BjornAgain

Being a slightly devious bloke, the idea of paying secondary tax goes against my principles. Next egg interest and private pensions, and pending UK State Pension will be paid into UK Bank accounts and luckily (manipulation) are and will be under threshold limits for paying basic rate tax. Luckily my landlady is married to a Brit, and we've discussed paying my rent as GBP into his UK Bank Account as this will reduce my monies into Thailand, I currently pay into his Thai Bank Account, so assume there's no martial issues. Covers their holiday expenses. Furthermore as others have said, using a Travel Moneycard for day-to-day expenses, so pre-load via mobile App to booster my Thai wallet. To cover some of my tracks, then transfer the odd couple of hundred from the UK into my Thai Bank Account. Simple mechanism to draw cash for hand-to-hand expenses, i.e. Bolt, Bins etc. Anyone see a flaw in my logic?

I've seen actual long tails in the Exec Lounge. Your comment is also 100% accurate.

It's not just the "truckloads of shit all creatures living in the seas...", you need to be concerned with, it's the poorly designed / controlled sewage systems that's been installed. This from last year. https://esquare.co.th/?p=2552 With only a 2000THB fine for the hotels, it's hardly a deterrent. I live by the sea and can see clearly the discharge of Black Water after it rains. As for swimming in it, a definate no no for me. For an enjoyable near pollution free swim go out to the islands off the coast and use the west side of the island, i.e. the side furthest from Pattaya or Jomtien. Furthermore if you snorkel or dive you'll see some actual authentic colourful sea life.

The map of Australia is interesting, there's a wacking big desert between Adelaide and Perth, yet it's as hairy as Iceland. Melbourne which is the world's 3rd largest Greek city, looks nothing like it's Mediterranean homeland. Accurate? No.

Yes you can use Bolt. Make sure you understand and agree the motorway toll charges before you set off first. Did Jomtien to Silom Road last week. Wait time from booking was only 10 mins, same when coming back. Normally I use Pattaya Cabs. Never been let down over the last 2 years.

Above attachment from The Sun was taken from The World Population Review's 2024 report. Interesting at the other end of the scale...

Would strongly agree with you @bkkmfj2648. I regularly have to visit TukCom and always get my Bolt from the back door. The boys at the massage shop across the Soi are always head down on their phones, of if they put their head up, it's because they're having a smoke. Same with the shop next to the French Restaurant round the corner. No concept of trying to connect with a potential punter. If using Google for investigation / reasearch purposes, no recent reviews to give the impression they're actually open for business, or they've improved since their last review back in 2017! Also find any guys offering Massage services on TF or Grindr, soon as you push them for details of their facilities, you're then acknowledged with silence. Get the impression the concept of Marketing is viewed as a farang thing out here, so must very bad.

Was in Soi 4 as well last night. Things did pickup, as there was 3 people in the winebar when I left to wander over to Soi 2 for the show at DJ Station at 23:00.

Wait till she joins a Rugby club and gets into some serious drinking. Bumped into quite a few lasses using the urinals over the years. And as Michael Caine often relates the advice John Wayne gave him on his first trip to Hollywood, the girls adhered to his advice of "don't wear swede shoes"!

Maybe adopting a single unisex approach could have other advantages, in that women will see the lack of queues in gents toilets is down to following a simple routine. Walk in, take a slash then walk out. Simples. The time they waste talking before selecting a cubicle, sitting down whilst on their phone, washing hands, talking again whilst checking their phone again, applying makeup, talking again, checking their phone yet again, taking a selfie so they can check their makeup, if no corrections required; then leaving, no doubt talking to the queue as they leave.

There was an interesting article in yesterday's UK Daily Mail, about a TicToc influencer who did a camera review of the iPhone 13Pro, 14Pro, 15Pro and the 16Pro. Mounted all 4 phones onto the same tripod and took a variety of photos on all 4 phones at the same time. The conclusion was there's practically no difference across the 4 models in terms of photo quality. Therefore, the latest model isn't always the best. I stick with Samsung, Galaxy A32 (2021) , Galaxy S9+ (2018) & a Galaxy A20e (2019). Thailand, UK & AUS phones. All bought second hand, normally 2 years after their release, the A32 was only 2500THB in Jan, currently retails at $250 new in the USA. All have excellent built in cameras. All take brilliant pics for digital photo album or uploading to e-mails etc. As @fedssocr said above, (The photographer is typically the most important variable in any photograph. ). Follow the basic rules on how your subject is illuminated and you can't go wrong. @Olddaddy, if you want to score a good second hand phone in Bangkok; visit Fortune Town by Rama 9 Station, or Tukcom if in Pattaya.

Was at Swampy in March on my way back from The Lucky Country, whilst waiting in the baggage hall, did notice an AIS kiosk. Can't remember if there was a True one or not. If not, pretty sure there is one after customs.

I suppose 'Try B 4 U Buy' refers to the assistants as oppose to the clothes!

As in "Ghantee-Wallah".

Yes luxury hotels have moved with the times. Certainly the pre Rocco Forte owned (2003) Brown's Hotel in London did in the great suites, however since his sister, Olga Polizzi organised their refurbishment, I believe the old ropes have gone. Certainly Claridges did in some of the suites up to the early 2000's as use to work next door and was chatty with the Front of House smoking gang. In fact had to ask them on a couple of occasions to get them to tell their Glaswegian head chef to "move his fecking Black Horse from the loading bay" as it was blocking access. Remember staying at a Hunting and Fishing Lodge up near the River Dee in Scotland in 1997 that still had the ropes. Just tried to Google it, but can't find it or remember the name. I quite sure a few still exist, but most likely you could count them on one hand.

Phones, perish the thought. One pulls the bell rope my dear fellow.

Take a look at GayHK.Com

To be honest, I have Grab as a backup, as always use Bolt. The broadcast message 15 minutes prior to your booking time doesn't surprise me, as the impression I get most drivers use the App for extra income, rather than be a full time private hire driver. To have pre-booked the driver, knowing the Thai culture of Timekeeping, this would be a very tall order in terms of reliability.

Just done a quick comparison between Bolt and Grab. From my place in Jomtien to Swampy, Grap quoting 1548THB, but Bolt only quoting 1068THB. Both Apps now have a Schedule option, so you can pre-book in advance.

3000THB currently. Ferry is still 30THB. Both costs are one way. Double for return.

In terms of beach, then Hilton has easy access. However, I personally wouldn't go in the water at either Pattaya or Jomtien, as water quality isn't up to Western standards, black water, especially after it's rained. For a cleaner beach head out to one of the islands, if you choose Ko Lan, top tip, get the Baht Bus when you arrive and go over to the other side (West) of the island. Boats from Bali Hai Pier. As @Olddaddy says, use Bolt or Grab. Bolt has more cars / bikes then Grab. Just download from your preferred AppStore. Same for the Baht Bus, still 10THB, but talk of increase to 20THB soon. Straight down Beach Road from the back of the Hilton and get off at Soi 13/4 and walk up. Have stayed at the Hilton a few times. The 'smash & grab' breakfast and evening buffet is fine, the roof top restaurant offers a great view for a sundowner or meal, foods not bad either. Not stayed at the Intercontinental so can't compare the 2. Have a good trip.

Was about to suggest Silver Lake Vineyard which is just south of Patts if you're travelling down this way. Unfortunately; just checked and is now permanently closed. Shame as the onside restaurant wasn't bad, and they have a B&B, so you can over do it and not have to travel. From the few bottles of Thai grape wine I've tried, found them Sec as opposed to Brut. However did find Knight Black Horse Cab Sav red is a decent drop at 400-450THB a bottle (Big-C or Lotus). It's actually Australian Cab Sav which is blended with 5% locally grown Roselle, this allows them to bypass the 100% import tax, so your saving 300+THB a bottle against the imported Aussi stuff. Be careful, as you need to read the label on the back of the bottle to ensure it's the Aussi stuff, as their labels tend to look the same, otherwise you're end up with a bottle of Thai sticky. There winery is based in north BKK if you fancy an excursion.

Up on Business early October, just compared Suite with Breakfast, costing 18,362THB for 2 nights in Croom, whereas same at the Hilton with a pool only costing me 9,039THB. Think I'll keep with Hilton. Interesting the Croom website says Gym, but no photo as to contents. Also no pool. I think @reader is right, the Japanese men on expense accounts will be the majority of the clientèle.

Or as they use to say in ancient Rome, "Philosophum non Facit barba".

Having perfected the Japanese art of sumo as a kid, I can retract my gentleman's sausage and cajones upside my pubic arch. Free haircuts all round!