CheshireTom

I used to stay there when it was part of the Ascott/Somerset Group (Somerset Suwan Park View). Great rooms, but the restaurant was crap - offset by the excellent Italian, Gianni's, just about opposite the hotel.

Do you mean Big Horn? Longhorn was the restaurant at what was Shagwell Mansion.

Is it? It's possibly quicker to walk at 8 a.m.

Hi, I stayed at the Novotel Bangkok Fenix Ploenchit in August as I had some business at the Brit Embassy on Wireless Road. It cost 2,100 Baht per night (incl of tax and service) through Latestays (it is the Mystery 4 Star Hotel on Ploenchit). 10-12 minutes walk to either the US or UK embassies and directly adjacent to Ploenchit skytrain station. 10 minutes in the other direction to Nana. Only downside was that the rate didn't include internet although there were a couple of free Macs in the lobby for guests' use. A = Hotel, B = Nana, C = US Embassy

See Post #98 .... Some good stuff on that 4Corners programme ...

The 'picture' of the bathroom doesn't match the floor plan.

For those with access to Eurosport (Astro or cable), coverage from Ascot of Frankel's last race begins at 10.00 pm Thai clock on Saturday.

I read the title ... it was your comment that it "was served like a Thai noodle soup" that I found confusing. How did you expect it to be served?

It's on 2nd Road, on the right hand side if you are walking from Pattaya Tai towards Pattaya Klang and just about opposite Pattayaland.

You couldn't parody the Nike ad any better if you tried ...

Gabor's recent post about beef soup set me thinking that I've not heard any recommendations for a decent Vietnamese restaurant in Pattaya. Are there any that BMs can recommend? I remember there was on on Soi 3, but it was pretty crap as SE Asian restaurants go.

Is it beef noodle soup or simply beef soup?

Yes, I heard the start of the programme - got to listen to the rest later. Funnily enough, McQuaid has a lifetime ban from competing in the Olympics, but is now a member of the IOC. A good programme on Australia's ABC - The World According to Lance

The inability to spell Savile was a bit of a clue ... I enjoyed this though ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vILQhDGO8Xg

He (Kelly) done the commentary on Astro (Eurosports) for the TdF this year. While he was good at explaining the team tactics, he was always complaining that the race had become boring and harking back to the days of guys doing 200 km breakaways or sprinting up some of the toughest climbs on the Tour. The two Irish journalists, Kimmage and Walsh, should be commended for their tenacity.

I had absolutely no idea how to get to the temple from the university and the couple of folk I spoke to hadn't noticed it before ... So it was onto Google Earth to find a way up to the ridge .... no problem, a 2.5 km climb that would have tested Lance in his heyday ... ... and I eventually found the entrance ... ... followed by a collection of various religious offerings ... The chedi itself ... ... and from the inside looking out ...

One of the things I like about Thailand is how they, the locals, prefer to exercise outdoors, rather than in air-conditioned comfort of the local gymnasiums. One of the options available to me is the Sports Complex at the local university, in particular the swimming pool and jogging/walking/cycling route around the university lake. The entrance to the complex ... put together for University Games ... Tennis courts (and a beach volleyball court) ... Entrance to the swimming complex ... 50m competition and training pool ... 15 Baht for 2 hours ...

Now that we are approaching high season in the Andaman Islands, for anyone feeling a bit adventurous it may be worth having a look at Air Asia's deals that include all transfers. I think they are good value if you are a bit flexible with your dates. Where they go .... And the cost (from Bangkok to Koh Lipe) ...

It's all very sad. I'm sure the world of sport will be pretty forgiving of both Barry and Hincapie (both outstanding cyclists in their own right). I guess the same could have been said of Lance ... On a positive note, a lot of riders have indicated that cycling has moved on somewhat and that seems to be borne out by the times of the leading riders in this year's tour. Let's hope so. The USADA "Reasoned Decision" can be found at Scribd. There's some heavy stuff in there ...

Neither did George.

Game on. USADA has finalised its case and issued a press release .... all screen captures from The Guardian ... Apparently, the whole thing wasn't a French/Euro conspiracy after all ... Two riders, Big George Hincapie and Canadian Michael Barry have today admitted drug use. From Barry's blog ... Meanwhile, Hincapie's comments are pretty damning ... he's probably the most tested rider in the peleton (he's ridden in 17 Tours and was Armstrong's most trusted lieutenant during all his 'winning' Tours) ...

It's in Post #7.

Doesn't time fly! Have a good trip. It may be worth considering staying at The Hilton on your next trip, rather than driving to and from Central Plaza and worrying about climbing (or descending) steep stairs in a guesthouse.

With Combined Hotels there are a whole host of filters that you can apply and the results will also be applied to the map. Filters ... just check the ones you want to apply ... For example, this is the map showing all 580 hotels covered by Combined Hotels in Pattaya ... Check the filter to only show the 61 hotels with disabled access and the map also updates ...

From The Nation 30 minutes ago (not sure if they confirmed their info with the good Admiral though) ...