Emil

Alan, I don't want them to come over to me unless I've made eye contact with them, gave her a big smile and if she's interested in me, returned a big smile. Then I will make a motion for them to join me. So it could be 1 minute or not at all. If she's been dancing on the stage and I've made eye contact, smiled, made some suggestive gestures and gotten a return smile or gestures then I want her to stop by after she gets off the stage. As far as the mamasam, I think she should get involved if a punter or two come in who she's never seen before and if they are still alone after a few minutes after receiving their drink then go over and introduce herself. Find out if they've ever been to a go-go bar here in Pattaya and if they say no, then briefly explain the rules of engagement and tell them to get her if they need some assistance later as she leaves their area.

Its the closest hotel to the AA. Its also located on Soi 13 but on the lefthand side of the Soi as you're walking towards 2nd Rd.

Try the Nova Park, I don't know about their internet though.

It is but with 1 less connection (I'm talking about the little countries like Laos, Cambodia, etc.) and in my view less is always better when we're talking about connections. BTW how many miles or flying time before you need a backup crew?

Pete, That sounds like a good deal but why haven't more of those poor Issan farmers done the same?

Tom, I acquire just under 8K miles when I fly SFO to Narita and then to BKK which I don't believe is the most direct route. I read an article that said when the 787 is configured in 3 classes it will carry about 260 PAXs up to 9700 miles. Since 9-11, the major US carriers with the exception of Southwest suffered financially and are just now recovering. Maybe thats why they haven't placed any orders. and they wouldn't necessarily have to rely on all paxs making LOS their final destination. From there you could have some of the paxs making connections to Cambodia, Viet Nam or other countries.

Farming seems almost as risky as owning a bar. Two weeks ago I was buying mangosteen at Carrefour for 10 baht a kilo. At that retail cost what the hell is the farmer getting per kilo? Also it seems that the reliability of getting sufficient water to your crop is a big question. Dry years and not enough rainfall on your crops or not enough water in the resovoir if your lucky to have a system that allows irrigation.

Maybe not for you but it could for us in the states in the future. The 787 is a smaller plane than the 747 so it will be easier to fill than the larger 747 on direct flights to LOS. Currently I fly out of San Francisco to Nariata where I then have to wait a few hours for my connection to Bangkok. While the 747 out of SFO is full only about a 1/3 are continueing to LOS. The 747 out of Narita to LOS is full as it now has the PAXs from the LA and Seattle flights on board. With the smaller 787 the predictions are that we will have non stops (eliminating the hub and spoke method) from LA, SFO and Seattle to Bangkok thus eliminating the connection time and allowing the aircraft to fly a direct route. Thus reducing my trip time around 3 or 4 hours. With one less stop and eliminating the landing fees at Narita, flying a direct route thus saving on fuel, and if the maintenance fees are lower on this type of aircraft then it should be ceaper for me. I can't comment on comfort as I haven't flown on a 787, but if I'm spending less time on the aircraft then I should experience some advantage in confort.

If you want something "new and fresh" then try the just opened LK hotel on Soi Dainna near 2nd Rd. Check out the post by MM at the top of this forum for more details.

I've tried around 30 times and have never been successful. Came close on the last trip, problem was the other punter was a smoker and I'm not so that fell through. Probably the first time that I am successful either my flight or his will be a couple hour late. I agree with others that you'll probably have more success at the baggage carousel.

The last thing I want is to have a BG with me that doesn't really want to be with me so I have no problem with one that doesn't want to be barfined. What I do have a problem with is one that appears to want to be with me and leads me on. I don't want to waste my time or baht on a BG that wont go with me unless they make it clear upfront like the Red Badges. I would like to see the Red Badges used more extensively like when they are also on the rag or have already been barfined by a punter but are just waiting for him to return. I don't like the quota systems that some places use. I would think that a basic salary for all dancers and then a bonus above that based on the number of barfines they have in a month would be better. That way if all they want to do is dance then they could do that and as many bar owners have previously stated that they can't afford to have all their dancers gone early, this would solve that problem. Since the barfine recoups part of their wages if they didn't barfine then they should receive a lower wage than the dancers that do go.

I agree with Hilly about the retirement visa if one can qualify. Took me less than an hour to renew mine last month. Depending on the amount of your monthly income you can reduce the amount required on deposit in a Thai bank to zero. Also if your are taking various trips out of LOS the amount of 90 day reports to immigration can be reduced. Last year I didn't have to make any trips to immigration for the 90 day report of address.

My point exactly, besides your wife you are the best person to determine what she would be happy with. If you had done proper planning you would have checked out the options on your previous visits and taken photos to show your wife to see what she would like. Then you could have come on line here and inquire if anyone else would be interested, told them the location, cost and showed them photos of what the place looked like. The way your doing it now, your asking someone if they would be interested without any details.

I must say that BigD plan to retire to LOS this year appears to lack any advanced planning.

Now that the KWP is longer employed by FLB, maybe you can talk her into being your driver for 1000 baht a day.

As long as those good neighbours stay home and don't leave the area.

The Sois are small secondary streets off of the main streets/roads. Most of the time when sois are mentioned they are the ones that run between Beach Rd and 2nd Rd. They are in sequence with Soi 1 being at the northern end and Soi 13 at the southern end near Walking St. Some of them will even repeat like Soi 13, that also has 13/1, 13/2, 13/3 and 13/4. In reality there are numerous soi 5s or soi 6s for example as they will also run off of the other main roads in Pattaya like PattayaKlang so make sure that your talking about the correct one.

Why not just rent 3 rooms at the Skytop?

I'm not Canadian, but I just flew back yesterday from BKK. Flew on Thai Air to Nariata and then Air Canada to Vancouver. I was on a United Airlines ticket but they flew me back to my home in Sacramento on their Star Alliance partners.

Didn't know they had a monthly rate as I don't ever recall you stating one.

Besides what MM has written, if you go the monthly income route you need a letter from your Embassy. Also heard that going this route starting in October you have to get your letter from the Embassy verified by some Thai agency in Bangkok.

You asked too late as I am now in Narita. Ill be back in Sep so if no one else gives you an answer PM me and Ill get you the name and any info if they have any available.

I live near Carrefour and the monthly rates are 7000. Found a 1 bedroom place for 11,000 near Nova Park.

New hotel just off soi 6/1 and next to the beach is scheduled to open in October.

Both the fine for reporting late and change of address from the leaflet that I looked at was a maximun of 5000.