Spot on monty, the "dark side" as it is now getting known as, is a good place to live. Not all agree, and I can see the reason if the focus is on the nightlife. Then the dark side will be quite inconvenient of course.

But for us boring old farts, the area, especially around the Mabprachan lake, is quickly developing.

With the new roads to BKK now finished, I would say you can get to central BKK in 1.5 hours without serious speeding, if you avoid the rush hours. 1 hour to the new airport. Cool!

Hi.

Pattaya/Jomtien..Ok no problems, if you live in Jomtien, you can enjoy Pattaya nightlife, then go home.

Pattaya has a lot of very good restaurants and British style pubs. The German restaurants I've found to particularly good, with 1st class toilet facilities, as has the 'Rosie O'Grady' pub.

Great for shopping, with Tesco/Big C/Carrefore and probably Makro. Good choice of European bakeries etc.

Cha-Am, I've been there several times, when I lived in BKK. Best avoided at weekends. The Scandinavians seem to have adopted the place more than others. I find it extremely hard to walk on the footpaths, they have too many food stalls and bike rentals blocking them.

Hua Hin. Spent a couple of months there, late last year. Ok. Lots of good restaurants, bakeries etc

Khon Kaen. The city is Ok, with several Brit bars, including No.1 bar. Several good restaurants.

Khon Kaen suburbs...I found you realy have to like the solitude, unless you can speak Issan. I found it too quiet, apart from the Head man's tannoy in the mornings, or the local temple noises.

Phuket..Expensive. Good restaurants etc, will go back and check it out later this year again.

BKK. Lived there (Charansanitwong 13) 2001-2004. Hated the area where we lived, but downtown is Ok.

Naturally many good restaurants etc.

Samui... This is the best place I've lived in, in Thailand. I live in Lamai, where we have lots of good restaurants, bakeries and an English pub. You don't have to go to the girlie bars, there are other places.

Many beaches, everyone no doubt has their favorite. Whether Lamai/cheweng/Maanam/Boput, or Nathon etc, it's a nice Island. There can be problems, as in most other Farang populated areas in Thailand.

Can't comment on Hua Hin but Patts suits me.

I know where to go and what to pay and it's a lot cheaper than Phuket.

Okay, if we're drawing comparisons, I do prefer CM but that's gradually going down the drain too.