midlifecrisis

A truly great song and apropos of the psychedelic drug scene in San Francisco and the Bay Area at that time.

US carriers have not been the same since deregulation. Carriers have merged and competition has decreased. With that has come a business model that is less consumer friendly.

you have an excellent eye for composition. I get the sense of actually being there when I look at your photos.

May I ask what camera and lenses you use?

Great trip report and only one attempt to make it political. You do the best photo essays!

Thanks so much for this tip!

Thanks!

I spent from age 5 until retirement in San Jose. Not Fresno. It is a long drive to find really good fish and chips. You don't drive two hours round trip just for fish and chips. My experience is different from yours. As I am not looking to cause problems I apologize if I in any way misled you folks here.

like I said. I am not driving 4 hours for fish and chips. You proved my point that good fish and chips are not easy to find.

I am not an expert on seafood in San Francisco. My perspective on this topic was that Jolly Friar and other places mentioned in Pattaya were kind of hole-in-the-wall places. Small businesses. That in mind, those types of places here tend to be fast food chains (San Francisco is an exception I expect). In the UK, fish and chips is much more common. I believe you can get it in pubs. I have seen movies where it was served from trailers at the beach. Again I am no expert on the food industry and would love to find some real fish and chips here that use cod and not some lesser tasti

I am thinking of coming back in January and it is right at the time my 5 year colonoscopy is due. I would appreciate info from you guys in Pattaya about the cost, names of good doctors, facilities and how far in advance this needs to be scheduled. Any other information that is relevant is also appreciated.

Up on Fisherman's Wharf perhaps. Maybe in Monterey. But none that I know of in the south bay. Even chain restaurants like Red Lobster only offer passable seafood. I am not sure if The Fish Market offers them but they don't have as good a seafood as one might expect. That is my experience. If that is baloney, so be it. In the UK, you do not need to go to great restaurants for good fish and chips.

It still must be better than anything on the west coast of the USA where all we have is chain fast food restaurants.

Some things old that I had not read before. A Tale of Two Cities among other things. Whenever I get the itch to read old works, the more the idea of mongering starts stimulating me. If I start hankering for Shakespeare, I will know I missed the last plane there.

Reminds me of what I saw in Germany in 1984. Here's a question. How difficult a barrier would this be for an invading army?

Another nice report but...was El Chapo in there?

Great report.

Greenies for the good guys!

I was joking.

deleted: sorry ended up on the wrong topic somehow. and not even drinking

I am not BigDUSA

Second road across from Soi 8?

Is this another disgraced celebrity trying to remain relevant? Or worse - make a buck? I wrote him off long ago.

As far as service is concerned, I expect only that they take my order and get me my food in a timely manner. I won't eat somewhere a second time if the food is not good but I can handle any service short of being ignored or being angry at me for simply wanting to eat there. I certainly don't expect western service in a third world country unless it is an upscale place.

I have found that alcohol contributes to my insomnia unless I am really drunk. I have taken to fewer trips and fly business class now. I cannot sleep sitting (even premium economy seating) and need a lie flat seat. Then I am ok for at least four or five hours of sleep. That makes a big difference to the times I got zero sleep from the time I woke up in the morning in California until I finally landed in Bangkok. I have never taken ambien and based on some of the comments here I will refrain from taking it.