syd barrett

Apex's  buffet

What's on it?

I had a great breakfast there yesterday. Eggs and bacon and all the usual extras. No baked beans though. Why? For the price it must be the best buffet breakfast in Thailand.

I had this problem, was due to unsolicited text messages which I could not read anyway which cost 2 or 3 baht a time to receive. I tried Tuk Cum to complain in Pattaya but no luck. In the end I bought a new SIM card with 1-2-Call and so far so good. A new SIM card is as low as 220 baht if you shop around.

Cheers may indeed be the worst beer ever, but it sure has the best calendar.

TH

Someone else thinks Cheers beer is the worlds worst tasting; see hilarious link below.

Cheers Beer Review Link

I had a good breakfast in Jomtien on the bend just before the archway. It was called Papa Docs or Papa Davids or something like that anyway.

Papa Davids, Lots of choice, good service, no problem asking for specials, available all day, David is usually there every morning. If you are in the area, its a perfect choice to relax and start the day

Overpriced mediocre breakfast. Turgid mediocre quality Sunday roast dinner.

As with most places in Jomtien area

I have not tried Papa's Sunday dinner but the breakfast is acceptable. However the sausage was (as you described) mediocre.

A question mark still hangs in the air above eating establishments in Jomtien regarding the quality of sausages offered.

If I were in your shoes I would buy a return ticket. There are some good deals LON-BKK with Qatar, Etihad and Emirates for 450-500 pounds round trip. It is not worth buying just a single with these airlines because the saving is only about 50 pounds.

Consider a one-way ticket to Bangkok with one of the terrible airlines that go from London: Kuwait, Biman, Iran, PIA, Omani. They all offer one way tickets to BKK for between 200-250 pounds. There will be a lot of waiting between connections, poor food quality, old aircraft and stinking fellow passengers but just think of the savings!

I had an embarrassing experience during a foot massage. The woman was massaging an area of my foot linked to my sphincter muscles and I had an accident in my pants. Luckily I was wearing jeans at the time so managed to salvage some solids into the nearest toilet.

I have not had a foot massage since.

is 3K the Min or can you put on say 1K ?

thanks

No 3K was the maximum when I first bought the card. You can load up any amount really. Once you are up and running, it really is convenient.

You just load the card up with money (I add 3000 baht at a time). Be sure to get a receipt after loading. Then you use it for all purchases by handing it to the shop assistant and she scans the card. Again, always get a receipt after purchases.

On your receipt, you will see your points mounting up and these can be redeemed for items at a later date.

It is a very good idea, because it takes the hassle out of using cash and getting change. Plus, I give it to the Mrs, to use sometimes because no signature is required.

The sad thing is, not many people have taken it up, if they did those 7-11 queues would lessen.

Funny thing is im tempted to go back just so i can see the "large fine quality sausage"

I breakfasted there this morning and enjoyed a large fine quality sausage, which I understand is a 'Yorkies' sausage of the highest order.

security with machine guns everywhere - so I suppose that should tell you smth.

Come on, machine guns? The best you will see is aged pump action shot guns and ancient revolvers.......

I have lost count of the mates/friends I have lost following a failed 'bar-beer' in Pattaya.

Most went back to the U.K. skint and clinically depressed after anything between six and eighteen months.

I hear they are all either on the dole or long term sick back in the U.K. Others have managed to pull themselves together and gone back to work for a new Pattaya 'nest egg'. And they won't be buying a bar upon return!

Then there is the sad case of 'Ron' who managed a bar-beer on Soi 7 for eight months. lost everything and then jumped.

It is madness to buy a bar-beer. The only ones that survive are those ex-pats who actually don't mind losing 15-20K per year (GBP that is) just to have the fun of keeping the bar.

But really, the whole ex-pat bar-beer scene is really sad, by that I mean pathetic.

IMO the very popularity of Hull may one day sow the seeds of its own demise.

That's what worries me, who knows what the situation/rules will be in 14 months' time. Wouldn't want to take an expensive trip back to renew just to find the rules have been 'tightened'.

I doubt they will be doing any tightening-up. Thailand needs tourists and long-stayers. They might well bring the cost of visas DOWN sometime soon. Plus a quad tourist visa is always available at Hull. No worries.

Likewise I would suggest Biman but check the transit in Dhaka is not the 8 hour job !

They are cheap.

Chivas

Safety is an issue with Biman: Opt for Kuwait airways. 12,500 one way.

I liked his collaboration with Pearl Jam: Mirror Balls.

Plus the DVD movie 'Heart of Gold' is pure magic.

One of my hobbies is visiting second-hand bookstores in Thailand. For example there are six that I know of in Pattaya. Obviously I visit them to borrow books but I keep my eyes peeled for rare or unusual books which I buy for profit.

There are some real bargains to be had. Most books are priced between 100-200 Baht but I have resold many for between 10-50 pounds. Mostly in the 10-15 pound range.

Hard backs and soft backs equally. There are actually many books out of print, much sought after in specialist book stores in London. I could probably make more money if I resold them in the U.K. on Ebay, but so far I have taken them to second-hand booksellers in London who know their true worth.

If you can't tell that Subway's fillings are cheap just by looking at them or that their bread is not great just by tasting it, then you are a target customer. To people with higher standards for food, they know Subway is just very cheap low quality fast food, and that their fillings here are lower quality than in the US, and they aren't great there either!

Step by step. Bread.

What is wrong with their freshly baked bread? Often baked on the premises, it is sold alone in its own right. Usually five different types. Do you really find their bread that offensive? I would struggle to find better bread in Pattaya.

Their fillings: They are fresh. A regular turnover of sandwiches sold makes it so. Can you show me better roast beef, roast chicken or better tuna in Pattaya? I doubt it.

Again, I suggest that food critics on this forum are conceited snobs. I bet blindfolded, you would fail a challenge: Subway vs. Snobby French-named place.

Positive feedback appreciated.

I was in Villa this morning, looked at the vdo's but thought they are expensive. Genuine DVD movies from the Manpong shops are only B159 less your discount on your Manpong member card.

Tell me more about the Mangpong member card?

LMFHO

JmmyTheMook, raro, Tyke, Jimmyd, newname...............

All quick to ridicule Subway, but unable to provide any reasoned argument against their produce.

For the record, I am in no way connected with Subway sandwich stores, I just happen to think that they offer reasonably priced, fine quality produce and I hate to see narrow-minded so called experts slag-off a well known chain, due to snobbery and ill-founded prejudice.

Either put-up or shut up. if you don't like their produce:Fine.

If you dismiss it as rubbish or sub-standard tell me why.

I am particularly disappointed with raro's comments: He/She should know better.

I thought our flights on Qatar were quite comfortable, the food was a lot better than some airlines, particularly EVA out of LHR, and they're reasonably generous with the booze.

It always gets me when people say this & incidentally, I didn't find them that 'generous' - no pre dinner drinks on any of the four sectors I recently flew with them - the drinks were served with the food. Getting back to the generosity point though, I haven't found an airline yet that wont let you go & help yourself, Qatar being no exception.

Qatar have stopped pre-meal drinks now, in Economy class.

I make a point of asking for a tin of beer and a spirit at regular intervals and have never had a problem.

At meal times I ask for two mini bottles of wine saying 'I don't want to disturb you again': Say it confidentally and they will give you two bottles.

Another tip is to ask the male hostesses for extra drinks while smiling idiotically. They tend to get the horn and become generous with the booze. PS. This does not work if you are an unshaven, balding 60+ with a huge beer belly in a sweaty Tee shirt, shorts and flip-flops.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think a 'Subway' sandwich is 69 baht for a small one and they have lots of filling.

Subway is the same as eating at McDonald's.

We're talking real food here !!!

Agreed - Subway is crap dressed up as crab.

I suggest that anyone who slags of Subway sandwiches is a high-street-chain snob of the highest order. The bread that they use is fresh and often baked on the premises.

The main fillings whether, chicken, turkey, beef, cheese or tuna are always of a high standard.

The salad part of the sandwich is always fresh and not shrivelled up or 'old'.

The selection of dressings are near perfect, different mustards etc.

Hygiene levels are visibly high. (They prepare the sandwich in clear view with plastic gloves).

Go back now to the OP's photographs: Processed cheese squares, fresh ham? I am sure the bread is fresh and high standard. But I would opt for a Subway sandwich every time.

To the above posters who insist on slagging off Subway, tell me why! Educate me!

I found another place this morning on Second Road. It is easy to miss. It is about 235 metres from Pattaya Tai, on the opposite side of the Road to Soi GayBoyztown. It is called the 'Boat Bakery Restaurant'.

A full English breakfast cost just 48 baht.

2 Eggs

2 rashers of delicious high quality bacon

A large fine quality sausage

Freshly baked bread & toast/butter/jam/marmalade

A choice of piping hot tea/coffee and perpetual refills.

Did you actualy eat here or just walk past??

Cos i went there today, choice is bacon or sausage not both, i chose bacon, 1 fatty rasher of low quality bacon cooked to death and cut into 4 bite sized pices 2 eggs ok, 2 standard toast 1 small cup of tea no refills, no brown sauce let alone HP.

This is in no way shape or form a Full Engish!!

Yes the tea was hot, and the bread wasnt stale, they also provided a knife fork and a plate to eat it off.

I would say 48 baht was about right but had a real problem comparing your discription with my experiece.

Your not an Estate Agent are you???

Funny thing is im tempted to go back just so i can see the "large fine quality sausage"

Sorry to hear that you were disappointed. It might help if you visit at breakfast time: 7-11 am. Yes, go back and give it another try and try the large high quality sausage!

As a hangover cure you can use this green Pepsi instead of creme-de-menthe.

Simply add three parts vodka to eight parts green Pepsi and stir to release CO2.

Drink down in one and this is quite an acceptable 'eye-opener' first thing in the morning.

It really is bad Archa, I don't know why anyone would drink it as a regular beer.

The Chang these days seems to taste of Chlorine (probably a bad batch of water was disinfected). Leo is O.K. and makes the best shandy with Sprite.

Whatever happened to Tai Beer? You can still get Red Horse if you look around; but that has a queer fruity taste.

The ultimate 'Tramp Juice' is Siam Sato priced at 24 Baht a big bottle. When you start on that stuff, it's time to brush-up your will and select a cremation Wat.

I will watch out for the more obvious dangers like the weaving, speeding motorcycles, the dodgy tailor touts and the katoeys.

A bruised body, a shaken hand or an unexpected bumming, is not as bad as dying of psittacosis.

I was expecting you to say around 50 baht ,not 199

199 Baht is a rip-off . In Bangkok 50 Baht in the cinema across from Siam Paragon.

Or use torrent...

They are original movies, not copies (which are often poor quality).