tommytouch

I'm 96% sure I saw it last week.

Head down Sukhumvit soi 3 walking from Sukhumvit towards Petchburi Road and look for the first soi on the left, with Akbar and Meh Maan restaurants on the corner. It's a small dead-end soi with some African guys hanging around, about 60 metres down. There's a great little shop there on the right hand side and the English speaking Thai woman is very helpful. I have a feeling it's not open late though but I could be wrong. (To be honest not too many people would want to be down that soi after dark anyway!)

Enjoy whatever it is you'll be cooking / eating.

OK, thanks.

I had a feeling it was around five or six but closing around nine sounds more likely.

Does anyone know what kind of time the IT shops start closing at Fortune on Ratchada?

Thanks for any help.

It sounds like it's unlikely you'd have any problems with the street places then if your mate didn't have to leave his passport, I just wasn't sure.

Thanks for letting me know about the Soon Tree guest house place, looks like a great option.

Cheers

I'm looking to rent a bike for a few days, just a small Honda Dream or Wave, something like that.

I saw a couple of places on Damnoern Kasem Rd near Mcdonald's and was quoted B200 a day which seems about right. These two places weren't shops as such but makeshift stalls / stands which, rightly or wrongly, made me a bit reluctant to do business with them due to stories of mysterious damage appearing on the bike when you return it - that they then try to (over)charge you for.

Does anyone have any experience using these street stall places, or can someone recommend any reputable people to rent a bike from in Hua Hin?

Thanks for any help.

If you're in Bangkok they have it (or did) in Villa near soi 33. I'm guessing they have it in all branches, and there's a good chance Foodland also stock it.

You can book train tickets online here: http://www.thairailticket.com/esrt/

Sorry, I have know idea about train-boat combinations but they'll be no shortage of options getting to Koh Pangan once you're in Surat Thani (I guess there are plenty of bus operators going to the pier - who will probably try to rip you off....).

This is another option, except they offer a bus-boat service. Probably a bit more expensive but faster and very convenient. It looks like you can book online, or you can visit their office near Khao San Road:http://www.lomprayah.com/E/index.htm

Ferry info: http://www.koh-phangan.tv/ferry/kohphanganferrytimetables.html

Good luck

This week I need to book a hotel room for a trip to Penang next month and I'm considering using Asia Rooms or Agoda.

Does anyone have any experience using these companies, positive or negative? Is it a fairly straightforward, painless procedure? If it makes any difference I'd like to book using my Bangkok Bank Visa debit card.

Thanks for any advice.

I'm pretty sure there's one on soi 8, just on the right hand side.

Try the PB hotel just off soi 3, the soi opposite the entrance to Bumrungrad hospital (it's also linked to soi 11).

The rooms are decent, it's quiet, food's good (Thai), there's parking. Pretty sure it's B800 - good deal in my opinion.

I think OM3N means soi 24 not 34, but yes, it is the soi next to Emporium.

Can anyone tell me what the supermarket's like at the recently opened Central Rama 9? Is it a standard Tops or something a bit fancier like you'd find at Central World?

Thanks for any help

Buy some sand and get a room.

Or anto909's idea (post #17) sounds good.

Villa market has some imported beers at least in Paradise Park so i'd assume they have them in Sukhumvit as well. By the bottle and expensive compared to locals.

Beer lao by case, your best bet could be some of those small distributors operating out of the shophouses supplying smaller bars and restaurants. They are all around so sure someone here knows one close to Sukhumvit.

Not sure whether you'd class it as lower Sukhumvit but there's one of these distribution places on soi 23, presumably to supply soi Cowboy.

Or for imported beer there's this company: http://www.fluidasiapacific.com/home.php (I know the site talks about draught beer but I'm pretty sure the London Pride is bottled.)

I've been twice and enjoyed the experience (obviously - that's why I went back). I can't imagine they've closed or moved but it's possible. It's actually quite easy to miss though as I think there's some kind of hedge running along the front.

They also have a much smaller outlet in Emporium called Minibar Deli. Here's a review: http://bk.asia-city.com/restaurants/bangkok-restaurant-reviews/minibar-deli

There's a relatively new New Zealand owned restaurant called Snapper on the same little soi as Cheap Charlies, Sukhumvit soi 11 that I hear is good. BK Magazine awarded them the best fish n chips in Bangkok (beating both Offshore and Fat Gutz), however I'm not sure if they have cod. The best I've had were at the Black Swan pub under Asoke BTS station.

Bug & Bee - Saladaeng BTS

Or there's Coffee Society near by. It's gay-friendly if that makes any difference to you.

If Sukhumvit's more convenient there's a big place on the corner of Ekamai, you can't miss it.

I recommend Rosabeing on soi 11. You can choose to sit inside or in a very pleasant garden setting with live jazz - great atmosphere. Good food and not crazy prices. Walkable from Nana BTS station, on the left hand side. I think the jazz starts around eight or nine:

http://bangkokinstyle.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/rosebieng-great-thai-food-in-a-nice-terrace/

excellent story, that's what we want to hear...

now, when I was first married I watched as my new wife prepared gaeng som and it had a strong smell but there was a load of garlic so I said: 'can't be too bad...' but it was horrible and the smell of old socks couldn't be rid of for a few days...then the neighbors started to complain in Abu Dhabi as it stank up the whole building...but, it is my wife's 'comfort food' and she is my beloved so OK...and we have separate kitchens now at home anyway, hers is outdoors on the terrace...never knew that bamboo shoots could smell so strong when cooked...

Oh and it cleans ye right out .

Here's my dear wife hanging up the garlic and sour sausage .

I'm truly jealous of your wife's enormous sausage - very well hung!

if it keeps them off the streets and gives them a decent income then it's a big improvement for all, especially them.

You seem to make the misassumption that they're all on the street. I think most expats in Thailand only see the working prostitute katoys in Sukhumvit/Nana/Soi-Cowboy area, when actually there are also many katoys working straight jobs and trying to live as normal a life as possible.

Spot on.

Do people really think an airline would employ the kind of character - male, female, transgender, whatever - that hangs out on street corners?

Politically Correct Airlines?

# 136, both aircon. and non aircon. options available.

wrong. at least 3-4 yrs now only red open air. many are free though. The 185-long. long ago, started as a AirCon only route, was not renumbered in the 5xx series when they did that and since has gone the oldest Hino's from Rangsit depot (still mostly out of use-as this is/was flooded)

IF insistant on AC public transpo-and a good way to avoid the terrible jams @ OSMT-and now that much needed thing for BKK-some other Centran for the hi-so, the MRT is the only way

Thanks for all your detailed information.

It seems quite incredible to me that there isn't a single air-con bus and, from what you say, only one non air-con bus travelling along Ratchada to Sukhumvit, two of Bangkok's biggest and busiest roads! .

During the day I only ever use the MRT but it'd be nice to be able to jump on a bus late at night when traffic's not too bad, especially as there's a bus stop just a 3 minute walk away.

I'll give the 136 a try. When travelling at night on an empty bus with free-flow traffic air-con isn't essential (certainly not at the moment) and the 136 runs frequently until late.

Thanks again

Next door to the aforementioned school is a Family Mart. They don't sell alcohol, I'm presuming because of its proximity to the school. Next door to the Family Mart is a 7/11 and - yep, you guessed it - they sell alcohol....

Does anyone know of any air-conditioned buses travelling southwards along Ratchada road to Sukhunvit, that is Huay Kwang area to Asoke junction?

I've had a look at the BMTA website but it's not easy trying to work out all the various routes.

Thanks for any help.

I have been there a few times, as a friend helped the owner with the opening. The menu is limited, but the taste and portion sizes are excellent. A nice addition to the Bangkok Tex Mex selection

I agree. It does not get the press and attention that other places get but that is a good thing for BKK residents.

Let's keep this place to ourselves and let the others go to Sunset and Coyote's.

Joking somewhat but it is a dilemma, I.e., enough traffic to stay in business but not so much that JingThang thinks he has to comment about it.

Are the prices net or plusplus?

They add a 10% service charge but no tax.

If that''s the case then unfortunately they've already lost this customer, plus many others I know who don't appreciate being arrogantly TOLD they've received good service, food etc. I'll be the judge of that; if my experience with you is good you have nothing to worry about, you will be tipped accordingly (even though this is Thailand where, to my knowledge, tipping isn't customary). It's highly likely the tax will be included in the price, but that's probably what you mean.