On 8/21/2016 at 2:56 AM, dru2 said:

I first came in 1976 and stayed at the cheap and nasty Sri Hualampong Hotel by the station.

 

I spoke no Thai, but I did speak, read and write Chinese. I looked at the owner and thought 'probably a Sino-Thai', but he didn't understand Mandarin, so I wrote 'do you understand Chinese?' in characters to him.

 

His written reply was memorable: 'Yes - do you want a Thai girl?'

I stayed there once. I wasn't offered a girl.

2002 Khaosan road. Aircon, tv 400b a night.

Royal Cliff Hotel, Pattaya, 1980.

Was the equivalent of £14 a night, was on my way to the Macau GP. 

 

Yes, it was October 1979, and we stayed at the Lucky Hotel in Suk. Soi 26. It is still there, recently renovated, and they have kept some of their short time rooms. Great team of "consultants" on our way to the Northern Hills..

Sheraton Grande, Sukhumvit, Bangkok

Amari, Beach Road, North Pattaya.  August 1997.  Only came for a 2 day meeting at the Esso refinery, arrived on a Sunday in time for breakfast.  Noticed I was the only single male in the room without a companion, soon cured that.  I knew immediately I had found my future home.