biggles

Hi might have to head to Udon Thani next week so would be pleased if anyone could recommend a clean, centrally located hotel that has air. something around the 400-500 baht a night rate would be great.

Yeah Bell transport is good, big air con bus to pattaya north bus station then transfer mini bus right to your door. 200 baht. email them at rrc_bus@hotmail.com. they speak good english and will give you contact details at the airport (usually downstairs at gate 7 but may have changed) and confirm bus times. it only leaves every two hours so may not fit in. They used to leave airport at 8a, 10a, 12, 2p, 4p, and 6p so may not suit you..

I am renting a furnished, two bedroom house off soi arunothai (opp Carrefour in pattaya klang) many houses around here for about 10-12000k a month. You have to walk to klang to get a baht bus but its only about 7-8 minutes. nice quiet area as well. drop me a pm if you would like to have a look around.

I am renting a very nicely furnished 2 bedroom townhouse in soi 11 just off Soi arunothai (opposite carrefour) place was completely renovated about 3 years ago and is very well looked after. the owner left everything here, even bed linen, crockery, etc. have a one year lease but would be happy to stay forever. 12,000 baht a month but a few others around here for 10,000.

You do need a letter from Immigration to open a bank account (tho some banks dont bother) buy a car or motorbike or get a thai driving licence. I got my letter four years ago when i opened the bank account, got my licence and bought a bike. at that time (it might have changed) you needed at least a tourist visa to get the letter. I lost my bike registration book a couple of weeks ago and the registration branch wouldnt give me a replacement without an immigration letter.

I would have thought that if you buy a car in your own name (same as when i bought my motorbike) then you need to get a letter from jomtien immigration showing resident status and where you live??

Your in Windmill agogo with the naked lesbian show on the table in front of you and your watching the British Open Golf on the giant TV!!

Congratulations to you both. How come you have a party when I have just gone on a diet!!! See you there tonight....

Gooday mate, I dont arrive till midnight on the 17th which is no good to you. I have one booked already myself so if anything goes wrong with your flight and you are later than expected you can give me a ring 08472 53865 mobile number in thailand.

anyone care to share a taxi to pattaya on the above date? I will book mr toom in the next couple of days so happy to share the ride and cost?

whats the email address, please?

There are direct flights from Phuket (and Koh Samui) to Pattaya airport. Is it too late to change (or maybe to expensive.

After a month travelling north to south: - Trust no-one, ask the price of everything, TWICE, count your change every time. P4P very difficult to find outside Saigon/vung tau. Most hotels are not guest friendly and prostitution is really frowned on. Great scenery, very clean but the hawkers/scammers really get you down after a while. loved the country but the people drove me insane.

FredCyber, I agree with your comments and have many friends who would also agree with you. There are many aspects of thai society/culture that are quite alien to us and which we struggle to understand. The longer you stay here the more frustrating and annoying they can get. It doesn't mean you want to pack up and leave, tho many do.To try and put a "rosy" picture on everything here is unrealistic and pretty stupid. Ignore the flames, they havn't taken their rose coloured glasses off yet.

Foto, they might be closed but the sign on the door says the girls moved to Standby girls 2 in soi buakaow, right opposite the entrance to LK Metro.

Your poll results will be a bit awry if you intend to use it as a guide to the cost of moving here. Once/twice a year holiday makers probably have a daily budget about 3/4 times mine. I manage comfortable on around 70K a month.

Just got back from 3 days on Koh Samet. the Park Ranger had no problem with giving me a 40 baht admission charge (thai price) rather than the 400 baht foreigner price when I showed him my local licence and told him I am living here. Also had success at a couple of other private run businesses (Underwater World etc) on the local price admission when showing the licence.

easiest way to find it on the map is to look for the Mercure hotel on Soi 15, which runs between 2nd road and soi buakaow. Pattaya bay resort is right next door, on the left hand side if you are on the road looking at the mercure.

the owner has another place in soi15 off soi buakaow (Up2Uapartments) where I have been for a year. very well run and good security. I went to have a look at pattaya bay yesterday and it is really nice, great pool area, gym etc. its a fair way down to pattaya 2nd road but they have a tuktuk to run you around. I reckon the location would be the only downside, everything else looks really good.

Sorry sabaiid2, I meant not "curable". I also have the eyedrops and they work very well. I also had a trebelectomy (sp?) about 6 years ago. they cut a flap in your eye (like a little trapdoor) which lets the fluid out and prevents the pressure buildup, very successful but unfortunately I had already lost about 60% of my peripheral vision. ( Use the drops in the other eye to treat the cause but would love to be able to cure the "bad" eye.

glaucoma is caused by the deterioration of the nerves due to pressure and, to the best of my research, is not treatable.

I also have very severe glaucoma in my left eye. I use Xalatan XE and tymoptol 0.5%. they are both readily available over the counter in boots pharmacy in Royal garden plaza.

I looked into it and had quotes ranging from 7,000 to 12,000 baht. If property is involved more likely at the higher end of the quotes. There are a couple of folks with legal contacts on the board so I am sure you will get a good recommendation.

If buying a condo you have to send a minimum of $US20,000. I regularly send smaller amounts so transferring some of this money back home would not prove anything really. Its the fate of the 'condo" money I am interested in.

Okay, as suggested have posted on thai visa property forum so will put the results up here.