Shilo

Guys, I could use a little help with picking out a flat screen tv. Back in the states I had a monster Big Screen that I bought ages ago. It was like living with a small elephant in the living room... but I loved my baby. Here in LOS, most of the places I've lived in have had the old box sets. I want to buy a new flat screen. I can pretty much make up my own mind on the screen size vs the cost to see where I would get the best value. But I could use some help with choosing the right make, specs and features. From what I've seen it looks like Samsung (with series 4/5/6) is the most common, followed by LG, and then a spattering of other brands like Sony, Philips ect. The screen sizes seem to be 26 (a little small), 32 ( seems about right for a bedroom), 42-46 which is what I'm leaning towards for the livingroom, and 50+ which would be great but a bit more then I'd like to pay... Prices (with sales) seem to be around 10K=26, 15/20K=32, and 20/25K=42. And there seems to be different choices between LCD, LED and Plasma. I guess what I'm looking for is a little bit of a primer on what makes to consider or avoid, what features or specs to look for, and any suggestions on which retail stores in or around Pattaya to use and or avoid. Thanks in advance

Well, I just wanted to cap off this thread to let everyone know what I ended up finding.... With the help of JP (Jomtien Properties) who has an office just outside of the View Talay 2 Complex, I was able to get what I think was a great deal. A two bedroom, 2 bath, condo with livingroom and formal diningroom, a total of 148 sqm which is what you end up with when you take 4 studio condos with 37 sqm each and fit them together to form one large unit. I was happy to sign a two year lease and the owner was willing to offer a very competitive price to lock in a stable long term tenet before the new condo inventory of View Talay 7 (among others) hit the market. We agreed on a rent of 25K per month.

1st, Torrenova, thanks for thr info in the PM you sent me. But, I had to pass on using it because I found a new place through another source. 2nd, I've heard from a couple of guys that I have over paid for the place that I'm in... on the other hand, from what I've seen the rent on condos is often tied to how well they are fitted out. Not that I think this means that I have actually had a decent deal over the past year. But I have seen studios here in VT2 that run from a low of 10/12K to a high of 18/20K and often it comes down to how it's fitted rather then the size of the unit. 3rd, with regard to the Chateau Dale complex, I ended up having to give it a pass. Several reasons, but the main problem was moving my girl away from all her friends in our current building. Last, I'll be posting on the other thread the details of the new condo that I'm moving into. Let's just say, that I am VERY happy with what I found and don't want to risk jinxing the deal to I have inked the lease.

My lease is running out and I'm looking at other options before I renew... I'd be interested in seeing any: Large Studio or One bedroom Condos in View Talay 2 (Building A) Must be able to support TTT Broadband and UBC Price range below 25K And will consider a long term lease for the right place at the right price. I'm retired, financially secure, have a live-in girl friend. Either post here on the thread or PM me... I live in the building with LOTS of free time on my hands, so we can schedule a viewing for anytime. Just editing the thread to let everyone know that I have found a new place. I'll update later with the detail of my search and what I settled on once I have inked the new lease.

I am looking to rent a new condo. Currently, I am living in the View Talay 2 (Building A) but I have a small studio of about 48 sqm. at a cost of 16,500K per month. I would like to upgrade to a one bedroom (double room) with at least 60 sqm. Where ever I end up, I'll need UBC, internet, and reasonable access to the baht bus routes. Plus a washing machine, exercise room, and or full oven in the kitchen would be highly valued. Ocean views and floor height are not big issues in my mind. I'm looking to stay below 25K per month and considering that I'm willing to enter into a one year lease, I think it's possible to find something around 20-22K. Looking at the Fair Properties web site, it looks like there are some nice units in the Chateau Dale Complex. Has anyone lived there before and or have other suggestions? I need to find a new place by May 1st but the moving date is flexable

Well, still to soon to say where this will end up... But I mentioned a few things to my girl just to get her thinking more about the down side. 1.) there is a good chance that after paying the rent, wages, power ect along with the monthly ptm of 15K to the old owner that my girl is possibly looking at working for at least a year without pay. Maybe longer if we have another very slow low season. 2.) there is a chance that I may have to return to the states later in the year for any where from 3-6 months. Then again, I may not have to go.... but I've considered looking into a finance visa so she could join me, see my home, do some traveling, and meet my friends and family. If she buys the business then she has to stay here in LOS. 3.) we don't go out all that much but we do enjoy staying up late to watch TV shows and football. Then sleeping in the next day.... she'll be looking at getting up everyday by 9am (at least) and maybe in bed by 10-11pm. Not a big burden but a huge adjustment from our normal patterns. I think that the "cake" was looking a little dry once I started to scrap off some of the icings

You have offered no details.... But in today's world, if someone offered me a risk free investment with a quaranteed return of 20% per year... I'd finish my beer, get up, and walk (if not run) out the door.

My girlfriend and I have been living together for the past 2 years and for what it's worth.... marriage is something that I think could be in the future at some point. I bring this up just to point out that she and I have a history and I have every reason to believe that I can trust her. And that I have a pretty good idea of her strengths and weaknesses. But the point of the post is to ask for some advice on backing a Thai lady's desire to own a small business. We live in the View Talay 2 complex. She has a friend who owns one of the small laundry shoppes on the ground floor. It seems that the current owner is about to move to Europe with her husband and wants to sell the business. Asking price is 150K to be paid in 10 equal payments of 15K each over 10 months. This price is for the business it's self and all of the equipment: washers, dryers, irons ect. Expenses: Rent 10K Power and water 2K 2 employees: 8K (combined) We have all seen a ton of this shoppes around town and just about every condo complex has 2-3 on the ground floors. Has anyone any experience in backing one of these operations?

try these http://philcristy.com/index.html http://www.dancewatchers.com/

Congrats on the sale.... but it'll leave me in a bind My girl loved hanging with the ladies at CB2 while I watched football. Now I'm going to have to find a new spot to catch the games. Soi 8 is all right for a beer but not the best for watching the games. Good luck

Correct me if I'm wrong.... but I thought that an implant is where you have the dentist "implants" into the bone below the gum line where the missing tooth came from. While a bridge only requires that you have an original tooth on either side of where the old tooth was pulled from and then a "bridge" is placed over the two remaining teeth and the gap to hold a new fake tooth in place. And is this something that most any dentist could do or does it require a specialist. FYI: I am having the basic work done by Dr Aree at Pattaya Hospital on Soi 4 (cleaning, a filling and the extraction) but I'm looking for basic info on bridges before I go back to see her for the remainder of the work.

Just bumping this thread to the front page to see if I can get any additional or recent info on Dental Bridges. Looking for recommendations and costs. Recently had a tooth pulled and the new gap is bugging the hell out of me

Back in the states I use to buy bulk items that I used on a regular bases at places like Costo and Sam's. They sold cases of coke or large sizes of detergents and food stuff at deep discounts... Other then options like Lotus, Big C and such... are there any places in or around Pattaya where I can buy items in bulk? I'd like to buy items like toilet paper, coke, OJ, laundry soap, ect by the case if I can get a deep discount. Also, I am looking for a step-down converter so I can use by Xbox game system. Several of my friends recommended a place in the lower level of Tickcom where they found units for 1100 baht but I've stopped in twice and all they have now are units for around 2500. Any other suggestions? thanks in advance

A little extra info: Once you choose a program you like, look on the right side for a list of the sources. There are generally 3 or 4 to choose from. I like Megavideo the best. Also, once you start the loading, look beneath the video for a link to a "resizable screen". It'll give you a pop-up can be watched in full screen. Enjoy

OK, I admit it, I'm a couch potato And one of the things I thought that I'd miss while on my 5 month stay in LOS was all of my favorite TV shows. That was till I ran across this site: http://www.surfthechannel.com/cat/television.html I know that a lot of you guys use torrents to get some of your programing but I thought I'd toss this on the board for anyone who is interested. Note: I STRONGLY recommend the show called Dexter. It may be the best show I've ever come across.

Congrats Pete I hit town on May 8th so I look forward to checking the place out. Choc dee derr Shilo

Thanks Tom... that's the first one that i've come across so far, Joe, what are all the beer bars using to show the EPL games?

Can anyone suggest any place that offers both wi-fi and UBC? I will be in Pattaya from May thru Sept and I'm looking for something between 15-20K. Thanks Shilo

Thanks again for the help guys but I'm still hoping for a little help on where to stay. I plan to book a room at the Sabai Lodge again to start but once in Pattaya I will look for someplace with a good monthly rate. But what I really need is a list of any hotels, service apartments or "other" that has both UBC and wi-fi. Thanks (19 more days)

Thanks to the OP for the thread. If you don't mind I'll use it to ask a related question... I mailed off to the Thai Consulate here in the US for a multi entry visa with 3 re-entry stamps but they call to say the they only issue 2 stamps now days. So I have the visa which I understand means that I can stay in LOS for 60 days before having to leave for a visa run and then when I get back I'll have another 60 days. But my trip is from May 8th till Sept 22nd or a total of about 137 days. I don't mind the visa run but is there a way to deal with the extra 17 days without having to risk overstaying? Thanks

Thanks guys But staying on the same subjects for a bit longer... When you have the Xbox modified, I assume that it then plays both manufacter and "cheap" games... or do you have to modify it back to original before returning home. After thinking about it some more, I'll wait till I'm in Pattaya to buy the phone. I don't see myself using the damn thing when stateside if for no other reason then that the US doesn't use sim cards but rather 1-2 year contracts. But you could really help me with understanding the TV situation over there. I don't plan to spend 4 months sitting in a bar and certainly not during the daytime when it hot. At those times I like to stay at home with the aircon, my trusty laptop (thus interest in wifii) and a TV. But what good is a TV in Pattaya without UBC? Seriously, the crap that is shown on the hotel room sets is in my mind a leading contributor to the city's drinking problem. Can anyone suggest hotels or service apartments that have UBC. Or do I need to go the lease a condo route? Thanks again

In about a month I will be making a trip to Pattaya for the summer... all summer, I should be there from May through August. This is a big event for me because I have been to Pattaya at least 15 times over the past several years but never for more then 7-14 days at a time. So with 15 trips under my belt, I can't call myself a Newbie but then again with "only" a 4 months stay coming up, I wouldn't call myself an expat either.... thus the new term: Newpat I've taken care of about everything that I could think of here at home but I have a few questions on what to take. I am one of the 72 people left in the industrial west who has never owned a cell phone. Talking on the phone all day was a major part of my job and the last thing I wanted was one of those damned things attached to my hip Second, I have an X-box 360 that I have never played. I got it from work (a bonus payout). I use to like video games but got away from it several years ago. But now I will be in Pattaya with lots of free time on my hands. It's easy to carry the console over in my suitcase but what about games? I assume that you can find X-box games in Pattaya but are they new, used, or bootleg. Are they cheaper in Pattaya or should I plan to buy more here in the states and carry them over? And lastly, where to stay. I was planning to just come over as I had in the past and start with a cheap room at the Sabai Lodge. Once there I'd take a few days to look around for something for the long term. But just in general: for a 4 month trip should I look at hotels with a decent monthly rate, give the service apartments a try, or look around for a summer lease on a condo rental? FYI: I'm looking to spend around 15-20K, and would like an in-room stove and fridge, USB cable and wifi. Thanks in advance and will see some of you guys soon. Shilo

Thanks for the answers to my question... but getting back to Torrenova's original question, does anyone have any links to sites that offer live sports over the net? Irishman had asked about sites that show NFL games. Hell, I might even be willing to use a paysite if there are any out there with decent content...

And on a simular subject.... is there a way to link a laptop to a TV so what I would have on my laptop screen could be viewed on the TV screen? I have several sites that I use to watch recorded programs on the computer, but would love a way to link to a large TV screen. .

Let me toss out a few opinions and believe me, that is all that they are In the US the stock markets have been going strong since 2003 which means that we are going into the 5th year of the current cycle and I believe that we haven't had a 10% correction in all of that time. I suspect that 2008 will see a correction in the stock markets. This would have a big impact on countries that depend on exports. I also think that China with something like 1.4 trillion US dollars in their reserves will start looking for other places to invest that money besides in US treasuries. I wouldn't be surprised to see China start to issue their own bonds which would give their people a place to invest outside of their stock markets. If this happens then it would cause longterm interest rates in the US to rise. It wouldn't matter what the Fed did with short rates... it would just mean a reversal back to the normal yield curve with short yields below long duration yields. If the US stock markets should correct along with a drop in bond prices (which happens when bond yields go up) then we could be looking a possible recession in the US. Add in the higher debt levels in the states and you'll see the US consumer pull back on spending. China has still got a lot of cheap labor but that is just beginning to change. Labor cost in China are rising at a 10% yoy rate. This isn't a problem yet because productivity is going up by more. But China depends on exports and if the West (lead by the US) starts to cut back on spending then this could cause problems. But China is still creating a middle class. They will want the things that we take for granted like meat, cars, and air con. I don't know about commodity prices on things like construction materials, metals and such, but I expect oil and food cost to continue to rise around the world. And it's the slower growth and higher prices that have me concerned about stagflation. .