Leadbelly

nidnoyham- Why don't you just call them ladies until you learn their names? God knows most of them put enough effort into trying to make themselves look like women... You'll know and they'll know it's not true, but what can it hurt? The girls who call out to me, "Hey sexy man...hansum man..." well, those girls and I know that's not true, but they're not gonna get me to stop in for a drink by being truthful.

Like BigDUSA said, the beer garden on soi 7 is good in the afternoon for freelancers. The infamous Thermae (bar/coffee shop) is another place, but think it now closes at 2 a.m. as well. Take a left as you're walking out from the Ambassador parking lot...its down just past the Clinton Plaza area of go-go's and bars. It's hit or miss at the Thermae as to quality (it's a late evening place). The Thermae is downstairs....upstairs on the 2nd floor is the Marble House. It's a good place to get a traditional Thai massage if you want to try and work out any discomfort from a long flight in. Also abo

Hello Andy- Haven't stayed at the Ambassador in Bkk, but from what I've read on other boards there isn't a problem with guests...(although it seems I always read someone at just about every hotel will report they had a problem at one time or another with "guests"...makes me wonder who the hell they are trying to bring back to the room!). Since you booked a double (smart move...why worry about it?) you won't have a problem...if you do just point out that you booked a double. The last time I was in BKk (June) the large paved area in front of the Ambassador had a bandstand and live music in

Dilbert- Since you were the one who supplied me with the email of the Thai language school, I thought you would be interested in their email they sent when I sent them one asking about their school. Here's their response: Dear Mr. -------- Many thanks for your above email, and we have pleasure in forwarding you our general school info relating to learning Thai;- Our school which is licensed by the Ministry of Education is located on Pattaya Central road, also known as Pattaya Klang road, and we are situated approx. 250 metres down the road from Foodland an

ps99- There is a Pattaya Park Resort in Jomtien Beach. I've never stayed there. If this is the one you are asking about, click on the link below for more information. http://www.directrooms-thailand.com/pattay...pattayapark.htm

Dilbert, thanks a lot for the tip. I'll contact them for more info.

Greg_B, Do you just fly Thai Air or is cost more important than the airline? In the S.F. Chronicle's Sunday "Travel" section, many travel offices have ads there. I'm sure it would be the same for the L.A. Times. In the Chronicle there is a travel office (M & K Travel) who have been advertising R.T. SF-BKK-SF for $529, not including taxes. It was on China Airlines, however, which some won't fly due to their safety record. If you haven't already, check out the Times since many of the travel offices work with airlines and oftentimes have good deals. I have no idea why Thai Air wanted you to w

Will be arriving shortly after noon (12:10 p.m.) at Bkk airport on Nov. 9th. I'm looking to share a ride with Thai limo. Anyone heading to Pattaya at that time?

ps99- The Marriott in Pattaya is on Second Road. That's the big road running parallel to Beach Road...Second is one street up from Beach Road. The Marriot is right next to the big Royal Garden shopping mall and next to Shenanigan's Restaurant as well. The Marriott can be entered from Beach Road too...you would go through the pool area to get to the lobby. I forget exactly where the Beach Road entrance is, but it would have to be from somewhere on the left-hand side of Royal Garden Plaza from Beach Road as you are facing the shopping center. You could just enter Royal Garden from Beach Road, wa

Last trip I paid 200 baht per hour for several hourly lessons in Thai. The lessons were given by a nice, middle-aged Thai lady and it was money well spent. However, her English was a bit limited so I was wondering if any of you know of a good teacher who is fluent (or almost fluent) in English as well. Or possibly a class with a low student-to-teacher ratio that you have gone to that had good instruction. Also if the classes teach how to read Thai, that would be fine too. I've heard that's an important skill to have to really learn the language well. Will be in Pattaya for about 6 weeks o

I've never stayed there, but if they do still charge 1000 baht for guests, maybe you could look into booking your room as double occupancy rather that single. That may be a way around the guest charge. They may charge you the same rate for either, or just a bit more for double. You could contact them and ask....good luck.

Hello jem23- here's some info about size and weight restrictions for carry on luggagae for U.S. airlines (from the internet...). You can always call to check if you're flying out of another country on a different airline, or check their web site. <<<U.S. airline Carry-on Restrictions NEW FAA Requirement : Please note that airlines will now only allow ONE carry-on bag and one personal item (Briefcase, purse, diaper bag etc.) Airline # pieces Max dimensions(") Max weight (lbs.) American 1 piece- 45 linear inches 40 lbs America West 1

Soi7, that's a very good price you got on JAL out of S.F. I've been on JAL out of S.F. before, and like that airlines. For the next trip in Nov., I went through M & K Travel based in S.F. They are offering R.T. S.F.-Bkk-S.F. for $529, but this is not including taxes, etc. And it's with China Airlines...they don't have a great safety record. They stop in Taipei, and the layovers are in the 2-3 hour range. I flew them once before, and they don't measure up to JAL, IMO. In fact, the air conditioner wasn't working as we were getting ready to depart Bkk to Taipei....we sat on the tarmack f

for fixing it!

I agree, Daveuk, the Eastiny Place does have a nice pool with a comfortable "kick-back on the chaise lounge" area around it (with bar). Also good, clean, all-tile rooms with a pretty decent western-style breakfast to be had at the restaurant on the ground floor. The front desk has the safety deposit boxes (no safe in room). I'm pretty sure it was 750 baht back in Nov.-dec. of 2001. The manager said he'd come up with a better rate when he found out I'd be back in May-June of 2002, but never checked him out on it as I went to RG instead. They were asking for the girl's I.D.'s at the front de

aj- Yes, the Eastiny Place is very close to 2nd Road. The Eastiny Inn is further down the soi, closer to Beach Rd. right in the middle of all the beer bars. It's right next to a 24 hour AM-PM/7-Eleven type market. I looked at one room at the Eastiny Inn and one at Eastiny Place, and liked EP room better than EI. All tile, fairly new looking inside. Can't remember the room number I was in, but it was the top floor, end unit closest to Soi 8. It's far enough from the beer bars as to not be too noisy at night. It gives you a look at part of the Soi from your balcony, and also overlooks a rat

....a review I did about The Residence Garden was recently added. The review at the beginning says "Ib the owner" and when you click it, it gives out the email address to The Residence Garden. Somehow I ended up putting that information in the wrong place (no computer genius here...) It makes the review look like it was written by Ib, which wasn't the case at all. Reading the review it's easy to tell he didn't write it, but in that space it should be the handle of "Leadbelly" there instead, with my email of Lead_belly48@hotmail.com. My apologies all around for yet another computer mistake (and