4niceight

Fabio Aru seems to have been waiting for this years Tour. He needs to justify his No. 1 position in the Astana team over Nibali. Long shot at c. 16 to 1.

We're all waiting for Atlas2 and his 11 hads

I have some friends coming to Pattaya/Jomtien in July for one month. They are a married couple aged around 60 yrs. NOT mongers. Very responsible and nice people. They have asked me to look for a villa with 2 or 3 bedrooms and private pool to rent for the month of July. I would think that Pratumnak area would be best for them. They come to Thailand on holiday every year so they know the score. Willing to pay good money for a nice villa. Please PM me with any offers. Thank you.

There's a dry cleaning shop on Pattaya Tai about halfway between 3rd. Road and Sukhumvit on rhs heading towards Sukhumvit. Sorry, don't know it's name.

Maybe. However, the OP wanted advice/personal experiences in order that he might get his number/SIM back, not a load of conspirational theories. Those are better left for the fiction forum.

FFS, you argumentative cretin. I lost my phone and got a new SIM free of charge by the method I described. Capiche? That should be enough for the OP. Hopefully he'll be OK with that. If you need any help I'll be sure NOT to contribute for fear of upsetting you. What's wrong with you? Geez!

Before you pick an argument read my post. They ask you a couple of security questions.

Believe you'll get your number back whether registered or not....been there, done that!

Go to AIS office or Telewiz with your passport. They'll give you a new SIM with the same number and you'll still have all your remaining credit as long as it hasn't been used by anybody who has found the phone. Likely they'll ask you one or two questions like how much you credited last time.

What's that doing on this forum? Nothing to do with Patts, and made me feel bad for the rest of the day. Why haven't the mods removed this thread?

Forgive me being a bit economical with details. I do so because 1) the OP will possibly be monitoring this thread, and I know she needs more applicants, and 2) there are just too many BM naysayers who are only interested in asking questions so they can dig their nasty little teeth in for their own small minded entertainment, and to show how clever they think they are. Atlas2 knows me well and he'll be the first to tell you that I'm intelligent enough and savvy enough not to be taken advantage of. For the record again, I was never asked for details of my bank accounts, address, or any other info that they could have used to dupe me. I'm also able to edit pdf files, and print off the resulting amended document, if you understand how that could help in this instance.(see post #31). Now that's all said, I'm p'd off with some of the posters here. If you want more info just phone the OP and get an appointment for Tuesday or Wednesday, then you'll get to know and maybe get a little richer. I've got 7,000 baht in my bin and am chuckling to myself! Over and out!

I was asked to take along a photocopy of my passport photo page and a photocopy of my visa extension. They checked those on arrival at the hotel reception to verify my age and retirement status, and before going into the interview. If anybody wants to call the lady (Mo), she does want some more retirees from US or GB for two more sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday this next week.

One and a half hours of my time. A pleasant discussion about how I came to be living in LOS. Accent on banking with no accounts or values mentioned. Just my opinions on, for instance, would I consider changing to another bank if they offered such and such.. Genuine market research on a very friendly basis.

Well, she did! Unlucky you!

Just as the lady said.

OK all you naysayers....I went today and walked out with 7,000 baht.

Vision in my right eye is great but I have the same problem with the dark patch in the left eye. I still have floaters but overall my vision is good both long and short. I've never worn glasses all my life. As a post script, I would not use Dr. Srisuraj again. I found his manner both during the surgery and post surgery consultation was abrupt.

I posted this in the forum here in 2009. It's relevant to this thread and might help BMs with their decisions re Supersight Surgery:- Today is now three weeks since I had multifocal lens implants in both eyes at the same time at BPH. The doctor was Dr. Srisuraj. He was the chap I first saw when I went to the hospital complaining of cloudy vision. I had looked him up on the internet after the consultation and his credentials and experience looked good, so I decided that I would let him do the surgery. I have international health cover through a UK provider and they had said that I would be covered under my plan. However BPH showed me on their computer screen that my provider was one that they didn't deal direct with, so I had to pay cash and claim back. Not ideal, but OK and cheaper (at 190,000 baht plus or minus 10%) than the first quote (230,000 baht) when they thought the insurer would be direct. As my insurer would reimburse me I had decided to go for the most expensive lenses (multifocal). Two years previously I had a friend who had both eyes done at the same time at Pattaya International Hospital, and all went very well and he was so pleased with the results, so I was a bit apprehensive but more excited at the prospect of better vision, and possibly I could look forward to playing pool a bit better! Here is the story. I was admitted and paid them a Banker's cheque for 190,000 baht. I was asked for 50% of this as an initial payment, but as I didn't want to carry much cash I got the bank to make out a cheque for the full amount, and I had some cash spare in case there were extra expenses. I went into the operating theatre at 5pm after a couple of hours sitting and getting drops put in both eyes. I was sat in a chair which was then reclined almost flat and some more drops were administered and a cover was put over my right eye with a gap for the surgeon to work through. My eyelids were clamped open. While performing the operation I was anxious and obviously tensing up as he told me about three times to relax. I was unaware of any instruments going into my eye but could feel him working. He wasn't saying anything so I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. I could feel a little pressure but no pain as he worked away. After what must have been about 30 minutes he told me that he had removed the natural lens, then about 15 minutes later the new lens was in place. I could see the new lens being positioned as it was multifocal and had many concentric rings. Part one completed. He then asked me if I was ready for him to start on the left eye. OK go ahead. Same procedure as the first eye with a cover being placed over the eye and the eyelids clamped open. He started to work and I could feel movements but no pain, when suddenly I felt him apply some pressure and I felt a bit of pain. Under these circumstances I defy anyone to not flinch a little and try to blink. That is what I did and he said "Why you do that? It's dangerous!" Then he told me that there was a big problem. The pressure exerted when I flinched had caused the back of the "sac" which holds the lens in place had ruptured and the natural lens had dropped into the eye fluid and was now lying at the bottom of the eye. Oh my buddha! He then said he had to get another doctor to get the lens out. One of the nurses got on the phone and I heard her say to him "Mai maa" which I knew meant "not come". At that point I had visions of being blind in my left eye. Anyway he got on the phone himself and then told me that another doctor would be there in 20 minutes, but it would cost me extra. He told me it could possibly be an extra 120,000 baht, and asked if I could afford it. What do I say? What would anyone say? OK, get me mended! So the new doctor came. A lady, who I was later to discover was Dr. Attaporn. She got to work and I could see an instrument in my eye sucking pieces out. A really strange sensation as it was as if I was looking back into my eye and watching it happen. There was no pain as she had given me some injections , but I had a period of about one and a half hours of anxiety, as anyone could imagine. When she had completed the extraction of all the bits of natural lens, she proceeded to fit the new multifocal lens. This seemed to take longer than the first one to fit but eventually she finished, and I was wheeled into the recovery room. Time 9 pm. So I was in the operating theatre for 4 hours. Then after about 45 minutes I was wheeled up to my room for the scheduled overnight stay. Opening my eyes on the way I could see well enough out of the right eye which was the first one operated on, but the vision in the left eye was dark, almost sepia coloured, and there seemed to be a lot of debris floating around, both dark and transparent shapes. I was worried! The next morning I was taken to the eye centre on the third floor and was introduced to Dr. Attaporn, who told me that she was the one who had performed the rescue operation. Then I was seen by Dr. Srisuraj who explained what had happened. He examined both eyes and discussed what further treatment was needed. He explained that there was a suspension of blood in the eye liquid and that was what was causing the sepia colour effect. Also, all the floating debris I could see was caused by blood and inflammation. He said this would all clear but would take time. Perhaps months. We discussed what treatment and medicine I was to have on leaving the hospital. He also mentioned money and 120,000 baht again. I told him that I could find the money but not immediately. He said that because I lived here and wasn't a holidaymaker, an arrangement could probably be made, and I had to speak to the office/cashiers. I asked about further expense because of probable numerous further visits to the hospital for treatment/check ups, and he told me that he would provide his future services free of charge, but that I would have to pay for any drugs. I went back to my room and started to think that this "mistake" was not my fault. He had hurt me and I had flinched. The fact that he was going to provide his future services free seemed to me like an admission of guilt. I started to think that I should pay no more but also I had to be able to leave the hospital. No doubt I had also signed a disclaimer before the operation. I know that I did sign some forms in the admissions office the previous day but of course they were in Thai. I started to think about lawyers. A couple of hours later I answered a phone call from a lady who was probably one of the cashiers. She advised me that there was an additional 50,000 baht to be paid for the extra work involved in the operating theatre. (Feeling of relief. Not 120,000.) I told her that I didn't have the money available and the doctor had mentioned an arrangement. She said she would come to my room. On her arrival I told her that I had been talking to my friends on the phone and because the extra work was because of a mistake caused by the doctor, they had all advised me to seek legal advice. I told her that I had an extra 25,000 cash with me and offered that as a full and final payment. Otherwise I would have to make an arrangement with the hospital, but I would be going to see a lawyer as soon as possible. She went to see her bosses. I waited until after lunch then mentioned to one of the nurses that I was still waiting for the cashier to come back to me with a decision and I wanted to go home. Half an hour later I was brought a couple of bags full of eye drops and pills and taken to the cashier's office. The lady who had come to my room was there and said that all of her superiors were in meetings and she had no decision. I told her that all I was going to pay was 25,000. Another cashier then made up the final invoice and I paid the 25,000. I was then asked how and when I was going to pay the extra which had amounted to 27,000 and change. I said NO WAY was I going to pay any more, and if they insisted I would see a lawyer. THEY ACCEPTED. They were obviously trying it on. OK....Most people would say I shouldn't have paid, but in the end my insurers were going to pay anyway. I went home with an appointment to come back two days later. Over the past three weeks I've been getting better. My right eye is great. The sepia colour in the problem left eye is diminishing, and also the "debris" in the left eye has diminished. I do, though, have a worrying small dark shape which appears directly over any line of text which I'm trying to read with the left eye. When reading using both eyes it's OK. My right eye probably takes over. I have been back to the hospital about 5 times for tests and consultations with both doctors. I have been told that the dark patch is probably inflammation and will probably eventually disappear. Dr. Attaporn has done various tests and says that she cannot see any damage which might be causing that patch. Dr. Srisuraj hasn't charged me for his further services but I have been charged by Dr. Attaporn. My insurers have now reimbursed me although I am about 10,000 baht short on what I was expecting them to pay out, and am awaiting their letter to see why. Yesterday I went to Rutnin Eye Hospital in Bangkok because I was still concerned about the prognosis and the dark patch when I was trying to focus on a line of text, and I related what had happened. I asked the doctor there for a full examination, and was given tests and a macular scan. The doctor, a lady, Dr. Chatchompoo, was really good in explaining things to me and told me that both lenses were in exactly the correct position, there was no damage to the retina or the macula or the optic nerve as far as she could see, and I could indeed expect the dark patch and the residue of the "floaters" to disappear over a period of perhaps three months. She said also that the surgery seemed to have been performed as well as anyone could have performed it under the circumstances. I have an appointment with her in 4 weeks time but she expects me to call and cancel because I should be almost 100%. Today I had an appointment at BPH with Dr. Attaporn for a check up and she next wants to see me in three weeks time. So, overall, it's been quite a worrying three weeks since the operation. At first I suppose I was angry, concerned, downright worried at times, and I also felt foolish at having had both eyes done at the same time, and perhaps for choosing the wrong doctor. Right now I'm feeling relieved that I'm almost certainly going to get better. I may have mellowed a little over those three weeks, but I now have no issues with BPH or the doctors, and therefore I have given you the benefit of my experience. For anyone else thinking of undergoing similar surgery I would say, as others have said to me, choose your surgeon well, do your research better than me, use BPH if you can afford it because their facilities are superb, and perhaps ask the doctor to ensure he uses sufficient anaesthetic! As of today my sight is still good although I have better vision in the right eye than the left where I still have the dark patch. I also have floaters which I have had since the surgery was first performed.

OP...you'll have no problem finding what you want here and at reasonable prices. Don't bother packing your suitcase with any of the above. TOPS, Friendship, Foodmart (Jomtien) and many more stock what you require. And local fruits are plentiful, delicious and cheap.

Out for a beer tonight then?

Got mine renewed two weeks ago at soi 5 Jomtien.No probs.

Probably a bit overpriced but I have been using Pattaya International Hospital for at least 10 years and service has always been excellent.. Check up is free but they always add on cleaning and polish. I pay approx 1,000 baht.

I'll bet you're using Chrome. I have the same problem. However, try using IE or Firefox and the pages will display properly. It's a Chrome problem.

From the Washington Post, the sequentially issued tickets to the two individuals with the stolen passports were sold by a travel agent in Pattaya Thailand. No information on routing from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur. Subsequent itinerary was Kuala Lumpur to Beijing to Amsterdam. At Amsterdam, one individual booked to Copenhagen, the other to Frankfurt. Seems like a circuitous routing to their final destination.

The elevated runway in pic 6 seems a little narrow. Why do they call it a terminal?