Emil

They also installed them on 3rd Rd, Pattayaklang and Pattayatai. A couple days ago I was crossing on 3rd Rd and the cars and motorbikes stops that were going southbound. I then proceeded to cross while another falang was crossing on the opposite side of the road when 1 motorbike whizzed by me in the back that was going northbound while another passed by me in the front. I think I'll continue to jaywalk until the police start issuing fines for those that run these lights.

Did you check out flying UA from O'Hare?

I know, my post that you quoted was directed to Bazle and Sailfast who were suggesting that they just books some adjoining rooms at a hotel like the Residence Gardens. I was reading between the lines that these guys want privacy because they want to party, and not a party like a kids birthday party with bozo the clown. The LK Legend may be too far off the beaten path as its on Soi Arunothai south of the Nirun Condo.

Maybe they're looking for some privacy with some uninhibited BGs getting naked in the pool/jacuzzi with some sex thrown in.

Secrets has a 3 bedroom place that I believe rents between your 8-10k budget. It located east of Sukhumvit which isn't near Walking St though. They also have a car service so you could make arrangements for transportation around town with them, don't know what they would charge for car service.

Regarding the construction issue. There are 2 projects going on now. One is the expansion of the KTK and the other is a new hotel located on its west side. When I walked by about 10 days ago, the expansion tower the exterior work looked completed with only interior work going on. The other hotel project was at the stage where they were installing windows. You mentioned that you weren't going to be in Pattaya next Feb or later. By that time the KTK should be almost completed if not completed and the other hotel should be doing interior work so I wouldn't expect as much noise as when they were doing the heavy extrior construction work. Your right that they are always close to being fully booked, I'm sure that's why they decided to expand. If your interested contacted them to see if by chance they have an opening. If that new addition is completed by your visit then you will have a better chance. I think they clean your room every day and no charge for utilities if your on the daily or weekly rate. The monthly rate you only get free cleaning once a week and you have to pay for utilities, but what do you expect since the monthly rate is slightly less than 2 weekly rates.

When a friend and I looked at the place last year the 2 smallest rooms were going for 5K and 7K a week. At 5K a week that's just a little over BigD's favorite place just west of the KTK Royal.

What you say is true, however I'm talking about the hotel that is located not far away that has either another T or K in it's name. From the TK motel head south towards Pattayaklang. You'll go past Jameisons and just a short distance on the right is the hotel that I'm referring. Its right across from the Siam View Residence. Also I believe that its called either Residence or Apartment. Shortly after it opened I posted either on this board or another that I thought that it was the best hotel that I had seen in Pattaya for the price. Another BM posted a day later and also agreed with my assesment. This was about this time last year. He inquired about availabilty and was told that it was booked through April. Not bad for a hotel off the beaten path.

Since you drive a motorbike you have many more options. Take a look at the TKT or it may be called KTK hotel. Its located on Soi AR not to far from the Nova Amari. When walking its about a 5 minute walk to 2nd Rd where Bangkok Bank is located across from Soi 6. Opened about a year ago and it was so popular that they are building another wing which should be finished early next year. They have weekly rates which will lower your daily rate.

If money isn't an issue and your not spending a long duration in one place then nothing wrong with what your suggest. If you are on a budget and spending most of your time in one place then your better off financially either renting or buying a nice sized unit.

It wouldn't bother me either if I was staying alone. However if I was having BGs staying L/T then it would bother me. From what I heard is that there was no light in the toilet so one had to turn on the light in the room if someone was using it during the night. Not a problem if the turning on of lights doesn't interrupt your sleep. But what I wouldn't like is that the design allows others in the room to hear and smell the bowel movements of another person in the bathroom. And if the smell is anything like I experienced one time when I followed KJ Vegas into the toilet at a restaurant after he completed his business, it would drive you from the room. Now I didn't really jump into the Skytop treads originally when BigD was hyping the place. It wasn't until he recommended it to others who were looking for a budget place to stay for a month or longer. One can make the arguement that the daily rate is comparable to other budget places in Pattaya but it comes nowhere close with its monthly rates. Jack Corbett stayed there for about 7 month and he stated that he paid about 18K a month. That isn't even in the ballbark when you compare other monthly rates where you only have to stay 1 month.

I know of at least one Secrets BG who would have been delighted if you would have BFed her for a threesome, although she would have probably spent more time attending to your lady than you.

Actually Secrets has only a bar that has both hostesses and coyote dancers available for barfine. No trouble bringing back BGs from other places and the hotel has a seperate enterance so you don't have to walk through the bar to get to your room. Now they don't have a lift so be prepared to use stairs. They have a restaurant on site that serves pretty decent food.

Let me dumb this down for you. 1. I never said that the 30 day entry stamp was a visa as I was a member of this board prior to my 1st visit to Pattaya back in 2001 and learned that here. 2. I have never gotten a Thai visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate here in America or any other country outside of LOS. 3. In September of 2006 I went to the Pattaya Immigration office and got a Non-Immigrant Visa stamped into my passport. It was issued and stamped used about 5 seconds later after I first paid them 2000 baht. Then I was sent over to the Retirement desk and got the Retirement extension stamped into my passport which turned out to be good for only 348 days as they started the one year clock based on the 30 day entry stamp when I arrived at BKK. 4. Immigration at BKK told me to use the number located on my multiple re-entry permit on the arrival card where they ask for visa number.

What is not true is your statement that stated that the original visa, with no exception, is issued in Someforeign place by the foreign ministry. My original visa was issued at Pattaya Immigration, stamped into my passport and then less than 5 seconds later stamped "Used" after first collecting 2000 baht from me and then sending me on my way to the retirement desk.

Not true. I entered LOS on a 30 day stamp in Sep 2006 and had never had a visa from LOS on any of my previous trips. Then went to Jomtien Immigration and applied for the Retirement Visa or extension if that's what you want to call it. But maybe I'm a VIP and just not aware of my status. Helped a friend of mine do the same thing earlier this year. What I found odd is that when I enter LOS, the immigration officals want to see the number on my multiple re-entry permit on the arrival card where they ask for visa number. The first time I used the number that was in the Retirement Visa/Extension and was told that wasn't the correct number to use.

In Pattaya there are signs touting the Educational Visa. Good for 12 or 15 months without having to leave LOS and can be renewed for up to 10 years. I've seen the costs posted for the school at around 23k a year and one school was saying that you had to attend a class once a week for 4 hours.

Before you sign a lease make sure that area can be wired for your desired internet provider. I had a friend earlier this month rent a place. He wanted 3B but was told that even though there were others in the same area with 3B that they were currently at capacity for that area and he would have to go on a waiting list. He then tried True Vision and got the exact same story. Finally got TOT as his 3rd choice.

Not entirely true. In america they ask you what area you visited in LOS and they look that area up in some book. If you've only visited the tourist, non maleria areas they let you donate.

I've never found the traffic to be too bad, although alot depends on what day it falls. This year its on a Sunday so probably some out of town Thais could be in town. I've celebrated this holiday in Pattaya since 2001 except last year when it fell early in Nov and I didn't arrive until 2 days later. A good place to lauch is the pier, also at the pond on the grounds of the temple on Pattaya Tai. I believe her Tony because if he would have spent the time doing the Buddha thing he wouldn't have been in the location where the rocket hit him.

Sounds like the 1 baht will get you the stock on hand and the furnishings. Key money sounds like another term for prepaid rent. I took the 200k and divided by 36 which equals a little less than 6k a month. Add the 6k to the 12K and divide by 30 and it equals 600 baht a day. So one would have to sell enough drinks a day and have barfines minus commission to cover the 600 baht rent, wages, cost of goods and other overhead to break even.

No agency required and no need of getting a Non-Immigrant "O" visa prior. I did it 4 years ago and assisted a friend get his this past April. If your going to use money deposited in a Thai bank as part of the equation for the financial requirement, then you need to have those funds deposited 3 months prior to you applying for the visa. If your going the 65,000 baht monthly income for the requirement then you need to visit the US Embassy in Bangkok first and get the certified form. It will cost you $50 USD, you will raise your hand and affirm that the income that you stated on the form is correct, (no proof required) and they will notarize it and off you go. (took me about 15 minutes at the Embassy). You will need the following when you go to the immigration office to apply for the retirement visa: 1. This proof of income letter from the embassy if your not meeting the 800k requirement. 2. A Thai bank book along with a letter from the bank (cost me 100 baht for this letter at Bangkok Bank). The funds in this account do not need to have been there for 3 months if your satisfying the financial requiremnt entirely by having 65K baht or more of monthly income. I heard that they wanted to see at least 100k in the account but I can't verify because I do the 800k deposit and my friend had about 200k in his account when he received his visa. 3. A passport which has at least 18 month till expiration. 4. Passport photos and copies of your info page of your passport, entry stamp page and of your departure card. 5. Some type of proof of where your staying. Rental agreement, electric bill, true vision bill, etc. 6. You'll complete a form that will be given to you at the immigration office. 7. and some baht. Cost of the retirement visa is 1900 baht, however if you only have the 30 day entry stamp in your passport they will want 3900 baht. When I got mine 4 years ago I first had to get the non immigrant "O" visa in my passport. Cost was 2000 baht and it was stamped into my visa and then stamped "Used" a second later, then I proceeded on to the retirement visa station. They've streamlined the process now and you do it all at once at the retirement visa desk, but they still want that extra 2000 baht. The first time I applied it took me about 30 minutes because I had to go to two different stations, they will keep the passport overnight and you'll pick it up the next business day. The pickup is fast because they give you a number and you go directly to the retirement station and pick up your passport, maybe 1 or 2 minutes.

I'm curious about the wider claim. Normally the seat configuration for economy on a 747 is 3-4-3. Since the fuselage is standard for a 747-400 the only way that they could make seats wider would be to reduce the amount of seats by making the configuration 3-3-3 or making the aisle narrower which doesn't sound feasible since they are already pretty narrow.

For Americans I think its just as easy or even easier to get the initial retirement visa while in LOS. You can do it with only the 30 day entry stamp in your passport and no medical or police verification forms required.

Why take a DVD player to LOS? 1. If it can operate with batteries you can watch a movie on the plane. 2. If you have a 2 hour wait between connections you can plug it in and watch a movie.