KhunBENQ

Bangkok traffic has little to do with Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya. Exit airport, enter motorway 7 and straight to Pattaya. Airport is on the south east corner of the metro area and strictly not even in Bangkok.

Inflation hits everywhere 😁

Chicken on the stick cost me 150 lately. 100 when I came to Thailand. Most all food stuff even domestic has sharply increased. Favorite Lindt chocolate was 84 in 2011. Villa puts a 140 price tag now. Air dried French salami cost me 590 for 250 grams last month. Enjoy cheap electronics and invest saved money in delicatessen.

Just did a simple test. 7 AM. Mobile via WiFi connected to 3BB (taken over by AIS). 1000/500 package. Results about 40 Mbit/s both directions to/from Frankfurt (Deutsche Telekom). Pretty normal for 2.4 GHz WiFi 5(?). Can try on the desktop later.

Initiated a EUR to THB transfer yesterday, Selected for longstay in Thailand as usual. Money credited today as usual. Shown as international transfer.

Would suggest you go through the thread to find that is ANOTHER PLACE than the one that the topic starter refers too (presented by vlogger/bar manager Buzzin Pattaya). It's on SOUTH PATTAYA rd.

So this one is off South Pattaya rd not far from Friendship market, https://maps.app.goo.gl/9tvLCxWNixnPYBqu7

One eye on the TV and the other on threads with posts from last 24h and find this: Two British Nationals Arrested for Illegally Working at Nightclub in Krabi Knife-wielding Portuguese lady refuses to pay taxi in Phuket (video) Illegal Russian Tour Guide Arrested in Thalang Indian Motorbike Rider Arrested for Drunk Driving in Patong Russian couple’s dine and dash attempt exposed in Phuket restaurant Rabid Russian assaults police team in Phuket after going berserk at a city centre hotel Foreigner condemned for driving car on Kamala Beach in Phuket Norwegian arrested for overstay in Cha Am as Immigration tackles visa violations Moroccan arrested for murder of Austrian DJ on Koh Pha-ngan Phuket police arrest Italian man for drink driving Australian Tourist in Coma After Wading into Pattaya Sea While High on Marijuana German and Canadian charged for illegal kung fu course Aussie arrested in Koh Pha Ngan after joyride on stolen motorcycle Russian Man Arrested for Drunk Driving in Patong Most naming nationality. Do this in Germany and you would be virtually stoned.

To make more xenophobic headlines. Since the Swiss in Phuket kicking a woman there is massive finger pointing. Foreigners are bad.

Chip maker TSMC (THE most important worldwide for consumer goods and more) has halted part of it's production. Seems though there has been no damage to the multi billion Dollar factories. That would make reactions! (Asian stock markets have reacted)

That's a fair distance for lunch (340 km).

About 580 km for a first drive? With breaks and stops about 9 hours. Quite courageous. She is Thai citizen? Have you decided on the route? Realistically there are two routes that join at Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat). The "fastest" route via M9, HW 1 and M6 is fairly exhausting with dense traffic and quite boring in terms of the views. The other route leads through Khao Yai (HW 304) which I would prefer. Khao Yai worth a stop but too early for lunch.

Do you really expect to continue with a "washed" passport? I doubt this will work. Rush to get a new passport. After that a visit to immigration with the the washed and new passport plus copies to check the procedure.

"Brilliant" idea while parking at Central and other malls is still free (tell that in your country). Parking garages will be even more jammed. But yes, hefty fees have to come to expel the rent a bike pest.

Drive from Klang up to WS and try to find a spot that is not occupied by the hundreds if not thousands of "rent a bike". The rest is "motorbike taxi" reserved or one of the laughable "bus stops" where you never see a bus stop. I was almost fined (and avoided towing) because I parked my scooter on a "bus stop" in front of the huge deserted plot just after VT 6. Had overlooked because it was filled with bikes. Mercy from the superior let me go What a dream it was during Covid and parking on the right side. Never used the sweaty/packed Central motorbike parking.

A lot still unfinished for a real relieve:

Google says it's a maximum of 111 km to/from Korat (errors withhold). I only used the stretch marked with the black bubble:

It's still not completed, plastered with 80 km/h signs and nobody cares 😁 No proper rest stop. Just some sanitary containers. All in all it saves a bit of time but until it is fully open to Bangna (#9) it's not a big thing. The real horror is still there from Bangna to #1 towards Saraburi. Terrible driving. BTW #9 also that crowded. Not a relaxed ride. Towards Bangkok multiple kms jam. Next time I avoid that mess and go through Kao Yai again.

I didn't use it on the way south due to being unprepared. Back north I used the exit to #201. Coming from the south it starts somewhere before the reservoir.

There is a rather short stretch provisionally open of the M6. I drove there last week. I will add some details later. Sign on the northern ring road at Nakhon Ratchasima:

Sounds like your the young party all night type. Then "clubs" like Republic or MYST are for you. The usually don't open before 11 PM. (I don't speak from experience but from Instagram). I am a boring old fart and the action around Soi Buakhao/LK etc. at 10 PM is enough for me. But I agree that many places are quiet now even at that time (was in Pattaya until last week).

Today paid 150 Baht for a grilled chicken on the stick (gai jang). Less or max 100 Baht in 2011. 😁

Prices might be near world class and as long as you don't leave your luxury ghetto it might feel so. Sit in your car on a Saturday morning and try to get from Na Jomtien to Wongamat and feel the world class.

No. TOPS is under the "Central Retail Corporation", one of the Chinese origin billionaire families (Chirathivat family). MAKRO (Siam Makro) has been taken over by the even more billions family (CP Group, Chearavanont family). Enjoy the competition

As above. Sent CAD in any case! Conversion will be done at the receiving Thai bank (which one?). The fee for that will be 500 Baht. Exchange rates are not top end. Kasikorn e.g. shows 26.526 while currency market rate is 26.8883. WISE: they offer special contact/advice for transferring high amounts. Never tried so can't tell what it's worth.