redwood13

As a followup to Casper's remarks I've just retired and am living in Bangkok as of Jan 5. Last Monday I went to see an MD as I'd run out of the anti-hypertensive drug I routinely take in the US and the same drug isn't available here. The doctor I saw is British and has practiced medicine here since the late '50s. He reads, writes and speaks Thai. A couple of things he mentioned was the frequency of pharmacies here using unlicensed people as "pharmacists" and having someone else's license hang- ing on the wall and the large numbers of counterfeit medicines being sold here. He suggested Tesco and Foodland as being two establishements having pharmacists who are actually licensed. Re costs, I was charged a total of about US$11 for 30 anti-hypertensive pills and 30 caps for treatment of acid reflux (omeprazole) which is sold in the US as Prilosec (Losec elsewhere in the world I think). In the US these would run about $40 and $120 respectively. -redwood

Here's a link to one man's discussion of ETOPS with pros and cons of time extension. Interesting stuff. http://www.avweb.com/articles/etopsman/ -redwood

Buying an on-going, refundable, BKK to Penang ticket used to work. -redwood

Leadbelly pretty much nailed it. The hotel was still under construction when I checked it out in Feb. 2001. The rooms nearest Beach Road were finished and they were working on the pool and the wing nearest 2nd Road. Because of the construction noise I didn't stay there until March of this year, but I don't think there's much difference in the two wings. As did Leadbelly, I stayed on the top floor of the wing nearest 2nd Road. Room was 709 - in the center of the building. Not much of a view. Looks out over some rooftops and buildings facing 2nd Road. I'll take quiet over view anytime. Also, see my review in the hotel section. -redwood

If you're a US citizen or a resident alien of the USA you have to file an income tax statement no matter the source of the income. Exempted would be single status filers with an income of less than US$7450 or if 65 or older $8550. You could earn up to $78,00 as foreign earned income and be excluded from taxes in 2001, but you still have to file an income tax return. See www.irs.gov publication 54. Also, regarding social security benefits, if you live in Thailand and apply to collect social security benefits you may be required to show that you've filed an income tax return. Social Security info at www.ssa.gov -redwood

In March '02 construction was just starting on a building on the property just adjacent to The Haven. -redwood

Hey Shooter, thanks very much for taking the trouble to check with your travel agent. Your input has helped me decide to go with the Angel Travel quote. Yes, Paradise is really unique. It started as an ex-pat bar and evolved into a tourist and tropical drinks place. At one time very much a "lads" bar where the regulars all knew each other. But, last March I was sitting with Bruce one of the two owners and he said to me, "You know something? You're the only person in the bar I know!" So, in a way it's time to close up as it's just not nearly as much fun as it once was. -redwood

What are your dates of travel on EVA? I got a quote on Monday from Ann at Angel Travel http://www.angeltravel.com for my Dec. 27 departure from LAX with a 6 mo. return date and the fare is US$891 plus $65 (taxes & airport security fee) for a total $956. This too is the Evergreen Deluxe class seating and is a low season weekend fare as the 27th is a Friday. I'm spending Chrismas with family but I want to be in Phuket for the last days of Bill and Bruce's Paradise Bar at Patong (next to the Holiday Inn). Their lease is finished Dec. 31 after 20 years running a very, very successful business. I've been a customer since the early days of the bar and look forward to New Year's Eve when the bar gets demolished! :-) -redwood

SF Chronicle reports a lady sitting in a Delta Airline plane awaiting takeoff in Florida heard her name over the intercom and was asked to accompany a security agent to inspect one of her checked pieces of luggage. He said something was vibrating in the bag. She explained it was an "adult toy" she & her husband had brought back from a Las Vegas vacation. In the lawsuit that followed, she stated that the agent forced her to open the bag and "remove the vibrating adult toy and hold it up for visible view." One side of the plane's passengers witnessed the scene and 3 male Delta employees began laughing and offered "obnoxious and sexually harassing comments." She's not contesting the investigation as a security matter, but rather Delta's lack of professionalism. She's asking for unspecified damages of more than US$15,000 for Delta's negligence, the intentional infliction of emotional distress and gender discrimination. She refused any comment on the case as, "I just don't want to be embarrassed any more than I've already been." Yeah, aside from making the front pages - LOL -redwood

There's a new AA on Soi 13 near 2nd Road and in March 2002 there was a new highrise building going up next to it. The construction noise led me to find another hotel after one night in the new AA. Also, there was new construction just starting on the property adjacent to the Haven Hotel. Pile drivers, trucks unloading equipment, etc., etc. So, has anyone checked the noise level on Soi 13 recently? To be fair, some folks reported that the rooms on the East side of the new AA were quiet. I had a corner front room right next to the construction. -redwood