soi3eddie

Agree, that's why many taxi drivers are also on Grab/Bolt. Not sure how much commision they lose though. I do use taxis from the airport simply for convenience. Never been refused meter from airport. FWIW: I usually book an electric car when using Grab/Bolt, that way I'm certain not to get a grumpy driver in a ropey old Bangkok taxi - vehicles usually no more that a couple of years old and younger, nicer drivers. Even get a nice lady driver occassionally.

Another brain dead loser stoner. Clearly rather dim booking Bangkok-Vienna-Frankfurt-Newastle. So may extra points of scrutiny although would likely have been caught anyway. What most people don't know, is that before you get your bags off the baggage belt, the sniffer dogs have checked it as it comes off the plane and onto the belt. Can I get as many thumbs down as your comment? 🙂

They even place warning notices regarding marijuana export on the airline check-in desks in Bangkok these days.

The traveller's bags get flagged by Thai security for interception at the next airport. Happened to me in 2022 when I checked an acquaintance into my case from Bangkok to Heathrow. E-gate wouldn't work on arrival. Went to desk and within seconds, customs officers were there. Escorted to retrieve baggage and full inspection for 1 hour. Intensely and repetitively questioned. They were interested in my dead friend's ashes. I saw the x-ray. Showed as orange organic matter. They never opened the package - I did say "he won't complain" and I had all the papers such as death certificate, cremation papers, his passport etc. They then told me I was free to go. I asked the officer if they were tipped off by Bangkok (they clearly were), but she replied "I couldn't say".

There are plenty of social activities in Cardiff too. The guy mentioned in the OP has all weekend to get out and meet people. I'd suggest that if he can't do that in Cardiff, he's not going to do it anywhere. Some people just don't get on with others for various reasons. Could be attitudes, expectations, fitness levels, education, worldly experiences to name just a few. I have a neighbour near me in London, nice, friendly and generous guy (70yrs) but so opinionated in the extreme I try to avoid him. He lives alone in a studio flat, he's got money but few friends (rarely sees or speaks to his elderly mother and his brother). He doesn't say he's lonely, but once in conversation with him, it's difficult to get away as I can tell he wants someone to talk too.

My GF's 15yr old, just took training and testing to ride a motorbike in Pattaya. Seems like it was a good course as he passsed the DLT test and obtained his 2 year licence. He's a quiet, sensible lad but I do worry about others on the road. If you as OP @Ronkworth can arrange some safety training course then that's valuable. I remember so well the motorcyle safety training I did in the UK in 1983 - it was of benefit in road skills which apply as a 4 wheel driver too.

Electricity in Bangkok is NOT expensive. My MEA bill worked out at 4.54 Baht per KWh (unit) last month. Based on your usage, of, apparently, 808 units - if I read you meter correctly - in 4 1/2 months, the charge should be 3,668 Baht (about $112 USD). If I got the decimal wrong, then 10x that at $1,120 is perfectly possible for heavy usage. Something doesn't add up. You should ask to see the actual bills from MEA and the juristic office water bill.

They want you to use the "fast track "- guaranteed and paid for entry. A friend had been in Thailand for a while in 2024 on visa exempts, went back to UK for a while and got a multi-entry tourist visa. On arrival in Bangkok, they wanted to refuse him entry. He argued his case. They told him "a visa does NOT guarantee entry". Eventually they let him in. He had to travel out again, so next re-entry, he used the "fast track" at about 4,000 Baht. Seems immigration at BKK are getting difficult in order to facilitate "fees". Likely shared amongst all the officers. How it works: You contact an agent, they ask for a copy of you passport. You pay them in advance. They apparently get some sort of "approval". On arrival, you meet the "agent" near the entrance to an immigration hall (1 or 2). They then escort you to a desk where you are stamped in with no questions.

I use Grab from Bangkok to the airport as they come right to my condo. On return I mostly use meter taxis from the airport rank. Occasionally, I use the City Line and BTS to get home from BKK but never Grab. I've not had any issues with taxi ripoffs from the airport, my only complaint would be that some of the meter taxis are very old and a bit dirty with poor A/C. YouTuber - Global Travel Mate did a video on Taxis and Grab from the airport recently. Can be a long wait with Grab, which is why I take meter taxi from the rank. After a 12 hour flight, cost is not an issue. I just want to get home.

GEISHA on top floor in the corner of the plaza. Hands down (and hands on), the best gogo bar in the plaza, arguably! Billboard and Spankys are next best. People go to the plaza for different reasons. My friends and I go for a drink, fun and a laugh and have also fun with the ladies and no intention of barfining. Geisha has a tub with young naked ladies covered in soapy suds. They don't complain, actually they encourage, the application of banknotes to decorate their bodies. About 12 seats around 3 sides of the tub, plenty of other seating and booths all around the main stage. Fairly OK agogo music. Service staff fun too. No bill padding or shenanigans in our experience. Good for a 45 minute visit. Reasonable drink prices.

That's a lot of damage to the car by a Zoomer motorbike. They must have been full speed to have done that. Lucky if they survive.

Yes. He's doing as well as possible. Anyone worried about Eddy's well being should watch NDTVi. Nick will post immediately if anything happens to Eddy.

A lot of brands and technology has improved in the last 22 years. My 2019 and 2020 Daikin Inverter A/Cs are excellent. Quiet, low power usage, super great cooling and very reliable. YMMV.

I think any big name brand should be good. You'll get best service and parts supply. I've had 5 (currently have 3), Daikin units and never had any problems. Good service on one callout under warranty - turned our not to be the unit, but wiring.

Is your phone on WiFi or connected by 4/5G? Should work if so.

Get the Mrs to do it . They know.

Bob Smith?

Open your phone photo app/camera and point it at the QR code. It should give you a link to website

The linked article fron Punch newspaper says they are free to go after paying the "restitution". Sounds more like "tea money" to me. It will be intersting to hear of the verdicts on the Nigerian crew.

Harlan's Pattaya Restaurant Went November 2024. Table of 4 as 2 couples. Had tasting menu. Place was full. Food was great. Wine choices and prices were OK. Service really good from lovely staff. Fair value. Would go back. Mix of foreigner and Thai (and maybe other Asian) clients. Book early.

Title said "violent assault". No mention of exactly what or against who. Property loss too - what specifically? Very little detail. If he behaved badly then he deserves what he gets. Suspect, it may be a jilted lover who made the report to police. Would like to hear more detail and the conclusion of this "case".

Both of them should be ditched. Nothing good from either of them. Most of have read a lot about Thaksin but more about Ibrahim at this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Ibrahim

Lock him up and make him serve his time.

Don't know. Vern Lovic's advice was: Kraits - night time raiders of tents looking for warmth and deadly, Pit Vipers - ambush predators hidden on pathways and deadly without fast treatment. Cobras - we've all seen videos of these agressive critters and know the outcomes of their bites without quick administration of anti-venom.

I embarked on a solo bicycle ride from Phuket to Mawlamyine in Mayanmar (Burma) in 2016. Aware that I would have to "rough camp" in either jungle or plantations for at least two nights in Myanmar (due to distance between towns), I sought advice on snakes. This was a remote area where there was no phone signal and only 1 vehicle passing every 15 minutes in daytime and virtually none at night. Let alone much in the way of medical facilities. Last thing I wanted was a snake bite. I reached out to Vern Lovic of https://thailandsnakes.com/ He gave me lots of useful advice, especially avoiding encounters with snakes (and what to do if bitten). His website has a lot of useful information and many reports. Thankfully I had no issues and only saw a few snakes. As for the OP, I suspect the bitten young man did not insist on staying for monitoring at the hospital due to costs. Just a thought if he was told all clear.