zaphodbeeblebrox

Touristman thought he owned the off topic forum. His venom will not be missed.

Hey, don't forget L.A. Seriously, I think East L.A. is a step above San Francisco's Mission District. And aren't restaurants like Chevy's, La Salsa and Baja Fresh an abomination When I get sick of my current job, I will be opening up a Mexican restaurant in Pattaya. I am convinced the Thais will like some Mexican food, because dishes like chile verde or carnitas, if served on rice, will appeal to the Thais. (I have served these to my TG, and she likes them).

Ummm . . . no. The capital has been Bangkok for about 300 years. Seems like this teacher is too caught up with global warming, or that the PPP's power base is in the north. Over 30% of the population lives in Bangkok. There would be tremendous upheaval from relocating the capital, and probable strong opposition led by the crown.

If you can properly wai, you should wai a person in superior status to you. For instance, I wai my doctor and my boss, but that's about it. You should acknowledge anyone who wais you with a nod.

That sounds fantastic. I've been on a diet, so I have pretty much cut out bacon and sausages. I have to admit that British bacon and bangers are better than Farmer John's. However, blood sausage and baked beans for breakfast curdles my stomach. Villa Market is the only market in Pattaya where I've found rye bread, my favorite. I can't wait until I have more mobility and can suffer the 1 hour drive to Pattaya.

I recently had a hospitalization with lengthy bed-ridden recovery that limited my gastronomical options. (I will provide more info in my ongoing trip report, when the time is right). I came across several take-out menus that offer "American fried rice". I had never heard of this creation before. Well, the Thai name is Khaaw Pad American (or Khao Phat Amerigan). The closest thing I had eaten to this dish was Spanish rice, but this Thai version was sweeter. Apparently, this dish was created by Thai chefs during the Vietnam War, because these creative chefs thought it incorporated ingredients liked by the Yanks (ketchup, hot dogs and raisins). It is often served with some fried chicken and a fried egg. You cook the fried chicken, the hot dogs, the egg in oil, add onions and cold rice to the oil, then in goes a ketchup-soy sauce mixture, then raisins, pineapple, ham and/or tomato. Personally, I prefer Chinese and Thai fried rice, but this dish has an interesting history. Only recently, has the dish appeared on some menus in the U.S. B Fried Rice Restaurant Sukho Thai Restaurant

You mean we won't be able to hack our therapists into a million pieces with a meat cleaver anymore? Thanks for the update on an old John Cleese schtick. Oh - and Happy Valentine's Day.

There's also one on Soi 12, but haven't eaten there.

Haven't been to any, but there's a great Shawarma stand on 2nd Road, just south of Soi 13, in front of the photo shop.

My TG loves chicken bologna from Big C. I have brought her chicken bologna from Friendship and Foodland and she gives it the thumbs down. I brought her some from Villa Market and she admitted that it was better than Big C. The cooked meat section (which I assume is the ham, bacon and roast beef I see in front of the deli counter) looks good. I prefer their deli meats, but that is a personal preference. My TG also liked their chicken and cheese sausage.

My favorites of the Texas BBQ cuisine, are the pulled pork and the brisket. Other BBQ items are prepared better in other regions of the U.S. If anybody can provide a gastronomical review of the pulled pork and brisket it would be appreciated. Kolobos - the fact that your TG hogged all the pulled pork (sorry about that pun) is an indication it was quite tasty.

There will always be a demand for native-speaking EFL teachers in LOS. Thais cannot pronounce certain phonetic sounds and blends which are critical to the proper speaking of English. I am tutoring a very gifted 7 year old bilingual 1/2 Thai-1/2 Taiwanese boy. His English skills are more advanced than his Thai skills. He thinks in English, not in Thai. Still, he has major pronunciation problems which will probably never be overcome. Of all Asian countries, Thailand has the lowest English proficiency. For that reason, the schools must hire native English teachers. I would agree that an ethnic Thai, raised in an English speaking country could teach Thai, but I can also say that the Thais are very reluctant to hire such a person due to image issues. And how many ethnic Thais would want to return to LOS to teach? Not many.

Let us know how you like the White Inn. Stayed there on my first trip to Pattaya in 1992. Welcome aboard and give a shout out when you arrive.

Good advice Tom. There are big differences, i.e., you can't fail students, you can't cause a student to lose face, and, as a farang, you can't discipline the kids like a thai teacher (with a cane).

Call +6638423403 or 038423403(local) ZB

This is the final installment of this restaurant review series. I have completed my classes in the TukCom area. I will be posting further restaurant reviews, but they will include all areas of Pattaya, and beyond, and also include dinner houses and breakfast joints. So, without further adieu, Hot Pot, is a Japanese restaurant located on the first floor in the back of Tuk.Com. The primary focus is shabu shabu, but it has a deep Japanese menu, along with some dim sum favorites. I had roast duck noodle, steamed barbeque pork buns, and pork sui mai. The duck noodle was good, the steamed bun was adequate, and the sui mai was tasteless (actually, I haven’t found proper sui mai in Pattaya). I spent 200 baht with tip. [imghttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a366/mlw4014/S73F0309-1.jpg[/img] I personally prefer baked pork buns. These char sui manapua are the best I’ve had, and come from Royal Bakery in Honolulu’s Chinatown. And, no, you can’t barfine the baker. Gossip Café is located in the lobby of the Day-Nite 2 Apartments on Soi Day-Night about two blocks south of Tuk.Com. I tried to stay away from open-air restaurants for lunch, because I usually was dressed in business attire for classes. This was an exception, and I was mildly surprised by just how good this café was. It’s very airy, with two sides of the café, being totally open (saw some cats running through the café, but am thankful they didn’t end up on the menu). My lunch was limited to fried rice and an iced tea. Both were among the best I have had in LOS. I spent 100 baht with tip. I will definitely return for some of the breakfast and schnitzel items on the menu. I don’t think I’d be wanting to sit under this model ship during an earthquake. The Frame Café is located on South Pattaya Road, just before you reach Friendship Market. I absolutely fell in love with the chaotic décor of this restaurant which was antique/classic farangiana (okay, I just invented another word). Bubble-gum machines, old radios, old toys, etc. are displayed all over the walls, ceilings, you name it. This is another open-air restaurant, and was slightly on the uncomfortable side for me, given my dress for the day. I had chicken cordon bleu, which came with fries and a salad. With two iced teas and tip I spent 260 baht. This was my end-of-the-week splurge meal, and, although it was expensive, I thoroughly enjoyed the food and the meal. Frame Café is a great spot for coffee or tea and I will return next time I go to Friendship Market. The wait staff is attentive and very friendly. Yes, they also do framing, but I don’t think I would hire them to construct steps.

whitehouse webpage

I never saw a no-smoking sign and my room came with an ashtray which housecleaning cleaned every day and was filled with my TG's cig butts. And I stayed there over 6 weeks, and it was never mentioned. There's balconies for smoking, but in all my time there, I was unaware of any no-smoking policy and my TG smoked inside the room.

Spud - Whitehouse has fixed the water temp issue. It's a great hotel, but a little on the pricey side.

It's not a "new wing" they have two new hotels across the street from the Sportsman on Soi 13. 900 baht for standard room and both new AA hotels are just as much a dump as the hotel at the corner of Beach Road.

Wow, that's a great looking studio Eric. I would grab it in a heartbeat, but I need something bigger. If you come across a similarly appointed/situated 1 or 2 BD, PM me. I'm in the market and am interested in Jomtien or the hill. Zaphod Edit: just noticed the TV. Get that Fox News propoganda off the set. Just kidding! Us Seppos need to keep our sense of humor in these dark times.

Here’s week 2 reviews. In this set, I had lunch at some of the inexpensive restaurants located just south of Tuk Com. A lot of restaurants have relocated to this gourmet ghetto located on an unnamed soi, between Soi Day and Night 1 and Soi Day and Night 2, north of Soi 16, and surrounding the Flamingo Hotel. Looking south on Soi Flamingo towards Soi 16. The first intersection with the unnamed soi features a great restaurant at each of the four corners. Good eats can be found here. The Dolphin The Dolphin restaurant is located on the unnamed soi closer to Soi Day and Night 1. It is a Norwegian-owned restaurant attached to the TB Mansion (yeah, the hotel could use a new name). It amazes me how these hole-in-the-wall restaurants can offer such a huge menu. It was a Monday, and I usually order a smaller lunch after the weekend. Had the chicken penang curry. The curry sauce was fantastic, no doubt about it. I would prefer some green peas and potatoes thrown in, but, this was a tasty and light lunch. With a water, the total was 110 baht. Maybe a little expensive for the portion size, but very, very tasty. I would definitely return. Grottino Bakery This is a Swiss coffee house/bakery/deli located at the corner of the unnamed soi and Soi Flamingo. While its menu is geared mostly for breakfast and coffee, they offer a nice selection of deli meats and cheeses for insertion into their wonderful breads as sandwiches. I had a simple ham sandwich, and it was very good. Of course, the bread is what made the sandwich: a beautifully crunchy, warm, good-smelling sandwich roll. With a coke, the total cost was 115 baht. I’m not a cake eater, but their cakes did look absolutely wonderful. Grottino Bakery opens at 7:30 a.m. and I may roll by in the morning for some coffee and a pastry. Salt and Pepper Bistro This is a German and Thai cuisine restaurant, also located on the corner of the unnamed soi and Soi Flamingo. The Pakistani owner purchased the restaurant about 2 years ago, and moved it to this location. His Thai wife competently cooks the extensive menu. The restaurant serves as the gallery for Pattaya Mail cartoonist, M.J.B. I had the shrimp and asparagus in a garlic sauce. It was good, but I would have preferred a little more spice. The owner told me he farangized (did I just invent a new word?) the menu. Too bad, because Thai cooking is meant to be bold. I would probably stick to the German specialties if I were to return. This restaurant is very reasonably priced, and with a water, my bill came to 75 baht. Auguste Renoir This restaurant is connected to the Flamingo Hotel and is located on Soi Flamingo, next to Salt and Pepper Bistro. The breakfast/lunch menu contains standard farang fare, while the dinner menu is a combination of Belgian, continental and Thai. The first thing I noticed when I approached the entrance was the wonderful sound of B.B. King. Seems like the owner has a preference for the blues, which earns a lot of respect in my book. I found the daytime menu a little mundane, but settled on a steak sandwich. The steak and the french fries were excellent. The cook came out and made sure everything was to my satisfaction. My lunch, with a coke, came out to 165 baht. There is outdoor café seating as well as a beautiful dining room. I must return for a dinner. Lots of penguin mannequins in this area. This one is across the street from Auguste Renoir. “What’s a penguin doing in the middle of a street?”, asks Mrs. Conclusion Yes, the service is a little slow, hence, bells on each of the café tables. These two restaurants are also located at the corner of Soi Flamingo and the unnamed soi. Because they are only open for dinner, I did not review them here, but hope to pay them a visit some evening. I wanted to check out this restaurant, but suspected I might be disappointed if the wait staff did not dress down to the name of the restaurant. As a note, there have been some comments about the size of the portions that I consume. After two months living in LOS, I have lost 30 pounds. I have quite a bit more to go, but please consider that the meal you are seeing is my major meal for the day, and usually I only have time to drink coffee for breakfast, and my dinner portions are relatively small. I don’t snack and I get at least 1 hour of exercise each day. I am attending 6 hours of class, undergoing 1 hour of testing and teaching 2 hours of class each day. This doesn’t include homework and teaching preparation which I do at night and in the morning. At the end of a week, I am exhausted, and usually eat a larger lunch just to keep my energy up. Only three more weeks to go to graduation. And, I am feeling much better now that I no longer eat at fast food restaurants (imagine 3 years of Morgan Spurlock’s Supersize Me).

Great input Tom. I don't believe the desire to learn Chinese will significantly impact the demand for English teachers. English is the language of business. Hong Kong business is mostly done in English. It is a difficult language to learn, but English is firmly intertwined with international business and the demand for competent native English teachers will remain high.

Yes, the dollar will drop after the fed reserve meeting next Tuesday. I'm betting on it (bought a bunch of the gold exchange traded fund a week ago (GLD)). However, the internal exchange rate in Thailand for the USD has been fairly stable at approximately 34THB : 1USD. The best way to go is an ATM card. Why hassle dealing with the exchange booths? I use E*Trade (which was a bank before being a brokerage). I can withdraw money at any ATM, no ATM fee. My daily withdrawal limit is 34,000 baht, which, even with extremely heavy and generous partying, will last you 3-4 days. You have enough time to set up an E*Trade account before you leave, online, and get your deposit (I think $500 is the minimum) into them. Have them rush the ATM card. In answer to your question, I believe the exchange booths do prefer AmEx traveller's checks to $100 bills. The difference in the exchange rate will be negligible, it just means they won't scrutinize the bills so carefully for counterfeits. I still have a considerable amount of USD on hand, and just haven't had a need to get it exchanged over. Maybe if the dollar exchange rate ever spikes in favor of the USD (wishful thinking) I will head over to the exchange booths again. If you do get AmEx traveler's checks, get the highest denomination possible (at least $500). You will get the best exchange rate possible with high denomination traveler's checks. I think the current rate at my bank (SCB) is 34.01 Thai Baht/USD for $100 bills and 34.11 Thai Baht/Dollar for $500 AmEx traveler's checks.