Bullfrog

I am the sort of person that buys flights immediately I get the whim...I wouldn't dare wait too long for something so important. I have already booked and paid for my sons and Mother to fly to LOS Easter / Songkran next year. I have got caught in the past and ended up paying through the nose with KLM. Monitor seat availability using www.amadeus.net regularly.

I bought into Nova Mirage, Naklua off plan at 32,000 psm... due to finish end 2007. This is not a fair comparrison of course as mine is only on the 6th floor and not as well located.

It obviuosly depends on what you find important in a flight and whether you fly business or economy. But I put Gulf in the top 3.

I am laying low untill a few more results....shhhhhhh!!

OOPS sorry mate, it is probably as difficult for you to tell the difference between Dorset ( Me ) Devon and Cornish accents. It is him as an individual not where he is from that pisses me off. The way he treats his female staff in a supposed family restaurent. Perhaps he has changed, I don't know

If this is the big fat Brummie git that has owned it for the past 8 years or even his arrogant son then both must have changed attitude considerably. They do have an excellent breakfast though, eat it on the veranda and watch the world go by.

It is all part of the plan..we can now concentrate on winning the Championship According to Dr Big Chief it will be in about 10 to 15 years time though

Bates has finally made a Wise decision...Right you lot...we are on our way back

I have been lurking on this thread because I have had personal experience from the wrong side of the bars and wanted to see the responses. I have said this before on other threads but I spent 2 weeks in the immigration prison in BKK several years ago. It was when a group of terrorists had taken over a hospital. For a very short time the police were checking everybody at random. I didn't have my passport with me and was lifted. What would have happened if the coup wasn't bloodless? I only say this because ANYTHING can happen ANYWHERE. IMHO, The above advice is the best. ( Although I

Didn't know that the MCC had a footie team aswell

I will say this very quietly....so don't tell anyone... I have been a Leeds supporter since the Chelsea FA Cup Final(s).. I think Robinson did a very good Gary Sprake imitation the other night..

I thought Concorde tried a smoking flight for Germans...but they only tried once

This is an effing excellent conversion tool. Boy, have I made a fool of myself in the past.

It is difficult to know how to give an accurrate cost estimate of land without knowing exactly where it is. However the reason I said 1 to 2 hundred thousand was because it was inside the village rather than farming land outside and at nearly one Rai. It already has electricity which raises the price. Squirtfinder paid 30,000 for around half a Rai so this shows I estimated too high. SQUIRTFINDER, my mate has lived in Pichit for many years and has built an absolutely beautiful Thai style house just on the edge of town. Perhaps you have seen it?? I chose not to say how much becau

Yes mate you did the correct thing to clarify for those that did not understand that I meant that it would be extremely unlikely you would CHOOSE to live in an isolated village by yourself.Although I did say "Even if you own it". Living in a town by yourself would be easier on your sanity aswell, as long as you spoke reasonable Thai of course.. Som nam na, Regarding the cost of the land I will be the first to put my cards on the table and say 100,000 to 200,000.

So it looks like you will be pumping up water every couple of days.Shouldn't be a problem if you are not in any of the dryer parts of Isaan. I was in that situation where I lived. As your property is set back from the road you will probably have to make your own septic tank. Make sure the access road is wide enough for the sewerage lorry to get through.

I can't help you with the cost estimate but don't buy anything that far off the road unless you have your own access road. Do you have water supply or is it pumped out of the ground each time you need it?

EXACTLY! Just because I have sex with watermelons doesn't mean I am going to marry one.

I think Pattaya Pete made a mistake with his directions it should read:- Firstly get off your soap box, proceed as quick as you can untill you reach your opinion of Thailand, do a quick U -Turn. Then proceed at a much slower pace towards sociability,enjoy the view, laugh at the obstacles in your way and rememberi to pick up a bit of politeness on the way. It might not be the quickest or easiest route but you will arrive feeling far more relaxed.If you are unable to do a U turn because your opinion is blocked by cliches then I suggest you continue directly towards Don Muang. Unfortunately y

We share the same distaste for catholicism and I agree with you totally about the worldwide poverty problems but the thread is about Pattaya beggars and their legitimacy. I will not allow my (our) opinions of worldwide charity corruption and subsequent inefficiency stop me from donating to Jesters care for kids. I do exactly as you suggest and fill a jar every day and when the time comes take it to the bank and donate anonamously.As my first mail stated, I give to people in the street if their handicap is such that they can't obtain work.Otherwise it goes in my jar.

So from the Worldwide perspective you suggest we should stop giving to local orphanges? There is one option that I once carried out up North , much to the disgust of the crooked Head Teacher, and employ people yourself to carry out building work etc.

Hi Mate I lived there for a year in '96, Jakarta and Bandung, and experienced begging daily and I am very pleased things have changed for the better. This is exactly what I do!!! As I said in my mail I don't need it to be one to one and see their faces to make me feel good. I give to organised charities in Patts. I do it to make THEM feel better not me.

The problem in Thailand is that the beggars suffer the backlash from poorer Asian countries where the local Mafia, or sometimes the police, control them, Indonesia for example. Self mutilation has also been known. ( No I have not seen somebody chop their own arm off so I have no proof).but not in Thailand. My answer is that if the physical handicap is such that they won't be able to work I slip them 20. I never give to any other street beggar but give to organised charities...

If you were going with a TGF I would recommend renting a car and driving yourself. Once you have done the river, prison camps and bridge you are then at your liesure to drive out further. I don't stay in town but head north and stay in one of the many Thai "Resorts". The only problem would be, where to leave it if you went out on one of the floating rafts. ( Are there any rafts that don't float?)

There is another regular poster that is based in Beijing but I have forgotten his name. Perhaps somebody else can tell you who it is. His information will be far more updated than mine, I lived in China for two years early '90s and there is no way I would spend 14 hours at Bijing airport if I saved 500USD!! Perhaps it has since been refurbished and updated. As for the Airline, I would chose China Airlines over LTD anyday.