WhamBam

Thousands launched from Pattaya tonight. What a great night down along beach road.

Several years ago a good friend of mine discovered he had multiple cancerous tumours in the brain. He was given 3 months to live and survived for 6 months. He did what HE wanted, not what his family wanted. His idea was to keep his lifestyle as normal as possible and asked myself and one other friend if we could help him try achieve this. We said yes.

He did suffer a lot in the end yet he lived his life to the full with friends as best he could. It took a lot of dedication from two of us to help him achieve this and to treat him as normal as possible, but that is what friends are for.

My point being - seriously consider what you want to do and if there is someone who is willing to help in this. It is hard work emotionally for those helping and you need to be sure they can cope. Be that here in Thailand or back in the U.K.

Sincerest condolences from one who watched a very good friend die too young.

Tom french kissing her dee and wandering hand trouble.... Now that I would watch if they were slim n sexy.

men kissing? what a massive turn off. But, whatever floats your boat.

Last year I brought back 2 large tins of Cadbury's chocolates. They went down a treat.

Perfume, 2 * 100 ml bottles. They were fought over because both were different. I should have bought 2 the same.

The various items of sexy lingerie I brought back were worn almost every night, hand washed and taken great care of.

I did research what was wanted before I brought them over.

Wow that was a great storm!!!! Lightning and thunder like the end of the world and it was really dark at 2.45pm. The rain was so heavy that I could no longer see nearby buildings. Hope everyone was safe and dry. Seems to have passed now.

Yes. Brilliant to watch and hear. Nature can be wonderful.

I was on my balcony on the 12th floor and I watched the lightning across into the bay. A wonderful sight.

If you want you can buy a ticket at the Bell Travel desk at the airport ...

Yes, you can.

In my case I knew my arrival time and date and wanted to make sure I got a seat on the bus that is why I booked in advance.

Bell travel are good and often fully booked if you leave it to the last minute and another 2 hours waiting around after a long flight is no fun.

I know what value that I place on things and I know that it is different from the value that others place on things. I also know that to me, my opinion is way more important, honest and true, at least to me and after all that is all that counts (to me).

Buying and eating good fruit and food in general is very important and I spend good money for it. Seeing the need to daily toss money into a beggars hands because she or he does not want to work holds little value to me. Especially since they sit on the same spot each and every day except for their holiday. Paying a woman by purchasing her a pretend alcoholic drink, so that she will sit with me and play with her phone or pretend to be interested in me, holds no value. Paying somebody to buy caged birds so that I can set them free and gain merit for my next life (hihihihi), only to have the same birds presented the next day for purchase and release .... has no value to me. Cheap charlie, maybe in some peoples minds ... who I care nothing about. In my mind, which I do care about, the term would be frugal and self aware of personal values.

As I often tell them ... I am not Thai ... and I do not want to be Thai.

Just saying.

Had to laugh at the birds bit. Often been to Big Buddha and asked to pay for those caged birds and refused every time on grounds of cruelty - better than always saying no to the money.

Same with those silly lady drinks. Hell, it is often cheaper to pay a barfine and buy a proper drink.

Definitely some good points.

I have to admit, I have never had any problems using my credit cards in Thailand.

No, I would not use a debit card. I prefer the security of a credit card.

It was more about the efficiency of Bell Travel. Nice to have things work smoothly with no hassle.

That queen bee is buzzing about a lot lately Sounds a bit like tinnitus

Where is the electric swatter

I'm off before I get stung.

If time is not an issue but money is, take the bus to Ekkamai (exit at Udom Suk or On Nut if you wish), walk to nearest bus stop, same side of Sukhumvit and take either the #511 (air con.) or #2 (Red, no ac) bus.

Tell the attendant Khao San rd. The bus stops about 2 blocks away from KSR.

You also have the option of taking the BTS Skytrain from any of those same stops. Exit at RATCHATHEWI (next after SIAM) Take exit 4 to street and walk back to the canal. Take the canal boat to the last stop. Short moto ride from there to KSR.

Thanks.

It is not so much about the cost - though I do not see the point in wasting money - as having a sensible way to travel and choices on how to get from A to B.

Lugging one suitcase about up and down stairs for example is a bit of a pain although I do that at railway and tube stations in the U.K.

It seems the best way is to get the bus to Bangkok and take the taxi to KSR. The timing of the trip is a point also raised so not to get stuck in heavy traffic.

Another valid point that I had forgotten can be being stopped, questioned and searched that has been mentioned here and in other topics. Not that I have anything to hide.

No rush to get there. No need to have set times for anything in particular. I am happy to travel by bus and have done so often enough as far north as Roi Et.

Now I have good reference points from the posts I can plan the trip and make it as hassle free as possible, get to KSR and use that as a base for a bit of travelling about yet still have nightlife close at hand.

So the advice and options have been great

A bit late in the day as I forgot

I had a previous topic running some weeks ago regarding booking the bus from Swampy to Pattaya.

I did book the bus on the internet using my credit card from the U.K. No hassle whatsoever with the booking. On arrival downstairs at the airport I gave the lady my name and booking number. She gave me my ticket. No hassle there either. On arrival at the bus station in Pattaya there was a mini-bus waiting with a sign in the windscreen to take me to my hotel. No need to haggle over the price of a baht bus or whatever.

Quick, cheap and efficient. What more can you ask for

Plus, no funny action on my credit card as some people in different threads seem to imply might be the case booking something like this.

A troll post has been removed from view. If you can't help the OP with his question, please don't post.

If the no hoper is hanging out in Pattaya and KS Road he is beyond help and so are you for defending him.

Maybe some of us like to have a bit of fun in our lives.

I have been sensible for the last 9 months and now it is time to have 3 months of fun that I want. You can do things your way, I will do them my way. Okay?

No i would assume they are all tablet form. Its good to help a friend get used to taking their meds correctlyband at the right time

And one of those medication boxes that hold the pills for every day of the week might help as an aid to show if the meds have been taken for that day. Sometimes easy to forget if you have taken them or not.

They can take my photo all they like as long as they are happy to risk having the lens cracked by my extremely (un)hansum features

Thanks guys. Good information and plenty of options.

I am flexible on when and how I travel. It seems I do need to get a taxi in BKK at some point to get to KSR and having an idea on costs also helps.

Now time to plan when to go.

50 Baht is 50 Baht. If service is average or below par, tip smaller.

A £ in my pocket is better than in someone else's unless they deserve it

I am wanting to have a short break down the Khao San Road as it is a long time since I was there.

Currently in Pattaya, what would be the best way to get there? (Not using a direct taxi from Pattaya or driving).

Would - for example - Bell's Bus to BKK and a taxi from their dropoff point be OK?

What about mi-buses from Pattaya? Other ideas please.

Thanks.

Dear prk888 ... if you rely on ThaiVisa, as good as it is to 'capture the imagination and fill the gap', then maybe a passing glance at the mirror as you pass it by and a little self assessment maybe in order.

Go catch a Baht Bus with JT ... sure to liven up any journey.

Talking of mirrors.

My condo has a huge one alongside the bed, a large one in front of the bed and another large one in front of the sofa.

Definitely not a wonderful view of my extra weight. I need to be hidden behind a sexy little Thai (or nurse) to make me look better in the mirror(s).

But I think these mirrors tell lies because the mirror in my mind shows me to be slim, handsum, sexy and brainy too.

On the other hand my mind might be regressing to an earlier stage in my life.

I was in Cloud 9 and we Are The world on Friday. Both were very quiet. On the Tuesday it was busy.

Maybe folk were out on the same night as the OP.

If a thief gets over your 6ft wall, he will have all the time in the world to break/enter into your house as no-one will see him. If he sets your alarm off will anybody really take any notice or even bother? Get a Thai Ridgeback.

The ex criminals they employ in the UK to advise on anti-burglary say never to have a high hedge or wall as it is too easy to hide behind. They also advocate prickly / thorny bushes near windows. Plenty of open space, light and good locks.

As vogie says, what good are alarms if people ignore them?

I'll add to that, here in Thailand, how long before the local police respond to your alarm or to a report of it going off - if they ever do respond.

I'd lock the doors.

even Thai people in small villages I have been in lock their doors.

Better safe than sorry, alarm system or not.

office girls, nurses,

office girls, nurses, ...

especially the nurses

Khun WB ... may I?

Smattering of Fillie Girls in there mind you.

.

Dribble, drool.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, a million trillion billion thanks.

I now feel all funny all over.

NURSE!!!!

office girls, nurses,

office girls, nurses, ...

especially the nurses

4 Massive Dongs

Maybe but not top five. :-)

#6 they like oral once we have given it to them correctly

IMHO nthough, the vast majority of Thai women would be happy with any man who can support them, their children and possibly their families (parents), though not ALL feel the need to be supported.