Sa-teef

"...you shouldn't be traveling out of your city." Be nice now, Emil! I've only spent about 6-7 months there in the last three years, and I've had some near misses crossing at Kiss Food in the morning! If those damn motos wouldn't travel against the traffic, it wouldn't be such an issue! It's the worst between about Soi 11 and the "13's". South of Pattaya Tai and north of Soi 6 it doesn't seem to be such a problem. If you find a hotel that you like with the right price, it shouldn't matter where it is within reason. I might even get wild and crazy and rent a hotel for the first three days and go wandering after that next spring. Stranger things have happenned. ~Sa-teef

Still a lot of dust and noise in the immediate area of the Whitehouse Conditel building site this am 2 November. They were dropping shit off the third floor into a truck below that made a nice resounding BANG! as I walked by on the way to breakfast: You could tell that guy in the truck had some faith. Wasn't even looking half the time as the bags of debris and chunks of concrete were landing just a few feet away. ~Sa-teef

Update as of 18 October: They have a fence around the construction site (I'm right across the street on the second floor) and there is little activity going on. But the news is they have a big sign talking five star condominium and a website: The website: www.nirvanaplacecondo.com Looks like it's gonna be a swanky place! We shall see...... ~Sa-teef

Just so you know what's happenning at the moment. Whitehouse Condotel seems to be progressing and they have the sixth floor started now. Not too much noise but there is general racket and dust about. For those unfamiliar, it's going up next to the Dynasty and just east of Sandy Springs. The vacant lot next to the Ma Maison has more fill sand in it than when I was in town in June and a couple guys dinking around in their trying to look busy: The noise level isn't too bad from either site that I noticed and I often make it past there. Just so you know........ ~Sa-teef

It's a major engineering project Babe, no matter where it is. I live in a small community of 4,000 and ten years ago this month we had a nearly first ever flood. The town straddles a major river, but we have dams above and below the city so we can usually regulate the flow. But a combination of heavy rains up stream with torrential local rains overwelmed the dam engineers. Re-working the storm sewer system was a multi-million dollar effort. With the hills and valleys around Pattaya it will be a technically challenging effort. Take a ride down Thappraya Rd during a heavy rain and you'll see it turn into a river! Those shallow grated storm sewers down on Pratumnak Rd can't begin to handle all the runoff! Let's hope the city government thinks twice about overloading the sanitary sewer system. there are good reasons they are separated in most modern cities. ~Sa-teef 10 days and 15 hours!

You're not questioning my parentage are you Chirs? Buy 'em a brew for me and save me a pooying or two. ~Sa-teef

"you guys are all on the Piss or what" Yes, we were joking. That's what the funnies are for...? Remember the P & W string we drove into the ground back here a week ago? You probably don't recall, but I posted a pic of it so let's hope I know where it is? Planning breakfast with a couple English ingrates there infact..... Sa-teef

"the flipper house on soi 8" Yup, just up the road from P & W on Soi 8!! At least a couple ATM's around TOPS and another one just north of Soi 6 if you're up for a bit of a walk. Closer than Big C if you can't bring yourself to part with that ten baht! Seems most of them accept Plus System cards IMO. ~Sa-teef 16 days 13 hours to wheels up.....

"BigD and Roland have kissed and made up and are partners in the 'taxi' and 'hotel' business." Yeah, when pigs fly. Kind of enjoy the harmless bantor but I wouldn't get your expectations TOO HIGH here....... ~Sa-teef

Thanks Roland. Good to hear a new review of the Lek. Seems all the reviews posted were from years ago and it's nice to hear about the new wing. I always enjoy the Lek breakfast and the location is hard to beat. And you can always sneak out on three different streets if you're avoiding a pooying! I'll check it out again within the month! ~Sa-teef

Very helpful stuff guys. If you're looking for a hotel, watch for the DD telephone they speak of. I suppose it's do-able with a switchboard system, but why bother going thought the headache? There are so many good newer and renovated hotels with DD that if it's important to you to have in-the-room access it's not that hard to find. One of the best things about Pattaya (after the beautiful ladies!) is the wealth of newer hotels at reasonable prices. ~Sa-teef 31 days and 11 hours to wheels up

I have not stayed at the SS but several members have noted they do not give weekly or monthly discounts. Might be able to eek out something but Scandibar.com doesn't list any. Rates 2004/2005 Sandy Springs Std room 990 Deluxe seaview 1190 Suite floor 3-6 1990 Suite 7-8 2500 InnHouse Room Per night Per week Per month Standard Summer 600.- 4,200.- 12,900.- Standard 650.- 4,200.- 12,900.- Deluxe / Sea view 900.- 5,700.- 15,400.- Suite 1,200.- 7,000.- 19,400.- Sea view Suite 1,400.- 8,900.- 21,800.- All rates are per room including all taxes. Monthly rental note: Water and electricity not included! Water: 25B per unit. Electricity: 6B per unit. (Normal use: Water 200B and Electricity: 1000-1500B per month. Maid service twice per week. You need to bring your own towels. My suite in May/June was technically not a seaview even tho I had as good or better a view than you will have in the Flipper. It was on the 4th floor as I recall. The Scandibar site: http://www.scandibar.com/hotel/ ~Sa-teef

"I will leave it to others to judge who is the intolerant one around here." Took the words right out of my mouth! "In the UK, it is required that there is a balance in news reporting." Now that sounds a bit ominous to me, frankly! Big Brother decides what news you will hear? Freedom means I have a right to listen and decide for myself. I kind of like it that way, thank you. There are sources from all sides that have a right to be heard IMO. Doesn't mean I have to believe them, support them or agree with them. There is much on radio and television that I don't agree with. But I'll always defend their right to be heard. ~Sa-teef

You didn't answer my question, Bazle dear. You can't change the channel ? On some cable networks in the US and Canada you can find Christian and Muslim channels on THE SAME TELEVISION ! Does that upset you, my intolerant friend? Are you so insecure that you can not tolerate contrary views to be heard? ~Sa-teef

"Limited English language channels (which regrettably included the extreme right wing Fox News Network). " Bazle, WTF? I like the Inn House inspite of the fact that you've spent some time there...... I've never stayed at the SS and probably won't as long as I can negoiate a two room suite at the Inn House for 850 baht. That's when I agree to rent by the week and it's all inclusive. The maids are good and a smile and a small tip gets me all the towels, pillows or anything else I want. I LIKE having the tv in the second room. If the ladies want to watch the tube they can do so in there, as they did on some occasions. I have room for my computer and a telephone connection there so it works for me. I'll probably try the Sandy Springs at some point but not until they offer a similar deal that I can get just a few steps up the road. Sa-teef

Yeah, a cab off the street is cheaper than a cab at the door most times. Seems the cab mafia on hotel grounds always are getting a piece of the action. I'm smoking (this month) myself but I'd be careful on the mini-bus. Most of 'em aren't all that happy about us smokers. Hopefully I'll quit (again!) before I get back to LOS but either way have a good trip.

Actually Chris, I used the mini-van service once and service was good I thought. It was last August when I stayed overnight at the Nana on my first night in LOS before I headed for Pattaya and had heard about it on this forum. Since I was there, I thought I would check it out. But I'll make sure to stay out of your parking lot. BigAl, I think they take all comers actually. I was staying there the one time I used it. If you got the baht, etc etc.... But you might want to send them an e-mail on that. I'm sure others on the board have probably used it more than I.

Hehehe, glad to hear from you Chris, even if it's to tell me to knock it off!! Gotten to be a bit of knee jerk reaction for me, I must admit. Kinda like slamming the septics, you know? "whats this cheap mini bus goes to your pattaya hotel" Actually, you can arrange it at the little desk by the door. 200-250 baht as I recall? They dropped me off at my hotel in Pattaya. Couple times a day or more. I think it left about 1100 the one time I used it? Ask them about it when you check-in. See ya in Patty, ~Sa-teef 40 days and change....

"I love the Nana hotel, it is not a 3 or 4 star hotel by any means but it kind of hooks you once you stay there." Kinda like a rash crawling up your leg? Well, kinda looks like riceboy is back me thinks? Even tho this is about transportation and not Nana Hotel worship, we all have a right to our opinions. Vox and Daveuk have given good explanations of the options available. If you can't find your way after that, you need a guide dog..... ~Sa-teef

I can take a pic in total darkness with my Sony Cybershot. It has IR emitters which allow you to "see" in the dark, all be it in that eerie green color. I'll try to take a few to show you when I'm in Pattaya in October. The only ones I've tried are the inside of my garage at night! Unfortunately, no TG's in there..... ~Sa-teef 46 days and change before wheels up.

"tour waterfalls, Historic Catholic churches in metro Manila, small cultural show followed by a traditional Filipino dinner and then it'll be bedtime. " Hey, what happened to the eggnog and jigsaw puzzle contest? I had my heart set on it! :crying :crying Next thing you know we'll be skipping the botanical garden and have to go out after dark! ~Sa-teef

Yeah, I think I stayed in one of those one time when I got there early and the room in the front wasn't available. They ARE a bit smaller...the walkway iinfront of the back windows is chopped out of that room, effectively taking over a meter off the room. And I agree with you that the web site is misleading. Have to have a talk with Arnold next time I stay there. When I made a reservation for last May I enquired about it before I got there and he was very forthcoming about the arrangement but the description on the website is misleading IMO. Take care, ~Sa-teef 69 days,,,

Well Jeez Jimmybb, don't mince words! Tell us how you feel honestly! I used to fly NWA and no matter what flight status I had I never seemed to connect with a freebie flight ( if it takes 350 days in advance, that might explain it! ) I'm premier executive with UA and I get free upgrades most of the time now if I want to roll the dice. I got free upgrades on 3/4 over the ocean flights in May/June. For my trip in October I decided to spend a few FF miles (60k) and I'm 1st/business class the whole way with prime seating. Making and paying for the ticket early got me the best seats. United is also jiggling the flights in November and Flight 836 which I used to take out of BKK - Narita is now flight 882. Still a 747-400 leaving at 7:00 am on that leg and a triple 7 Narita to Seattle. They are also adding triple 7's on a couple of the domestic routes I fly so that makes it more comfortable IMO. Far better and more comfortable than those old ragged-out 737's they usually put me on anyway. And with considerably more 1st/business class seating it should be easy to catch a domestic upgrade freebie. I'll find out in April. I prefer the UA FF program just because it seems to work! And I'm surprised about the comments about poor service on the BKK - Narita leg! I've always found that leg to be very efficient ( and the FA's up in business class have a couple lookers as well!) and it always seems the best of the legs I take from Outback USA. I guess it's one of those YMMV things.... ~Sa-teef 70 days and 11 hours....

I've stayed in Roof Garden Inn several times..... "room i was in was a bit small." Not sure which room you could have been in cybers frankly...? All of them are relatively large and I've been in half dozen of them.... Some of the ones in the back are a bit smaller. The broadband is on a terminal downstairs. It is NOT available in the room. They do have DD telephone and you can use dial-up from there. They have a charge per call for the access. Don't recall what Arnold charged me, but it seemed reasonable and I MUCH prefer using my laptop in the comfort of my room to going out to an internet shop. Not all that many of the internet shops will let you hook-up your laptop in their business place. Minority of them, actually. It's a good place to stay a few hundred yards up the hill toward Jontien from ResidenceGardens on Thrappaya Rd, west side. ~Sa-teef 70 days and change...

"in early June they where driving down pillars in the ground with these large hammer like machines " Yes, my room was on that side of the Inn House and it was LOUD in the morning when they started the pile driver! The only time you could hear yourself think was when it brokedown (relatively frequently it seemed) Perhaps they are going to build something to bridge that gap? Guess we will see in the coming months/years? From Bazzap's pics it looks they haven't done anything yet in that sandy area. I was glad I was leaving when I did, because I wouldn't have stayed too many more mornings with that going on. Thanks for keeping an eye on the place, gentlemen. I'll keep my reservation there until September and see what it looks like shortly before I leave..... ~Sa-teef 76 days 14 hours to wheels up....