Idefix

A legal guesthouse is neither a "non-register hotel" nor a "illegal business". Confusion maybe because in Pattaya many said "guesthouse" are too big to be a legal guesthouse, so they are in fact "non-register hotels" and then "illegal business". Legal (and then small) guesthouses do not need to register, do not need hotel license. But OK, I will not go to war for that detail.

Hi MM. Your title seems wrong to me. The article is about illegal businesses, not guesthouses. The problem in Thailand are the thousand of "hotels" or guesthouses-too-big-to-be-legally-a-guesthouse. They need to register and have an hotel license, but so many don't have, and it was not really a problem (no control) until recently. They already targeted several big illegal hotels in Pattaya last year, and Google will show you it happen everywhere in Thailand. See http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/1154636/guesthouse-hotel-crackdown-no-more-mai-pen-rai A problem you get in many sectors, and I understand the reaction of big companies who have to pay licenses and respect strict rules (with costs) and have this growing illegal concurrence. BTW many still cheap legal hotels in Pattaya IMHO Edit: For owners who rent: Is Your House or Condo in Thailand An Illegal Hotel?

Ooops : http://forum.expatiptv.net/

It is. 3BB said to several people calling the hotline that one of their big routers crashed and they were trying to understand the problem to fix it. Also info (rumours?) that it will not be fixed before tomorrow... Also this message from 3BB found on another forum:

Many 3BB users reporting problems with Google services today. Don't worry; it doesn't come from your computer Just waiting for 3BB to solve that... I urgent access needed, use a VPN.

Hi. I watched "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol.2" yesterday, and liked it. You know when you go see such a movie that it will not be an intellectual one . The audience was in the good mood and some good general laughs. Some very nice special effects, but (IMHO) probably to many and too big. A big "WTF?" about the scenario in the second part with this "father's planet". Just a pretext to more big special effects? All in all you don't have the surprise effect of the first one, but still a rather good movie and I had a pleasant time watching it.

No. The "Visa Rules" above are Thai rules Restrictions on the number of times out can enter in Thailand without a visa And to the OP: I don't know anymore about visaruns, but the cheapest companies used to be mainly on Soi Buakhao...

TM30 explained for Chonburi Immigration :)

Hi. I have been asked several times how "safe" was this walk. So I post here the reply I just made on another forum: Unsure in which way you think about unsafe here, but no, a perfectly safe walk That is true for all my past walks: - About people: I never met aggressive people or people I though could be a problem. Most people do not react in any way, they just continue to do what they where doing. Some of them may look at me, so sometime I cam make a sign, a nod, or even say hello, and usually they return it. Most of contacts are with children, as they often play on the street in these quiet areas. Many are intrigued to see a farang here, and even more a walking one . Some of them will test they English knowledge: "Hello" - About dogs: That could be a problem for some people, as sure they are many of them, and very few are attached. Most will make a lot of noise to inform you it's "their" house, but will stay a few meters of you. My advice: don't change your trajectory, don't change your speed, ignore them just keeping an eye on the most daring one. They are far more loud than brave - About cars: That would be the real risk IMHO, and one more reason why I prefer secondary roads or tracks. I always walk facing the traffic, but the main danger is, in rural areas, speeding cars cutting the curve on street where - as a pedestrian - you don't have much place on the side. Just be careful. - Other: As the question was about "dirt tracks", I would say they may be the safest places . The only risk I think about is snakes... Sure they are many in Thailand, but I mainly saw them dead, along streets, killed by cars. Very low chance to meet one; they detect you way before you see them and will take a refuge. They fear you even more than you fear them! They like to stay on stones in full sun, so just watch your steps in rocks areas. But seriously, a very low risk. Have some nice walks

Here is the map of the walk, for those interested in doing it too Total walked distance about 34km and ~8 hours from start to Sukhumvit bus stop. 1- The walk to go South towards the marina. GoogleMaps limitations at Na Jomtien city harbour (so had to draw around it) and it doesn't accept that I walk on the beach A rather easy trajectory: South, south, south... :) 2- Nearly the direct access to Yansangwararam and Khao Chi Chan, except that I took the secondary roads and tracks along the main road.

On the other side of the street... Jungle Buggy Cross : https://www.facebook.com/Jungle-buggy-cross-1689935664599503/ Rent: 1'600 baht for 20 minutes They also have a "crazy cart" area. 250 B for 10 min. See facebook for photos. Flying elephants... at a small fair attraction. "Bon voyage"... "Merci" :) Sukhumvit! And now only 17km from home... :) but already walked ~34km and decided it was enoughfor this day So I jumped in a 20 baht white bahtbus towards Pattaya Tai :) The back of the buildings I saw from the beach... ... Sometimes I wondered if it would not be faster to walk. That's All Folks :)

Swiss Sheep Farm A huge place with lot of parking for big busses... Not a sheep... Not sheeps either... Hi Main roundabout Halloween seems to be a main theme there ? Inside the park Dual pricing (180 tourist, 90 Thai), as at nearly every attraction Here is a site with many pics: http://www.pattayadays.com/2015/12/swiss-sheep-farm-pattaya/ This place may worth a visit :)

The rest of the walk. So I was at Khao Chi Chan, at about 20+ km from Pattaya, and now going North-West towards Sukhumvit After about 1 km... Upside Down attraction :) http://upsidedownpattaya.com/ You can see some chairs inside on the floor-at-the-top... or the car in the garage. Entrance sign Magic barrel. Big size. But it's just water Leaning castle Business working well. Parking full yesterday. BTW they added many smaller attractions (see http://upsidedownpattaya.com/attractions/ ) Price 300 for tourist, 180 for Thai or if you have a Thai Driving License Strange road markings on this road ?? Do they look like a sheep to you ??

Up to this point (Buddha Mountain) I estimate I walked about 27km (16.8mi) and it took me 6 hours to come here. That makes a rather low average speed (4.5km/h / 2.8mi/h) but keep in mind I stopped many times (for breakfast in Chaiyaphruek, for water, to enjoy the scene, watching the pagodes, or playing at feeding fishes ) Also a photo-walk is always slower than a normal walk. I took more than 200 pictures that day. Let's say 10 seconds average per picture: it's more than half an hour total! So without photos speed already would be 5.0km/h I walk at nearly 6km/h for my short walks in Pattaya, but for such long walks, probably 10% lower only. I must save my battery Now I must sort and publish some more pics, because the walk didn't stop there !

The Wonder Farm was also on my way but seemed very quiet dispite this long week-end. Along the road, thousands of mangoes :) No idea what they are doing there, but it will be huge! Not far now :) Lot of people and an heavy traffic around the place More traditional Songkran, with people pouring a little water on the arm or shoulder of this Buddha figure. The image in full Many small Thai restaurants. I stopped for a well earned meal :) Ramayana water park is about 3 km from here. I hesitated, but too far for today walk. So bye-bye Buddha, and direction Sukhumvit now, and then Pattaya.

The statues at the entrance of the park, with Wat Yansangwararam in the back I do like the big trees in the park, like this one Wat Yansangwararam. Sure nice, and not a frequent architecture in Thailand The Chinese temple, Viharnra Sien, on the south of the lake Zoom on the left wall of the entrance And here is the fun part... People throwing food (20 baht) to the many big catfishes waiting for it! Hard to photograph them, but they really climb on each other to catch the food Also spotted this one; the kind of fish we put in our aquarium "to clean the inside glass". In such a place, without predators, they become huge! This one probably +60cm (+2ft) South of it, I spotted this big board. Something new to me... so I made a detour to have a look. A huge parking area, and many different buildings... but not one person in view! even at there information desk. I managed to make sign to someone. Apparently they only (mainly?) work with big tours (several busses) and 11am was way too early. She had no idea about prices, because the group operator pay for all! After some time I manage to see an English document, and took this pic. Unsure on what is really available/ready now. Many buildings new that seem empty. The "market area" is still in construction. They want build different types of traditional Thai houses, but only these 2 have been built. So maybe better to wait before visiting this place.

I always liked this lake with these pagodes, amd the many reeds hiding them have been removed :) 1 2 3 The garden has been cleaned too :). (Was fallow 3 years ago) We can see the Buddha curved on the mountain (Khao Chi Chan) behind the other side of the lake. Bonus: The big water-jet is working today. Wat Yansangwararam on the left Many things changed in a few years: this bicycle track, these electric "bus" to travel groups between the different must-see points, and to the new tourists shops & restaurants These small build seems nothing special... but inside is a very long frieze about some important history points same same. etc. Another big pond... with again some beautiful flowers

Funny thing is that I managed to walk during +2 hours (since the kart circuit to the marina) without seeing any cars on the secondary streets I used! :). Just a few motorbikes. I was arrived at Sukhumvit, at the level of the Marina and was not interested to continue South along the beach or Sukhumvit. Way to many people and noise. So I looked at GoogleMaps (what a wonderful tool!) and decided to take the opposite Soi and to walk now South-East. Very quickly it was another world :) Caption? Oops. Huge construction for bridge and a new highway? Didn't know this area was big enough for a train station "choo choo"! Shortcut Quiet and shadow Big pond... with nice lotus flowers :) GoogleMaps didn't tell me that would be a track, but fine when out of rain season Looks like rice ?? Another track, ~2km, very pleasant for a walk No need to drink alcohol to see pink elephants And I arrive to my next check-point... :)

Pinnacle resort And still many very quiet roads :) The Glass House restaurant On the beach, looking North Some nice (?) beach condo towers, looking South The huge Marina Ambassador Hotel Russian invasion, on the beach and in the water. Marina in the back. Part of the Ambassador swimming pool. Nice Mövenpick hotel Inside the marina Same Marina Resort Sea urchin in the marina. Indication of good quality water. BTW, the water along the beach was crystal clear :) Marina gardens Marina Resort, east side

Fences of the new Espana Condo project... and what's inside. Many horses and ponies in this area New condo (?) near the alread old La Royale condo Nam Taley. First half of the project. Venetian Signature Condo. A big part of it now is an hotel for groups. Kityada Pavillon condo. Another finished project that never opened ?? Shortcut through the Wat Na Jomtien Na Jomtien harbour city... New condo project The Whales in the back Nice house with pool and boat garage. I could live here Sad to see so few boats Nice overflowing swimming pool

Looks like some condo will be built on the big Chang & Chang plantation Pattaya birds :) Cute when small/young Football stadium at the Pattaya Youth Center Sports Center Another nice "village" Still many building porjects all along Jomtien Towers on Jomtien Beach The new parking for boats that used to park in front of the Waterfront Condo Ghetto City... Same Small hidden lake Reflexion towers, from Jomtien Second Rd

Saturday 15 April 2017 As usual: No bar, agogo or even girls in this report, just different pictures of Pattaya surrounding :) Woken up early and decided today to make a long walk benefiting of early morning "cool" weather. No clear goal; Just walking South from Pattaya... Looking South from my condo. Pattaya still asleep (and so was I: blurry pic ) Pattaya City Tower from Soi 17 market place Supalai Ville. A nice individual houses village This group of 10 (?) condos is finished for about 1 year but never opened ?? Supalai Mare Condo, on Theprasit Rd One more mini(Big)C. Many appear around Pattaya recently. Party Kart : all-terrain kart Party Kart: Pro kart circuit Many quiet roads without traffic :) I thought this restaurant had been destroyed long ago... Happy it isn't! Many individual "rooms" over a big pound. Great with your TG and her friends Some of many "stalled" condo projects, when looking towards West/Jomtien

> Did you actually use it to completion? No. A few weeks too early for me, but I just saw on ThaiVisa that people managed to submit their report yesterday, and nothing seems have changed compared to 3 months ago. So seems ok Reminder of the 8-days period in which you can submit your 90-Days:

The 90-Days Report System is back Online :) https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn90online/online/tm47/TM47Action.do

And they should be closed on 19 April too (big Songrkan day in Pattaya). You will not be too late (no fine) if you go to Immigration on 19 when your limit date was in 13-17, but I would not like to go there after a 5-days holydays! Huge queues expected...