Woodie

Bloody warped alright. I cant even find anyone 5 years older than me.

Thanks Pulci. I will chew it over.

Yeah, CIB. Cant make out who the stunner is on the right of the photo. Geez. I will have to check her out. I have only looked at it 10 times. Seems to be a bit fuzzy!

Sorry, I only give head to those of my choosing.

Thanks Pulci On the strength of that it does not sound too promising. Maybe better to spend a couple more days in BKK. At least I know what I am in for. Thanks for the detailed reply. I would not like to spend 3 days trying to find a lb when you can get them off the shelf in BKK.

I was planning to arrive in HCMC on the 14th May and leave on the 17th. A short visit. Cant spend much more time away from my work.

Piss off!

Sorry, but if all they play is Isaan music, I for one will not be there. I have been to two Isaan music venues, one in Pattaya at the area southern end of 3rd rd and another large venue in BKK. Both of these played non stop. Never gave it a rest. You imagine that the guys in the bands would want a break, but no. Just incessant noise. It must be a cultural thing.

I agree My friend has a property on the water in Richmond CA. Less than 2 miles away as the crow flies, there is poverty. Smashed windows. Broken down old cars parked out front etc etc. We drove up to Hood River and on the way saw a similar scenario. That is something you would rarely see in Australia or NZ. Also the number of homeless people living in tents under motoways etc. around San Fran. We have them but in small numbers Something I would say is the scenery in the countryside on the way up to Hood River is spectacular. Forests of pines etc. down to the edge of the lakes.

Etihad pay for a stopover of between 10 and 24 hours. MIne is 21 hours. I checked with the customer service team I am guessing they store the luggage until the next flight.

Well I called them and the news is good. I can book a hotel and Etihad pay for it. So in some ways my balls up has not worked out too badly. I get to have a stopover on a long trip.

I meant it is the first time that I have screwed up. I had another 2 hour session with them today. Finally got to the point of changing the flight, only for them to tell me there were no more seats on the new flight!!!. Shit. So now I stay with the ticket I bought. Just for your info. The website was Budget Air. I think the name sums it up. Their reviews say a lot. Nearly all 1 out of 5 stars. I am going to call Etihad tomorrow to see what the situation is with a 21 hour stop over in Abu Dhabi. It is a long time to sleep on the seats in the terminal!. By the way I learnt something today. The booking sites have now developed the habit of charging for seat slection. It appears that if you wait until the check in time opens, two to three days before the flight, you can choose your seat without charge which used to be the way it worked. Hey at the end of the day I will get to Italy, then on to LOS and CIB. That can't be bad?.

No, you dont have to go far off the main roads to see real poverty in Thailand. I think they have a long way to go. Still a them and us society. A small rich portion and a massive underclass.

I have not been on a tuk tuk since my early days. Once bitten twice shy. Rode from Soi Cowboy to Nana. Took longer than walking and got ripped off.

Thanks RX. Yes the storage room is to the left as you enter Grand Business Inn. I had fogotten about that.

Well, I just proved how dumb I am. Was checking out websites, trying to book a ticket with paypal funds I had. Some sites said they did, but when it came to payment they did not. Then got onto one which did allow paypal. So filled out all the info, clicked on paypal to make the payment. Nothing happened. Tried again and again. Nothing. So called their customer service. Yes it should go through. Tried while she hung on. Again and again. Nothing. She put me through to a supervisor. Went through it all again. Then she said what currency are you using. I said AUD, the same as what the costings are. Oh no, you have to pay in USD. So back to paypal and change the currency to USD. Still no luck. Oh well she says, it doesnt look as though it will work does it. I told her to go and I would keep trying. No luck. Ok, back to the drawing board. Finally found a site that had an ofice in Aus. Found the fare I wanted, (or so I thought). Paid for it and I was a happy man. Well for about 30 minutes until I read the booking that had come through. I had booked the wrong fucking flight!!!!. There were two flights with that airline. Different departure times but same arrival at the time I wanted. I picked the one that took two days and not one day which is when I was to meet my friends. KHGRVVHHHB!!!!!!!!. Normally on other sites like Skyscanner (which I use a lot), they have a plus sign with 1 or 2 beside the arrival time to designate whether the trip is 1 or 2 days. This did not. Then comes more fun. Have you ever tried to make contact with a website that has only chat contact?. Bloody stupid. Gave up and sent an email to head office. Got a reply back saying yes we can do something for you, but it will cost, They went through the likely costs. I asked for the cost and how I go about buying the correct ticket. Think I am wasting my time. The reviews of this ticketing site are not good. Just have to suck it up and hope I can bludge a ride of about 2 hours from Rome to the lake. Old age is a bastard!. Mind you it is the first time it has happened.

Thanks Pdogg. My bags are huge. Haha. I mean what I am carrying. One is 2.0m long and the other 1.4m long. Will check it out.

I recognize the theme of this discussion, but as to the fact that there are less young Thai lb's,(I was going to say young men, but thought better of it), moving to BKK or Pattaya. Yes, maybe, but the other two sources, Laos and Cambodia are nowhere near in the state of progression as Thailand is. They need an income like there is no tomorrow. I am sure that they will fill the gaps,(excuse the pun), for some years to come. Geez, I nearly spelt it cum. Maybe the BM's will find the changes that are coming, as much from social changes as those instigated by the authorities who have made no secret of wanting to remove the stigma of the bar scene, a bit off putting to their way of life. There is always flux and change. Just part of life. I started off in 2015, so really am a newbie. If it wasn't for c-----d I would have spent more time in Thailand. That really did throw a spanner in the works for all types of business, including that one that we indulge in. I am back in May and should be able to check it out although it was only 3 months ago when I was last there. I certainly did not have trouble having a good time. Who knows how long it will last for me. I am getting on. I proved it today. You may want to read about my adventures in booking my tickets.

That's what I understood. It is not easy. When I made inquiries about running a business through a well known falang legal office in BKK, they made it clear that it would not be easy. I could not open a van door or put petrol in. I would be caught if I had a non Thai passport.

In that area I alway used Superrich Green, but I see it is closed. God knows how I am going to manage getting around the airport on my next trip. I will have more stuff to carry than on a gypsy caravan. Might put it in storage for 9 days. Will check out the rates. Only a short stay this time unfortunately. But enought to get into trouble!. I am off the leash now so watch out. If in early May you see some news about an old falang found dead in a room,it might be me!.

So you are suggesting that these clothing shops are run by Indian immigrants that have Thai citizenship?.. That is the only conclusion that I can come to.

What has puzzled more for some time is, how do these Indian business men get to stay in Thailand and run their businesses?. Some years ago I looked into running a small business there and got told flatout that there was no chance. Had to conducted by Thai nationals. Do I smell a rat or not?.

And me!

Could be, but she did ask my age before adding the conditions. I think a bit of narcissism was at play.