37 Years of Residency and Need help

[mjsansai]

OK Fellas, I have lived here for 37 years and for 25 of them in Chiang Mai, the rest in Bangkok. The last time I was in Bangkok was in 1995 on a visit.

I speak Thai fluently and have worked in the Insurance industry all my life until retirement many years ago.

I will be travelling to Suvarnabhumi on 5 Aug arriving at 13:40. This will be my first visit to Bangkok in 18 years (believe it or not) I lived there from 1977- 1985. I can't walk more than 100 meters with out a short break, I need the following advise, hints, tips, etc..

1. How far is the airway (Thai airways) to the rail connection?

2. What's the best way for me to negotiate the walk?

3. I assume the best way to travel is to take the rail link, I don't much care if I take the express or the regular it depends upon which one is next.

4. I will be staying at the Dynast Inn in Soi Nana, what stop shoul I get off at?

5. I could take a taxi, but taxi's to the always seem overpriced, what would the price be at this time of day, your estimate?

6. Years ago, a taxi could travel down Soi Nana (Soi 4) and go through The Thai Tobacco Monopoly offices and factory, is that option still available?

7. Is The German Beer Garden On Soi 7 still open? How about Cheap Charlies?

Thanks for all your help

[Mario2008]

Rail link is on the ground floor, you will need to go to the 4th or 5th floor.

Check the airline if they can pick you up with a wheel chair.

Might be easier to just take a taxi, (won't cost you that much, about 300 baht) they will drop you off at the departure hall, where it is only short (100 meter) walk.

[guru]

In reply to No. 7. Yes and yes.

[PattayaPhom]

By the time you get from Nana to Phayai Tai you might just as well pay for a taxi, the extra will be the price of 1 or 2 beers in the beer garden. Wheelchairs are available outside departures. Get the taxi in meter.

[theblether]

Certainly ask for a wheelchair, it will make the whole thing easier. If you take the Skytrain, it can be difficult to traverse down the steps at some stations. So a taxi would be better.

[mjsansai]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

[Lakegeneve]

Obviously, you can arrange for TG to have a wheelchair for you should you desire and then be wheeled all the way from the gate to baggage claim to the AOT taxi stand.

5. The taxi should cost you 200-220 baht plus 45 baht tolls and 50 baht airport surcharge so the eariler estimate of 300 baht is about right. (I'd normally recommend to go up to departures but given your mobility circumstances the AOT taxi stand will be preferable as there are some guide rails and the AOT staff will assist you I assume).

If you land at 1:40pm and are out just after 2ish then it should only take around 30 mins at that time of day assuming no major downpour.

6. It may have changed again but that went years ago. On occasion known people are still able to cut through from what I understand. You could always sweet talk the TTM security to allow you through given your history and thai. I'm sure that your hotel manager can give you a better update.

FYI, TTM will be moved Ayuthaya way in a few years - new warehouse facilities already under construction - and the whole area will be redeveloped into a large urban 'jungle park' in about 5 years time. No doubt some property developers will try to get a cut of some of this prime land to whack a few tall condos there as well....

[rgs2001uk]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

No need for it, taxi drives by the Suk exit and takes the next exit into soi 2, cuts throught the hotel car park and into soi 4 (Rajah Hotel costs you 20 baht) and brings you out across the road from Jools, takes takes a left and heads for Suk rd, Dynasty is on the rh side.

That area has changed over the last 20 years.

[samran]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

There is a whole network of expressways constructed since you last visited, so those shortcuts not needed as much these days I remember Bangkok circa 1995, no expressways then!

[mjsansai]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

No need for it, taxi drives by the Suk exit and takes the next exit into soi 2, cuts throught the hotel car park and into soi 4 (Rajah Hotel costs you 20 baht) and brings you out across the road from Jools, takes takes a left and heads for Suk rd, Dynasty is on the rh side.

That area has changed over the last 20 years.

Is Jool's still there?, it use to be on Soi Nany down from Nana Plaza, I forget the guys name, the owner, I know he went to Pattaya sometime in the late 1980's, and opened up a bar for an Irish concern, can't be the same place and owner after all these years, could it?

[sms747]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

There is a whole network of expressways constructed since you last visited, so those shortcuts not needed as much these days I remember Bangkok circa 1995, no expressways then!

The one from Don Muang that went onto Rangsit opened on the kings birthday 1994, I remember as that was my first visit and they made a big thing of it.

Edited July 31, 2013 by sms747

[mjsansai]

Thanks once again fellas for all the help, I will be going to the Beer Garden on Wednesday for a few drinks at around 7PM, anyone who is around and wants to join me is welcome, I'll be the one at the bar speaking Thai to some Floozy (love this word). Come and have a good talk and laugh, 37 years in one country is a long time and lots have changed some for the better and some not, but they call it progress, I often m if it is.

Thanks for the comments about Jools and Kim and his wife, he had a beautiful little girl if I remember, and yes those Happy hours at the bar in the Dynasty Inn, leaving there drunk and having my driver take me home to Taopoon, to face the wrath of the wife.

[tw25rw]

I would suggest that someone with mobility issues not take the train when for less than 400b you can go door to door in a taxi. Once you get off the train in town, the inconveniences start to add up..

[Tomtomtom69]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

There is a whole network of expressways constructed since you last visited, so those shortcuts not needed as much these days I remember Bangkok circa 1995, no expressways then!

Not true - many of the current ones were either just completed (i.e. Don Muang tollway was completed in 1994 I think) or under construction then. The first Bangkok expressway was completed in 1981 I believe.

Edited July 31, 2013 by Tomtomtom69

[krisb]

Thanks once again fellas for all the help, I will be going to the Beer Garden on Wednesday for a few drinks at around 7PM, anyone who is around and wants to join me is welcome, I'll be the one at the bar speaking Thai to some Floozy (love this word).  Come and have a good talk and laugh, 37 years in one country is a long time and lots have changed some for the better and some not, but they call it progress, I often m if it is. 

Thanks for the comments about Jools and Kim and his wife, he had a beautiful little girl if I remember, and yes those Happy hours at the bar in the Dynasty Inn, leaving there drunk and having my driver take me home to Taopoon, to face the wrath of the wife.

Ahh mate, just tell your wife Krisb says you deserve a night out for such an effort! Wish I was gonna be there, I bet you would have some great yarns living there as long as you have. Well done!

[longstebe]

I'm just buzzin about how long you've lived here for. That's pretty much my whole life time. Hope all goes well matey.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[samran]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

There is a whole network of expressways constructed since you last visited, so those shortcuts not needed as much these days I remember Bangkok circa 1995, no expressways then!

Not true - many of the current ones were either just completed (i.e. Don Muang tollway was completed in 1994 I think) or under construction then. The first Bangkok expressway was completed in 1981 I believe.

Yep, my timing is probably a year or two off. See to remember 1993 or 1994 regularly spending 3 hours getting from Rangsit to Sukhumvit Vihabadee Rangsit Rd.

[harrry]

If you have mobility issues I strongly suggest letting the airline know in advance and asking for wheelchair assistance. It will mean you are fastracked through at both ends and placed in a good accessible seat in the plane.. (usually above the wings at the front of premium economy.)

There can be a lot of walking and stair climbing involved if you do not as aerobridges are not always used.

[Chicog]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

No need for it, taxi drives by the Suk exit and takes the next exit into soi 2, cuts throught the hotel car park and into soi 4 (Rajah Hotel costs you 20 baht) and brings you out across the road from Jools, takes takes a left and heads for Suk rd, Dynasty is on the rh side.

That area has changed over the last 20 years.

Is Jool's still there?, it use to be on Soi Nany down from Nana Plaza, I forget the guys name, the owner, I know he went to Pattaya sometime in the late 1980's, and opened up a bar for an Irish concern, can't be the same place and owner after all these years, could it?

The owner, Kim, did indeed go to Pattaya and currently resides at Jamesons in Pattaya.

I think Jools is still there but it's been a while since I was in there.

[guru]

Yes Jools is still in soi 4

[Chao Lao Beach]

So how did you like Bangkok?

It would have changed allot, it has trains that fly now ! (BTS)

and you drive on roads like bridges and have to pay a toll.

I think the prices in Nana area would blow you too.

[whybother]

So how did you like Bangkok?

It would have changed allot, it has trains that fly now ! (BTS)

and you drive on roads like bridges and have to pay a toll.

I think the prices in Nana area would blow you too.

The other things that blow you in Nana wouldn't have changed though.

[Chittychangchang]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

The trick with the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through is to inform the security guards on the entrance that you are visiting a patient at the hospital in the grounds.

No problem!

CCC

[taiwangirl]

Thanks guys, I'll take the taxi, how about the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through any one know?

The trick with the Thai Tobacco Monopoly drive through is to inform the security guards on the entrance that you are visiting a patient at the hospital in the grounds.

No problem!

CCC

Have used that shortcut many times. Never had the guard stop the car at all. Maybe because it is during normal working hours. Off hours may be a different story.