yselmike

In this little town I can hear the fast fat bikes coming,probably a bit noisier in London.

It is happening organically really.The bit that's being forced is getting the really bad polluters of the street.Thats the diesel vans mostly that are never serviced or maintained,that's a european problem.They need to be forcibly scrapped if necessary.The biggest fable is that the internal combustion engine is going to be outlawed by 2030-2035 that's not true.All the new cars that are being sold now will still be running in 2040 and longer.Some activists and politicians want no new petrol cars to be sold after 2030 that's a wish not a fact.My street is full of parked cars as are the surrounding streets,how they are going to be charged if they were all electric is a mystery.There are electric cars on the street but the only charging station I know of is outside the supermarket.They have just finished the purpose build terminus for the buses for charging, maintenance and parking here in Purmerend.

I've booked a place for the first 4 weeks just off Klang close to the bigC,I can cancel anytime up to Christmas.Its reasonably quite there and it's about as far out as I want to be.There is a chance that I can stay in mate's condo,will know in October/November fingers crossed.

I live in Purmerend a small town 20k north of Amsterdam.The buses are in the process of going all electric,it's a massive improvement.The sooner all motorized traffic is all electric the better.its much much quieter on the street,the main noise is from the tire's and the odd boy racer on the motorbikes,that's a summer problem.The old noisy scooters are being phased out,they have to wear helmets and ride on the roads in towns and cities.The kids are now on the souped up fatbikes they whizz around up to 45k,cue much clutching of pearls and laws to be passed.Go into a bike shop and it's almost only e-bikes.I know some are against going electric but it's going to improve the quality of life for everyone,noise and pollution fre streets.It really is a win win.

I am in Pattaya/Jomtien from 3 January till 26 February.I have for over 25 years stayed in hotels.For the longer stay I am looking for a condo/ apartment.What are the pitfalls and the red flags I should lookout for? Some of the Airbnb places have great prices but don't mention water and electricity etc.Booking.com have more places but much more expensive.The reviews especially for Airbnb are all over the place.VT 6 has a couple of places about €2200+ for 54 nights that seems like good deal.Any recommendations please,walking distance from the beach preferred but not a deal breaker. Cheers mike

I was looking for a place on Agoda,next January for 30 nights.The March hotel looks ok great location with a reasonable price.All the reviews give it a 10,given that I disregard the top ratings and lowest ratings I've not got a lot to go on.Anybody stayed there recently? Opinions gratefully received.

Doctor Google will explain the rota virus for you.Just don't mention that there's a vaccine for it,there's some sensitive souls on here.

Check the arrival times.the cheapest flight for January 3 on Skyscanner was Saudi.It arrived at 23:20. With 25 hours trip time.The EVA flight looks good if it's direct.

I'd pay that,not to fly them.

What I saw on booking.com was €1100 or about 42,000 baht for 29 nights january 3 till March 1.with breakfast though.flipper house was €1564. They both get a 7.8 rating considered good.not sure I would like to stay a month in them,but if it's for a short stay I would be ok with the lodge.

Still no change on the prices from Amsterdam in January,the cheapest is still Saudi.The out leg is 25 hours to arrive Bangkok 23:40! Agent prices on Skyscanner. My last two trips to Bangkok I have extended the return date, upgraded and payed online,no problem with EVA. I'm only asking,can you do that with a ticket from an agency?

There was no mobility issues that I could see, relatively modern block with lifts.Maybe a few old fellas have died and they don't want to deal with that.Police, Ghost in the room.semi legality of renting rooms.

I am searching for a room on booking.com and Airbnb,or better an apartment for my trip next year,two months January February.I found one I like but when I read the T&Cs.One of the conditions was "the apartment can only be rented to people between 18 and 70 years old" I have seen a minimum age often but never a maximum age. I will be 73 by next January and I don't want to pay up front and then told I have violated there terms,and then have to get my money back from booking or Airbnb.Has anyone come across this before? I'm not losing sleep over it,but I am intrigued.Also is it legal?

I'm in the Netherlands not the UK.The reviews are horrendous,some of the sites are very dodgy.I did use one site for years "vliegwinkel" nl,even when they were a bucket shop on the Rokin in Amsterdam,I never had a problem with them.I just put my dates into Skyscanner and they come up with a list of providers and the cheap ones come with a long list of grievances,some are self inflicted like spelling the name wrong like,mike instead of Michael.

The prices Skyscanner showed were all via agencies,not the Arline sites.They all seem to get negative reviews, customer service non existent etc etc.I only book on the airlines sites.High season prices December to March are brutal,no idea if they will come down but EVA only have flights from Schiphol 3 days a week.KLM daily but they are always expensive,ok if you only have hand luggage are prepared to gamble on where you seat. I'll be 73 by the time I fly in January I need an aisle seat.My prostate and sciatica nerve demand I move a lot.

For my dates only two Saudi and one Cathay Pacific flights show under €1000.That's via Skyscanner,not sure if that's with hold luggage and seat choice.

I have booked for my next trip 2 January 2025 till 1 March 2025.Direct with EVA from Amsterdam,€1200.Standard economy,choice of seat 23kg luggage. Premium economy for the return trip,it's over 13 hours so the better seat and service are appreciated.Cleaned out the old Eva tickets,a 2019 ticket same dates cost € 636. Looking on Skyscanner there are no cheap flights to be had,none! Because Eva and KLM are the only direct flights from Schiphol and lack of deals I decided to get it while it's a price I am willing to pay. The flights are usually crammed full mostly with older folks like me,as we die off I wonder if we will be replaced.

I arrived from don mueang yesterday.The last 3 kilometres to my hotel on Klang soi 12 took 50 minutes.The traffic was as bad as I've ever seen.Expecting the worst I was surprised to see all the island's and a bright clear morning.

Do they burn fake plastic money as they do in Cambodia?

I'm on my hotel balcony,Klang soi 12.Early most morning's I can smell burning.looking north east I've been able to see some hills in the distance maybe 3 times in 24 morning's,I first thought it was mist from humidity,now I believe it's only from burning, agricultural, industrial and traffic.

The problem is going to deteriorat in the short to medium term.I noticed the big buses have returned in numbers this morning while I was on the beach.Soi Buakhao is a no go zone for me,on my one visit to metro delivery trucks and bikes were belching out toxic fumes.Soi six had cars crawling down.Its 04:37 Monday morning I am in my hotel room coughing away,it's not good.

I am really struggling with the pollution.I made the mistake of walking second road,from Klang to south Pattaya rd.Then up beach road to Klang.I paid for it the next day with a serious chesty cough and generally feeling like hell. It's so bad that this will probably be my last visit to Pattaya. I am off to Bali in a couple of weeks,it's the rainy season but anything is better than this. I have no idea about a solution to the problem but the combination of industrial, agricultural and traffic is deadly. It's a serious problem for this old falang.

I got it working in the end,so it's Bali instead of PP.€338 return from DM airport in Bangkok,plus €428 to extend my return flight to Amsterdam with EVA,double what I paid last year.I saw a video on Sihanokville on YT,I knew it was bad but it looks disastrous.I know some people on Bali,it's the wet season in February but if it's not good I will just fly back to Thailand.Arrive 10 January stay in Pattaya till 3 February then 3 nights in Bangkok all booked and payed for.6 February fly to Bali,24 February back to Bangkok, Depending on how I feel it's back to Pattaya/Hua Hin/Chiang Mai and fly home 5 march.

Anyone else having trouble using the air asia and Bangkok Airways apps and web pages? I am looking into the prices for a round trip bkk-pp next February, if I decide to extend my trip,it's an option,that or spend 4k baht with an agent.The app and web pages just don't work,tablet or phone.possibly there's a three month limit or some such nonsense. reading the reviews something is not ok.

The authorities have a cunning plan! Wait it out till one part collapse completely or partially,then declare the whole lot unsafe.Swifly followed with a total demolition.In the meantime screw the punters and tourists out of as much money as they can.Another reason to avoid walking street.