jacko

It isn't all that bad, and I will probably continue booking (Toom) until he lets me down. Always been there as I exited the airport... and the driver helps me with the case/cart, normally having to drag my weary ass to the car park. No more annoying than dragging myself to the taxi rank and standing in line sweating and wondering if the price will be fixed 'this time' or I will get some asshole. I have done both and find the 500 baht saved useful.Only thing that would swing it is if I had the TGF with me and needed the larger vehicles for suitcases. But mostly I come in alone.

Sorry to hear that, hope you came out of it OK.Might make a nice trip report...... My regular place is no longer so, it seemed to go into meltdown and I gave up.

Very typical, it could never be a Thai's fault for doing something stupid now could it?As for shop assistants knowing anything, well give that idea up for a start. Spend all day hiding in alcoves playing on their mobile! When I break my neck, falling over the cleaning bucket left on the doorstep, again, it will be my fault too! (I guess the UV part of your water purifier did the trick as everyone survived).

Catch 22

I am perplexed how any water could get through the plastic.

Little India?

24hr....and very apt for Pattaya......The Russians are coming... The Russians are coming...

The bitch I sat next to last night was far from tame..... Drugged up, maybe.

I was out and about last night and as most places were quiet never had an issue with a smoker....... from the customers. Some nights it works out okay..... others you get a chain smoker plonking themselves next to you everywhere you go.. I was watching the girls help themselves to drinks and also noticing how many were walking around with an idiot stick in their fingers.... they seem to be taking up the habit more and more. I suppose it is a tedium helper.

Yeah well I did that, but the other way around. Got a one-way to Thailand and now buy my tickets Ex BKK.Then the £ plummeted, Thailand boomed and suddenly, as you say, tickets are cheaper ex-UK. Still it is obviously more flexible that way as I am in Thailand nearly all of the time. Your case is due to late booking and the class of the ticket, the difference is not normally double.

I had a good time in there last night.......

About 15 minutes from Mikes on 2nd.

Happy you got results, although I am green with envy now.

Those electronic cigarettes come cheaper than the real thing. Link Well in the UK I go to a pub for a pint and to meet friend or two, and hopefully enjoy the taste of my beer without it being tainted by cigarette smoke. I think you should go to Starbucks, they offer the same facilities. Surely having a cigarette with a cup of coffee is as natural as having one with a pint. I wouldn't believe what a landlord tells you, they can't even tell time!

I suppose he would have struggled to blame second hand smoke prior to his diagnosis.I am perplexed why smokers don't chose to use these electronic cigarettes when in a bar, which are cheaper and do not impact those around them. Your association of the smoking ban being the demise of pubs in the UK is creative. By that logic nobody would use planes and airports.

Etihad just sent me a promotion based on Flights ex-Bangkok. Enjoy fantastic discounts in both Coral Economy Class and Pearl Business Class with the Etihad May Super Sale. Book before 12 May and travel anytime before 14 June 2012. ORIGIN-DESTINATION CORAL ECONOMY FARES (From THB)* Bangkok - Abu Dhabi 25,005 Bangkok - Dubai 25,005 Bangkok - London 32,340 Phuket - Düsseldorf 30,455 Phuket - Munich 30,465 Phuket - Frankfurt 31,115 Enjoy fantastic discounts in both Coral Economy Class and Pearl Business Cla Enjoy fantastic discounts in both Coral Economy Class and Pearl Business Class with the Etihad May Super Sale. Book before 12 May and travel anytime before 14 June 2012.

I got a laugh out of that, did they look like Chinese businessmen?

I was a little arrogant when I thought 'only 5 years ago'...... but when I considered it more I thought. yes, the major changes can be tied to this more recent past. I am now considering whether it is time to move on to somewhere quieter. I have always disliked being stuck in traffic or not being able to park or get to places, Pattaya is like that. If you are central, like a tourist, it doesn't impact so much, but stuck at the traffic lights near Pattaya Tai, waiting for the lights at Pattaya Klang to change is getting tired. Trying to manoeuvre the bike forward it also getting hard these days. I think of a place like Singapore, where one can get around much better, with the underground trains, buses and more disciplined traffic and just don't see Pattaya emulating it. (Not that I would retire there). A new condo complex to dwarf Atlantis is announced for Jomtiem, great news for local businesses. I see traffic from Soi Siam CC backed up over the railway line attempting to get onto Sukhumvit. As I sat sweating at a junction recently I looked at a huge coach in the wrong lane blocking the straight through traffic waiting to turn right into Klang and thought, 'we are well into May, it is low season, fuck off until November'.... Am I destined to become another Gary or Skygod?

Marlon Brando

Tourists too I am sure!The obvious solution is internet banking and international transfer to a Thai bank account. But if ATMs are being blocked, you kind if think International Bank Transfers will be under scrutiny too. My foreign ATM worked as per normal a few days back.... wonderful of the USA to be at the forefront.

Yes, well in Patong they don't, why is that?I know they have these larger tuk tuk type modes of transport but tuk-tuk they ain't. Walking everywhere doesn't suit everyone, I rented a bike pretty quickly and enjoyed travelling around.

Had the sister over and a picture with a tiger cub was obligatory.

I recall that there was an in room safe when I last stayed. It looked like the room had been renovated, flatscreen TV etc, although the bathroom was in need of some effort.

I would always do a monthly deal at the Res Garden or Nova Park. It is nice to have the facilities of room service, clean sheeets and towels, room service etc.

I did some years back....... and yes I think I recall that they tasted okay.... although not too much meat. The places I regularly go for my seafood dinners don't seem to stock them, now and again (rarely) they have regular lobsters. I think the hotels and expensive restaurants get all the stuff that can be sold at a high premium (lobsters, those big crabs and maybe now 'rock' lobster.) They once had these strange looking guys that looked like a cross between a lobster and a tiger prawn and I tried them and was very disappointed, little meat and full of shell like bits. Due to your recommendation I shall look out for them and take a stroll around the tanks ...... ... generally I just go for shrimp and a grouper fish. Now and again some scallops or baby clams, but the TGF won't touch those.