General Reports

[Typhun]

Hi Typhun,

What time of the day did you arrive?

If time was at a premium, a taxi via the arrivals level would have been much faster and only a 150 baht dearer.

No traffic issues getting to Asoke, have done this trip dozens of times.

It was a late evening arrival, about 10 pm or so. This was my first time using the new airport, so I wasn't sure how much improved the traffic situation would be over the old one. I also remember at the old airport that the queue for metered taxis could get pretty long, which is partly what motivated me to give the train a try. Good to hear this is not such an issue anymore at the new airport.

[Goyave]

... Time was more important to me than fare, or I'd have taken the cheaper non-express option...

I tried the cheaper non-express option at the end of November last year and it cost me then 30 baht to go to Asoke (15 baht from the airport to Makkasan + 15 baht from Makkasan to Asoke using the MRT subway). The whole trip lasted about 35 minutes, but I would not recommend it if you have heavy luggages with you (that was not my case then, so that's why I tried this option) as you have to walk quite a bit at the interchange.

[Friar Tuck]

At the risk of reporting information that must be common knowledge to some, my first experience with the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link was excellent, and seems an especially good option for single travelers. I wasn't expecting it to merit mention here, but it was harder than I expected to find clear info on it before my trip, a lot of my searches showed outdated info, and I saw NO ONE else actually using it when I arrived. Had the entire express train to myself.

For anyone who hasn't used it already, here's a basic rundown from arrivals at Suvarnabhumi:

1. Take the escalators to the basement of the terminal.

2. Follow the signs along the way, continuing even when you see find yourself completely alone for most of the walk, as I did.

3. You'll come to an information booth where you can ask about schedules and options. I was told about express (non-stop train to Makkasan for 150 Baht, followed by taxi to hotel or connecting MRT to Asoke, etc.) and non-express options (much cheaper, at 15 to 45 baht depending on destination, but more stops so takes longer). My destination was near Asoke, but both express and non-express trains continue past Makkasan to Phaya Thai if you're heading further west into town.

4. No need to purchase a ticket. Pay when you exit.

The express train was waiting empty when I got to the boarding platform and left within a minute of getting on, in spite of or maybe because I was the only passenger on the entire 170-seat train. 15 minutes to station followed by a 10 minute taxi ride to Asoke. Time was more important to me than fare, or I'd have taken the cheaper non-express option.

Worked great for me as a solo traveler, though for travelers in groups there's less benefit I guess.

There's more comprehensive info on other sites like the one I'll post below. But I couldn't find anyone actually recommending using it, so thought I'd put this out there:

http://bangkok.sawadee.com/airport/airport_link.htm

Hi Typhun,

What time of the day did you arrive?

If time was at a premium, a taxi via the arrivals level would have been much faster and only a 150 baht dearer.

No traffic issues getting to Asoke, have done this trip dozens of times.

I always find it good to chat to the driver on arrival, often pick up some good info and extend the contact network. Not all taxi drivers are rip off merchants, some have been very useful over the years.

Tuck

[Typhun]

At the risk of reporting information that must be common knowledge to some, my first experience with the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link was excellent, and seems an especially good option for single travelers. I wasn't expecting it to merit mention here, but it was harder than I expected to find clear info on it before my trip, a lot of my searches showed outdated info, and I saw NO ONE else actually using it when I arrived. Had the entire express train to myself.

For anyone who hasn't used it already, here's a basic rundown from arrivals at Suvarnabhumi:

1. Take the escalators to the basement of the terminal.

2. Follow the signs along the way, continuing even when you see find yourself completely alone for most of the walk, as I did.

3. You'll come to an information booth where you can ask about schedules and options. I was told about express (non-stop train to Makkasan for 150 Baht, followed by taxi to hotel or connecting MRT to Asoke, etc.) and non-express options (much cheaper, at 15 to 45 baht depending on destination, but more stops so takes longer). My destination was near Asoke, but both express and non-express trains continue past Makkasan to Phaya Thai if you're heading further west into town.

4. No need to purchase a ticket. Pay when you exit.

The express train was waiting empty when I got to the boarding platform and left within a minute of getting on, in spite of or maybe because I was the only passenger on the entire 170-seat train. 15 minutes to station followed by a 10 minute taxi ride to Asoke. Time was more important to me than fare, or I'd have taken the cheaper non-express option.

Worked great for me as a solo traveler, though for travelers in groups there's less benefit I guess.

There's more comprehensive info on other sites like the one I'll post below. But I couldn't find anyone actually recommending using it, so thought I'd put this out there:

http://bangkok.sawadee.com/airport/airport_link.htm

[Mangofan]

i just want you guys to know i caught chlamydia in bkk, and i always use a condom.

and it's the most painful thing in the world every time you [CodeWord134] it burns like fire and yellow puss seeps out the end of your dick 24/7

so be careful i would not wish it on my worst enemy. i also caught it in my eyes and got conjunctivitis and they went bright red like the devil, and burned.

just be careful guys, i'm lucky it wasn't something more serious.

ruined my entire holiday, and looked great being picked up from the airport looking like a dieseased rat.

you should have just gone to the doctor straightaway; they have meds that can cure that within a few days. i caught it a few years ago. burned like fire when i peed and there was a cloudy discharge. the yellow discharge doesn't sound like chlamydia. best go to the doc to find out exactly what it is.

anyway, i caught chlamydia from a bar near soi cowboy. siamese twins. it's a small bar next to the offshore. her name was ploy and she gave a great bbbj but it unfortunately came with a price. went to the doc for some meds that turned my [CodeWord134] orangish-red but was fine within a few days.

[Grand Pollo]

i just want you guys to know i caught chlamydia in bkk, and i always use a condom.

and it's the most painful thing in the world every time you [CodeWord134] it burns like fire and yellow puss seeps out the end of your dick 24/7

so be careful i would not wish it on my worst enemy. i also caught it in my eyes and got conjunctivitis and they went bright red like the devil, and burned.

just be careful guys, i'm lucky it wasn't something more serious.

ruined my entire holiday, and looked great being picked up from the airport looking like a dieseased rat.

wow it doesn't have the usual symptoms of chlamydia but gonorrhea. either way when this happens it can be either (and often both) and can be treated with one dose of each of two medicines and starts to get better in less than 12 hours:

for chlamydia 1000 mg azithromycin in a single dose.

for gonorrhea 400 mg cefixime in a single dose or an injection of ceftriaxone at a doctor.

that's it. how long did you let this go on to ruin your vacation with medicine available everywhere and no doctors on the planet who cannot identify and treat it the same efficacious way?

[Winthorp]

i just want you guys to know i caught chlamydia in bkk, and i always use a condom.

and it's the most painful thing in the world every time you [CodeWord134] it burns like fire and yellow puss seeps out the end of your dick 24/7

so be careful i would not wish it on my worst enemy. i also caught it in my eyes and got conjunctivitis and they went bright red like the devil, and burned.

just be careful guys, i'm lucky it wasn't something more serious.

ruined my entire holiday, and looked great being picked up from the airport looking like a dieseased rat.

was this recently asheron? do you have any idea where you may have caught it, bars etc? i am going out there soon and would give them a wide berth if i knew where to avoid! were you just using condoms for intercourse or did you have bbbj or daty etc? i am newbie to thailand and something like that would be the last thing i'd want when i'd be out there!

[Stevebny]

i just want you guys to know i caught chlamydia in bkk, and i always use a condom.

and it's the most painful thing in the world every time you [CodeWord134] it burns like fire and yellow puss seeps out the end of your dick 24/7

so be careful i would not wish it on my worst enemy. i also caught it in my eyes and got conjunctivitis and they went bright red like the devil, and burned.

just be careful guys, i'm lucky it wasn't something more serious.

ruined my entire holiday, and looked great being picked up from the airport looking like a dieseased rat.

that sounds more like gonorrhea.

[Member #2041]

I realize this may not be your typical request in here, but I'd like to know how much would cost a brand new tuk tuk to buy and then to have it shipped to Canada. I'd love to have one to use for recreational purposes during the summer months there. Any ideas guys?

Thanks a bunch in advance!

You should look at the companies that make golf carts for use in North America. I am sure that they make vehicles that are compliant with USA and Canadian safety and environmental laws. A new one, depending upon features, power, and size, would cost in the $4K-8K range. Used ones could obviously be found much cheaper, depending upon condition. I'm sure that a serviceable one could be gotten for $2-3K, possibly much less.

Here are the main players:

There is Cushman/EZ-Go. These folks are a subsidiary of Textron, and they make a range of golf carts and commercial small vehicles such as the type that local meter maids use under the Cushman brand. And they make them for use with either gasoline or electrical power. They also manufacture personal vehicles and golf carts under the brand EZ-Go

http://www.cushman.com/commercial/index.html

http://www.ezgo.com/personal/leisure.html

Another vendor would be Club Car - who is under the corporate umbrella of Ingersoll-Rand

http://www.clubcar.com/Pages/default.aspx

Yamaha is in the business as well: http://www.yamahagolfcar.com/

The fourth, and smallest player in the field is a company named Fairplay:

http://www.fairplaycars.com/plugin/electric/main.html

In addition to golf-cart manufacturers, some motorcycle manufacturers such as Kawasaki and Honda make 4 wheel utility vehicles that might be what you are looking for as well.

[The Pro]

Now have a free iphone / pod / pad application.

http://www.farangfriendly.com/

[M P Lurker]

That explains your eloquent ramblings in "paasa Thai!"

Hope someone comes up with an app for "paasa Isaan," and it's many local dialects!

Paiboon does put out a book on elementary "Phaasaa Isaan". I have it but haven't yet put in the time.

[Finrod]

Not worth the time or money! So you get one there! You're the talk of the town and get attention while you are driving it down the street but in the end you are in Canada and not Thailand. If you are loaded you wouldn't be asking the question since money would be no object but I assume money would be a issue. The same reason we don't ship our cars to Thailand we don't ship a car or vehicle out of Thailand. Who is going to fix it and modify it to meet your countries standards? Where are the needed parts coming from to maintain its upkeep?

You be better off buying a used golf cart and having it modified to look like one? The expense is not worth the attention.

LBM.

LBM

It would be easier to start with a used small pickup truck (like a Toyota or Nissan) for which you can get parts easily, then modify this into a baht bus or a mini jeepney and decorate accordingly. Also a lot of these tuktuks start with a motorcyle-sized engine. You might consider what it takes to start with a motorbike and build something around it. I'm sure you could figure something out for less than it would cost you to export from Thailand and ship it home.

[LittleBigMan]

I realize this may not be your typical request in here, but I'd like to know how much would cost a brand new tuk tuk to buy and then to have it shipped to Canada. I'd love to have one to use for recreational purposes during the summer months there. Any ideas guys?

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Not worth the time or money! So you get one there! You're the talk of the town and get attention while you are driving it down the street but in the end you are in Canada and not Thailand. If you are loaded you wouldn't be asking the question since money would be no object but I assume money would be a issue. The same reason we don't ship our cars to Thailand we don't ship a car or vehicle out of Thailand. Who is going to fix it and modify it to meet your countries standards? Where are the needed parts coming from to maintain its upkeep?

You be better off buying a used golf cart and having it modified to look like one? The expense is not worth the attention.

LBM.

LBM

[Johnthescot]

i just want you guys to know i caught chlamydia in bkk, and i always use a condom.

and it's the most painful thing in the world every time you [CodeWord134] it burns like fire and yellow puss seeps out the end of your dick 24/7

so be careful i would not wish it on my worst enemy. i also caught it in my eyes and got conjunctivitis and they went bright red like the devil, and burned.

just be careful guys, i'm lucky it wasn't something more serious.

ruined my entire holiday, and looked great being picked up from the airport looking like a dieseased rat.

strange, i caught chalmydia years ago from an ex gf in uk and there were no symptoms at all. the only reason i found out was because she told me a while later when she was diagnosed with it. treatment was trivial and went away in a week.

johnthescot.

[Asheron]

i just want you guys to know i caught chlamydia in bkk, and i always use a condom.

and it's the most painful thing in the world every time you [CodeWord134] it burns like fire and yellow puss seeps out the end of your dick 24/7

so be careful i would not wish it on my worst enemy. i also caught it in my eyes and got conjunctivitis and they went bright red like the devil, and burned.

just be careful guys, i'm lucky it wasn't something more serious.

ruined my entire holiday, and looked great being picked up from the airport looking like a dieseased rat.