Bazle

The project has finished, except for a few final touches. The south end is the most dramatically different. The reason for building the concrete jetty, just before the sewage outlet, is now apparent: it forms the boundary to the new beach.

I believe you had a fair sprinkling of rain yesterday, so that probably accounts for the improvement.

I am eagerly awaiting the rules regarding having the funds in the account for 3 months after the extension. I'm in and out of the country frequently, and it might well be that I won't be around at the precise time of the 3 months after. If they are going to be flexible and let me establish that I've maintained the funds appropriately, say, at the time of the next renewal, fine, no problem. Otherwise, I foresee difficulties.

So the lesson to be learned is not to travel on the Dreamliner!

Which app is that, please?

I don't recall ever experiencing such bad air pollution anywhere anytime as I have done in Pattaya recently. Try looking out to sea, or just at the Waterfront eyesore, and you can see the smog. I went to Central Marina at the top of Second Road this afternoon. The air was seriously dirty; I had to get down to Beach Road ASAP. We've had a little rain this evening. We need a lot more to try to clean up the air. No consolation but in Bangkok it seems to be even worse - http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30361030

As I walked along Beach Road this afternoon, I came across two teams power hosing the pavement. Looking at the pavement after it had dried, it really didn't look that much different. However, the objective seemed to be to get rid of the loose sand by washing it into the drain at the side of the road. I'm sure that will do the drainage system a lot of good!

About 19:45 on 24 Dec. at TT on Second Road:

Me too.

I'm not a mindreader but I wonder if the mouth image is intended to convey "talk". Unfortunately, it conveys to me another oral activity! The fact that it is right beside "Pattaya" re-inforces that thought! Maybe an image which looks like someone talking, placed to the right of "Talk", would be better.

Yes, me too. I hope I'm not out of line saying this but I don't like the mouth!

Best of luck! ☺️

Oh deer!

Thanks for your efforts, Frosty. Best of luck.

As shopping malls go, I would regard this one as impressive, but not aa much so as either the T21 in BKK or Central Festival in Patts. As you mention, it is bound to dilute business at the other malls, something those malls can ill afford.

Atlas I own my own condo, and leave Thailand 5 or 6 times each year. I filed a TM30 once, but have not done so subsequently; I've had no problem with renewing my Retirement Extension. My understanding is that the attitude of Jomtien Immigration is as set out by Jacko. Cheers. Baz

I would add Beefeater to the busy list.

Considering the large number of Indians who are members of Addicts, I wonder if posting this topic there would elicit useful information. All we seem to be able to do is shrug our shoulders in confusion!

Have sent you a PM.

Yes, totally agree. I don't even get a message from her now: all communications seem to come from her secretary, Ms Chanya. Well done that girl. ☺️

A wise decision! ☺️ I'm sure the hotel staff would blab.

I don't know if it is correct but I read some years ago that a large proportion comes from Bangkok, garbage dumped into the Chao Phraya which gets washed by the tides down to Patts.

Yesterday, I took a walk along Beach Road, all the way northwards from Soi 13. The debris on the beach was the worst I can recall seeing it. There were people out trying to clear it. The large debris, including an incredible amount of long pieces of bamboo, were being manually carried to a truck on Beach Road by a team of orange-uniformed guys. There was also another team which was making piles of the smaller debris. There was a lot of rubbish floating in the water just waiting to take the place of the cleared rubbish.

My hairdresser is Turkish by origin. He has just come back from Turkey and said that, even though the exchange rate is good, the locals want to be paid in Dollars, Pounds, Euros, or any solid currency.

I own a condo there so am pretty committed to visiting, no matter what the exchange rate is. Flights and accommodation are two major expenses. As you say, flight prices are still reasonable. My accommodation costs are not that much more in terms of GBP. The other major cost is "entertainment". As the years go by, I have found my inclination to partake has waned, so my expenditure on that has probably fallen rather than risen. The things that will possibly deter me from visiting are not related to the exchange rate. One of those is what you allude to - the nature of Patts changing.