almarg3088

The best cabin I found was on the 777-300 to Australia. Earlier last year I flew in an old cabin, but in December I twice had the new one which was very spacious (and empty).

Quick side question if I may, any idea what the economy cabin in the new ones was like? I've flown Australia - Bangkok several times and been stuck on the ancient planes. We're coming over for our honeymoon and have the option to fly Emirates business class thanks to frequent flyer points, but it's a hassle as we need to fly to Sydney first, and we have a 7 hour wait for the connecting flight in Bangkok. It's more of a headache but business class would be nice for the honeymoon, but if the new economy section is better it might not be worth it?

I didn't look back there, but the specifications of that cabin are on their site:

http://www.thaiair.com/Travel_Destination_...oc/B777-300.pdf

The pitch isn't great, but seats are thinner these days so it's probably as spacious as the old 34" pitch.

The 777-200ER is a bit older but with a comparable spec:

http://www.thaiair.com/Travel_Destination_.../B777-200ER.pdf

It's the 747s that let the side down on the LHR-BKK route, but late in the year there will be A340s flying that route as well.

The 777's defintitely have more pitch between seats in econnomy and they are the only aircraft in which I have been able to get out in the aisle without the other passengers having to stand up or contort their legs to let me pass.

Lovely aircraft and the entertainmant was okay with plenty of films and such to keep me occupied and this was Thai.

Yes it is a pity they keep flying their old shit box 747's I see QANTAS has finally got rid of their last 747, but I wouldn't fly with them anyway as they have been ripping everyone off for the last 6 months with their inflated, profit building fuel tax.

Scumbags

I know it isn't current, but last February I booked Melbourne to BKK and return business class on the net with Thai and when I went into Thai's city office to pay for it, they advised me they couldn't give me a fare as low as what I got on the net.

I also booked all my hotel accomodation in BKK Chiang Mai and Chaing Rai on the net and saved over AU$1200 on what the hotels wanted to charge me over the counter for a three week stay.

Everyone's ripping us off.

Al

The most worrying one is

Article 11: Those who send data or electronic mails to others without revealing their identity, or by posing as someone else, in an act that disrupts the others' normal computer use: subject to a Bt100,000 fine.

Most of us here do not reveal our identity and de facto we pose as someone else (our pseudo).

So now we should have a registered ID and an email with our own name?

[sandy]

Why would you want to send anonymous emails, unless you were either:

a) causing mischief,

trying to hide something from your partner,

c) doing something very illegal,

d) just trying to shit someone else up the wall.

It seems from my experience there is a world-wide practice of using dud names and handles by zillions of ######s trying to sell viagra, or send you an infected file, so if that type of shit can be curtailed, then it is a good thing.

What a wonderful world it would be if everyone was up-front and had the balls to say who they were instead of using wanky nick names.

Go Thai Police !

Hi everybody,

I am now searching for an elephant camp close to Chiang Mai which offers a one day mahout course as I have three eager women wanting to control one of these noble beasts and we have only one spare day top do it.

Can anyone please advise which camp (if any) and it's location relative to Chiang Mai.

Thanks Alan

While I am on here, can anyone advise if there is an elephant camp close to Chiang Rai that provides a one day mahout course?

I have three eager females who want to give it a go and I need to know which camp and where it is located in relation to Chiang Rai city.

Thanks

Alan

Haved lived in C. Rai for 3 years and the only way to see the North is by car! As to a driver you really dont need one unless you are useless with maps and afraid of the roads - the majority of roads here are excellent both in their condition and markings. There are many reasonable hotels and guest houses in C. Rai and the whole province - if you let me know your budget I can make some recommendations. I can also get you a toyota 4 door for 800 bhat a day, which is a great deal for here.

Thanks flifsh and soap.

I don't mind driving but thought it would be better to have an english speaking local to wheel and deal for us when we are out and about, as we are hopeless at Thai, but at least try.

We will be on a typical tourist budget and already have accomodation booked in Chiang Rai, but would like to do a couple of day trips around the area and the GT and Mae Sai.

I will do a quick check on the net for available cars with driver/guides and will get back to you if things don't work out from here.

Thanks again to you both.

Alan

Can anyone please enlighten me as to the availability of hiring a car with a driver/guide to run us around the north of Thailand in June.

I made a similar request in Chiang Mai and received some good advice and now seek to contact a company or individual offering this service further north.

There will be four adults and we feel this will be the easiest way to do it without having to familiarise ourselves with the local driving customs and their inherent dangers.

Al

why do all Thai dog's tails bend upwards ???

It's the natural order when having an extension of a spine.... relaxed position up, scared position down... takes more effort to point it downwards.... just like smiling takes fewer muscles than frowning.

Why am I even answering this?

No, it's just to cover their own <deleted>.

Why do some married men risk all their possessions, family happiness, honor, integrity, dignity and respect by sneaking out and injecting a teaspoon full sperm into some bar girl?

Why does injecting a teaspoon of sperm into a bar girl feel so good?

Why after over 200 years of Western civilization arriving in Australia have the Australians not managed to become remotely cultured?

I resemble that remark.

555

...seems that maybe someone does protest too much. I am sure the OP can use his advanced level of reasoning to understand the underlying points of my reply.

Seagull: If you genuinely suffer from Asperger's syndrome, then I'll keep that in mind and ignore your future "contributions".

All this talk about anti farang attitudes has me wondering. I have had the good fortune to visit Thailand half a dozen times and have never had a problem with the locals.

I have always treated them like I wished to be treated and in return they have responded in kind and I agree that a smile has always been met with one in return.

The original question about attitude makes me wonder whether things have changed since my last visit in 2004 when we stayed in Chiang Mai and visited all over the north, because I would hate to think that I am no longer welcome in the country.

Was the question speculative, or born of a bad experience or two?

Once you've seen one rice paddy you've seen them all

Then maybe the difference is in perspective.

A few months back I decided to drive the road along the river from Chiang Saen to Chiang Khong. I highly recommend it .. not much traffic and lots of nice river scenery that includes the massive rock formations in the river just north of Chiang Khong.

You should pass a coffee house right on the river bank. It may be more of a resort by now. They were building some really nice looking small bungalows along the slope down toward the water.

They had some additional bungalows across the road .. across a rice paddy. A wooden platform style walkway leads a couple of hundred meters across and just above the rice. Quite a unique and fragrant experience.

The place was unique in another manner. Instead of the default manicure flower gardens, they had manicured organic vegetable gardens.

BTW, the coffee was quite good.

BTW2 .. after seeing all those big rock formations in the river, I am convinced of the possibility of underwater caves (where giant catfish are supposed to live and spawn) .. although I doubt the caves are gold.

BTW3 .. another good option where 4 persons are involved .. get a van and driver.

I did this when 4 friends arrived a couple of years ago, hired a van and driver at one of the places near the Wang Come hotel for 1500B a day. Bear in mind the driver is poorly paid out of this and relies on tips.

Thanks again and at the risk of stretching the friendship a bit, cna anyone offer a name of a company or individual in Chiang Rai or the immediate area who hires out vehicles and drivers.

Alan

You can go yourself, and you don't even need to go into Burma, just the immigration check point. They will ask you if you are going in or straight back to Thailand.

Thanks everybody for your advice. It is nice to know that there are so many people out there to assist.

Alan

hiring a car ,i think, is the best way to see any part of thailand.

having your own transport means you can go where you want to go, and see what you want to see.

take any road that you think looks interesting.

there are many places,roads around c/rai that aren't on the tour companies lists. a suzuki 4wd gives you the freedom to get off road, not serious off roading, but dirt roads that just spike your interest.

i have found a lot of places by doing just that. there is a lot to see outside of the tour co's itineraries.

also the chance to meet real people. the people who aren't part of the tour companies package.

hire a car,pick a direction, and take off. north or n/east would be my suggestion. out to wards phaya maengrai, and explore. there is a lot to see. depending on what type of thing you want to see of course.

but for natural beauty and unseen thailand. hiring a car is the way to go.

it's not dangerous, and as said above, you also get to meet some nice people away from the tourist areas.

Thanks Brad for your advice. Can you also advise if it is feasible and cost effective to stay in hotels that you find out there and also are they of reasonable standards and safe to stay in?

If there is 4 of you then hiring a car is easy as you can share the driving.

A drive to Mae Hong Son would be an adventure and stops at Pai & MHS enjoyable.

Lots of great country and mountains (Doi Tung Swiss Gardens) around C Rai town.

Look at Google Earth and plan a journey using 45 Kms per hour as your average distance, unless your on the

highways, which is pointless in your case.

10 $ US would get u into Myanmar per person so long as u get out the same day. Don't recommend it, as there are plenty of Burmese people in Mae Sai

Once you've seen one rice paddy you've seen them all

You are right about the rice paddies, but thanks for your advice and I will look seriously at doing what you suggest.

Alan

If you just want to go over the border several hundred yards to the market from Mae Sai, that's a 'border run' or a visa run, and you don't need a tour group. I've done it several times alone. In fact, the last time I did it with a tour group, the guide stayed behind as usual, and I led a nice Maori family into Myanmar.

As for going inland into Myanmar or Laos, I don't know.

Thanks for the advice. I think with Laos, I was referring to a boat trip around the GT which stops off at a market in Laos, where I understand you can spend a buck without the need for a visa.

oh no, its lovely there. i have done that trip a few times. you pass hot springs, hilltribe villages, suspension bridges....its lovely. its a bit hard on the bum though, so take a comfy something to sit on (although the boat does have thin cushions).

Thanks for the advise and we will take a cushion.

I have visited the north of Thailand once before and did the tourist traps, but now want to see a bit more of the real Thailand.

Is it worth hiring a car and trolling around to the various spots and towns and getting accomodation on the run?

I will have three women with me who are a bit adventurous and we just want to have a great time and see what is really worth seeing as it might unfortunately, be our last trip to this wonderful country.

Can anyone please advise as the posts on this site are really helpful in one respect, but just serve to confuse us with their tips.

Following on that last post, we are also going up that way and did so in 2004 quite safely.

I note that it is possible to go into Myanmar with one of the tour companies we used then as part of a day trip, but am wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to get a Visa at Mae Sai and go over the border to a market and just a quick look.

I also note that it may be possible to go into Laos to check out a museum near the border of Thailand as part of a day trip and wonder if that can also be done without a tour companies involvement

Is there anywhere I can find this info out if nobody on here is aware of the possibilities

Thanks

Hi,

I am heading for chiang Rai in June and want to know if a long tailed boat trip on the Mae Nam Kok is worth the effort.

The map I have of the area shows nothing on the river from Tha Ton to Chiang Rai and I am reconsidering whether this trip would be worthwhile as we are looking for typical Thai scenery.

Any advice please

Hi,

I have visited Thailand a number of times and wish to utilise the services of a chauffer and vehicle for 4 people out from Chiang Mai and later Bangkok in June 2007.

Can anyone offer me assistance by way of company, or individuals names and contacts who may be able to provide this service at those locations.

I am looking at anything from 3 hours to 8 hours at a time.

Thanks for any help

Alan