forcebwithu

Read one news report that said they were planning a 3m high incline on the approach to the underpass entrance to prevent flood waters from entering. Sure hope they get that incline right. Too steep a slope and they'll be launching cars into the underpass. They've screwed that one up before. Remember the first attempt at the new speed bumps on Beach Road about six months back? The design was wider than normal to accommodate a flat part in the middle to serve as a pedestrian crossing. Problem was they made the incline on the approach too steep so that fast approaching motorbikes were getting launched into the air. Think it was only days after the first one was installed that they were doing rework to resolve that oops.

When I was in there last week for my 90 report they were calling out the next number. Can't imagine they wouldn't at least continue to give a shout of the next number up.

Pictorial update from this morning.

Pics of the progress as of this morning. View south And the view north Nern Pub Whan has a few of these signs scattered about as you head towards Suk. Both the signs and arrows on the pavement show that thru traffic east or west on Nern Pub Whan isn't allowed through the intersection, but everybody is ignoring those instructions. And the section from Suk to the access road is still marked as one way, but again nobody is paying any attention to the signage.

Bangkok Bank Fees: ACH transfer BKK New York charges as follows The fee for depositing the baht in your bank here is 0.25% up to 500 Baht (min 200 baht) For those moving small amounts it would be more cost effective to use an ATM, but for those who move several months of living expenses at a time the ACH transfer makes more sense.

Kho Noi and access road intersection has no turning restrictions. But Nern Pub Wan and access road intersection kind of, sort of, maybe does. Looking towards Suk, the sign says only left turn allowed. Looking the other way there is a very confusing sign. Think it’s probably just as confusing to everyone else, including the traffic cop, as I saw traffic passing through the intersection and making turns with wild abandon. On the other hand, the Soi Siam Country Club and access road intersection it was clear they meant business. View with my back to Suk. Then again, maybe they were only kidding with the concrete barrier, at least if you were on a motorbike. Witnessed the copper stopping cars from sneaking around the barrier, but motorbikes got a free pass. YMMV on that one though, so wouldn't count on it if you’re trying to get from Suk to SCC. Another view of the SCC and access road intersection looking south.

On a positive note, the resurfacing of Suk is now finished, so no more backups there. U turn just after Kho Noi is still open with cones on the northbound side to keep U Turning traffic from backing up. If you can read this sign, your x-ray vision is better than mine. For those like me who have non-functioning x-ray vision, this is what the sign says. And it is true. They’re not allowing traffic to turn in to Kho Talo from Suk. From either direction. Not sure how that is supposed to help or relieve traffic congestion. At the Kho Talo and railroad access road intersection they have this informative sign. Which begs the question, how is it helpful or meaningful to those coming from that direction. Looking towards Suk, the view of the Kho Talo and railroad access road intersection. Note that traffic can travel both directions through this intersection. It’s only the intersection with Suk that has turning restrictions. The access road cut through halfway between Kho Talo and Kho Noi is open with no restrictions.

Jacko scooped me again. Here's another update on Sukhumvit underpass construction and what’s happening with lane closures on the side Soi’s. View looking south View to the north. Last of the central island “artwork” is gone. Note the highway signs are still directing traffic to closed intersections. Editorial comment about the temporary directional signs they've put up and down the roads. The biggest mistake is not only do the large, green, overhead signs not reflect current turning restrictions, but they would be the perfect place to put the temporary directional signs. So instead they put them up wherever there is a convenient post. They finally realized having two ways to turn left on to Suk from Klang wasn’t helping traffic congestion. Now the top of Klang is walled off. Choke point southbound at the Klang intersection Reason for the barricade on the left is it looks like they’re putting a foundation in for something. Have to keep an eye out for what grows from this hole. Here’s a big lesson why Thai should not be allowed to translate into English driving directions. There use of “One Way” is wrong and confusing. What it should read is “No Left Turn” as you can see in this pic of the Boonsampun (Kho Noi) intersection.

I see jacko beat me by a few minutes with his update. But I do have pics, so that has to count for something. Pictorial update on the underpass project as of this afternoon. View to the south Southbound choke point just past Klang intersection wall Looking north Something looked different at the SCC intersection On closer inspection I find the SCC intersection now has a wall of its own This means the only way now for us brightsiders to get to the darkside is to travel north past the Hwy 7 flyover and do a U turn, or head south on one of Pattaya's city streets to Pattaya Tai.

Friendship hosts an entertaining Dragon Parade every year on Chinese New Year Day. Worth taking the time to see if you're out and about on the 19th.

Resurfacing work continues south of Khao Noi creating another bottleneck for traffic. A peek inside the central island barriers No barriers at the Tai intersection

Noticed last night the Klang intersection is now sporting a permanent barrier. Pics from this morning. Sign at the Klang intersection is coming down View to the south View to the north

A few pics from today. Most of the vegetation in the central island has now been cleared. As an aside, caught the red light just as it changed yesterday around 5pm northbound on Suk at the Pattaya Tai intersection. They've really fucked up the timing on those lights. Estimate 5 min cycle for each change of light, meaning southbound Suk right on to Tai 5 min green, then right from Tai on to southbound Suk 5 min green, and finally north and south get the green again. Watched as right and then left turning traffic cleared in about 2 minutes. Meanwhile could see southbound Suk traffic backing up from Tai to Klang during the 10 min wait for our green. Also saw several motorbikes running the red light due to no traffic moving through the intersection and frustrated with the long wait for no reason. Probably explains why we've seen in the past the intersection blocked to turning traffic; easier to do that than adjust the traffic light cycle to match volume of traffic in each direction.

Snaps from this afternoon of the progress north and south of Klang.

Construction barricades now south and north of Klang. Work has started on clearing the central island. Some pics from the start of the project 11 January

I find the Wintergreen flavor preferable for a mentholated BJ.

Many times you'll get a lower price booking online than as a walk up.

Here's a map that others might find more useful. Richard, feel free to use in any of your marketing for the new bar.

Here's a link to Google Street View of the location. The bar is located behind the line of bars facing the street.

Definitely worth the short ride to Bang Saray beach. Besides the good, inexpensive food and quiet beaches, no peskie vendors bothering you. At least I hope that's still the case. It's been a few months since I was last there.

Read somewhere that he's moved to Tropical Bar on Soi Khao Noi.

I'd have to disagree with the statement doners are the same all around Pattaya. Sampled a few from other stands when my favorite was closed and have to say they were pretty bad. Main difference I found was either the meat was overcooked and dried out (probably because they don't sell enough to keep it fresh on the spit) and/or the vegetables were not fresh. As an aside, my favorite stand is on Soi Dianna, just outside the entrance for LK Metropole, in front of the 7-11.

Agree. Managed to catch Loy Krathong on my first visit to Thailand in 2008. They used to have a stage at the start of Walking Street where the traditional Loy Krathong dance was performed. Here's a video I shot on that first visit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i2RlihVpx0 And a few pics from that night.

Where is the Pong Tambon office? This year they've been digging out the North end. It wasn't until a few weeks ago they cleared out the trucks and diggers in preparation for the imaginary rainy season. This pic shows the area they were working on. You can see on the other side of the reservoir where they were dumping the dredging spoils. Not sure what they're doing over there. There's a shitload of large rocks piled up at the moment. Not sure what they're developing the area to be used for; park maybe?

Have you considered purchasing a Kindle Paperwhite? On of my best ever purchases. Easy to carry around, screen is great for reading, and downloading of books is quick and easy.