AdamBangkok

Saves money or so they believe. Lots of Thais including and especially Bars unplug their fridges at night.

That explains why my first beer of the day is always warm. Will try waiting until 9 or 10am in future. Thanks for the tip!

The Banyan Tree hotel have a good one - called Apsara. They provide transport to and from the hotel if that's convenient for you. It's pretty short (less than 2 hours) but the food is great. It's around THB2,500 per head.

If you're bringing your own water into "high end venues" like beer bars then you're not frugal - you're just plain weird. If you're willing to fork out 1000++ Baht for a meal and then bring your own water to save 12 Baht you're loony tunes.

Your figures are wrong.

The Hilton (for example) charges 50B for water and ~500B for their buffet lunch. Dicey Reilly's charges 350B for their Sunday carvery and a staggering 80B for a small bottle of water.

So it's really not a question of the water being just 1 or 2% of the bill.

I was at the Hilton for lunch last week - if I recall correctly it was around 1,000++. That was on a weekday - it's more expensive at the weekend. Didnt check how much they charged for water though.

Going down quicker than a .............

Cold beer?

. . . . French guy on a 500 baht hooker?

I was in Cha-Am the weekend before last and the restaurant I was eating at was serving Pattaya Beer. I've never seen it here in Bangkok. I tried (several) bottles and was really impressed; I wish they'd stock it a little further North!

Another vote for Tailor On Ten

they have a good selection of GStar in Central Chitlom, on the same level as the entrance from the skytrain.

went to the JW Marriott on Sukhumvit soi 2 last year. Think it was 2,200 ++ not including booze.

really good food, and a nice atmosphere.

Interesting 4 minute clip here on heroin addiction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9huWlXFA1s

Seems to pretty much hit the nail on the head.

_{As long as the fire stays in the people and doesnt move to the buidlings we should be ok.}

Is this an advertorial?

It looks like one, but then if it was actually written by them you'd hope they'd know how to spell Hemingway's.

Don’t hit your mother with a shovel. It leaves a dull impression on her mind.

Ahh so this is how the foreign residents become infested with parasites. Sometimes I have wondered how a westerner would become host to some of the Thai protozoa and worms, but now I understand.

either that or a couple of hours on Walking Street.

the video is actaully taken in Khao San, not Patpong.

People talking and checking their phones in cinemas drives me nuts.

As I think somebody mentioned previously this seems to be less of a problem with daytime showings. I always ask people politely to stop talking / playing with their phones (the lights distract me) and they always do.

Never needed to be rude / abusive or to ask more than once.

parked on my soi a couple of months ago . . . .

if the raspberry Absolut is too sweet for you (as it is for me) try the Absolut Ruby Red.

it's grapefruit - pretty sour and goes down well with soda!

Second Chance (mentioned above) will actually come and collect your stuff.

That's who I use - lazy, right!

Viva Vino at the Grand Mercure on Suk soi 22 does a pizza / pasta lunch buffet. From memory it's around 300 baht. The pizza's ok but nothing amazing.

I lived in Leicester for a few years (lucky me!) and people there dont really use rhyming slang.

There's some phonetic slang here which actually seems pretty accurate but you might need a translator to work it out http://www.angelfire.com/fl2/slang/

Things I (being clever and sensible) buy at Villa.

Raspberries (fresh)

Blackberries (fresh)

Peaches (fresh)

Walker's Crisps

Bird's Instant Custard

Angel Delight

Suet (when they have it)

Ribena

Milky Ways and whatever UK confectionery they have in.

Cider

Roasting Joints

Bread

Things I (being clever and sensible) don't buy at Villa

Any Thai produced goods.

The things in the first list may be expensive, but a rip-off...? Not as far as I'm concerned...

Long hauled fruits and veg lose from 50 to 90% of their vitamins and nutriment content, so not so clever to buy overpriced delicate imported fruits.

Walker's are sold just about anywhere here, every 7/11, Family mart has them

Never seen Walkers in either 7 Eleven or Family Mart here. Ever.

Never had a phone call and I have been here 10 years. I am carefull who knows my phone number. I suppose if you give it out to some called low life in a bar thinking he is your new found friend when you have had a few drinks.

Then you are a prime target

The above companies get their contacts from websites for teachers by advertising a job and then browsing the resumes thus getting contact details. I have no time for these scum but in truth I have no time for idiots who fall for this kind of scam.

I also think it is about time a certain member was blocked from this site due to his or her racist views.

If I was in that line of business I dont think I'd be targeting teachers.

April fool?