THAILIBAN

the ROMA is a good Value and very centrally located (5 minutes walk from Bus station). the rate was 450 in July last year, and if u stay long time, you should be able to negotiate a much better deal. there is a decent coffee-shop with street-side tables on the ground floor as well.

Check the room first or see several, before deciding..... in general its clean, and they open the windows every day when making up the rooms (so no bad smell), but some bathrooms are a bit run down....

there is another small but cosy new guesthouse, managed by Farangs. VERY nice rooms, very new..... forgot the name , but sure u find it at the khonkaen com website. though, the location is not as central as the ROMA. and probably even more expensive than the ROMA (but worth the money anyway)

One thing to add to the confusion, is the fact that according to Nok Airs website, quite a few flights are due to stop on the 25th March 2007. In particular flights to/from Phuket, but also Chiang Mai and Trang are losing some of their flights. Whether this means that the flights will be operated by Thai is not mentioned...

source: http://www.nokair.com/s1000_obj/front_page..._category_id=81

on the late evening before re-operating from Don Muang again, most flights have to land at Don Muang, so they can depart from Don Muang the next morning...

maybe they cancelled some flights to avoid confusion....

I remember that, when Suwannaphum was opened, NOK cancelled all their flights on the official opening day for the same reason.....

Wonder how much Nok-Air's load-factors will fall, as a result of this, not being able to use them when connecting with international flights ?

the load factor will GROW, not fall, because almost no NOK AIR passenger is going on an international connecting flight after, and DON MUANG is much more convenient to get to and away anyway.... and hasslefree...

I will much more consider to choose NOK AIR in the future than I did before....

hope Airasia and 1-2-go will follow soon - then BKK finally has its LOW COST HUB

Sorry, but I don't follow your logic ?

Existing connecting-to-international passengers will not fly Nok, because they end up in the wrong place, so their numbers will fall. Nobody wants to add 4-5 hours to their journey, by an unnecessary connection by bus, between the 2 airports.

Existing domestic passengers, or those connecting onwards with Nok Air, will see no change, and continue at current levels. You will still need to allow at least 3 hours to connect-on to another Nok flight, as I do, regularly.

So how can this translate into a HIGHER load factor ?

And if Don Muang really is more convenient to get to, what does that say, about the new aviation-hub of Thailand & S.E.Asia ? ? !

Lastly, if a Bangkok-area Low-Cost Hub was ever needed, why did it not emerge previously, at U-Ta-Pao for example ?

someone who flies NOK will not have an international connecting flight..... i guess 99% (probably even more) of the NOK passengers will NOT go to any other international connecting flights.

U-TAPAO ??? thats 150 km away from Bangkok..... THEN you will have indeed have your falling load-factor..... cause no-one wanna travel 3 hours by Bus to his actual destination (when u can be in downtown BKK from Don Muang in less then 20 minutes by car during non-peak-hours).....

anyway, time will tell...... so we have to wait and see.... nothing else we can do....

it only makes sense if they open DM for international flights as well, and then operate it as a Budget terminal. they cant survive there without having AirAsia "on board", and AirAsia will be more then happy to move back to DM - as soon as it is open for international flights again.

they cannot operate the airport in an economically successfull way without AirAsia, thats nonsense.

Believe me, in 4-5 months from now, DM wil be either closed down again, or re-opened as international airport. "closed down again" is rather unlikey, as there would be a huge laughter anywhere in the world and the Thais would loose their face (again), which they can not afford and can not stand.... therefore, its to expect that DM see's its comeback as international airport in the near future... and only that makes sense....

better go to an AIS-shop and try to get it fixed there (I suppose u stay in Thailand right now). I had OK-experiences at their outlets in Mall Bangkapi, Seacon and Central Bangna. But always depends who's on duty.....

if its a "girls-only" shift, its probably useless (no, I have nothing against girls, just my experiences there). but all those outlets had Thai-Chinese guys sometimes, who spoke enough english to communicate, and I always got my problems (MMS settings, for example) fixed.

I have tried to find info on which domestic destinations with TG will stay at Suvarnabhumi?

Anyone know if Khon Kaen flights with TG will stay at Suvarnabhumi?

I am pretty much sure they are still in the process of re-organizing their schedule....

and I am again pretty much sure they will announce it on the website as soon as the decisions have been made.....

so probably u have no other option right now but WAIT AND SEE, because I doubt that the THAI-callcenter has full knowledge of all details at this moment....

Hello all,

Im arriving back in LOS on the 15/09/07 at around 11.40am,however as me is confused at whether the swicth between the swap and DM will actually happen.

We have a domestic flight on Air Asia at 17.00 to Krabi now will that be from the swap or DM,my understanding of the current situation is that it will be from DM.AM i correct???

IF by chance that I have understood correctly and the domestic flight is from DM how we travel from the swap to DM?is that our expense or will there be transport to DM ie bus service provided.

Many thanks

Topdelboy

you are travelling in SEPTEMBER 2007 ? and ask about that NOW ? 6 months before arrival ? GOSH..... 6 months in Thailand can be a lifetime.... so better come back later with that question, in August or so....

nothing is secure when it comes to DM at the moment..... it will be re-opened by end of March, but who knows, in case its not a commercial success, it may be closed down again within a few days as quickly as the re-opening was announced....

if u really need to get a transfer from Suwannaphum to DM, of course u have to pay urself....

or who do u think would be paying for your transfer if u have to shuttle between Stansted and Heathrow in London.....

as I was reading one of the recent Posts about "Visa-on-Arrival" to China - is this available for Germans?

nachdem du deutscher bist,

better ask in the German-language China-Forum at: schanghai DOT com.

I am sure u will get a reply there within a few minutes...

Wonder how much Nok-Air's load-factors will fall, as a result of this, not being able to use them when connecting with international flights ?

the load factor will GROW, not fall, because almost no NOK AIR passenger is going on an international connecting flight after, and DON MUANG is much more convenient to get to and away anyway.... and hasslefree...

I will much more consider to choose NOK AIR in the future than I did before....

hope Airasia and 1-2-go will follow soon - then BKK finally has its LOW COST HUB

Anyone have any recommendations as to what is the best way to get from Bangkok to Khao Lak?? Would renting a car be a good idea to make this trip? If so, approximately how long is the drive?

Thanks!

in my humble opinion, the easiest and most relaxing way to get there is taking a flight (Airasia has 899++ Tickets to Phuket available almost everyday at the moment) and then rent a car (a decent Suzuki Carribean in Phuket can be had for 500-600 Baht during low season, if that kind of car is not too small for you - fun to drive, though).... that gives u all independence to xplore the KhaoLak area as u please....

Due to the cheap Airfares of Air Asia, I would like to know, if there is a Restroom at the Airport in Kuala Lumpur - to spend some waiting Hours for a connecting Flight.

Thanks in Advance

The airport at KL puts Suvanaphum to shame.

It is large and has plenty of comfortable amenities

but not at the extremely chaotic low-budget terminal (opened just one year ago, but already over its capacity), where AirAsia departs.

though, u r right with the cheap fares..... they have a 439-Baht one-way-deal to BKK at the time of writing this, to be had for departures from around 20th of March until end of April , (even during SONGKHRAN !!!) .... has not been advertised anywhere, as far as I know, but its reality..... so I already booked my 439-Baht ESCAPE FROM SONGKHRAN ANARCHY ticket 2 days ago.....

Hello KL, here I come again :-)

Hello guys, i am moving over to bangkok real soon finally, ticket's on 1mths from now.

now, i plan to stay in a hotel for the 1st week while i go around recceing the apartments i already have noted down.

however i alsowish to save down costs for hotel accomomation

preferbly along ratchadapisek/hwaykwang area or petburi(yaomarat area)

looking for hotels tat charge < 650 / night.

i prefer not to be around khaosan area

any help guys.. ?

i guess its not permitted to post URLs here, so I recommend u to perform a google search on "nasavegashotel". 2 huge highrise buildings, hotel and serviced appartements. the daily rate is just 590, but no BF included. its at the beginning of Ramkamhaeng road, so not the specific area u require, but there are buses aplenty passing in front of the hotel, so u can do ur survey-tour on a budget (buy the 50-Baht "busroutes in bangkok" - Map first, its the best map of greater BKK anyway).

as u r not eager to mix with the Khaosan-Trash (which I can fully understand ), this hotel could be a "value-for-money" that is hard to beat in BKK.

plenty of appartements available in Ramkamhaeng area as well, starting at 2.000+ Bt. (in case u r on a budget). on the downside, traffic is horrendous at Ramkamhaeng, though....

More info on Malaysian politics.

This will make you laugh, smile, wonder, or even cry.

Whatever it is, this is What Malaysia is all about.

The present Government is run by the Barisan Government, comprising the dominant

Malay Party, Chinese based Party, Indian based Party, and other East Malaysia based

parties. In reality, the majority Malay base party is calling the shots. They are in control.

Opposition parties: they have a new multi racial party, Chinese base Party, Indian base

Party, etc, and of course the Islamic base Party, which has gain State control in Kelantan,

bordering south of Thailand.

Parliament debates are sometimes debated hotly, very racial in nature.

Words like, " You are a recialists, You go back to China, You can go to ...........

and calling each other all sorts of names. Shouting, screaming, and tearing their hair out,

and so on and on. At the end of the day....... no problem, no trouble, nothing happens, meet again

and things become normal. Of course, in the cabinet, the majority are Malays, and there are a few

Chinese cabinet ministers and other non muslim ministers. At present the Chief Minister of

Penang is a Chinese. The Penang Police chief is a Chinese.

Bty, the present ACA Director (Anti Corruption Agency) is being accused of corruption by the

former retired ACA Director. Both are Malays. The opposition parties are having a field day over

this allegations.

Malaysia has encouraged tourism. So much so that many countries can come in now ......

30 days visa given on arrival (with return air ticket). Please check with the Malaysian Immigration

website for more info. Certain countries (particularly Africian countries) need a visa before coming in.

For Thai national, no problem...... 30 days visa would be given on arrival.

Sawaidi. Choke di nah, krap !

Excellent comments (SHOCHU's words in his post where excellent as well) , and almost exactly what I have experienced myself as an European in my more than 20 visits or long-stays to Malaysia.

one correction: you get 90 days stamped in your passport, (actually its not even a VISA), not only 30, at least most Europeans get that...... so no ridiculous VISA-TRIPS every 30 days (yeah I know, they are soon history anyway....hehehe ).

when I decided to move to Asia, I did choose Thailand only because it was rather uncomplicated to secure a long-stay-business-VISA and set-up a small LTD. - company.

for Malaysia the matter its quite difficult if u r under 50 and not extremely well-off. and they dont want the small businesses, they r only eager to get the BIG investments....

though, I still expect myself retiring in Malaysia (SABAH, negeri sayang) rather than in Thailand. but u never know..... as it has been said here b4 many times: both countries have their good and bad parts (as do all countries in the world.....)

anyway, nice to see a good discussion here based on facts and respecting each others, not just a bashing and flaming....

All the feeder busses for all lines have been cancelled until October. Reason is people using them as free busses. In my office the staff were always asking for the shuttle tickets from staff who bought the monthly passes but did not use the shuttle. They were using the busses from point A to B but never taking the skytrain. BTS told me that they will start in October as by that time they will have new fare boxes installed that will read your BTS monthly card but not charge it as the service will still be free. I used to take the BTS to Morchit on Sundays and then the shuttle service to Central LardPrao. Not once did I recognize any person on the shuttle from the skytrain or walking from the skytrain to the bus. Anyway now I take the MRT which is more convenient when I want to go to Central Lard Prao.

thanks for that excellent , useful reply !

good to know that - thanks to some members - even in 2007 the Forum is sometimes still more than just "spreading hot air"

And of course, not forgetting about the road works on sukhumvit now, for the bts extension. central bangna to onnut is a nightmare these days

thats correct, but there is no more such shuttle bus since more than 6-7 months, long b4 the BTS-extension-constructionwork began.

and now there are huge queues at ON NUT BTS in the early evenings, crowds waiting for taxis to go down Sukhumvit. sometimes I waited 20 minutes and more..... not a pleasant thought considering the rainy season starting in June....

I thought somebody (particularly a Thai citizen - Member ) might have heard about an official reason from the BTS company for that inconvenience

Dont think so, but they have an office in Phuket:

http://www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

......which is almost 1.000 KM away from RAYONG

Mods - could ban people for their own good.

Very True Brit......I would imagine that about 10% of the time I spend on TV is useful....but I hardly ever go to Bedlam...now that IS a complete waste of time.

I agree completely with the 10% quota.

but after a health incident in the last year, which almost sent me to NIRWANA, I managed to stay away from this forum for almost 5 months (the first 4 weeks I was not able to use any computer in the hospitals anyway).

so I came back with another account just few days ago - but sure I will not spent as much time here as before, or desperately try to read all of the the "new posts since ur last visit".

I survived 5 months without TV so now I know I am able to get rid of any Forum-addiction (I am a member in at least 20 messageboards, most if it is travelling in Asia or Expats in Asia). but in no other board I spent more time than here (the messages are just too aplenty...).

I am travelling around South-East-Asia a lot and try to mix business and leisure....

I would like to hear about recent experiences at the embassies (or consular offices upcountry) of those countries.

As for me, I will be going to Vietnam for the very first time in April (besides EAST TIMOR the only country in South-East-Asia I have not visited so far) and would like to know if its easy to deal with the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok (my experiences with Vietnamese authorities as a transit-Passenger in HCMC-airport were not really pleasant) and how long does it take to get a Visa and all that...... just share ur stories.....

I am interested in hearing about recent news from the Indonesian embassy as well, after they are about to introduce their new 120-day Visa-on-arrival in the very near future (compared to just 30 days before).

I think this could be interesting for many members here, not only for the Visa-runners....

I am talking about Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines.....

does anybody know the reason why the BTS company decided to terminate the Feeder-Bus-Service last year (at least the one from On Nut to Central Bangna is not running anymore)

from what you said here, I am sure it can NOT be the ALTERNATOR. during my 3 day-trip everything worked fine, AC, all lights etc.

even when returning home, I took the car to Carrefour the next day (just 2 x 3 km) and no problems appeared.

only after that I had it parked for 3 days before trying to start it again.... then when I opened the lock at the driver's door, I already realized the battery was down, because the central locking system didnt work, the locks of the other doors didnt respond.

unfortunately I am too stupid to do this BULB testing thing myself..... I am too stupid with all that car stuff.... even I am a male

thanks for the many quick responses so far!

John1: its not a diesel actually

undercover: didnt add anything new to the car, everything's the same as it was for more than 2 years....

as I am a car-technics-DUMMIE i probably have to get it running once (which is not the main problem) and drive it to a repair garage where they understand some english..... though, thats not an easy task in Bangkok.....

I have an old Nissan. I bought a new battery 2 years go, but because I was outisde the country for many times, the car has not been moved up to 3 months sometimes..... after that the battery was run down, I recharged it at a small repair garage nearby. but after doing this several times, I felt that the old battery, though only 2 years old, is not good anymore. I bought a new one 2 weeks ago, and as recommended by the battery guy, had the engine running for a couple of minute to fully charge it. after 2 days I wanted to start the car again and go on a tour, but it was down..... that time I thought "maybe the battery has not been charged properly yet" and just called somebody to help me start the engine. then I went on a tour (400 km) so at least after that, the battery must have been charged completely.

nevertheless, after another 3 days back home, I tried to start the engine, and AGAIN, the battery was completely down !!!

how can such thing happen ? is there anything in the car that is able to suck out the power of my battery ?

I am kinda helpless what to do.

I dont use the car everyday (I live in BKK and usually only use the car to go upcountry or outskirts of BKK / Beaches, or maybe sometimes buying things at Tesco / Carrefour), but I can not risk that everytime I wanna start it, there is no more power to start the engine....

does anybody have a clue what might be wrong with the car ?