InternationalTraveler

For me, it started a few weeks ago when I was listening to the news on TV. Had Duterte just shut down Manila for a month, did I hear that right. Checked the internet and for sure 3-hours ago, 6-hours ago reports say it was true. It was way back in November, I had planned to get away from Songkran for nearly a month in the Philippines. (Songkran has now been cancelled) I had planned a bit of island hopping going to Coron, El Nido, Puerta Princesa and then 10-days in Sabang, Puerta Gallera to finish off, a place of last years Philippine report trip. On my morning walk to

The first time I visited this mall I was impressed with the set up of the London, Paris, Italy, San Francisco, and Tokyo locations. However saying that there is absolutely nothing in there that I would buy. I have been there a few times now for an air conditioned walk after I have had my lunchtime meal to burn off a few cals. The toilets are hiso with automatic spray speeds and a heater to dry up your ass. Just a novelty ...Give me a squirter on a hosepipe any time.

Before I moved to Pattaya, drove up there with the GF on motorbike and took it over on the ferry. Stayed at the Sichang Palace Hotel on the Island close to the dock and restaurants. It did have a pool. Drove around the island and it looked to be the best Hotel at the time. Others around the island on secluded beaches were more like wooden beach chalets. Also stayed in Sriracha in the Seaview hotel and had a night out in the bars. This has a view to the jetty and also to the Koh Loy Island Park which is worth a visit where I have eaten out many times (Thai food) My Island visit was 7-years

You could call me a bit of an expert on the matter or a bloody idiot whatever. In November took the car on another road trip up to Vientiane in Laos and then Chiang Rai/Golden Triangle/Chiang Mai and stopped off at a number of other places on route. Just a note that I have a heavy right foot on the gas. Speeding tickets started to arrive a day or two after I got back to my house. One on the way up from Korat to Udon Thani on the 11th Nov and four on the road back from Sukhothai to Bangkok within a 2-hour period. 11th Nov Time 12:22 Speed 120km/hr 25th Nov Time 08:47 Speed

Was wandering around the Harbor Shopping Mall yesterday, the place was almost empty. This did make me lol Would bet my house on it that it was a lady driver.

cont...The GASC looks to be closed....finished?

Yesterday sat across from the GASC in Jolly's having my eat all you can Sunday roast for 259 baht. See that the lights are out and again today as I past.

Yes, another 5-hours of my life but it is one of those chores you have to do. I did take my ear phones to listen to some music and was also busy taking some notes and pics. Foreigners queue at 07:30 Waiting for my number at desk 11 Doing the brake and colour test Mini TV Monitor Desk numbers 1 & 2

Yesterday went to the LRO near Regents School to renew my car and motorbike licences. Time Line. 07:00 drive to centre and park up. 07:30 join the queue in front of main doors on the left-hand side for foreigners. At least 18-people in front of me. 08:05 Guy comes outside and gives a speech in Thai. Lets in the Thais first on the right-hand side and then foreigners. 08:10 Given a White ticket number 13 and sit down inside (ground floor) and wait for my number on the board. 08:50 Go upstairs for paperwork to be checked. 08:55 Given Red Ticket number 48 which says wait in training

A couple of photos from my walk yesterday on the way down to PBG. I have seen it much worse than that were you could almost walk on the floating debris and after rain the sea was black. Saw what looked like a Russian lady in the sea with a baby. Personally I would not dip my big toe in there.

Yes the New Thai passport office is open on the top floor of the Avenue, one floor above the Robin Hood Bar. I was planning another trip to Laos so took the GF in there yesterday at 16:05 and came out 16:25. Closes 16:30. I counted 7- cubicles with fingerprint reader and digital cameras all set up. Only one other Thai person in there. 20-minutes and all the paperwork was done and paid for. Thai Passport in the post next week. 1040 baht. Very efficient.

Last week found myself eating in Retox. Whilst everyone was having the baht busting breakfast I tried the Wednesday special which was the chicken tikka masala. The pompadoms were a little oily but otherwise not bad for 149 baht that's including a SML beer. Offer open for the month of July I did not realize Robin Hood in the Avenue and Naandos are all part of the same group. Photo taken outside the Avenue.

I have re-named Chayapoom as 'Soi Pot-hole' Someone once told me that the road was owned by Toyota...not sure if that is true but possibly why it has never been fixed.

Yes it was 3,000 baht, apparently Somchai used the credit card online but Barclays Bank UK flagged this up and blocked the card after around 11,000 baht of purchases. Made me laugh that he had to raid his 2-year old kids account at the ATM as he had run out of cash. The thieves must have been working in pairs as he was distracted with someone putting paste on his face whilst the other was rifling his pocket. Misdirection.

Been here nearly 6-years now. Originally came with the intention to buy. Rented first apartment on the Darkside with tennants above and either side. Too noisy and too far from town 5Km. Now rent a house in the centre only 10-minutes walk from the beach and bars, yes location is paramount. I like the freedom that I can move anytime and if the shit does hit the fan for any reason I can open the safe, grab my passport and get the fcuk of here.

Played golf on Friday with a Swedish guy who told me he was celebrating Songkran on Beach Road carrying a plastic wallet to keep his mobile phone and 3,00 baht dry. He noticed his wallet had been cut open but just lost the cash. Today my mate told me a similar story. He was a prime target carrying his kid in his arms, velcro pocket opened and wallet stolen with a shit load of Credit/Debit cards UK/Thai, Thai ID, and driving licences. One of the UK cards was used 5-times buying computer games in the first hour. WTF he was carrying all that lot on him I do not know....in retrospect. Anyw

Absolute mayhem out there today. Roads gridlocked and more water than you can shake a stick at. Thought I would treat the GF to dinner today, my normal choice is Robins Nest for the Special of the day Lasagna. Got there to find no meals being served, and a bubble bath outside. Eventually decided on Big C.

Songkran came a day earlier for me as I got a face full of water down on soi 8 Tuesday night. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday been going out after 8pm and keeping away from the battle zones. Managed to stay dry. Traffic very much gridlocked in town, boy racers on motorbikes with no helmets going at hell for leather speeds up the sois and even jumping the traffic lights outside second road / Klang (old Tops) Sat lunch on Soi 7 with a detour through the back door of the Pig and Whistle to get into Rosie O’Gradies. As I have seen in previous years it was total mayhem outside, my shirt and

Not stolen..just rotting away as the wood/decking was not treated or wood stained, the brown paint they used on the decking was worn away after 2-weeks. I put some fencing around my house around 20-years ago and gave everything a double dose of creosote wood stain. It still looks good to this day.

View of the promenade near to Mikes Shopping Mall were the decking goes around the raised concrete steps Just over 2-years now and the promenade is looking a little worse for wear. Every week I see another piece less or broken away to the point of being dangerous. The decking is also getting very spongy with all the screws coming loose. Obviously built with poor quality materials and boards not even treated. They were just given a lick of brown paint. Give it another month or so and someone will be breaking through the floor.

A few ST rooms just off beach road. Side of Tip Plaza(Subway/7-eleven shop) between Sois 10 and 11. Many on Soi 13/1 Side of Star Hotel, The house (run by Lady boys) S.A. Apartments just to name a few. 200 baht with air-con. These are all handy for a Beach Road take away.

A few stalls have accumulated over the last 2-weeks, clothes, shoes, phones, trinkets, even Real Estate and a soup kitchen down at the bottom...maybe they have heard a rumour. But the large tops supermarket area still has nothing in there. Until they put something big in there they are all doomed due to lack of foot traffic.

Walking past the avenue todays special caught my eye. I normally have the bacon liver onions in Rosies soi 7 on a Saturday as the special is 199 baht. In the Robin Hood Tavern you get 5-large portions of liver with all the trimmings including a beer for 199 baht. Great value, a gut buster and many newspapers to read whilst you are waiting. 2pm today around 12-people in there

I know 2-guys who recently have gone the back door route through agents. One who has very little pension paid 19,000 baht. The other who screwed up with the amount of pension and money in the bank paid 16,000 baht. He came up around 70,000 baht shortfall and the woman down immigration gave him no way out and told him to go out the country and start the process again. You know In some ways I actually agree that a foreigner should have funds of 800,000 baht but on the other hand it is dead money. My funds have diminished well below the 800,000 mark and I am going to run them down further

I last took my car over on the ferry April 2014...a few notes from my report which may be of use...the prices will be a little more I guess. After Chanthabury follow the signs which are clearly marked. Used this ferry 4-times. Stayed in White beach 4-times which has more bars and a decent beach Last stop for gas and a coffee at the 7-eleven before ferry turn off. Sharp right to Ao Thammachart ferry not Centerpoint. Only a few cars waiting to pay the 280 baht car +2 and join the queue. Less than 10- minutes and we were parked on the boat and sailing….seemed like a quick trip…read