Soi33

Better safe than sorry. All news sources here in the U.S. are all over this story.

Everyone stay safe!

City of Ghosts, fairly good movie on HBO this month. Matt Damon and James Caan. Many shots of Thailand and Cambodia.

So very true. I used them for 2 months......not only laundry but very good food!

They are everywhere. Across from Grand Pres is a German restaurant upstairs that does laundry. Also at the top of soi 11 past Solitaire is a very good one. Just look at the signs as you walk, you will find many in barber shops etc....signs can be small but they are everywhere.

I know a tuk tuk driver who will often sit outside Patpong/Suriwong. After fighting off the mafia taxi one night he offered me a ride to President Solitaire for 50 baht. The ride was fine and he was really a nice guy (a rareity, I know).

Now I see him all the time in the same place at closing time and many times will ride with him, mostly just too piss of the mafia taxi. He has offered to let me drive many times....so far I have passed on the offer, ###### its hard enough to just walk at that point of the night for me. It would be interesting to drive one just once though.

If their going to have a helmet law then it should be one that actually affords some protection. The flimsy plastic helmets most thai's wear are the same as wearing nothing in an accident.

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The Mrs says that some of the Thais are being fined because their helmets are not of approved style.

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"approved" is the key word. I always rent a bike in Pattaya and usually get that flimsy plastic helmet that is used for 5 year old baseball games. They do nothing but add to the heat and boiling the brain....would be of no help in an accident. Funny part is if I dont wear it and get a ticket it used to allow you a 24 hour free pass to NOT wear the helmet anymore (2001) To me it was worth the 200 baht just to get the 24 hour free pass.

If their going to have a helmet law then it should be one that actually affords some protection. The flimsy plastic helmets most thai's wear are the same as wearing nothing in an accident.

The old saying "the helmet just keeps the brains in one place" does not hold true for those things!

On my trips to LOS I always spend 6 months at a time. While I love thai food it's nice to find a change of pace.

Mexican food is my 2nd love, very difficult too find in bangers for me though.

There used to be one at the entrance to Patpong on Silom that I tried several times....sadly it was pure crap!

Ahhhhhhhhh way back in the good ole days. First trip in 1972 to Pattaya via Sattahip!

Crazy

Haven't seen the show.....one of the fighters comitted suicide about 3 weeks ago before the show started. Can't remember which one. Stalone and Sugar were pallbearers at the funeral.

Lewenski's used to be real good for break. I have not been in a while though.

Great idea but you'll find there will only be pink ones left to chose from.

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I'll take a "pink one" after 10-15 hours!

This is all over the U.S. News.

Beginning April 14, 2005 ALL cig lighters will be banned on commercial flights. Lighters are not allowed in checked or carry-on luggage.

No disposable lighters, Zippo's etc.

In their infinate wisdom they will allow you to carry FOUR books of matches though! Amazing thought process!

Happy, I sold watches from BKK and shipped them all over using Thai Post Offices. The box and postage (registered) cost 3-400 baht and usually arrived in about 10-14 days. I sent many using the post office and they all arrived intact. Never had a problem.

I always liked the one that was: You stop just at the bottom of the escalator to check your filofax

But really you have been here too long when you can think of no reason to go 'home'..where is that?

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I thought it was when you and your family stop at the bottom of the escalator and all sit down to figure our whats for dinner and plan your evening.

While I have never got the butt baht fine...I do get stopped and fined many times when riding my motorcycle from Pattaya to Sattahip. Even though I wear the helmet and legal the highway police will stop me and usually ask for a B500 fine.

Last time it happened I was with my regular gal, we got stopped and I was simply fed up with the harassment. I told the cop I wasn't paying and if I had done something wrong then to ticket me. After about 10 minutes of back and forth my gal said I had better pay or it could get very ugly like me being dragged into the bushes and never come back.

I guess the highway to Sattahip is their own personal toll road!

I have actually seen signs located in that police booth that clearly say 2000 baht fines for tossing the butts. I always just flick the lit end off and carry the butt til I find a trash can. Smoking is expensive enough without a 2000 baht fine.

No difference at all.

When I listed a Breitling on Ebay it was taken down quickly and they said "replica" items were not allowed. This was a couple years ago and Ebay may be different now. I had no problems listing and selling them on Yahoo auctions though.

I have sold lots of watches, Breitlings and Tags while on my trips to BKK. I sold them on Yahoo, Ebay didn't allow knock-offs to be listed. Once they sold at auction I just walked to the post office and boxed them and off they went in the mail for about B250. I never had a problem at the post office and all watches I sent arrived in about 2 weeks.

I made it very clear on the Yahoo auctions that these were "replica watches" from Thailand. I never had any complaints from any of the buyers.

Don't know the legality of doing this but it certainly worked for me.

MBK, thanks for the tip...will look into it.

Anyone have any idea's on actual dealerships in Bkk would be great.

I am planning on retiring soon to BKK from the U.S. I have been in the auto business for 35+years working as finance manager, sales manager and gerneral manager.

I speak very little thai but plan on learining before making the move.

I have managed Ford/LM, Honda, Cadillac and BMW dealerships.

Am wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to working in BKK at one of the dealerships?