gerefan

I too thought this was always the case. I don’t see how you can open the machine without a card!

Sansuk has reopened. See the thread on here and the one on Sawatdee.

The TT Exchange opposite Boyztown is still operational and offers the best rates. During Covid the one on the same side of the road to BT was closed. I’m not sure if it reopened. I also use the one in Jomtien which offers exactly the same rates. Not sure about BKK exchanges

Quite right, it’s Voluntary, except in certain circumstances where it’s mandatory. Another example is helmets. They are mandatory but many many Thais don’t bother. So should we also copy their example?! Do what seems right. If you feel the need wear one. I rarely do except when it’s mandatory.

I left my Condo a few weeks ago to visit a bar in Jomtien. It had just started to rain. The walk to the bar takes 4 minutes and 24 seconds, so I was not too concerned. Then the monsoon deluge fell. I was half way there with nowhere to shelter. By the time I arrived I was soaked from head to foot. Luckily the bar does accommodation so the landlord lent me a dressing gown while he put my clothes in a dryer. Half an hour later I was able to get dressed again. The following night the rains came again and lasted for about 4 hours. Don’t believe any of the people who tell you it’s all over in an hour! And so it continued for he rest of my trIp, I never saw the sun at all! So that’s the last time I ever visit Thailand in September. I wouldn’t have this time but was stuck with the dates and thought I would give it a try. Wrong.

I doubt that. There is no easy access for a Shopping Mall and it is off the beaten track. The narrow roads would not support the traffic. As regards a condo development, again no chance. The whole area can only be regarded as a slum and any condos wouldn’t sell. Again difficult for car access. If there was going to be any development in the area it would have started a long time ago. I think Madame Sunee, if she really exists and actually owns the area, is stuck with a dead duck.

Nope. No restaurants in Boyztown. Try Jomtien if you want to eat in a gay area. It has at least 5 full blown restaurants and many bars which do food as well as drinks. Times have certainly changed.

The Pink Pound...

Nothing wrong with Eva air prices from London in economy. Most dates, including December, £800 return. More or less same as before. Business is a different matter...over £3000. This is the pattern over all airlines. Reason is simply that people haven’t travelled for some time and have the money available. Airlines are taking advantage.

That is what I was trying to say.... popular with Indian visitors. Hence the remarks about curry!

A friend of mine stayed there many years ago. Good if you like Curry! Most of the customers who were staying there ate a lot of curry!

I have stayed at the Tarntawan on and off for about 18 years. So I booked two nights there last week and was appalled. Reception was gloomy, dull and almost deserted. All the helpful staff have gone. I was allocated Room 305 at the back of the hotel. It had a “City View”. In other words there was a brick wall 1 metre away which meant there was no light whatsoever! I couldnt even tell if it was raining. Even during the day you needed all the lights on. The TV didn’t work. There were two remotes (god knows why) but you could only watch one channel. The room was tiny. Probably less than 15 sq m. If I was in the market for bringing an “off” back I would have been ashamed. And finally it was 1200 bt a night...without breakfast. Never again...

I was in BKK for a few days this week. Visited Fresh Boys, Dream Boys, Hotmale and Tawan. All charging 400 baht per drink except Dreamboys who charged an extortionate 450 b. Compare this with Pattaya where Toyboys still charge 240 Bt. It was midweek and most bars were not too busy except Tawan which was almost full while the show was on.

November for cheaper air fares. Avoid Christmas.

Im currently on a months holiday in Thailand. What an utterly depressing thread. Im out of here!

Wow, consider yourself lucky. I live in the UK and also need to see an Ear Nose and throat specialist about something else. It took me a month to get an appointment with my GP (saw him in July) and he has referred me to the ENT people. The earliest appointment I could get is 2 OCTOBER.

I forget the exact wording on the signs. But it is a fast track for over 70’s. Keep to the far right side as you go up the ramp toward Immigration and initially follow the signs for “Diplomatic and Thai Passports” or some such similar wording. You will then quickly see the signs for “Over 70’s”.

I departed London Gatwick last Tuesday for a take off at 21.45. There were no queues and hardly anyone in the terminal. Maybe because there were only 6 flights after mine. So it may well depend on your departure time. On arrival at BKK I always bear right at Immigration and go through the fast lane (sign posted Diplomatic ...but when you get further along it also says Seniors). Over 70. Got through in less than one minute! There is also the same thing in Departures. Well worth knowing about.

Exactly. I was on a motor bike taxi and the driver was being cautious.

I last went to Sunee Plaza in March and will give it another (final) try while I am here now. To give some perspective even the motor bike taxi driver cautioned/queried why I wanted to go down such a long and dark soi. It is certainly not worth coming to Pattaya or even Thailand (!) just to sample it. A new visitor definately needs to ensure he does his homework re. BT and Jomtien to avoid a serious disappointment.

“Sunny Plaza contains many bars” Are you sure about that? Apart from the two Gogo bars (Winner and Nice Boys) there are perhaps only 2 or 3 other bars left. They are usually empty. Compare that with Jomtien which now has almost 30 bars of various descriptions ranging from show bars to small stall type bars. It also has many good restaurants. Boyztown and Sunee both have none.

I arrived in Pattaya this week for a short (4 week) visit. On Saturday evening at about 10 pm I decided to give Boyztown a look over, as I haven’t seen it since the reopening after Covid. I decided to try 3 Gogo bars. The first I visited was an old favourite Toyboys and I was greeted warmly by the Manager/Boss/ Owner, or whatever he is. Name Put or Pat. There were in excess of 18 boys working all in underwear. Most if not all could be called Twinks. About 5 customers. Unfortunately, I was then “greeted” by a male Mamasan. I recognised him from a few years ago. Bad news. He must have graduated top of the class from the “Pesky Mamasan” University. He wouldn’t leave me alone, sat beside me and demanded a drink. Ignoring him eventually did the trick but it must have taken 15 minutes, before he went to pester another customer. Nasty piece of work. I made 100% sure he was outside when it came to paying the bill. Only had one drink and decided enough was enough. Next I went into BBB. Some boys on stage in full clothing and about 10 customers. I left without buying a drink. Next I went round the corner to see how things were at Dreamboys. As I approached the door a guy went straight inside. Bad sign. I ŵas right and there were no customers and about 5 boys scrambling to get on the stage. I decided it was not for me sitting there alone. As I was leaving BT I walked past A Bomb and so had a look inside. Again no customers. A few boys in underwear. All rather disappointing for a Saturday evening between 10 and 11 pm. I returned to Jomtien which was heaving!

Anyone know what time the money exchange at the railway station under Savanabhumi Airport closes?

It depends on where you start/ finish your journey. The Condo I used to stay at was good 10 minute walk to the nearest Songtaew stop at the junction near Boyztown. The convenience of ordering it from my room and then going downstairs to find it waiting for me was well worth the extra 50 odd baht on a hot and sultry evening.

The Bolt 60 baht fares were in February and March. I assume the “loss leader” is coming to an end!