josephbloggs

No worries. I have never done a 1,000km journey in a diesel, I thought that was clear. But I have driven a lot of them and they are noisy dirty and rattly and I wouldn't consider ever driving 1,000kms in one. Clear now?

Fair comeback, but I have driven many diesels including Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuna. And my statement stands. And I don't own an EV so I am not trying to convert anyone. I just appreciate the technology and so don't like it when people dismiss it out of hand without - I am pretty sure - ever spending any time with one. (I have)

Brilliant, someone who does not own an EV (and has expressed how ridiculous he thinks they are compared to glorious diesel) is telling someone who does own an EV that he is wrong about how long it takes to charge. Amazing.

Yeah, let's just call it the biggest prick award. Plenty of people get my vote.

Imagine doing 1,000 kms in a rattly smelly noisy diesel. No chance. I will do (and have done) it in a nice petrol, but diesel, never, I can think of nothing worse. And after driving an electric car for any period of time getting back in my petrol makes that feel rattly, noisy, sluggish, old fashioned. But getting back in a diesel would feel like going back a few decades.

There's only one thing sadder than an internet tough guy, and that is the internet "I have a big penis" guy. Sad beyond belief.

You're reading too much in to it and looking at it from a biased perspective (Thais not culturally nuanced or "linguistically intelligent / skilled"). The "ridiculous" tones are part of the language and almost like part of the spelling. What, to the linguistically unintelligent, sounds the same and is just a silly tone, to the Thai sounds like a completely different word entirely with entirely different meanings and contexts (context plays a big part in Thai language). So you think the Thais are lame for not getting you, I think you are lame for not understanding better after being here for so long. I definitely think you are lame for blaming the Thais for this and suggesting they can't be bothered trying to figure you out - you simply don't understand their language or how it works.

My take was that he has not purchased an EV at all but is one of those people who will post cynical negative nonsense on any good news story, just because they hate everything. Sticking my neck out there....

Eh? Always the first people to reply to posts are the negative ones with absolutely no knowledge of anything, just needing to get a negative dig in no matter what. There are already almost 1,500 fully electric buses on the roads in Bangkok, and that should double by the end of the year. We have electric boats on the Chao Phraya and some khlongs. Thailand is doing more than most other countries in the region. There's a long long way to go yet but they are moving in the right direction. Nut you must feel good after you dig - why not throw in a "third world country" jibe just to drive it home (seeing as so many posters seem to get some weird kick out of doing it repeatedly).

Ah, Jeff Savage, I was wondering where you were! Big hard man throwing his stick (then realising he should go and pick it up again). Tough guy starting crying in court too. Anyway, hope you're well. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/may/27/jeff-savage-thailand-redshirts

I also tried it on Saturday from Hua Mark to Samrong and back again. I posted a review in a different thread but largely agree with you. I loved that the carriages were so airy and bright and some really good views out the window as you are not riding through massively built up areas. Yeah the configuration is a bit weird but I didn't mind it. I was also surprised at how bumpy it was as I expected it to be much smoother. The jerks I think will be ironed out quickly as the new Turkish BTS trains also jerked at the beginning, but I guess the bumpiness is there to stay. I transferred to the BTS at Samrong and it was noticeable how much smoother the BTS is, also how much faster (and noisier) it is and how dingy it seemed with small windows covered in adverts. I think the yellow line will be a very popular service. And yeah, I am sure its destiny also involves adverts all over the windows which would be a shame. (Oh you could also spot the daytrippers as they were videoing and photographing everything!)

I hope you find her.

Absolutely no problem with sandflies the last two times I've been. Don't remember prior to that as it was a few years ago. For me Mae Phim is nowhere near as beautiful, especially in terms of sand and clarity of water. But each to their own, it is an option, just not one for me. "Overdeveloped tourist spot full of sandflies" is just not a very helpful comment.

That is Paradee Resort and is around 20,000 baht a night. I would also add my recommendation for Samet - I wouldn't consider anywhere between there and Bangkok for nice sea swimming. 2-2.5 hr max from Bangkok then a short ferry or speedboat ride. Personally I would go for White Sand beach because it is not too far from the pier, it has by far the best selection of bars and beach restaurants, the sand is powdery and beautiful, the beach is clean, and the water is beautiful. There are also a couple more secluded beaches a short walk from there if you fancy a walk along the coast to explore. I stayed at the Avatara resort a couple of months ago and was very happy with it. Lovely rooms, right next to the beach, good restaurant, and lots of other choices of food and drink nearby. Around 2,000 baht a night (but with a short one minute hill walk to the rooms so if you have mobility issues maybe not ideal). https://avatararesort.com/ Also stayed at Sai Kaew Beach resort which is spread over large gardens and very nice. They have a new block with modern rooms, or bungalows in the garden. Also has a couple of swimming pools, but a bit more expensive than Avatara. https://www.saikaewbeach-resort.com/ But really you can't go wrong with White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Kaew), just pick something that is in your price range and check the reviews before you book.

I flew in on Friday, landed at 3.30pm. We also docked at gate C7 which is almost the furthest you can be from immigration. Within 30 minutes of walking off the airbridge I was out of the airport. No queue at immigration, all desks open, quickly through then a five minute wait for my bag. It really is the luck of the draw. I think you actually have plenty of time unless your flight is seriously delayed.

Sorry, don't agree. Is it beautiful? No, it is pretty ugly. Is it good that we are getting new electric mass transit lines in areas of the city that are not currently served? Absolutely yes! Complaining about the traffic when they are building something as useful as this which will mean you don't need to sit in traffic is ridiculous. I remember the same kind of people complaining about the original BTS as that made traffic horrendous during construction, far worse than this. Are we the better for having the BTS? I don't think you'll find anyone now who says we'd be better without it. This is the same. And the pink line. And the orange line. And the extensions. And the brown line to come. I'll take the traffic problems for the longer term commuter good.

I tried it this afternoon: from Hua Mark to Samrong, change to Green Line for a bit, then came back the same way. Overall experience was good. The trains themselves are cool, very airy and pretty roomy. There were a lot of people on it, most taking photos and videos - seems like there is a lot of excitement about the service. It remains to be seen if this is just opening day excitement or whether it will remain this busy. There also some nice views of the Bangkok skyline as you trundle down Sri Nakarin. My only negative comment is it was quite a bit bumpier than I expected it to be, I though it would be smoother. And occasionally the train was jerky but I am sure this will be tweaked easily - the Turkish made BTS trains were really jerky when they went in to use too but it was quickly improved. 707476312.103632.mp4 707489298.768742.mp4

You're wrong.

Can't believe this is necessary to argue about, but here goes.... So it only connects to the BTS at the end that is next to the BTS. So it isn't connected from the opposite end that isn't near the BTS? Oh no, what an oversight! I didn't walk it at street level, I drove past, and I said it will open tomorrow. I did not say absolutely everything will be cleared from footpaths, how ridiculous. There are still closed road lanes underneath many parts, they won't be cleared tomorrow. Happy? It is a soft opening for a trial. If that offends your sensibilities and you want everything pristine the very first day of the soft opening then maybe you shouldn't be in Asia. Or anywhere. Eh? Get used to it or move? What are you talking about? No one has to climb anything, there are lifts at most exits, and also escalators to use. It is infinitely better than the BTS as that didn't have anything when it opened. You took the stairs or lumped it. Yes, some of the exits are a little far from the station but this is because they bought land to house these away from the road and not clog up the pavements like the BTS does. Again it is an infinitely better design and they have learned from the past. The orange line also uses a similar design on the elevated parts. I think the days of staircases coming down and blocking narrow pavements is over and that is a good thing. What has that got to with anything at all? Not sure what point you are trying to make. Again, unbelievable that a positive story has turned in to an argument over petty details, it is sad and ridiculous but sadly typical of this site. If you don't want to use it during the trial period because there is still work ongoing then please don't use it. If you don't want to use it afterwards because you are too dumb to use an escalator or a lift then please don't use it, that's fine. I have lived here since before there was any mass transit and the developments in the last 10 years especially have been impressive even if the lines are somewhat delayed. How did the Elizabeth Line go? Nearly four years late and £4 billion over budget. (The entire yellow line cost about £0.6 billion). Bangkok has done well even if there are issues here and there such as a lack of common ticketing and connecting links being built too late for example. But yeah, there are always moaners. I'll be on the yellow line tomorrow and I applaud the fact it has been built. Maybe I'll wave at you down below as you shout and moan at the station exits.

It hasn't been drafted yet, let alone awarded. But CP are the food experts so what if they did win it? CP do a great job - 7-Elevens in Thailand are amazing. When I travel to Manila, HCMC, Jakarta, Singapore, my God their convenience stores are rubbish. The only country that can hold a candle to Thai 7-Elevens is Japan, and even then it is pretty close these days. If CP win a food bid or a retail bid then all good for me. Trains? Not so sure and that would be a valid criticism.

Such a boring comment, really. It will be operational tomorrow and will operate just as slickly as all the other lines, I am pretty confident of that. So please take your boring, stock TVF negativity, it isn't needed in a thread like this about a positive development. The continued commuter infrastructure development here is excellent (bar the lack of a common ticketing system which is a disgrace) and to be applauded.

Really? I went past Samrong two weeks ago and it looked finished and was nicely connected to the BTS and probably the closet connection out of all the different connections I have seen. I drove the whole route from Hua Mark to Samrong recently and all the stations looked good and completely finished with the exception of Hua Mark which has a lot of exterior cosmetic work still to be done, although the actual station has been finished for a long time.

But it does.

He does, which is why he keeps banging on about it. He has 100 of them dontcha know. I have 1,000.

That's why the initial trial is only Hua Mark to Samrong.