duchovny

Is there an airline doing Phuket-Phnom Penh?

Or is it Phuket-Bkk-Pnh

What about Thai nowdays, do they have the interactive movie/music/games console?

From Australia, yes. Though not sure about from Perth.

I wasn't aware that Perth was no longer in Australia.

Did WA break away and become an independant Republic? When did this happen?

I'll be travelling from Sydney and so far Im leaning towards Singapore Air.

What about Thai nowdays, do they have the interactive movie/music/games console?

I'm looking too fly from Australia to Singapore then Thailand on Jetstar. They seem cheap enough, but is there leg room and interactive movies/music like Qantas/BA etc?

Is the food <deleted>?

Or is it worth paying a bit extra to fly with someone else?

Not been to Snooky but there is this lingering vibe that the expats who lives there tend to be 'at the end of the road' so to speak.

Failed in Thailand, gone to Cambodia anyone??!!

So you've never been there but you can give advice on the people who live there.

Look at the big brain on JimsKnight!!

Let me see, I'll now give my insights on Uzbekhistan, even though I've never been there either.

Coming soon on uzbkvisa.com

But on topic, SV is developing nicely IMO, more reasonably priced good restaurants, decent mid range hotels and none of the in-your-face bullshit of Pattaya. I was in Patters a few months ago and all I could do was ask myself was "why did I come here?".

Oh, and just for big brained Jim, there are at least 100 fold more desperatos in Pattaya than in SV. No comparrison.

How has the high season been for your business so far?

Would you say it's down on last year, and if so, by how much?

Only tourism businesses please, if you have a biz directed at expats it's not relevant.

Is there a prefix to use if you want to call International with 12Call?

Not worried, and this coming from someone who actively exports from Thailand and has a 20mill Baht condo on the market.

Good luck trying to sell that.

Hope you've got a lot of time up your sleeve.

I love it ... so many folks that couldn't make it in Thailand are now over in Cambodia! (Constantly checking in with THAIVisa.com because Cambodia is so great!)

I am checking Thaivisa because I am due to fly to Bkk soon.

but really, I want to go there and live under the rule of Hun Sen,

as opposed to Thailands moralistic and efficient government

Cambodia's internet connections are now very good, probably on par with Thailand. At the moment they are a little more expensive, but prices are coming down as more competition moves in.

The best cities, for me, are Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. Siem Reap is just a place to stay when you visit Angkor Wat and is a little boring in comparison.

The beaches in Sihanoukville are quite clean now and that city is really starting to take off. Many new restaurants and bars and new mid range hotels and resorts. It's advisable to book ahead for a hotel room in S'ville these days.

There are many people who haven't been to Cambodia for 2 or 3 years that would disagree that Cambodia is a good place to live. It has changed dramatically in these past few years. I think it will continue to adavance as the Govt and people seem to want that, especially in the tourism, manufacturing and agriculture industries.

IMHO it's a great time to invest in the country, like Thailand was a while back.

With this latest crap going on in Thailand prompting many to seriously think about finally leaving, I'd just like to add that I left the Land of Idiots 2 years ago and have never been happier.

I also pondered about where else to go as I didnt want to go back to Farangland. But when I finally left (to Cambodia) it was a massive relief. Cambodia is welcoming to foreigners and foreign investment alike.

Now, when I decide to go back to Thailand to see what it's like, I can't get in because of .......... more stupidity.

Leave, you wont regret it.

I am booked on a return flight to Bangers soon with AirAsia.

It doesn't look like I'll be going.

What is AirAsia doing about refunds/date changes?

Thailand shouldn't be referred to as a "Land of Smiles" any more. The 'Land of Idiots' is far more appropriate.

When terrorists (of any description) take over a country's main airport, a government must react swiftly and decisively. However the PM's request for the police to remove the protesters by 'gentle means' typifies the absurdity of the Thai Psyche (i.e. trying to save face at all costs and don't offend the guy who's beating you over the head with a hammer as he may get angry)

The PAD have now officially put me out of business. I have lost millions of Baht because of this latest development but I may recover by moving my business, and jobs, elsewhere. So I'll get over it, but how many Thai businesses are on the verge of financial ruin or bankruptcy?

Personally I detest the PAD Idiots, but I have now lost any hope I had in the current government to restore law and order.

No matter what happens, I fear there will be bloodshed in Thailand on a scale never seen before in modern times. The seizure of Suvarnabhumi airport will be the tipping point for an economic cataclysm that Thailand will never recover from.

Seriously, have you checked Cambodia. If you have, then double check.

Very business friendly and an emerging country that actually wants your business.

100% foreign ownership of companies and no stupid work permits to worry about. Low taxes and regulations, easy to start and easier to run.

What industry are you in?

Yes it's the Parkway Inn.

Thanks.

Subway's gone now?

That's a pity. Those bacon and egg rolls were pretty good for bfast.

Incompetence and corruption have made Thailand the very place that we love today.

If they were efficient and honest the country would be just like ours back in Farangland.

You wouldn't want that, would you?

<snip>

Rock on corruption.

I used to stay at a small hotel on Suk Road but have forgotten the name.

It's between Soi 4-6 and you enter it through a door to an Indian Tailors.

It's close to Subway.

Anyone know the name?

I just watched an Aussie tv series (The Strip) and I'm wondering why people that lives in a nice big country with sun and empty beautiful beaches go to thailand....

i have no explanation....

That's easy to explain.

Aussie sheilas or the cute little Thai girls.

Who would you rather be with?

But what about the people that may have made Thailand their only destination for their

holiday in the old days but who now stay one or two days and then go on to

Cambodia , Nepal, Vietnam,Laos, Burma etc. and spend the bulk of their time

in those countries. This could give a very distorted picture of the continued success

or otherwise of Thailand as a leading destination because they don't spend much money here?

That does seem to be the case with surrounding countries like Laos and Cambodia showing good increases in Tourism numbers and revenues while at the same time Thailand is dropping off.

This shouldn't be a surprise though. Thailand is doing it's best to shoot itself in the foot. Now you can't even get in or out of the main airport! These images of people storming the airport and closing it down will sit in potential tourists minds until at least the end of this so-called high season.

What does it matter what a bunch of Farang think?

This is Thailand. The Thais decide.

What we think and write on an internet forum is irrelavent.

What a load of crap!

We may not have a vote BUT just being members of this forum shows we certainly have interests in Thailand and what we think is very relevant.

I voted YES. If for nothing else its the dog you know against the one you don't. AND I now drive on sealed roads, have power, town water and an airconditioned clinic with 2 doctors etc. where 8 years ago the village was a dust bowl with nothing. Thank you TRT, may have been corrupt but no more so than any other Thai political party.

As long as you think your vote on an internet forum has pull with Thailands politicians I'm happy for you.

What does it matter what a bunch of Farang think?

This is Thailand. The Thais decide.

What we think and write on an internet forum is irrelavent.

OK I will start it.

Those who ring the bell, even if in jest, will buy a drink for every guest

Cambodia is well worth seeing as is Vietnam, and Laos, but the only thing that they offer that Thailand doesn't is a trip to the past and more adventure. They are like Thailand was 50 years ago, but more expensive and more dangerous.

If you want easy, fun and safe, Thailand will be your favorite. If you want to see what it was like to live in old South East Asia, it might take another 10 years for old Indochine to modernize.

I like visiting once in a while, but I much prefer to live in Thailand.

A very ill-informed statement.

More like 5 years ago, cheaper and safer.

I've lived in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in the last 5 years and Cambodia is now far friendlier and safer than Thailand, not to mention cheaper.

All sounds like good news to me, maybe they'll start offering those 2 for 1 business class seats like they did last time around.

It's good news for me also. I have to go to Thailand soon and I like it when it's not busy.

Maybe the bg's will be offering a similar deal to the airlines

"How Can A Farang Have A Successful Relationship With A Thai?"

It's easy mate, just have the readily available cash.

The Thais are a very nationalistic people. They look down on any other nation and would rather marry a Thai. It's only the Bg's, the very poor and other social outcasts that marry a non-Thai.

You sound like you have a few bucks, so you'll be OK. She'll put on a nice facade for a few years and it seem like bliss.

Not sure what will happen after a few years though.

Oh, and if the money runs out, so will she.

http://www.fas.org/faspir/pir0997.htm#coup

The last time I was in Cambodia - around 1997 - all the foreigners were fleeing the country and leaving their businesses behind - most did not return - because of all the political violence. That has never happened in Thailand.

There is a reason why Cambodia has to lure investors, but only the mentally challenged would actually apply!

aaaah, things have changed a bit since 1997.

It's now a great time to invest in Cambodia. on the up and gearing to pick up where Thailand is dropping off.

Let's face it. People still want to come to SE Asia but the Thai smiles are fading and the arrogance is increasing.

Cambodia is the new Thailand.

It seems the panic horror stories of the situation in thailand are working too, we went down to book flights yesterday at flightcentre in brisbane, as we asked about flight availability in november we were told we could take our pick because of the many cancellations, we picked up flights with Etihad all in clusive 827 dollars return with a 6 day 3 star hotel stopover in singapore as well, that is all inclusive !!!!they commented that the govt statement about the dangers of travelling to thailand is one of the causes of so many cancellations, so shop around people, this is cheaper than flying to Perth for Xmas

Unfortunately about every 6 months I have to go Singapore. The cheapest, nastiest hotel I can find is usually over US$80/night.

So if they are throwing in a 6 nights stopover in Sing from Brisbane and a flight to BKK for 800 dollar in November things are obviously serious.

If the travel agent says there are "many cancellations" that speaks for itself. This is the time when people book for the high season.

The news footage on BBC is now ramping up and making Thailand look much less of an attractive tourism destination.

Sure, your hardcore Thai tourists will still come, but those fresh, higher end, bigger spending tourists that Thai needs will probably go elsewhere. Maybe to the temples and beaches of Cambodia or to the well marketed Malaysia or maybe not Asia at all.

If you own a hotel, bar, restaurant or anything associated with tourism in Thailand, prepare thyself for a low "high" season. Could be a few more "jumpers" than usual this year. Be careful when walking around tall buildings.