PattayaMale

I would urge people to check on this more closely. After seeing this post I called Thai Air reservations and was very surprised I got through so quickly. I asked about this and the reservation agent said they can not guarantee reservations to Bangkok, but denied that they were canceling all reservations to Bangkok. But who really knows I noticed a post or article yesterday that said the PM Somchai had fled to Cambodia.

Here is my guess of PAD moving out of Government house and asking more to come to the 2 airports: First, PAD believes that PPP and maybe other parties may be disbanded by the court on Dec.2 (tomorrow). Second, if this happens PAD will decide to give up its siege of the airports. Third, a unity government will form

I just saw on TV that aircraft are now leaving BKK. Now that the planes are out of the airport, airlines will start flying from regional airports to get stranded passengers home. I did not realize until now that the airlines had so many aircraft on the ground at BKK they did not have the capacity to fly...just not enough planes available?????? It changes by the hour so who really knows...

Same thing happened to a group of 6 of us that went to Dynamite bar a month or so ago. Way too loud. We stepped in and then out. Hopefully GB or someone who is in Sunee will mention the posts about the music to the owner. I am laid up for several days or I would happily do so

Is Euro boys still open or has it closed now?

Oh!

I having wondering for the last few days why the pro and anti government groups choose the colors they did. The PAD (anti-government group) choose yellow. They say they support the monarch and have many middle class, royalist members. So yellow makes sense since many feel it is the King's favorite color. The UDD (pro government group) has decided on the color red. It is said that this group supports the government in power and most of those supporters are also very loyal to Thaskin who some say wanted to lessen the power of the monarch. Red however is more associated with communism which some still fear as in the 60's and 70's Thailand was fighting rebels who wanted communism. So does color really mean anything in this conflict? Or is there another explanation for the choice of colors?

To confuse us even more, there is an announcement that people can check in for Thai Air at BITEC until Dec. 2. Check in for what?? http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30089807

As GB requests I will leave out the idea of scoop reporter, but would like to comment on the other point that George makes about others reporting their views. I wish more people would report how they found their trip to different entertainment places as well as restaurants and tourist places because I have gotten some good ideas of places to go and things to do. As probably everyone has experienced, sometimes I go to a place that had a good review and say to myself, "Why did xxx think this was so good?" Some people may have an axe to grind or be an owner promoting their own venue without revealing they are the owner, but soon enough people can see that pattern. One person's advice I usually take is GB when it comes to places to eat. I usually try his suggestions and more often than not agree with him. There was another poster who felt his restaurant had a very good product. I tried it, disagreed, made a honest appraisal from my point of view on a forum and let people decide for themselves. I remember a bartender that had heard from one customer that a city was great. Another would say that same city sucked. He said it always depends on if you got a good lay.

I believe you are correct topjohn5. I believe this is why the court will disband the PPP on Dec.2. As to GB's point about Somchai, I think he has created acts of omission by not having the government bring Thaskin to justice. Also when I read the different editorials there seems to be a lot of shuttling back and forth to see Thaskin as well as needing to get pre-approval for cabinet member appointments and the like. Thailand has every right to revoke Thaskins visa which has not been done. There is more to a democracy than popular vote. I read where people say whoever was elected by popular vote as though this is what is meant by democracy. Right now many African nations, Burma, etc. have "elected" leaders. I doubt most think these are democracies.

Your offer is very generous GB. I also want to let people know that the 2000 baht offer for those stranded is for real. As was explained to me today by a British couple who went to Utapao, there is a form that you fill out and give to the hotel you stay in. This form lets the hotel get reimbursed for your room and food. In the case of this couple they each get a form so together they would get a credit of 4000 baht. Alcohol will not be paid for. There is a limit of 14,000 baht per person on the program. Has anyone actually filled out the form? Would you be able to give a better explanation of where to get the form or other details to help those who do not have the information?

I am surprised that no Pattaya hotels are listed for check-in since it is only 45 minutes to Utapao. Having to leave Pattaya and go to Bangkok and then have a 3 hour trip back adds some insult to this whole mess. Possibly people can check-in at Utapao?

I don't know about the law in Thailand but I would think that when a business is bought the assets and liabilities are always part of the sale. If you paid by credit card I would call them for assistance. If you have a receipt marked paid I would fax it to the new owners and suggest that if not honored you would stop at the police station when you arrive. If it will work or not I have no idea. It brings up another question. What happens to paid deposits when people can't get here to to the airport closures? If a person does not have travel insurance I would think the business has a right to keep the funds but will probably do what they can to accommodate a change in date but not a cancellation. This is tough for both the small business and customer. Has anyone had this problem yet?

This morning I talked to 2 farangs that were suppose to leave and go back to their home country yesterday. They were actually leaving their hotel to check into a cheaper one since money was getting low. Both were to be back to work and were afraid they may lose their jobs if not back soon. They said they had called their employer and were assured that their job would be there but reminded them that they can not pay them for missed days. They didn't mind staying of course but said they could not really afford it. I remember when I was younger (2 years ago) I would almost drain my bank account while on vacation in Pattaya and had to really scrimp until I got paid again. I have great empathy for those that do as I did.

I found the bars in Boystown area Pattaya were doing ok on Soi 3 but soi 1&2 were dire. One of the bars, maybe Dynamite, is going to have a monk ceremony. Not sure why but it may have to do with getting more tourists into Pattaya

I understand your point and you are certainly correct. My post was a bit muddled. I was not suggesting that Utapao replace BKK but rather that it might provide more regional short haul travel. I noticed today that a week or so ago Utapao is now using Utapao International as it's name according to the Pattaya Mail. One of my friends did land today on the Eva Flight from LAX-Taipei-Utapao at 11:20 this morning. However his partner who had to take a different flight on EVA because of the seat availability is still in Los Angeles. Eva is no longer going to use Utapao because of insurance concerns he wrote to me.

Several different airlines are now using Utapao instead of Bangkok according to web sites. http://www.utapao.com/index_en.html is their web site

You maybe correct but would you explain your view?

I know I mentioned this in my first post but I think it is worth repeating. In bright light most LCD screens on the back of the camera which allows you to see the picture you want to take and have taken, gets completely washed out. My next point and shoot camera will have BOTH the LCD screen and an old fashion view finder...if they still make it.

I am not as pessimistic when it comes to the gay traveler. Families of course may not come in droves. I have all ready seen many of the regulars who visit each year show up. They are having fun, not being bothered here in Pattaya, and complaining about high drink prices as usual since some have a bit less in their pocket. Maybe bars should start to compete on lowering prices and see if they actually sell more and profit more. The doom and gloomers are all ready predicting they will go under anyway. Might as well go out with a bang!!!

If a coup occurs what good will it be to have the government in Chiang Mai? I know this is a PPP stronghold, but don't most laws have to be published in the Royal Gazette and given approval by the monarch? In a week or so the PPP could be disbanded anyway and new elections held. So let's say there is a coup. The Prime Minister and MP's are in Chiang Mai. A short while later the PPP is disbanded by the courts. The government would have no power no matter where they are. What am I missing here? Will PM who is so buddy buddy with the Burmese military ask for their help? Will they flee to the casinos in Cambodia? It might be a good idea to listen to the suggestion of the Army commander and resign for the betterment of the country. Thaksin, in my view, does not have the good of the Thai people in his mind. He has such a large ego, he seems to want to ignore the fact that he is a convict on the run while his own party was in power. Maybe he should return, serve his sentence and then try to get back in politics.....

BUPA has worldwide offices. They also have restrictions of medical insurance when traveling to the USA. Another idea is to check the "Thaivisa website". www.thaivisa.com They have a group policy which seems to have a good price. AA Insurance has an office in Pattaya on the soi beside Big C (south). They act as a broker.

The two friends I have coming from Los Angeles will be landing at U-Tapao just 45 minutes from Pattaya. The airport was created by the USA during the Vietnam conflict. Maybe the closing of the 2 airports in Bangkok will be a boon for Pattaya if the government decides to allow more international flights direct access to Utapao. Already some flights from Russia and Finland use this airport. Since many tourist's destination is Pattaya it would be great to have that as a regional airport which could also service Phuket, Samui, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. This could relieve the government's idea of expanding Suvanabhumi airport as they had planned How they will work the current baggage handling and immigration will be interesting. It could work out better than the massive Bangkok airport.

I have a Canon Power shot 750 digital. It is easy to use and transfer pictures to my computer with. The thing I don't like about it is that it only has a LCD 4" screen which shows the picture before you take it. However in bright light I can't see what I am shooting. Some have a thru the lens view finder in addition which is a good feature. If you are looking for a DSLR so you can change lenses and have more features I can't help but maybe TOQ can.

The word terrorist is now used every time someone disagrees politically. I may be wrong but I do not believe the PAD has bombed, shot or kidnapped anyone. They have a very large group of people that seem determined to pressure the government to resign. and change policy. During the USA civil rights movement and Vietnam war, American citizens that opposed the government (democratically elected) protested to change policy. Some where beaten, shot at, gassed, burned out, and murdered by the military (Kent State Massacre *). Some would call them terrorist, then it was radicals or hippies. But today many feel vindicated by the election of a black man as President and hopefully soon gay couples having the same rights as "married". Many times radical change does not come easily or neatly. *I was at Kent State when then national guard fired on students.