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After reading the earlier post my question is - if I am on a tourist visa I cannot have the bike registered or insured? And followup question - assuming I can register, are there any storage facilities in Pattaya? Approximate cost?

I am arriving end of May and may be looking for a cheap bicycle. It needs to be a mountain or hybrid bike with a large frame size. Not a road bike. Infrequent riders may be confused by the term "road bike" - it refers to bikes with narrow tires and drop-down handlebars, And it should be in working order. I am looking for a cheap bike because it may end up being a throwaway - at the end of a couple of months I will get rid of it.

How do I get to it from Big C (2nd Rd) without buying a tour? Does the place have a Thai name that is well known? Thanks.

I flew China Southern from Los Angeles to Bangkok this last month, using the airline for the first time based on price, and give it a failing grade. If cost is the only criterion, then go for it, you won't die. But if some factors beyond price are also desired, then a hundred or two more will be money well spent. The first impression at LAX was good. The check-in process was quick and pleasant and they complied with my request for an exit row seat. And they did not hassle over the weight of my carryon. (Though they forgot to give me a boarding pass for my connecting flight and I had to get it issued at Guangzhou.) (I am referring to EVA, which is anal about carryon weight at LAX. It is the only airline I have flown from LAX that insists on the 15-pound limit. It once even went to the extent of posting a goon outside the secure area to lift each EVA passenger's bag and evaluate the weight.) CZ has just switched to 380s from LAX, but there was nothing remarkabke about the seating. It seemed excessively hard, and I much prefer the 777s overall. The one improvement was that the bathrooms were a little larger. -The food was by far the worst I have eaten on a US-Asia flight. -There was no liquor, only a very watery beer and some wine. -Most stewardesses knew less than minimal English. And they tend not to smile. -Instead of regular paper towels, they had thin tissue in the bathrooms. -I do not think they cleaned the bathrooms, or did a poor job. The toilets were grimy by the time we got to Guangzhou. Guangzhou airport is best avoided. The transfer process is unnecessarily long for people who are leaving in a few hours - you have to stand in queue and get your passport stamped. Reminded me of the Moscow of old. The terminal itself is okay, but bland and soulless (still better than LAX I suppose!). The supposedly free wifi cannot be used because a local Chinese mobile number is needed to receive the password to access it. And the so-called duty free prices are high. JB Black liter was only $2 less than what you would pay at a 7-11 in Pattaya. The famous Chinese currency manipulation did not seem to be working here! Hopefully the airline will improve. But in the meantime I will spend a little more money and use one that is slightly higher on the evolutionary ladder.

Actually, 80% of people infected with dengue have no symptoms or mild symptoms. Only 5% turn into more serious cases. Sorry to hear you were amongst those. Pretty amazing infection - with effects ranging from nothing to death.

I was knocked out flat yesterday, only the third time in almost 15 years of regular visits. Significant fever, chills, body ache and no desire for sex. One of the freelancers I meet was kind enough to come by and get me some lunch, or I would have done without. There was a slow buildup to it, of 1-2 days of general unease, but during which I was functional.. Decided it was dengue, because there were no respiratory symptoms, and because of the body ache. Tylenol is the only suggested medicine, so I took it steadily and it seems to have worked. Woke up sweated out and with a wet t-shirt this morning, and feeling much better. Even walked down the beach for breakfast. Dengue means mosquitos and the recent heavy rains may have caused water to pool and lead to heavy breeding.

Yes. It is not cheap by Pattaya standards. But then this is not a take and drive burger. It's a meal, and a pretty big one. Barfine the waitress? I dont know. But a bar is attached so it should be possible to barfine someone.

After reading about someone's favorite burger I thought I would posy my own Pattaya favorite. It is a somewhat unlikely spot - an English-style place, the Pig and Whistle on Soi 7. I try to get out there at least once every visit, though I save my visits for occasions when I know I can put away some serious food. Eating one is more than a lunch or dinner, it is a feat. It probably does not match everyone's view of what a burger should be. For one thing it does not have cheese, and good riddance I say. For me a burger should be pretty basic - starting with a serious hunk of cow so that cooks cannot dry it out easily. A bit of tomato and some onions are all I look for, though American style calls for uncooked onions and not fried ones like this one. The fries that come with it have gone mainstream over the years - last night they served the skinny fries common in American fast food places, and not the fat ones they used to. It should not matter too much, because it is best to stay away from eating too many when faced with a burger this size. It costs a little over 200 baht, so, depending on your choice of drink, you should be out of there in under 300.

I have two supplemental questions, both quite important for me. 1) How long does the process of getting a retirement visa take, once I am in Pattaya? Without giving a bribe. 2) Once I obtain a retirement visa, can I continue to live and work in the US? What are the Thai requirements for maintaining that visa - I guess at the least I would have to visit once a year to get it renewed? Thanks.

I have not used Torrent in recent years so it is not on my radar. However, last time I tried I could not find what I needed. I often need highly specialized software that is not easy to lay hands on and costs a thousand or more legally. If I can buy something legally for less than a hundred then I prefer to do that. I know, not a valid excuse morally speaking, but that's how it is. For instance, this time I got two XML editors (publishing/web) and a GIS application. In the past I have seen street sellers flogging software on Beach Road, but not in recent years. I will also be interested in knowing if software can be found in places other than Tuk.com. Thanks for the tip on which station to get off at for walking to Pantip. I will try it next time.

I am comparing apples to apples - it is the software I am interested in, whether it is on DVD or CD, and the prices I quoted are for the software I needed. Yes, I agree it is illegal and ironic, but so are many things that everyone does in Pattaya. Let's leave the moral argument out of it - it won't get you anywhere. You can do the math yourself. I frequently buy 5 applications - that is 2000 baht in Pattaya. In Bangkok 500 to 600 baht. Plus 300 to 400 baht for all transport, less if you walk. I am sure you can figure it out. Most of all - some of us are less chairbound than others. If you have the time, then Bangkok is a good day or overnight trip. For one thing, it will open your eyes to how good looking Thai girls are when compared to the Isaan fare that you mostly see in Pattaya. The post was intended to help people - not draw bitter comments. The facts were fairly presented, people can decide for themselves what they prefer.

I took the trip a couple of days ago so... Both Bell and the Pattaya-Suvarnabhumi bus service (stops at ViewTalay 1) have web sites, so look them uo. The second service above does not go to Bangkok - only the airport. Bell does, but requires advance reservation and is expensive, not worth it in my opinion. The best option is to take the a/c public bus from Ekamai. Going to Bangkok in the morning it took an hour and 40 minutes. Coming back, it was 2 hours 10 mins. They will stop on their route to let people off. I see nothing wrong in it and it does not take much time. They are going pretty slow in traffic at that point anyway. 113 baht. As to catching a baht bus on North Pattaya Road, I would not count on it. I tried, because I wanted to turn onto 3rd Road. I found nothing going anywhere (about 7 p.m.). Just take the songtheows parked at the bus station. There is a big sign advertising Beach Road for 20 baht.

Most people may know this, but it is worth repeating, especially for those who are unaware. The shops in Tuk.com charge 400 baht for a software DVD. This may appear cheap compared to legal software prices, but it is still a comparatively high price. I hadn't been to Pantip Plaza in Bangkok in some years so I decided to make a visit, and mix it with a visit to Nana. I bought the software I needed for 125 baht each - and I found a shop later that was asking 100 baht. I bought three, and that more than covered the cost of my visit Movies are also cheaper - they were asking 80 baht each or 7 for 500. It is an easy trip, especially on weekends. Take the bus (113 baht) from Pattaya's North bus station to Ekamai. The Sky Train station is next door to it. Hop on it and get a ticket to Chitlom or Chid Lom. From there you can take a taxi (be careful, Bangkok taxis have become predatory) or walk to Pantip if you have the time (pick up a map). If the taxi does not want to use the meter then I would not pay more than 100 baht. I noticed many cute freelancers on Sukhumvit near Soi 3, in case someone wants to rest in a short time hotel. Watch out for lady boys, especially later in the evening.

Isn't the fare 20 baht if you are traveling from Jomtien to anywhere beyond South Pattaya Road? Also, baht bus drivers are not always so predatory. Just yesterday I forgot to pay when I got off - I walked away and he didn't say anything or toot his horn. I felt bad about it when I realized my mistake, but there wasn't much I could do, short of contributing to a baht bus drivers' fund if there is one.

You must have settled in by now and have a good feel for living in this complex. Perhaps you can fill us in on how it is living there, specifically with reference to issues like: Ease of access Cost of utilities Annoyances Overall convenience Thanks.

I like your writing style M62. I am in the business, so consider it a compliment! Your discussion of costs has been level headed and informative and, while it is useful, I'd like to touch a bit on time. That's right, time. How does it go? I will explain why I am asking. I have thought often of settling in Pattaya/elsewhere in Thailand, or at least spending several months at a time. Other than the question of money - I am obviously not part of the idle rich group - what worries me is how to use up my time. Everyone has his or her own answer to that question, but sometimes it helps to learn what a level headed person does. I have seen expats in many countries who turn to drink - I was once next to an American expat in a plane returning from Manila, and he informed me that he'd had 50-odd beers the previous day, and hence needed to take it easy on the plane. In Pattaya too - and it is obvious from comments on this board - alcohol is an important part of many people's lives, sometimes the most important part. So, although whether I turn into a drunk or not is up to me, I would like to know how you spend your days. You state that you do not drink a whole lot, so you won't be spending too much time in a stupor, so how do you get through the day? Reading? Walking? Dreaming? What you do may not be my answer, or anyone else's, but I'd like to know, if you don't mind.

Yes, I opened two of the images - and got the same warning both times. Upon which I decided that maybe it was not an error made by Norton. Do you update definitions regularly? Mine are. And I am using Norton 360, which has all sorts of apps bundled into it.

Norton warned me repeatedly that the Photobucket site is unsafe. It listed the virus it was trying to infect with - something called the Bloodhound Exploit 281. I decided to stay away from the site after the warning. Those who have been there may want to check their machines for nasties.

You are right. That figure is baloney. 56% per 100,000 means that 56 percent of the population is stricken, which is obviously not right.

Evolution is pretty amazing! I wouldn't be surprised if they have figured it out! In my case though, I never saw (or felt) a mosquito in the elevator.

I was on the 11th floor of a Jomtien building - had plenty of mosquitoes. They can breed there, or get carried up by the wind.

To add to the aspirin warning above, another common painkiller than can accelerate bleeding is Advil (ibuprofen). There are others too, including alcohol. Tylenol (paracetamol) is probably the safest as far as bleeding goes. But, combined with alcohol, it can cause liver damage.

I can't quite recall right now which building this is this is. Is it the one on the corner, kitty corner from the police post? If not, do you mind giving its rough location. Also, are these rooms with a sea view, and what is their size? thanks.

Not promptly...it's been a while. Unfortunately your link doesn't work, so I can't do much with it. Is there on online directory of some sort for Pattaya, that may be one way. I have Yahood, but didn't find one.

On the bus from the airport a year or so back I overheard a Pattaya old timer sitting behind me praise him. Didn't know the name, but I remembered the soi number. It so happened that on the same trip a crown came off. I searched for and found his office - turns out the underlying tooth had snapped, I had to have it removed here. He also looked at another issue I had - basically my dentist here had screwed up and refused to acknowledge it. Dr Whatsit gave me xrays on disk. I used those to confront my dentist here and had her redo the work. He never charged me a penny for all this. I think I should pay him a visit, now that I need some work. However, if you have a recommendation I will keep it as backup.