Mark22

Very confusingly the website www.noideabkk.com directs to a place called Pasha.
It is very odd as it is the same place and all the signage is No Idea. Everything is the same, except for the name!
There must be a backstory there, which I will ask about on the next visit, as I love mysteries like this.
It comes across as daft and must be very confusing!
SAG

Backstory
ToTo is visiting BKK as she is looking for wholesalers for her new Laos business and has also been invited to the WN04 Staff Trip later this week. @Behan suggested we take her to No Idea, which is a really nice restaurant on soi 18. 
I had visited No Idea with @Behan once before and remembered that it was a favourite of Iain's when it was located on soi 22. As Iain was a qualified chef, that was quite the recommendation.
There was a comical episode when I was trying to give the directions to ToTo:
ToTo: Where we meet?
SAG: No idea
ToTo: What name of restaurant?
SAG: No idea
ToTo: How I find it?
SAG: On soi 18.
ToTo: How I know I am there?
SAG: Stop at No idea
etc.
I finally managed to cut through the confusion, but must admit, it is a daft name for a restaurant!
The Restaurant
No Idea is situated about 300 metres, or a 5 minutes walk, inside soi 18, on the left hand side. It is set back from the road, with steps leading up to an outside area. 
The inside is spacious and feels very roomy, with a modern decor and tables far enough away from each other that you can have a private conversation.
There is also a bar area, which has a bar menu, and there must be 1,000+ bottles of wine on the walls. The cocktails and wine menu is extensive, 
What makes the restaurant stand out is that there are a lot of staff, who are very attentive and are well trained, with excellent English. 
The menu has about 8-10 starters and the same number of main courses and desserts. But what is quite unique about No Idea is that the list of specials is probably bigger than the menu itself. I have never seen so many specials and they definitely change from visit to visit.
The type of food is modern farang, and is probably most similar to the Wine Connection on soi 11, although the quality at No Idea is way better and the service cannot be compared.
If you're thinking that it is expensive, you would be wrong, I had the grilled chicken and seasonal vegetable, which was about THB 500 and the portions were very generous.
ToTo had the Wagyu Carpaccio as a starter and then the seafood pasta, which she seemed to enjoy. The carpaccio was THB 550 and the seafood pasta, which had a lot of seafood in it was 950. 
A sign of a good restaurant is that there is little to no staff turnover and I recognised three of the waiting on staff from the previous visit.
Summary
If you are looking for a nice place, that has very good food and excellent service, but is neither pretentious nor over-priced, then No Idea ticks all of the boxes. It is a perfect place to take a LB out for a special occasion, without her feeling intimidated or like a fish out of water.
If you set the benchmark at Wine Connection, then that place gets a 3.5/5.0 from me, as it is just OK food, with cramped tables and so-so service, as compared to much better quality food, way better service and a nice spacious layout. It is the difference between a corporate chain restaurant and an individually owned establishment.
I give No Idea a 4.5/5.0 and IMHO it cannot be faulted.
Highly recommended if you fancy some farang food and it has a highly extensive drinks list!
The customers were mainly farangs and it was a nice relaxed atmosphere.
Cheers
SAG
 

Mainly because some of us have a long drive to and from the airports where direct flights depart.
Norse Atlantic ran a direct service from Manchester last winter which was brilliant. Unfortunately they have now knocked that on he head which leaves Heathrow and Gatwick as the only UK airports offering direct flights to BKK.

It's not hard to apply and get the 60 day tourist visa, but just an extra hassle and an extra expense.  Except for one trip, I have always stayed longer than 30 days so I have done the 60 day tourist visa process a few times.
Even if you don't technically qualify for the DTV or one of their newer visas it might be worth applying. One doctors appointment used to be good enough to get you the 5 year visa when it first came out and meeting the "soft activities" criteria used to be very easy...register for 1 cooking class or muay thai lesson and that sort of thing.   

Seems it's a done deal. Tourist visas will now be standardized at 30 days rather than 60 day. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/travel/thailand-visa-rules-americans.html?unlocked_article_code=1.j1A.Ahta.QLySZUwGY2ie&smid=url-share
Brilliant move. Tourism remains below pre-pandemic levels, so Thailand decides it will take those tourists who do come and cut the amount of time they can stay in country by 50%. Of course that means some subset of tourists will be spending a lot less money in Thailand.
My last two trips were to Argentina and Brazil. In both cases I received a 90 day visa.
TIT, right?

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3257580/thailand-ends-60day-visafree-stay?tbref=hp

Not law just yet but expect the changes to go through soon

Having avoided the middle east now for at least the last decade there's no way I'm going to be tempted by saving a few hundred quid. Strange really as I used to have a gold card with Qatar Airways but after the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud incident left many stranded the decision was taken to fly direct to BKK whenever possible. That subsequently proved to be a very good decision during March this year when all flights through the middle east were grounded and our direct flight was unaffected.
That said I have occasionally flown via Paris & Amsterdam but getting stuck there shouldn't be anywhere near as much of an issue.

Exactly this - insurance. I am off to Asia for month next week. When booking the (company) flights, connections with EK, QR, EY etc are ~70% cheaper than what I am taking instead (BA direct, ANA etc).
FCDO is clear, advice against all but etc travel. Insurance companies will do whatever they can not pay out, so the moment you get stuck, let alone travel to the region (ME) and end up in hospital, medevac flight you are buggered. Queue a front page Daily Mail sob story image in your head of some family from shitsville in the UK stuck in Tenerife after granny had to have her kidneys removed. 
I will have to go to Oman, and that’s only possible with special company approval and dedicated insurance. Insurance Insurance insurance ….check check check.
I will be back in Bangkok as part of the trip - so may see some of you there. May even do a Lidl version of last years speed pool event. 
 
 

So, it looks as though there is some stability with travel in and out of The Middle East.
We are seeing some very attractive deals from the likes of Emirates, Quatar, and Etihad as the companies
try to entice us back to using them? Would you be confident to take them up on this? Certainly, you will unlikely be
covered by Travel Insurance in the event of being stranded, trust me I was victim of this! Alongside the threat of conflict is
now the added concern of possible aviation fuel shortages. It's a difficult situation to balance as some deals do look attractive,
personally, I will be sticking with flying direct to LOS for the immediate future.

oh well... 
I am gonna take one for the team then 555

Ouch...talk about misinformed medical advice.
First off, if a person (LB or whoever) is HIV+ and is regularly taking an approved ART drug, you are exceedingly unlikely to be able to be infected when having sex with them. If a person is on an approved PrEP drug, ditto.
Second, use a condom, regardless. Not only are condoms quite effective against HIV, they are also quite effective against a long list of other sexually transmitted diseases that HIV drugs provide zero protection against, and some of those diseases are pretty nasty in their own right. And if you're using condoms you don't have to worry about the honesty of your partner.
Third, no, people should not be on PrEP (not PReP, get the acronym right, dude!) no matter what. If you're using condoms it makes no sense. PrEP drugs are pretty potent and not suited for everyone. Those who might want to consider PrEP as an option are those who drink to excess or take party drugs when playing with the LBs, and might stupidly go bareback under those conditions. Or those who plan on rolling the dice and going bareback.

With my frequent visits to Thailand to see the temples and eat street food (*cough*) it has made sense for me to sign up to the Accor+ program as it more than pays for itself. One of the main benefits is the free nights offer and I used this recently to stay at the Sofitel.
I usually stay in mid-level hotels like the Mercure on Soi 11 and the Holiday Inn Express in Pattaya but often like a nicer hotel to finish my trip when the rates are good in the off-season. My usual go-to is the Hyatt Regency which I very much like, and this was my first time at the Sofitel where I spent 4-nights. I booked a 'luxury' room with club access so I could compare it to the Hyatt, but I was upgraded to a junior suite which makes it an unfair to compare rooms.
What I will say is that the size of the bed, its comfort and the quality of the bedding is on par with the Hyatt. The bathroom amenities are similar as is the quality and responsiveness of the cleaning services. The main difference was the rooftop bar area, lounge, gym, and overall quality of service.
Spectrum at the Hyatt is a more 'showy' place, it's got spectacular views and its where tourist like to visit for the skyline and the vibe. Belga at the Sofitel is really an outside terrace and lower key with a discreet service sort of vibe. I've taken LB guests to both and they enjoyed it and the staff treated them with respect. Also, you can get a 30% discount on food and drink at Sofitel with Accor+ which is a good benefit. I have been given a couple of free drink vouchers at the Hyatt but not always. The lounge at the Hyatt is small and can get busy, but the lounge at the Sofitel is one can get lost in and takes up an entire floor, but most people congregate near the food area. Food and drink offerings are broadly on par, maybe the wine is better at the Sofitel The gym at both hotels are good, but the Sofitel is far better for my needs. Unfortunately the pool at the Sofitel was closed for refurbishment so can't compare those. Service standards are very good at both hotels, but I would put Sofitel ahead here. Its just that bit more attentive and personalised. You can also walk direct from Nana BTS to the Hyatt under the covered skywalk, and from Asok to the Sofitel using the footbridge but the Sofitel access is covered all the way so you won't get caught out if its raining (although not sure if that access is 24/7). I will still be using Hyatt as part of my points collection strategy and to maintain my current status but the main driver when deciding between either will be the cost, including club access. Hyatt is usually cheaper but using Accor+ benefits and reward points can balance this out.  Overall, both are very good hotels that you can spend all day in especially if you have lounge access, and of course its very guest friendly! It's a case of give each one a try and see which one gives you the best value. Either way I don't think you will go to far wrong if you want a better standard of accommodation near the action.

Thought this was an ideal name for a LB coffee shop or bar! 

Seriously thinking of stealing the idea, along with the name and then opening a chain of coffee shops throughout all the main tourist areas of Thailand.
Now how do I get Fiat to come in 50/50 with me ?

Seriously thinking of stealing the idea, along with the name and then opening a chain of coffee shops throughout all the main tourist areas of Thailand.
Now how do I get Fiat to come in 50/50 with me ?

Indeed, and well played to you both.
I would add that the concept is actually a really good one......Toto is in the Minivan to Laos as I write this, I might suggest she
tells the driver to turn back, I could really see her running a bakery/coffee shop with a crew of Poom Pui Ladyboy waitresses!

I actually thought it was a great idea and it would really suit a LB reaching retirement age. Maybe they could also have ST rooms upstairs?
The concept was in the making for 8+ months and whilst I wrote the script, another far more clever BM than me created the AI images.
What was interesting was how the AI models have improved over the past year. The original images weren't great and look cloned, but in the past few months, it has come along in leaps and bounds.
It is fascinating and scary at the same time.
My favourite image was the alley, if you look closely it really looks like a tip. You wouldn't want to stay in a hotel down soi 8/1.

Note I decided to create a fake soi to give the game away and as expected that's how we were busted on both forums. The jape did last longer than I thought though!
How the AI images improved over time:
The original versions of Amah









I actually got the hots for this version:


Amah and the Crew
Notice how the crew looked very 'clonish', this was a big problem with the earlier AI models.











Finally, I will share a video of my new online girlfriend with you all:
1754677950336.mp4
The creative genius behind all of this is a BM, whom I will not name, but he is more than welcome to step up and receive his accolades. He put a lot of work into all of this.
Cheers, until next year...
SAG

Background                                                      
I’ve been meaning to do a write-up about this recent discovery that I made whilst walking around the side sois of the Golden Triangle last week. 
BKK has many great coffee shops, but this is one with a difference and this is the third time that I have been back there in just under ten days. 
Read on and you will learn why… 
Bump and Grind
This caffeine oasis is located on soi 8/1 and has rapidly become my go-to place for an hour’s afternoon break from the hustle and bustle of BKK.  
The coffee shop is quite compact and has 6 tables inside and it is also busy for takeaways. Not only do they serve all of the usual variations of coffee, but they also have an inhouse bakery and provide a wide range of breads, cakes, and desserts, which change daily. 
The prices are in line with the Golden Triangle, and the cafe is kept spotlessly clean.  
So, what makes Bump and Grind so special and why do I keep going back?  
That’s extremely easy to answer – the coffee shop was founded by a certain Amah Klaowan, and it opened just two months ago.  
Amah had a successful career as a cabaret performer both in Phuket (Simon Cabaret) and BKK (Calypso). When she turned thirty, she decided to use her savings to establish a coffee shop, and this also explains why it is called ‘Bump and Grind.’ 
Did I mention that Amah is an exceedingly hot LB? 
One coffee shop – six hot LBs!
In addition to the gorgeous Amah, there are also two hot baristas, two counter servers and a sexy baker. Every friendly member of staff is a LB!
 
Specials
Bump and Grind had a soft launch in early February and by mid-March Amah realised that more than half of her customers are farangs. Luckily, her and all of the service staff have decent English. 
To cater to the farangs that have flocked to the shop, she has started running specials and this month there is a happy hour from 07.30-11.30 every day, with 25% off coffees and 10% off all food items.
 Some of the cakes and savouries on display
 
 Summary
I highly recommend this place. The coffee is really good and so are the sweet and savoury options. 
The eye candy is beyond outstanding, and Amah sends shivers down my spine, which trigger fantasies of her becoming the next ex-Mrs SAG.
 Location
Bump and Grind is quite easy to find, as it stands out due to the great signage. It is near the top of soi 8/1.
 
 Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to be on Google Maps yet.
 Enjoy, but please be kind to Amah and the five lovely LB members of staff!
Cheers
SAG

Worth keeping an eye out with this airline as there is a possibility they may decide to do a year round schedule in the future from Gatwick.
Currently it's Oct - April but their load capacities have been very impressive since launching the route and revenues are up overall. However it's a complicated situation as Norse currently lease six of their 787 Dreamliners to Indigo Airlines which were grounded due to the Iran conflict but are apparently now being introduced back into service.
Bottom line is any of these budget airlines could go out of business at any moment so be aware when booking tickets well in advance.

Have visited this bar 3 times now and it's been busy each and every time although it was to watch the football so probably to be expected. It's located on the 4th floor (accessed by a lift) and there's also a large outside terrace for those that like to feel the Bangkok heat whilst having a pint.

The TDAC, Thailand Digital Arrival Card does asks you.  I had a friend come in December he left it blank he said they asked him about the out bound flight for the first time in over a decade of coming here.
He got in without much trouble saying he was going to travel around and wasn’t sure of the exact dates but they told him in future he should book one. 

Unless you have history of overstaying you will be fine. I've been asked once or twice when I'm leaving Thailand and have showed them my (genuine) return flight booking in an app. They're not going to get it forensically analysed, all they want to know is if you're a genuine tourist and not going to overstay. If you're really worried then book the cheapest flight you can find to Cambodia, Malaysia or Indonesia.

Try this: https://onwardticket.com/en

Just had confirmation back from Nam's, bargain, especially compared to the now even higher AOT prices:
The price is 1200 bath all tolls included with sedan L. Driver will waiting for you at Meeting point near the Exit 3 (level 2) Please look for her with your name on a card.
We will get back to you on the day evening with name of your driver and her picture. 
 

In the last year I’ve used Nam’s taxis several times and it cost 1500 between Sukhumvit to Pattaya, and 1200 between Suvarnabhumi and Pattaya. I’m pretty sure that on one occasion the cost was slightly higher because they didn’t have a small car available.