teelack

The thing was that I didn't know how toi manage the system and this is where a call direct to the AIS shop can be a great assistance as they not only tell you but then work through the machine settings with you till you have it sorted. I would be interested to know if the orange machines do in fact have an English option because if they do not then they are not suitable for the normal tourist.

At 10PM the only place I saw closed (and I wonder why) was the Bamboo. The street was closed off however and I wonder if that had something to do with it.

My advice was for tourists who possibly have no Thai bank accounts or ATM cards. There are a lot of us out there and this solution will be best for those type of people. Extend your card for 5 months for 50 baht is a great solution for a lot of us. It even works for those that only come here one time a year and I guess that over your holiday you could pop in a couple of times and keep extending. There is another AIS at Tucom but I do not know if they have machines there.

OK, you did your bit and now I have done mine and had a meal there so here is my review. Just for old times sake I ordered the daily special of beef curry and chips and a Leo. The beer was cold and tasty and the street theatre on Soi Buakhao is brilliant. The curry has three components, sauce, beef and 'vegetables'. The star for me is the tasty, tangy and medium hot sauce, Spot on. The beef was fine however I expected it in cubes like the UK rather than slices but it was as tender as I have had beef in Asia. The vegetables was in fact onions and nothing else. I really believe that a bit of colour and texture would improve the look and taste of the meal and if you don't like onions then there would have been high wastage. I do like them and they were tasty and tender. No chips complaints and the meal was served hot, another failing with a lot of Thai meals. Other than the onion issue I will give this a pass mark.

On your first trip to Pattaya keep reading the forums and when you get there try to fit into the scene. Without doubt it is the roaming packs of Indian Indians that give the race a bad rep. Just go and enjoy.

AIS has a bureau on the same floor as food.

I went to top up my phone yesterday thinking that it would take me to the next time I am in Thailand but it was in fact a fair way short. I took a walk down to Central AIS shop and asked them what the solution was and was surprised when I got it. For all you people that are looking for a relatively pain free top up here goes. Go to AIS and say insert 100 baht in the machine. Select English (or whatever) and go to top up. This will show your credit and amounts from 10 baht up that can be credited to your phone. Now enter 10 baht and insert your phone number and your credit is extended one month. Just keep on going till you use your credit and have totally pissed of those behind you. I just didn’t know this till today and hope that it is useful to others.

I hope that you don't take this criticism to heart as I am trying to be constructive for you. I also find it a bit off putting when I have this conversation. OK, will have the special. Heineken beer please. No have. OK, San Mig please. No Have. OK, Singh please. No Have. Ok, what you have. Can have Chang or Leo. I eventually sorted it out that if you have the special which includes an ale it has to be Chang or Leo. I have no issue with this but a foot-note on the board would stop all these questions and some frustration,

I did drop in but this weeks special is Chicken Curry and its not something I enjoy. Why not consider having say chicken, beef and vegetarian as the weekly special. I am sure that the meals are fine but the difference between the special price and the menu price is a bit off-putting.

I make no pretence at being in the same league as Evil and MM when it comes to restaurant reviews but I thought I might share this one. I was meandering down Soi LK and bumped into Aussie Chic and Bad Boy and they told me they were off to the 49 baht rib place. Seems that they knew and recommended the place but as I have no real knowledge of ribs it sort of flew over my head. Then another acquaintance told me of a good place to eat in Sai Buakhao called Pattinis and so I thought I would try that. The Pattini meal was I am sad to say average but looking over the road there was the 49 Baht Rib place so today I made a visit. I have to point out that I am usually a one meal a day person but there are times when I want a snack sized filler and seems to me that 49 baht ribs could be it. The place is an outdoor eaterie and is on the corner of Soi Buakhao and the street where Dream Teen massage is almost across the road. True to name it does indeed feature a 49 baht rib meal and a variety of steaks and up-graded rib meals as well as 39 baht starters such as skins. The street view is great and I see some super ladies awaking from their slumbers and heading out for their night jobs. The meal was great in that the meat fell off the bones and the fries and salad that come as part of the deal was also tasty. I asked for the red hot barbecue sauce and was not disappointed with this either. There was a large basket of sauces and condiments so the whole thing yelled value for money as well as attention to detail. OK, neither flash or gourmet but I have to add this place to the Pattaya experience and give it a tick.

Last time a Larry party came along I think we played Pass the Pussy or was it Musical Muffs? To pissed to recall.

Even Sheldon would find this thread bizarre! Entertaining but still bizarre.

Thanks guys I will give it a try.

Just wondering. I am a not very smart on computers type of guy. Is there a reasonably simple way of checking what my download/upload speeds are when I log onto my hotel Internet?

Seems like a sane and sensible idea. Kudos.

Thanks to all for the reviews. Sadly I never make it past mid soi for the Jimmy Mac "Best breakfast in Pattaya" at 120 baht!

I am sure that the only effect will be more people eating and drinking on the streets on the cheap.

Never seen one in Thailand but for sale on every street corner in Laos.

Fuck it! Should they chose to close the airport when I am heading home I will gladly extend my holiday!

Mmmmmm. Will be there next week. Hope that I don't have to buy a heap of vegetables in order to get my cab out of the place.

For me (and this also answers what is the best bar in Soi 8) I enjoy the Rolling Rock bar. Live music every night and dancing. I have also had one of the service girls from there back in the room.

Great stuff MM and as always appreciated. Is the closure of the Moonlight a record for brevity of business?

If money is no problem stay in Soi Diane. Good choices include the Areca and the two LK properties, Wherever you stay in LK there is going to be noise.

The issue is simple for me. I just cut out Bangkok from my trips other than the airport. I would rather go to Pattaya and then perhaps on to Laos or Cambodia so for me cancellation is not an option. When however there is violence in Pattaya itself than this may be the time to consider Bali, Vietnam or wherever. Roll on late February when I get back to Pattaya.