fiferx

Thanks for that advice. I've passed it on.

MY GF is planning to get the bus from Nakhon Phanom to Bangkok to meet me at the airport next Wednesday. Are the buses running OK? Would it be better for her to bypass BKK and take an alternative route to Pattaya which perhaps avoids most of the flooding? Any advice would be welcome. Jim.

I saw something on the News saying that tourists were being warned not to go to Bangkok. I'm going to Pattaya on Wednesday next week. As far as I can see the airport is open and isn't expecting to have any problems. Pattaya seems to be OK. The forecast for Pattaya for next week is mostly sunny. There's a 10% chance of rain on Wednesday and 0% chance for Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday. Sounds good to me. I got this forecast on www.weather.com. Jim

Montydog - nobody has suggested they have any problems with his sexuality. I was merely making a whimsical point about Ian Bell's unfortunate turn of phrase. Don't go looking for sexual bias where none exists. Jim

They actually did the same to me one year re one of the glasses from the bathroom. I just paid for it. Later realised that my GF had taken it out to the pool and left it there, but it was only a few baht so not important. I suspect that the maid is responsible for this sort of thing, and if you don't pay it may well come out of her salary. In which case it's obviously better to pay up even if it turns out to be the hotel's mistake. If it was only 50 Baht why did you even bother to argue? Jim

England Test cricketer Steve Davis has just outed himself. In a TV interview colleague Ian Bell said - "He's a very popular character in our team. We're all behind him". Perhaps an unfortunate choice of words in the circumstances?

I've always understood that Computer experts are able to recover details of every keystroke. Presumably via some preloaded software. If such software exists on the Hotel or Internet-Cafe computer then you are royally screwed if you signed onto your bank's website. I would only do this via my own password-protected laptop. Even this isn't totally secure but at least it's probably pretty safe. The other options are extremely unsafe in my opinion. Jim

Arrive 2nd. March, leave 23rd. Jim (Fiferx)

Who are the Eagles?

I liked Nong Nooch. However, I could only see two restaurants selling Thai and Chinese food. If I go back again I'll take a couple of sandwiches. Also, I was badly bitten so use lots of anti-mosquito spray.

This happened to me a couple of years back when I was using Mr Toom. The driver slipped the policeman 100 Baht and was waved through. I later r3epaid the 100 Baht to the driver.

Thanks for the tip. As a devoted SF reader, I think this is terrific. I've already downloaded about 20 books. Can't wait to read them all. Jim

My girl-friend Sri is looking for a job. She's honest and reliable. Not afraid of hard work. She's worked before in this sort of capacity. She comes from Nakhon Phanom, so a position in Khon Kaen would be perfect for her. If anyone is interested, send me a message and I can supply contact details. Jim

I've been staying there for the last 3 weeks. Actually I'm in the Sabai Wing which is attached to Sabai Lodge. Good big room with balcony overlooking pool for 1,450 high-season price not incl. breakfast. Always got lots of hot water; maid changes sheets every day; adequate restaurant and reasonable room service. Three pools available, I use Ruen Thai pool which gets lot of sun all day. Good location - lots of bars, restaurants in this area. Big C very close Buses run down Soi Song. No joiner fee. I like it. Jim

For me, the big problem with this increased State Pension is that it will only apply to those who retire after its introduction. People such as myself who are already getting the pension will not be eligible for this new increased pension. Jim

The Thai buffet Papillon mentioned is called Sampan although in pronunciation the final "n" seems to be elongated. i.e. Sampannnnn. It costs 169 per person. Mainly Thai food but some falang - chicken legs, pork steaks, french fries, ice-cream, coffee. Drinks are extra - if you order beer they only have big bottles. I was there last night with 4 Thai ladies. Judging by the amount they ate they must have liked it. Jim

Thanks to Joekicker and Firemansam for the information. I think I'll probably be on my own for 4 or 5 days in Pattaya, because it doesn't look as though the situation is going to be resolved all that quickly. I had planned to miss the FLB bar-crawl on Wed, 27th. because that would be my first day back and Sri wouldn't appreciate it if I went out on the booze instead of staying in the hotel and taking care of her. May revise these plans now. Jim

My friend Sri is supposed to be travelling from Nakhon Phanom in the North-East to Bangkok to meet my flight when I arrive on the 27th. of this month. She now says she's not sure if this will be possible because the buses have been cancelled due to flooding on the main road between the N-E and Bangkok. I've had a look on the Internet and this is apparently the worst flooding for 50 years. Reservoirs are overflowing, dams are threatened and are having to open up the floodgates to release some of the excess water. Roads are blocked, and Bangkok is putting out sandbags in an attempt to ho

I usually use OPODO website to look for the best deals. Generally I fly KLM from Edinburgh via Amsterdam. But last year in Feb/March they were too expensive and I flew from Edinburgh via London with Thai Airways. They were quite cheap. This year, in October I can get KLM for £585 which is as good as it ever gets. That was more or less the price I got from Thai Air in February. Jim

Other than The Vault, which (if any) of these hotels would be happy if I took 3 girls back for the night? Always had a fantasy of relaxing in the Jacuzzi with 3 girls.

I apologise for this in advance:- This is a genuine SHAGGY DOG STORY.

Hi, I'm staying in RG right now. In my room (4th. floor) I've never heard the traffic. You can hear it on the balcony, but inside the room with the balcony door shut, nothing!. Jim

I always like to sit down, have a drink, and watch the dancers. If anyone catches my eye, it's up to me to wave them over, or to get the mamasan or one of the service girls to bring her. In some go-go's I've seen the girls sit down in a group after their dance, and practically ignore the customers, or disappear into the back room somewhere and not come back in. In these cases, it can be difficult to make contact with the one who caught your attention. Therefore, my feeling is that once the dancers are finished, they should remain in the body of the Go-Go. If they are sitting separa

I'm booked there for 20 nights from 13th. November. I've seen consistently good reviews. On another thread someone has posted an aerial photo showing where Residence Gardens is as opposed to Walking Street and, specifically, FLB. Never walked there myself, altho I have passed by on a Baht bus. Pretty sure it's only about a 10-15 minute walk. Baht bus passes by on the road outside the hotel and can drop you off anywhere along 2nd Road from where it's a 2-minute walk to Walking Street. Jim

I've stayed in both Flipper House and Flipper Lodge. Both perfectly adequate. Reasonable restaurants, rooftop pools, friendly staff. They always check girl's ID's., and don't let them leave on their own without phoning room and checking with you.