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Hi, Is LK Empress Hotel buffet breakfast open now as of Feb 2023 ? If yes, I will go soon. I had my last run there in Jan 2020. Then of course the place had been closed down. This place had been excellent value for over a decade despite LK Empress might be 3.5* hotel. Witnessed them grew yearly, from low 150B per head to more customers, more food options, doubling up seating space, quick turnover and eventually charging 300B each. The location is very central too

Calculation per Year may make more sense as there are once-in-a-while items popped from time to time outside the monthly budget. Causal on alcoholic drinking and nightlife, 650,000 B per Year for a single in Bangkok is certainly doable. Less if you stay in Pattaya/Jomtien.

Eric I did not see your comment until weeks later. I don't think the mood of most Thai ( or Thai Senate ) is strongly anti-Thaksin or Anti-Thaksin family now in 2023. But the mood is against Thaksin-showing-in-Bangkok. The Thai just don't like seeing Thaksin stepping foot on Thai soil that will cause whatever trouble to follow. I think The Thai are fine in giving the young and inexperienced lady the huge step-up being the next Prime Minister, but the Thai don't like her father coming back for her.

Doable

Plenty of chairs everyday in Jomtien Beach. No problem in weekend either. One small change in Jomtien beach. Northern Part of Jomtien beach remains same. Southern Part of Jomtien beach has been enlarged and extended further to the seaside and more roomy now. Chairs everywhere in Pattaya beach too. Note that one weekend in Feb 2023 they will stage Kite Festival at Pattaya Beach. And One weekend in March 2023 there will be Music Festival in Both Pattaya and Jomtien.

You were correct in one observation that tourism in Pattaya had been declining gradually prior to 2019, such that high season 2018 was not as busy as 2017, and 2017 was not as busy as 2016 ........ In 2020/2021 Your predictions were very, very wrong though. Times and again during Covid period, you predicted tourists would ditch and avoid Thailand and headed to other destination such as Vietnam etc. after Covid. You predicted Thai tourism would not be able to recover after Covid. ( Need us to dig out your hundred postings on pessimistic view in 2020/2021 to refresh your memory ? ) From below 5% capacity during Covid time to the current 60-80% capacity in Pattaya, I am of course cheering and happy for the Thai locals.

Another good news for the Thai locals. I like.

Very good news for Thailand.

No idea who actually wrote the original article. IMO there are two many points scattered out. So I talk just one particular here and merely address to one statement of the original "This is not Mexico in 1970 " The top Brazil ever assembled had been 1958 and 1970. ( mind you, Brazil 1958 was cross-continent victory which was much more difficult in those days ) Brazil 1982 could not compare to the two above due to very weak link of keeper and centre forward in 1982. IMO, Brazil 2022 is as good as the those two great ones 5/6 decades ago. As of now, Brazil at least had all the games and alteration ( third game resting ) so far. I think a Brazil Vs France Final would be the ideal ending as most anticipate.

I paid 3100 B, no extra cost.

I went just days ago. This was my first experience. Driver came to my residence at 5 am. Back home at 5 pm. One snack/toilet stop each way. It was on a 10-passenger mini-van, not bad overall. Was taken to Ban Laem border. Procedure at the border was rather smooth. But there were a bit of line-up for the immigration-PP control windows. I think they insisted leaving early with good reason.

In Nov 2022 I asked Maneerat twice, by phone and also stopped by their office around SOi 13/2. Both times they said no. Don't have this service now.

The Crown Prince just left Thailand with a new Honorary PH. D. added to his title that he had received hours before departure. Yes I understand you are jealous as usual.

Saudi Arabia and Thailand signed lots of cooperation deal during Saudi Crown Prince trip to Bangkok couple days ago. Quite surprising that these two countries of completely different culture and religion got suddenly so close so quickly.

USA Kamala Harris came at night time and Saudi Prince MBS came at same night. Thailand PM was at the airport greeting Saudi Prince. From Thailand standpoint, there are particular special attendance for APEC Bangkok 2022. China Xi, France Macron, Saudi MBS. The latter two were not APEC members, came as invited guests.

Pattaya to Chanthaburi and transfer to Ban Pakkard is OK. How is the procedure in using public transport and do all on my own ( if necessary, staying overnight in a Cambodia hotel is acceptable ) ? I am not comfortable renting a car and driving 3+ hours each way May be you can help us on the pros and cons doing on our own using public transport c/w tuk-tuk on the short trip ? I am trying to understand the difference doing on my own and using the one-day Visa Run company package service. I think the total cost either way will be more like 4/5 K Baht. My aim is Visa Exempt for changing O-A to O Visa. Starting point is Pattaya.

So Why don't suggest to Biden Administration to cancel hosting "Absulot nothing" APEC 2023 USA ?

" APEC now has 21 economies as members encompassing developed and emerging markets ......." APEC is important. Unfortunately for Thailand, APEC Bangkok 2022 is the Last of three global events in the same region within One Week. So it is likely to get the much less attention than anticipated. BTW, ASEAN 2022 in Cambodia completed just days ago did well with many non-member guests. Indonesia is now playing host to G20 2022 in Bali.

BBC had rather detailed article with headline " The US want to play in China's Backyard " on Nov 9, 2022 News as Joe Biden is to join ASEAN Summit 2022 in Cambodia now. It described the various factors on how ASEAN 10 viewed USA Vs China and how ASEAN positioned themselves. Overall, it pointed out that ASEAN disliked certain USA behavior in this region and also NOT pleased with what China is doing on so and so as well. Nevertheless, conclusion at the end is "The question for Mr Biden: is it too late for the US to reshape alliances in China's backyard? " ( Quoting from the article)

"Concessions from Saudi Arabia ......." Those items are trivial and far less important than what is at stakes in months down the road namely : // Saudi Arabia had openly expressed interest to join BRICS as their sixth member. // Xi is to travel to meet Saudi to meet MBS within a month or two. // Possibly bold move of Saudi-China oil trading switched to RMB rather than USD. Saudi MBS had signaled turning East since Thailand PM met MBS in early 2022. Just that Biden is outdated and still not believing. ( Possibly Biden is believing the old Saudi King will come back and take charge again )

Let's say not particularly large sum. The first time you can expect several hours to a day later. Then you keep doing it, the process will be quicken to few minutes or even less than a minute.

This man is American-Thai.

I am satisfied with one store offering and specializing in Tom-Ka-Gai and also Tom-Yum-Kuon, which costs 55-60 B for a big bowl ( Each bowl Good for two servings ). The chicken and prawn in the two soups are fairly tasteless, that's meant there had been extensive boiling in cooking process. I presumed they had prepared large quantity in the morning. This place is a food court outlet in Terminal 21, East Pattaya. Head to sixth floor housing the food court, there are two outlets serving this soup. Look for the one with middle-aged women staff, not one with men staff ( major quality difference ) and specially emphasizing these two soup on photo menu. The food court has coffee and fruit and all else, whatever Thai and Western food. The Best Coconut Chicken soup I had was in a 4* hotel restaurant in Phuket. Pricing was about 200 B, that was even ten years ago.

Much of entire world had fear about communist and communism for decades, say from World War to at least early 1990's, while USSR suddenly crushed. But even Trump crossed the line in Korea DMZ and chatted with Fatty Kim on the North Korea land in 2019, and both Obama and Trump had landed at Hanoi, Vietnam years ago. Quoting "Communist China" is very, very outdated and even old-schooled Biden had not talked that way any longer

Thailand of course stays neutral officially. Yet do you know deep down which side the Thailand PM and Thai government is leaning ? As to strategic locations in this region, Vietnam is at least as crucial as Thailand while Vietnam border the sea close to Taiwan Formosa island. Vietnam officials are stating Vietnam is neutral too and NOT bother picking USA or China either. But two days ago Vietnam Communist Party First Secretary is having tea party and State Dinner in Beijing. So can USA prevent and stop Vietnam slipping away ? ASEAN view about this geopolitics issue can be broadly summarized as USA keeps talking ; China keeps doing ( and improving too ) As a joke, if USA Biden wants Thailand so badly, Biden should have ordered his grandchildren to plan the wedding in Koh Samui, Thailand rather than in the White House so Biden can attend both APEC 2022 and the wedding on same day.