Eneukman

View Talay 1 & 2 are both on the baht bus route into Pattaya from Jomtien.If you look at this map http://www.bahtbus.com/map/ View Talay 1 & 2 are either side of Thepprasit Road. There are other View Talay buildings, but I'm not entirely certain as to where they are. On a monthly budget of 10,000/15,000 baht per month for rent, you would be looking at a studio condo. I'm paying 20,000 baht per month for a one-bedroom condo on a low floor on the Pattaya side. On this side, you can't get satellite tv. I asked the agent for the owner the other day and whether he had any condos on

I once got hit by a ball hit by my playing partner. This should really have been impossible as for that to happen the ball had to travel at right angles to the intended direction. Happen it did though. And as with many of us lesser mortals, I have managed to finish up BEHIND the tee with my tee shot. Very easy really. Hit the ball off the toe of the club. Ball hits tee box marker and rebounds backwards. Never managed to hit the tee and leave the ball where it was though. Alan

I would have thought that that would have been a very good excuse for not contacting them immediately. The claim form I had to complete asked me to explain why I didn't contact them immediately as well. I simply pointed out to them that I had been unable to move more than 10 feet from a toilet for the previous 9 or 10 hours. The other thing they want to see is proof of the duration of your visit. Why is it that I get the feeling that certain insurance companies are quite happy to take your money but will then use any excuse to not pay out? I may have to get my solicitor to writ

I spent 2 days in the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital back in June and my total bill was very similar. I was in the position where I daren't move more than about 10 feet from a toilet so going to a clinic or pharmacy was out of the question. All the bg I was with that night could say was "Go and see doctor". I asked the hotel to phone a doctor but they phoned the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital instead. Alan

I've never had any major problems travelling to and from Thailand. I try to adjust to the new time zone straight away. Coming home, I tend to arrive at Heathrow at around 5.15 or so in the morning, but will have been awake at least 2 or 3 hours before that. I stay up as long as I can, though inevitably I have to go to bed an hour or so earlier than normal. I made a point of not going to work the day I arrived back home (could only really have dome half a day anyway by the time I got back to Edinburgh, unpacked, refreshed myself and got some food in and so on. Alan

Patrick, If you have to dial 9 to get an outside line, have you tried putting 2 commas after the 9? I seem to recall reading somewhere that this was recommended if staying at the RG. Alan

Thinking about it but as I may very well be moving in a few months time when my lease expires, I may leave it until then. Alan

Why does that not surprise me? . The problem is quite simple. AOL do not believe in providing any standard of customer care or customer service whatsoever. I replied to an e-mail from another AOL member and was told that this person was not an AOL member. Strange, considering that she hosts one of AOL's regular travel chats! Once I get my landline working again, I'll mention this to her as I think she has some contacts who may be able to find out what is going wrong. I also have an address in Dublin to which written complaints can be sent. If any AOL member wants this, send me a P

CSLoxinfo seem to have a number of phone lines for the Chonburi area. I sometimes have to try 2 or 3 numbers before getting on-line! Alan

I'm an AOL user for my sins . I would suggest that fellow users check their "spam" folder as AOL may have put the e-mail there. Once you click on "This is not spam" or something similar, e-mails should get through OK. Alan

I don't know anything about zones etc but if I remember I'll ask at the next Ex-Pats meeting I go to. If heading to Jomtien from Soi 7, I just jump on the first bus that comes along. When he gets to Walking Street, I check to see which way he is going to turn at 2nd Road. If he is going left, I press the buzzer, get off and hand him 10 baht. If he turns righht, I will stay on. Sometimes they might indicate that this is as far as they are going, in which case I will get off and payt him 10 baht. I seldom ask a driver if he is going to a specific location unless I'm carrying something he

I was able to open my account with Bangkok Bank with just a 30 day stamp in my passport. As for bank accounts, I am pretty certain that they can only be held in one currency. However, many banks will allow you to hold accounts in foreign currencies, though these will be held at the office handling that bank's international division. It should be possible to transfer funds between the two accounts but beware of exchange rates, commission (for both sides of the transaction?) and other charges. Alan

Yes. That would be the simplest option. You can extend your visa each time by 30 (?) days after which you will have to do a visa run. Apply for the visa as close to the date of your departure as possible. In the UK, you can apply in person for an additional fee. The expiry date of the visa is, I think, 1 year after it was granted by the Thai consul in your home country or wherever. I believe, though, that if you re-enter Thailand a few days before the visa is due to expire, you will be granted a further 90 days so in theory you could stay in Thailand foralmost 15 months. As Soi 7

I'm a true Scot and object to paying more than I really have to. I collect 5 and 10 baht coins just so I have the correct change for the baht buses. There are times when I will hand over a 20 baht note, especially if the driver's gone on to Jomtien from Central Road or wherever. Alan

I'm pretty certain that they run 24 hours a day. Alan

There's been a fair bit of rain over the last few days. I was at the Ex Pat's Club this morning and when I came out it was apparent that there had been a "little" shower whilst I was there. Plan - Walk down to Central Road and get a baht bus up to Carrefour Reality - Walked all the way. Traffic was at a complete standstill and Central Road was under water, only a few inches or so in the main, but I was still quicker walking. . Almost made it with feet still reasonably dry, but just before 3rd Road I found a spot where the shallowest spot was a bit over 4 inches. By the time I

I stay at View Talay, which is shortly before the archway and I never pay more than 10 baht for the trip from South Pattaya Road. Alan

Thanks for that, Dave. Looks as though I'l need to buy another bottle of vodka tomorrow in that case. If I recover from this bloody cold I've got, suppose I could always phone a girl and see if she wants to earn some money that night. What elections are these? Alan

I saw a report the other day that American scientists have managed to recreate the 1918 flu virus. They acknowledge that what they were doing was highly risky but reckoned that the potential benefits to be gained by studying the virus were worth the risk. Hopefully they will take proper precautions to ensure that no-one working with the virus can get infected. Alan

I reckon that the risk of being killed in a motor bike accident or whilst trying to cross 2nd road (probably by a motor cyclist creating a test message whilst dodging all the other idiot cyclists) are far higher. This afternoon, I saw a girl on a bike in Soi Bukau and her eyes were on her phone - NOT on the road ahead. Alan

Re alcohol consumption, they can tell from blood tests whether you drink in excess of the recommended daily "safe" limits. Alcohol is my only vice - well not strictly true as I'm an ex-pat now. Alan

In addition to the above, I also have a wrist monitor which gaves me a note of my blood pressure and pulse rate. I bought it in the UK so have no idea whether one can be bought in LOS or not. I got mine from Boots, so it might be worth checking their store in Walking Street or Royal Garden Plaza (?) Alan

I would imagine that any of the main hospitals in Pattaya would be willing to check your blood pressure for you and give you whatever pills you require. The Pattaya International Hospital in Soi 4 might be more convenient than the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital on Sukhumwit Road. I did notice that the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital had a stall at the start of Walking Street (beside the Tourist Police place) where they were offering free blood pressure checks. I would imagine that most of the clinics would be able to check your blood pressure as well. I don't know what the costs are but I need

I reckon that those of us who push the Nationwide flex account here are due a (small) fee from them for all the free advertising they've been getting. I've had my account for 5 years now and must thank Bank of Scotland for outsourcing me as without that I would not have gone looking for a new home for my savings. Alan