billp

This is a big issue internationally with iPhones. The devices go online automatically to check mail and "push" data and you can't turn that off. What you CAN do is buy a package based on data volume rather than time ie 50 MB rather than 60 minutes. The amount of data downloaded is actually negligible.

It sounds like you need urgent help from a first-rate endodontist - a route canal specialist. I've recently had 2 bad root canals repaired by an excellent one, highly qualified with her advanced degrees from Harvard University. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her: Dr.Jaruma Sakdee Vegas. She works at Asanavant Dental Clinic, at the corner of Sukhumvit and Thonglor, a very highly regarded clinic. See her, or another good endodontist without delay. If not, you're at risk of serious infection and bone disease.

Bus is 90 baht and it's not really very slow.

Oh just to add, which was not clear in my posting, Dr. Jaruma is an endodontist, ie a root canal specialist. Certificate in Endodontics and D.M.Sc. in Oral Biology from Harvard University.

I've just had quite a bit of work done at Asanavant Dental Clinic, corner of Sukhumvit and Thonglor, which came highly recommended to me. The work included re-doing two root canals, which was done by Dr. Jaruma Sakdee Vegas, an extremely competent and charming young woman who got her advanced degree from Harvard. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her and the clinic as a whole, which is comfortable, very well-equipped and efficient, and employs top-ranked people.

Actually people should start checking theirself in their mitd 30´s, but especially in their 50´s they should check theirself at least once a year...

If you've ever had a colonoscopy, you will know that you don't want to undergo this very often. Current wisdom is to start getting this screening in your 50s and if it comes out negative, repeat at 5 or 10 year intervals. Certainly not "once a year."

It's actually 1.25 baht per minute for less than 6 km per hour.

I use 008 mainly, seems to give good rates and the sound quality is OK. Dee Dial costs 0.99 baht per minute, but the sound quality can be iffy.

On Koh Jum in February, the restaurant had run out of pappaya one day, so they made me som tam with carrots. Excellent! The flavour is mainly from the garlic, chile and other seasonings anyway.

Midnight according to the airport website.

Definitely stay in a serviced apartment rather than a hotel room: more space, more amenities, better value. Try one of the several Centre Point locations if you can afford it. They have very generous rooms including washer-dryer (great for travelling with 2 little ones), pool, kitchen, free wifi, TV/DVD, breakfast buffet. You can get very good deals for Centre Point on Wotif.com or on Centre Point's own website.

If Centre Point is too rich for you, try Abloom Executive Serviced Apartments close to Sanam Pao BTS Skytrain station. A bit off the beaten track, but it's quick to get places on the BTS (and there are great eats nearby at Soi Ari). For about 1900 baht you can get a generous 40 sq m. studio with kitchenette, pool, TV/DVD, breakfast and free wifi included. They have a coin laundry on the ground floor and free tuktuk service to the BTS. Try Asiarooms for the best deal.

if you read Ryan Air passenger comments (see link below) then it seems the percentage of customers who fly with them again is around 5%

Maybe so, but that's not what Ryanair's Fiscal 2009 Results say. In the year ending March 31, its passenger numbers were up by 15 percent compared to 2008. While its profits got a haircut due to the soaring fuel prices, it still banked 105 million euros after taxes. The carrier added 223 new routes and increased its fleet by 18 new aircraft.

Sounds like Ryanair is doing really well to me, and lots of passengers must be coming back again and again.

Every time I've flow Air Asia recently, takeoff has been on time, to the minute.

200, not more than 220 baht from siam, plus 70 baht tolls.

Bangkok Airways have not flown from Don Mueang since Suvarnabhumi opened. The remaining airlines at DMK are Nok Air and 1-2-Go.

Erawan House on Soi Chana Songkhram between Soi Rambutri and Phra Athit Road (and the river). Nice airy and modern, well-equipped rooms. Free wifi.

Lao Airlines also flies directly from Luang Phrabang to Bangkok, not just Bangkok Airways.

The nicest way would be to take a minibus down Route 13 to Vientiane, one of the most scenic mountain drives in Asia, and the either fly back to Bangkok or take the train from Nong Khai. You could also go by bus to Udon Thani and fly back from there by Air Asia.

What's pictured isn't a tuktuk, it's a songthaew. Anywhere else in Thailand it would cost 15-20 baht per person for a ride. Maybe 30 baht for those 8 km. Only in Phuket can they price gouge that way.

Datsun240Z

Air Asia: "Now everyone can fly ( die )"

The photo is from the one single Air Asia incident, in which a plane skidded off the runway at Kota Kinabalu International Airport in heavy rain in November 2004. Two pilots and two passengers suffered minor injuries. Otherwise, Air Asia has a sterling safety record.

By the way, I thought the Datsun 240Z was a crap car. Couldn't wait to get rid of it.

Airport to KSR:

240 baht on the meter,

50 baht

65 baht expressway tolls.

You do the math.

There's also a group on Flickr, Thai Flickr Meet, which gets together once a month for a photo shooting excursion. See http://www.flickr.com/groups/thai_flickr_meet/

BANGKOK, May 19 (Reuters) - The Thai government is conducting tests to find out if a 65-year-old German tourist died from H1N1 flu, Health Ministry spokesman Suphan Srithamma said on Tuesday.

If confirmed, this would be the first fatality from the flu in the Southeast Asian country.

More here.

Authorities believe that food poisoning is the likely cause of the two deaths at Phi Phi islands over the weekend. The autopsy reports will not be ready for another two weeks.

Andaman Times