InternationalTraveler

I passed through there a couple of nights ago and it was still empty. The lights were on in the downstairs large room as if something was being prepped for a start up. The Indian restaurant that was downstairs has in fact moved to the next floor at the top of the escalator.

Looks like the refurbished Big C on second road opened yesterday and is called Central Marina. 2-floors with more space probably until they get more vendors and 4-floors of multi story car parking. Still some work going on until all the stores inside and out are filled. Few pics

This visa may be useful for myself depending on the final details and as you say if it includes the re-entry permit. My insurance is covered through International SOS through the company. If you have less than 5-years on your passport obviously you will need to transfer a visa from one passport to another. I am just curious if anyone has had to transfer a visa, how this is carried out and the implications.

More speculation on the 10-year visa, as it says ''the Devil is in the details'' http://pattayatoday.net/news/latest-edition/10-year-visa-questions/

Interesting a piece written by Barry Kenyon (previous honorary consul to Pattaya) in yesterdays Bangkok Post. Personally I see this visa as an additional option to the 1-year retirement extension. Such as the very wealthy or for off shore workers. Personally I do not know anyone who gets more than 100,000 baht per month or who has medical insurance. If it does replace the norm then we are sure to see a mass exodous.

I am back reading Private Dancer by Stephen Leather for the third time. It's not that I have run out of reading material, I just thought I needed the refresher course.

Passed through the ground floor of the old Tops yesterday and it now looks deserted. Both the Indian restaurant which was operational only a few days ago and the proposed Chinese restaurant which was all set up with tables and chairs have both shut up shop. Only a few small stalls left inside which get very little walking traffic. Maybe part of the clear up of the zero dollar tour operators.

£££££ down again to 44.73

First tenant in the new beach road complex near Soi 6 is another Starbucks. I know they sell coffee from 120 to 150 baht but how much is the real cost.

Soi Buakhao and Klang was flood free at 01:00am when I walked home. A bit more sand washed away when I walked down the beach this morning.

Here is my flood story, I did post it in the Ex-Pat section under 'Insurance' some time ago. During the tropical storm 16th October 2015 the retaining wall at the rear of my complex burst under the pressure of the flood water. Within a 30-40 minute period the water rose to 6-feet and remained at that level for some days until 2-fire tenders spent a couple of days pumping the water away. I was probably lucky that I had just shipped out on an assignment and caught a flight to Heathrow that very morning and was oblivious to the situation. The GF had also caught the bus up Country to her farm. During the storm residents were trying to save their valuables and take them upstairs. Those in ground floor rooms and apartments were totally wiped out and those out at the time lost their curved screen TVs and other expensive items which were all ruined. At 2am the sea rescue came in with a speed boat and ferried most out to higher- drier land. The following day the water level was still around 4-5-foot and the owner bought a boat which was used to ferry out the remaining die-hards. As the water and electric had been cut off, most residents booked into the nearest hotel which reduced the rate from 800 to 500 baht. Others booked in for a month. Getting back to Pattaya a month later. I rent one of the 2-bedroom bungalows which are split on 3-levels with the kitchen on the ground floor, lounge 3-foot higher and bedrooms and bathroom higher still. Having lost everything in the kitchen and everything but the wide screen TV in the lounge. A number of cars including mine were also submerged more than a foot or two above the roof. Both our motor bikes suffered the same fate along with many others. Although a friend offered me his apartment, I also booked into the local hotel for a week whilst the floor was relayed and the kitchen and lounge was given a lick of paint. Both our motor bikes went back to the shop for a second and third fix after new ignition switch, battery, plug, air filter and oil change, then charging, flat battery and water in the fuel problems. I e-mailed my insurance to inspect the car while I was away and it was transported away to a service centre in Bangkok. Eventually got back to some sort of normality but for the first few weeks was finding things missing and having to buy things every other day. All in all it cost me around 100,000 baht for all our stuff that was damaged and lost. We did not get any insurance compensation from the owner. There is always talk about the Thais being pretty resilient when a disaster occurs. Truth is you just accept what happens and get on with it. I have no thoughts of leaving and setting up shop somewhere else as the location/setting ticked all the boxes. One of the boxes was the benefit of living on the ground floor and not in some high rise where you spend half your day waiting for the lift..now I know that conclusion has its ups and downs. All part of the joys of living in Pattaya. But anyway the biggest thing on the list was the car and exactly 12-weeks later the insurance settled the claim. Expecting them to offer some derisory sum I was pleasantly surprised. It paid out exactly the amount the car was insured for on the Insurance Certificate Minus 3,000 baht deductible for the claim. In real terms that equates to 27,000 baht more than I paid for the car 3-years ago which is like free motoring and insurance for 3-years. A couple of days later this was the scene. The tide line is in red. To be fair to the owner everything already supplied in the lounge and kitchen was replaced with new, cooker, fridge, 3-piece suite, table, chairs, tv cabinet. The outer retainer wall has been rebuilt and double skinned for extra strength on 2-sides of the complex. A new generator set with pump has been mounted inside. And there is also an extra flood barrier which is fully retractable and fitted into the ground with a guide either side on the gate access. By removing a couple of screws it rises out of the ground to give extra height to the wall. After getting back a month later to see all our stuff trashed with the muddy mess and devastation I think I was better off not being there. The motor bikes both Honda and Kawasaki had a few teething problems to start with but are really resilient machines and have had no problems since. And I treated myself to another better car so now it is all water under the bridge and a distant memory.

Just finished Dead Centre my 10th Andy McNab thriller about a kidnap in Somalia. Now Pattaya Tales by Geoffrey Franklin, raconteur's experiences of Thailand.

As for the Tops building, I often take a 60-second walk through this on my way out in the evening or on my way back from my walk down the beach just to grab a welcome bit of air con. It was during it's time as a supermarket useful to grab a few bits and bobs to stock up the fridge. However just recently the old restaurant has had a few coach parties of Indians and the smell of curry is sometimes overwhelming. This new establishment looks like it can handle at least a couple of hundred... I am waiting to see if they put a 'Lazy Susan' on the table. Definition... It's a rotating glass table then be sure it's for the Chinese.

These photos taken 21st June. There was nothing happening then and nothing happening now...maybe mothballed till someone pays the piper.

Photo taken back of the Seasons Hotel on Pattaya Klang 14

I am sure some of you have seen this on Soi 1 where they could not grasp the idea that the profile of the manhole cover should line up with the profile of the road. On Soi 2 they managed to get it right. This new road just constructed and lines painted. Just look where they put the street lighting. You could not make it up. I have not got enough time to describe the on going cock ups on the beach road promenade and drainage. They still think that shit can flow uphill when every Engineer knows that you need pumps. And as for thinking outside the box ! How can they do that when there is nothing between their ears.

They did this one a couple of years ago. http://blogs.channel4.com/world-news-blog/rethinking-retirement-thailands-capital-sleaze/26649 I used to see a couple of those guys knocking around the Plaza. But not anymore.

Yesterday tried out the restaurant at the far end of Jomtien beach. Beilieve it is called Lungsawai Sea Food With a nice sea view and a good stiff breeze kept the temperature down. Mid afternoon only waiters and no customers. There also seemed to be an abundance of flies. Along with other stuff I had ordered the grilled sweet grilled mussels from the menu. Imagine my surprise when this appeared on the table. Thought there was some mistake on my part but no. I have had snails in garlic and in creamy white sauce but this came with only the spicy Thai dip. Reminded me a bit like whelks and a bit chewy but at the end of theday a snail is a snail. Surely they must have messed up with the translation. I normally give places like this one chance to impress for a repeat visit but on this occasion it's a no no

I only gave copies of Thai bank book with name/account number and amount. No one knows what info they really want. As long as you have sufficient funds, planned accommodation and that she has a reason to return to Thailand. Good luck.

Yes you would assume they must be getting the hang of it by now. Some times you have to fight to get in the door it is that crowded but this week it was a breeze. Yesterday 10:30am... Extension-retirement visa, In and out in 10-minutes, copies of the usual passport info including house contract, money in bank account and Kasikorn letter (which cost 100 baht) They never wanted to see the original bank book. The young guy on my left had the yellow felt tip marker working at break-neck speed...and also quick to take the money 1900 baht. Come back after 10:00am following day. Plus had to sign the 2-docs below. Today 10:30am.. picked up passport and took 20-minutes for multi re-entry visa. Can't understand why this is so expensive @ 3800 baht.

I was over in the States last month and hired a Dodge dart. It only had one indicator stalk which stopped me using the wipers. They should all be designed like that. Still opened the passenger door to get in though..force of habit. Don't you look a dick when that happens!

There are no bars directly around August Suites as it is on Pattaya Klang (Central)only shops. From there it is only a 5-minutes walk to Soi 7 and 5-min down to Soi Buakhao bars (or you can take the baht bus)

Cepacol, Available from Boots chemist

With me I guess 3-things come into play. 1, Sitting in beer bars all night with the passing traffic. 2, A lot of construction all over Pattaya and airbourne fine dust everywhere. 3, Also frequently jet in-out of Thailand and breathe the recirculated air. I swear by these ANTIBACTERIAL LOZENGES and buy around 4- packs every time I get to the airport. Costs around 55 baht for a pack of 24

A friend on mine runs a guest house on Soi Chaiyapoon, but as for 'best hotel/resort' in exotic paradise. I do not think this is what they are looking for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udqhDIyrvX8