ahh...
I will look forward to your upcoming blog as always. Somehow, I didn't think that I was the first to spot that rather suggestive looking geological feature ;) As for Ko Pha Ngan....the northern half was absolutely gorgeous, but I'm not going to give too much away at this stage..... :)
From Blog: The Joys of Koh Samui
Date: 8th April 2012
dirty minds....
Ha, we thought the same thing about the alternate Grandmother rock! ;) Cockle, the transport mafia between Krabi and Samui are terrible, we agree. The last time we were in Samui (March - a blog to come) we ended up doing the journey back to Surat Thani by ourselves and it was heaven...no annoying transport mafia and everything went super smooth with no unnecessary restaurant stops. Curious about your next blog - we haven't been to Pha Ngan in about 10 years and were wondering if we should venture back!
From Blog: The Joys of Koh Samui
dirty minds....
Ha, we thought the same thing about the alternate Grandmother rock! ;) Cockle, the transport mafia between Krabi and Samui are terrible, we agree. The last time we were in Samui (March - a blog to come) we ended up doing the journey back to Surat Thani by ourselves and it was heaven...no annoying transport mafia and everything went super smooth with no unnecessary restaurant stops. Curious about your next blog - we haven't been to Pha Ngan in about 10 years and were wondering if we should venture back!
From Blog: The Joys of Koh Samui
Brilliant...
Before I even read the description I thought "that crack looks just like a.... " Just brilliant! :)
From Blog: The Joys of Koh Samui
Date: 7th April 2012
You are a curmudgeon...
I'm 62 and at this age I am entitled to be a curmudgeon, but no one will let me be one. Linda tells me to be patient and nice and all those other non-curmudgeonly traits. I would have had the same reaction to your transportation issues. So I will let you speak for me.
From Blog: The Joys of Koh Samui
You are a curmudgeon...
I'm 62 and at this age I am entitled to be a curmudgeon, but no one will let me be one. Linda tells me to be patient and nice and all those other non-curmudgeonly traits. I would have had the same reaction to your transportation issues. So I will let you speak for me.
From Blog: The Joys of Koh Samui
New species of palm eh? I'm sorry to tell you, but here in Mexico, they have sprouted up everywhere.
From Blog: The Joys of Koh Samui
Date: 5th April 2012
Many thanks Dave :)
I'll send them as a P.M ;)
From Blog: A Boat Full of Caucasians and One Lovely Asian
Many thanks Dave :)
I'll send them as a P.M ;)
From Blog: A Boat Full of Caucasians and One Lovely Asian
Date: 5th April 2012
Thanks Ali :)
I actually turned the movie off about half way through...or fell asleep, I can't remember which. It obviously made a huge impression on me. I will most definitely add the book to my list.
From Blog: A Boat Full of Caucasians and One Lovely Asian
Thanks Ali :)
I actually turned the movie off about half way through...or fell asleep, I can't remember which. It obviously made a huge impression on me. I will most definitely add the book to my list.
From Blog: A Boat Full of Caucasians and One Lovely Asian
:)
I know...as I've aged, I seem to have acquired this strange virtue which I believe some term as 'tolerance'. I really can't be bothered with punching people on the nose any more...well, unless they really do deserve it hee hee ;)
From Blog: A Boat Full of Caucasians and One Lovely Asian
Lived 
Travelled 
Where I'm from 
Plans for Tet 2013 
Cockle
Nick C
Thanks for your comment Marc.
Work is easy to find here without all the paperwork, although the better schools will insist on you having some kind of teaching certificate or diploma. You can generally stay in Vietnam for 6-12 months before you will be refused any more visas and you will only need a background check done if you want to apply for a work/residence permit. The official line is that you have to have a police record check done, although the requirements seem to vary from province to province. Here in Dong Nai province, I simply had to have a local police record check done, which was rather curious as if I had committed a crime, I would have no doubt been deported anyway. Some friends of mine who work in HCMC have reported that you need a police record check from your own country, although this is more likely a requirement to satisfy the school itself rather than the local authorities. Some school will pay for your flight, but they will usually only reimburse you after at least 6 months service and sometimes even only after a year. Check out the main ESL/TEFL sites for more information.
From Blog: The Cockle guide to living and teaching in Vietnam!