Leadbelly

Don't know if this is what you had in mind, but the fish park in Jomtien is freshwater, no license required. http://www.geocities.com/zoomfishing/JomtienFishingPark.html

This site has some pictures of the plane taken by National Geographic. Three of the thumbnail pics on the left can be made larger to see some interior shots of the Airbus A380. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...lleries/airbus/

Emil, you were very close. According to a Google search on it, Mach 1 is 717 mph... "Mach number is a common 'ratio' unit of speed when one is talking about aircrafts. By definition, Mach number is a ratio of the speed of a body (aircraft) to the speed of sound in the undisturbed medium through which the body is traveling. It is said that the aircraft is flying at Mach 1 if its speed is equal to the speed of sound in air (which is 332 m/s or 1195 km/hr or 717 miles/hour.) An aircraft flying at Mach 2 is flying at twice the speed of sound in air, etc. Mach numbers are named after Ernst Mach (1838-1916), an Austrian philosopher and physicist. The term Mach number came into use in 1929."

The nightly T.V. news here in the U.S. had a short piece on the new Airbus A380. It's unveiling will be tomorrow (Jan. 18th). It's wingspan is about 100 yards, fully loaded it carries one million pounds, and can take up to 800 passengers. There will be showers on some, and possibly duty free gift shops on board. Two decks, passengers on both, the interior pictures looked pretty awesome. They said Singapore Airlines would be the first to start using them for commercial flights starting next year.

It's been the Residence Garden for me the past few years. Reasons: 1) Great value for the price. I stay twice a year, each trip from 40 to 60 days. For stays of 30+ days, the rate is 1000 baht per day. 2) A suite makes a long stay much nicer...TG can sleep in and I can be in other room listening to music, watching T.V., etc. Don't get a cooped-up feeling that I sometimes feel in a single room. 3) Can reheat food (or even do some easy cooking) with the 2-burner stove top they have. 4) Friendly staff...after so many times there, I know many of the workers and like them. 5) Being just a little outside of ground zero is not a problem, with baht buses going by all the time and moto drivers parked outside. But now I rent a moto, and that is also convenient because the rental place is directly across the street from the R.G. 6) Zero hassle with bringing guests to the room. 7) In-room electronic safe. 8) Two pools. 8) Used to just have one T.V., now there's two.

Also you can ask at reception for a second key card. They will copy some information down from your girlfriend's I.D., then give her the I.D. back and hand you the 2nd key. It hasn't been a problem the few times I've done this, but it was done in the afternoon when Da was working reception. If you happen to arrive late at night and there is a problem with 2 keys, just wait until the next day and have her sort it out...there were a couple of new workers at the R.G.'s reception in Nov.-Dec.

They'll be using the old airport. The new one won't be ready until late 2005 from what I remember reading.

I just posted this on the Yellow board, but thought I'd ask here as well... On my most recent vacation in Pattaya, from Oct. 30th to Dec. 23rd, I went to Bob's BBQ near the N/E corner of 3rd Road and South Pattaya. The ribs were very good, although curiously both mine and my friend's were only lukewarm. I also had ribs twice at Tequila Reef (Soi 8) and the first batch was excellent; juicy, meaty, falling-off-the-bone tender, but the 2nd time they were overcooked, dry, tough, and not much meat...odd. Anyway, I ate at Bob's with my friend and his Thai girlfriend. He is from the U.S. and retired to Pattaya a year ago. They asked where I was headed after the dinner and I said Buffalo Bar on 3rd Road. There was a girl I'd barfined earlier in the vacation who I wanted to see again. They decided to walk there and join me. Since I had a motorcycle, as we left Bob's I was walking it with them until we came to 3rd road, where I was going to ride to Buffalo and wait for them outside. We cut down the sidestreet outside of Bob's and were going to make an upside down L to get to 3rd. As we were walking we came to a new "serviced residence" building named LK I just posted this on the Yellow boardPavilion. It looked really nice, so we stopped to take a look. Very nice lobby, with pool table, piano, area for band, lots of nice seating. We asked to see a couiple of the rooms. We looked at 2 different units, both were very plush and nice. The one I like the best was a suite type one, with a seperate bedroom, a large kitchen area, and a very nice living room. I asked about the monthly rates for the suite, and they said that it could be had for 30,000 baht if rented by the month. Sorry but don't remember the daily rates. I stay at the Residence Garden and get a rate of 30,000 baht a month there as well for long-term stays. The R.G. are suites too. But the ones at the LK were much nicer and more plush, except that the LK's sofa was kind of small compared to the RG. Even though it's nicer than the R.G., I'm so comfortable with the R.G. and the staff there that Ib would probably have to jack the long-term rates up for me to switch, however. I seem to remember they said the 30,000 monthly rate would be raised in the future as this was a promotional offer for the new place, but I guess that depends on how successful they are filling the place and the time of year it is. If you are kicking around that area, you may want to check it out and offer your opinion. I'd really be interested in anyone who has stayed there and what you thought of the service, etc. LK Pavilion (the card spells it 2 ways...Pavillion and Pavilion...) , 124/11 Moo 10, South Pattaya Road. It's very close to the N/E corner of South Pattaya Rd. and Pattaya 3rd road. Tel: 038-724000-3, FAX- 038-724004, email- lkpavilion@yahoo.com. No website yet. Â

Thanks a lot Tahoe Bill. If no one has a correction to it over the next day or so, I'll use this address.

I tried a search with no luck, could anyone help out on the mailing address of FLB?

Here is a link to a go cart place in Pattaya. You can check the rates there...looks like it all depends on the size of the go cart you choose and how long you want to ride. http://www.amazing-thailand.com/Karting.html#Rts

Check out the link to see some typical monthly temperatures and rainfall for Pattaya. I have only been during May-June and Nov.-Dec. May and June seems very hot and humid to me, and I come from a hot (but dry) area. Nov.-Dec. is usually much nicer weather-wise. The rain when I've been there was no big problem, as it would come down hard but usually last for less than an hour. http://traveleshop.com/weather/pyxw.shtml

I'd say they were pretty close to the same distance to FLB and would take about the same amount of time to walk to from either place. Same with a baht bus...a straight shot down Beach, then a walk from the beginning of W.S. to FLB (fairly far towards the south end of W.S.) or a baht bus from R.G. and hop off by the VC and a shorter walk from there to FLB, you just have to walk through the VERY loud music that always is blaring from those beer bars...

yoq- click the link for monthly temperature and rainfall averages in Pattaya... http://traveleshop.com/weather/pyxw.shtml

To anyone recently at the Residence Garden or there now, is the small moto rental under the tarp still across the street from the hotel? Thanks in advance for your response.

KJ- I stayed at the Eastiny Place a couple of years ago for about 2 weeks. I thought it was fine, with a very good location near 2nd Road at the top of Soi 8. Very clean, all tiled floors inside. I stayed on the top floor in the room nearest the soi and could look out and see part of Soi 8 and the foot traffic walking by. They may still be asking if you want a breakfast thrown in for some extra baht which IMO you should pass on, since their breakfasts were nothing special, and several times they tried to charge me for it even though it had been included in the price of the room. They did ask for the women's I.D.'s at the desk, which isn't a problem for me. A word to the staff if you don't like them holding the I.D. is probably all you would need to do. They have safety boxes behind the front desk. For the price (maybe 650 baht...hard to remember) I thought it was fine, but I've never stayed at Flipper and some of the other popular places, so can't compare it with those. I've only stayed at Diamond Beach Hotel (I got a small, worn room), Honey Inn (or Lodge...a dive IMO, on S. Pattaya between Beach Rd. and 2nd, but at least it was cheap and near Walking Street), Pattaya Centre Hotel (too many tour groups clogging up the elavator and lobby, plus yelling to each other down the hallways), Eastiny Place, and the Residence Garden, which is my favorite so far. A guy named Mark (Marc?) was the manager at that time of EP and also the Eastiny Inn further down the soi towards Beach Rd., and seemed a sharp guy who spoke English well, so if he's still there he'd be a good person to go to if you have any problems.

yoq- check this link out... http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/c_thai.htm

belga- It's not far from your hotel to the nightlife, especially the Walking Street area. It's definitely no walk though, that is for sure. I've been back and forth from Jomtien to Pattaya a bunch of times, but never really looked to see the mileage...I'm guessing maybe a 4 or 5 mile distance from that hotel to Walking Street. It can take a while on the baht busses during the peak travel times into Pattaya, as the traffic stacks up leading into Pattaya during the early evening...but that also depends on time of the year and weekend vs weekday. Don't know the guest policy at the Jomtien Beach Hotel, but if you have their email address or phone #, ask and see what they say. Have a great trip.

bongojonga, their web site (www.dynastyinn.com) doesn't mention a deluxe room...maybe it's just a room at the top with a view? I don't know. You could email them and ask what the difference is at downtown@dynastyinn.com

BigSwede, I've stayed at the RG a lot, and will be back there again in May for about 6 weeks. I think you'll like it very much. Maybe get up from the ground floor and away from the pool for better privacy, unless you like sitting on the balcony and having the swimmers and foot traffic seeing you. If something bothers you about your stay and it's fixable, just mention it to the staff and they will take care of it. Also up to 9 P.M. or so, if you have a shy girl and want to avoid going by the pool and reception, walk all the way down the driveway to the stairs leading up to the elevator...later at night they lock a gate there so you can't go that way 24 hours a day. Try their restaurant once, the all-you-can eat dinner buffet. Around 300 baht, not cheap by Pattaya rates, but a good spot to get lots of barbecue, salad, baked potatoes, etc. If you need to hire a moto driver, across the street from the RG is an older guy, Samboan, who is a safe and slow driver (if he's still there, he was at the end of Dec.). Enjoy your trip.

Website says pool and jacuzzi are on the roof. http://www.dynastyinn.com/beta_DynastyInnPattaya.htm

Click on Air Asia's link below... www.airasia.com/general.php?p=pmain&l=en

Sinbad, someone mentioned iKobo as a way to get money to another person...I've never used them. But here is the link to them: www.ikobo.com

I.D. License vs I.D. Permits...here's some info from the internet: <<International Drivers Licenses are a SCAM! WisDOT cautions drivers; international driver's license is a fraud * It should not be confused with an International Driving Permit (IDP) which can be purchased from an automobile association April 30, 2002 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) warns drivers that international driver's licenses do not exist. They are a scam. Any individual or company trying to sell them should be avoided. Claims regarding these non-existent, worthless documents are many and are increasing on the Internet. Be wary of claims such as: Need a new driver's license? Too many points or other license trouble? Want a license that can never be suspended or revoked? Want ID for nightclubs or hotel check-in? Avoid tickets, fines and mandatory driver's education. Protect your privacy, and hide your identity. Take advantage of your rights. Order a valid International Driver's License that can never be suspended or revoked. Confidentiality assured. Call now! Division of Motor Vehicles Administrator Roger Cross points out, "This scam is all the more confusing because something called an International Driving Permit does exist." International Driving Permits (IDPs) may be purchased for $10 from an automobile association authorized by the U.S. Department of State. At this point, only the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance are authorized distributors. IDPs are honored in more than 150 countries outside the United States and function as a legal identification document that translates U.S. driver's license information into 11 foreign languages. An IDP is not a replacement for a valid U.S. state license and should only be used as a supplement nor is it valid in an individual's country of residence. A driver would only need an IDP if visiting a country that doesn't recognize a driver's license from the United States or renting a car from a company that requires one. Cross further stated, "In a time when valid forms of identity are of increased importance, we want to ensure that our customers have all the facts. An international driver's license is a scam. An International Driving Permit is not." >>

Isaan isn't one of the 76 provinces, so I think it just refers to the northeastern part of Thailand (like your "midwest" example for the U.S.).