healthcaretaker

What is the flight number/date/time? Let's ask Air Asia for an explanation about their services. That is the best way to treat these hooligans.

I didn't catch the original reference to hooligans. I thought he was disappointed with service; I didn't think he encountered unruly o r violent behaviour.

I would strongly recommend that people who don't like Air Asia use other carriers, to minimise the risk of overbooking for me, and to maintain other options, should my needs change.

SC

Did not the flight attendants show arrogance in their behaviour?

It is not an issue with 'people who dont like AA' - it is the attitude of the staff towards their pax.

Maybe the staff also don't like AirAsia or it's his last month's job, thus the behaviour.

Whatever the reasons, I will not blame the staffs, but the top. There is a Chinese saying that sounds like "If the top is not right, everything below is not balance".

This OP's encounters are not that bad.

Mine worse:

1) Airport tax owing to me not refunded, finally they said they don't have my refund application and it's over 6 months, so no refund.

2) My dad's trip cancelled due to medical reason. Emailed to them, never reply. Must online chat only. Made 3 trips to their KL office and each time tell me something new needed.

3) All refunds, regardless of your fault or theirs(flight change of more than 60 mins), NO money refund. Only credit refund which you must spend within 3 months.

Wonder who reward them for best budget airline of the year.

Some will say, "You get what you pay for" or "No one force you to fly with them". Typical Malaysian replies.

They are right.

Thanks,

US $35 to enter a small place is a rip-off. I will stick to Tachileik which charge only US $10. Don't think these Lao-sy places can have more shopping than Tachileik.

$35 is better than 1,600 THB. A wise decision if you know Burma (Myanmah - Pama) crossings so well, I suggest you go there. Also, if you know so much, why come to NE Isaan if you do NOT get "ripped off" in places you know ?.

No answer required --- do yer own thing and good luck .................. there will be no more info from this member

Are you mentally ill ?

Both of these events are extremely popular amongst Thai people and some foreigners. I suggest if you have not already booked your flight to do that TODAY as planes and other transport will all be full. For NKP expect to pay up to 3 times the usual hotel room rates --- if you can find one for that week. As the town will be packed with tourists, side-stalls and events, you will not find time to look at much else given your time constraint.

There are direct buses from Nong Khai which may take 5 (?) hours or more. One road follows the river and does not go through Udon Thani -- a beautiful if long run. Taxis/airport mini-bus are available for NKP airport but I don't know the cost.

There are other postings abut the bridge trip to Thakek but will you really have time?

Thanks,

I have booked airtickets for both BKK to Ubon Thani and also BKK to Nakhon Phanom but return to BKK from NP.

Are there any guesthouses or budget hotels in these 2 places that I can book online ?

Do you know the bus times ?

I think you should actually first concentrate on your original booking. SIRCHAI has asked if it is UDON or UBON you have booked as they are 400kms apart. As I said, MOST hotels in NKP will be fully booked by now & guest houses will also charge three times the normal price for most of the week's festival --- dunno how many appear online but I would suspect not many. More hotels are under construction so I cannot give you details. If you look on this forum from a few months back, I suggested a new hotel in the centre of town www.777hometel.com and are even on facebook. I suspect they will also charge premium prices for that period. Try Tripadvisor, Agoda, ot TAT for more hotel listings. Sri Thep Hotel sometimes hold rooms back BUT still pricey -- also try Viewkong, Riverview, Windsor (town centre and pokey). I have never taken the bus from NongKhai to NKP but I suspect you can also find out the times online.

Thanks again,

Do you know if these 2 events are just 1-night-event or last more than 1 night ?

Thanks,

US $35 to enter a small place is a rip-off. I will stick to Tachileik which charge only US $10. Don't think these Lao-sy places can have more shopping than Tachileik.

I will land in Ubon Thani airport at noon on Day 1

Udon Thani, or Ubon Ratchathani.........

Udon Thani.

Both of these events are extremely popular amongst Thai people and some foreigners. I suggest if you have not already booked your flight to do that TODAY as planes and other transport will all be full. For NKP expect to pay up to 3 times the usual hotel room rates --- if you can find one for that week. As the town will be packed with tourists, side-stalls and events, you will not find time to look at much else given your time constraint.

There are direct buses from Nong Khai which may take 5 (?) hours or more. One road follows the river and does not go through Udon Thani -- a beautiful if long run. Taxis/airport mini-bus are available for NKP airport but I don't know the cost.

There are other postings abut the bridge trip to Thakek but will you really have time?

Thanks,

I have booked airtickets for both BKK to Ubon Thani and also BKK to Nakhon Phanom but return to BKK from NP.

Are there any guesthouses or budget hotels in these 2 places that I can book online ?

Do you know the bus times ?

I am confused over those Friendship Bridges.

a) Are there both available ?

I read about shopping and cheap cds. How is it compared to the shopping scene in Tachileik(across Mai Sai, another Friendship Bridge ?). Tachileik is paradise for shopping imported dvds, how is it in HK & NP ?

c) What are the "not-to-missed" food, places to see & things to do in these 2 towns ? I know only the Sculpture Park in Nong Khai, what about any other places or things to see beside the Mekong River ?

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

I will land in Ubon Thani airport at noon on Day 1 and need to be in Nong Khai on Day 2 for the Naga Fireballs and need to be in Nakhon Phanom on Day 3 for the Illuminated Boats Possession, leaving for BKK on Day 4 afternoon. I have some questions and hope some can help:

a) I read that there are mini-vans that go direct from Ubon Thani airport to Nong Khai. If I skip Ubon Thani city and arrive early afternoon at Nong Khai, I need to wait till the next night for the fireballs, will it be too boring and not enough to do ? Shall I spend the 1st day in Ubon Thai and go to Nong Khai the next morning ? Is there much to see for the tourists in Ubon Thani ?

From Nong Khai to Nakhon Phanom, I intend to take the bus on Day 3. The distance is 255 km but how long will the bus journey takes ? How will the bus goes ? Must I return to Ubon Thani for a connection or the bus goes direct from NK to NP ? From the map, the main road showed it pass UT.

c) Is the Nong Khai Naga Fireballs affair a 1 night event on the full moon night or a few nights around the full moon night ?

d) Are there any places to visit in Nakhon Phanom for half a day in the morning ?

e) I there any bus from Nakhon Phanom town centre to the airport ? I heard it is 16 kms away.

Thank you in advance.

Martin from Roi-et wanted the DVD's but I have lost his number. If you see this message or anybody know a Martin that works for a public school in Roi-et, please PM me.

Hi,

I will like to have your dvds if the titles suit. I will be going to Bangkok - Ubon Thani - Nong Khai - Nakhon Phanom - Bangkok in late October.

You mentioned buying them in Pantip; do you mean Pantip Plaza in Bangkok, Chinag Mai or elsewhere ?

Loi kratong is a one evening event in Ayutthaya town. This year I think it's on November 28th. Best place in my opinion to experience it is at Wat Chaiwattanaram, which gives free admission on this evening only. There's a royal palace on the opposite bank of the river, and if a royal is in residence hundreds, if not thousands of traditional kratong are launched just upstream of the palace. It's an amazing sight. However, the traffic getting there can be pretty horrendous, so patience is needed. You can buy your own kratong from the large number of stalls that are set up along U-Thong road on the way from the hospital westwards towards the palace.

(At Bang Sai there is a big loi kratong event at the Royal Arts & Crafts centre which markets itself as "traditional". Bang Sai is in Ayutthaya province, about 30 km from the town.)

Because loi kratong is not a public holiday, I doubt that the buses will be much fuller than usual. However, if you're concerned, why not go by train to Phisanulok, then catch a bus from there? You can book the train ticket either when you first arrive in Thailand at any railway station, or through the Internet.

Thanks again.

Are you sure L/K in Ayuthaya is just a 1 night event ?(I start to doubt you now because of the earlier posts ;-))

If it is just 1 night on Nov 28th, I will give it a miss as I prefer to see it in Sukhotai. If there is LK events in Ayuthaya on 27th, I will like to be there.

Anyhow, I always prefer the buses in Thailand which are much faster than trains and I have already been to Phitsanulok and no wish to go back soon.

Thanks again.

I am not worried on rooms as I can book ahead online. Bus is the problem as I cannot book from overseas or phone. I know Ayuthyaa, Sukhothai & Chiang Mai are the 3 places with the biggest L/K events everyone. I found out Sukhothai's final day event is on the 29th and CM on the 30th; giving me a chance to visit Sukhothai's final day and onwards to CN the next morning. If Ayuthaya's event has a minimum of 2 days(which I believe so is the minimum), I wish to attend Ayuthaya on the 28th(if L/K is big here on the eve), coming from Bangkok. Problem is unlikely the bus terminal in BKK will be able to give me any info for bus leaving Ayuthaya and I can only buy the the ticket 1 day ahead for Ayuthaya to Sukhothai; upon arrival on 28th. If it is full I may have a problem.

Anyone know if Ayuthaya's L/K is worth a visit on the 2nd last night ?

Thanks.

Kawasaki, your link is very useful but not sure if it is reliable or not. Unfortunately most departure times are not stated and info is not proper..

For instance, I checked Mae Sai to Bangkok, can't gather what it means, 3 different fares by the same bus company.

AyG,

Is your info reliable ?

I have plan to visit Ayutthya for a Loy Krathong trip and continue up to Sukhothai for the next night event.

Anyone know if there is any night or day bus that goes direct to Sukhothai and how many hours is the bus journey ? Or must I retrurn to BKK to do it ?

Will going to Lopburi to change bus necessary ?

Thanks to Gaga, more people know where to buy fake branded watches now and Rolex got more famous, so is Thailand.

I am given the impressions earlier(from other forums/threads) that the pay event is targeted at the tourists.

'Tourists' in this case meaning all non-residents of Amphur Chiamg Mai.

Of course.

In what sense "should"? For the convenience of a few foreigners who want to fly in see a "real Thai" event and then fly out the next day?

They don't want "out of province" Thais either. It's an event for people from CM only.

This event attracts football crowds and has the potential to be a death trap. They have to limit the numbers some-how.

I am confused. Do you mean that they discourage any out of province locals or non-locals to attend BOTH the free event and the pay-event; so they won't want the dates earlier ? If this is their intentions, I will understand why they don't announce the dates earlier. I am given the impressions earlier(from other forums/threads) that the pay event is targeted at the tourists.

Officially Loy Krathong 2012 is on Nov 28 (Wednesday).

The calendar in the forum shows 27 to 29 as a festive period.

So I have no doubt that any celebrations will take place during this three day period.

Thanks; what about the Mae Jo lantern release event(for public) ? Can you make any safe guess around which date they will have it ?

MaeJo is either 1 week or 2 weeks before the Loy Kratong Saturday.

They don't announce the big free event for locals in advance in an attempt to fleece out-of-province visitors for a pay event.

What do you mean by Loy Kratong "Saturday" ?

Then they should announce the pay event date early. Right now, no one knows when is the pay event date yet.

Saw that there was an expensive pay event last yr. but went to see the free one the last 2 yrs and it's amazing! Fortunately it's down the street for me and I biked over a few times before to find out when it was being held and even then I could only confirm it right before.

Can you let me know which date was last year's pay event ?

Sorry I can hardly remember events I went to this month never the less ones I didn't last yr. but other posters said Nov. 30th. Now i have a question for you, what w/the name Healthcaretaker esp. for someone who urgently needs deep fried pork skin?!?

Well, your question is out-of-topic, you should PM me for that.

My nickname already give you the clue for the answer to your question, don't understand it ?

Sorry, all the internet is full of desparate attempts to find out.

Here in the forum, look in the Chiang Mai section and see this thread:

http://www.thaivisa....p/#entry5268758

How about Loy Krathong for Sukhothai & Ayutthaya ? Which section shall it be ?

Saw that there was an expensive pay event last yr. but went to see the free one the last 2 yrs and it's amazing! Fortunately it's down the street for me and I biked over a few times before to find out when it was being held and even then I could only confirm it right before.

Can you let me know which date was last year's pay event ?

I understand that the Mae Jo lantern release is always at least a week or 2 before the Yee Peng celebration dates.

Since Loy Krathong full moon night this year falls on Nov 28 which is a Wednesday, it's unlikely that the Mae Jo lantern date be Nov 30th, rather confusing.

Can someone update ?

There are two events, the first is the traditional local launch which is free to attend (date unknown), the second is an international ticket only event which costed $100 last year (30th November).

Thanks, what about the actual days of Yee Peng celebrations in Chiang Mai ? They normally have it for at least 3 days and the last day is the best, not sure now whether this Nov 30th $100 event day falls in among the 3 days.

Officially Loy Krathong 2012 is on Nov 28 (Wednesday).

The calendar in the forum shows 27 to 29 as a festive period.

So I have no doubt that any celebrations will take place during this three day period.

Thanks; what about the Mae Jo lantern release event(for public) ? Can you make any safe guess around which date they will have it ?

Anyone know if any dates have been confirmed ?

Since the full moon night falls on a Wednesday, it's difficult to guess their celebration dates.

I am bringing some friends to Thailand for this event and need to book the air tickets and rooms, appreciate if anyone can update.

This thread reminds me of Boris the Bullet Dodger, it just wont die!

Thanks to some people who contributed nothing helpful(I don't mean you) earlier.