mike2011

Sia was good some ten years ago. After that, well same bad service at higher prices. Now they try new tricks. late flights out of Singapore serve only a snack but no full meal anymore. Excuse is the people want to sleep. They give a f.. about people connecting on long flights.

So after having been treated this way I accepted their reasoning and put in a special meal request. On the plane I got again a sandwich I could not eat. Asking for my special meal the attendant told me that the request was submitted too late. I thanked the person and asked for the purser. The man came and I told him in no uncertain terms that I hate to be lied to by his staff. He made strange face and when I told him that my request had been submitted 3 months ago and whether SIA needs 6 months advance now - that was it. All he would do was to bring me a bottle of water. I filed my complained and just informed him that they lost 2-3 round trips a year to THY. THY flies the same route with by now better service.

Should I add that SIA never responded to my complaint (Star Alliance gold card member) other than a automated email?

SIA economy is by far no longer the best. The Premium might be an attempt to cover for their cuts while demanding more money. Ok. See what the other airlines do for you.

We are the customers and it is our money they want. They are not doing us a favor as some airline staff seem to believe.

Paddy, any reasonable reader has understood your point and I trust most will agree with you. At least for my part, I do. No need to get so fired up about these homeless guys. As for the person at starbucks: If you are so upset it is only fair to complain to the branch manager about him. This way you will help the staff and get the situation resolved. No doubt other customers will benefit from your action as well.

To be fair, however, the old guy in the original post does not seem to fall into the same category as the person you mentioned. On the contrary, the old man does all to avoid coming into a situation like the person at Starbucks. Thus, there are variations and important differences and we should keep them in mind.

Many of us, as also mentioned during the discussion, come from families where the parents had experienced bad poverty in their youth.This marked them for life and it also left an impact on us. I appreciate my parents input and it helped me. it also made me sympathetic to people who have less and taught me not to judge people by their wealth but character. Your posting shows a person of bad character and equally bad conduct. That is his own fault and he does not stand for anyone but himself. So let's not generalize too much and take each and every one as one person at a time.

asdecas, why dont you first check this section and see what we post before you open your fool-mouth? What I dont love about Thaivisa is that people who do not contribute anything of substance still feel the urge or post. Like soi dog marking its territory. Impression is identical.

Back to topic:

Hotels: Siem Reap has a fully developed tourism industry catering to almost every possible style you like. Thus, you can get hotels in all price ranges starting from a dorm bed to 5 star. I think tripadvisor will help you to narrow down your choice and then someone here might be able to report on his experience with that hotel.

Your hotel will probably offer a free or cheap airport transfer which would help you avoiding the tuktuk mob at the terminal.

There are many scams in SR aimed at unsuspecting tourists. You can do some reading on the travel websites like Lonelyplanet or again tripadvisor and get the right info.

If you read the post mentioning Siem Reap in the last 3 weeks here you will find out that one member just got a taxi with aircon for USD 20 for going around the temples. That was excellent value and maybe the member still has a contact number. A message to him might be worthwhile and facilitate your stay considerably.

I dont know your tastes. For my part I love the temples and I believe that doing some reading ahead of time will improve the experience. Depending on your budget you could hire a guide.

Food: Dozens and dozens of places available within walking distance in the center. Again, the problem is not the lack of choice but the abundance.

If you have specific questions about certain places and maybe day trips to Preah Vehar, Koh Ker, and other locations the members here will surely give you good input. A day trip is nice as you see bit of the country as well and these impressions will stay with you in your mind.

Thanks that's very interesting. I am spreading some term deposits over a number of microfinance institutions. The better ones have their annual reports online. Some are in part owned by western companies/Trusts/banks or a japanese bank. Most of the smaller ones are very dubious.

I would be interesting if they name the bad apples. The percentage looks high but numberwise the smaller and dubious institutions seem to be in the majority. Which would confirm your source.

I thought Visionfund run by US missionaries should be ok as those guys are very good about money )

Looking forward to read this report.

One of the most notorious persons involved in such deals as Paddy described above was noone else than Mr. T..., a most prominent politician, himself. He collected through his brother and other people 5% of shares on IPOs for 'streamlining' the process. No problem if the company went bust 2-3 years later as the gang had sold its shares right away. Similarly, these people received condos as gifts. I doubt that this clan ever changed its mode of operation or that other individuals in such a position were any better.

Does anyone remember the tallest building in the world in Jomtien? What phantastic story.

With the US economy gaining steam and slowly increasing interest rates and the recovery of real estates values, the industry here will presumably depend more on funding like paddy described it. Question is, how does that fit with the alleged cleanup and anti-corruption campaign of the junta? This might add additional pressure on the industry.

Siemreaper. that's interesting information. Do you have more on these analyses? I have bank in a Cambo and therefore I am pretty much interested in learning more about it. Any input is very much appreciated. THANKS!

Excellent seafood. Give me a break..... They failed to mention the backpacker budget services around the end of 3rd road towards the hill. Plus the numerous temporary employment options for lady backpackers in the hospitality industry, similar to CM but not quite.

If you take the airport link to Makasan you can go so Ban Sue, that's the other terminus, and hop on the train there. This in case it is getting tight. It will save you 30 minutes or more. Might be worthwhile.

3 rd class to CM is a bad idea. You will be done for a whole day or more.

If the sleeper does not work out. Get a VIP bus and some rest. You will be early in CM and in a much better shape. Depending on the time of day it is better to take a taxi to Morchit bus station rather than 2 tickets for the rail link, 2 subway tickets to Kampang Peth subway station, and another 50 baht from the station to Morchit. You still pay more with the taxi but again if your luggage is limited and you dont mind transferring it is a doable. Escalators everywhere. Buses leave Morchit a few hours after the train departure, this might be helpful if the plane is delayed.

ORD, JFK, and SFO have good public transportation.

In Europe FRA, IST, and VIE are very good. Paris is still doable.

FRA actually has 2 supermarkets in the terminal (you need to pass immigration), and you can stock up on German specialties. If you have more time, downtown is not far with much better prices of course. Same in Vienna and Istanbul. The IST supermarket has gone south BUT the city center is USD 5 return max away.

When passing through these airports I am not eager to get the fastest connection and make use of the shopping opportunity. Olive oil is cheap and good in Turkey for instance. If I see what best buy charges and compare it with local prices in BKK there are good savings involved. But then I understand the effects of jetlag and airline aircons too.

We are united in our dislike for LAX

Befriend the soi dogs in 'your' immediate territory. For other areas it is the stone.

I was visiting a small Khmer temple slightly northwest of Prasat in Surin province. A dog in full attack mode came running it jumped just as I was pickung up a stone. The dog made a full turn while in air. Never saw a beast escaping like that fellow. After that it was loud barking from a distance and good cover.

So a stone in the pocket is fine but the dog wont see you picking it up. Usually reaching out for the stone does the trick.

The central character of this thread might have a much better life style and be even healthier if he would spend another 3 K baht on better food. For coffee lovers: You might get a better deal if you order coffee from Chiang Mai and get it delivered by bus to Pattaya (bus station).

One thing that is pleasant when getting older is that we have seen a lot of things before and dont fall for it anylonger. My biggest savings is my proud old Nokia dumb phone. Battery is still the original, never broke although it fell multiple times. Nobody steals it, actually people tell me that my phone is still on the table . I shake my head when I see those kids spending at least 500 or more USD per year just on the hardware and then add to that the downloads, different plans etc.

The buying or renting questions is also connected to living frugal. Right now it is still renting for sure.

The discussion shows nicely that there is more to Pattaya than the pushy posts promoting 2 week millionaire views, bar owners and real estate agents pontificating about 'cheap charlies' (but excluding themselves of course), not so fancy but pricey food places etc. We all - or almost all - had that at the places we came from. It is just a headache. I like to read some threads on the Chiang Mai forum where quite a number of reasonable members post information about shopping and other aspects of daily life that are helpful.

Avoiding subcriptions (incl. credits) and spending less than your monthly budget provides freedom. This is more than money can buy.

Cigar,

the return is, unfortunately, not so clearcut. There is a midnite direct bus to Pattaya but Aran is practicaly dead after 8 or 9 PM at the latest.

Depending on your needs there are several options. I assume you want to do a visa run and get back the same day, just for the sake of argument. You will need some time to get through immigration 2 times.

1)

That means you cant get the 2 PM train back to Bangkok even if you take the earliest bus from Pattaya. In case all runs perfect and you could take the train and do a leisurely trip to Kabin or Chaosengsao (spelling...). Exit the station there and take motorbike to the bus station and take the next one to Rayong = Pattaya.

Until 6 PM Bkk buses leave from Aran bus station. Do not go all the way to Morchit but switch at Kabinburi bus station to a Rayong/Pattaya bus. If there is a long wait take an earlier bus to Chonburi and switch again.

This sounds worse than it is because the bus stations have good food and you can take a break. So at the border do all asap and return to Aran. Then have food there at the station or if the bus leaves right away take away and more at Kabinburi.

If you are willing to give up on a night in Pattaya for Aran/Poipet: Take a later departure and arrive late afternoon early evening. Do the border business within 20 minutes and sleep in Aran (you could also enjoy the bizarre scene in Poipet though. Depends on your taste for adventure. Do some searches on the nightlife dedicated websites). The next morning a cool train ride at 6.45 to Chaosangsao and as above.

OR: if you like a little culture - you could visit some cool Khmer temples around Aran in the morning and then return.

Another option would be to go on to Sisophon in Cambodia, 50 kms. Sleep there and take a 6 AM motorbike ride to Banteay Chmar. One of the largest Khmer temples there is and very beautiful. Views you will remember for a very long time.

impressive report, thanks

I you had a bit more time you could have gone shopping and pickung up a cheap laptop or other desirable items much more expensive in Thailand. Maybe you could take orders and make a little on the side.

+1

Nice to read that there is less corruption now. These claims come up once in a while, Ms Arroyo made the same statement that was before she was arrested - for corruption.

The elites question the peace deal in the South and Mr president has an abyssmal record. But then relief work in Visayas was a huge success. Many fortunes were made and other got bigger. Zero accountability means no corruption detected.

Millions still sitting in the accounts of government agencies and gaining interest while the poor suffer

I wonder how much of the applauded growth is due to the rabbit phenomenon, rebuilding after disaster, increased value of transfer due to the devaluation of Peso to USD (about 8-10%) while the transfers of OFW are in USD.

The Philippines are a rich country with a poor population.

The forum is for questions and we are happy to answer. However, sometimes urgent info can also be obtained by doing a simple search. It also helps to combine all questions into one posting instead of posting multiple threads.

The USD 30 work at Poipet AS LONG AS you stand your ground and do not pay the extra USD 5 they try to charge. According to the posts here on the forum BAHT 1500 is demanded and insisted on at Koh Kong.

All airport immigration charge USD 30.

In case no passport-size photo is presented to the immigration USD 1 is charged additionally.

This all pertains to Tourist visa. The electronic visa over the web is also a Tourist visa. Apparently it is no longer USD 37 but 40 now (recent posting here on the forum). In that case Poipet will be cheaper to pay cash even if you pay the USD 35. The electronic visa has one important advantage for those with few passport pages left blank: You save a full page! However the electronic visa is valid only at Koh Kong, Poit Pet, the Bavet crossing from Vietnam and Siem Reap as well as PP airports. So no chance for Pailin, Osmach and Anlong Veng crossings. The Pailin crossing might be a suitable alternative for people coming from Pattaya.

Maybe we should have a sticky for Pattaya - to Cambodia inquiries which combines all current info.

I once took a Nakhon Phanom to Nong Khai service that ran through Bueng Khan. At the time, 3-4 yrs back, the service was running at least for 2 decades. I cannot imagine that it has been stopped and the places between Bueng Khan and Nakhon Phanom left without access to the two places.

The services was only 1-2 times a day, if I am not mistaken. It was a long ride in an old 2nd class aircon bus.

There will be also services running to the district towns and you might be able to connect to a NP service.

Not many foreigners traveling by public transport in the area as it is not on the backpacker radar. This does not mean that it is a desert.

I would not worry about this. It is impossible to get stuck in Isaan unless you walk off into the forest.

Thanks guys. I had these 2 places on my short list. Flore Shire has a 10 AM check in time. No response from the Silver Golden Garden yet as to their check-in time.

I did some reading on TA on flora Shire. How is the walk to the main road and the night market, if anyone knows? I am used to walk in BKK and Pattaya. So no real problem for me. Just need some tasty deep fried chicken, etc.

I agree on the pleasure of leisurely travel by train in Thailand and use trains regularly. But as GK pointed out, it is no fun to be sweaty when you have a long ride. I also agree that the airport bus from Jomtien is somewhat overpriced. No idea if 50 baht would do but I do not see why it 130 from Jomtien to the airport while the same about the same distance to BKK is less.

How is the return trip from the airport?

I will have to change planes at Swampy and just need to get some sleep. My requirements are simply, quiet room, freen airport transfer (both ways), and close to some street food places within the immediate airport area.

I am hoping to get away with 700 baht for the one night in March.

No need to go into town, sightseeing etc. Really just sleeping, eating, and resting.

I checked Agoda, this website and others. All a bit overwhelming.

Cigar we discussed this in the Cambodia section already. The very nice and safe bus is the Rayong-Mukdahan bus. It is all yellow. In Pattaya it departs several times a day (mornings and evenings) from the bus station where you take the bus to Bankok. It is on Pattaya north road.

The fare Baht 250 at the moment according to one member who took the bus this week. Get your schedule information and reservation from the bus station. It is clearly advertized (last time i was in town that is).

In Aran you pay 80 baht for a tuktuk to the border OR walk out of the bus station and discuss with a motortaxi guy the price which should be 60 baht. Tuktuk is cheaper for 2-3 people obviously. Eat at the bus station if you have time, at the border it is not so great.

Looks like they got the wrong guys this time. That was a costly move and one they failed to calculated properly. The foundation is government funded and associated to one of the two parties that form the German government. No doubt, the Thai ambassador will feel it soon and discrete steps will be taken.

Bapoboy, if you need the USD for Cambodia dont change in Pattaya. You get better USD or Riel rates in Poipet or Phnom Penh.

If you do change, do not buy larger bills. Get the 1 and 5 USD bills which are cheaper to buy but carry the same value in Cambodia as the larger ones.

In Poipet baht is used everywhere and the preferred currency, same in Koh Kong (last time when I was in that s..t hole).

What is your time budget and is it only Siem Reap in Cambodia?

One idea might be to take the afternoon train 1 PM and arrive at Aran a little before 7 PM. Excellent time to cross the border, ZERO waiting.

There are still people pimping around the border and offer taxis to Siem Reap which would get you in to SR by around 10 PM.

Important is that you have a reservation for a GH or hotel with exact directions. The driver will try to stirr you to an overpriced place that gives him a commission. As will any tuktuk driver and motortaxi driver. There are good deals online in any price category.

Or: Spend the night in wild west Poipet and its let's say not quite Pattaya levels of nightlife and take a cab in the morning.

Thirdly, cross the border and get a ride to Sisophon. Spend the night there and take a regular bus for 3-4 USD to Siem Reap and no scams whatsoever. That might be the most economic variant.

If you're going to see temples. Get up at 6 AM in Sisophon and take a motorbike taxi to Banteay Chmar and surrounding temples north of Sisophon. The temple is NO (!!) second to the Angkor temples. You will have it for yourself and it is huge. Photos online and more info, google is your friend. After the visit back to Sisophon and an afternoon bus to SR.

The Pattaya Vans to SR deliver you on the border to a handler and you end up with those Cambodian scam artists. The Pattaya Van has factored his share into the fare. Plus you arrive at a bad time at the border and need to wait in the heat.

There are many options which is good as you can tailor them according to your personal preferences and maybe also to the situation on the day.

ENJOY you will have a great time. It sounds a bit a headache but the reading saves you from surprises and smooths your trip.