THAILIBAN

.......... he pulled up beside s and we agreed 200, still a rip off as he was going in that direction. However, if I knew that every time it would cost 200 baht, ..............edit.......... This haggle and rip off ritual just irks me!

they ask these exorbitant prices because people like YOU are still paying these insane sums of money for a minute service!

250 get's you all the way from On NUT (Sukhumvit) to SAMUT PRKAHN (near ancient City)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Baht gets you a fair bit around suratthani, hat yai, the baht buses (Pick up) in Pattaya do only charge 20 baht for the longest ride around!

Why is samui an exemption?

Because Samui still attracts (and will always do so in the future) too many of the big-spending such-called "quality-tourists" who come here and think "oh my god, everything so cheap here....."

this will never change.

its not only a Samui-Problem. the same applies for Phuket and, increasingly, Krabi.

I wouldnt spend 25 satang on upgrading with TRUE. you should rather downgrade and would probably still have the same speed, or they would offer a better deal than before, paying less for the same speed you have now.....

I pay 1230 Baht and its annoyingly slow. in my old place, I had the basic version at 635 Baht a month, and the speed was about the same. As soon as my landlord is back from her sommer-vacation, I will ask her to downgrade to the 635 Baht-version.

Not much difference between very slow and very very slow.... and I am not a big downloader anyway..... i feel stupid that, in the past 18 months, I paid almost 10.000 Baht more than the basic version would have costed..... never again

Try searching for info on the 'dudesweet' parties too.

www.dudesweet.org

honestly, after 4 years living in BKK I must say, there is not much of an Indie-scene really.

at least not of that kind we are used to it in North-America and Europe.

last year, I went to that "Alternative-festival" at bangkok-hall (former BEC-TERO-HALL), I was even interviewed by some Thai-TV (probably as they were amazed to see such a "B.O.F." there) and asked about my opinion on Thai-Alternative, but then most of the "alternative" (more than 30 bands on 2 days!) was the usual Thai-Sweetie-sugar-Pop, with some noisy guitar-riffs added sometimes.

though, EBOLA are great (but they didnt play there), MODERN DOG, the icons of the Thai-Indie-scene, are okay, and there was that ONE young band, which sounded a little like a mix of HIM and PLACEBO. they were actually GREAT ! and I bought their second album the next day and certainly didnt regret it. (forget their first album where they still sounded like sweetie-sugar-thai-pop). okay I know what happens next: u will ask me about the name of the band. but I dont remember the name at the moment and too bad that I am out of the Kingdom now and that cute little CDs is some 10.000 km away in my BKK-apartment.... will tell you next time, ok

if I really want Indie these days, and yes, I still DO WANT it, I go to Malaysia (see this : http://www.doppelgangerkl.blogspot.com/ ) or Indonesia (see this: its even in the biggest english-language daily paper there in indonesia! http://old.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydet...id=20080525.M17 )

after the closure of CD-Warehouse in Emporium, Thailand doesnt even have a decent CD-store anymore. the LAND OF SMILES is certainly not the LAND OF INDIE.......

okay, my brain and memory is back to work again somehow..... means, I now remember the name of that excellent Thai Indie-Band I have seen at BANGKOK HALL last year. their name is SLOT MACHINE. try to find them on any MP3 site. their latest CD should be available everywhere, maybe even in carrefour or Tesco.... do buy the CD, its cheap, support the local bands by buying original records, thank you .

and which TV-Channel will that be ?

nice link, ABSOLUTELYBANGKOK. the open-air at RANGSIT sounds tempting..... probably not many Farang there.... but quite a ride from my home in another BKK-suburb.....

lucky are the Malaysians, the have ASTRO-TV, and ASTRO has ASTRO STADIUM channels, which broadcasts ALL games in ENGLISH.

am already thinking of treating myself a 2-weeks-trip to Langkawi.... relaxing at the beach during daytime, and cheering "my" team at night.... while having a surprisingly inexpensive beer at the "Langkawi-duty-free-special-zone".... aahhh.... let's book the flight !

none of our several "Pattaya observers" and reporters found out what actually happened ? any updates ? thats all too much an odd story.....

I pay 500 Baht in advance for 40 pieces (Shirts or pants), that includes the ironing. after more than one year, the laundry wasnt able to destroy or misshandle any of my shirts. no complaints. cold water washing, of course.

other items they charge individually, but thats MUCH cheaper than 80 baht per Kilo....

f.e., a huge bathtowel, which may already weigh half a kilo, costs 15 Baht. underpants or pair of socks, 5 Baht each.....

the usual price if charged per Kilo should be 30 Baht in a Thai-neighborhood, or maybe up to 50 baht in a "quality-tourist" - location....

in Indonesia, next to a luxury condominium in Bandung, I recently paid 4000 Rupiah per Kilo in a laundry, including ironing. thats a mere 15 Baht per Kilo....

sad sad sad..... but now wonder if you know that just around 5% of Thailand's bus-drivers ever attended classes at a driving-school.

actually, I like to ride a car in Thailand, but the bus-drivers as well as the mini-Bus-drivers are usually indeed a bunch of psychopaths.....

what I do to be on the safe side is to avoid driving after darkness, at least on non-highways with just one lane each...

unfortunately, their FF-program is still lousy due to the lack of good airline partners.

and they reduced the baggage-allowance from 30 Kg to 20 Kg recently.....

no reason to change to Etihad for me these days....

their PLUS is: the transit-times are excellent, rarely longer than 2 hours between arrival in Abu Dhabi and the connecting flights...

unlike the WC2006, the "EURO2008" almost doesnt exist in this Forum..... probably has to do with a particular nation not being part of it, and their usually extremely outspoken and self-confident supporters keeping a low profile these days....

by the way: which non-Thai stations will show the games ? ESPN, Super-sport, Star-Sport or which of those usual suspects ? anybody in the know ?

Urr no, It's not even started yet, so I'm sure there will be plenty of discussion when it does.

As regards the question that you have asked, I've already answeared it.

P.S. Do you come from a country with a large sheep population?

me a non-native speaker and sheeps are unheard of in my area

or do you refer to a "s©hee(a)p charlie" ?

LTU has been a charter-carrier for package-tourists for ages and has recently been acquired by AirBerlin.

now all their flights have a "AB" flight number.

they fly BKK - Germany 9 times a week, as far as I know. I would NOT recommend them. the service is "no frills" (pay for alcoholic drinks, the complimentary catering very basic), and u will feel like in a sardine can,absolutely cramped conditions. seating space just 76 cm (Thai Air on B-747 or Malaysian on B-777: 86 cm).

it may be worth considering if u need a cheap one-way ticket to Europe/Germany, sometimes they have offers for as low as 14.000 THB incl. Taxes to Duesseldorf or Berlin. approx. the same price for one-way as the notorious Kuwait Air.

the feeder flights are operated by Air-Berlin (not the old LTU).

thats expensive indeed. are u residing in a luxury Condo ? usually, the BKK laundries will charge per item, not per Kilo..... but should be easy to find a much cheaper laundry in almost any part of the city.....

and I am still looking for a decent laundry in BKK or Pattaya that does have or use a HOT WATER machine.

I found a great laundry in Chiang Mai last year (Thai-Farang couple), but it seems a bit too far to send my specific laundry all the way up North....

Try searching for info on the 'dudesweet' parties too.

www.dudesweet.org

honestly, after 4 years living in BKK I must say, there is not much of an Indie-scene really.

at least not of that kind we are used to it in North-America and Europe.

last year, I went to that "Alternative-festival" at bangkok-hall (former BEC-TERO-HALL), I was even interviewed by some Thai-TV (probably as they were amazed to see such a "B.O.F." there) and asked about my opinion on Thai-Alternative, but then most of the "alternative" (more than 30 bands on 2 days!) was the usual Thai-Sweetie-sugar-Pop, with some noisy guitar-riffs added sometimes.

though, EBOLA are great (but they didnt play there), MODERN DOG, the icons of the Thai-Indie-scene, are okay, and there was that ONE young band, which sounded a little like a mix of HIM and PLACEBO. they were actually GREAT ! and I bought their second album the next day and certainly didnt regret it. (forget their first album where they still sounded like sweetie-sugar-thai-pop). okay I know what happens next: u will ask me about the name of the band. but I dont remember the name at the moment and too bad that I am out of the Kingdom now and that cute little CDs is some 10.000 km away in my BKK-apartment.... will tell you next time, ok

if I really want Indie these days, and yes, I still DO WANT it, I go to Malaysia (see this : http://www.doppelgangerkl.blogspot.com/ ) or Indonesia (see this: its even in the biggest english-language daily paper there in indonesia! http://old.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydet...id=20080525.M17 )

after the closure of CD-Warehouse in Emporium, Thailand doesnt even have a decent CD-store anymore. the LAND OF SMILES is certainly not the LAND OF INDIE.......

I heard that so many big carriers are becoming extremely stingy these days (despite their announced record-profits every year!). I heard that GULF and EMIRATES do not accepot more than 20 Kg for free now, starting 1st of April. (did fly Emirates on 29th of march and no problem with my 25 KG that day).

even THAI announced that they will not accept overweight luggage any longer.

any recent experiences ?

what I do to avoid discussions about the hand-luggage: I store my business-pilot-case (small in size but, believe me, its heavy: tons of paper) at the left-luggage-counter for an hour or so (costs me just 4 Euro in my home country), then after checking-in, I get it back and then pass the security control and boarding gate without any problems....

unlike the WC2006, the "EURO2008" almost doesnt exist in this Forum..... probably has to do with a particular nation not being part of it, and their usually extremely outspoken and self-confident supporters keeping a low profile these days....

by the way: which non-Thai stations will show the games ? ESPN, Super-sport, Star-Sport or which of those usual suspects ? anybody in the know ?

such as krabidir.com or phuketdir.com ?

or a link-collection ?

thanks

obviously, a young girl has been murdered. what a tragedy.

and all that some users (some of them even long-time-members) can do here is posting sick perverted comments or pictures.

that makes me phuke !!!

lovely AirAsia was late again last night, so I arrived at 1.30 instead of 23.20. still plenty of metered Taxis outside at the arrival level. just proceed to the counter and tell them where you want to go to. then u will get the postcard with the car-plate-number and the drivers name and even handphone number. with this postcard u can make a complaint if necessary.

if you fell uncomfortable using a taxi alone at night as a female , pretend to call somebody after u entered the taxi, and tell the taxi-registratiuon-number to that "non-existing-person" u r calling.

but after all taxi-drivers have to identify themselves by handing out the postcard to the counter -staff, not really much danger, I think.

dont forget that 50 baht service-charge have to be added to the fare.

and a small tip will be very much appreciated as well, after Bangkok's taxis are still so cheap, even with the fuel prices rising....

have a safe journey.....

actually its *122#, not 120. 120 is for topping-up only, not for checking the balance. and its free, its not really a "call".

it works well everywhere I am. Malaysia, Indonesia, Siungapore, Philippines, Vietnam, China, Camboida and even in Europe....

never had any problems

To Koh Pha Ngan or Koh Samui ?

To Samui, but this VIP bus company runs from Phangan too... (450 Baht to BKK)

at 450 Baht for this distance, it can never be a real "VIP" - Bus anyway.

I wonder why still so many people hop on those Mafia-style-organized busses.

warnings can be found in any online-forum and any LP or Rough-Guide or whereever else....

reliable Thai government-busses go to any destination in the kingdom....

but, as a proverb goes in my home country: "every morning, another moron is getting up"....

I guess its the wrong place here to ask for that.

better inquire at the lonelyplanet.com thorntree-forum.

as for 2-stars, all the IBIS hotels are actually 2-star and quite good value for money.

Paris is almost their home-base and u have plenty of choices to choose from at any location.

Never had a problem with A A staff.

Once at Swampy, the check in girl asked me to take something out of my bag, she waited, very nice attitude from her.

Only other prob is time keeping.

Last August I arrived about an hour and a half early at Swampy, the girl said my flite would be delayed, she asked me to sit at seats opposite as I may be able to get on earlier flite.

I sat, she called me over, gave me boarding pass. Great service.

I had to take my check in bags on with me, no probs, no weighing, again, great.

On my return trip, I slept in, left Chalong at the time the flight was due to leave.

Thought I would sleep over buy new ticket in the morning.

Lo and behold, the flite was later than me, great again.

Guess I am a lucky old sod.......PMPL.

I use A A extensively during my odysseys in the region, neva had a prob.

As I've said, this is my experience and I'm sure that many people have had lots of good experiences. I have used them a fair few times in the past, and I want to make this very clear, the in flight staff are very good!!! I have a problem with the poor service at check in at Phuket and Swampy.

I 100% agree with that..... the cabin-crews of THAI AIR ASIA (unlike their Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts) are very nice, friendly, have a good safety-attitude, and - if that counts - are as well quite cute. though, the ground-staff are a nuisance at ANY of Air Asia's branches, be at Bangkok, Malaysia or Indonesia....

I really wonder why they are not able to get proper staff for their operations....

Thaksin asks Manchester City players to bow

MANCHESTER (UK): -- Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has hit the club with another shock by asking for the players to bow to him Thai-style before each game, Sunday Mirror reported.

Officials at the Eastlands club have been worried for some time by requests from Thaksin - and his latest is for the team to bow towards him after performing their pre-kick-off sporting handshake with the opposition.

-- Sunday Mirror 2008-05-05

and I thought 1st of April is already behind us for this year

everywhere in China except HONGKONG and MACAU that would not be a problem at all..... because the age of consent is 14 in all China..... only in HK and Macau its 16.

but oh well, the CHRISTIAN good-doers were on alert again.....