dad

Tom, Have missed your wit lately but see that we will be in Pattaya at the same time. I arrive 24 Oct. and leave Nov. 27th. Hope we can get together at FLB sometime. dad

Why take her and the kids someplace nice? Won't they just want to come back with you again? Take them to Bangkok, make sure they get plenty of smog, stuck in a traffic jam for two hours and move one block and show them a few of the sites. When they say the place is like hell and what do you see in it just say the golf is very good but the rest sucks. Wife and kids never to be heard from again. dad

kanga, To my knowledge all parties start at 8:00 but ask carlsberg to be sure. dad

echster, Have tried to book online with EVA but never get past the schedule. When I try to get fares nothing happens. Can you help walk me through their web site to book online? Thanks. When are you going back? Hope to meet up again and if in Chi town let me know. dad

Hi Colin and Paula, It was great meeting you at FLB and fun at the party. I have just sent the photos I promised you. Sorry so late but waited to get home to fast internet connection before doing things with photos. Dial up took forever in Pattaya and had other things I preferred to do with my time. Paula nice to have you on the board and looking forward to a different point of view on many subjects. Also good luck with school and when you get a holiday I hope to meet you and Colin again in Pattaya. dad

Don, Don't be too concerned with the numbers. You can go on much less believe me. I plan to spend a month in Thailand this September and won't spend the money Ech is talking about for two weeks. Ech, you added incorrectly and the total according to your budget is 248,400 baht for two weeks. Or just over 17,700 baht per day or just over $420.00 usd per day with a 42 to 1 exchange rate. Don, keep in mind that Ech is very active and you just need to subtract the things you wont be doing or not doing as often as he does. I don't do body massage (11,000 baht), I don't do Thai massage (1200 baht), no st (8000 baht), no golf extras (25,000 baht) and I've never eaten at Bruno's (11,500 baht). But keep in mind his numbers are acurate for what you might spend if you were to do these things. As they say "up to you". I personally can not do a short time, body massage, golf, long time, drinking and eating like he does for 14 days straight. Oh to be young again. Personally more power to Ech that he can do these things but Don keep in mind we don't all have to or in my case have the ability to do all these things. dad

Don, Are you like a gangster or what? Don't know how much you want to spend so here are some prices that I think are reasonable and you can put your own budget together. Residence Gardens suite 1300 baht ($31 US) Flipper around 1000 baht Eastiny around 800 baht Beer Bar girl: bar fine 200 baht Lt 800-1000 baht FLB bar girl: bar fine 400 baht Lt 1000-1500 baht Misty's & most gogo's: bar fine 600 baht Lt 1500-2000 baht food can run any where from 35 baht to 3500 baht depending on how extravegant you want to get. beer and drinks depends on you. beer during happy hour 35 baht and higher depending on what you drink sightseeing see second paragraph. Don't know prices of any other. If you want to have a party at FLB it runs 10,000-12,000 baht see carlsberg transportation from BKK: Thai limo 1500 baht meter taxi 1300 baht from airport, I have had meter taxi's take me from hotel in BKK to hotel in Pattaya for 800 baht just tell door man you want good taxi otherwise you can get a junker that might break down. This is just a start there are others on this board far more qualified than me who can give you better info. dad

I agree with the other posts. I have been to Thailand five times all by myself and never had a problem. As mentioned go to FLB and you will make many friends instantly and then go from there. I have made FLB my home base because Ben, Wee, Moulee, Pete, Ann and all of the staff go out of there way to take care of you. Just tell them this is your first time and they will answer any questions, give advice and even hook you up with something you will enjoy. Make it your first stop. Then go to Misty's and introduce yourself to Andy. He will change your life in two minutes and make sure his girls fulfill your wildest dreams. I personally like going there alone because then everything is done on my schedule and not someone elses. Hope you enjoy your trip and save yourself some time and start planning your second trip. dad

Joey, The RG has bottled water in the frig for free as well as the mart across the road. Joey and the edge, The people are great at RG and the ladies at the desk are exceptional. I asked one of them directions to a specific store and she said I would need to take a taxi and then wrote the store name and directions in Thai for me to give to the taxi driver. They all go way above and beyond to help you and the rooms are a great value for the FLB price. I have stayed here on my last 4 visits and would not think of staying anywhere else. The location is not a problem but if you want to be in the middle of the action 24/7 then the flipper is probably better. I have not stayed there but did stay at Eastiny Place on Soi 8 which is very nice and reasonably priced (800 baht/night). But please keep in mind that when you compare prices you must remember you are getting a suite at the RG compared to just a room at the other places. dad dad

Once again I don't seem to understand EVA awards. Went to the web site again to see about upgrading. They say from Seattle-New York 3 cheques for upgrade from econ. to super bus., 2 cheques for upgrade from econ. to ever. deluxe and 3 cheques for upgrade from ever. deluxe to super bus. class. The same number of cheques for upgrade from econ. to super bus. as ever. deluxe to super bus.? HELP! Also, is super business class much better than evergreen deluxe? I am 6'4 250lbs. and wouldn't mind super business if it is alot better, but otherwise I always fly evergreen deluxe and it is great as far as I am concerned. Thanks guys for the help I really appreciate it. dad

Not that I would change airlines but 20 award checks for an economy r/t is really bad. That equals 100,000 miles flown. United and most others give you a r/t with 50,000 to 70,000 miles. I was at the web site before but couldn't make heads or tails of it. Too old & dumb. Can you tell me what other benefits there are if any? Thanks for the help, dad

Can anyone help me to understand the rewards program for EVA? I have 8 award checks and am an executive class (or gold?) level. So what does this mean? Thanks for the help. dad

Beach banner still doesn't work. The others are fine but the beach banner still does not go to another page that gives any info. dad

Pete, You are the best! I want you to know that I really appreciate all the work you do on this board. It is what brought me to Thailand in the first place and as you know I have returned several times. It is what keeps me informed until I can return also. Once again thanks for all the hard work and it is appreciated. dad

Pete, Thank you so much for the help. I can not move the date because I use my computer for work and I have tons of data that is date sensitive and I don't dare risk messing it up to stay logged on. Thank you any way for the help and hope to see you soon. dad

Pete and Tom, I apparently seem to be one of the few. I am actually able to specify a site which allows me to recieve cookies from it no matter what security settings I have. I input you web address and that still doesn't take care of the problem. I have explorer 6 and have it set at medium security, update automatically and receive cookies from freelancerbar.com and I still get logged out. If either of you discover a cure please let me know. Otherwise we will just have to stick to buying each other drinks at FLB. Thanks for the help. dad

Hi Tom, I am using the directory tree at the top and that is when I get logged off. It is when I use the back button that I don't get logged off. dad PS Like your stings, they are a hoot. Keep up the fun.

Hi Pete, I keep getting logged off when I go from a string back to the members page. Instead of the members page I get the open forum. If I use the back key to the members page it works. I am logged in yet and have access to another string. But when I try to get back to the members forum from the top of the page I get logged off again and only have access to the open forum. Very puzzling and don't know what to do about it. Thanks for any suggestions. dad

Joker, EVA is the best as far as I am concerned. They fly out of LA, SF or Seattle from the west. I think they also fly out of Newark on the east. Contact Angel Travel and ask for Ann. She will get you the best deal which is usually EVA. I am flying from Chicago later this year for $710 rt on EVA in evergreen deluxe class. I fly UA from Chicago to San Fran then EVA to BKK. It is a extra stop but flying EVA is worth it. dad PS. Angel Travel.com or 1-800-922-1092

Jimmy, Have you tried Angel Travel? They get me great flights for great rates. Chicago to BKK for $710 rt. Fly United to San Fran. then Eva Evergreen Deluxe to BKK. Have flown United for a long time myself but find EVA is cheaper with better class of service and space and very accomodating if miss flight or want to change flight. Don't know if they fly out of Honolulu or not. dad

Papa, Could you recommend a hotel in Phuket? I stay at Residence Gardens when in Pattaya and would like something similar for similar price. Won't be in LOS until Aug. or Sept. though. But will refer to web site before leaving. Thanks for the help. dad

SF. I have been to Pattaya 5 times in the last 8 months and have never had a problem. Stick to the tourist areas and you will have no problems. As for ATM's they are everywhere. There are banks, currency exchanges, and ATM's everywhere. Don't worry, you will be happy. dad

Thought I would put in my two baht worth. I have come to know some Thai people here in Chicago and they told me that the temple offers Thai classes. If you have any Thai people in your city they may offer Thai classes. They do it here so their children can learn the home land language. As others have suggested you need to speak words exactly corrct or you could be in big trouble. For example the word for beautiful is the same word that means something like bad luck only with a different intonation. As the more experienced people on this board have said, if your doing this just to talk to the girls it's easy to learn a couple of words and phrases. If you want to learn the language to live in Thailand you need to take a class. Best of luck. dad

Chuck, Can you say competition???? I am a business man who has owned bars in the states as well as many other types of business and with all businesses you must be concerned with the competition. What do you or will you offer that will make people come into your bar or gogo that isn't offered at the other 1000 or more bars and gogos in Pattaya? Check out how long falang owned bars stay in business in Pattaya. They go up for sale months after purchase and the tourist industry is down big time this year. IMHO you should try selling snowballs in Canada instead. dad

When I sent the previous message I got it again. dad