dthomasss

We have a 15-foot Custard Apple (Noi Naa) tree that is just too big for our small townhouse. It yields 80-100 pieces of fruit each season.

You come dig it up (small trunk) and haul it away and it's yours free!

Almost right across the street. Easy way to find it is start at Tukcom and start walking East, towards 3rd road. Lots of flowers and plants in the window.

I must be losing my mind. I went all the from Tukom to 3rd Rd. Didn't see any shops with flowers out front, or anything that looked like they sold artificial flowers...

There is a place across from Friendship supermarket. They sell all sorts of flowers and even some fake trees. Hope its what your looking for!

Didn't see anything near Friendship...

Not sure which ones you are talking about, but the ones we've seen here tend to be expensive. We bring ours back from the US when we visit. Much cheaper there.

There is a store almost across from Tukcom. They have some at the weekend garden market across from BPH. Index near the flyover has some. The market that happens twice weekly across from Tukcom has a few, but not many.

The ones I want are not in bunches. They are the long, single stem ones that are very colorful. At Chatuchak they sell for 8-10 baht each and you can buy very cheap wooden holders that are put into long stands that you assemble.

Is there anywhere in town where they sell the long stem flowers that are all over Chatuchak Market in Bangkok?

I am not looking for the typical plastic ones.

Khlong Saen Saeb at Nana Pier is unchanged. Of course no way to tell if the flooding will come from the khlong or if it will roll down Ratchadapisek/Asoke into Sukhumvit. I am leaving town tomorrow for 4-5 days and see where it goes.

Thai TV is reporting live that the water has pushed south of Jatujak towards Big C Saphan Kwai, to a level of 20-30cm

And still nobody can indicate where it will go from there. If it continues to move along Paholyothin towards Victory Monument, where will it go next.

It seems there should be some prediction with the canal structures set the way they are. If it does sweep across Petchaburi Road and into Sukhumvit, you will see people scattering in all directions. Ten days ago the government said the worst was over for inner Bangkok. Maybe they forgot to pass that message to the millions of gallons of water!

The klong at Nana Pier is the lowest I have seen in a few weeks right now. I hope now the focus can be on providing relief to those who are suffering.

Saen Saeb through Thonglor running normally today, though a tad higher than yesterday, boats running as normal and fisherman out in force.

Cannot use my car, simple fact is I don't want to lose the high parking space in my condo, I'm amazed how many are crammed in, I'm sure half of them don't live here.

Same at Nana pier. This morning was the highest I have ever seen it but now it has started to recede. In my condo, cars are parked everywhere making it impossible for people who have legitimate spaces to get out even if they wanted to. I asked the security guard what happens if people need to go to work or just leave and he shrugged his shoulders...

I am on Phahonyothin 66, just before KM27 and in the area behind Lumlukka market. As of this post, the water has now entered our soi and is entering our garage space. The local announcement warns of water as high as one meter. Our first floor is 1.7mm so we could survive that, but my small office is only 0.5m and likely to take some water. I have prepared for that my moving things up and out. Our sewage system is not connected to the city, but just in case we have blocked drains, toilets, etc. Making sure everything is charged up, and have batteries, water and food. Only thing we need now is lawyers, guns, and money

where is warren zevon when you need him!

Just returned from Pak Chong. It will take about an hour longer if things have not changed as you will have to go by way of Ban Na - Khaeng Koi. Howver, if the floods reach the other side of Outer Ring Road and Thanyaburi, you will have to go to go to Nakhon Nayok and then over the mountains through Kabin Buri.

For the avoidance of doubt for the guy posting above about updates on the 304 from Issaan to Pattaya (and potentially the Bangkok area).

As I have posted on a couple of other threads, I came down 304 from Highway 24 to Jomtien on Tuesday. Very quick and very dry - can't see where that road would be flooding anytime soon. The difficulties will be in getting into BKK from any point West or South West of the city once you leave the 304 if BKK gets the inundation that people fear.

IU am going to attempt to return to Bangkok via Ban Na (highway 33) to the 305 and then nsee if I get to Highway 9 and circle around to the 7 to tomorrow. if I make itget into Bangkok (Sukhumvit). I will post

Made it back to Bangkok the same route, except had to take Outer Ring Road to the motorway to get into town. The traffic was not so bad except for many large trucks before Ban Na, but on Rangsit between Outer Ring and Thanyaburi it was a madhouse heading out of town to the Northeast, and that was at 11:00 this morning!

For the avoidance of doubt for the guy posting above about updates on the 304 from Issaan to Pattaya (and potentially the Bangkok area).

As I have posted on a couple of other threads, I came down 304 from Highway 24 to Jomtien on Tuesday. Very quick and very dry - can't see where that road would be flooding anytime soon. The difficulties will be in getting into BKK from any point West or South West of the city once you leave the 304 if BKK gets the inundation that people fear.

IU am going to attempt to return to Bangkok via Ban Na (highway 33) to the 305 and then nsee if I get to Highway 9 and circle around to the 7 to tomorrow. if I make itget into Bangkok (Sukhumvit). I will post

At Rangsit, take Hwy 305 east towards Nakhon Nayok, then two options:

-- at Km 58, take the left to Ban Na, there take a left on 33 for about a km, then a right which runs about 40 km north to Khaeng Khoi on Hwy 2, then head to Pak Chong;

-- alternatively, head on to Nakhon Nayok on 305, take the right just after the hospital on to Hwy 33, on to the "circle" Prachin Buri, go around it and head north over Khao Yai Park, a fun drive in any case.

Mac

Thanks so much for your help! It was an easy drive throiugh Ban Na except for a little bit of flooding at Rangsit. I guess I will return the same way Friday as I think it will be a while before Highway 1 will be open again.

I may have spoken too soon. If Rangsit closes, is there another approach I can take gettingo sukhumvit?

At Rangsit, take Hwy 305 east towards Nakhon Nayok, then two options:

-- at Km 58, take the left to Ban Na, there take a left on 33 for about a km, then a right which runs about 40 km north to Khaeng Khoi on Hwy 2, then head to Pak Chong;

-- alternatively, head on to Nakhon Nayok on 305, take the right just after the hospital on to Hwy 33, on to the "circle" Prachin Buri, go around it and head north over Khao Yai Park, a fun drive in any case.

Mac

Thanks so much for your help! It was an easy drive throiugh Ban Na except for a little bit of flooding at Rangsit. I guess I will return the same way Friday as I think it will be a while before Highway 1 will be open again.

..dthomasss

Here are maps and Flood Hotline numbers re flood affected roads.

PS. This was as of 10a Saturday 15th. Updates each 4 hours.

Can you tell me the link to that map? It is too small for me to see from your post

..dthomasss

Here are maps and Flood Hotline numbers re flood affected roads.

PS. This was as of 10a Saturday 15th. Updates each 4 hours.

Have been calling every 20 minutes since yesterday and can't get through.

I guess I am trying to figure out if that route is getting worse or better as waters get closer to Bangkok.

The holiday is prepaid and 8 people involved so we are trying to find a way to make it work!

we came back a couple of days ago from Khao Yai/Pak Chong - roads were okay apart from Rangsit/Wang Noi but have got a lot worse since.Try this live Govt road maps - seems quite reliable http://maintenance.doh.go.th/test.html

My understanding also is that the area around Wang Noi is flooded. Farther north at Nong Khae and Hin Kong, things seem to be flood free. As of a day or so ago, friends heading back to BKK from the NE said Hwy 1 at Saraburi was closed and traffic coming in from Koraat was being detoured off Hwy 2 to Nakon Nayok province, then on to Rangsit.

Not sure how up to date the map is, but it looks iike Saraburi is open with the only blockage on Hwy 1 south of Saraburi being at Wang Noi.

It seems like things are getting a bit worse. Not sure whether we will be able to go by way of Rangsit, then Hwy 305 east towards Nakhon Nayok, then at Km 58, left to Ban Na, left on 33, then a right about 40 km north to Khaeng Khoi on Hwy 2, then head to Pak Chong.

Does this look passable?

At Rangsit, take Hwy 305 east towards Nakhon Nayok, then two options:

-- at Km 58, take the left to Ban Na, there take a left on 33 for about a km, then a right which runs about 40 km north to Khaeng Khoi on Hwy 2, then head to Pak Chong;

-- alternatively, head on to Nakhon Nayok on 305, take the right just after the hospital on to Hwy 33, on to the "circle" Prachin Buri, go around it and head north over Khao Yai Park, a fun drive in any case.

Mac

Thanks. Couple questions - from the sukhumvit entrance on the highway how do I get to Rangsit? I Imagine the Ban Na way is shorter and less time, and as far as you know are those roads open?

Scheduled to holiday in Pak Chong (driving from Bangkok) next week (Tuesday to Friday). How can I find update reports on highway closures.

It doesn't look good for Highway 1 through Saraburi to open anytime soon.

Any suggestions?

Scheduled to holiday in Pak Chong (driving from Bangkok) next week (Tuesday to Friday). How can I find update reports on highway closures.

It doesn;t look good for Hihgway 1 through Saraburi to open anytime soon.

Any suggestions?

It just gets worse every day. The prepared food selection is going down, the salad bar which used to have good tuna salad and a bunch of other tasty prepared items, is now filled with mayonnaise thickened fake hot dog parts and other mushy mixtures, and the downstairs food court area that used to have great sandwiches, cooked breakfasts, salads and more, is now completely gone.

Sounds like they are focusing on the Thai market...a large market in Thailand by the way

You are missing the point. Easy to be sarcastic though I guess.

The Pattaya Carrefour attracted a very large number of westerners. That is why it was catered more to that segment (prepared foods, english marking etc) compared to a Carrefour in a non-Farang location. I would bet a pretty penny that the Pattaya store revenues will slide, including all the other shops in the arcade.

After being loyal Carrefour shoppers for going on seven years, we've stopped shopping at Big C Extra as the quality of food they sell is terrible.

Try finding fresh fruit or vegetables, even at Big C Extra - just about impossible. Plus, it's not just the farangs who aren't shopping there. At the one where I used to shop, it's noticeably much more dead than it was even a month ago.

The last time I was there, I was on my cell phone in the middle of the veggie department complaining to a friend about the disgusting quality of Big C vegetables. A Thai woman overheard me and stopped to say "You're absolutely correct. None of my friends shop here anymore and today will be my last visit".

Since Big C took over Carrefour in Thailand, prices are higher, quality is lower and at least 30% of the stuff I used to buy is no longer sold there.

I now split my shopping between Tesco (which I hate, but at least their prices are cheap and they have a good selection of packaged food), Foodland and my local bi-weekly vegetable market - with the occasional visit to Gourmet Market at Siam.

You couldn't PAY me to set foot in Big C again. They've taken a wonderful supermarket (Carrefour) and turned it into one of the worst supermarket chains in Thailand in less than three months. Takes talent, that.

And who the HELL told Big C that a bright, fluorescent GREEN was attractive. It's NASTY!!!

I haven't noticed big changes to the Pattaya Carrefour/Big C Extra as yet as the stuff I buy there is still the same, e.g., bread. However, time will tell.

It looks to me to be steadily getting worse. Here's some things I've noticed:

1. The fresh fish selection is a about half of what it used to be. The smaller specialty fish are gone.

2. The fruit and vegetable section is starting to look very rough with less selection and poor quality.

3. Price marking is dismal. It's quite a job finding prices on half the items in there.

4. The cooked food section has nearly stopped labeling anything in English.

5. Staff attitude has gone downhill since Carrefour days, and that's saying something because Carrefour staff weren't the friendliest.

Anyone agree?

I think this is the first time in forum history,but I have to agree with you on all points.However I would like to add that you probably forgot to mention that the shopping baskets haven't been cleaned since the take over.I have walked out once already because there was not one basket the I wasn't scared to put food into.

It just gets worse every day. The prepared food selection is going down, the salad bar which used to have good tuna salad and a bunch of other tasty prepared items, is now filled with mayonnaise thickened fake hot dog parts and other mushy mixtures, and the downstairs food court area that used to have great sandwiches, cooked breakfasts, salads and more, is now completely gone.

The Pattaya store has become a shadow of itself in the past week. The fresh vegetables have turned to the typical Big C brown variety, yesterday celery was 65 baht a kilo, and today it is up to 185 baht! At the food court, the breakfast place that made good American breakfast, sandwiches, salads etc closed down overnight. Lots of the farang food in the store itself is gone, the cooked steaks, chops etc are now just cooked issan type sausages. All the products that were marked in Thai and English are now just in Thai. The staff, many of whom spoke some English, have been replaced with typical Big C, unfriendly staff.

A real loss for the farang population of Pattaya...

<br />I have noticed there is a new clientele visiting "Big C Plus", it appears to be the same people that patronise other establishments my wife and I do not shop at simply because we do not like having to push unthoughtfully placed trolleys out of our way every time we want to get down an isle. My wife also pointed out to me that the "gawkers" as we call them are turning up, those are the people that come to enjoy the air condition with their entire family (all 3 generations), have no intention of buying anything and give you strange looks when you try to get past them, these are the people that also tend to put themselves in between you and a product you are trying to look at and they pick it up, spend 10 minutes examining it before they set it down, smile at you and step back but never walk off, just waiting to see what you do. My understanding is that Carrefour sold out not because of lack of business but bad management. I have also noticed the rudeness level of the establishment has rising and I think we will be shopping more at Rimping and Tops with out doubt. And if you thinking this sort of thing doesn't bother Thais... my wife and I are Thai<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Couldn't agree with you more..unfortunately in my Carrefour (Big C EXTRA?) its the Thai that are the rudest. New shopping rule, hit the cart first prepare for the look of shock, fake smile apologize and keep pushing through ...

Oz

The Pattaya store has become a shadow of itself in the past week. The fresh vegetables have turned to the typ[ical Big C brown variety, yesterday celery was 65 baht a kilo, and today it is up to 185 baht! At the food court, the breakfast place that made good American breakfast, sandwiches, salads etc closed down overnight. Lots of the farang food in the store itself is gone, the cooked steaks, chops etc are now just cooked issan type sausages. All the products that were marked in Thai and English are now just in Thai.

A real loss for the farang population of Pattaya...