jacko

I have had 3 or 4 dodgy stomachs in Thailand, but considering the amount of time I have been here, that isn't so bad. I have a much higher rate of 'hits of shits' on trips to India. In Thailand I have gotten sick twice from having some food cooked for me on the beach, and twice from Indian restaurants. I don't use the carts outside of the meat on sticks barbecue..... that was after seeing what happened to a girl I was taking back to the room.... she was not well! I have been very ill twice from a certain well known brand of beer too!

Government interference normally gets me worried!

You won't get 1/2 those miles until you are back in the UK. I would always chase ticket price first, miles are a bonus, but cash works best!

Anything that is cooked infront of your eyes is likely OK. Beware of the soups where they just seem to pour 'hot' water from a flask over some meats... sometimes raw liver is in there. Late at night the water may not be so hot, and the meats have been sitting around. Personally never had a problem that I could attribute to ice, but I don't like the way I sometimes get a glass that is still wet from a bowl full of slops.

Well I probably haven't so I won't bother. I had an update from my neighbour who went a few months back with his 'extended' family. When he found out how much they wanted to take this herd in, he also did an about turn.

I posted a link to help locate the place in an earlier thread. Search and ye shall find!

I can't say I have ever come across this. As you say, they are 'so called' Irish bars, they don't sell stamps and chewing gum either.

Not true, you need to use Thailand based outfits. Try these for an idea on prices. I would say that since the prices are based in Thai baht, they look expensive! http://www.traveltech2000.com/default.asp http://www.bluenwhite.com/

Nicked spare wheel, let me guess, you drive a truck where the spare is winched under the bed at the back?

Well there's a novelty, a teacher admitting to having a cushy job. They are normally whining about how they have to spend a lot of their own time marking!

You mean the place is finished? I went about 3 years ago and it was a 'work in progress' and they still wanted 1000 baht for me and her to go in. I declined.

Good point regarding dealer or approved repairer. I used to have AXA, any driver, When the renewal came they automatically dropped the sum assured, and claimed to have included 20% no claims, and it still went up a few 1000s. I am now insured 'named drivers', 'approved repairers' with another company. I was told AXA were the first in the bunch to put up premiums, and the rest will follow. My deductable actually went down. I don't drive much, the bike suffices around town and I do 3-4 road trips per year. It didn't make sense to pay a lot. Expect it in June.

There are some busses that leave from the Pattaya Roong Reuang Bus Station (Pattaya Nua) that go to the Southern bus terminal. 06:00, 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00... but check those times! There are also some busses to Kanchanaburi that leave from Moechit.... but I would not recommend them as they seem to take forever, using a more Northerly route on 346 with frequent stops. There aren't many trains from Pattaya to Bangkok, but perhaps the bus to Moechit then taxi to the train station would be OK! There are plenty of 'organised' trips to 'Bridge over the river Kwai' from many travel agencies in Pattaya, minibus, and hotel incl. Not my cup of tea but they would make better use of your limited time.

Hah....slim chance and no chance! I was in a WS GO-GO recently and was surprised to see it actually did have an emergency exit. Mind you they had decided it was a good place to put the slot machine the girls like to play!

I have used China Airlines ex Amsterdam a few times and found them to be good. Very punctual and good on-board service. As john1000 above states, probably any International Oriental Carrier, beats the best USA airline. (Most of them are, will be, or have been bankrupt! )

The airport taxes, government taxes (etc) have to be paid as an extra.

In Thailand, how many USD it is, has little relevance. Nor does how many Zambian Kwacha it converts to. I doubt the salary is based in USD.

Yes, no decisions about the class of seat there, just a fight to get on and make sure you even get one.

Three threads now?

So you suggested flying to somewhere else because it is more expensive.

Not U-Tapao but plenty of choice..... Cathay 8k baht China 6.8k (14.5k) Emirates 6.2k Kenyan 5.6k (12k) PIA 5.5k All not including taxes and fees. Or treat yourself Biz Class, bracketed above or Thai do it for 17.8k. http://www.massictravel.net/promofares/?HONGKONG%2FTAIWAN I would pick Cathay!

Rent, despite what the condo sellers tell you! You may not like living here, you may not like living in the middle of it all. A lot of guys end up in a house, with more space and quieter surroundings, with the funtown near enough to visit.

That is as maybe, but when I lived there I had atrocious stomach problems from a diet of all meat and no veg! They all seemed to have atrocious teeth too. Not sure if it was caused by the Mate tea they drank, the limited amount of dairy products or too much smoking, probably all the above. Yes good meat though, getting rid of it was the problem.

I added the last line as an edit and slightly regretted it, but I do seriously think adherence to religion closes off one's mind. Yes, of course one can measure a few inches using a 30ft tape! I don't believe I am ignorant or callous or a fool, but go ahead and throw insults about, you have never met me, know little of me, yet presume to know so much. I see this morning Palestinians were killing their own with their rockets, what stupidity and tragedy. I will admit to some ignorance, never having been to Israel or Palestine, but I can rattle off having been to a lot of the surrounding countries, and Palestinians abounded there. Israelis were far from welcome.

Have you read anything in this thread, or the title of the OP, or are aware of the forum you are in