losgrad

My experience from 25 years ago is similar to those above. Procedure itself is outpatient and painless, but with a day walking bow-legged and 2-3 days of soreness relieved with ice packs. Medically, they informed me a 10% reduction in ejaculation volume so probably best to get your shooting distance records before getting the procedure and then compare afterwards :). A significant peace of mind knowing there's no swimmers in your fluids, but if desired some procedures can be reversed or you can freeze a few swimmers for future release. In the USA health insurance companies paid 100% as it reduces their future liabilities. Since it's a 20 minute outpatient procedure I can't imagine Thai clinics charging too much, but haven't queried local costs. Highly recommended with no regrets as grand kids will be easier :).

If you are open to remedies other than a chiropractor, I've used this Physical Therapist lady in Naklua off North Pattaya Road that was referred to me by another expat. I've had recurring back and neck problems since a judo 'accident' over 30 years ago and when they reoccur, it's very painful and I have to wear a neck brace, but she was able to align and 'fix' me each time with one session - twice in the past four years. HAPPY BODY CLINIC PHYSICAL THERAPY Inside Fascino Building North Pattaya Road Tel. 038-371-334 or 087-998-8349

That was really cool!!! He didn't give up after his early fall. Within urban traffic, I like the scenes in the movie, "Premium Rush" with the bike riders weaving through New York City traffic. Sort of reminds me of the traffic here in Pattaya, but at a much slower pace except on Sukhumvit :).

Teelack, Have you ever stayed in a Soi Buakow "Guesthouse?" Just wondering as if to economize is your goal, some rooms can be contracted for There are also many AC equipped apartments in this area that rent for under As you so noted above with many important things in life, your footsteps will be required to make the judgement of suitability and to have the most recent update of availability as all of the above are not advertised on the internet nor do they have websites (like many of the jobs I have had :). P.S. I'd be glad to discuss with you in-person during an FLB bar-crawl or meet you in the area to show you.

"Japanese cook-it-yourself style restaurant in Central Festival. Not cheap but very good and if you're hungry, then it'll become cheap for it's also all-you-can-eat. Quite entertaining as well." Thanks for the pictures and review. I've never tried it, but the food looks good so it'll be on my 'list,' especially since it's 'all-you-can-eat.' :) Sometimes, it's better when the food is prepared 'your way,' but to each their own. Shabushi (shabu shabu style) or MK (sukiyaki style) are some of my favorite places and you only have to drop the food into the boiling soup base, but you still decide what goes in there. Thanks again.

I dropped in this past Wednesday after midnight (technically Thurs AM) and was surprised to see food still being served so I sampled the two on the right and it was spicy and tasty. Made me want to drink quickly :). I'll return next time with an appetite. As usual, the girls were nasty in a good way and it's on my lists of stops for a night on Walking Street..

The "Floating Market" south on Sukhumvit is ok. I stopped there on one of my bicycle rides, but it was free and heard they may now charge admission. It's sort of like Mike's Shopping Mall and the Tues/Friday Soi Buakow market, but in small shops on and around brown water and higher priced for the busloads of tourists. I think the other suggestions above are much better, especially Nong Nooch, Movies at the Malls, et al plus adding: Big Buddha Go Cart racing Massages Mini-Siam Pattaya Orphanage Soi Buakow market on Tues/Fri Wat Chaimongkol (Pattaya Tai) and having a drink and stroll around any of the very nice resort hotels in Naklua or near Pratamnak.

I agree with this strategy. I've booked a few months in advance, but mostly a few weeks before and sometimes as late a few days before as I really didn't want to go back to the States

This is how I interpret the reason for the signage.

I think this is the complex across the street from Sophon Cable office on Soi Nakkao aka "Soi sophon" near 3rd Road (between Arunothai/Nirun condos and 3rd Road or down Sukhumvit Soi 42 to 3rd Road). Only about 25 meters from 3rd Road. I walk this area regularly and the pictures look familiar if it's the same place.

Yes, I agree. A few years ago, I bought one of Big C's top-of-the line bikes. It lasted less than a month before parts wore out and was never a 'good' ride. If I only used it occasionally, maybe it would have been sufficient. I'd recommend buying a good used one from a real bicycle shop. There are a few shops on Thep Prasit Road in Jomtien (between Sukhumvit and Thap Phraya). Some of these shops will also buy or resell the bike for you when you are ready to leave. If you buy from them, they will also provide full-service maintenance for the life of bike. I paid about the same as what I paid for the new bike at Big C, but after 3-4 years of regular use, these quality bikes are still operational.

Lol :) After living here a few years, I am getting more like you experienced expats and more interested in PSE and less GFE, so I don't have as much patience for cuddling :) I've heard GFE was only a figment of my imagination anyway...and correlated with how 'handsome' (reads baht) I am. Ok, good to know. Thanks. Ok, that gives me even more incentive to use that air filter or AC with clean filters in my condo. Hmmm, what do I do about the ST rooms? Do they have portable air filters? Just joking. I'll wear a mask :).

Hello there! It was great to meet you too. You're much taller than I expected :) I sure hope the 'Pattaya Cough' is not related to our Ban Chang visits, but during my day trips to the Ban Chang beaches, I don't like the looks of those smoke stacks in the distance near Rayong I've read somewhere that the cancer rate in Rayong is one of the highest in Thailand, but you know how statistics can be manipulated. I'll definitely try the "MUCLEAR" for my symptoms. It'd still be great to identify the other causes of the cough. Yes, as many bargirls will agree (about the AC; not the crack and ice :). Most times, turning off the AC does the trick, but sometimes it doesn't so there may also be some other causes specific to Pattaya. Yes. Anyone know about air sampling or other tests that can be done. Surely, those 1.3 million new cars on the road aren't helping either, but it would seem we'd get the cough in Bangkok too. I've been making monthly trips to Bkk and there's definitely an indirect correlation as I lose the cough, yet use AC in my cheap, but clean room on Sukhumvit. Hmmm, maybe those Russian planes landing at U-Tapao airport are spreading something across Pattaya. We blame the Russians for everything else :) or the Japanese who make it 'rain' baht notes, maybe the dust from those bills :) or the Indians who bring their curry body odors/bacteria :) or the dustballs from our Western expats pockets with the less favorable currency exchange rates :) or maybe the Thai bargirls are doing something to us :). On that last one, do any of you NOT kiss the girls, but still get a cough? Just curious. Ok, Teelack, back to you and others.

Wow! Thank you for reminding me of the "Pattaya Cough." Currently, I am on 'holiday' in the Hawaiian islands where the air is very clean. I had forgotten about the cough until your OP and realized I have NOT coughed since leaving Pattaya. During my last 3-4 years living in Pattaya, I've been catching 2-3 'colds' a year which I often blamed on visiting friends. This past year, I've been coughing periodically even without a cold. I've tried various remedies, but the latest, "Throatsil" losenges seems to work quickly and cheaply. The wrapping indicates 100 mg of Vitamin C, 1.2 mg dichlorobenzyl alcohol and 0.6 mg amylmetacreso. I also regularly gargle with mouthwash, take various vitamins and try different cough suppressants from the pharmacy or hospital doctors. The ones from the hospital seem to work the best, especially when I get a real cold with a persistent cough. Yes, the planes are very cool so I often dress warmly along with at least two airline blankets. In an airplane, if someone has a flu or cold, those viruses and germs will be circulating everywhere during the very long flight - air ducts, bathroom door handles, etc.. A recent news report (forgot if it was done by an independent agency or an airline) indicates the AC filters reduce the ciruculation of most of those bad bugs, but indicated the other transfer options from door handles, hand-to-hand contacts, hand-to-object, etc... as those rhino viruses can survive for many minutes without a host. Yes, lately this has gotten me thinking too. Why? For me, when using the AC units in hotels, ST rooms, guesthouses, etc... where they have NOT cleaned and maintained the filters will immediately result in a scratchy throat or worse. If it's not hot, I do not use the AC units which most of the Thai girls that accompany me are in agreement as they too have experienced coughs from either the cool or dirty air from AC units (Gogo girls seem to be the exception :). In my condo, where I do maintain the AC filters, I recently noticed I cough less when using AC rather than just using the multiple room fans with the balcony doors open (to keep my electric bill low). The AC probably filters the 'dirty' Pattaya air so I bought a standalone air filter for my condo when not using AC. In the storage portion of my condo (condo is 80 m2), an unused set of golf clubs have a film of dust mixed with oil (possibly diesel exhaust?). I've always been a little OCD about the hand sanitizers, washing my hands and face at every opportunity, avoiding bathroom door handles, etc... but unfortunately I kiss too many bargirls which may cancel all of the above :) Yes, all of the above. In conclusion, where before I thought my coughs were caused by colds brought over from 'foreign' visitor friends, now I realize there are multiple causes: 1. Dirty AC units blowing dirty air 2. Pattaya smog - dust and diesel exhaust 3. Colds and germs from tourists and bargirls 4. Other I shall try the following and see what happens: Daily gargling. Hand sanitizers and frequent hand washing Always using Air filter or AC in my condo Turn off dirty AC in rental units and/or keep temp higher Taking regular trips away from Pattaya Thanks "Teelack" for the OP and thanks to others for sharing their experiences as I think the "Pattaya cough" needs to be more fully explored.

Thanks for 3BB WiFi info. I use 3bb ISP service in my condo, but was using the DTAC WiFi on a smartphone - 100 baht per 30 days with 20 hour limit total. I'll try the 3bb next month.

There are 3 "AIr Conditioned" Indian restaurants 100 meters south of Pattaya Tai and 2nd Road intersection (left side if facing Jomtien). A few days ago when I ate at one (checked the menu of the others) it also cost 280 baht for chicken masala and one garlic nan (decent, but nothing outstanding). Awhile ago, when i ate in the non-enclosed and no-AC restaurant around the corner behind the school, it was cheaper and tasty, but the place is small, crowded and service so-so. Looking forward to trying some of the recommendations on this thread. P.s. Near Silicon Valley California, I use to go to lunch with some Indian Techie friends and we'd eat at Indian food buffets for $10 USD (300 baht) so it does seem comparatively expensive here, but it is a 'foreigner' food here so...

Many thanks for posting these pictures. Where and When was this photoshoot? I'd like to catch it next year. For a few years I attended the Bkk Motor Show just to photograph the "Pretties," but last year they seemed less attractive than prior years. Thanks again and your closeups are fantastic.

Samfreeland - those videos reminded me why I avoided large group rides. It only takes one to cause a domino effect and put many at risk. Many new riders "start" on big bikes rather than learning on a bike they can control when they make mistakes. The bigger bikes go where you look and are not easily muscled back. Quote from: Bigdelta "Some big bikes have had a reverse gear since the 90s I believe.It is a big help moving a 800lb behemouth,specially when there is any kind of incline." Yes, many years ago I had an '89 Honda GL1500 with a reverse electric starter motor (aka reverse gear) that weighed in at 800 lbs and when parking, especially on the hilly streets of San Francisco, one has to plan accordingly with a bike so heavy. The newest GL1800 Goldwing weighs over 900 lbs. In regards to 'lifting" the bike when it's on its side, one doesn't really lift 800-900 lbs, but using a reverse deadlift position, moves it at an angle to its upright position. Yes, but still requires some strength. . Well, with all of these thoughts, I miss my big naked bikes even more. Here's a picture of two of them (both under 700 lbs :). They are on life support battery trickle chargers with some fuel additives in the tanks, but I know I'll probably have to get their carbs rebuilt upon my visit later this year. The smaller old one (1100 cc) has over 128,000 miles after a few coast-to-coast across the continental USA, Sturgis SD Rally, Laughlin NV, Victoria Canada (yes, using the ferry), along with many commuter miles. The bigger one (1500 cc) was intended to be my retirement travel bike, but I choose to retire in Thailand so it's only got 30,000 miles to date (purchased with only 3,000) and getting very few more as my visits to the States decrease each year. P.S. I also love "Ducks," especially the 900 Monster, but that and the CBRs were detrimental to my health and I may not have made it to retirement age if I kept riding them :)..... The trail/dirtbikes were great too, especially when riding with my kids around the ranch or in the special parks and tracks. Ok, enough for now.... Well, whatever you ride, ride safe with the rubber side down.

Some new big motorcycles in the remodeled Honda store on Sukhumvit 46/3: a few different CB500 models and a new PCX-like bike called FORZA 300 cc which actually looks like a Silver Wing 500, but with a smaller engine. In the new Big Wing, they have the 1800 Goldwing for 1.5 mil baht and some big CB models. If you like bigger motorcycles, it's cool. Not sure if ill give up my bicycles here or my comparatively small 200 cc motorbike, but it makes me miss my big motorcycles back in the States. P.S. I dont work for Honda, but just like their motorcycles.

Thanks for the review. I've walked into this area a few times and saw the 'Fish and Chips' menu item. I'll give it a try. P.S. I am also a regular diner at Sizzler for their salad bar and either BBQ chicken or Fish and chips economy meals when I don't have the appetite for the Shabushi buffet.

"Witherspoons" Sports Bar and Restaurant on Soi Buakow (near Soi Leng Kee) is friendly. It is not enclosed with AC, but it may not be a problem at 5:30 am :) http://witherspoonspattaya.com/

I also read that research somewhere. Yes, along with dental hygiene. Interesting cause and effects. I really embellish the reports about having sex five times a week. My ex- agreed, so that's why I am here in Pattaya :) In regards to the Flu: I had two episodes a few months ago or perhaps it was only one with a re-occurrence. Sometimes, I get the annual flu vaccine, sometimes I don't. I seem to catch some illness a few times a year, but sometimes it's quickly alleviated with anti-biotics so not the flu. I use those anti-bacterial hand sprays regularly so some friends and Thai girls say my immune system is unprepared. Oh well.

I've been going there for a few years. Its a good place for out of town guests. Although only a few meters from the busy 2nd Road, you dont feel or hear the nearby bars or traffic. They have a nice outside dining area, good quiet Thai cultural entertainment and decent Thai foods. If you have more time, the "Boat" restaurant out in the bay from Bali Hai pier is also good with more diverse entertainment - Filipino band, Russian dance troupe, etc... The various Thai buffets on 3rd Road are also good, but no entertainment. Enjoy.

Great pictures. I was there a few months ago and have visited regularly for years as I have family there. I usually rent a motorcycle to cruise around the island (I'll probably ship one next year from my CA inventory). As a pedestrian, you really have to carefully obey traffic laws as police on those Segway machines will track you down and ticket you. The weather is almost comparable except they have more regular breezes and light winds than we do in Pattaya.. Everything is also expensive since it's an island where most things must be shipped. With all the ships coming from China full of cheap goods, one would think those items would be cheaper than CA, but apparently most of these ships are required to go to the mainland first. Anyway, a nice place to visit, some great hiking trails, a big diversity of Asian non-p4p women and fun in the sun.

Good pics. Since I live east of 3rd Road I walk or bike it regularly enroute to the bars, malls and beach. Did you purposely skip pass Bliss? :) 3rd Road is quite long from Naklua to South Pattaya with many Thai buffets, Thai bars, fishing parks, golf driving range, discos, etc...that are not frequented by many short-term holiday makers, but can broaden ones Pattaya experiences (if one wants). Thanks again for taking the time and making the effort to share another part of Pattaya.