niagarekoja

, but if I do I drink in TJs Monkey Ba, Soi Sea Dragon, Terry is a right laugh in there and he will drink with you and is not tight with the rounds either, great place.

Yeah I have spent a few bob in there.Generous with his t-shirts as well, have about five he gave me.Mind you i think I should have a share in the place the money I have spent there. The funniest night I had in there,was durring one bike week.

He had a guy from norway in there,an hells angel.Big f***** pissed as a f****giving terry a few wurries.He bought all my beer till this guy went.No one else stayed.

In Kata I used to enjoy watching the world go by in Sue's bar

Sure enough, when we left, we were each presented with check-bins for what we'd drank. Note, we weren't charged cost price (30B per beer, which might have been acceptable), we were charged full bar price. What a bunch of c***s. Talk about Phuket Thais being moneygrabbing, spoilt by commercialism.

TIT That`s one of the best stories I`ve heard for a long while.No freebies for farangs in Thailand.I take it you will not be going again

Some friends of mine reckon Captain Kirk's in Soi Easy has the best girls but I find them too pushy for lady drinks.

Always found soi easy, a bit like being in a cave. Mind you it`s better now the air con has improved.

quite a few with bars,some succesful believe it or not.

Who's bar is successful?

Don`t think my friends would appreciate me telling.They like to keep a very low profile. But lets just say for a fact, I know one who has bought a 5 millon baht house

Well of course its expensive in London to get on the ranks! Everyone knows the cabbies earn a fortune.... its only £45 to travel from heathrow to central London....what a bargain

however the cabbies in bangkok seem to come out of a different mould very reasonable...

Unfortunatly I did not work in the home counties

Which ones let you in without one niag??

To honest I always stay in good guest houses find them better value, especially for long time stays.. Family MansionMost of these places have no joiner fee.Ok no restaurant,no pool etc.But there are bars & restaurants all over the place!

A lot of hotels let you use their pools for a small fee anyway.

The Expat hotel with pool has no joiners fee.Take as many guests back as you like, as long as no other guest is disturbed !. But it`s old and a bit jaded even though they are trying to upgrade some of the rooms.If in doubt all the girls know which hotel has no joiners fees.Its the top end that you have problems with medium to low no problem.

A airport cabbie once explained to me.

Strictly speaking, those Taxis who are allowed to pick up passengers from the airport are all licensed to do so.  Thus there is a limited number of them.

They also tend to congregate when there is a major influx of flights into the country, otherwise they have to wait around for 3 to 4 hours to get a fare. Which explains why we sometimes can't get a cab into town as the licensed taxis are out and about picking up regular fares.

Additionally (although it may not seem it sometimes), all these cabbies have to take tests in basic english, as well as "the knowlege" test for BKK hotels, landmarks and roads. Then, and only then, are they licensed to pick up passangers from the airport.

I asked the cabbie if there is any tea money involved in the whole licensing process. He said there isn't anymore for the licensed cabbies at least. The tests are open to everyone, but not many people take them due to the relative low level of education of most drivers. Many of the blokes who do "illegal" pickups sometimes have to pay tea money if they get caught. But suprisingly most of them get an offical fine these days, which perhaps explains why they would rather go back into town empty, rather than risk their license being taken away.

The additional benefit of having an official taxi rank is that (especially for tourists) by getting one of those receipts with all the taxi's rego. info on it, is you have official recourse if you lose anything on the way from the airport or if you are unhappy with the serivce you have gotten.

Additionally, he said it is usually only worthwhile getting an airport license if you are an owner/driver of the cab, otherwse, your time is better spent elsewhere. This also explains why the taxis you get at the ranks are always older and a bit smelly. The driver usually owns the taxi and is doing his best to get the most out of his investment before he is forced to buy a new one.

Yes! That sounds so true

Mrnmp. I might just point out usually if you get a taxi at arrivals from the back of the queue they usually want a flat fee!!!

No not true. Some a definately no! no! Some ask for a joiners fee. I have known guys leave top hotels and move into good guest houses.That`s when they have paid their top hotel in full.

There reasoning, if you go to a short time hotel every night it cost the same in the long run.So they moved, so no problem to find way home.

Ha! Ha! For sure

Lonely Planet Thorn Tree.

As an ex cabbie, a black cab not licenced in heathrow area would not pick up.You could lose you licence if you did.Plus other things you could lose Local cabbies would be very very upset. Not to saying it it dosn`t not go on, but you have to be very carefull. Now maybe something similar in Bangkok I don`t know.But at the very least I think to work a good rank like an airport would cost some bakkshee to someone. In the Uk you have to pay around £200 A YEAR just to pick up at one designated railway stations now!! You defend your turf thats your income!!

Just my thoughts.

But after saying all that,in Patong many times a tuk tuk going back into town would refuse a fare if the customer would not pay what was asked.Just drive off back into town.

Thats crazy any money is better than no money!!!

TIT

Yes! there`s those living off savings and some living off pensions.A few very wealthy. Quite a few in business one way or another.Obviously quite a few with bars,some succesful believe it or not. Some struggling.

Some with restaurants etc. Odd person in IT. Owners of guest houses and hotels

Odd tourist company.

Well that`s "That".

Everybody must be keeping their watering holes to themselves.

From A.A.A. Website

"How will I benifit by carrying an International Driving Permit on my next overseas trip? "

The International Driving Permit (IDP) is a document that provides important information from your driver’s license in eleven different languages, including English. This document came into existence by virtue of a treaty signed in 1949 by the United States and other foreign countries. As an official document, the IDP is recognized in over 150 countries today. Carried in conjunction with a regular drivers license, the IDP can help break down language barriers when traveling in non-English speaking countries. In addition, the IDP provides an additional source of identification. The $10 charge for an IDP is a small price to pay for such peace of mind.

"Am I required to have an IDP in foreign countries?"

There are some countries that do not recognize a drivers license from the United States, but officially recognize an IDP (e.g. Hungary). There are other countries that honor a United States drivers license, but require a local language translation (e.g. Spain). The IDP can satisfy these types of situations. Keep in mind, however, that while a certain country’s government may not require an IDP, car rental companies located in that country, such as Hertz, may require an IDP to rent a car. Purchasing an IDP prior to departure can save a lot of potential hassles.

Bird ‘raped’

Published on Apr 15, 2004

A 31yearold man from Bangkok’s Prawet District was yesterday convicted of stealing and raping a fighting cock.

Southern Bangkok Criminal Court sentenced Pira Angprom to two years’ jail, suspended, and fined him Bt1,000 for stealing Direk Ruchakong’s fighting cock on December 19 last year. He was also fined Bt500 for animal cruelty.

Direk said Pira had unlocked the door of his fighting cocks’ den and stolen one of the cocks. He raped the cock, which died during the assault.

Phra Khanong District Police arrested Pira the following day. Police said he confessed to the crime

Nation Multimedia Group

A Viagra delivery truck was high-jacked last night in Bangkok: The Royal Thai police are looking for two very 'hardened criminals'. They are expecting a stiff penalty under the penal code.

Bangkok Observer 14/04/2004

new drug to increase arousal for women..... will be called niagara

Thay`s made my day

Bye the way,"Generic Viagra is sold under the name Fix-a-Flat".

A girl walks into a supermarket and buys the following:

1 bar of soap

1 toothbrush

1 tube of toothpaste

1 loaf of bread

1 pint of milk

1 single serving of cereal

1 single frozen dinner

The checkout guy looks at her, smiles, and says, "Single, huh?"

The girl smiles sheepishly and replies, "How'd you guess?"

He says, "Because you're ugly."

In a far off African country, the leader of the nation decided to bring law and order to the country.

The leader had heard of the British form of Justice so he had a court built, the very double of any British court.

When the court was finally ready, the British Government was asked for a representative to view it. So the Lord Chancellor was sent for and on arriving in court the jury and officials were in their places.

The first case was about to start when a pygmy came from the back of the court, went to all the women present and squeezed their breasts. The Lord Chancellor was astounded by this and immediately asked what was happening.

The leader answered, we have read in your British newspapers about a little titter passing round the court. Well, that's him!

Wanted

Old Josh was sat in his garden, sunbathing in the deck chair when he noticed his grand-son kneeling on the lawn with a worm. When he asked his grand-son what he was doing, he found that he was trying to push the worm down the hole from which it came.

"If you can get that worm back in that hole I'll give you 50p," said Josh.

His grand-son sat and thought for a moment, then rushed into the house. A few minutes later he returned with his mother's hair spray. He picked up the worm by one end and, as he let it hang down, he sprayed it all over with the hair spray. The spray set and the worm became stiff and hard. It was now easy to push the worm back in the hole. Josh was amazed. He gave the boy 50p, picked up the hair spray and went indoors.

About an hour later Josh came back into the garden and gave his grand-son another 50p.

"But grand-dad," said the boy, "you've already given me the 50p you promised."

"That's from your grand-ma," said Josh.

Thaivisa, going from strength to strength.

I think the Admin and Mods need a congrats.

Well done guys!!!

Well said

Good Posts! Agree with most.

Always thought the best place to learn any language was in bed

Can you list the bars that you rate above others and why? Hopefully we can build an area by area bar stool guide, a bit like Top Gun, only with beer instead of F15's.

Friends Bar,Soi Dongtan.Thaveewong Road.Good Host,Alan. likes golf,etc.

Partner Boonsong ,Thai runs bar very well.Good staff.Nice ladies good quality not to pushy.Never a shortage Music good. Customers come back year after year.

Irish Bar,Soi Dongtan Thaveewong Road. Good host,Irish from Dublin of course.Good food small menu though. Cheap beer ,can get thai pints

No lady drinks allowed.Waitreses.Mixeture of girls,some there a long time.Very pleasant.No heavy hastle.

Loads of TVs for matches.One big screen.Good customers. Can take families in no problem. Dogs un welcolme For sure!!

Mickey Mouse bar, Soi Dragon,Bangla Road. Italian (Massimo)and Thai. Expresso coffee behind bar.Good selection of Italien spirits. Good prices Loads of women some ok.

Good host and very honest Lost 35000 baht chain in there and got it back.

Country Bar,Soi Sea Pearl,Sawatdirak Road.Thai family owned bar on main road outsided ,not pushy.Girls average, odd times real stunners.But they soon go off married.Most girls from south Hat Yai as is owner. Prices ok For drinks that is

Bachelor Bar,Soi Eric,Bangla Road.Thai owned.Well run bar.Loads of ladies quite often some above average.Very friendly without going over the top.

The Monkey ba (gogo) Soi Sea Dragon Bar for air con.when it gets to much.English owner good bloke.Likes a beer as we all do

Basher /Thanks for that a friend was asking me and I couldn`t think of anywhere.