josephbloggs

4 minutes ago, Pique Dard said:

"Eight districts in Pattani declared disaster zones as flooding worsens"

 

... how comes? i'd like to meet the dude who told me december is a "dry" month in thailand!

Dude is an idiot. December is never dry in the south.

1 hour ago, Andrew65 said:

Looks like Sergeant Somchai is smiling or laughing 

Yes he is, and he handled it brilliantly. He is armed, he didn't draw his weapon, he realised this drunken fat man is not a danger and handled it accordingly. Hats off. 

2 hours ago, Irrumator said:

Rubbish, it's scruffy and dated. And don't forget crowded and almost impossible to get a seat. And o platform indicator boards - why?  The MRT have done it since day one, so why can't the BTS?  Nothing to do with saving money by any chance?
Anyway, why are so being so defensive?  Seems very parochial to me.  
And yes, I do live as near as dammit to Bangkok - near The Mall Ngam Wong Wan.  That's (just) Nonthaburi, but I doubt you lot who can only live near a BTS line know much about other nearby areas.  

Ah, the last sentence reveals the chip on the shoulder. Got it now.

Still disagree about it being scruffy and dated (and so does anyone else who's replied), but up to you.

No platform indicator boards, I don't see why that's a big deal. Just turn your head and you can nearly always see the next train (apart from at really non peak times). The same company has them on the monorails as they only run every ten minutes, I don't see a need for them on the BTS when the trains are (usually) so close together.

6 hours ago, brianthainess said:

but I was driving from Trat to Leam knob

How did learning knob go? Are you now proficient? 

3 hours ago, MyThai1 said:

What do you mean by "dummy hotel and dummy flight bookings", we fancy a look to Italy for a week in the summer and need to sort a Schengen visa.

For a Schengen visa you need to provide flight (or train) details of how you will arrive and leave the Schengen zone, you need to show confirmed hotel bookings and also evidence of an acceptable travel insurance policy.

Many people make fake or dummy bookings that can be canceled if they don't receive the visa.

The UK visa is harder than Schengen in my experience although we've always done the Schengen one after being granted the UK visitor visa so this may make things easier. The UK does not require confirmed flight or hotel bookings but has a much more intrusive set of questions and evidence to provide. I have never been refused for either in over 25 years of doing them (for girlfriend and then wife).

40 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

 

Although I am dissapointed in the UK government for selling off the prestigious Bangkok embassy land, I cannot agree with your statement.

 

I visited the consular office in Silom/Sathorn in early November 2022 to get an affirmation of residence for Thai driving licence renewal (they since stopped offering these afirmations of residence as a service). The building is a modern and clean office building connected to the BTS by a skybridge walkway, the security staff very helpful and polite. The consular staff efficient (at least in the very little of service that they provide/d.

 

i agree with you on all counts.

38 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Yes, while in Bangkok one has to buy at least two different tickets/cards (no discounts whatsoever), not to mention long and time-consuming transfer distances between the different providers (MRT to BTS, BTS to Airport Link, etc.) - No need to go to the fitness center, if one has to walk twice between BTS and MRT stations... 

 

I enjoyed travelling in Hong Kong where it is so convenient.

Yes, this is the worst failing of the system here that there is no common ticketing. The original BTS and then MRT you can forgive as an oversight (well not forgive, but understand), but why joining a common ticketing platform wasn't mandatory in future tenders for new lines is astonishing. It is a massive massive failing of an otherwise good network. I have three cards (ARL, MRT, Rabbit) I need to use.

I'm not sure I agree about the interchange distances though. I have been through most and they are generally as close as can be. Yellow to green is right there at Samrong, purple to pink is a bit of a walk at Nonthaburi Civic Centre but they are coming from different directions entirely and a walkway is being constructed, BTS to MRT is right there at Asok, blue to purple is literally right there at Tao Poon  - you just go up a level, red to blue is just going down to the basement at Bang Sue. ARL to BTS at Phaya Thai couldn't really be closer. Seriously how close can they be??

In Singapore some stations have really long walks, as does Shanghai (way further than any Thai connection), HK I don't remember, Tokyo has massive walks. The only Thai one I take issue with is ARL to MRT at Makkasan, I have no idea why it couldn't be a direct link in the basement of Makkasan station. I am guessing there must be a technical reason for it - too much below ground infrastructure that can't be moved, or the SRT line causing an issue, not sure - would love to know as that is a pretty long walk but again, nothing more than the walks in other major cities I have been to.

1 hour ago, Irrumator said:

You need to go to Specsavers.  

Let me guess, you don't live in Bangkok?

For anyone to say the BTS is dirty and outdated, sorry, you can't be taken seriously.

1 hour ago, VBF said:

Thanks for that - I was unaware of that Moet bar! 👍

I feel a plan forming here......

Visit the Moet bar, enjoy what it has to offer, get on the 777 for my flight home and...….sleep!

 

I'm putting your link in my calendar for my flight home to remind me - cheers! 🍸

Enjoy, cheers!

11 minutes ago, VBF said:

They've put me in the window seat too but I'm quite annoyed at the switch, because part of the reason I choose Emirates Business Class is that  they use the A380 with all it includes! I haven't studied the T&C but I presume that contractually swapping aircraft for "operational reasons" is not something to which I can object. It's the last sector of my journey (DXB - LGW) so when I get home, IF I've found it objectionable, then I will make  a formal objection and see what, if anything, it gets me.

When Emirates first started operating the A380 I was excited to try it so booked business back to the UK. I always check aircraft type when booking, but two legs were last minute changes to 777s which are way behind the A380 experience. I did write a formal complaint as it had upset me - it was the whole reason I chose Emirates: the A380 and its bar.

They did reply that it is their right to change aircraft type due to any number of reasons so they can apologise, but it is normal and you have no recourse. If I remember rightly they bunged a few miles into my account but that was all.

1 minute ago, VBF said:

In 2020, when Emirates stopped flying, I flew TG from BKK to LHR. I found the TG lounge at "Swampy" very unimpressive compared with the Emirates one which, IMO, is actually superior to the one in Dubai. Seeing as how Dubai is Emirates' home base, I found that rather odd.

I agree, I prefer their Bangkok lounge too. More intimate, more accessible. The one in Dubai just feels like a big canteen and I prefer to pour my own drinks rather than have to ask someone for one each time. The only thing superior in Dubai is the Moet bar, that is very cool, but it's only in one of their lounges and I always forget which (just looked it up, Concourse B):

https://www.executivetraveller.com/visiting-emirates-moet-et-chandon-champagne-bar-in-dubai

On 12/24/2023 at 1:02 PM, Irrumator said:

My thoughts exactly.  I can't stand the BTS anyway - dated, dirty, money-grubbing and racist.  Can rarely get a seat, no next train indicator boards unlike the MRT, expensive tickets and unhelpful staff.

DIrty? It's spotless and is in remarkable condition given it's age. The original trains are 24 years old but still in perfect condition. And it is a commuter system running through the middle of a major capital city, why would you expect to get a seat? Criticise legitimate issues if you like but don't make things up - dirty and dated.

4 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

There is something different about diesel vehicles in Thailand.  I smell them immediately I am behind one.  That doesn't happen in the UK.  Maybe they don't have catalytic converters here or DPFs, but there's definitely something very different.

 

I think a lot of the poor air quality is down to diesel engines.

I think a lot of it is down to the lower quality diesel used here - Euro 4 standard. The EU is Euro 6 and moving to Euro 7 in a year or so.
Euro 4 doesn't burn as efficiently and emits a lot more pollutants and particulates. Thailand has been stuck on Euro 4 since 2012.

Thailand is finally moving to Euro 5 as of 1st January.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40034126

53 minutes ago, Chris Daley said:

This is the usual Thai behavior and things like this can be seen everyday on the news.  Why did they single out a white person?

Wow, the AN award for the biggest chip on a shoulder just got won, well done.

Maybe they singled out the the white person because he was the one who actually did it and there was a video of him doing it? Should they have blamed it on a brown person - would that have made you feel better? Are you persecuted? Boo Hooo.

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I'll assume that to mean locally assembled.

Can't imagine anyone manufacturing the parts and batteries in Thailand, all made in China.

You are very wrong.

5 hours ago, Missahhter said:

In the US too, or they'll kneel on his throat until he stays very still...☠️

Only if he was black.

56 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

From my earlier post:- "Giant, aged 2, the Pit Bull breed or Ban Dog that savaged its owner to death last week has been taken to his funeral in Pattaya.

He took part in a ceremony called "khor khama" in which he apologized to the corpse." 

 

Apparently, the dog was sharing the owner's bed when it suddenly attacked and killed him, so obviously it wasn't being badly mistreated. So your statement doesn't wash with me, I'm afraid:- "In certain situations, this dog, when cared for properly and trained, is your very best friend. Your wife, your children, and all of your property are safe with this properly cared for, loved, and adequately trained dog....."

 

It doesn't matter how well cared for and well trained these dogs are it all boils down to the fact that they are UNPREDICTABLE and can quickly turn on even their own "families" for no apparent reason. This trait is in the genes of each and every one of them, so every one of them is essentially capable of fatally attacking people and other animals. Such an animal should never be allowed to be a "pet".

 

Agree, and they should never be left alone around children (although owners do and post pictures of look how cute my pittie is lying with my toddler). Irresponsible nutcases should not be allowed to be parents. Even a "normal" dog should not be left alone around small children - any dog can attack for any reason, but at least a sausage dog isn't going to do too much harm.

I have always had (small) dogs, but they were never ever left alone with my kids when they were babies.

I saw a Thai guy riding a penny farthing on Rama 9 a couple of weeks ago.