The trip stage - UK First Thoughts

Well can't fault Air India for service.  Left Bangkok on time.  Late into Mumbai, but as I had a 6 hour wait that didn't matter.

We were slightly late leaving Mumbai for London.  I put it down to the boarding procedures.  First your boarding pass is scanned.  Then security check you have security stamps on boarding pass and luggage tag.  But the is a bottle neck in waiting so they herd you onto the boarding bridge.

First they check your passport/visas.  Then your boarding card and detach the tag.  Then  your baording card again


When food came (breakfast and lunch between Mumbai and London)they barked 'veg or non veg'  A little more information would have helped, and if I wanted veg I'd have pre-ordered.

Twenty minutes late landing at Heathrow but we did seem to be the only arrival at T4.  I was 'encouraged' to use the automatic passport control.  It took the machine a lot longer than my usual experience at manual UK checks.  A lot longer than I observed it took Thai nationals at Bangkok - maybe because the Thais use fingerprints not facial recognition.

Baggage took an age.  I don't understand why the first bags were there by the time I was at baggage claim.  Bags arrived at irregular intervals and mine 30 minutes later.  Oh well straight to the underground to Kings Cross.

I've noticed some strange things being back in England.  Guess you become used to things.  No motor cycle drivers, or cars, driving the wrong way down the street.. And no toilet hose.... just a roll of that tissue we keep on the table at home.  What's that all about.

Now on the East Coast train, first class of course (Well my brother had free expiring tickets) enjoying my tumbler of red wine and afternoon tea.  Egg and Tomato sandwiches bring back memories, but we never had wine on Bamburgh beach.

Tomorrow the passport office!

A quiet night in Pattaya...  Rit and Rot weren't working as their two brothers were in town.  Actually cousins and apparently younger than Rot.  So they decided we'd spend the evening at a Isaan style karaoke near their house. After a night drinking until 3am, I should sleep on the plane tonight.  At least Rot managed to get me back to my hotel on his motor bike.
Now it's time to relax before the bus to the airport.

Train 70 departed Udon a few minutes late, due to the train in front arriving late from Bangkok, and not being ready to return until our departure time.  Still we were only 25 minutes later into Bangkok station.  That's the nearest to on time I've managed.  I was lucky on MRT and Airport rail link timings and actually managed with 2 minutes to spare to get on the 8am Pattaya bus.
As a result I was in the hotel before 10.  Hope the rest of the connections on the trip go as well

Final Countdown

So the clock is ticking.  Off to Bangkok, night on the train.  Next Saturday Pattaya (Rit and Rot should be around) and the Sunday with Air India.  Worked out the trip involves 4 planes and at least 9 trains plus undderground, Skytrain, metro and airport rail links.  And two buses.  Still it's only a ten day trip.  Appointments at UK Passport Office and Thai consulate all booked.

THAI Smile opens bookings

The new Thai operation has launced it's website.

more here

Thai Smile will now operate 4 domestic routes initially.  Originally it was to take over Thai domestic routes, then changed to be a regional player.  Now it starts with Macua and 4 Thai routes.

The Website

In The Thai News

Thailand’s Road Safety Directing Centre reported 253 road fatalities during the first five of the seven deadly days of Songkran, 11 to 15 April.


Thai Airways International launched its Hello Summer campaign for domestic travel through to June.


A mild earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale was registered in Thalang district of Phuket at 12.18pm on Tuesday, but there were no reports of serious damage, the National Disaster Warning Centre said.

 New Apple iPad arriving April 27

Hormone-charged teenagers exchanging tokens of physical love. Naughty husbands purchasing temporary gratification. Or just drunken lovebirds not finding their way home. There was once a place where nobody needed to know your name as long as you had money, open 24/7 _ that place was the Peep Inn short-time motel.

Finally a stunning statement about the Thai rail system...  According to Chula Sukmanop, an inspector-general at the Transport Ministry, double tracks allow trains to pass without stopping to wait for each other.

Intrepid Travel Plans

My next intrepid trip starts on April 27th with the overnight sleeper to Bangkok, then MRT and BTS to Ekamai.  Bus to Pattaya and an overnight with Friends.  The following afternoon the bus to Bangkok Airport then Air India to Heathrow via Mumbai with a 6 hour stop over.  From Heathrow, tube to Kings Cross and then train to Durham.

There has to be an easier way!!!

Swimming For Songkran at Pattaya 3

Chinto's first time when his feet could not touch the bottom

Happy Songkran

Life In Inspiring Isaan, and everyone at Chrystal Hill Garden Resort would like to wish you all a happy Songkran

A not so welcome visitor at the resort

Loei And Roi Et Flights to resume

Nok Air announces Wednesday it will resume services to Loei and Roi Et services 4 May. These two services were suspended when it moved its operations back to Don Mueang, 6 March

Read More

British Embassy Warning

Dear all,

There is a report of 8.9 richter earthquake north of Sumatra Island, Indonesia.  The Thai National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) has issued a Tsunami warning.  If you are in a place facing the Andaman Sea including Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang, Phang Na and other resorts,  you are advised to leave the beach front and evacuate to higher ground immediately and follow advice of local authorities.

On behalf of Asif Ahmad
British Ambassador to Thailand

More on the earthquake

Evacuations, strong quake off Sumatra

 

Indian Ocean Wide Tsunami Alert Issued 

 

Tsunami warning issued for Thai coastal provinces following 8.9-scale quake in Indonesia

 

Tsunami siren alarmed at Patong Beach

 

 

Earthqauke Off Sumatra. Phuket feels shocks

An earthquake of undetermined magnitude shook parts of Phuket this afternoon. In Phuket City, residents reported feeling the tremor about 3.50pm.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigationconfirmed immediately that an earthquake had occurred off Sumatra. The entire region was affected.

At 4.20pm Thailand's Royal Thai Navy reported a tsunami had been generated, but could not say of what scale.

News agency reports said the ''massive earthquake'' rocked Indonesia. It was not known whether the earthquake had triggered a tsunami, but many people were evacuating to be certain.

Residents of endangered areas were advised to switch on the television to listen to Channel 3 for reports. Mobile telephone services were quickly overwhelmed by mutliple calls.

It is believed evacuations were underway along parts of Phuket's holiday west coast and in Krabi and Phang Nga.

See More at Phuketwan

Getting Ready For Songkran

Thai energy costs rise

Thai Petrol, LPG and CNG prices are rising as a resulty of an increase in the levy.  Gasohol is not affected.  Consumers have also been warned that the fuel tariff in next motnhs electricity bills will rise.




Read More

Thai News

I'm sure we see this headline every year.....  Never seems to work....

Strict ban on illegal water guns

 

Meanwhile we have too many eggs.....   I have noticed prices drifting down a bit at Tesco

 

Egg glut looms as policy backfires

Today In Thailand

Of course the main event on all the TV Channels is the funeral rites for HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda, the only child of King Rama VI.

Meanwhile in Nong Han it was draft day, the day the guys who are 21 this year draw to see if they have to go into the army for two years.

At the resort we've set up a water bucket and the kids are starting practice for Songkran.  Shopping for water guns and bright shirts tomorrow.  Nit says they need target practice before Songkran starts officially on Friday.

Also in Bangkok.... Bangkok's central railway station, Hua Lamphong, was on Monday jam-packed with workers each intent on returning to their home province to be with their family for the Songkran holiday Read More

Songkran Approaches

OK it starts on Friday, but friends have already started appearing in the village.  I guess the three day week this week is making people make a long break of it.

Hopefully a double bonus for us.  One people will want a room to stay, or whatever.  Secondly lots of drinking so lots of bottles for Nit to buy for recycling.

Chinto is probably old enough now to enjoy the water as well.  So from Thursday I guess it's wet shorts and T shirt time.

Udon Thani FC

Only managed a 1-1 home draw against Roi Et yesterday, but remain one point clear at the top of the table.  There is a break next week for Songkran.  Next match April 21st away to Nong Bua Lampu

Udon Thani Connected

The following the the current flight schedule for Udon Thani extracted from the airline websites

Bangkok - Udon Thani

FLIGHT

DEP

ARR

FREQ

NOTES

DD9200

06:00

07:05

daily

Don Mueang

FD3361

07:10

08:15

daily

Suvarnabhumi

TG002

09:20

10:25

daily

Suvarnabhumi

DD9202

10:50

11:55

daily

Don Mueang

FD3366

11:10

12:10

daily

Suvarnabhumi

DD9210

13:20

14:25

daily

Don Mueang

TG010

14:00

15:05

daily

Suvarnabhumi

FD3364

16:15

17:15

daily

Suvarnabhumi

DD9216

16:40

17:45

daily

Don Mueang

TG014

18:05

19:10

daily

Suvarnabhumi

DD9218

19:10

20:15

daily

Don Mueang

Udon Thani - Bangkok

FLIGHT

DEP

ARR

FREQ

NOTES

DD9201

07:35

08:35

daily

Don Mueang

FD3361

08:45

09:50

daily

Suvarnabhumi

TG003

11:10

12:10

daily

Suvarnabhumi

DD9203

12:55

13:25

daily

Don Mueang

FD3367

13:05

14:05

daily

Suvarnabhumi

TG011

15:45

16:45

daily

Suvarnabhumi

DD9211

14:55

15:55

daily

Don Mueang

FD3365

17:40

18:40

daily

Suvarnabhumi

DD9217

18:15

19:15

daily

Don Mueang

TG015

19:55

20:55

daily

Suvarnabhumi

DD9219

20:45

21:45

daily

Don Mueang

Udon Thani - Chiang Mai

FLIGHT

DEP

ARR

FREQ

NOTES

DD8611

09:15

10:35

daily

DD956

13:00

14:20

Sun, Mon, Fri

DD8625

19:40

20:55

daily

Chiang Mai - Udon Thani

FLIGHT

DEP

ARR

FREQ

NOTES

DD8610

07:25

08:45

daily

DD955

11:20

12:40

Sun, Mon, Fri

DD8625

17:50

19:10

daily

Udon Thani - Phuket

FLIGHT

DEP

ARR

FREQ

NOTES

FD3985

17:55

19:45

daily

Phuket - Udon Thani

FLIGHT

DEP

ARR

FREQ

NOTES

FD3984

15:45

17:25

daily

KEY

DD

Nok Air

FD

Thai Air Asia

TG

Thai Airways

More Flights From Pattaya

Solar Air will launch two new services out of U-Tapao Airport. They are: Kanchanaburi, starting 2 May, four times a week and increasing to daily in June and Chumporn, daily flights from 3 May.


For More Read Here

Laos Opens Cave For Visits

Laos will officially open Khounlang Cave in Kasi district, Vientiane province 7 April.

Read More

Bangkok to Vientiane - Nok Air

When I was checking flights to Bangkok I noticed Nok Air are now 'flying' from Bangkok to Vientiane in Laos.  Looked at details and found the routing....

Bangkok - Udon Thani by plane.
Udon - Nong Khai Border Post by bus
Cross the border and Friendship Bridge
Different bus into Vientiane. (Listed as a different agent operating the link so I presume different bus.)

Back to Back Holidays in Thailand

Friday 6 April is Chaki Memorial Day that honours the nine kings who ruled over Thailand under the Chakri Dynasty. The first king in the Chaki Dynasty, Rama I, founded the capital in Bangkok. The current ruler, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world’s longest reigning monarch.

The Thai Cabinet designated Monday 9 April a holiday to allow citizens to pay their respects at the royal cremation of HRH Bejaratana Rajasuda.

Then it's back to work for 3 days before the Big Splash Songkran which runs from the 13th to 16th

For Songkran Motorway tolls will once more be waived.

Motorway travel will be free during the Songkran festival, from 1600 on 10 April to 2400 on 16 April, to encourage Thais travel up-country to visit friends and relatives.
The concession applies to motorways 9 and 7 that skirt Bangkok and connect with highways to the North near Bang Pa-In and to the East in Chonburi linking resorts such as Pattaya and Rayong with Bangkok.

More from TTR

Immigration Forms

With news that Thailand is introducing automatic passport gates for Thai nationals and doing away with the TM6 form for them, I thought it time to write on my experience at Kuala Lumpur immigration last week.
On arrival I asked for an immigration form, then saw a small sign saying they weren't needed.  I took my place in the line and once at the desk handed over the passport.
It was scanned and then I was asked to place my index fingers on a scanner.  A small sticker, with detachable part was stuck in the passport and stamped.
On exit the passport and sticker were scanned, removable section torn out and that was it.

I also noted that Bangkok airport has finally introduced a single queue at immigration, like most airports and you wind your way forward.  No more pot luck of which queue you choose

Thai Airways International announced an increase of 3,000 seats to its domestic network to meet travel demand during the upcoming Songkran Festival.
It also launched promotional fares on domestic routes for travel until 18 April, but only for flights into Bangkok from the provinces pre- Songkran and back to the provinces immediately after the festival.
THAI will add a daily flight to each of three key destinations; Phuket and Chiang Mai, 12,13, 16 and 17 April and Krabi, 12, 13 and 17 April.



http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2012/04/thai-adds-songkran-flights/

A eBook By A Friend

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.

Link to website

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

New Central Plaza in Udon Thani

Thoughts on Security measures

Ok.  I got the 'underground' from Bangkok Railway station to the Airport Rail Link.  They have security at the entrances.  Just about everybody sets off the metal detector.  I was stopped and duly opened my bag.  The security guy looked and told me to continue.  No look beyond the clothes on top of the bag.  What's the point.  Whilst he was doing this another 10 people set the alarm off.  Were they stopped, no.

Udon Thani FC

Udon beat Mahasarakam yesterday, away from home to remain top of the table.

Back from my travels

Back home from my malaysia trip.  Count down to the UK trip starts now.