teelack

Just like Beethoven then?

Thanks for the topic. As you say, its not Thailand but I am interested in hearing anyones take on the good and bad differences between the two destinations. Its a long while since I was in Spain and as I recall it I seemed to end up in those little dive clubs that la8rat mentions where the white rum was cheaper than the Coke. That was a sure way to obliterate yourself!

Ooooops Pete, I forgot to remember the free Sontam. Nothing makes me slow down my eating and drinking like the aroma of sontam! Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Hi there Pete and be thankful that you are not freezing your bits off in Christchurch. I admit that I don't visit the PBG as much as I did in times past. I will say however that almost every trip I go there a few times. It is possibly the best place to take a Thai girl in Pattaya when you want a place where the food, ambience and service all arrive in the one place. Best wishes to you and the team there. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

My ideal trip is to double up and spend a couple of months in Thailand. Like everyone else however I have a lot more questions than answers. It really comes down to so many factors and it would require my home, any transit points and Thailand to be done with any form of isolation/quaratine. There is also the troubling aspect of health insurance and I really would hate to travel without it however as I have mentioned elsewhere I would get my bank to extend the limit on my credit card to say, $50,000 Then there are the costs. Will there still be great accommodation bargains? Will the reduced number of airlines and possible seating changes increase the costs massivly? Will there be financial disincentives to travel overseas from my own government? There is however one other thing that I keep hearing that I am unsure about. This is the savings to be made by not travelling. All very well but the interest rates universally are still dropping so my investments have taken a hammering and like others I did some dollars on the sharemarket retreat and the volitility could cost m more in the future. I have been buying shares while prices have been down but I am still uncertain if its the "Never try to catch a falling knife" syndrome and I will get burned further. I guess the bottom line is that none of us know how this will pan out and making plans is an exercise in futility.

Thanks for taking the time and effort with this TR. While its a bit sad seeing Bangkok as it is now it did bring back memories. The Soi 20 area including the Rembrandt are all part of my history in the place, not forgetting the Crazy House as well. It does also show that even in these strange times an interesting trip report is always possible especially when you are stuck at home without an actual date to return.

In fairness, I believe most casual forum members are looking to converse informally. As I tell people, I don't need to know the Thai word for philately as I don't come to Thailand to collect postage stamps! It's as much about daily usage and an addition to the Thai holiday experience as learning the language. As I have already conceded, at my age tones are almost impossible therefore I am always looking for ways to communicate with the locals wherever I go. Incidentally, experience has taught me that a few minutes with a good Thai speaking Farang is always time very well spent. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

This has been tried in the past but to no avail. As I read it the forum has not grown at all. It's years since I have seen a post in Hotels /Accommodation. I suggested a regular forum to assist people wanting to learn Thai but there was no interest. Seems like most people want to discuss politics judging by the number of password protected topics. So very sad for something called Pattayatalk.com. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Thank you Mr. Fiend. I have downloaded the app and yes, good stuff. I also noticed yesterday that I in the first week of August Thai Air is due to fly to almost 50 destinations including most Australia main centers and in my case, Auckland. Needless to say, the devil is in the detail and it's all irrelevant if there are border controls in the various destinations that put people into isolation or if there are onerous conditions for insurance and health documents. Also and just as important, I won't be traveling to Thailand just to go to a beer bar. Some of the attractions that set the place apart from vanilla world need to be reopening. It is at least a positive move and gives hope. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Yet again well done for making something out of almost nothing. Perhaps a new career as a chef beckons? There is one sub culture that I believe should get your investigative juices flowing. As I understand it there are a hell of a lot of falang bar managers and owners assiting each other to look after the girls and get totally pissed on a nightly basis. Its a way of keeping their bar aired and to stop the draught ale getting stale. its what you know is who...

I really wonder, unless your living in Asia now what the relevance of exchange rates are? Who can possibly see what the rate situation will be a year from now? I guess that none of us know which countries will bounce back and go full steam and consequently have an appreciating currency. There will be countries that tank and in addition to that we dont know for instance if all the bad news regarding Thai tourism will lead to a devaluation. I also note this on my bank web site. It is indicative of the lack of knowledge about the current and near future situation. Then there is the inponderable. If and when Thailand opens up will it still be the place to go? Will it take the opportunity to become the long promised 'Familly destination' or will it be business as usual? There are so many issues and so much water to flow before most of even contemplate a return visit, that its all irrelevant. The only real down side to the low exchange rate with the Thai baht is that its yet another impediment to sending money and supporting anyone who is doing it tough. PLEASE NOTE | TSB is currently providing limited foreign cash services until further notice - View changes here. We have also had to pause all foreign cheques and the sale and reload of Cash Passports in branch until further notice.

Friend of mine lives in a condominium complex and he owns one of the larger one. When we chat the things that he mentions are the corporate body fees, annual company accounts and health costs. He had a bad time recently and the first tranche of payents were over 400,000 baht and getting the money from his insurance isnt that simple as this was an emergency and not a planned hospital stay. There is still the ongoing costs and testing to face up to. Seems to me that whatever your budget you also need a nest egg for those major issues that crop up.

Good question and some useful answers. I have learned things that I didnt know. Moral of the story is to keep asking.

One thing that I will be happy to recommend is Australian reds. We make excellent white wine in NZ but I have said many times that "A cheap Australian red beats a good New Zealand one". Having said that I have real problems with drinking Australian whites as they seem to overdo the preservatives. I guess that this is part of the price you pay for the fact that the biggest wine sales in the UK travel from Australia and are cheaper than I can buy them here from 2000 kilometres away! Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

For lovers of Gilbert and Sullivan! http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5e9a09cbc5d31/VIDEO-2020-04-16-13-50-16.mp4 Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Well for me I realise that you tried to bring a smile to the team so that is a real bonus. There are too many posts where the punchline would have been that the postman was a Democrat and thats why it all got fucked up!

I can forgive you if all you write about are the bars that are supposed to be closed but are still doing business. Also a critical review of what is left in the fridge of your local 7/11!

I had a bit of an adventure getting home so I thought that I would write to both of the airlines that I flew with. Malaysia to its credit was prompt and as usual told me to take a (polite) running jump as far as compensation. They did however offer me 5000 air miles with a value of about bugger all assuming that I get the chance to fly with them before they go bankrupt. Then there is my nemesis airline. Air New Zealand. I really detest this lot but have no option for national flights so they are IMHO an arrogant bunch of no hopers and on an international basis I avoid them like the Corona virus. In a way this is so sad as perhaps on my last 100 international flights I have flown with them half a dozen times so the loss is theirs. I have had OK service from some and totally zero response from others over the years but as far as I can recall the only one that I got zero response from was Qantas but as its possibly six or seven years since I have flown with them they again were the losers. Airlines are no difference as Pattaya gogo's and clubs. Vote with your feet and dollars.

Monkeyman. Don't stop doing what you are so good at. For good or bad any news about Pattaya will always be appreciated. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

CARP - Canadian Association of Retired People Questions and Answers from CARP Forum *(suposedly) Q: Where can single men over the age of 70 find younger women who are interested in them? A: Try a bookstore, under Fiction. Q: What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause? A: Keep busy. If you're handy with tools, you can finish the basement. When you're done, you will have a place to live. Q: How can you increase the heart rate of your over-70 year-old husband? A: Tell him you're pregnant. Q: How can you avoid that terrible curse of the elderly wrinkles? A: Take off your glasses. Q: Seriously! What can I do for these crow's feet and all those wrinkles on my face? A: Go braless. It will usually pull them out. Q: Why should 70-plus year old people use valet parking? A: Valets don't forget where they park your car Q: Is it common for 70-plus year olds to have problems with short term memory storage? A: Storing memory is not a problem. Retrieving it is the problem. Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly? A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon. Q: Where should 70-plus year olds look for eye glasses? A: On their foreheads. Q: What is the most common remark made by 70-plus year olds when they enter antique stores? A: "Gosh, I remember these!" SMILE, You've still got your sense of humour, haven't you?

Stop Press News. An Isis suicide bomber killed himself and 78 family members after deciding to work from home.

Just wondering but would a better title for the topic be "Every airline reducing flights to Thailand".? Seems to me that you would be hard put to find a company that isnt cutting back almost every international service to anywhere.

There are so many possible apps that could be helpful however one that saved my bacon was Google Travel. It alerted me to a dreadful error in my travel plans and saved me a hell of a lot of money. I also realised that reading this that I hadnt even bothered downloading the AIS app during my last trip but if you are worried about your internet and call useage then a phone supplier app would be a great help. I also downloaded the app of my travel airline. When there was a significant change I took a screen shot just in case there was an issue later. Another app that I use daily is Tapatalk for Pattayatalk! It seems that almost all the girls that I mix with have LINE and I expect more of them to share their addresses if things get tougher.

Maybe, just maybe, after Brexit, the Brits and no longer considered European! Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk