SamSipEt

For anyone who wishes to attend the funeral I have attached the details on behalf of a good friend who for some strange reason has been banned from ThaiVisa.

Thanks for all the laughter and the good times Nick.  RIP.

The cost seems to vary the times I've taken a m/c taxi from BTS Mo Chit to the Mo Chit Bus Terminal and is either 50 or 60 baht.

The motorcycles are often waiting at the bottom of the steps at exit 1, map here http://www.bangkok.com/bts/mo-chit.htm but if not keep walking straight ahead and you will find them just a short way along the road. If all else fails walk the couple of hundred metres to the junction that borders Chatuchak market and you will be able to wave down either a proper taxi (probably 40 - 45 baht depending on traffic) or a tuk tuk (80 baht last time I used one). N.B. you will need to be positioned for your driver to carry on straight down that road with the market on your left (not the main road with Skytrain over it),

Checkinn 99 - love it or loath it seem to be the only two options available on this forum but if you have never been then it is certainly worth a try so that you form your own opinion.

Nice to see a cheerful and non controversial post for a change.

Thanks Gonzo and same to you and yours

1. a possibility

2. no

3. always an option

4. take a tuk-tuk and avoid the hassle completely

Turned up by accident on the opening day.

Complete chaos.

Outside it looked only half finished.

Inside plenty of shops "opening soon" and common areas packed with the usual crowd of idiots looking at their mobile phones or taking selfies.

Having got that off my cheat it has potential and needs a bit of time to settle down and get organised.

Management should take the blame for either late completion of the building works or not delaying the opening for a couple of weeks to finish things off properly and having a really grand and professional opening but of course no one here ever takes the blame for anything

If you have the time to spare then as suggested above stay in a serviced apartment, guest house or wherever for a couple of weeks whilst exploring on foot in your chosen area. This can be time consuming and tiring but might save you a wad of cash.

Some buildings (like the one I am in) do not help visitors rent units but redirect all enquiries to an agent.

Lots of agents to chose from and there are also a few sites that list properties from a variety of agents and I used this one http://asiapropertyworld.com/ to find the unit I am in now.

I wouldn't worry too much about being over charged by an agent. Typically they earn one month rent for a 12 month contract and where ever you find that you like don't forget to try and bargain them down!!

Of course the closer you are to mass transit the station the higher the price. I've got a one bedroom condo with a small fitted kitchen (swimming pool and gym in the building) that is 2 minutes away from the BTS and costs 15,000 a month through an agent. I found one in the same building being let by the Thai owner who would not go below 16,000 a month for an identical unit. Similar places are available a kilometer or more away from the BTS for less than 10,000 but I am happy to pay the extra for the convenience of living close to the BTS.

Happy hunting

I'd certainly give you a call if a needed a plumber which I hope won't but it is nice to know someone who has all the kit and knows how to use it.

Good luck with the business and don't let the backbiters on here get to you :-)

Kiwi bar Soi 4 does a good plateful with some tasty Cumberland sausages.

The Kiwi is on Soi 8....unless you are referring to another Kiwi bar?

Oops hit the wrong key - thanks for the correction.

Last night a Dutch swing band called B2F played a couple of lengthy sets at Checkinn. Awesome entertainment. I realise it isn't to everyone's taste but the crowd there (with the exception of one miserable looking lady in the front row) thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

So despite becoming a hole-in-the-wall bar it is still a great venue.

Many thanks to the staff and bands for such a memorable evening

(No I don't have anything to do with the place but feel that credit should be given where credit is due).

Kiwi bar Soi 4 does a good plateful with some tasty Cumberland sausages.

Yes a great idea but the one worrying comment was "And if the project proves successful, more roads will be turned into walking streets.". The first one will almost certainly prove to be successful and they will then open more and more until there are not enough customers to keep them all in business.

Thailand the new "hub" of walking streets

Checkinn99 make a good Irish coffee and just to wander off topic they also serve a great absinthe

The Royal Oak on Soi 33 does a plated Sunday roast and The Kiwi on Soi 8 has a carvery Sunday afternoon.

Both are good with a better choice of starters at the Royal Oak and a better choice of deserts at The Kiwi but that is just my opinion

There are many buffet options available at lunch time or evenings but they all seem to close in the afternoon.

I'm looking for somewhere for 10 people sitting down about 3pm and leaving when full. Some of the 10 have significant appetites which is why we thought a buffet would be best and any suggestions at about 500 baht a head would be greatefully receved.

Lower Sukhumvit preferred but will travel

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Love whiskey but hate the smell of cigars.

The branch on Soi 23 has good live blues music on Fridays.

Love whiskey but hate the smell of cigars.

The branch on Soi 23 has good live blues music on Fridays.

Funny.....I like cigars, not much of a whiskey fan.

I'll open a new bar..... Whiskey here, Cigars there

Good answer

Let me know where and when it opens - got to be worth a visit

Love whiskey but hate the smell of cigars.

The branch on Soi 23 has good live blues music on Fridays.

No problem at all although it did take quiet a long time to find what I wanted.

A few months ago I was looking for something within a few minutes walk of a BTS station and about 15k a month. As always it is about leg work although these days that can be mostly done on line and I spent hours trawling the net for various options. A lot of the units advertised as being "close" to a BTS station were actually 15 - 20 minutes walk away which is not close at all. However, I persevered and kept sending enquiries and finally found a unit a stones throw away from Onnut station for 16k a month. The nice pool and gym were a bonus.

I looked at various sites but did most of my accommodation hunting on this one http://asiapropertyworld.com which lists properties from a variety of agents and I found what I wanted via one of the adverts on there.

You should be able to find something here http://www.servicedapartmentsbkk.com/

I did this one earlier in the year http://www.loynava.com/ and it was really nice. For sure aimed squarely at the tourist market and my partner was the only Thai lady who wasn't part of the staff but it was all enjoyable nevertheless. Food served at you table so no scramble for a buffet and there was enough of it to fill you up. Not the best food but the atmosphere was nice as were the views.

If it is anything like the event held at the KuDeTa last weekend I'd give a complete miss.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293916-d5213307-r222645043-KU_DE_TA_Club_Lounge-Bangkok.html#REVIEWS

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen with that sort of a crush on the 39th floor !!

If it happens (and I suspect that it will) then they will almost certainly only target the tourist areas and leave the Thai neighbourhoods with street stalls alone.

For me those stalls as well as the market / pop up bars all along Sukhumvit to Soi 19 (or perhaps further now) are a pain when you are trying to walk somewhere but are also part of the local colour. On balance it will be a shame to see them go.

boring..............

Yes you must be a very boring and small minded individual.

If you cannot contribute anything constructive just keep your thoughts to yourself.

Taxis - a bit of both.

Under rated - they are very very cheap and most have good air-con.

Over rated - they often won't go where you want go and some want to over charge you with a fixed rate.

(I just keep stopping taxis until one is prepared to use the meter or a suitable bus comes along).

Superstores

They should have a huge range of produce but in reality there is often one complete aisle dedicated to a singe item e.g. noodles, rice, oil, water etc. I suppose this is a function of demand and supply. If most people don't want (or don't know about) all those other things then the superstores are not going to stock them.

(They are good enough for me but I do wonder why they spend a lot of time and money building the things just to be able to display more of the same item)