mrdome

I have not been to Pattaya since 1999. How would I get to Naklua - the blind men massage place in Soi Naklua 22 - from where buses from Trat and/or Ekamai stop?

Thank you.

The border is closed in SOME areas.

The Army Region 2 announced last night that the Thai-Cambodian border in some areas will be shut down indefinitely.

The Thai Army Region 2 announced the closure of the Thai-Cambodian border in the areas of Sakaeo, Sisaket, Surin, Trad, and Chanthaburi provinces last night, specifically at the chong jom, prasat ta kway and prasat ta muan tom border points.

I think we got that.

What are the chances of them declaring war on each other (reminds me of January 2003, when this almost happened - anyone remember that?)? Small to non-existent, I hope.

I do, I was living in Sihanoukville at the time, there was a Cambodian guy who taught Thai and when we saw eachother we would speak in Thai. When the madness started I remember running in to him and him telling me not to speak Thai. Pretty tense; also I remember you couldn't get any decent chicken, as the good stuff came from Thailand. Cambodian chicken has no meat

Thais were running for their lives back then and everything Thai got smashed in PP. I remember the Cambodian embassy near Lumpini park was only spared from the same fate due to cool-headed royal intervention.

Hey guys and girls, I have plans (tickets purchased) to fly into BKK on the 16th and into Siem Reap immediately afterward. Then I have about 5 days in Southern Cambodia, and return to BKK after that. Should I stick with my plan, or immediately start changing my plans?

Thanks!

I'd say stick with yours and I'll stick w. mine (crossing at Aran/Poipet on 20th). Angkor might be a lot less crowded and that is not a bad prospect. Cambodia cannot afford to lose the tourist $$s.

You would be surprised as it is known that the entry fees of Angkor are going into private pockets, not the Country's tresorie. Sokimex is the great beneficiary of the entry fees (but the world community is paying for the restoration)... and who cares about Sokimex in the Khmer Government apart from its cronies? For them: money enough... eventually sell one of the Lexusses in case there is a need... start with the one the housemaid is driving!

A. I'm not surprised as I knew this.

B. There is way more to tourist $$s than just Angkor entry fees.

How are the Thai politicians with large investments in Cambodia going to get their money out?

the poipet border wont close.... the government and army generals wouldn't want to lose money in there casinos

Agreed. Let's hope greed saves the day and potentially lives in this case (for once).

Hey guys and girls, I have plans (tickets purchased) to fly into BKK on the 16th and into Siem Reap immediately afterward. Then I have about 5 days in Southern Cambodia, and return to BKK after that. Should I stick with my plan, or immediately start changing my plans?

Thanks!

I'd say stick with yours and I'll stick w. mine (crossing at Aran/Poipet on 20th). Angkor might be a lot less crowded and that is not a bad prospect. Cambodia cannot afford to lose the tourist $$s.

The border is closed in SOME areas.

The Army Region 2 announced last night that the Thai-Cambodian border in some areas will be shut down indefinitely.

The Thai Army Region 2 announced the closure of the Thai-Cambodian border in the areas of Sakaeo, Sisaket, Surin, Trad, and Chanthaburi provinces last night, specifically at the chong jom, prasat ta kway and prasat ta muan tom border points.

I think we got that.

What are the chances of them declaring war on each other (reminds me of January 2003, when this almost happened - anyone remember that?)? Small to non-existent, I hope.

Does anyone think Aran/Poipet might be affected?

If its water born then mozzies can spread it.......??

How do I avoid it...??

I'm not in Kuta, how long does it take to get round...??

redrus

This disease has zilch to do with mozzies but everything with a/c and the like.

"Legionellosis infection normally occurs after inhaling an aerosol (suspension of fine particles in air) containing Legionella bacteria. Such particles could originate from any infected water source. When mechanical action breaks the surface of the water, small water droplets are formed, which evaporate very quickly. If these droplets contain bacteria, the bacteria cells remain suspended in the air, invisible to the naked eye and small enough to be inhaled into the lungs.[7] This often occurs in poorly ventilated areas such as prisons where a condensating air conditioner can spread it throughout the entire room, infecting anyone not immune to the strain of bacteria.

Potential sources of such contaminated water include cooling towers used in industrial cooling water systems as well as in large central air conditioning systems, evaporative coolers, hot water systems, showers, windshield washers,[8] whirlpool spas, architectural fountains, room-air humidifiers, ice making machines, misting equipment, and similar disseminators that draw upon a public water supply.

The disease may also be transmitted from contaminated aerosols generated in hot tubs if the disinfection and maintenance program is not done rigorously.[9] Freshwater ponds, creeks, and ornamental fountains are potential sources of Legionella.[10] The disease is particularly associated with hotels, fountains, cruise ships and hospitals with old, poorly maintained pipework and cooling systems. "

The following is especially chilling:

"Various studies have shown that some 40% to 60% of cooling towers tested contained Legionella.[12]

A recent research study provided evidence that Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, can travel airborne at least 6 km from its source. It was previously believed that transmission of the bacterium was restricted to much shorter distances. A team of French scientists reviewed the details of an epidemic of Legionnaires' disease that took place in Pas-de-Calais in northern France in 2003–2004. There were 86 confirmed cases during the outbreak, of whom 18 died. The source of infection was identified as a cooling tower in a petrochemical plant, and an analysis of those affected in the outbreak revealed that some infected people lived as far as 6–7 km from the plant.[13]

A study of Legionnaires' disease cases in May 2005 in Sarpsborg, Norway concluded that: "The high velocity, large drift, and high humidity in the air scrubber may have contributed to the wide spread of Legionella species, probably for >10 km. "...[14]

In 2010 a study by the UK Health Protection Agency reported that 20% of cases may be caused by infected windscreen wiper water. The finding came after researchers spotted that professional drivers are five times more likely to be infected.[15]"

One lucky young fella.

Young Asian males are just not that great at being tidy/doing housework due to the way they are raised plus 'jai ron' may arise and stupid decisions made. Without knowing more details, it's just not really possible to say much more about this tragedy.

The 747 that turned back; would every airline do that? Safe flying to all.

It's ultimately the pilot's decision, not the airline's as far as I understand.

Just remember that the e-visa will commit you to crossing into Cambodia at the most commonly used border points (PP & Siem Reap airports, Poipet, Koh Kong and Bavet (Svay Rieng)). This will be fine for most travelers though as the majority of visitors pass through this entry points.

Tourists should also keep in mind that some border crossings back into Thailand demand to see documentation of an onward air ticket out of Thailand.

Another option:

Bintang Warisan Hotel, No. 68 Jalan Bukit Bintang

At what time of the day and/or day of the week is departure immigration most likely backed up significantly more than normal?

I need to get from BKK to Trat on Sunday morning, Feb 20. It seems there are a few companies with buses leaving at 7 am. Which one has the fastest service and is the most reliable?

Thanks.

I can sympathize with these workers but they did receive some compensation.

On the other hand Thais show complete indifference to the treatmeant of foreign workers here.

could someone say.... Karma?

Unless you are saying Khamnoon Narkkham and his wife were engaged in defrauding foreign workers you have completely misunderstood the concept of karma.

It is disgusting when contracts and promises are not kept anywhere, especially when people take on loans and are in a desperate situation. I believe we can agree on that.

I hope in the next season they won't find any workers to pick the f&*^%ing berries for the f&*^%ing jam.

It's pretty obvious that every city on the planet's future is somewhere between dire and non-existent. Have a look back at history. We live in a constantly changing dynamic world. Cities come and go. If/when Bangkok starts getting flooded then people will start moving elsewhere. Some of the great cities of ancient times no longer exist, but it makes no difference because others took their place. Look at Detroit - it's crumbling back to dust. I don't know why anyne cares. The world moves on. If Bangkok ceases to exist it won't happen over a week end, it will happen of 100+ years and no-one will notice. The change will be so slow that the people living there at the time won't know any different - unless they read their history books.

Yes some cities have come and gone but the process is//will be happening much faster and the number of people involved and the lose of wealth is dramatically higher than at any point in the past. And if Bangkok ceases to exist in a century, millions are going to notice. Do you think that the (ex) inhabitants of New Orleans didn't notice what happened to them? Of course they did. And the fact that people have always suffered doesn't lessen or eradicate the reality of suffering now or in the future.

Thank you for such a sane reply. Some people just can't see things if they move slow enough I guess.

The global warming morons want you out of your car & into a bus or a train.

It is liberty they want to steal.

Expect some backlash.

What utter <deleted>. The whole world cannot sustain everyone living it up, 3 cars in the garage, aircon on full, big screen TV on in every room (with no one watching...) etc. That is pretty darn obvious.

I've never even owned a car in my life and I never felt limited in my liberties because of it.

Almost instantly the climate change hoax morphs into discussion of Tsunami.

Their argument is so weak.

"bangkok MIGHT be underwater" yeah & I might win the lottery.

Global alarmists.

Come back when you have emperical evidence.

It''s all scare mongering till then.

Hoax? What more evidence do you need? Every new year setting heat records, glaciers melting... etc. Head-in-the-sand much?

I will not fly to PP, period and I have already done this all before. I did the BKK - PP overland and the only rough parts were getting from Hua Lampong to Mor Chit finding a taxi driver willing to use the meter early morning and then after the border crossing in Aranyaprathet/Poipet where I had received information on an office selling the bus ticket and I just could not locate the office. The bus trip is quite long, yes, that's why I will only go as far as Battambang and spend the night there.

But coming back to my original question: Do the gambler buses still run?

Hi Klaus,

I'm a former Bangkok resident and have used this border crossing about a dozen times since 2001 and last time in April of last year. While it is pretty awful, if you want to go to Battambang (and on to PP) it is still the best option travel-wise.

Hi Klaus,

thank you for your reply. I wanted to do this early in the morning. At what time does the first van leave?

I will stay in the area on Rama IV in February, that's why I had thought of taking the gambler bus. I will not go via Mor Chit at 4 am again. The taxi drivers wanted funny money to go out there.

P.S. I'm not on a visa run, I really want to go to Cambodia

If yes, does anyone know the days - Sat & Sun morning, I'm guessing and the approximate departure times?

Thank you.

If you do not have a lot of time and are not feeling adventurous, take the taxi straight to the airport from Mor Chit.

The alternate and if you do not have a lot of luggage would be to get yourself to the BTS Skytrain station and go to Victory Monument. There look for the cream colored 511 VAN parked in front of the Fashion Mall and buy a ticket at the table. The van takes 20 minutes and used to drop right at the terminal (at least last time I took it).

The 511 van is my preferred way of travel to and from the airport and I will even deal with the wait at the airport for the shuttle bus to the (airport) bus terminal (on the way into town).

I looked at Qatar for my flight to BKK in February, but the flights from TXL do not connect with their flights to BKK at all. What do you do in Doha for 8-10 hours on each leg?