SunnyValentine

Welcome to Pattaya, Sullo! About the house: You will probably find a 3BR house with communal pool for 25000 or even less in Jomtien area; but with private pool you might have to spend more than 30000. Sunny

For DVDs: In Pattaya it is trial and error mostly. There is a DVD stand in the Soi Buakao / South Pattaya Market (Open Fridays and Tuesdays): Go up South Pattaya Road, on the left side, till (after passing Tuk.com on the right hand side) you enter to the Market area. There go to the Eastern Part of the Market, and keep on the right side, next to the building. After crossing one or two Sois you see the shop in a shop house. The guy is reliable, prices are around 120 or 130 after some haggling (buying more than 1 or 2 initially helps!) But: Last time I was there (2 weeks ago) it seems he was a

Forget the Sunbeam (see Emil's Post). Flipper is ok. Don't know much about Pattaya Garden. Consider Sunshine Hotel Soi 8. It's great! Pool's nice too! Sunny

Haven't been there myself. From the look of the rooms on their Website it should be ok, I guess. Location: Seems to be around Soi Buakao, Soi Diana Inn, so not bad I'd say. Sunny

A friend of mine stayed there in Ocober for 1 week or so. He was very happy about it. Same Management as Residence Garden. Nice rooms with Sea View. Rooms were quite new, no problems. No guest problems. Price was around 1000 Bt / Night, well worth it IMHO. Sunny

Forgot to mention: "Love Conquers All" (Terry Gilliam, Brazil) Sunny

To all readers of this thread (all 2 of them!): Please forgive me my German reply to Pecka. It touched a field where I felt it was too difficult for me to answer in English, my 2nd Language .... More general: Pecka raised on important Question in his posting: IMHO: As soon as a conflict (versus a dialog) in perception of the cultural values of the two is experienced, it might be very hard to solve. The fact, that Tweety as well as hif wife are both happy with the agreement, leads me to believe they do not sense this as a conflict! That's the core of the matter! Sunny

For Pecka, in German: Wie erwähnt, mir ging es darum, Denkweisen in deinen Postings zum Thema aufzudecken, die was mit einem Gefühl der kulturellen Höherwertigkeit zu tun haben. Das Mitgift-wort aud einem US Lexikon zu definieren (und aus dieser Definition argumentative Schlüsse zu ziehen), wenn wir es aber hier mit einem traditionellen, gewachsenen thailändischen Phänomen zu tun haben .... Meine provokativen Besipiele zu Kroatien sollten nur den Wandel in der Wahrnehmung anderer Staaten im Lauf der Zeit aufzeigen. Das Glashaus ist hier irrelevant. Ich stell mir die Welt immer als ein

Pecka: Mr. America was intended to be tongue-in-cheeck (as a matter of fact I just did not find the "Smiley" Key on my Keyboard when writing this), so no offense intended. About Cultural Imperialism: Yes I mean that. From your statements here (and Hub pointed to another detail in your posts) I can sense this. Take care. It is not since very long that Croatians are widely recocnised as members of the "civilised" world, you remember Ustascha, or later General Norac..... Wrong concept of perception, I know, but don't make the same mistake on an other culture .... Sunny

Pecka, we're talking here about an old Thai custom and you provide a Webster's dic definition to aid your point? When in rome ....... you know. Dowries are very often a reality here, sometimes even for a good reason. All further details on if, how much and the like are to be based on a thorough analysis of the individual situation. Please don't generalise! And stop being Mr. America, the cultural imperialist! Sunny

As of October, all areas in Pattaya and Jomtien East of Sukhumvit road had the possibility of broadband, with a TT&T Telephone Line. But: There are lots of areas where all the DSL lines are used. Best strategy: Look around for a house/Condo you like, get the Phone Numer there (if existing), and go to TT&T Office First floor in Carrefour Central Road to ask for the possibility of ADSL at this particular address / Number. There is another Company for Telephone Lines called TOT, they only just now started with ADSL in Pattaya; from what I heard, they still have lots of problems. But migh

As of now, most bars etc. close at 1 am or little later. Most beer bars just dim the light, turn off music, and carry on, though. Pattaya is quite full with tourists now, many families and non-p4p tourists. Most of them seem not very happy with this regulation. Sunny

Last June I stayed there at one of their 1-BR-Suites (forgot the name, maybe Platinum? Or Executive? Or sheer bliss? They are all so creative on these names nowadays ...) for around 11000 Bt inclusive. It was in tower 1, no birds other than the ones I invited into my rooms .... and no joiner fees ....and Broadband Internet at 150 Bt extra a Day. The room was very nice, more than I had expected for the price. I just heard that they raised all prices substancially. So I probably won't go there anymore. Sunny

Just found this Guesthouse on the Web. Rooms for 500 - 600 Bt, including Broadband Internet, sounds more than interesting I guess. Anybody ever been / stayed there? Sunny

Some month ago Ibb posted here about how much you would pay for broadband in a Hotel room. Maybe the low numbers reported by the members here kept him from installing it, finally? Sunny

Go for a room in the new wing at the Sunshine Hotel. Maybe a little more expensive than the others, but very fine nice rooms, worth the money. Location is great, as you are in the Central Pattaya Playzone and have an easy and short Bahtbus ride to every other area! Sunny

I moved to Jomtien about half a Year ago now. Yes, it is considered a gay center. No, I am not gay by any means. But I enjoy my surroundings very much. I had a lot of gay friends back home, and I have some new friends here that are gay. So what? Without generalisation, gays are often considered as more intelligent, socialising, and open to new ideas than others. No, I don't get propositions when I walk here alone. No, I don't get indecent looks, or touches. There is a few cafes and bars to be avoided, but you find out very quick. Unless you suffer from a severe homophobia (serious form of

70 Baht sounds just too grat a deal, doesn't it? Sunny

Just wanted to add a Hotel review or two, tried to register with what I thought was my valid Forum Username and PW, got an "invalid" ..... So, do I have to reregister in order to post Hotel reviews? Or was that just a glitch? Sunny

I doubt you will find a condo which allows dogs to be held. Houses might be easier, I guess. But - as much as I understand your feelings - think one more time about bringing the dog. The hot and humid climate might be a terrible hazard for your loved one..... Sunny

Do a search in this forum and you will find some substancial info, about 1 or 2 month ago. Nothing new since then, wait and see. Sunny

Thanks, Cowboy. On the Web site they mention giving you a UK number. And from the price list (checked a few countries) they alway mention national (i.e. insider the country you're in) and international calls. So from this info no reason to believe that you cannot call from say Thailand to say Madagascar with this card. But for a price! Don't know about the deals in the USA, but most contracts in Europe allow you to be reached under your home number everywhere in the world. And international prices, though steep sometimes, look still cheaper than MOBAL's. The only advante for MOBAL I see is

Jack, most of the new condos, you buy while being constructed, are unfurnished, or you can easily negotiate a deal with no furnishings. Don't expect the price to drop as much as you might see the same furniture offered, as these companies buy furniture by the dozends or hundreds. I agree on the taste of most of the furnished deals offered. You can get really nice stuff around here as well, for a price. Sunny

Bob, if you just plan to go to Thailand and need a phone, you are so much better off with a local prepaid card you get everywhere here. Need an unlocked phone as well, can get yours onlocked for 300 Bt or so, or buy new or used one from 1500Bt up. Sunny

Thanks; I checked some international call prices, they seem to be way over top! To get such a card only for travelling (might save a few cents here and there as opposed to your contract) would mean the trouble of a new number to give around. Really wonder who would benefit from this offer? Sunny