World Championships 2011 Bangkok

[cmhardw]

@Dene: Yeah I can definitely see that being a problem. Still, there have to be times where athletes for the school have to miss an exam for either a tournament or competition. Also, if someone from New Zealand is attending university, but is accepted into the olympics that year, I doubt the University would let them fail for not being at the exam at the appropriate time. I still think that opening a dialogue with the professor is a way to start, but I imagine the Dean or an academic or university advisor could tell you what would help to be able to create an exception that would allow you to compete. I could be wrong about this, but if you don't try to go through any avenues at all to see if you can attend the competition, then I can guarantee that you won't be able to attend the competition. I imagine, like most things in life, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. If you create enough of a fuss through enough channels, then you increase your chances of them making an exception for you. By you I mean the general you, not necessarily only you, Dene, personally, as you already said that there is a good chance you'll be able to attend.

 

[krnballerzzz]

Well, time to save money. God damn~ Chris, wanna plan something together for the trip?

 

[cmhardw]

Well, time to save money. God damn~ Chris, wanna plan something together for the trip?

Absolutely! I'm already looking for hostels that are relatively close to the competition hotel. If anyone else is interested, I think it would be ideal to get a lot of cubers together at the same hostel. I'll try to post good places that I find in the thread here.

 

[Feanaro]

Isn't the hotel itself where the venue is going to work? For two people for 4 nights it's only like 360 dollars. Why won't people stay at the location of the comp?

 

[cmhardw]

Isn't the hotel itself where the venue is going to work? For two people for 4 nights it's only like 360 dollars. Why won't people stay at the location of the comp?

I imagine most people will end up staying at the competition hotel. Those prices are very reasonable for short stays, and I'm sure it gets to be a better deal if you have 4 people to a room rather than 2. I intend to stay for closer to a full week, and I'm on a very tight budget for this trip. Any money I can save will just be money I can use for a bus ticket to somewhere while I'm over there. Plus, staying in hostels is fun in that you always meet interesting people from all over! I personally will probably not stay in the competition hotel unless I'm sharing a room with 3 or 4 other people. Even then, I would probably leave to stay somewhere else once the competition is over.

I will likely stay in Bangkok most of the time, but I may travel to other cities afterward and fly out of somewhere else other than Bangkok. I haven't yet decided what I plan to do about traveling after the competition. Is anyone up for backpacking around within the country afterward? I'm not looking to travel too far around, but I would certainly like to backpack to some of the local temples and sights to see!

 

[Feanaro]

I can't really go backpacking with you as I have to get back Stateside quickly for school, but I'm sure my dad would be cool with sharing a hotel room. Just something you may want to consider

 

[Kian]

I am extremely excited. Will probably spend 9ish days in Southeast Asia.

 

[Dene]

Chris: actually I have heard that people that have external commitments are able to sit exams wherever they have to go, although I'm not sure about the exact details. The other alternative is an aegrotat, and that is definitely a no-go zone . But anyway, the main problem for me in the past has not been missing exams, but rather missing the last week of term which usually involves handing in about 5 papers and preparing for exams. I'd rather not go into exams straight after a cubing holiday

 

[Godmil]

UK is the same Dene, no possible way of taking an exam early or anything...

Are you sure about that? I know in Aberdeen Uni exchange students would normally do their exams early (end of Dec, rather than waiting until after the Xmas break just for exams before going home). I postponed an exam once (didn't know I was supposed to be doing the course until 4 days before the exam), so I sat at the same time as others were doing resits.

 

[CharlieCooper]

Are you sure about that? I know in Aberdeen Uni exchange students would normally do their exams early (end of Dec, rather than waiting until after the Xmas break just for exams before going home). I postponed an exam once (didn't know I was supposed to be doing the course until 4 days before the exam), so I sat at the same time as others were doing resits.

That's not an English university though, possibly why (I have never studied in Scotland or Wales). Also because they are exchange students there are enough to make it worthwhile having the invigilators come in to oversee the exam. Even with a terrible medical situation, I have known people being told to simply miss the exam and then submit their reasons for doing so, with their only hope being that their extenuating circumstances allow them to resit in the summer. Unless it was 100% I could, I wouldn't want to risk that. Anyway, I don't have exams then, I just don't want to miss too many classes for fear of not catching up.

 

[krnballerzzz]

I imagine most people will end up staying at the competition hotel. Those prices are very reasonable for short stays, and I'm sure it gets to be a better deal if you have 4 people to a room rather than 2. I intend to stay for closer to a full week, and I'm on a very tight budget for this trip. Any money I can save will just be money I can use for a bus ticket to somewhere while I'm over there. Plus, staying in hostels is fun in that you always meet interesting people from all over! I personally will probably not stay in the competition hotel unless I'm sharing a room with 3 or 4 other people. Even then, I would probably leave to stay somewhere else once the competition is over.

I will likely stay in Bangkok most of the time, but I may travel to other cities afterward and fly out of somewhere else other than Bangkok. I haven't yet decided what I plan to do about traveling after the competition. Is anyone up for backpacking around within the country afterward? I'm not looking to travel too far around, but I would certainly like to backpack to some of the local temples and sights to see!

I'm definitely interested in sight seeing. As long as it doesn't cost me anything crazy to go, consider me signed up.

 

[Godmil]

That's not an English university though

Hey, you said UK first time
It's not difficult getting someone to invigilate an exam, I did it while I was a student. But it does mean having a separate exam paper from the normal one, which is a pain for the lecturer to make if nobody else is doing it. But I guess this is getting off topic

 

[coinman]

If i will go i will stay for some sort of vacation. I think for at lest two weeks. Some backpacking might be a part of this, and maybe visit some beaches. I will probably don't know before may if can i go or not though.

 

[Crazycubemom]

I still feel strange about the Venue, is it enough for what we called World Championship? If we are using the same rooms that where used at Asian Champion last year I think it will be too small. The Stage at Aachen Open 2011 and European Champs last year are much bigger than the Stages at this venue, sorry it is only my opinion.
And I can't imagine at The Final 3x3x3 as always all people standing to watch that big event while Big Screen everywhere I know for sure it will hectic or Maybe All Asian people have to standing at the front line and white people behind Bangkok is a nice city to be visited and Bayoke Sky Hotel is a great Hotel in Bangkok that is TRUE without doubt but the venue is too small if we will using same room as Asian Championship last year. I think Sport Hall in Bangkok must be great to held this Big Competition.

 

[Wachirawit]

I still feel strange about the Venue, is it enough for what we called World Championship? If we are using the same rooms that where used at Asian Champion last year I think it will be too small. The Stage at Aachen Open 2011 and European Champs last year are much bigger than the Stages at this venue, sorry it is only my opinion.
And I can't imagine at The Final 3x3x3 as always all people standing to watch that big event while Big Screen everywhere I know for sure it will hectic or Maybe All Asian people have to standing at the front line and white people behind Bangkok is a nice city to be visited and Bayoke Sky Hotel is a great Hotel in Bangkok that is TRUE without doubt but the venue is too small if we will using same room as Asian Championship last year. I think Sport Hall in Bangkok must be great to held this Big Competition.

I agree about the size of the room , it is too small.

 

[Johannes91]

Darn, a few months earlier would've been perfect for me. :/

A tip for those who want to learn a few Thai words: Ignore the romanized ("phonetic English") examples, especially if you don't already know what Thai sounds like. They often ignore tones and vowel length and use somewhat unintuitive consonants (in my opinion). Here's a useful list of common phrases with sound clips: http://www.thai-language.com/default.aspx?ref=phrases.

 

[AvGalen]

Don't worry about the venue Maria, of course it will be in a big enough room!

The Baiyuke Sky Hotel (and Tower) is the big hotel. I stayed there a few nights with Ron during the Asian Open. Absolutely beautiful, going up to the revolving platform on the top gives an amazing view that everyone has to see. And the food was incredible.
I also stayed in the Baiyuke Boutique for a night. It is 2 minutes away from the Baiyuke Sky Hotel and more affordable, but of course also less luxurious. I expect most cubers to stay here.
I also stayed a few days in this hostel: http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Sukhumvit-On-Nut-Guesthouse/Bangkok/16044 very clean and cheap, airconditioned, free breakfast and internet and great food all day and night, but you have to take the skytrain to get to the center. That is quick and really cheap, but it will require about 30 minutes travelling. I would recommend this for travellers on a budget.

I will be happy to travel around with people after the competition. Flying will be the biggest cost for most people. Once you are there, it is difficult to spend > 25 dollar per day unless you go shopping.

And there is a tradition that (if there is no free food at the venue), everyone will look around for a restaurant for a while, but end up at the MacDonalds to eat and cube for a few hours

 

[Crazycubemom]

@ Arnaud, but it will be nice if The Organiser show us the room/ The Venue. As long as not see I feel like at The Final All Asian people have to stand at the front line and you AVG must stand behind me

Btw I'm not worried about The Bayoke Hotels but about the Venue, do you remember the table first behind was wobbling?

 

[David Zemdegs]

Darn, a few months earlier would've been perfect for me. :/

A tip for those who want to learn a few Thai words: Ignore the romanized ("phonetic English") examples, especially if you don't already know what Thai sounds like. They often ignore tones and vowel length and use somewhat unintuitive consonants (in my opinion). Here's a useful list of common phrases with sound clips: http://www.thai-language.com/default.aspx?ref=phrases.

One that must come in very handy from this link is "Are you a man or a woman?".

I dont think the size of the room was a problem. There are many extension options. We had the side room for the multi blind, and Im sure the hotel owners have many other spaces that could be used if required.
We've booked our plane tickets already!

 

[amostay2004]

And there is a tradition that (if there is no free food at the venue), everyone will look around for a restaurant for a while, but end up at the MacDonalds to eat and cube for a few hours