Fireman Sam

Daughters first day at Bangkok University today, she has started her law course, on the phone already asking more money for books, lol. In good old student tradition her first lesson of the day wasn't until 14.00hrs, even she managed (just) to get up for that start time lol. Hope she enjoys herself but also sticks in and does well over the next four years. Regards

Loads of hotels around the Lat Krabang area close to the airport, at well less than half the cost of the Novatel,they all run shuttle buses to the airport, average journey time 5-10 minutes tops. Regards

The taxi queue at DM has been a nightmare for a while now. I always revert back to the old system of grabbing a taxi that has just dropped off passengers at departures. No turnstile gates at DM to stop you, never had a problem. Regards

A few days ago I submitted my letter to the personnel department informing them of my wish to retire on my normal retirement date which is 2nd August this year. Life changing year ahead for myself. Regards

Spot on jacko, it was the data check number that I was after on AIS. Regards

Does anybody know how you check your remaining allowance status in the above plans ?

Spending a fortune just now getting my daughter ready to attend Bangkok University,she starts Summer School there on 1st June for two months then full time from August. She is studying Thai Law. Regards

I paid £476.00 for Aberdeen - Bangkok return with Qatar, out 28th May back 23rd June, it was a few months ago that I booked. Cheapest I have ever paid from Aberdeen. Looking at a one way ticket for end of July, Qatar are quoting £815.00 ? Even other airlines are all around the £600 + mark. Regards

Great photos of real Thailand. I just cancelled a cycling trip in the same area because of the burning in the region, will go later on in the year sometime. Loads of companies doing cycling tours if that is your thing, they take care of everything off the bike you just need to do the cycling. Thanks again. Regards

Depends on the fault whether it's worth fixing or not. We had a problem with the sound on our 32" Samsung flat screen it would only play at full volume, whilst that was fine to fit in with the neighbours, it got a tad wearisome after a while. Got it fixed for 400 baht, granted this is in Nakhon Phanom. I realise my location doesn't help the OP. Regards

I liked the iris reconigition system they had for a few years at most of the major airports in the UK, there was never a queue for the machines and was effortless. No human interaction required with border control staff at all, has to be a plus. This government scrapped it, I think for lack of take up and penny pinching as usual. If it had been bettered advertised and managed then could have been a great success IMHO. Regards

I flew on Qatar's A380 last week in economy on the upper deck DOH-BKK. Really good layout and plenty of leg room, if you somehow manage to pre-book your seat up there go for a window seat, you get a storage box due to the curvature of the plane, there are no entertainment boxes in the footwells also. I think Qatar reserve this area for their frequent flyers. I am a gold card holder with them so had no problem selecting seating in this area online. I would go as far as to say one of, if not the best economy class seats I have ever flown on. Good quick meal and drink service as well as ther

marleyboy wrote, " As an aside. Thai now use Terminal 2 (was 3) in Heathrow............I found it much worse than terminal 3! " Jesus H, Terminal 2 must be bad !!!! Regards

Just a quick update, I purchased the Nuvi 2567LM for 7490 THB last week from Maurycy at http://www.eaglegps.co.th/index.php/en/. he is located in Chiang Mai. Really really good service and very helpful guy to deal with. I carried out the purchase via email and sent the cash to him via bank transfer. My Garmin arrived two days later at my house in Nakhon Phanom via Thailand's EMS Postal Service. Used the unit yesterday for a trip from Nakhon Phanom to Udon Thani, although I knew the route to our destination in Udon I thought it would be a good try out. I was very impressed, as I deviated

Hi Peter H69, As I wrote in my first reply, there are many car hire companies available in Udon, none that I'm aware of in Nakhon Phanom, although I may be wrong in that respect, I don't have a need to rent a vehicle so it's not something I look for. If you check out UdonMap.com I'm pretty sure there will be car rental companies advertising on there. Certainly no problem with a Falang renting a car, might have to leave a copy of your passport and a deposit though. Gas stations everywhere in the North East, not a problem. Regards

Probably 50/50 which way is quicker, choice below. Fly to Udon Thani, then get the bus to Nong Khai, then change buses there for one departing to Nakhon Phanom. Not too sure how often they run nowadays. Remember the bus to NKP will stop everywhere and anywhere probably taking around one to one and a half hours upwards from Nong Khai to Bung Kan I would think. Your other option is fly to Nakhon Phanom, either Air Asia or Nok Air fly there daily see their websites, then take the mini van into the town's bus station (approximately 15 KM from airport) then jump on the bus heading to Nong

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/transasia-atr-flight-data-suggests-wrong-engine-shut-408774/ RIP to all the victims ! Regards

I'm also in the market for a Garmin Sat Nav in the next 3-4 weeks. Think I will go for the Nuvi 2567LM, seems to do everything I need and mid priced at 7490 THB on http://www.eaglegps.co.th/index.php/en/products/automotive-main-menu1/product/73-nuevi-2567lm has anybody used this company for an online purchase before, and if so were they reliable. Do all the Garmins now purchased in Thailand come with the ESRI map already installed, or do you have to specify this map when ordering ? You all seem to take the units back to where you purchased for an update to the map, has anybody upda

Basically you have until the 31st of July this year to make sure that your pre-paid mobile sim card is registered with your personal information, what personal information actually entails I'm not a hundred per cent sure, but would think name and address at the very least. Link below http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/telecom/458992/nbtc-issues-registration-alert I know that Gabor has a thread running in the expat section about AIS or DTAC and which is the best carrier to use, I didn't want to hijack his thread. I also didn't want to put this in the expat section as it wil

Watched it also last night. There really should be some sort of common sense test before they hand out passports, lol, dire at best. Regards

Just a few photos of a recent stay in Chiang Khan. Chiang Khan is a small rustic Thai tourist town in Loei province, approximately 40 odd km North of Loei City, we only stayed for two nights, just about the right length of time. Nearly all the town is constructed of old wooden style buildings. We were there just to chill out and do nothing in particular. It felt more like a Thai destination with very few falangs present. I thought for a tourist town it was very reasonably priced for food, drink etc etc. Apologies in advance about the photos as I'm shit at taking them. We stayed in the Ru

Nice pics, can I enquire what DSLR you treated yourself to ? Regards

Hi jacko, I just did a business class leg LHR to DOH with Qatar on their new A380. I remember you saying you nearly always go business class so a quick round up from myself. I flew in from Aberdeen so the lack of limo had no effect for myself. The lounge at Heathrow is very good with really helpfull staff, went out of their way to solve my small problem, nice guys. The food on offer in the a la carte menu looked pretty good with plenty of choice. I just had Tomato and Basil soup followed by a Chicken Club sandwich as I wasn't really that hungry. Plenty of Champagne on offer and a p