LilWilly

Because, with 1300+ posts, OnMyWay is hardly a newbie, and most of the posters responded to his post as a joke. If you follow some of the "advice" in this thread, be sure you have the number of an ambulance service on speed-dial. Chances are, you're going to need it!

I too think the original post was a jest, but some of the in-cheek responses to #4 is a little scary. From what I've read, pissing on the drivers can get you into deep do-do real quick.

Assuming you have a British passport, I'm sure another Brit can answer your question. If not check with the Thai embassy in UK (They may have a web-site). Canadian passport holders don't require visas for visits of 30 days or less. A visa is required for 31-60 days. You also must have atleast 6 months remaining on your passport when you enter Thailand. Depending on your route and connecting flights, I understand some airports may not allow you to board without the min 6 months on your passport. Other airports will let you board and leave it to the Thai authorities to send you back.

Unfortuantely it would be too arkward and heavy. It would need to be 30" wide and support 600lbs. Now a 30" 2x4 with a rope through it might be managable. The chair can climb a 3" step. The 2x4 would act as a ramp to 5" and it would be light enough for me to handle. Only problem is it might also serve as a decent weapon.

Oops I misunderstood. I'm reserved for 28 days. I arrive in Bangkok Jan 31 and should be in Pattaya around 3:00 am Feb 1st. I leave Bangkok arond 6:40 am March 1st.

power chair a.k.a. electric wheel chair. I've never used a manual wheelchair. I think my OT forsaw that I wouldn't be able to use it long enough to justify the $4,000+ CDN cost. I don't think I'd be able to use a travel chair on my own. For that I'd need a full-time attendent or it would be too tiring to go anywhere. I've received PMs from a couple of members offering help which I gladly accept. We'll play things loose and see how things go. I tended to be an independant person and I want to be as independet as possible on the trip and still be safe. I expect the main activity the first week will be exploring, which will give me a better handling on things. Like everyone says, you can't know Pattaya until you experience Pattaya.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes and assitance. I hesitate to ask on this thread because I think I've seen it elsewhere, but I will do a search and will definitly be looking into buying a pay-per-use cell phone when I'm over there. cenctm - yeah, you're over-thinking but I appreciate it and you make valid points. My condition falls under the Muscular Dystrophy umbrella. Specifcally, I have a rare, untreatable, genetic disorder called Myotubular Myopathy (or MTM for short). Essentially, my body is no longer able to produce new muscle fibres. As my existing muscle fibres wear out, there are no new muscle fibres to replace them and I get weaker and weaker. My legs were affected first, but it has progressed to my arms and hands. I use a power-chair as much as possible these days. I can still stand and walk (well, I guess "shuffle" is a better word) short distance as long as I have some support (two canes, or a cane and a wall, or a bathroom counter). I can not do sit ups. To get out of bed, I have a pole installed next to my bed which I use to pull myself into a sitting position. For Pattaya, I plan to park the power-chair next to the bed so I can use it's handles in place of the pole. I also have trouble lilfting my arms above shoulder height. On the two "really bad days" last week, it took me 15 minutes to pull myself into a sitting position. But I'm feeling better now and seem to be back to my "normal". I think my bad days were caused because I let myself get too tired (as in only 4 hours of sleep two nights in a row). In fact, if it hadn't been for the PT appointment on that 2nd day, I'd have stayed in bed and gone back to sleep - probably would have avoided the worst of it*. I'm going to see how things go over the next couple of weeks before I decide whether I'm going to "risk it". * Hmmmm note to self. Hide tip in room night before. If too tired to get up, tell her where it is and go back to sleep.

Why is Santa so Jolly? Because he knows where all the naughty girls live.

I'm posting this question in this section as I want to avoid the most obvious responses. Anyway, I've had a couple of scary days and Im now reconsidering whether it will be pratical to make my newbie trip to Pattaya at the end of January. My physiotherapists is not entirely comfortable with me travelling alone - although she hasn't forbiden the trip. I'm meeting with a case working Monday to discuss getting some in-home assistance. My question is does anyone know about the availabilty and costs of hiring an attendent in Pattaya for a month? For the most part I expect to be able to look after myself so I'm looking for a safety net - someone for maybe an half an hour a day to drop in and check up on me. It's been a while since I've fallen down and I use the chair more and more. My concern is that if I do fall down, I may not be able to get up without assitance. I've reserved a room at Sunshine Vista. I don't know if their services would including checking in on a guest.

I'd heard it abour 15 years ago from one of the ladies at work, but that sounds about right. All the talk about LBs lately made me think of it and revise it a little for Pattaya. No harm.

When sitting on a bar stool in a crowded bar, if someone comes up to you and says, "Excuse me, can I push in your stool?" -- becareful where you stand.

There's nothing like a young lady to put a spring in your step, eh!

Nothing new here. As anyone who's followed my posts know, washrooms played an important factor in selecting my hotel - second only to being "guest friendly".

Huh? Don't remember seeing RG. Did you mean TG?

My caption entry: Whoever said "These things can really fly!" are full of shit!

Thanks Soi7 and thank your TG for me. I'm planning on being their Feb 1 to 28. I'll buy you both a couple of beers.

I'd gladly pay for the tape measure when I arrive in February - with a beer or two for interest. Heck, if you through in some pictures of the room and washroom/shower arrangement, I'll pay the bar fine for the BG of your choice.

I'd sent an e-mail to Sabai Lodge regarding accessibility and monthly rates and got a reply back that one of their quests (Our Eddy) would reply to the accessible questions and Sabai Lodge (Care) would send me the monthly rate. Eddy's reply covered all my questions but one, so I sent a reply to Eddy and Care but have not heard back yet. Is their anyone out there with a tape measure who can tell me the standard clearence* of the bathroom doors in hotel rooms in Pattaya? I'm partiicularly interest in the Sabai Lodge and Sunshine Vista. *Note: By clearance, I don't mean the frame opening as the door usually blocks part of the opening. 30" frame opening MINUS 2" door width when open = 28" clearence. Standard width for interior doors frames here (Canada) is 30" and I can breeze through those in my wheelchair pretty much without thinking about it. Door's are typically 2" thick. I can get through smaller openings with a little care. P.S. Sabai Lodge still hasn't sent me a monthly rate. I don't know what Eddy said to them, but Care has refered me to Diana Resort (which is not convient for me) and don't seem to want to tell me the width of the bathroom foor or their monthly rate.

Can't tell from the bathroom pick, but does it have a hand shower or a fixed shower head?

Great pictures mats. Being in a wheelchair, I particularly appreicate the bathroom/shower entrance pics.

Has anyone stayed in or seen one of the disable rooms at the Sunshine Vista and can describe the facilities (bathroom/shower) and the room itself? My powerchair is large and I require - a minimum 76cm (30 inchs) width in doorways - about 106cm (3.5 feet) clear on one side of the bed. - an area of 150cm x 150cm (5x5 feet) to turn the chair around without banging into furniture. I've received a response for my reservation request and I'm a little leery of paying the full amount 3 1/2 months in advance of my arrival.

First of all, curse all you guys with cameras Secondly, I was originally thinking of coming over for 3 weeks, but now I'm thinking maybe 6-8 weeks. Major issue of course will be budget. Are then any recomendations for wheelchair accessible monthly accomodations? To be accessible; - no stairs to enter ground floor (luggage ramp ok as long as not too steep - 1ft rise in 7 feet) - no steps to get to rooms (or lift to rooms above ground floor) - some rooms with walk-in showers (Thai bathrooms ok as well) Other then that I'm looking for - North Pattaya prefered around Soi 2 - Soi 8 and towards Walking street - decent and reasonable clean building - air conditioning and refrigerator - in-room safe - regular cleaning (daily prefered, but twice a week ok) - Laundry services - no joiner fees Thanks P.S. I know some of the services will be extra charge, but I'd like to have them available

I've never cancelled tickets either, but I think it depends on two things: 1. the type of ticket you bought. The cheaper tickets are non-refundable and usually aren't changable. If they are changable theres usually a hefty fee. For flexibility, you have to buy the more expensive tickets. 2. the type of trip insurance you have will determine if the insurance company will cover the loss if the airline doesn't refund your fee.

Thanks. The Amari is sort of what I was looking for.... "Amari Airport Hotel A luxury business hotel that connects to Don Muang Airport via an air-con walkway. " ... but at 6400Baht a night, is way too expensive. Maybe I'll just find a nice place and nap in my chair or explore the airport shops till I catch my ride.