Other Areas

[QUOTE=Opebo]Excuse me for being disputatious, but in my humble opinion the sleeper train is more comfortable than any bus, and the price you mention - 1,600 baht, is more expensive by far than the train. I can't find specifically the price on the Thai Railways website, but I seem to remember paying a little less than 1,000 baht to Hat Yai last year in the second class air-con sleeper, and with that one is sleeping quite flat in a real bed.

If one would spend 1,600 baht to reach Krabi, one might as well fly Air Asia for about 2,000 baht and accomplish the journey in one hour.[/QUOTE]No problem at all.

The 1600 I mentioned is single trip. Exact price I think was 1520 a few months ago. But I was working out that the train to Hat Yai takes over 15 hours and then again a bus to Krabi. I agree that 2nd class sleeper is under 1000 baht, but add a few hundreds for a (fast) bus from Hat Yai to Krabi. Those guys over there know how to price. So all in by train it will take you at least 17 to 18 hours from BKK to Krabi where the bus will make it in just 12 hours. And although I have not that much train experience with trains in Thailand, to me it is more noisy and I think it makes more stops during the trip. But I agree on the price difference. And not to forget, 2nd class sleeper tickets will not always be available for same or next two days where I have never been refused a seat on a bus.

[QUOTE=Titanio]And although I have not that much train experience with trains in Thailand, to me it is more noisy and I think it makes more stops during the trip.[/QUOTE]True, but the sleepers are very comfortable. I almost always seem to get a good long night's sleep (partly because everyone goes to bed around 8 pm).

That said, there are destinations that make sense by overnight train and those that don't. Chiangmai, Udon, Nong Khai, and Hatyai are in the first category. Krabi, Surat/Samui, and Phuket are in the second.

Right, I haven't spent much time at all on this so I'm apologizing in advance if I say anything that's been said ten times before...

Mai Sai visa run: I went on my Mae Sai visa run recently and found it at easy as before, get out of
Thailand, cross the bridge, pay B500 , get the in and out stamps – just say 'go right back' if you don't want to go shopping in Takhilek - from the Birmese Junta behind the desk and get back to Thailand.
Freeler, of course, had arranged his visa in advance, so he got the 60 day deal, no sweat.
However, if you enter the Kingdom by land without a prearranged visa, you will get only 15 days! If you come in by air, the usual 30 days are given on arrival.
It is more important now then ever to sort your visa out at home or at a Thai embassy or consulate!
In todays BKK Post: Thai Gov plans to wave visa fees to get tourism back on track, but plans yet to be okayed.

In Mae Sai I went on the Skinless walkabout but found nothing of interest except perhaps the usual ' viagra, porno and marijuana' bullshit. Girls sitting in front of a number of joints didn't react at all with any offers of pleasure – not even when I pretended to be lost and in need of help....
Cost of day in Mae Sai: Bus from Chiang Rai B39, songthaew from Bokoso to border B15, payment to Junta B500.

Chiang Rai revisited: Not even a Thai massage is what it used to be in CR. Still B200 for two hours, but the two hours ended after just one. And massage was bad at best, if not horrible... The barscene in CR sucks and the brothels got closed in 2003. CR is only there for a visa run or, if you've never been up North, to take trips to Mae Sai, Chiang Sean (bus B38) and Chiang Khong (bus B70). Guesthouses and hotels for B200-450. Do yourself a favor and don't bother with the girls or the barscene.

Pitsanulok revisited: I used the pool of trusted ladies to satisfy my every need but made one addition to the pool. A bit of a PLORK (google for that one:)) but what a fucker! All still are happy to go for B200, tho one gets a B100 Freeler premium for outstanding ( . )( . ), hj, bj and facial opportunities.
Cost of a typical day in Pilok:
Hotel B150-250 (fan room), lady B200+tip, breakfast B40-80, diner B20-40, busride B9 or 13.

Korat revisited: Basically the same deal as Pilok including just one addition to the pool of pleasers.

Main difference between Pilok and Korat is the near absence of long stay losers in Pilok. However, there are more back packing LP users in Pilok

Talk about losers: In todays BKK a letter from Mr John Lunn from England, complaining about the strong Baht. He got only B50 for his Sterling compared to B68 before. Loser Lunn completely overlooks the fact that Steling, like in 1995, has gone down the drain against every major currency and that any trip out of England will cost him dearly.

About ten weeks into the trip I've almost completely relied on the services of known providers. Apart from the two new additions mentioned, the third new lady was in Nong Khai, where finding chicks is as easy as 1,2,3.

Now I'm bored. Time to find something fun to do.

[QUOTE=Betong]True, but the sleepers are very comfortable. I almost always seem to get a good long night's sleep (partly because everyone goes to bed around 8 pm).

That said, there are destinations that make sense by overnight train and those that don't. Chiangmai, Udon, Nong Khai, and Hatyai are in the first category. Krabi, Surat/Samui, and Phuket are in the second.[/QUOTE]Thanks for all your suggestions. I decided that I was happy to take the train in principle, but couldn't face a 3 hour bus ride afterwards, followed by a taxi to the hotel. So I have just bought a pair of plane tickets. Not cheap, but then neither am I...

mouse

What pity to see such a town like Mae Sai with so much potential gone limp as is. Perhaps because so many castaways have chosen to take refuge there, I had never seen such losers before. To add to that, the stupid tourist crowd that rushes to get there just for a look at the border gate of a communist country and to pose for a quick snapshot.

I took the first hotel on my route when I left the customs, the same road that goes under the bridge. You could also take a shortcut through the market to get there. The hotel is about fifty meters from the bridge on your left, 320 Baht per night. The room was lousy and the bathroom was even worse but I still had too much luggage on to pass it on.

If you go about another fifty meters from the hotel, there is a four, five-way of small roads with a structure in the middle, which looked like it could be a shrine of some kind or similar. On the two roads on your right, right at the crossing, there are a couple of shops. I think I found the right price of 300 Baht/pop at the hotel but another place asked for 500 because the gurls were younger and better looking, and they were so, I took one. The service was very bad but her nice body made up for it. I was very tempted to go back and make a complaint to the mamason who insisted her gurls were worth the price but I was too exhausted to actually do it. The gurl looked like from Indian decent, long dark hair, nice firm body, but didn’t want to be kissed, touched, … wtf. At the shop, she tried very hard to get my attention and made it so obvious that the other gurls started to back off but as soon we arrived at my room, she flipped flop.

Chiang Khong is not a destination and it is just a stopover for backpackers going or coming from the Laos border. If you stumbled your way there, I recommend you would stay at the most expensive place in town just to avoid backpackers. I think that would be at the River View Hotel (not Gust House) at 500 Baht/night. I am sure the staff or the bellboy would offer to help you find something. I stayed at Boom Room Guest House at 250 Baht/night. There was no A/C but it was not needed, no TV, and the room was very basic. Keep in mind that the rooms in these guest houses are separated by partitions and the windows have no insulation or anything so, it is like being outdoor but covered! Late at night, half sleep half awake, I overheard the guest house staff (or just a local guy) asking a couple of men travelers next door if they wanted boom boom. At the entrance to Boom Room Guest House, there is a coffee shop run by a foreigner and it is a good place to eat, it is a good buy.

I have a week to kill at the start of February and am looking for some options on where to stay.

Normally I am a Bangkok type, and love it there, but this time was looking for something a little different and off the beaten track.

Somewhere on the beach, with a wide enough selection of bars and of course a wide enough selection of girls. Perhaps somewhere to the level of Sihanoukville in Cambodia which is where I'm currently thinking of going.

Any input appreciated.

I will be staying in Bangsaen for 2 more or less relaxing nights before I head to Pattaya, it looks like I will now be travelling there solo as I couldn't find any of my thai lady friends to accompany me so now I'm asking for help to where I can find some action while I am there.

This part of my trip is the relaxing part, but I would like at least 1 ST or LT per day while I am there so I won't be fully loaded when I travel further down the road to Pattaya.

Where if any are there any beer or gogo bars in Bangsaen, I will be staying near the beach so is there any beach action at all (I'm not hoping for the hooker stroll on beach rd in Patts) & how easy is it to pick up a Uni student at the nearby University.

I would like to drive into Betong from Pengkalan Hulu and it is my first time. Been there but have never driving in. My past experience entering by taxi is :
1. Park at the border
2. Clear M'sian Immigration
3. Clear checkpoint
4. Fill up forms at the Thai Immigration ( usually pay the lady outside to fill up form )
5. Submit form at Thai Immigration
6. Out we go and find tut tut !

Appreciate if anyone could enlighten me where to get the Thai form , what form and where to submit if I'm driving through . One thing for sure , i need to bring my car registration card !

Thanks ..

Xerus

Hi All,

Was in Krabi recently. Stayed at Buri Thara Resort-Ao Nang, a supposedly 4 star (I think 3 - 3.5 star max) resort hotel. Rooms were really good, spacious, TV with CNN, Fridge, Air-con, mini bar, Bathroom with bathtub, separate bath area and 2 side-by side wash basins...also a nice two seter balcony...facing the pool.

Ao Nang is a laid back beach town, many tourists n not as tainted yet as the other Mongger destinations such as Phuket in Thailand. Food and shopping prices are generally still quite high though due to it beiong a tourist haunt.

The 3 Bar areas I saw were 2 right opposite the Ao Nang Beach, both ear the Burger King outlet. 1 more very noteworthy one (thank you to Toby I for the info to go here!!!) was a Soi right ooposite the McDonalds.

The girls seem to be quite nice looking at the Soi opp. McDonalds, prices from 1000THB ST to 1500THB LT. Nice looking bar girls, quite GF, good fun. Prices are quite the same as any other Bar areas generally, beers THB100 etc. BF is THB200.

I enjoyed my time with a "pussy" called Cat!!! How nice!!! Very good mouth skills, nice big breasts and generally quite pleasing.

Further down the Beach you would encounter Luna Bar, a beach disco. I did not have time to go there!!

Overall good mongger experience, very relaxing and fun holiday. If you like a holiday with a bit of monggering thrown in then this may be one of your destinations to consider.

Cheers,
Ice

[QUOTE=Member #3200]
Where if any are there any beer or gogo bars in Bangsaen, I will be staying near the beach so is there any beach action at all (I'm not hoping for the hooker stroll on beach rd in Patts) & how easy is it to pick up a Uni student at the nearby University.[/QUOTE]
Bang Saen is pretty much a family oriented beach is my understanding without actually having been there.

[QUOTE=Member #3200]I will be staying in Bangsaen for 2 more or less relaxing nights before I head to Pattaya, it looks like I will now be travelling there solo as I couldn't find any of my thai lady friends to accompany me so now I'm asking for help to where I can find some action while I am there.

This part of my trip is the relaxing part, but I would like at least 1 ST or LT per day while I am there so I won't be fully loaded when I travel further down the road to Pattaya.

Where if any are there any beer or gogo bars in Bangsaen, I will be staying near the beach so is there any beach action at all (I'm not hoping for the hooker stroll on beach rd in Patts) & how easy is it to pick up a Uni student at the nearby University.[/QUOTE]This is not the place for fun. It is a Thai orientated holiday resort. I have been there many times with my wife. Most days you would be lucky to find another farang there. I think you would have to do some serious back street searching to get any real action there. On the weekends there are plenty of young Thai's there partying, but never found them really farang orientated. If I am honest. The place bores me. Pattaya is a better option.

[QUOTE=Andy Abs]This is not the place for fun. It is a Thai orientated holiday resort. I have been there many times with my wife. Most days you would be lucky to find another farang there. I think you would have to do some serious back street searching to get any real action there. On the weekends there are plenty of young Thai's there partying, but never found them really farang orientated. If I am honest. The place bores me. Pattaya is a better option.[/QUOTE]

There are a couple of large entertainment complexes on the main road just outside Bang Saen on the way to Chonburi. Both house massage parlours, which are open to foreigners.

[QUOTE=That Asshole]1. Karaokes at the bus station[/QUOTE]

The photos outside the one opposite Soda looked very decadent ..

[QUOTE=That Asshole]4. Streetwalkers near the river 300B/pop[/QUOTE]

They looked a bit too rough for me ..

[QUOTE=That Asshole]*Arriving in Phitsanulok soon you willnotice the many-many single white men in town.[/QUOTE]

I noticed many-many white couples!

[QUOTE=That Asshole]There are lots of tuk-tuk always at the train station.[/QUOTE]

It seems near the river Night Bazaar this role is fulfilled by decrepit old men peddling bicycle taxis. They all wanted to bring me to lady. I took a chance on one and for 50 baht he brought me to this place:

[url]http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=16.808043,100.258098&spn=0.00759,0.009656&z=17[/url]

Exactly in the middle of that map there's a nameless loop off Khun ...thep 1. There's a cluster of 3 brothel hovels on the shorter leg of the loop. I was quoted 900 but they accepted 500. The girls did not look thrilled to be sitting there in a dump. Nice rustic wooden architecture, cistern-and-ladle plumbing, intimate wildlife (not too offensive, just geckos and spiders and so on).

[QUOTE=That Asshole]just behind the large "meat-factory" in the centre of town.[/QUOTE]

Looks like it might be just down the road from the above :-)

[QUOTE=That Asshole]She looks at me and only says: "No." She is off in five seconds.[/QUOTE]

I also got quite a bit of attitude in Phitsanulok, but never really unfriendly or nasty .. rather don't care much to please you, waiting to see if you can help yourself or make a fool of yourself. I also got many friendly greetings, extra soup with my chicken rice, and other little tokens of grace.

[QUOTE=That Asshole]Pisanulok is not too bad. Beats Pattaya in my humble opinion.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, right :-p

[QUOTE=Steve Naive]I don't know what or where Pan Som Bat (mentioned by Freeler) is[/QUOTE]

Even with your and Freeler's messages, I didn't find it .. neither did I find London Hotel. I didn't put in that much effort though.

I did find one with Thai script and "hotel" below it, next to a coffee shop .. went up to see room, room standard hardly qualifies as hotel, but the only lady was the one showing me around, with arthritis so bad she could hardly reach the switch to turn the fan on.

Rocksoff,

That 'hotel' next to the coffeeshop was PanSomBat.
The London is about 100 meters towards the river. No doubt, you'll find hookers sitting outside.