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I hope that those reading this thread and possibly comtemplating a purchase in the future have learned something. DON'T change your money to baht before you send it. Why do that? You get a terrible exhange rate that way in addition creating the problems stated above. I bought a condo over 4 years ago and had dollars sent to my Thai bank. The exhange rate doing the wire transfer was just fine. And there were no problems. Little Roy

The gang violence is Thai on Thai teenage motorcycle stuff. Doesn't happen in the tourist areas. In tourist areas the most common crime is bag snatching and gold chain snatching. Don't advertise your wealth, and don't get so pissed you lose track of what is going on around you and you won't have any problems. I have been coming here for over 13 years, and have basically lived here for over 4 years and have had no problems. Little Roy

My lady and I stopped by the Chica Bar and wished David a Happy Birthday. I hadn't met him before. Seems like a nice guy. It was also my lady's birthday. We had seafood dinner at the Sea Zone before going to the Chica Bar. Yu was her usual bubbly self. Pics were taken. Little Roy

Thanks, Ace! Will give it a try when I return to the States in Dec. for the Christmas bull-shit. Will return again to Pattaya on Jan. 2. I hate cold weather! Little Roy

Sheesh, guys! Don't be so negative. Yes, a Tourist Visa can be done. I did it about a year and a half ago. It is correct that it must be shown the lady has compelling reasons to return to Thailand. And having said that, I also had an advantage that she wasn't a 22 year old Go-go dancer. My lady is mature, but still 26 years younger than I. Take time to read the regulations....and do the required paper work. No short cuts...they just don't work. My lady spent two months with me in the States. And we hope to do it again when I return to the States to take care of the tax bull-shit in April. Good luck! Little Roy

"Fast Draw" Pete outdraws a spammer again! That was really fast, Pete. Keep up the good work! Little Roy

Take a look at the top left of this page. There is a word that might be familiar to you? HOTELS Click onto it and you will have access to all sorts of info. I have booked through them several times, both for hotels in BKK as well as Pattaya for when my family comes for a visit or I go to BKK for whatever. I have found the people there to be reliable. Little Roy

So it rains some? Big deal! It doesn't rain all the time. It's warm. It's only water! If it rains....go have a beer or so and wait for it to stop. The temps have been really great, and when there is cloud cover during the day it helps to keep the temps down. And with fewer tourists here it's my favorite time of year! Little Roy

Why buy diamonds? Why pay such big money for a rock that isn't rare? I am a romantic, but....why waste big money? Little Roy

My personal opinion is that I would buy a condo for personal use, but NOT buy it as an investment. There are already too many vacant condos out there. Find one for personal use....if you are here most of the year. As I stated in another thread, my condo has doubled in value in less than four years. But I don't care. I bought it for personal use. Even if the market bubble bursts, I feel I can get back what I put into it. And that means I will have lived in Pattaya for free! A gambler I ain't! Little Roy

My above comments apply to condo ownership only. Owning a house is another deal altogether. You can't own it solely in your name. The government "says" it will be cracking down on corporate or company ownership that is a sham. Just how they will "crack down" is another thing, of course. They may just continue to ignore the sham ownerships...but who knows? And I damn sure am NOT going to buy a house and put it in someone else's name. GF, or wife. If you have a house you will be out of town and will need wheels. Which means you WILL have to deal with the BIB. Which is something I wish to avoid. AND, I don't want to deal with leaky roofs, flooding, barking dogs, crowing roosters, or neighbors who have huge TV's with 'wrap around sound', or karaoke machines. None of these things will you have to face when you have a cond...in a good location. Biased, ain't I?

I have a studio condo of about 42 sq. meters. Have had it for less than four years and it has doubled in value. Don't need a car or a bike. Have public transportation and can walk for groceries if I want. When I sell it, which I have no plans to do at the present time, the result will be that I have lived here in Pattaya for FREE! AND hotel bills are rising all the time. Having said that.....it is true you never know what the government will do. Some of you guys worry 'too mutt', I think. As I have said many times, " Don't put any more money into Thailand than you can afford to lose." And I realize that some of you can afford to lose a lot more money than I can. It's a matter of using your (big) head and choosing wisely. I think I did. Little Roy

Wow! What an experience! The only time I was checked was when I was asked about souveniers I truthfully said I had some carved Buffalo horns for my grandsons. They did a quick x-ray to make sure they weren't packed with "stuff" and I passed through with no other problems. Since I live in LOS now and only travel with a carry-on and my laptop I am never stopped. Maybe because of my baby blue eyes.....? Little Roy

If you must have a soft bed, don't ever let your TGF talk you into going up-country to visit her village. You will probably sleep on the floor...on a mat if you are lucky. Little Roy

For those of you still working in farang-land I can understand the desire for tailored suits and stuff. BUT...I live in Thailand and will not purchase anything that cannot be washed. Will the tailors make washable trousers? How about tailored blue jeans? I'm not joking. Back in the States I own one suit. Used only for weddings and funerals. Damn! I wonder when I last had it dry cleaned? I remember going to a funeral in August of '02........ Little Roy

I bought my condo almost 4 years ago. Only bought it then as a wonderful Thai lady had entered my life. Changed my thinking a lot! Before I had convinced myself not to buy as it would take nearly ten years of owning before I would have broken even by not renting. BAD thinking! Don't know how much the condo has gone up in value,....and don't much care. I know for a fact I am not losing money. AND, when I sell it....it will be as if I have been living here for free! Will get all my money back...plus! I didn't buy as an investment. I bought to please myself. Location was the biggest factor. I don't need a car or motorbike. I have baht buses at either end of my soi, and I can walk to the Big C for food for the fridge, or to eat out. AND given the current flap over land ownership by foreigners, I have my condo in my name alone and have no worries. Life is goooood! Little Roy

Looks good! Um....any short time hotels nearby? Little Roy

Yep, still there. And, if you can stand the heat in there, there are still bargains to be had. Little Roy

I think Rolyshark has it. Looks like silverfish to me. They like to eat paper, particularly if there is glue involved. Wallpaper and book bindings come to mind. They will cause damage, but very slowly. Don't know how you get rid of them. Try a couple of kinds of insect spray. Hit or miss, I know. But what else can you do? Little Roy

The new hotel isn't on Soi 4 It's on Beach Rd., between Sois 3 and 4. The Beat is the only 'club' on Soi 4. Seems to be a Hip Hop joint. It occupies the upstairs space where Suzy Massage used to be. Suzy's no longer exists except for the "Japanese Only" karaoke bar which is under The Beat. The German Restaurant is still on the corner and is quite good. The old "U" hotel, which was owned by an ass-hole, was sold to the Mike Shopping people who renovated it and now call it the "Mike Beach Resort." A very presumptuous title but an OK hotel now. The Mike outfit also built the new "Mike Orchid Resort" on Soi 4 which is a bit east and on the opposite side of the road. The Bella Villa Prima Hotel is next door just to the east of that. And there is a new beer bar complex at the Soi 4 and 2nd Road intersection, just across Soi 4 from gas station. And I almost forgot. A new hotel is being built across the street from the Mike Orchid Hotel. Don't know it's name yet. I return to Pattaya on Wed. and will find out. I have a condo on Soi 4. Damned lot of construction there over the past three or four years. Little Roy

Too many guys continue to drink as if they are on a short vacation and need to absorb as much booze as possible. Health problems arise. And they chase TGs to the point they spend all their cash. And take a header off of a high rise balcony. If you can make the transition to a laid back and more quiet lifestyle you will do just fine. I have a lady for over 4 years now. Often we stay in a night. Will go visit friends for conversation and snooker once or twice a week. I work out regularly, and we relax on the beach. Life is gooood! Little Roy

I don't understand. You come to Thailand where it is hot. You sweat a ton. And you bring clothes that have to be dry cleaned? Back in the States I have one suit, and a few jackets, that need to be dry cleaned. Rarely, as I avoid wearing them. In Thailand I wear only cotton, washable clothing. Seems practical to me! Little Roy

May in BKK is brutal. The air polution is extremely bad in hot weather. Pattaya is hot also, but because of the water and the breezes it is much more comfortable. And I am into comfort! Little Roy

Water problem? What water problem? ......just more bureaucratic bull-shit. So how come the water trucks are delivering water already? Nah! No problem! Mai bpen rai! Little Roy

Um....just what sort of article do you intend to write? About the "naughty" nightlife? Or about the wonderful sightseeing that can be experienced in Thailand? Thailand is a beautiful country full of beautiful people. If your intent is to promote the positive...there are many people who will help you. However, if you are one of those narrow-minded media types who hope to sell a product by pointing out negatives.....I hope you go away! You want to learn about Thailand? You want to learn about Pattaya nightlife for a men's magazine? Then come here and do your research on the ground. Hopefully with an open mind. Little Roy P. S. If you are a professional writer, you should know the difference between "advice" and "advise".