jacko

It is likely even more noticeable at weekends when we have quite a lot of Bangkok drivers around. They push and squeeze and do not give much clearance.

I have just been riding around those areas and noticed non of those! Beware jacko on the road fellow Pattaya drivers! I zone out......

Today's rates.... probably the weekend's rates. After I took this pic I went to Big-CX and it was busy. Particularly busy were the two exchange places on each side of the main ground floor pedestrian entrance. I guessed mostly Russians, appearing to be exchanging cash. These places are bank affiliated so the rates would be lower, so I compared them to my picture. USD were about 1 baht per $ (big bills) down on TT Exch. Couldn't see Rubles there, but surely the rate would again be inferior .... I was thinking to let a few of them know they were losing out, then thought, they probably won't speak English, and these are the same ignorant sods who wont shuffle up on the baht buses... fxck them!

I see no mention of the Chinese Carriers....or do they just fall in the middle and not top nor bottom? I got an 'OK but nowt special' from a pal for China Southern, ex LHR. Poor early Bangkok arrival time, but fair connections. Surprised Lufthansa is getting reasonable reviews, I used them a couple of times over a decade ago and eventually moved to KLM. Most of the European carriers had poor short hops from Manchester and I hated CDG and FRA airports. Back then Lufthansa used 747 to BKK and as I got a cheap ticket, I ended up in the middle seat of a row of 5 on a packed flight...... not fun. So really OK now?

Yes there was. Kinda surreal to be sitting at a bar chatting to your neighbour

Better than Emirates or better price-wise?

In Thailand?

One never knows, I thought one had to have a Non-Imm-O or Extension to get the 5 year licence.

For houses one has to order a truck/ tanker to come deliver and fill your tank up. I have never had to do this in my current place, but my prior rental I had to do it quite often. The pipework was rubbish there, always failing and even when there was water it had hardly any pressure and those with below ground tanks fared better. Trouble is once this system gets organised and palms are being greased, one finds utility water is being cut more often by a guy with some money in his pocket. My neighbour has an automatic sprinkler system and a monthly water bill of around 4000 baht, that won't help supplies. Another actually had a bore hole but it has dried up. My Mrs uses water like it is a never ending supply, house cleaning day a small pool's worth gets used. Why anyone needs to flush a toilet 3 times per visit I never could understand.

WIN (Motorcycle taxi). Or do you expect to have a lot of shopping to carry back?

I arrived before they opened, but the girl upstairs checking things decided she wanted a copy of something else. By the time I returned and had the paperwork accepted the morning group was full, and I had to come back in the PM. I was there until about 3pm.

Olympus Has Fallen.

Not sure, always best to make use of it as soon as possible. I would expect next day to be no issue.

That in itself, while OK, sometimes doesn't suit some regional IOs... they want you to change to a Non-Imm-O. If retirement extensions join the throng, I would expect it to be for all. Heads down in the meanwhile.

In the longer view I believe that too. I am concerned all retirement extensions will be impacted, but please note, at the moment that is not the case! We should all be aware that the Non-Imm-O-A Visa now requires insurance when one applies for it in one's own country, since Oct 31st.The O-X has always required it. But it is more ominous, almost as if they want to kill off the O-A. People who got the Visa pre Oct 31st, and are returning/coming to Thailand after (remember it is a one-year validity multiple entry), are also being asked to show insurance at the airport. People who have retirement extensions, based on an initial O-A Permit to Stay, are being asked to show insurance at domestic immigration on Extension renewal.(The O-A could be from many years ago!). And lastly, if one is on a retirement extension based on an original O-A, and has left Thailand and is returning on a Re-Entry Permit... yes, I hear insurance will be mentioned. This seems wrong as the police order explicitly states existing permissions of stay will not be affected. I can't say this is always the case, lots of second and third hand reports here. It is a heads up. So far, the basic and more common Non-Imm-O is not included. Some immigration offices may vary in their implementation too. What a mess.

Has anyone noticed on the right hand side, the exchange rate for SCP at 37.0/37.5, and the flag of Scotland. Now GBP are exchanging at 38.81/39.2..... Nice little earner there, change 1000 GBP, get 38,810 baht, change back to SCP, and get 1035. Take them home.....

Jackie Brown

Hope you can see this.

Probably, I usually exclude their parents from the bedroom.

As stated I did this BA flight a year ago, round trip. That old equipment made for a pretty crappy flight...but that wasn't the complete reason. And I flew up front. Their shuttles between London and Manchester let them down too.

Unbreakable.

No need if you are a monger hanging around Pattaya (and probably a few other tourist areas).Every need if you are in business here or spend a bit of time in the boonies. I am personally surprised how utterly bloody useless I am at Thai, after quite a few years here. In my working time I was in Central and South America a bit and Spanish was coming along. All these years in Thailand and I am still useless, and when I listen to Thais nearby, or even on TV, I can't make out anything. Have to face facts, it isn't going to happen.

I still have confidence that Sterling has some value. Thailand's inflated value, due to a lot of investment for one, is the surprise. Sterling is looking flat at the moment and with a General Election I am expecting it to remain so, outside influences excepting of course. I will post a pic probably Friday.

I flew in to work at Thai Oil, Laem Chabang, many years ago. What a collection of piss heads and dead wood there was on that project!

It is some years ago but I recall I could not get into the Residence Garden, or had to move out for 3-4 days because he was fully booked. He offered me The Boathouse, his property in Jomtien and I took him up on it. I was bored witless there and getting back and forth was a complete drag. How is it in Jomtiem now, I see a lot of flights straight into U-Tapao from Russian Cities I have never heard of.