Maybe they were advising that no alcohol sale for the 17/ 18th he he he.

What else will be affected besides banks being closed?

Businesses usually close? Any other observances over these two days?

Well I have no desire to disrespect the locals, so hopefully I have plans in place to have some Tiger in my room on arrival on 17th. I'll play the bar scene 'by ear' -
if it seems 'behind closed doors / under the counter' then I will avoid.
Problem is, even at home I like a drink with my meal, as I'm in 'tourist' mode I'll be eating out every night, time for the hip flask to come into play, "Soda & Ice Cap" - tipple tipple after the cutie serving me has gone ! Must add a bottle of Jamesons to the Tiger request.
My next worry is Ricohoc's comment above about the banks, I'll have to try to arrange for someone to get me some Bahts ready, I don't use ATM's due to the greedy UK banks charges, and normally use banks for exchange.
Problems, Problems, and I was coming out to LOS to get away from it all.

Mally

Hand carry some cash with u and on arrival at Swampy, use the exchange facilities inside the baggage area to get ur baht.

The rate u get is identical to the banks in Udon etc, so u dont get ripped off so to speak locally and no commisions.

Mally, like wazza said, I always load up on baht at the airport before I ever see an ATM.

Good to know that, I'd always assumed the airport exchanges would be a megga rip off just waiting for unsuspecting tourists.
Thanks for that tip, another problem solved !
Getting close now, I can almost hear the Tuk-Tuks !

ahhhhh The tuk tuks, now they have good hearing , just like u and will try and rip u off !!

U want lady, u want ganja, u want me standby u all day 1000 baht, good price........

mally wrote:

BKKSTAN wrote:Alcohol,alcohol,alcohol,must have my alcohol with others in a bar or I will have a terrible time!

My God,what am I to do?Am I going to have to ''brown bag'' it and look like some alcoholic or bum?

What will I do if the bars are not selling alcohol?

"Must have my alcohol" ? Yeh you bet I bloody well must, as I said 7k miles & 24 hrs uncomfortable travelling, arriving in a country some 15 - 20 degrees walmer than I've been used to these last 6 months, yes I'll be ready for a cold beer or two - and as for "brown bag" nah, a nice classy hip flask will serve me better .
You might be alright 'resting' for another day in your paradise - every day is the same for you, what's a couple of days on the waggon - nothing for you in your circumstances, BUT I'm not in this position, I've only 2 weeks vacation here and want to cram as much personal enjoyment as I can into my meagre time in LOS, after all my trip will cost me around tb200,000 plus lost wages, so no, I don't want to sit around sipping water - I could have done that at home.
I've no intention of getting blind drunk, causing a scene with a drunken brawl, or anything like that, just a nice long cool drink in the 'paradise' that I have saved up to visit - surely you can live with that Stan ?

I'd still recommend you stay in Bangkok, like I did here: http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/v ... php?t=9472
You said on this thread you wanted some "adult" entertainment, but didn't want to waste money on a Bangkok hotel room. Now you're saying you got 200k minus travel expenses to blow in two weeks. Surely you can afford a couple nights in Bangkok.

Here is Dr. Jingjai's prescription for a couple of good nights in Bangkok...
Pick up a good bottle of whiskey at Duty Free arrivals in Bangkok, check into a hotel and chill out. Call out for a in-room massage, after you get your travel stress "released", go out for a good meal. Cruise around the car park of the Nana Hotel and other places. Since a large number of the bars will be closed, many of the girls will be out and about, lonely, looking for companionship same as you.

And last, but not least. Since bars seem to be a major attraction for you. Remember the adage: fail to plan and plan on failing.
This is a list of Thai holidays: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Public-Ho ... 56175.html
Any holiday having to do with the Royal Family or the Buddha you can expect the bars to be closed. Plan your next holiday accordingly.

Planning my trip is not a good point for me, I have to fit things in around work contracts, when I get chance for a couple of weeks off I grab them. But I will peruse the list you provided and try to avoid next time.
Bangkok is not cancelled, just delayed, I'll pick it up on the way back. My mate wasn't too keen on spending his time in a half open Nana plaza / Soi Cowboy, he wants the full experience, so it's U.T. first, and BKK on the way home.
Thanks to advice from others, the 'dry' days in Udon will not be too bad - Ah, an Englishman on holiday "where's the nearest bar ?"
Everybody happy , that's the way I like it !

jingjai wrote: Cruise around the car park of the Nana Hotel and other places. Since a large number of the bars will be closed, many of the girls will be out and about, lonely, looking for companionship same as you.

And do not forget that the clinics never close,even for buddha days,so get ur antibiotics after ur night of debauchery,nearest clinic is practically opposite Nana near the garage

pompui wrote:

jingjai wrote: Cruise around the car park of the Nana Hotel and other places. Since a large number of the bars will be closed, many of the girls will be out and about, lonely, looking for companionship same as you.

And do not forget that the clinics never close,even for buddha days,so get ur antibiotics after ur night of debauchery,nearest clinic is practically opposite Nana near the garage

What?don't you know that taking antibiotics indiscriminatingly is a sure fire way to develop a resistance to them when and if you need them?

Anyone know what else besides banks are affected by this????

better be the schools, as i could always use a 4 day break, maybe go north and watch that lovely stream of muddy water flow by. catch up on suger fix at rudy's bakery, burger at danish bakery, and some di di's munching for all things thai. nong khai has a couple things to offer, even though Stan brings down whole neighberhood. that is one quiet street he lives on, makes me jealous also.

BKKSTAN wrote:

pompui wrote:

jingjai wrote: Cruise around the car park of the Nana Hotel and other places. Since a large number of the bars will be closed, many of the girls will be out and about, lonely, looking for companionship same as you.

And do not forget that the clinics never close,even for buddha days,so get ur antibiotics after ur night of debauchery,nearest clinic is practically opposite Nana near the garage

What?don't you know that taking antibiotics indiscriminatingly is a sure fire way to develop a resistance to them when and if you need them?

So OK fine let the farang pick up the freelancers outside Nana Hotel and wake up in the morning,going for a painful piss or scratching their scrotum from some STD.Good luck to them,maybe the farang can deduce just by looking at these strollers that they are clear and healthy.
Am sure the clinics will sell the appropriate creams,if as u say antibiotics taken indiscriminately is not the best custom.

Banks, schools, government offices including the now-friendly folks at NK Immigration. Avoid Tesco's and Big C later in the day unless you like working your way through and around extended Thai families from the villages who leave their carts and kids blocking the aisles.