maechanman

Well I was the one

He stopped near

long sweaty thick

from places afar

Hua Hin is a good place,excellent beach,there's beer bars but not too many and last time I was there no go go's.

Label

never ever shines

This month Lam is celebrating his birthday and we'll be holding a bit of a party for him in the Blues Factory.

There will be music from 10pm by The Rock Machine with Tommy on vocals and of course Lam himself will be playing and there will also be a buffet.

Hopefully will be also have a few guest acts popping in also and even maybe a few famous faces in the Thai music scene.

See you there.

Saw Lam in Phuket in the early 90's,very good guitarist,out of interest how old will he be on his birthday?

Was down walking St last night,there was plenty of people around but a lot just do the walking and people watching,many don't frequent the businesses there.

It's the main part of town so many folks just go down there to see what it's like.

I was also around the soi 8 area of town last week and that was dead to say the least.

SCAM ALERT - I tried to withdraw 4 times at UOB the other day - it cancelled the transactions saying insufficeint funds - i checked my statement and it took the money all 4 times and charged me 150 bt each time.

My mate just tried to get 20k from BKK Bank at a 7/11 and same thing has happened , now he is stuck on holiday in Udon with no money and the banks are shut !

Clearly they are just after getting the 150 baht fee as many times as possible.

I thought that UOB were not charging the 150 Baht fee,I used them on the 28th and there was no fee.

I thought they were also supposed to be targetting motorists who fail to stop for pedestrians on a Marked Crossing - what happened to that one?

A good idea would be the installation of cameras catching those drivers running a read light and charge them something like 3.000 THB for each breach.

The costs of the cameras would be earned in one single day. With the money earned, zebra crossings with traffic lights could be installed, where pedestrians could press a button and wait for the green light to pass. Also here cameras must be installed, to be able to fine those breaching the law.

These measurements would definitely bring in more money than any other action, and be probably one step forward to reduce the incredible death toll of 18.000 p.a. on the roads of Thailand.

I agree on all the above,the only problem being it's too logical.

"First men, then machine." - Soichiro Honda

It seems to me, that the Thai government really does not understand how to address traffic and other problems in a professional manner.

With that amount I would ::

1.

open a NAtionwide Flex account as this card carries no currency loading and there are one or 2 banks that wont charge you £3 per withdrawal (ie Bank of Ayuthea, Yellow ATM logo s)

2. Take £200 and /or £500 denomination travs, chqs. as you will only pay about 60p commision per cheque and £50 or so in cash as emergency funding,

I dont think any Thai bank will allow you to open an account unless you have a visa other than a Visitors visa.

Good luck and enjoy your stay .

Travellers cheques from Lloyds TSB are the way to go,free commision,their largest cheques are £200.

Will be travelling to Bangkok next month.

Am I able to get a bus from the airport direct to Pattaya? If so, what are the departure times.

Can anybody offer this information.

Bell Travel have a service to Pattaya bus station then a mini bus to your hotel or wherever you want to be dropped.

I caught the 8am last month,they leave every 2 hours,not sure what time they start and finish though,cost is 200 Baht.

Just found the times for Bell Travel,------------Buses from the airport leave at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00.

Will be travelling to Bangkok next month.

Am I able to get a bus from the airport direct to Pattaya? If so, what are the departure times.

Can anybody offer this information.

Bell Travel have a service to Pattaya bus station then a mini bus to your hotel or wherever you want to be dropped.

I caught the 8am last month,they leave every 2 hours,not sure what time they start and finish though,cost is 200 Baht.

Don't Do That-----------Geordie

Eases

Good Morning Freedom-------Blue Mink

I'm not blaming you, but feel that you were way too casual about it for the location and the time of night - giving them a big note for a small bill and going off to the toilet. I would have at least waited right there for my change, so it would have been fresh in everyone's mind.

I agree with UG on this one, though you did the right thing in walking away.

I agree with Ulysses adn anonymouse on this one. Some times you are in the wrong place at the wrong time and you get stung. 500 baht is not worth getting hurt over and it's a lesson learned... don't use big bills for small payment. If I don't have any smaller bills I normally go to 7-11 BEFORE I go to the bar and get a big bill changed by buying something small.

Only a couple of times do I think I've been short changed and it's always been by the same waitress.

She seems to add a few more lady drinks to my total. I don't drink a lot and normally keep a running total in my head and it's only with this woman that my figures don't jibe with hers. Every time I see that she is on the till I don't buy much at all. If anyone else is on the till I trust their tally.

I normally visit only a few bars that know me, and I never get drunk, so it's pretty easy for me. Occasionally, I forget to pay and wander off. The bars remind me the next day and I pay up. Everyone I've ever noticed having problems have always been the drunk ones. I'm not saying the drunks are wrong, but I am saying they are setting themselves up for problems occurred by themselves. If you want to get drunk, then either REALLY know the establishment well or do it at a private residence where you have brought your own booze.

A good post and some sound advice - particularly getting change from 7/11 etc

It doesn't excuse the scam of course. I hope you accept that.

And; Occasionally, I forget to pay and wander off

I've been short changed on more than one occasion in 7/11's here paying with large bills.

Hi, I would like to know is there any direct bus or train from Pattaya to (1)Chiang Rai, or (2)Mae Sai, or (3) Chiang Khong? I have never been there and would like to visit there, any body going there I will be more than happy to join in and share the cost.

Nakornchai air as mentioned in the previous post should go all the way to Mae Sai via Chiang Rai.I used to take it a few years back.

Dales

Harsh

the ample flesh

flea bitten toothless soi dog

She Bangs The Drums--Stone Roses

Earth Song, my favourite by a long way.