craigt3365

Richard: sounds perfect. I'm OK with bikes, just don't ride them here in Thailand as I've got too many friends now dealing with the consequences of riding them....for the rest of their life! And a few that are no longer with us. But if no/little traffic, sounds like a great way to go. Having your own wheels is fantastic. Makes a huge difference. Your itinerary is perfect. I'll start working that up!

I'm quite interested in trying the Yangoon->Mae Sot overland. As you mention, check out Golden Rock and maybe even Hpa-An. I'd love to continue all the way down south, but just don't have the time.

It seems airfare is relatively cheap and I don't do overnight buses. Even with trains, I don't sleep and the next day is wasted anyway! LOL So...will probably fly from Heho to Yangoon, then continue from there. Thanks!!!!!!

5555 oops. Lousy map here!

http://www.avisthailand.com/EN/frm_maplocation.php?office_name=SUVARNABHUMI&office_id=2

Just got the air ticket. Bangkok to Mandalay. Noticed prices going up a fair amount. From 2,700B a few weeks ago to 4,200B today!

So...Trying to put this all together. A few days in Mandalay then looking at going to either Hsipaw or Pyin OO Lwin for a few days. After that I've got Inle and Bagan. Any thoughts as to the best schedule? Seems to be a long bus ride between points in this triangle. I like the idea of a boat ride to Bagan. I don't enjoy over night train/bus rides. I'm in no hurry and enjoy looking at the scenery during the day. But...don't want to endure a long bus/train ride if it's not enjoyable. Maybe better to fly! Especially to Yangoon as that will be my next stop, then overland to Bangkok, checking out some sights along the way.

I appreciate the help!

Craig

Their facebook page has a map:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Avis-Rent-A-Car-At-Suvarnabhumi-Airport/250913504967716

I found this on Google:

https://www.google.com.sg/maps/place/Avis+Rent+a+Car/@8.096616,98.9824806,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x3051924656fe6de5:0x56211d0a6c17f789

I would guess, there are signs pointing to the car return location as you come in from the 2 different highways????

Not far from us are ones for around 350k, just south of Alankarn. Instead of locking yourself into something you might later regret, I'd suggest you rent for a year. Rent is very reasonable here.

Thai TV is saying the bomber was seen running away....let's hope somebody caught him on camera.

On Thai TV, they are saying the bomb was incorrectly thrown. They are showing pellets that were inside the device. Designed for maximum human casualties.

Now my Thai family has a problem. My Thai sister-in-law was returning to Norway from Phuket, via Bangkok. Yesterday, she travelled alone to Bangkok and said she was going to near the Erewan Shrine to buy some clothes/souvenirs.

We haven't heard from her since and her outbound flight departed from Swampy at 9.00am today. I cannot find out if she was on the flight (small airline - no office at Swampy), and the Bangkok hospitals refuse to check if her name is on the list of injured/killed.

Is there a public list of casualty's names?

Call the HQ of the airline. I had problems somewhat similar a few years ago. Called the HQ and they (sort of) helped get things sorted out. Best of luck.

People are all to quick to bash Thailand and Thai people. Well, here are some good Samaritans out giving blood for the injured. Many of which are foreigners and tourists. Congrats.

https://twitter.com/thapanee

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-says-surveillance-cameras-capture-bomb-suspect-clearly

Army chief says surveillance cameras capture bomb suspect clearly

Army commander-in-chief Gen Udomdej Seetabutr said security officials have obtained video footages at the bomb explosion scene which clearly showed a suspect carrying a bag into the scene before it went off.

He did not elaborate the nationality of the suspect but said the bomb attack might be a retaliation to the recent operation of the Thai government.

He did not go further saying security officials are following the case closely.

Meanwhile the death toll in the explosion stood at 20 deaths.

They included two Malaysians, two Taiwanese, two Singaporeans, a Hongkongnese, and the rest Thais.

There will always be a disproportionate number of deaths in a place where people go to retire and live out the rest of their lives until completion.

That said the murders and now bombs are a national f*%*%*g disgrace.

I'm sure that's part of it, but if I am not mistaken, road accidents are a large part of this. As we all know, it's a dangerous country to rent a scooter for your first time.

I'd try here:

http://www.verasu.com/

Or perhaps Lazada? I've never seen one, but never really looked for it either.

I got one in US currency at the main Bangkok Bank branch on 2nd road near the Hard Rock Hotel. Post office won't do this.

What currency?

I enjoyed a meal at supposedly the longest operating restaurant in the world, in Madrid:

http://www.travelocafe.com/2011/01/madrid-oldest-restaurant-in-world.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobrino_de_Bot%C3%ADn

Absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, no free tapas. 555555

I've seen Jimmy before, but just introduced myself last night. Super nice guy. As were all the other musicians.

I really liked the lead singer. Not sure what his name is, but I know where he plays and hope to stop by one night soon. I think on Soi 3 in Naklua.

Pop was excellent, as you well know!

As an FYI, the 10,000B price money was just donated. Here's a message from the winning band:

The J. Smiles Band will donate the full 10,000 THB prize money to The Shelter Center Pattaya Fund to help pay one years rent and future medical needs of Cee!

I do a post when they have this event again.

How long is your trip? When is it?

I think there is more to see in Barcelona, but then I'm a massive fan of Gaudi. If you like architecture, then Barcelona is for you! As mentioned, lots of pickpockets. Be careful.

I also like Madrid. Very interesting City.

I've only been to Lisbon and south, but we liked Lisbon. Even though wifey got her purse stolen there. She's been to over 50 countries, so she knows how to travel. But they got us....

I could spend 2 months exploring that area! 555555

1) In Spain the cultural fare is far more interesting: art, music, theatre, architecture, etc, etc are some of the best in the world, and far superior to the dummy arts that you find in Thailand.

2) You can have damn good conversations and fruitful discussions with Spaniards, things which are extremely rare in Thailand.

3) In Spain, many kinds of alcohol and especially wine are far cheaper and far easier to find than in Thailand.

Those are the three things that come immediately to mind. I'd move to Spain if I could afford it, but I can't.

If you avoid the obvious tourist spots then Spain is cheaper than Thailand. Meals out are more expensive but wine is far cheaper ( I get a very decent wine from the Bodega for about 1.20 euro / 45 bht) Many Spanish people think my Thai wife is Spanish and always speak to her in Spanish, much to my pleasure as she doesn't speak a word of their language. My wife is a British passport holder so we get all the benefits of EU citizenship. They do get cold weather in the winter - it was wet and only 4c when we were there in February but just a week later it was 23c. The infrastructure is first class (paid for by EU grants) trains, boats, buses, motorways/freeways and airports. The schools are also very good. I also feel much safer on a ferry in Spain than Thailand.

The bottom line for me though is that my wife wants to be near her family so Adiós España and Hola Tailandia.

I'm finding the older I get, the less I can handle cold weather. Use to not bother me at all. Just got back from a trip across Eastern Europe. A few times, I was chilled to the bone. Rainy, windy, cold. Just no fun. This was in mid-June to early July.

I've heard workers call my wife khun. So I think it's more a sign of respect, for either sex.

Just beware of fakes. Lazada does it's best, but it's just a storefront for others.

Ok, I think we've had enough with the tapas. Sorry for sidetracking this thread. But I love tapas!

Back to the OP, please.

For golf, get the best you can. My brother's best friend is almost blind now due to golf. He's a pro at a course in Vegas. Spent years not wearing them and now paying the price.

Cheap ones don't work also. They are dark, which forces your pupil to dilate and allows MORE light in. Here's a good article on sunglasses.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2374185/Are-cheap-sunglasses-safe-We-asked-eye-expert-analyse-cut-price-shades.html

Wow. What a day. It was an absolutely amazing afternoon that extended almost to 10pm. The final band is one that played at Burapa bike week the past few years. They were probably the best band I've ever heard here in Pattaya. And only get together for special events as they all play at different places around town. The best of the best. We had them do at least 4 encores! LOL

Every band had it's own style. From blues, to motown, to hard rock to pop. It was a fantastic night and quite well attended. One of the best music events I've attended here in Thailand.

Thanks to the owner for sponsoring the event. You did a great job organizing this, and of course, Helmut also!!!

Whilst the economy is on the verge of a crisis and millions of Thais are staring straight into an economic black hole of poverty...

The gravitas and political capital of the highest office in the land is focused on plastic bags.

This is hardly the highest priority of the current government. As with most governments around the world, they deal with many issues simultaneously. Just like here.

Congrats to this government for trying to make this a reality. Previous governments have tried, but obviously, without much success.

In his weekly “Returning Happinesss to the Thai People” programme on Friday night, the prime minister said that the amount of plastic garbage would be 70 million plastic bags less per day if every Thai stops using just one plastic bag a day.

Perhaps an over estimation, but even at 20 million plastic bags less per day, it's a big deal.

You talk about money. This is interesting:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/jun/28/thailand-plastic-bags

BMA figures show that every day, more than 600,000 plastic bags are used in this city of nine million people.

Their annual disposal cost reaches more than 600 million baht (18.4 million dollars), city officials have said. Local media have quoted BMA deputy governor Porntep Techapaibul as saying that of the city's daily 10,000 tonnes of trash, about 1,800 tonnes are plastic bags, a number projected to increase by about 20 percent each year.

By now, many Bangkok residents have heard of the health and environmental hazards posed by plastic bags. Made from a non-renewable natural resource, petroleum, the bags have for their main ingredient polyethylene — or polythene — which is said to take 1,000 years to decompose on land and 450 years in water.

that will be nice at for example mega bagna shopping center

no bags and your trolley cannot go till your car

that will work out just great

and If you use your own re-usebal strong bags ?

Exactly. No different than shopping at Makro. Or at Tesco in Europe. Or almost any store in many other countries. No bags provided unless you pay for them. You bring your own. I kept a bag rolled up in my backpack and it worked great. Reused it for weeks.

Here, I've got 6-7 of those reuseable cloth bags. I've had them for 5 years now and they are still going strong. We were the first ones to use them at our local Tesco. You actually get extra points if you bring your own bags.