Jump to content

RBWilson

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    86

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by RBWilson

    Ties?

    in Pattaya

    Posted

    I will be taking a trip to Europe next week and have been asked to take some Thai silk ties, as a non Thai - tie wearer, have no idea where to purchase, quality as important as price, any tips?

    Cheers :o

    Any Jim Thompson Shop - good quality, good selection, but not cheap. Not sure if they are in Pattaya??

    Second Hand Book Shop Pattaya

    in Pattaya

    Posted

    Do they sell all books at 80 baht?

    Come to Pattaya City Expat club meeting they have a book and DVD exchange table, but no need to exchange, just pick one or two.

    Yes, all books are 80b (Hard and soft cover); they will buy back at 40b. Great little shop!

    Good Restaurant - Silom

    in General Topics

    Posted

    Moderate Price:

    - Carlton (on Silom near Convent) (Western & Thai)

    - Beirut (on Silom near BTS - Behind Oishi & KFC (Lebanese)

    Inexpensive:

    - Anna'a Cafe (on Saladaang) (Thai)

    - Bug & Bee (Silom at BTS) (Fusion Thai/Chinese)

    - Taling Pling 60 Pan Rd. (near Silom) (Thai)

    - Banana House Silom (near Soi 4) (Thai)

    Expensive:

    - Restaurants at Sofitel (various)

    - Restaruants at Nari Hotel (various)

    - Barbican (on Taniya) (Western & Thai)

    Seen Any Live Theater In Thailand? Would You Like To?

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted

    As I mentioned in you last posting, why don't you contact Voice Studio as they put on live productions every year? I don't know if they're connected or not but Joan Eubank (a former Broadway star) and her daughter are quite involved in productions here in town. I can't remember her daughter's name but she works at Chiang Mai International School. I'm sure that these people could give you a very clear insight into the theatre scene here since they've been here for decades.

    I'm off to see West Side Story as well.... a chance in a lifetime for those of us living in Thailand.

    I heard a rumor today that West Side Story may cancel their BKK performances due to the coup. Anyone have confirmation of this one way or the other?

    Not Enough Gates At The Terminal?

    in Suvarnabhumi Airport Forum

    Posted

    Early AM and Late PM domestic flights on TG often do not use a gate - was true at Don Muang also. Economizing by not towing the plane I assume, and avoiding the gate fees charged by AOT. Of course this delays baggage claims on arriving flights also. At Don Muang I had frequently arrived on a late domestic flight - the plane invariably was parked beyond the International terminal in the maintenance area. This delayed the entire arrival process, with checked bags, by at least 30-40 minutes. At the same time I would observe NOK air and Air Asia planes, arriving from the same city, parked at the gates. I have often been put on a bus on TG International flights as well, with dozens of unused gates. Has anyone ever been put on a bus at Hong Kong or Singapore? I have not.

    I flew THAI very frequently out of Don Muang - up to 10 times a month. My experience is different than yours. I never recall seeing any Air Asia planes parked at the contact gates. Without exception they always used remote parking. I don't think I ever saw a Nok Air plane using a contact gate. Certainly I've flown them many, many times and every time they used buses. I wouldn't be surprised if they did use the contact gates occasionally, but certainly a majority of their flights used remote parking from my experience. Regarding Air Asia, are you sure they were using contact gates? I find that very hard to believe given their business plan. I've even read that they purposely use remote parking, not only to save money, but as part of their strategy for quick turn-around times. I don't believe they want to use contact gates unless they were forced to due to some unusualy circumstance. On domestic flights, I only once used a bus with THAI, that being the last flight of the day from Chiang Mai, when I assume that aircraft have already arrived from the other domestic flights and used up all the contact gates. I don't normally arrive late at night, so you may be right about them often using buses at that time. Early morning, I've taken many flights and never been bused. Perhaps it is a certain flight or flights that get bused due to lack of contact gates at that time.

    Internationally I've never been bused on arrival, but it was normal for departing when I depart late night (23:00 - 24:00). This seems to be a very busy time for departing aircraft, being many people like night flights where they can sleep. I believe the aircraft being used landed about 16:00, so expecting that aircraft to remain at the gate for over 7 hours was not reasonable to expect given the lack of enough contact gates at Don Muang. I always hated to be bused at Don Muang, especially on internation flights. The bus gate was at the far end of the international terminal, and the plane was always parked way beyond the domestic terminal. If you weren't lucky enough to get a seat, it meant standing on the bus for a good 20 minutes, sometimes up to 30 minutes. Probably 80% or more of the time I departed at that time I got buses, so I'm hoping my flight next week at that time will use a contact gate.

    I don't have any first hand knowledge of THAI operations, but based on my experiences I don't know that I accept your statement that THAI doesn't use contact gates in order to economize. Is this just your interpretation of events, or did you actually hear that from THAI or from someone who has first-hand knowledge of their operations?

    You are conveying your experiences and I am conveying mine. I normally fly early AM and late PM TG domestic flights and at least 50% of recent flights (Don Muang) have used buses. My last international flight from Los Angeles used a bus. On one occasion the TG flight from CM departed just after an Air Asia flight - upon arrival at BKK the Air Asia plane was at a contact gate and the TG plane used a bus (while 5 contact gates were unused) . Other threads here have indicated that AOT charges an additional fee for use of a contact gate (and I assume there is a towing fee also), from which one can assume economic issues are the determing factor. Nevertheless, my argument is not how often it happens - it is that it happens at all. If the new airport is attempting to compete with Singapore and Hong Kong, customer convenience should come first.

    Not Enough Gates At The Terminal?

    in Suvarnabhumi Airport Forum

    Posted · Edited by RBWilson

    Early AM and Late PM domestic flights on TG often do not use a gate - was true at Don Muang also. Economizing by not towing the plane I assume, and avoiding the gate fees charged by AOT. Of course this delays baggage claims on arriving flights also. At Don Muang I had frequently arrived on a late domestic flight - the plane invariably was parked beyond the International terminal in the maintenance area. This delayed the entire arrival process, with checked bags, by at least 30-40 minutes. At the same time I would observe NOK air and Air Asia planes, arriving from the same city, parked at the gates. I have often been put on a bus on TG International flights as well, with dozens of unused gates. Has anyone ever been put on a bus at Hong Kong or Singapore? I have not.

    Patumwan Resort

    in Real Estate, Housing, House and Land Ownership

    Posted

    I rented there for 2 years (1998-99). Units are VERY small - my two BR unit was only 55 sq. mtr. 3BR units (the largest) are only 90 Sq. Mtr. Common areas are very nice, but general construction of residential units is poor quality. Noise from hallways very audible within units; minimal or no overhangs to shelter sun from windows and minimal window tinting - i.e. VERY hot when sun is in your direction. Pooled parking and not enough spaces. In 1999 I bought a condo but gave no consideration to this bldg.

    Suvarnabhumi Airport Set To Open On Sept 28

    in Suvarnabhumi Airport Forum

    Posted

    I asked one of the lovely King Power girls whether they had secured a monopoly again at the new airport..the answer of course was 'yes.'

    'Own-ley King Pow-wer, na kha!'

    I wonder how much that cost and how many special favours were granted? All I know is that the more it cost him, the more I will have to pay for my duty free..it's kind of like taking the money out of my pocket and putting it into the people who granted the monopoly isn't it?

    Oh but wait, -- I never buy any duty free there anyway..at least not since they tried to charge me 100 baht for a 5 baht package of gum!

    The King Power monopoly obviously is not strapped for funds (i.e. the palatial complex they are building on Soi Rangnam/Si Ayuttaya). I had read in the BKK Post several months ago that Central and Emporiium had applied for a piece of the airport duty free business. Wonder what happened to that?

    Where Are The Best Hamburgers In Bkk?

    in Bangkok

    Posted

    Every once in awhile I like to have some food from home and right now it is a good hamburger. I live in the Pratunam area and I have not found one place around here. I am looking for a big fat, juicy hamburger, with onions and pickles, mustard and ketchup, a slice of sharp cheddar cheese, and a toasted bun. Are you as hungry as I am?

    Seriiously, if you know of any really good places please let me know.

    Thanks,

    bob

    Any Burger King!

    Not exactly in Pratunam, but Tee Sud is not far away and is my choice. (described earlier in this thread I believe). See: http://matrix.bangkokpost.co.th/entertainm...view.php?id=150

    Map Of Bangkok?

    in General Topics

    Posted

    Wow you guys are the best!! :o Will get some of the maps you guys mentioned when i reach there.

    I will be in Pratunam area before i leave for airport. Can anyone advise if i need to check in the airport by 7pm what time preferbly should i leave Pratunam area on a Saturday evening? I am NOT hoping to join the bangkok infamous traffic jam.. I know the logical answer will be 'leave-as-early-possible' but i would like to find out a rough gauge. As i only have a day in Bangkok so every hour counts.

    I will be taking public transport (BTS / Taxi / whatever) by the way.

    Allow a minimum of 2 hours for a domestic flight and 2.5 for International. Traffic in Pratunam is heavy on Sat. but the remainder of the journey should not be a problem on Sat.

    Nation Channel English News

    in General Topics

    Posted

    On Sunday (30 April) The Nation Channel terminated their nightly English news broadcast, announcing this was the 'end of the series', replacing it with yet another Thai news broadcast. I am not sure the term 'series' applies to a news broadcast, but it is disappointing that an organization that publishes and promotes an Engish daily newspaper cannot dedicate 30 minutes of time on their 24 hour TV channel to English news.

    To my knowledge, this leaves Channel 11 as a monopoly on local English news with a much inferior presentation and unpredictable broadcast times.

    Does anyone know of an alternative TV broadcast for local news in English?

×
×
  • Create New...