Booking Thai Train Tickets On Line

is easy.  you go to the SRT site at Thairailticket.

Once you register, which is painless you can log in and book your ticket.  You need to select the line (Northern, North-Eastern or Southern) and then your departure and arrival stations and date of travel and number of passengers.  You will then be offered available trains.  Once you select your train then you'll get a choice of coach types.

One thing to note is that because a coach type, or seat/berth is not shown as available on line does not mean that if you go to the station it won't be available.  It seems only a limited number of seats are made available on line.

Anyway you then need to enter gender and passenger name. and either auto or manual select the seat, I always go for manual.  Once you have seelcted your seat/berth then you get to pay online.

There is a 20Baht charge and a 3% payment handling fee, which the site states is not a credit card charge.

Anyway on my normal lower berth second class air con which costs 739Bht, the additional charges worek out at B42.77.  Comaopre that with the cost of a trip to the station.

You process your payment on line (Visa/Mastercard/JCB and Bangkok Bank and KBank ATM cards) and after a few seconds your ticket will be on screen for you to print out.  Simply do that and take it with you to the station.

So Bangkok has a two airport policy

Depending on who you listen to, 14 airlines have either agreed to move or are in negotiations.

They are looking to start in August and have Don Muang fully operational by October.


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Transport Links to Cambodia To Improve

Missing Link


Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan confirmed last week that a  missing  section of 6 km railway track from Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaew province to Cambodia’s railway junction  in Poi Pet district, Banteay Meanchey province, will be completed next year.


Mekong Bus Service


Thailand and Cambodia, two countries in the Mekong Region, have signed off on an agreement to supply bus transport between the two countries that should begin by the end of the year.  The proposed routes are Bangkok-Phnom Penh and Bangkok-Battambang. Services will be end-to-end so that companies from either country will offer trips straight through without connections.

Udon Thani FC

They are now second to Roi Et after 16 games, trailing by two points.  Too many drawn matches.  On Saturday they have a should win match against Sakon Nakhon who have 5 points from 16 games.

Thai Smile sets fares for domestic operations

THAI Smile will kick off its domestic operations, 16 August, to Chiang Mai, Krabi and Surat Thani.Services on the Bangkok-Phuket and Chiang Mai-Phuket will follow , 16 September.
The airline will debut its first route, Bangkok-Macau, 7 July.

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Whilst the fares are lower than Thai International, there are still better deals available - will it help regain market share?

Get Thai Diamonds on Amazon

Robert's books are now available from Amazon

Coming Soon - Elephant Trunks

My new enterprise - 'Elephant Trunks'

On LIne, On Facebook, On Blogger, On Ebay - soon

Crstal Hill Garden Resort

Our resort page has been updated - check it out here

Thai Diamond Books

Have you checked out Thai Diamond Books lately - New books daily

Diamond In The Rough 4.75

Diamond Fellowship ISBN : 9786162221156 Category : Erotica & Adventure Pages : 283 Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Rough Diamonds ISBN : 9786162220821 Category : Books on Asia Pages : 311 Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Catch Up On Thai Tourism News

Security checkpoint on the east side of Suvarnabhumi Airport will be relocated to new platform in the departure hall, effective 0400, 15 June. The checkpoint on the western side will be ready in August.


 Pattaya is enjoying a double digit growth in hotel occupancy,while another 1,000 rooms will open by 2016, C9 Hotelworks says its is latest market update on Tuesday.


Ministry of Tourism and Sports signed a Memorandum of Understanding, Monday, with Ministry of Defense to develop tourism at military bases.



Ministry of Culture says it plans to nominate Phra Borommathat Chedi in Nakhon Si Thammarat province for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage’s tentative list at the 36th Session of the World Heritage Committee in St Petersburg, Russia.

no Euro 2012 here

So Grammy have been refused the request to UEFA to allow TRUE to show the Euro 2012 matches.  Of course it's nothing to do with the fact that for the sum of 1590Baht we could buy a Grammy box and watch.

So True, according to the Bangkok Post are compensating us... how...

To compensate all the subscribers, TrueVisions has upgraded its service between June 10 and July 11, 2012. Those with a Platinum package are entitled to the 9-channel A La Carte package, the Gold Package to the Platinum Package, and those with other packages can access True Sports channel.

I'll see later if it's 'true'

Bell Travel to require prepayment

Bell Travel who provide an excellent transfer service between Bangkok airport and Pattaya are changing their booking system - it looks like from September 1st as they are asking for no bookings beyond that date.  The new system will require payment in advance against now where you book, turn up and then pay.

But at 200Baht with minibus transfer to or from your hotel it is great value.

To be honest it is not a surprise - I wonder how many no shows they have.  I only hope that the new booking engine allows you to amend a booking, now 'edit' only allows you to cancel.

Have You Read.....

Have you downloaded Roberts eBooks Yet?

Rough Diamonds

Author : Bell, Robert

ISBN : 9786162220821

Category : Books on Asia

Pages : 311

Price: $4.99

Description

Part One of 'Thai Diamonds' Somrot Weangmakham is persuaded by his brother to go and work at Diamond Boys when it opened. He agreed on condition that he only did the shows. Surit told him that going with customers was not compulsory, but that he really needed some help to get the shows started. Somrot, ‘Rot’ as he was known, was not worried; he just did not want his brother to know. He knew the rough end of the trade, but that was a secret. ‘Rit’ could never be allowed to know what had happened in Bangkok. There is something about the Diamond guys, whether it is fresh faced Run, straight from the village, or Cap who had done his round of the bars and a bond would tie them. They endure all that Pattaya has to throw at them, including death and rape. They come through it all stronger, harder and more determined. Cap and Run use every tool at their disposal to save enough money to escape Pattaya and build a new future in Udon. Two Farangs, Michael Barnard and Geoffrey Shotton befriend the guys and help them along their way. Geoff supports Cap and Run in their battle to move north, whilst Mike befriends Rit and Rot. Even when Rot leaves for the army they remain close. One of their number dies and guides their futures from beyond the grave. Their guardian spirit will only rest once they have accepted their fates and built a future, but they have to work out his riddles. Rough Diamonds is set in Pattaya and Isaan. The story will continue in Diamond Fellowship.

Rough Diamonds ISBN : 9786162220821 Category : Books on Asia Pages : 311 Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Diamond Fellowship

Author : Bell, Robert

ISBN : 9786162221156

Category : Erotica & Adventure

Pages : 283

Price: $4.99

Description

Part Two of 'Thai Diamonds' The guys are back and on a mission. Keng completes his task of helping his friends find their futures and is finally free to move on. As friendships are renewed, the Diamonds set down a path that will see them change the face of Diamond Boys, and Pattaya. They gain revenge on some of those who crossed, exploited and abused them in their youth. To get there they have to work undercover for the police to expose a side of Thailand a lot of them were once part of, the side the Thailand where they lost their innocence. In many ways it was all for Keng, their soul mate, who started young and died at 20.Rot finally declares his feelings, ones that he has hidden from everyone but Mike and, together with Run, leads the Diamonds towards the bright future.The pivotal event in the Thai Diamonds books is Rit’s night at the Hilton. Whilst Rough Diamonds tells the story up to that night, Diamond Fellowship is a fast-paced account of the three months that follow it. If you have read Rough Diamonds, Diamond Fellowship follows their stories. If you have not then Rough Diamonds is there for you to delve into their past once you have read Diamond Fellowship.

Diamond Fellowship ISBN : 9786162221156 Category : Erotica & Adventure Pages : 283 Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Thailand to promote sit down toilets

according to an article I read, Thailand wants sit down toilets to replace the squat variety in view of the ageing population.  It has been suggested that people should be charged less for using one where both are available!.  One thing though.  From experience at the resort, who is going to tell the Thais not to squat on a sit down toilet?

Back Home After a few days in Pattaya

Sitting in Bangkok station waiting the train.

Hint if you need to recharge your phone/laptop etc, there are power points on the balcony at Anna's restaurant.

Four nights in Pattaya - a welcome break, but give me Udon anyday.  At least the guys were not working so we relaxed at Rit's house, went to the Karaoke and fishing.  Pattaya seemed quiet, but as I never entered the centre, I don't really know.

 As for the hair cut - Rot has just finished 17 days in the monkhood.

Travels

Got my ticket for the sleeper to Bangkok tonight.  Shopping in Bangkok and then a few days in Pattaya relaxing with Rit and Rot.  Weather permitting water park and karaoke on the agenda.

Today Thailand celebrates Visahka Bucha Day.

Visakha Bucha Day is one of the most important days in Buddhism because of three important incidents in the life of The Buddha, i.e. the birth, the enlightenment and the passing away, miraculously fall on the same month and date, the Vesak full moon day. .So each year, Buddhists throughout the world gather together to perform the worship to recollect the wisdom, purity and compassion of the Buddha.

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You know it's local election time when

Nit decides it is a good time to suggets to the boss of the sub district that he paves the road to the resort.

The village chief decides to distribute pork to the villagers.

Central Plaza Udon Thani

had a few things to do, and I needed to visit my bank.  Forgot it was Saturday.  Ended up parking on floor 5 1/2.

Visited the Udon Motor Show.  The usual suspects were there... Honda, Toyota etc.  Merc and BMW of course.

There was a dealer selling Range Rovers...  Had I guess 3 Sports and 2 Evoque on his stand.  I noticed two demonstrators parked in the parking lot.  Never really imagined Udon as Range Rover territory.

Retuirned to the car..  It then took me 27 minutes to get out of the car park.  Must remember avoid on a Saturday in future.