Random Thailand Thoughts
 

The traffic in BKK was significantly worse than the past 4 years. We used the skytrain a lot more often.

The expensive restaurants we went to were not exquisite. They were fine, but we can get better for a similar price in Cambridge.

Taxi drivers voluntarily used the meter almost all the time. In the past, we had to raise the issue about 1/2 the time. No longer the case.

The hotel ferries often have traffic jams at Taksin pier. The new ROS boat and the Hilton boat have been added and one often has to idle in the river for a few moments to get pier space. No big deal, however.

Walking back to the ROS from Harmonique, we noticed much more foot traffic at night along Charoen Krung Road (New Road).

The wearing of yellow shirts in homage to the King was very prevalent. On Mondays, almost everyone, but a lot on other days as well. Also, many King Bracelets were worn.

More stores with fixed prices and less bargaining.

The taxis and Tuk tuks in Phuket seemed to have a set rate for various trips. They were stubborn in the face at bargaining attempts. This was not true in the past.

Andy, when we were there last February, it seemed like restaurant prices at "expensive" restaurants were high. Now that the dollar only buys 35-36 baht I can only imagine how bad its getting. Thankfully there are places like Tongue Thai, Harmonique and the Gallery Cafe.

We love the skytrain but there are many places that it can not take you.

We experienced delays due to the traffic jams at the pier even before they added the ROS boat and the Hilton boat - not much fun if you are sitting in the sun. Fortunately the Penn has several boats so the waits are relatively short.

I meant to ask on your other thread - would you recommend the "Prime Minister's House" tour? Is this the one called "M.R. Kukrit's House" on the Nancy Chandler map? How much time did you spend there?

Hmmm... the traffic is worse? I guess because I first started visiting Bangkok back in the old days before the expressway from the old airport, before the sky train, before the subway, I think the traffic isn't nearly as bad as it used to be!

Craig-going backwards, I would recommend the Prime Minister's House. yes, that is how the NC map lists it. It's not astounding, but it was interesting. I think it would be easy to combine it with a dim sum lunch at the Conrad.

Several times we took the skytrain and to the general vicinity and then a cab to the exact destination. This avoided the usual Rama IV, Sukhumvit and Asok jams.

In my trip report in August 2006, I mentioned that traffic would get worse, in some parts of Bnagkok, partly due to the starting of the extension of the skytrain.Traffis has been rerouted.

As for expensive restaurants,yes, the dollar has fallen a lot. Last December/January I got between 40.89-41 baht to a dollar and in August I got 36.77 baht to a dollar. It's good to live in a serviced apartment where I can cook more and not have to spend so much on food...no matter what restaurant I would normally eat at. It's one way of combatting the fall of the dollar and rising prices.

Yes, and fewer places bargain. I've just noticed big changes in Bangkok in the past 4 or so years. Although there are still bargains to be had, prices are really on the rise.

As for the ferry, I wrote in my travel report that I had waited for a very long time at Saphan Taksin Pier. The river taxi seemed slower than usual. I should have just jumped on the Oriental's boat.

And as for the traffic, I agree with Kathie. I can't imagine it being anywhere near what it used to be back in the old days, before the skytrain. I did a LOT of walking back then from place to place because it was faster than sitting forever in a taxi, stuck in traffic, and inhaling fumes.

As for the Prime Minister's House, I liked it. I went there in either December 2005 or January 2006. I wrote a detailed report on it which is in my trip report December 2005/January 2006. Happy Travels!

Guen, I must have missed your "paragraph" about the PM's house when you originally did your report but I was able to bring it up today...

Good, Craig. Glad you were able to find it since it contained the main facts about the house and its history. Happy Travels!

Beth and I saw some girls flag down a cab and nine of them got in one Toyota. Eight in back and one in front. We wre astounded.

And I'm sure it was a no-seatbelt cab. That's one of the scariest parts of taking a cab in Bangkok and why I skytrain it and walk as much as possible. Happy Travels!

Actually, all of the cabs required Bob to buckle his seat belt when he was riding in the front seat. Therefore, in the girls' cab, one of them would have been protected. In truth, it's sort of hard to imagine a Toyota with ten seat belts anyway (one for the driver).

Another "thought" bubbled to the surface:

There has been no increase on prices at the 7-11 where we bought sodas and water. Pepsi and manao soda cost 14 Baht 5 years ago and they cost the same now. Also, the price of massages has not risen.

Yup, that's a pretty random thought.

True...can't get 10 seatlbelts in a Toyota, but 4 would have been better than none.Can you imagine if that car had rolled over or crashed? Happy Travels!

Kathie-pandas do not have linear thoughts. It's all random.

Guenmai-we were sure they were going to hail two cabs. We were flabbergasted when they all piled in. Unfortunately, they did it too fast for us to get a picture.