Phlogiston
-
Content Count
48 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Calendar
Posts posted by Phlogiston
-
-
I eventually used Bri-Enjoy, who I think are located on Soi Buakhow.
They were crap. Never again.
I was told they picked up at Big C, (though not sure which one), but when I called they said they'd pick me up wherever I wanted. They didn't say they were going to do the same for EVERY other passenger. I was collected from Wat Chaimongkron at 6.20 am, then we criss-crossed Pattaya for another hour and 40 minutes collecting the others. I was second to be picked up, so we had another dozen to get. This was VERY annoying as I'd expected an early start and return.
One daft old German was clever enough to wait for the van then discover that although he'd remembered his passport, he'd forgotten some other bloody essential papers so we had to wait 10 minutes while he shuffled back to his apartment and rummaged around for them
We eventually made a start about 5 past 8am, and arrived about 11 am at the border at Ban Laem. The driver was a lunatic and there was one incident where the van swerved wildly all over the road with a squeal of brakes, to gasps from the passengers in the front. I was dozing so didn't see what happened but there were gasps and groans of concern from those who did see.
When we arrived at the border, we were given a sticky badge to wear and shown to the exit stamp windows, but when I had been stamped out, there was no-one from the company in sight. I had no idea where to go next so just wandered over the bridge and poked about. Luckily a Cambodian saw my badge and waved me along somewhere, then another and another. I eventually saw the casino (which I had not known about before, despite previous trips) and was waved in. There I could see there was lunch provided (pretty crap too) and the 3 staff from the company were stuffing their faces.
None of them waited at the border to show anyone where to go or explained anything. We were just dumped at the exit window and left to get on with it. I assumed they wanted their free lunch as soon as possible.
We left about mid-day and on the return journey, I asked what time we would be back in Pattaya. 'About 3.30', I was told. Sure, we DID arrive back about then, but then we started dropping everyone off in turn again! As I was the second to be picked up, I could see me spending yet another hour aimlessly criss-crossing Pattaya dropping others off in reverse sequence. The Turkish chap in front of me had been the the first in the morning and was pretty fed up by then. We both decided to get off the van as soon as we saw a familiar location. Other passengers were also grumbling about the delay once they realised what was happening, yet the staff just smirked in that irritating Thai way one they realsied how pissed off people were.
They didn't seem to understand that sitting in the van for an hour and forty minute delay before setting off, adding to the 3 hours sitting down to the border, then the reverse of another 4 1/2 + hours return was well pissing people off by then.
In the event, I saw we were close to Soi Bhuakow which was convenient for me, so I made them stop. I left the van alomg wit the Turkish chap and a German guy, all of us might pissed off with a bunch of cowboys.
Why on EARTH they could not have made passengers meet at a central location and make their own way there and return I just don't know. They just don't seem to have thought it out at all. The constant criss-crossing Pattaya at the start and end added over 50% to the day - 6 hours to and from the border, and over 3 hours just aimlessly driving round Pattaya collecting and dropping people off.
Never again. Fucking tossers.
-
Ponge Nahm Rawn, Juntaburi
much less crowded, and easy to get to
Yeah, been there a few times now. Much better than Poi Pet, where I queued for 2 and a half hours in the sun last year!
-
sure you can go on your own, but do you know the way ?
Ponge Nahm Rawn is not easy to find IMHO
and the fuel to get there and back, buy the visa to Cambo (1k Baht) will cost more than the 2k the companies are doing it for.
Yes, I'd agree with that statement. I'd rather let the visa run company take the hassle away.
-
yes, 2k is the rate, which includes the visa to Cambo, and the lunch at the casino
there's a travel company on the corner of 2nd and South Pattaya road that is ok
I think the name is C.T. Travel
Thanks for the reply.
Ah, they go to Poi Pet then, do they? Or do they go to Pong Nam Rong? I didn't think there was a casino at the latter.
Do you have a number for these people?
-
I have to do visa run by next week and am thinking of doing it from Pattaya instead of Bangkok, because I'll be in Patters the day before the run is due.
I've never done a run from Pattaya before, so can anyone please provide the names and numbers of a decent, reliable company?
I know of one which charges 2400 baht, which seems a bit steep. I'm assuming 2,000 baht is the going rate, as it is in Bangkok. Is this right?
-
My post now deleted apologies for confusing you with that other non entity. No sweat, and thanks for the interest!
-
try Dave's ESL
Nice one, thanks!!
-
He would like the name mm ,
with lower case m's
Joe
-
Bangkok Phils ajarn.com is the dominating internet site for teaching in Thailand. Probably you can find what you want there.
Yes, thanks, I've taken a look there but there's not much. There are a few Government schools but I was after private LANGUAGE schools like EEC, BCC, Siam, EF, etc. Do you know if any of them have branches in Patters?
-
Strange
Appears to know the bar and freelancer situation very well in Patters but apparantly at a loss for even the basic knowledge regarding his own chosen "Profession".Just to assist you why not use th search feature that's why it's there,or are you to busy posting unrequested information and name calling,BTW you never did expand further on the poster you referred to as "H".
"DUH"
Mate, you obviously haven't seen my other post yesterday saying that I had just subscribed under the name 'Ting Tong' (initial capitals) until I read the board further and saw there was another user with the name 'ting tong' (initial lower case). I then posted on the technical forum that this would lead to confusion and asked how I could change or remove it.
Obviously my prediction was correct and you have confused the other chap and me. Undestandable.
I'm hoping I can rectify the problem ASAP, but in the meantime, have you any advice for me? I've visited Pattaya about 9 or 10 times in a year and a half and only really know the bar areas, and then not that well.
-
I've just registered with the username of Ting Tong (capital T's), but then noticed there is another poster with the username of ting tong (lower case T's).
This is bound to cause confusion, so can I either change my username, or preferably delete it and start again?
-
I teach English in Bangkok for one of the larger language schools, but there is no branch in Pattaya.
I'm thinking (only generally) of moving to Pattaya at some stage, but does anyone know what the English language 'scene' is in Patters? Are there language schols there like ECC, BCC, Siam Computer, English First etc?
Obviously I can teach Thais, but there are so many other nationalities there, I thought it might be interesting to teach Eastern Europeans, Russians etc as well.
-
Minibuses can really be aggrivating though... one time, BKK to Pat, we spent 2 hours circling BKK, picking up people!
Ditto Pat to BKK- an hour circling round Pattaya, and an hour circling in BKK before I was let off, and I wasn't the last! :)
There is a van to Pattaya from the Century shopping centre at Victory Monument, but as has been mentioned, it is a bit annoying. They'll sometimes drive around picking up or dropping off passengers en route.
Although it's supposed to be every 40 minutes, they often don't run the van if there are only a few passengers - although I went once with just one passenger and another time with two. It's supposed to operate between 5.30 m and 8 pm, but I wouldn't rely on that.
It costs 150 baht and takes 2 - 2 1/2 hours, depending on the number of detours. I can post a number if you like.
PS I just joined and chose this user name, only to see that there is already a ting tong, but with lower case t's, mine being capitals.
I think I'll have to see if I can change it!
Visa runs from Pattaya
in Expat Issues
Posted
Thanks for the info, but I doubt I'll do a run from Pattaya again. I'll stick with my tried and tested Bangkok people. I
It was just convenient to go from Patters last Monday. I'll try the people you mentioned if I ever have to do one from Patters again, though. Ta.