General Reports

[Old Thai Hand]

Hi Gents. I need to buy a couple of pieces of silver jewelry on my next trip. I know where to go for gold, of course, but is there an area that sells good quality made silver jewelry at a good price?

thanks in advance.

I don't know an area, as such, but Chatuchak has several vendors selling silver, as does MBK and their are actually a few silver jewelry wholesalers on Khao San Road that aim a Farang vendors buying for resail. It depends on whether you're just looking for silver or higher-end designer jewelry.

[1Ball]

Hi Gents. I need to buy a couple of pieces of silver jewelry on my next trip. I know where to go for gold, of course, but is there an area that sells good quality made silver jewelry at a good price?

thanks in advance.

[Tonedog]

Dinghy.

Thanks for the info on the AC bus to Pattaya.

If they both cost the same and do the same route, I will most likely take the 'blue/white' one so to get off at the North Road Bus Station, as I will be staying around Central Pattaya Rd.

Can anyone confirm the latest daily departure times for the "blue/white" AC bus going to Pattaya from Suvarn Airport bus terminal? Just so I can plan my schedule accordingly once I arrive at the airport.

Thanks

[Dinghy]

Yes there are 2 companies - they both leave from the public transportation terminal (lower level "ordinary route" bus - takes a few minutes longer - gets there the just same as the "express route" on the second (I think) level but "detours" thru the duty / tax free zone. - FREE ride to the terminal)

Anyway - the 2 bus companies serve slightly different routes - one is the "blue/white" (same as the bus from Ekkamai or Morchhit and delivers you to the North road bus station. The other is a "better" bus (actually) that runs down Suk (stops at North, Central, South, Jomtien Lotus and then on down to almost to BEACH ROAD JOMTIEN (about 50m to the road from "the end of the line") Ticket office - stand at the "Pattaya" bus sign and face toward the seats - it's just to the right of where the security guys sit. 106B I've done both companies - the Jomtien buses seem cleaner route almost identical but better IF you are going to South Pattaya because of the extra distance covered down Suk. Jomtien bus is the first out at 645AM - right at a 2 hour run.

IF you are going to Jomtien, take the Jomtien bus (easier ride, then get a songtaew on Jomtien beach road - right about Soi 30 IIRC - lower soi numbers as you go back toward Pattaya - to the "right" as you approach the road from the bus station) otherwise, you will need to cross Suk to get to Pattaya N, S, or Central and get a songtaew into town from there (still 10B right now, Thai price always has been 5B but they are expecting for that to go up for Thai as well BTW)

[John Euro]

I had to be in Khoi Samui for half a day, up on arrival I took a taxi for a 10 minute ride to my meeting place and I know quite well where it is (I normally rent a car), when in the taxi I told the driver 3 times " put the meter on " as I know there tricky games there out there. Btw his meter was covered with a little paper. He told me " we do not put meter on in Samui " and the discussion started, I asked him how much to that place as I explained him and showed it also on the map, he told 500Thb, what no way, I told him that I was living in BK and could drive half a day on the meter for 500Tb (see km / rate display in most taxi’s) but no way. He get angry, me to, I showed him that I have noted his licence and car number and I would inform the police but it did not help at all. He throw me out of the car and ran off as quick as possible.

I took another taxi a bit farther and the same game started, he asked me 400 and no way to discuss it, since I had only a few hours no much spare time to loose I took him. The same price with another one the ride back for max 10min. I spoke to an American guy in the meeting later on, he took the same taxi ride and he paid 700thb.

There as been recently a police crack down on taxi drivers on Khoi Samui, police as send some 130 drivers to jail and they get presented a high fine, taxi drivers have attacked some European tourists with a machete in a discussion about the high "ripp off " taxi fare they have to pay up on arrival at there hotel, they have to be taken, heavy wounded, to the hospital but all this does not change these taxi drivers there bad attitude they keep on going.

When will this farang ripp off stop, it just keeps tourists and business away there but there are always people on holiday with a holiday budget that are paying this rate to these bastards.

John Euro

EDITOR'S NOTE: I certainly hope that the author or somebody else will post a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[OldHarry]

To Old Harry,

The AE3 bus take too long Suhumvit is hell with traffic jam you better off going to the bus terminal take the bus to the bts skytrain station and take the train to Nana take less than one hr or just take the taxi and use the expressway.

Fast Eddie 48

Have to agree with you, I took the bus last time only because I got fed up with the taxi touts and the queue at the taxi desk was very long. Nearly got off at on nut sky train but was not in a hurry that day. On this trip I got a taxi and was at the landmark within 40 mins, arrived on a Sunday so traffic was not an issue.

[Tonedog]

Thanks again for all the feedback.

After doing some research and reading the different postings, I've come to these conclusions.

1. The AE3 bus now cost 150 Baht (friggin steep, I say.), and takes up to 90 mins from the airport to about the Nana area (from the old airport DM, it took about 40 mins, half the time). So, if I could find a fellow passenger who is heading to Suk area, then us 2 could split the "less than 300 Baht" taxi ride. Costs the same for each person, but much faster.

Same thing for going to the airport (but I imaging it would be harder to find someone going to the airport at the same time.)

2. If I'm alone, I would take the advice of the other member by taking the bus to On Nut BTS station and then skytrain it down to Nana area. This is not only cheaper (maybe some 70 Baht or so), but much quicker, as quite often one is stuck on a bus somewhere along Sukhumvit for hours.

On a different subject. Has anyone taken the Air-con bus to Pattaya from the Bus Terminal off the Suvarn Airport? From what I have read, there are 2 different companies offering the service from this bus terminal.

Can anyone confirm the service (s), and the most recent departure times?

Thanks.

Tonedog

EDITOR'S NOTE: I certainly hope that the author or somebody else will post a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[Fast Eddie 48]

I used the ae3 on my last visit, took 90 mins in morning rush hour traffic to get to nana skytrain stop. I think they run about every 30 mins, but are well air conditioned. Don't know when the last one leaves but I got a bus back which arrived at the swamp around 23. 00 after a much quicker jorney in the evening traffic.

To Old Harry,

The AE3 bus take too long Suhumvit is hell with traffic jam you better off going to the bus terminal take the bus to the bts skytrain station and take the train to Nana take less than one hr or just take the taxi and use the expressway.

Fast Eddie 48

[Leo2000]

Mick

Thanks for allowing us to live through your experiences! The food at the garden was good last year, But Expensive! Across from GP is a german biegarten down the street 50 yards towards Suk is a street vendor thats excellent. The favorite place to eat when staying in that area. Very Clean as well.

Many things you report on and do are similiar to my experiences there in BKK.
I really appreciate your reports. Hows the GF friend thing going? Sure seems to be alot of free time based on your reports throughout the forum!

Did you get a chance to look at the KEY on Soi 19? Just concerned about my next 30 day stay and the conditions of this hotel.

Keep up the good reports and enjoy

Hi,

I've been staying in a small decent new hotel "Ever Rich Inn" this is between Soi 5 & Soi7. No problem with GF's. Nice, simple & decent clean rooms at B1500. No fancy resturant but the rooms are clean & good. Just a walking distance to all the action places.

Cheers

[M P Lurker]

Personally, I think you're taking your life in your hands eating street food. I'm not concerned so much with food poisoning as just the residue from car exhaust, pollution and the like - Carcinogenic, man! I stopped eating it years ago.

There are plenty of inexpensive restaurants selling Thai food indoors, or at least out of harm's way, that almost rivals street food in terms of price and are in most cases actually better in taste.

For good Isaan food, try Papaya restaurant on Rama IX. It is outside. But, at least the food is all freshly prepared, very tasty and relatively inexpensive. It has a nice upcountry feel to it and is always fairly busy with Thais. My GF loves this place. Another good bet is the Isaan chain, Yum Saap which is also a fav of my GF. We eat there at least once a week.
<etc>

I have been eating off the street for years but not all the time.
I'm clearly not a person who has a lot of phobias about microbes, but I take your point about potential bad chemicals.
I guess weighing up the risks is similar to the "passive smoking" deal.
Thanks for the suggestied places. I can probably use them at times.
Today I ate at a nice Italian Restaurant in the Korean square.
The fish was absolutely magnificent so I didn't mind paying a little more when its really good. Was still way less than the Zanzibar in Soi 11.

[Old Thai Hand]

One evening went to posh garden restaurant with the GF and spent 2500 Baht including one cocktail drink each.
The food was generally very ordinary (not Thai food). Must have a new chef as was previously better. Won't go back of course. I must have been crazy to waste this much money.

Last night we got food off the street.
BBQ'd Chicken leg, 4 porks sticks, 2 chicken gizzard sticks, Hor mok pork (a curried pork jelly set with egg), nam prik (chilli dip), some green vege., Som Tam salad, and a lot of fruit for the grand total of 140 Baht. The two of us coudn't eat it all. Had left overs for next day.
It was far more delicious than the expensive restaurant and under 10% of the price (although missing drinks as drinks were in the fridge already). Food suitable for keeping the weight down also.

Personally, I think you're taking your life in your hands eating street food. I'm not concerned so much with food poisoning as just the residue from car exhaust, pollution and the like - Carcinogenic, man! I stopped eating it years ago.

There are plenty of inexpensive restaurants selling Thai food indoors, or at least out of harm's way, that almost rivals street food in terms of price and are in most cases actually better in taste.

For good Isaan food, try Papaya restaurant on Rama IX. It is outside. But, at least the food is all freshly prepared, very tasty and relatively inexpensive. It has a nice upcountry feel to it and is always fairly busy with Thais. My GF loves this place. Another good bet is the Isaan chain, Yum Saap which is also a fav of my GF. We eat there at least once a week. They have lots of variations on Som Tam, as well as other common dishes like Phad Thai. The bill for the 2 of us rarely goes past 300 baht for a big meal. There are dozens of branches all over Bangkok, including at MBK and on Silom across from Patpong. You can also order for home delivery.

If buying Som tam off the street cart turns your crank, I can fully understand it: authenticity and all that. But, I just think it's too dangerous in the long run - slow death in my book.

[PinkPearl]

2. I read on this forum that one can take a metered taxi from Suvarn Airport to about Nana area for about 200 Baht. Can anyone else confirm this--going either way, from the airport or to the airport?

thanks fellas.

Tonedog

The meter usually says less than 200, but you are told to pay the driver an extra 60 baht on top of that, for the 2 tolls I guess. I give them about 300 which also covers the tip.

[M P Lurker]

2. I read on this forum that one can take a metered taxi from Suvarn Airport to about Nana area for about 200 Baht. Can anyone else confirm this--going either way, from the airport or to the airport?

Leaving the airport, there is an extra 50 Baht charge. But use a metered public taxi, pay the tollways (if you choose to use them), and the extra 50 Baht, and a small tip if you choose.

Should be able to get to the airport by metered taxi for about 200 Baht (and possibly less) I guess assuming start at say Nana and enter expressway. but still have tollway charges.

In the end the exact price doesn't matter except to compare an all inclusive price offered by someone. I probably wouldn't accept an offer over 300 Baht for going to the airport, unless in a big hurry. Of course most offers will be much higher so its easier just to use the meter.

[Elmerfud]

Old Harry,

Can you believe the damn canadian dollar is stronger than the USD if you tell me 6 yr ago when the $ 1 USD is to the Can $ 1.6 I will never believe you .

Fast eddie 48

Almost all currency had been going stronger compare to the U. S. But the cdn dollar had simply skyrocketed because of the huge petroleum reserve in western Canada that are now being extracted (2nd proven reserve in the world)

1$ cdn = 1. 07$ U. S. Today and predicting it will reach 1. 10 by the end of the year

Guess I might cross the border and be mongering in the states if the trend continue.

[OldHarry]

Old Harry,

Can you believe the damn canadian dollar is stronger than the USD if you tell me 6 yr ago when the $ 1 USD is to the Can $ 1.6 I will never believe you .

Fast eddie 48

Changing sterling for us dollars I can now get almost 2. 1 dollars / pound. That will make my next us trip very nice considering it was only a few years ago I could only get 1. 6 dollars / pound. Not so nice for those going the other way.