craigt3365

I failed that part also. Luckily, the guy gave in and let me pass. I've been riding bikes all my life, but was on a rental Scoopy thing with a poorly fitting helmet. Ugh.

I'd recommend finding an empty road and try following the line on the side of the road. If you can do that for 50M, you're probably good to go!

Great! Say HI to Ken and Mary for me, and Oi the drummer...he's a legend here in Pattaya and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. I know them fairly well. If you get there early, Ken might even give you a tour of his memorabilia on the walls. It's a great venue. Aircon, no smoking, no girls. Some nights are packed out, others are slow. It is the slow season, so doubt it will be packed unless some guest musicians are performing....which always draws a good crowd.

It is on Pratumnak Soi 6, most of the way down on the right. Can't miss the sign. You'll pass a large open air market on the left, then a 100M or so is Mood, up a big set of steps. I think they start at 9.

Here's a pic of the entrance, door is on the right up the stairs.

https://www.facebook.com/moodpattaya/photos/pb.480980462021298.-2207520000.1429930711./481064895346188/?type=3&theater

Makes me weak in the knees!! 5555

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D6uDJlJPgg

I was lucky to see BB play several times. Incredible.

Seriously, if you can make it to Pattaya, see Snowman play at Mood and Paul Camilleri at Blues Factory. Some of the best blues musicians you will ever hear in Thailand. If you have the time, it's worth the trip.

http://kensnowmanminahan.com/bio

Snowman won the 1992 IBC (International Blues Challenge) and the B.B. King ‘Lucille Award’ from the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tenn, USA.

http://www.paulcamilleri.com/cms/

I think Paul is playing Monday to Wednesday, Snowman now plays Friday to Sunday at Mood.

https://www.facebook.com/moodpattaya

Dear God..

Are people still using taxis to Pattaya?

Buss from Pattaya to airport costs 150bht and picks up at 5 spots and goes every hour. Buss that picks you up at desired location from Pattaya to airport costs 250 bht.

Only good if you travel during the hours they operate. And best if you live near the bus stops and are a solo traveler. Traffic is pretty bad here now. And for 2 people, it's not that much more to have the taxi stop at your house....

12 bar musical progression is pretty much the basis for blues. It's normally referred to as 12 bar blues. Great for jamming. Relatively easy to play. And it's what really distinguished blues from any other type of music. Though as you say, there are crossovers, like in any other form of music. But pure blues is pretty much all 12 bar progressions. I-IV-V chord progressions. Which is also the primary basis for bluegrass, which I play now....and love.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-bar_blues

I got sucked into this at an early age due to my college roommate. Who is a huge blues fan to this day. Show him this list and I guarantee he'll get weak in the knees! 55555

http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-blues-artists-of-all-time

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues

Just saw this....will have to see it for sure!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0287198/

The worsening traffic situation in Pattaya was one of the main reasons I left, it's a total disaster!!

I just had to spend 4 days there again unfortunately and could not wait to leave, it will only continue to get worse!!

Unfortunately, this is true for most cities here. Growing population, more cars, etc....

Sorry to answer your question re Hot Tuna was early evening started ie sundown so should be just the ticket for you timewise...enjoy !

Thanks for that, I will venture in this weekend.

BTW, in my online searches, I discovered this group called the Bangkok Blues Fanatics. I'm gonna join:

http://www.meetup.com/Bangkok-Blues-Fanatics/

They meet up at the Nothing But The Blues Bar near the far end of Thonglor 55, which looks great.

Thanks for that! I've been to Nothing But the Blues Bar....they weren't playing blues, but hard rock. Still great...but no blues! 55555

Iron Faries on Thong Lor has, from time to time, some blues bands also.

i guess it depends on what you differentiate between blues and rock. Modern electric blues is similar to hard rock but retains the features of the original blues. Blues has developed into so many variants within jazz, pop and rock that there is quite a lot of overlap.

100% agree! I'm a musician, and have played and performed many different styles of music. When we were there, a great Thai band was playing. It was pure rock and the lead guitar player (a big guy) was superb. But I had my heart on blues! LOL

It's a very nice venue. Upstairs, but well signed from outside.

I guess this doesn't help either:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819729-2000-thai-fishery-workers-still-on-indonesian-seas/

Queen Sirikit Hospital in Sattahip gets good reviews. But not much English spoken, and potentially long lines.

I know it's a long way, but I've been going to Phyathai in Sri Racha. Gavin is fantastic to work with and helps get all the necessary appointments setup for you. Plus, if necessary, has translators on hand...which one time was a necessity.

They also run specials on checkups. They do a pretty good job.

Oh, behave JT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laksa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goan_cuisine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Creole_cuisine

OK, I stole that last one from my thread that wasn't even supposed to be about food, but all 3 would make a welcome addition to the culinary options available in Pattaya. Not really that hard for someone raised on meat pies, Amigo, but why I dont see more Laksa here escapes me. The Thais would absolutely love it if you didnt tell them where it was from. Indian food seems to be a tougher sell to the Thais, but I had the prawn dish below - apparently a Goan specialty - in BKK last year and it was jaw-droppingly good (with an appropriately killer pricetag, sadly).

I had some amazing laksa in Kuching. They have their own type there. Luckily, wifey comes very close to it...love it! Good creole can be had in Bangkok at Bourbon Street. They have a huge menu and the food is really good.

I'd vote for Ethopian. Wouldn't eat there on a regular basis, but it's a great change....and vegetarian!

As mentioned above, we've got lots of restaurants here...unfortunately many are not that great.

Sorry to answer your question re Hot Tuna was early evening started ie sundown so should be just the ticket for you timewise...enjoy !

Thanks for that, I will venture in this weekend.

BTW, in my online searches, I discovered this group called the Bangkok Blues Fanatics. I'm gonna join:

http://www.meetup.com/Bangkok-Blues-Fanatics/

They meet up at the Nothing But The Blues Bar near the far end of Thonglor 55, which looks great.

Thanks for that! I've been to Nothing But the Blues Bar....they weren't playing blues, but hard rock. Still great...but no blues! 55555

Iron Faries on Thong Lor has, from time to time, some blues bands also.

A post discussing an illegal activity has been removed from view, along with an associated reply.

Great warning. A link will be left here, but I think this would also be good over in the family forum. So...let's move it over there. Glad it worked out for you.

Topic Moved.

I'm not sure it's just the charter flights?????

http://www.traveldailymedia.com/220808/thai-airasia-reassures-investors-after-icao-setback/

And the PM has said he's going to invoke section 44 to deal with this. Not sure what the ramifications will be....

Many are not fixed. Just a guy there with a speed gun and one beside him phoning ahead. I've seen them on the side of the road several times, just before you see the road block ahead! LOL

This will REALLY motivate cabbies to deal with alien customers if they are fined for something they don't understand. Thainess at its best; I wanted to flag down a car and he passed with open window "no farang"! Must have been among those fined lately I guess....

If you follow the Thai social media, taxis rejecting passengers is a hot topic with the locals. They hate it as much as we do.

A few off topic and inaccurate posts have been removed from view.

For God's sake, Russia has to be an awful place, even Snowden wanted China over Russia and then he was looking for anywhere else that would take him.

I think we need to separate governments from the people. I did a 4 week trip across Russia and found the people to be just like in any other country...errr...with less smiles.

I was in a remote town in the spring. Public transport wasn't operating late in the day, but I didn't know it. Ended up having to hitchhike. Was picked up by a great group of people and we had a wonderful conversation. Took me right to my hotel even though it was out of the way for them. This was in Siberia.

One night, met a guy via the lady I was renting my home stay from and we ended up at his house playing old rock songs on our guitars till the wee hours...and drinking the obligatory vodka.

I've got some very fond memories of my trip there. Personally, I'd take Russia over China any day. I've spent 6 months traveling around China.

I believe Silk Road is on Chaiyapruek 2. A bit expensive, but a great village. Your best bet is to just cruise up and down the road looking for villages, then pop in and ask the manager what's available. I know in our village, many rentals are not listed with agents, only the onsite manager.

On Huay Yai road are a few nice villages. Baan Balina 2 and 3. Definitely worth checking out.

What's your price range?

I live in Bang Saray which has a nice beach and easy parking. At 72 I find it difficult to sit on a mat on the sand for any length of time. Surely some provision could be made for old gets?

I'm only 57 and feel the same way! That's why I always have in my trunk 2 folding camping chairs, with straight backs. I love them....

Does anyone know if the legend that is/was[?] Lam Morrison is still alive & playing in his usual haunt in Walking street ? What a player ...best I've seen out here by a country mile ...boy ! could he make that axe talk! Even waid at his fet after one magical gig much to the amusement of his entourage !

Yes Lam is still pounding away in the Blues Factory Walking Street Pattaya. Good guy too, he's my near neighbour in Pattaya. I think his daughter is a hi-so film actress these days.

Also, I still think the Saxaphone at Victory Monument is still the best place in Bangkok even after going there for 20 years. There's a couple of good music places still in Thonglaw, but shame the big old rocking/blues places from the 90's are long gone - bit like me!

I thought Lam had left the Blues Factory and now played at Hot Tuna?

Yes, I'm not sure what bar, but it's definitely not the Blues Factory. He's off and on at the new bar. Plays when he feels he can.

I've just learned that Jeff from the Soi dog Blues band has just passed away?

Sad news, a nice Guy.

Yes, very sad. What a fantastic musician and a huge loss to the blues loving community in Bangkok. RIP Jeff.

Okay lets do the survey scientifically and ask a representative sample per country with each sample reflecting the population of each country in relation to total world population. In such a study the US and cronies will have 1/7 of the votes and China Africa and India 3/7 and lets look at the results. Surveys are not worth the paper they are written on.

Gallup is a highly respected company and uses good practices for their surveys. The process used for this survey is laid out on their website. And it does just what you state. Take a peek...

Apoteka, Sukhumvit soi 11. If you are in Pattaya, Blues Factory Monday-Wednesday with Paul Camilleri. Or Mood with Snowman and Mary. Fantastic.