baobao

I've heard I can replace the SIM chip in my Thai cell phone to use it in some other countries, but I'm wondering if anyone here has been able to swap out their SIM chip in Taiwan? It seems as though I read somewhere that a traveler had bought a SIM at or near the airport in Taipei, but that was a while ago. Any ideas / experience / suggestions? Thanks in advance!

It's all over but the clean-up in the Land of Smiles, but here's wishing you all a healthy, happy and prosperous 2015!

I'll second that!

It's been a while since I've visited the snake farm, but there used to be venom collection and photo ops at both shows, should memory serve. The museum has some interesting exhibits, too, and often an english-speaking docent. There are a few posts about that and other things to do/places to go if you look in the "labels" column on my blog (especially under Tourist Stuff). The search for the snake farm turned up this link: http://khunbaobao.blogspot.com/search?q=snake+farm

While I could keep up with almost all of it (some took some reviewing on the way home) it WAS a convoluted series of sequences, but since I usually shun "spoilers" I won't mention any specific parts. I, too, found the sound was overwhelmingly loud; occasionally it was difficult to hear some of the dialog. I'd not checked the running time so had to give my bladder control a test, because with the usual glut of previews we get in the USA it ran a bit over three hours. There were a few scenes that reminded me of "2001".

Unless it's having your wallet stolen in your room after having your head bashed in and being left for dead... but I hear you, frequentflier. Alcohol can definitely add to the impairment of judgment, too.

Thanks for the effort to post pictures, Up2u. I'm one of those who likes the choice of being in the sun or shade.

Thanks for the tip. Would you share what you thought was the "really reasonable" price? The chain stores I'd checked on in the past - thinking I'd get an inexpensive spare pair - weren't much cheaper than here at home, even without those fool designer frames.

Apologies to anyone who feels this is merely "flogging the blog" (hey, I may have just added a new euphemism to the vernacular!) but I'd also add a vote to trying BNH hospital, and here's the story of my first experience there: http://khunbaobao.blogspot.com/2010/11/sick-on-holiday-bangkoks-bnh-hospital.html There are some pictures and a bit of history about the place. My visit was just in through the front door - which was cheaper than another visit with a friend on another trip; he went into the ER entrance, and that cost a little more. Both great service at more than reasonable rates.

It's a post from a few years ago, but this will give you some views of Tui's place. http://khunbaobao.blogspot.com/2011/02/accommodations-part-9-tuis-place.html I've enjoyed a number of lunches at Tui's (as well as breakfasts at Bondi). Note that during the busier times the baht buses at the 7-Eleven bend in the road back to Pattaya proper can be crowded and a little more difficult to catch, Some forum folk in the past have felt a little unsafe walking/stumbling home down along the beach-side road in the wee small hours, but you ought to ALWAYS be keeping your wits about you, IMHO.

Didn't have a lot of luck with Google's Chromecast, myself. It may well have been because of the wireless connection here at home, but it was very "glitchy". Only about $30US, but I've gone back to a VGA cable.

I'd doubt it, too... but it is Thailand. Actual medicinal ampules for heart conditions (the glass tubes within a net covering) were amyl nitrate; what recreational users know as poppers aren't, so "room odorizers" and "tape head cleaners" are usually butyl, isobutyl or other nitrates. I can't cite specific laws, but have read they're illegal in Thailand, too. Tried them 40+ years ago, and didn't like them, myself.

You wouldn't do well along the gate walkways at Taoyuan (Taipei) airport then.

A perfectly valid opinion, vinapu. A prayer room at the airport isn't a "hostel of convenience", though (IMHO) although I've read of the less fortunate sleeping in actual churches of different stripes. As for the original topic (best gay hotel in Pattaya) I'd put in a votes for Baan Dok Mai and Poseidon.

It's inappropriate for a person of any faith to sleep in a Muslim prayer room.

I miss his blog, too... well written, detailed, informative and civil. I'm glad it was just made private and (hopefully) not lost to the winds of time. He's been helpful offline, too, and I was pleased he added my blog to the short-list on his blogroll back in the day. Perhaps he'll publicly surface again.

With you on that one, for sure, but it usually happens on Thai Time. I stayed in a hotel last year where I'd asked where the wireless box was as a guesstimate to how good the coverage would be. The woman told me it was directly across the hall from my room, and it was; I could see it on the ceiling. The problem was the box itself needed to be manually re-set four or five + times a day, there was only that one woman on staff who seemed to know how to do it, and she wasn't there 24 hours a day. I watched her do it the second time, and after that just reached up and pushed the button myself. I didn't need to stand on a chair to reach it, either!

If you really have trouble sleeping on long flights (and some do - a travel partner sometimes stays awake the entire way) you might consider asking your doctor for something to help you sleep. I've also done the "arrive at night" flights, and the same routine works for me.

The cost of the internet wouldn't be worth it to me, and I'll explain why: my preference travelling to Asia is flying at night. That way I can spend the last day at home running last-minute errands and packing. Assuming I get to the airport with enough time I can kick back in the airline lounge for a while before boarding late in the evening. After boarding and getting off the ground I take a mild sleep aid, pick at what I want from the first meal served as a bed time snack and then allow myself to doze off a short way into the first movie. Even though I don't sleep extremely well, I can get enough shut-eye time before the breakfast service. Then I can read or finish the rest of the movie before landing at Narita or Taoyuan to wait for the transfer. I arrive in my final destination early enough in the day to be active and out in the sun, which helps me re-setting my "body clock". Coming back home I'm usually so worn out that I could sleep in a tuk tuk.

If you actually make the trip - and nothing changes to lift the curfew I've just read is in place from 10:00pm onward - I'd say go early and arrange for a "long time off" wherever you go!

My guess is it's just a temporary supply issue. Does anyone really think the Coca-Cola corporation is going to let go of an entire country? Most folks tell me there's not a lot of difference (taste-wise, anyway) between Diet Coke and Coke Zero, but after a side-by-side comparison I had a slight preference for Coke Zero, so I have that when it's available. I agree that water's best for my system overall, but sodas are nice every so often. For those of us who try to stay hydrated it's worth noting that coffee, tea and sodas are actually diuretics that cause the body to dump more H2O than drinking water does. Granted, diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners and other chemicals, but for those watching their glucose levels they're an attractive option when water is the only other choice. BTW, both Diet Coke and Coke Zero contain caffeine.

If you're staying at the Sofitel on Sathorn, take the BTS to Nana and follow the map above. If you're staying at the Sofitel Sukhumvit it's ON the map above. Either way, you wouldn't have a problem getting there.

It's easy enough to get to. From the Nana BTS, take Soi 11 to the "T", go left and you'll fine yourself heading toward the canal. Hero is on the left, almost to the end. About a 10-15 minute walk. Nice in the evening, a bit sweaty on a hot afternoon. You can always catch a motocy taxi from Sukhumvit/Soi 11, if you wish. The food and service at Chili Culture (at that T intersection) are both good. At the risk of repeating myself, I'm adding day/night/basic room images of Hero.