Gonzo the Face

now with the European holiday in full swing, have you business owners noticed any upswing? (tourist related)

the nightmarket seems busier so all is better for now until the holiday ends, hopefully the baht doesnt go up further. Im sure its having an impact on the tourism numbers and spending habits,but unsure on its degree. Perhaps we will know when the high season comes around again. Maybe less visitors from USA and more from Asia?

From my standpoint April and May were down , month for month over the previous year. I did feel , even into the 3rd week of June that June was following suit. Strangely enough, when all the numbers were in, June showed about a 15% increase over last year. This was in revenue. Numerical guest/customer count was also up but not that much.

July seems to be doing pretty good or maybe I should say, above last year. Not ordering the new Mercedes yet though.

Gonzo

Probably the same crews that were working on the Sup. Hwy Underpasses

Food for thought

The Rama IX Bridge , is Rattana Kosin on the west side of the river and Doi Saket Road on the East Side.

On the North side of the bridge, where you see all the equipment and sand by the West bank, next to " West Side", they have been sucking and digging now for what must be close to two years.

On the south side of the bridge, I have never seen a scoop of sand taken out.

Must be one hellofa hole there, almost through all the way to ??? where is it here, can't be Chine

Maybe that guy who was looking for river sand last week bought it all and found a short cut.

You may want to try the ... Import Export ... Place , They seem to have a lot of western clothing, and I have found it to be pretty reasonable... They seem to have just about everything there and in bigger sizes, not only the smaller so called Thai "large" sizes

Out past Centran Kad San Kaew like you were going to the ZOO or Doi Suthep, on the left about 100M before you get to the canal road...

Worth a try

From the way I see it , try the second hand shops

The TRENDY people all look like that is where they buy... prearranged and specifically placed rips, snags, and tears, all in the right locations.

Anybody remember Mickey Mouse Club,,,, The Adventures of Spin and Marty??

Early Trendy

Someone correct me if I am wrong [and I'm sure someone will, even if I'm right]

I think what was called the "Airport Limo" is now called the "Airport Taxi", maybe because as another pointed out, they aren't Limos.

Last week, I didn't see any signs "Airport Limo"

NOT to be confused with "TAxi Meter"

A poster above is correct... they do have all kind of surcharges, pick up chg, drop off cge, waiting cge, using the turn signal chge , que up chg, and what ever else they think they can get away with..... however you can avoid these sur charges by paying a special fixed fee... guess who comes out on the short end..

For years and years CM has had a great need for the metre taxi, and this is what we got...

Take the non-metered. AIRPORT TAXI . I think the rate is now, after the flora expo, 120 Baht to the city or 140 baht if its across the river...

If you can afford and appreciate the convenience of flying, then dont quibble of 40 or 50 baht difference

Hi,

I have some friends who want to go to Chiang Mai. Actually it's two: one speaks Thai and one doesn't. None of them wants to commit to a hotel before having seen it. That means they have to somehow get away from the airport to downtown. I told the Thai speaker to wait for a Songteaow and the other one to take the airport taxi.

Questions: are there better ways to get into town? The Thai speaker will arrive quite late in the evening, until when are there Songteaows going the airport route?

Thanks for all your advice.

I believe you [or your friends] will find that tuk-tuk's and songteaow's are not permitted to wait inside the airport property, and to get one you either have to snag one dropping off someone or go just outside the airport entrance. There are usually Tuk-tuk's there but if they are arriving late , maybe not

If they are arriving late, I suggest the Airport Taxi NOT the Taxi Meter. I think it is 120 baht into the old city..

Again, my recommendation is Do Not use the Taxi meter.... There are many less than favorable stories about these cabs.

While there are some good drivers, they are in the minority, is my opinion

But be aware, they all will try and hustle you into some lodging or places where they have prearranged a commission...

The occasion was unique as they only put in one, when normally they leave 20 - 30 [looks better when they talk with the boss later in the day]

So you're the reason I never get any of those things!

My kids got the flyer in just minutes, but guess what.....

Something was missing ! ! !

There now, ya see? I have always said that children belong on the BBQ, not in the home but does anyone listen?

And..

What's this? Burger King? I thought they had closed down! Had I known they were still open, I would have been down there wolfing down Cheese Whoppers and plastic fries like a fly on.. well.. you know.

When I opened your "snatch" graphic it wasn't quite what I expected - I thought perhaps it was a pic of one of those furburgers I keep hearing about..

THATS GOT TO BE IT ! ! No wonder the coupon was cut out..... but back to the question,,,,, does anyone know how much you got off ?????

Cheers colino, I'll try a local market then.

I'll remember if I decide to smoke or drink I should also add a gambling to complete the addictions, albeit a mental not physical one!

They sell condoms too, if you have any time left...

That was the free coupon for a top quality steak dinner with wine at the Duke's for a party of 30!

uuunnnnhhhh thats terrible..... but uh , uh did they give a price ??

There was a thread the other day [now closed] re shoplifting/runners/ and potential perps.

I have to say in all honesty, after being in business here for close to 11 years now, all I have had pilched was one blanket.

That is until today ! ! !

Now I feel VI-O-Lated, and am coming to my fellow CM'ers for succor and solice.... [looks good when I read it in the books]

About half hour ago, one of the motorcycle riding , mail box stuffing, start of the street spammers, pulled up to my gate and stuffed a flyer into a crack.

The occasion was unique as they only put in one, when normally they leave 20 - 30 [looks better when they talk with the boss later in the day]

My kids got the flyer in just minutes, but guess what.....

Something was missing ! ! !

I don't necessarily want to go to the establishment, but I want to know what is missing so I can know what it is that I dont want to go for.....

Can anyone out there help me...... Did you get one like this..... is it such a great special that someone is cutting the coupon and selling them....... are marketing cost going up and the sponsor just decided to save a little ??? What is going on ...

HELP

Gonzo

Trying to cover all markets, I am soon opening a little place for unfortunate young ladies who have had a radical mastectomy...... they need to be wanted too ... Named "ITS A HOOT"

Then again for those of such inclination..... [you know the boys places] there could be TOOTERS... disgusting sign though

Any one other than me suffering through non existant TOT - ADSL today [3rd] ??

Beginning at 6:30 this morning and continuing all day..

ADSL showing as connected but constant slowness and "cannot reach server, this page not available.

By trying over and over repeatedly I have been able to get on [is very slow] 3 times all day....

Repeated calls to CM TOT, direct to the ADSL mans handphone, and Bangkok... results no service 99+% of the time

Last cal to TOT CM has them stating that there are many calls and the man is just taking them 1 at a time..

gonzo

salt

Salt is correct. There's a big difference between beach sand and river sand. Also, he may want a particular courseness or granuals that are not rounded. With all the dredging going on in the Ping right now, I wonder if he can use any of that.

I would suggest checking in front of the Rimping Condo...... 3 years ago there was a lot in the middle of the river... 2 years ago a public service was done and a beach was made for all to use,,, [no doubt they were paid to haul it away] 1 year ago most was back in the middle of the river....

If the OP can indicate where it is to go, maybe we can arrange for this years flooding to deliver...

A metric Ton is not a big pile, but 200,000 MT is a good size pile of sand.... they are processing on the West bank of the Maeping next to Westside Restaurant, but I dont know about that amount... thats probably more than 15-16 tuk tuk loads

Yes, loud thunderlike sound here in midtown, as other midtowners mention - no sound mentioned by posters from the outer districts. Could this mean a pretty local quake?

I was at Lanna Hosp at the time of the first rattler...... getting a new supply of anti-flatulence tablets.....

about 2 minutes after the first rumble, did any one feel a second shaker ??????

Gonzo

Ah so it was your fault was it - didn't think it was an earthquake

CB

OK CB ...I'll fess up.... It was me..... but not my "FAULT"..... Depending on what side of the globe you are on........ a hurricane may be a typhoon...... a cyclone a tornado..... California has "fault", the San Andreas...... here on this side of the world its GAP ....

In this case THE GREAT GONZO GAP

Sorry for the rumble folks

Thanks for that CM Mike

Just checking.....

I guess the pills work then ........

Yes, loud thunderlike sound here in midtown, as other midtowners mention - no sound mentioned by posters from the outer districts. Could this mean a pretty local quake?

I was at Lanna Hosp at the time of the first rattler...... getting a new supply of anti-flatulence tablets.....

about 2 minutes after the first rumble, did any one feel a second shaker ??????

Gonzo

.... and here I thought this was down year...... now I know

I have just not been charging enough.....

effective today I am raising my rates to 2000 baht per night and start looking for backpackers who are wearing ties....

http://www.bangkokpost.net/Business/18Jun2007_biz20.php

There is a trend developing here. The penalty for being a mate of Blinky Bill is death. Be warned.

Bokkie..................maaate. Let's get together and have a few beers.

Well then... lets make him marketing director of this thread and the page should go on forever... <_<

how the hel_l does anyone know who to vote for, with just the billboards to look at. What about the candidates policies etc and what they intend to do if they are elected?

Gee thats an easy one

You go to the parties and the one who slips you the "Richest Package" is obviously the best person.....

If the others were better they would give you a bigger "gift" ..... makes good sense when you think about it, for in the end thats about all you will be getting from the govt, no matter who gets in...

Hi, my good friend Brad Harper died in Chiang Mai likely enjoying himself to death. His wife Cindy may still be there. Anything you can tell me about Brad's (Sir Geoffrey Hillpig Smyth) time in Chiang Mai would be welcome - no matter how dramatic. Loved him dearly.

did Brad die here,,??? I heard he and Cindy went back to Canada...

Hi Gonzo

My Thai friend told me that the guy chest height in water was 'evidence' that the candidate cared for the Chiang Mai people by visiting the stranded areas during the floods.

YL

Thai logic I guess

I didn't notice any other people chest deep in water...... they were the smart ones, they got out and were standing on the higher ground..... as the smart ones maybe the people should vote for this guy last.....

Just as an aside to this electioneering thing..... whats with the Vote for Me sign with the guy standing chest deep in water????/

He waiting for a blow fish or something ??????

Is it just alzheimrs or do I recall an ordinance that these roving sound trucks were not to be used before 9Am or after 6PM....

or

does that apply to everyone other than those that might be put into office of some authority.???

Twenty minutes before 8Am on a Sunday morning is just too much, especially when they feel it prudent to stop out front and play, at apparently top volume, the entire message before moving on

Yea I know TIT

but why o why are Thais so naturally inconsiderate of others

Makes you wish the terminator would come out of an alley and blow the speakers off the roof of these trucks...

Gonzo

Possibly the first 500 will be charged on a credit card and the remaining money would be sent by personal cheque. They would then ask you for the money from the cheque before it had cleared, seeming to you like very nice people, therby gaining your trust. After which you may possibly think "these nice people would not rip me off", so you part with the money before the cheque has cleared, and they are away with the money, or they use a stolen credit card and you give them the remainder of the money against a this! Variations on a theme.

Take care and good luck.

As they were saying , [in reply to the first & original email] they were going to put the entire $5000 + on the card, & it was urgent that I get back to them right away, I got the impression that perhaps it was a ring using stolen credit cards and had to do the transaction right away...... but what happened in the original instance, I indicated that I use PayPal and if they gave me information, I could send them a PayPal invoice which they could pay with their credit card, and that it would be much safer for them,,,,,,,,,, I never heard from them again.....

gonzo