Patanawet

Maybe not your deep professional voice but the words you were using. There is no point in using big complicated words however deep your voice is. Do you poke them with your silver tipped cane if they refuse to understand you?

Not Soi NaNa. Wrong side of the road. Soi 11 used to be an upmarket, soi housing the likes of The Bed Club. Apparently, not now.

Yes indeed and quite a few in Bangkok too. I was once disappointed when my straight colleagues at work suggested that we all go to soi 4. Sadly, they meant Sukhumvit soi 4 which is a famous girly bar area (Na Na).

Just for interest --- if you end up here in Bangkok and are really 'pissed off' with all the cretinous farang firing their giant water cannons, make your way to Silom Soi 4 (Sala Daeng skytrain exit 1?), which will be water free (security at the head of the soi to confiscate guns). These days are the busiest 3 days of the year in soi 4, it will be packed from 7ish till closing, continuously! My choice is Balcony Pub or Connections. They open for alcohol at 17:00 and are there, dry, till late. Oh, and forget stories that it all finishes (the water throwing, at 18:00 or 21:00). This is Thailand (T.I.T.) and rules are meant to be broken. Me? I'll be locked in my room, stocked with Leo Beer. Oh and another VERY important point ---- do not take money, jewellery, passports etc out with you. Pickpockets abound. Everywhere, you will see plastic pouches for sale (about 100 Baht) to keep dry any personal items needed to be kept dry. But they are not thief proof. Finally, have fun.

Which Soi 6?

Locked in my room from 12th to 14th (12/4-14/4) with sufficient beer! Actually longer this year, damn.

Quite right that the price of a drink is to cover an entry price. I haven't been to these bars for ages but I seem to recall that in some bars, subsequent drink prices were lower than the first drink.

I worked here for many years. Christmas Day (and Boxing) were always normal working days.

You must be the only person who didn't know about it! Full page on Facebook from D.J. Station (and other bars) informing. So, your 'better things' are to are to write to this forum informing of you ignorance of centuries old Thai customs. Newbie in Thailand?

This sounds much more likely.

No it's not!

Good to hear Patpong coming back to as of old days. After all, it used to be a worldwide publicised attraction of Bangkok (the Night Market).. The policeman supervising the zebra crossing on Surawong should be copied on Silom. I've always wondered why they haven't done it for years. I'd have thought it was an easy and obvious opportunity for B.I.B. trouserring'.

The only good place in Songkran is Silom Soi 4 which will be dry (of water). Probably Soi 4's busiest night of the year along with New Year ang Halloween and NO WATER. BEWARE PICKPOCKETS!!!

Yes thanks, I was getting a headache trying to recall the name.

Surely the original Babylon building is now the new venue of Le Bouchon, the French restaurant formerly on Patpong 2. I was late to meet friends for lunch and hopped on a motor bike taxi at the subway station and said "Le Bouchon" and he said "oh, you mean Babylon".

Could be worse ------ 'Patters' 😂😝

Just ask a motor cycle taxi boy where they are serving.

Thanks Eric, I'll have a look and report back.

Any comments on Soi 4 closing times yet?

Thanks. Is your Robinson's a Bangkok one?

'Refurbished'? It's taken me years to get used to 'pre loved' 😂. But WOW - I just got as far as 'refurbished 'in Lazada and 102 pages popped up. Thanks.

Thanks GB, pawnshops are a good idea. I think I saw one in Pattaya once in the basement of Tuk Kom but never here in Bangkok although they must be here. Must look for the golden balls. Lazada does in fact have a second hand section again I should look at that. Didn't know there was a Craig's List in Thailand. Thanks for your ideas but I was hoping someone who had indulged and could point me in a tried and tested direction I once ordered from Lazada, a cheap phone and when the package finally arrived, it contained a few teeth whitening sachets. I couldn't be arsed to return because it had taken so long, the return dates had expired.

Yes ... and?

Recently, I had a bad moment -- my P.C. AND mobile phone failed at the same time. I felt naked! Now, both are repaired but I am looking for a cheap standby short term notebook or pad. The emphasis is on CHEAP. I don't 'game' or need any special fast speed apps. Just email, these boards and the ability to view videos already downloaded to USB thumbdrives for my lonely bedtimes. I don't need high named products -- only one that works. I don't mind second hand (working) or, dare I say it, fakes. I searched on Facebook and now, of course, I am besieged with ads. for similar. Has anyone here any experience of buying successfully or not? Alibaba (which of course is Chinese and the parent of Lazada) has so many ads from about 3k Baht up to 10k. (one in particular is a notebook with 2 screens delivered to Thailand for about 10K Baht). Please no criticisms, questioning my morals about accepting fakes as the multinationals have ripped me off enough over the years.