InternationalTraveler

Looks like the Harbour Shopping Mall on Pattaya Klang has finally opened. Tried to get in there this afternoon (Saturday) but gave up after taking 20-minutes just to circumvent around the place and that was on motorbike. Take your car and the first port of call will be the toilets. The entrance and exit road is not wide enough to get bikes and cars together as the inside lane is full of parked up motorbikes. The exit comes out back on Klang into the waiting traffic trying to get in. WTF. Absolute chaos, attendant trying to stop the flow on Klang to let cars out. Eventually crossed waste land at the rear and came out at the side of Foodland...just as bad. Maybe I will have a look sometime during the week.

In all my trips to China have never used Air China or China Air always flown Thai Air. Used China Eastern and Southern on Domestic routes. Try Clusterfuck

Had a ride out around Mabprachan Lake yesterday afternoon. The water level did not look low and there were lots of fishermen around the lake. The road around the lake has new asphalt and Kinnaree Palace (house of the year) looks like it had been sold and had a face lift. Was surprised to see Shenanigans formerly of Jomtien Complex Condotel had moved there. Has seating and bar area outside overlooking the lake and air-con room with pool table. Workers were laying concrete walkways and there looks to be accommodation with around 10-rooms situated around a pool area. Has the usual choice of menu and Thai food. Pleasantly sat outside in the shade and there was a strong breeze blowing across the lake. Ordered the Irish stew with a bread roll which is one of my favourites and the lamb, potatoes, carrots and onion was delicious. There was around a dozen people eating both inside and out. My only gripe was that the meal took so long to arrive, had necked my pint of Heineken well before the food came to the table. The toothpicks were labelled with Manhattans Steakhouse which I think has also closed.must be cast-offs. There were also signs for a supermarket supplying ex-pat essentials like HP sauce and Colmans mustard.

I have been in Hooters both in the USA and in Nottingham a very long time ago and will not be frequenting the one on Beach Road. Apparently the big expansion never materialized in the UK as the feminists don't like big tits and short skirts. found this info on the Andrew Drummond site. Then found it wasn't entirely correct. http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2016/03/has-thailands-most-prolific-foreign.html 'Hooters' - 'an American Sports bar & grill chain famous for chicken wings served by waitresses in short shorts' - has closed down 36 of its 37 outlets in Britain. Presumably the idea was not so commercial. The Daily Mail previewed the remaining restaurant in Nottingham under the headline: 'Is this the most offensive bar in Britain?' http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/hooters-britain-controversial-bar-waitresses-5225949 But as business boomed in the US, attempts to bring the divisive "breastaurant" to the UK have been somewhat stunted. Hooters Nottingham opened its doors in 1996 and is said to be in the brand’s top 15 most profitable, yet while 36 new UK Hooters were announced in 2008, only Bristol and Cardiff ever opened. Both are now closed.

Saw them working on this over the weekend. Second Road opposite Big C and Sabai Dee Massage. Now it is finished must be a record for the longest ever Zebra crossing, at least 40-Metres. And you guessed it the lights don't work.

Just wonder why it took so long and leaves little time for his successor. No doubt walks away with a big pay-off, I need a job like that.

My friend was saying last night that his 90-baht pack had gone up to 125 baht. I don't smoke but was offered Marlboro earlier in the night by a hawker for 400 baht a carton (200-cigs)

Went back to AA last week to check out the cost of first class insurance cost on my new car. Lost my NCB obviously with the LMG claim. Their estimate was 23,000 baht. Transferred to AXA Insurance which was considerably less at 17,000 baht for car value of 540,000 baht. Also at the time got motor bike insurance for my Honda Click just in case I am unlucky enough to kill someone. That worked out at 3,282 baht for cover of- 1million baht/person 10 million accident 100,000 driver and 200,000 bail bond House insurance was around 3500 baht to cover 500,000 baht contents, declined this as the boundary wall which collapsed has now been rebuilt.

I only rent the bungalow and never got around to enquiring about personal house contents insurance for tenants. All the personal stuff we lost has nearly all been replaced. It got written off just like the car. The owner of the complex told me he does have insurance and that we may get a share sometime in the future if and when the insurance pay out!! TIT and I am realistic enough, not to expect.

It comes with a short story. Car Insurance Claim Have my car insured at AA opposite Big C South Pattaya and with LMG PLC During the tropical storm 16th October 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 TV’s 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 have been 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 has probably cost me around 100,000 baht and I do not expect to see 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 yesterday exactly 12-weeks later the insurance has 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. So unless LMG load up my next policy it will be my Insurance of choice next time. A couple of days later this was the scene. The tide line is in red.

Have previously used Pizza Big on Naklua Road and recommended this but the last time I went the Pizza was well short on filling. As per Evil's photo, when you get around 1-inch or more of nothing around the outside crust then I tend to cut it off and leave it. That accounts to around 25-percent of the meal. Now moved up into number one spot for me is the Holiday Inn on Beach Road and have been well satisfied with the different pizzas I have tried. You can sit outside, enjoy the sea breeze and watch the world go by. The crust is crispy but you can probably just about fold it, not that I try as I prefer the stainless method of troughing. From 3:00 to 4:30 there is 50-percent off and you also get free bread sticks, a warm soft bread baguette accompanied with a bowl of what looks like olive oil with some black stuff in it. I have tried dipping the bread sticks and the bread in the oil but it does nothing for me. Maybe someone can explain what the oil is and what you are supposed to do with it. The bread baguette is the best bread I have tasted in Pattaya and this goes back with me in a napkin and is used with my 2-boiled eggs the following morning. I was taught not to waste food. Last week I turned up without my reading glasses and picked out a pizza called calzone. I certainly had a WTF moment when it arrived and thought I had ordered a Cornish Pasty. It was bread dough folded with all the ingredients, mozzarella, spinach mushrooms and peppers. It was different but very nice. The pizzas work out around 230 baht with the discount. Unless you have transport the only downer is that both venues are not central and need a baht bus or two or a long walk to get there.

Every person has a different degree of driving experience. Have you driven on the left or right hand side of the road or had a motorbike and a car, I guess for some, driving for the first time in Pattaya takes some balls. Driving in a less populous area to break yourself in gently may do the wonders for your confidence. But at the end of the day, nothing prepares you for the Thailand driving experience. Some of my friends admit they are scared shitless about driving here and would never hire a motor vehicle of any kind. Others fear being scammed for scratches and chipped windscreens, a bit like the jet ski rip off. I agree totally about having the freedom and convenience to travel anywhere that my bike is used for short trips and the car for the longer ones. I have been without my car for 3-weeks now …it drowned in the floods and I feel like my legs have been cut off.

Probably been more than a year since the last time I tried the Little India...the food was good and I came out stuffed ....sure they used to do specials at 200 and something baht for chicken tikka masala, rice and nan bread. Always found that there were more mosquitoes inside the air con restaurant than outside. Never had a problem with an Indian restaurant in Thailand. The same food is around a third of the price of the same meal at Ali Baba on Central Road less the costume the music and the ambiance. I have had food poisoning half a dozen times in Thailand, 2-times the same food at the same place...then I can name and shame.

Huge support... passionate supporters yes. But they just cannot get a big name manager to entice big name players to go to Geordie land...its a fact that some of the best overseas players do not even know where Newcastle is. Kevin Keegan probably had the most success up there but even he ended up walking out the door due to a difference of opinion. It looks like a no win situation. Just as a side note one of my lads sent me the image. I have no desire to see Newcastle up with the big boys as their supporters invaded the pitch to change the course of a game against Nottingham Forest in the 1974 season. I was at the game on the Gallowgate end at the time. Also got a brick thrown through the train carriage window at the start of the way home and it was bloody freezing. That was a long time ago but I have a bitter memory of that one.

I guess Mike Ashley has got enough cash to pay this clown off. This guy lasted less than 4-months with my club before getting the sack. He has been with more clubs than I have in my golf bag. Surely he will be another statistic very, very soon.

Just a warning to any speed freaks travelling South on the 331 from Chachoengsao District. Picked up my first ‘overspeed’ as the police officer called it resulting in a ticket for 400 baht. Just North of Geenwood golf club in Chonburi district. Both the car in front and one behind joined the queue to pay at the roadside desk which was having trouble writing tickets out fast enough. I have only ever seen a few speed limit signs for example on highway 7 up to Bangkok which shows 120km/hr. Someone asked me what the speed limit was on that road and I was embarrassed to say that I could not tell them. Having looked up the official rules if they do exist, the speed for in town driving is 60km/hr. Outside towns is 90km/hr and Motorways 120km/hr where signposted. If that road is 90km/hr then I had no complaints as 400 baht for 140 km/hour, no points on the license and no lecture by the police is a good deal as I am not one for wasting the horse power.

A quote from Stickman the other week. The government says tourism numbers are at their highest. Yes, they are, but it's the low-class, low-spending, low-educated and socially inept from China spending their meagre funds in businesses owned and operated by the Chinese government. That quote is absolutely spot on. Just had another intolerable flight, this time to Beijing, last month it was to Shanghai and with the same result. I know Thai Air is not exactly a 'Cheap Charlie' airline but these Chinese low educated and socially inept half brains should have to sit a training video before they are let loose anywhere near an airport. They push to check in at the gate and at every other opportunity…and you have probably experienced that closeness.. It is hot, you need some air and space and then there is this chink trying to f@ck you up the ass. Try to get on before women and children and before business class passengers. When seated they bash you in the face with their backpacks. Do not take their seats. Shout at each other across the aisles. Up and out of their seats all the time. Try to climb over you to get out. Opening the overhead luggage bins whilst landing and taxiing. They are totally oblivious to instructions and behave like they are on a school trip. It is like being in a f@cking zoo. It’s a wonder some of these gooks ever made it through puberty. I do feel sorry for the Thai cabin crew because they are not the most forceful and try to evade any type of confrontation. Anyway, enough of the whinging, I do love Chinese food.

Always like a paperback and stuck to the usual thrillers with Connelly, Deaver, Clancy, Higgins, King, McNab, Patterson. I have to keep a list otherwise I ended up getting the same book twice and not realizing until around a hundred pages later. Just finished Sleepless in Bangkok by Ian Quartermaine an erotic thriller. Next one on the list is Honarary Consul Pattaya by Barry Kenyon.

A walk down the beach today and saw A small memorial to the beach Pilling ready for what near Thai Air Office And more construction at bottom of Soi 6 Could it be for underground pumps ?

Looks like the BIB are making it a daily collection. More police checks the other day stopping every motorbike at the start of beach road And today now booking bus drivers. Why can't the busses use the car park And more motorbikes And a ticket for you miss and you can collect your bike later from the compound

Just a reminder. Painted curbsides, roads and occasionally lamp posts also indicate whether or not vehicles can be parked Red and white markings This is a no parking zone - cars may not park here at any time Yellow and white markings Indicates a short-term parking space only, usually no more than five minutes. These markings also indicate a bus stop. It is not advisable to park here The Police are collecting more tea money. More activity on Beach Road this afternoon with motorbikes and cars being carted away. And a reminder to myself as only last week i was parked on the red and whites on Beach Road near the Holiday Inn during Pizza happy hour....but not anymore. Also the usual pit stop outside Soi 9 Police Station. They had a steady collection of bikes for some misdemeanor...and a crowd gathering watching the action.

Yes it always makes me smile. At least they got the INDIAN bit correct.

I also have a wedding next month in the UK. Just had a suit made by AMA Fashion Pattaya on Central Road (Klang) opposite Topps Supermarket. Quality material, shirt and tie THB 11,000 3-fittings. 6-days. Well pleased with the end result. http://amaa-fashion.com/landing/

Cost me 300 baht at Jamesons but that was for a full English and a pint of Heiniken. The fight was a damp sqib. Handbags at 10-paces and not a mark on either face. It was all about the money. Mayweather can buy a few more sports cars and Manny can buy his way to being the next Philippine President.

Although my flight was booked with ANA (All Nippon Airways) came back from the USA on the United Airlines flight from Chicago to Narita (Japan) The 747-400 should have been consigned to the scrap yard or sent for a retro-fit as the moment I sat down in my economy seat I knew it was going to be a very long flight. With no screens in the head rests, the in-flight entertainment system was the old type with monitors fitted into the roof of the cabin. After 3- hours cranking my neck looking up at the monitor realised there was still another 10-hours left on the flight. Having just finished my last book an hour before takeoff I was well and truly doomed to have what seemed like the longest flight of my life. What with the age of the plane, the UA cabin crew must have been the oldest team on UA's books. I swear the overweight grandmothers must have all been approaching 60-years old and they all gave that grimace look on their faces .....come the end of the shift at least two of them were a little weary and struggling to walk. I do not know what the retirement age is but these old gals should have been pensioned off and put out to grass. And when I thought a Gin & Tonic and a bottle of wine would ease me into a comatose sleep found to my dismay that alcohol was not free. Two bottles of wine came to $16. When I did change to an ANA aircraft at Narita what a pleasant change to see the smiling faces of the Japanese girls who were all in their early twenties. Still only another 6 hours 40 minutes to Bangkok......