Smiler

I am on the same time Eva flight from LHR next week and for the first time in years instead of staying a night in Bangkok before flying to Udon, I have booked the 18:00 flight up country on the same day. Might just change the domestic flight to the following day. So what time did you actually land at Swampy D? How long did it take to get through Immigration?

Mrs smiler has been saying it’s hit 40 for the last 5 days in the village. I am back next week…..

Yep I am the same in Thailand - really miss the real ale. Ironically I’ve been back in UK for 8 days and haven’t had a pint yet. Couple of bottles of red and that’s all however I’ve got some downtime this week and a evening in my local planned….

How long ago did you book if you don't mind me asking? My nephew has a similar price and departure date but they booked back in August.

I was due to come back from UK 15th of November but changed to the 29th, flying Thai. This was the return leg of the ticket I bought in July. Closer it gets to Christmas the more expensive flights are to Thailand so I had to pay an extra £100 (ish). Another expensive time of year is of course the 2-3 weeks before Songkran. I am looking at around 20k baht to fly over to the UK end of January, then 35k return end of March, again with Thai. The prices in 2nd week of April LHR - BKK are just stupid.

Sat in the bus station at Vientiane waiting for the bus to Friendship Bridge on the way back to Thailand.

Just got in after watching young Smiler play footy in a inter school tournament. They won but only after a tense penalty shoot out. FAF watching the 2 nuns who work at his dual faith school leaping about and screaming in celebration 🤣😇🙏😂

Buy in bulk at the weekly market in Ban Dung near Udon.

And it's over - just received a full refund 😎. Guess my experience with agoda goes something like its all good until its not good. Really haven't been happy with the way they treated me which is such a shame after the years I have used them. Every day is a school day 👀😬

So, 8 days later..... I have sent the booking information that agoda requested 3 times. I called them twice. They finally admit liability 😎. I was offered 2 options - a credit for the full amount to be used within 6 months when next booking through agoda🤔 😂🤣🤣🤣 Or a full refund to my Thai bank account which may take up to 10 working days. I've taken this option so let's see how many days before I do actually get my money back.

I have used Agoda countless times to book hotels in Thailand over the years, never had an issue but.... Decided to stay at the Miami in Bangkok 30th November. This was the very first place I stayed back in the early 90s, it changed hands recently and has been done up so I thought why not. Used Agoda to book by scanning the booking screen QR code with my Thai Bank App. Did exactly the same in July last time with Agoda. Well the money left my account instantly BUT a booking cancelled message came up on the screen. I have been trying to get my money back for the last 2 days. Sent 3 documents including screenshot of the QR code booking screen, copy of bank app notification confirming payment and bank statement. Kin nightmare, I am on the way to Heathrow and its still not resolved. I won't be using Agoda again, judging by the comments on their Facebook page, I won't be on my own.

Ah my go to place to eat in Udon and my favourite beer. I'll be there in 3 weeks😃. The owner is a scandimaniac called Max - nice guy. Just opposite the Brickie next to the Iti place is a small bar called Fun Bar. Had a good line up a couple of months ago.... The owner there however can be a right miserable bar steward, especially if his Mrs gets a bit pissed and flirty😬

My friends father was a founding member and is portrayed in the series. She knew it was in production but was still surprised to get a call from the actor playing her dad a year or so ago. He very politely asked a few questions about her dad's personality etc. Haven't seen the program yet myself as I am going to binge watch when I have the time. Incidentally my friend and her family are pleased with the show although a few facts have been apparently "toned down" for TV. Sorry - no spoilers 😬

RIP Ma'am ❤️

Used to play rugby against a side called the 3 9s who were made up of Ambulance, Fire and Police personnel. I remember a couple of traffic coppers saying they used to play speeding snooker with car colours......

Yep almost the same. 27 or 28 for me in the daytime, I find its the humidity rather than the temperature which makes me uncomfortable. Nighttime 25. We don't get leccie bills till later in the month up here in the jungle. Last one was around 1800 baht. 3 a/c units, f**k knows how many fans and me turning into my father by going around muttering and switching off lights. 9 of them the other evening..... My girl has gone back to Uni now so I am hoping June's bill will be peak consumption and maybe we can save a bit in the next few months Who am I trying to kid? 🤔🙄💩💩

I have never had any issues before Dave and yeah I agree they are a good source of protein. Indeed some say certain types are akin to nature's viagra. Remember eating some black ones once and I was hanging wet bath towels off my knob for hours later...... Anyway the silkworm and some types of grasshopper larvae can be rich in histemeen (7-12%) and this is what messed me up.

Couple of days ago Mrs smiler's eldest hi-so 🙄sister from Bangkok came to stay. As is tradition there was a party, lots of Chang and as you might expect, shed loads of Isan food. Was a great evening. Now I swerve the local delicacies, don't do Som Tam, laab, nam pa la etc etc. As a party piece though I will take a bite of a rat or frog on a stick and actually don't dislike the bugs - they just taste of whatever they are fried in. Every day is a school day. I won't be eating these again. Woke up yesterday morning feeling like shit squared, balance shot to bits, my right hand and forearm were swollen and I felt like I had been run over by a baht bus. This was not a hangover. Turns out I have an allergy to the silkworm bugs. So I took an antihistamine pill and slept for most of the day, another one last night and today is first day of the rest of my life.

Been talking to Mrs Smiler about her pond. Seems it was some sort of government scheme she signed up for which was why it was so much cheaper than @ChiFlyer. Apparently we had to wait almost a year after she first applied for it. She got 100 fish for 100 baht as part of the deal. No idea how many are still there. Its on a part of the estate (😁🙄) I rarely visit TBH....

I don't want to come across as picky or pedantic but what size was the retention pond you had built? Seems a huge amount of money (even if you did split the cost 😃). Mrs Smiler made a 20mx20m pool last year for less than 5k and that's not taking into account the soil she sold from the excavation. 300 baht a truck load as I seem to remember. The rains came early in our part of the jungle this year which led to an overwhelming abundance of mangoes. I've never seen so many in 14 years. Many people literally could not give them away let alone sell them. Guess the trick is to have them available when nobody else does and therefore the price is what people are prepared to pay. Durian is a prime example, today I saw it in the local market for 85baht. 4 months back was over 200...

Another great trip report 👍 I know most of the places pictured as we live north east of Udon but its always interesting to see others take on them. Really enjoyed your Laos trip as well @CampariOthanks for posting.

I was fired from my job for giving up my seat to a blind lady. Not going to be easy to get another job driving a bus. Spent a month working as a stage set designer but wasn't very productive and fell out with the boss. I left without making a scene. Non alcoholic beer is a bit like licking out your sister - tastes the same but it's just wrong.

I returned to UK in 2018 because of concerns about my old girl. My sister lives almost opposite her, is 13 years younger than me and was/is her principal carer. She was in the midst of a health scare herself and with a couple of teenage lads, had her hands full. After a couple of days we had a coffee in Marks and sparks, I told mum she was looking great, better than when young Smiler and I saw her the previous Christmas. She said she was afraid of losing her mind as she was getting a bit forgetful. Relaying the conversation to my sis later that evening, she had also had had the same chat with mum but we both thought she was quite bright and sharp. No worries really. Next morning I am still on Thai time and awake at stupid o'clock. I go to the fridge for milk and find the remote control for the TV in there... 😃🙄😁 Since 2018 I have been trying to split myself between UK and Thailand. I will be back in UK in a couple of months to give my sis a break, sort any jobs that need doing around mum's and so on. The mother in law is 96 and as Mrs Smiler is the youngest child she takes care. Its a full time 24/7 job. I may do a separate thread on Yai, she is an amazing woman. Never imagined my life would end up revolving around 2 elderly ladies half a world away from each other. As was mentioned earlier it is a real privaledge to help them enjoy their twilight years, it's so rewarding all be it hard work sometimes. Ads mate you certainly aren't alone with your deliberations on what to do. There is not a one size fits all solution IMHO, some good experiences here though and hopefully food for thought.

Think I've tried just about everything over the years but the truth is I haven't found any surefire way of beating jet lag. Oddly enough Butch when I was working shifts 3 years ago I suffered the most.

See now this is exactly the reason why I don't look at this thread when I am in Thailand 👀🙄 Damn that pint looks good Dave😋😍😍😍😋😋 And no, I don't want to know how it actually tasted, just leave it to my imagination please 😬