josephbloggs

I came 28 years ago and Foodland Soi 5 existed. But Villa only had 33/1, nowhere else. They started expanding in the late 90s I think. I also remember reading an interview with the owner from around that time that they never ever borrowed money for a new location, it was always financed by their existing cashflow.

I guess that is why you're Tall Guy John. Yeah, Villa 33 is very tight and I don't really like shopping there, but they'll never give that location up as they make a lot of money from it and they own that whole plot of land all the way back to where Blockbuster used to be plus one side of 33/1, so it guess it will be "The Original" for a long time to come - until one day they sell the lot and a condo goes up. I used to quite like the Fuji behind there but haven't been in for years - wonder what it is like now? (God this is a depressingly middle aged conversation)

I've lived in this area for 28 years, just one of those brain moments. My mistake, I read it as Petchaburi for some reason. The rest of the comments hold true though - awful place.

D'oh! Brain wasn't working. Bad mistake. Yes, I meant Petchaburi. For some reason I read the Ploenchit post as Petchaburi. God, hope I'm not going senile already.

There still is a freestanding FL with a carpark on Ploenchit but close to Ekkamai. I went in there recently as I had forgotten something in my Villa Thonglor shop and thought I would try there as I went past rather than going all the way back to Thonglor. My God it is was dreadful. Tiny narrow aisles, stuff stacked everywhere, and a pathetic selection of goods. Pretty sure FL will be dead as business in the not too distant future, they look like they have given up.

Do you have this dinosaur / reptiles / country going backwards rant stored somewhere and you just copy and paste it in every thread? Surely you don't write it out in full each time? It amazes me how you introduce the same comments into nearly every thread I see you in, no matter how irrelevant. But congratulations for getting it in to one about Foodland on Soi 5 being a bit <deleted> these days - even for you that's impressive. Foodland has been on the decline for years and years. Bad management, no investment, and Villa, Tops and Macro have streaked ahead with nicer shops, better selections, and good online / delivery options. But yeah, dinosaurs.

Believe it or not some people don't have time to travel to the bank with a passbook and passport every time they want to withdraw money, pay a bill, do any kind of transaction. What a weird way to live.

Wow, haven't seen them in Bangkok for years.

Because US manufacturing is known globally for its quality. ????

The PVC pipes were banned years ago and I literally haven't seen one since (in Bangkok).

How is Q Anon these days?

The most miserable thread on AN? What a bunch of miserable gits.

Think they probably start tomorrow as that is when the holiday starts.

Spot the bitter guy who can't afford a nice car.

30 years ago maybe.

Well a few months ago i got stopped at a check in Bangkok. All six lanes (three in each direction) blocked. Very polite, very professional. Everyone had a pre-check (blow ON TO a machine) then if flagged you are out of your car to do a full breathyliser test, unwrapped in front of you. And all of it was on camera with permanent cameras set up and monitors showing you what they were seeing. And they would show everything to the cameras. So no chance for a bribe. Oh and they also checked my driving license under a microscope. it was the most professional police operation i have ever seen here so hats off to them. I hope during Songkran it will be more of the same. Credit where it is due (and yes they could do more).

That is true. But I also think it is common sense to know it might be slippery. I am in Samet at the moment and went exploring over the rocks with my son today. I had to remind him to go slowly all the time and watch his footing as they can be unexpectedly slippery. Common sense. If he had slipped and hurt himself I wouldn't look to create a fuss that there was no sign saying rocks can be slippy - it is common sense - we chose to go there. Sorry for the old fella but really a non issue.

Where would you be trying to go? Into that far more dangerous looking rough water? Why would anyone be trying to traverse down there in the first place?

Yes, you can do it cheaper but that's not the point is it? They are not claiming to be the cheapest way to travel. But if you want to have a nice experience on board, dinner and drinks, have a room and wake up in Samui with your car packed full of all your stuff that's pretty decent. Yeah, I could get a bus but I would be uncomfortable, I wouldn't have my car when I arrived, I would have to lug limited luggage around. Some people value convenience over cost. If you want the cheapest way to get to Samui this isn't it, nor did they ever pretend it was.

Bangkok Airways about 7,300 baht return, so two people 14,600 baht. Add in a night's accommodation on the way down as you wouldn't want to do that drive in one hit, maybe 2,000 baht, so 16,600. Add in fuel - 3,000 baht minimum? So 19,600 baht.. Add in the cost of car rental in Samui while you are there (1,000 baht per day currently) and you would be over 25k for a week's trip. 14,000 baht is not massively cheaper but is a fair bit cheaper. And a hell of a lot less stress. It's not a journey that I need to make - I last drove to Samui two years ago and took two nights to break up the journey - but if I wanted to do it again I would definitely consider driving to Sattahip and taking the ferry for a stress free journey, have some food and a few beers and wake up there. I don't think price is their USP.

Asking because you left - leaving everything behind - after the coup because of your integrity, wow! Such strong integrity is impressive. Wondering which country you live in now that doesn't challenge your integrity, must be somewhere squeaky clean with no history of illegal invasions, corruption, or anything else that would challenge a person of such integrity that they would leave a country and their possessions when that integrity is challenged, so couldn't be the UK or the US surely. Wondering where this place could be.

So Mr Integrity, where do you live now?

I'll agree with your second point but as I use my own card to buy my tickets it is not an issue for me personally. Most airlines don't care but some do, that's true. But other than that I don't see any advantage to using an agent; you don't get better prices so what is the point of taking a risk when you can just book direct with the airline?

Others have already answered for me and they covered it - must simpler and better service if you have problems or need help.

https://www.jal.co.jp/th/en/ https://www.ana.co.jp/en/th/ https://www.thaiairways.com/en_TH/index.page https://www.zipair.net/en Those are your choices for direct flights. Personally I only ever book flights on the official airline website.