dotcom_OD

Bkk to Hua Hin is an excellent price. I know I paid more.

I have a Xbox360 with loads of games, steering wheel, etc. I want to bring it to LOS and give it as a gift. Is it worth it, or will I just be hassled at customs to pay duties on a used game box?

Glenjean, if you were to look at the top of the page you would see these 2 topics on how to get the FLB rate for board members. Try the link and read the posts. http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=24655 http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=37950

My best to you Pete and the coming years for PBG. Missed this anniversary, but there is always a next time!

My guess this belongs in business or expat section of the board.

Seafood is a personal favorite and enjoy seeking out places to eat in Pattaya. This being said, Marine has good food and much cheaper than the competition on the main walking street area. Nang Nual, has ok food, one point to make, that is why I stopped eating here, is their restrooms for staff and customers, do not have soap or toilet paper. One sure sign of questionable hygiene and potential for food borne illness. King seafood, is a good place for me. Service is good, live seafood is comparable to any other seafood place on WS. Taste is dependent on how you want your seafood cooked, grilled, fried, steamed or cooked in broth(such as tom yum) and what seafood you want to eat be it squid, octopus, differing shellfish example, king, rock, spiny lobsters, blue or black crabs, river, sea prawns, mussels, clams, scallops and oysters. Lobster Pot beside King is also very good. Try their oysters rockefeller or just topped with melted cheese, delicious. Mom Aroi(sp) in Naklua is good as well as Bang Saray beach seafood, where you actually see the fishing boats dock with their catch of the day. Go to Bang Saray during sunset and it is really a site to behold. There are other seafood places the locals go to off the highway before arriving in Pattaya, which I was brought to. The seafood was so fresh, you could really tell the difference being that all the seafood was picked from huge tile bathtubs, including a favorite live baby abalone, a rarity and very cheap compared to US prices. Vientianne, alas is no more on WS. This last 2 trips, I tried going to the other branch, I believe is on Pattaya Klang. The food that came out, wasn't even half as good as the former WS restaurant. Both the issan and seafood left a lot to be desired. One thought about a documentary that I watched was that some of the live fish sold in tanks caught in the reefs and oceans are netted by means of cyanide. This stuns the fish, in order to keep it alive and transported in holding tanks. Although, you can see alot of fish pens, prawn farms dotting the seaside, so aquaculture is evident to raise seafood for consumption. Just watch the trucks that bring live fish in holding tanks being delivered regularly in the afternoon to the seafood restaurants on WS. Lastly, there is one decent eatery on Soi 15, that does great live seafood. Not quite as expensive as the bigger restaurants, but don't expect gourmet specialties such as cheese or butter being used in their cooking.

Why stay in your room while on holiday. The point being is to see the people around where you stay. Do a walkabout, it is great exercise and who knows, you may meet your lady du jour while pondering where and what to eat.

H.A.C.C.P. and M.S.D.S. has not hit LOS yet. Most guesthouses and bars are not ISO 9001 certified.

One hostess named Peer is a cutie and a sweetheart. Also a dancer by the name of An is another cutie from there. The other dancers, not lookers in my opinion.

I love Kueteaw(sp) from the carts and pork barbecue not to mention pad thai. One thing that is not mentioned is barbecued whole chicken slow roasted over coals that you see along the roadside. Delicious!

5000 baht for 5 people that averages 1000 baht per person, which is about $30 dollars. One drink in the US is $30 dollars. Big spender you guys!...NOT.

I have a preference for italian food. woodfired oven baked pizza and lasagna, pasta with pesto, alfredo sauce, provimi veal cooked any way you want, lemon or tomato sauce, pasta with truffles/oil. prosciutto san danielle and parma. But I also love french food, such as foie gras, brie cheese, or Spanish cuisine for paella both the red and black(squid), serrano ham negra, conchinillo asado(baby roast pig), bacalao(although this is mainly from Portugal, not to mention the wines Riojas and Bordeaux. But you forget Japanese food with sushi, sashimi, gindara or Chinese for Peking duck, sharkfin soup, birds nest soup, dim sum and baby roast pig. And the spicy thai cuisine! Just like their women!

I use Camtasia Studio and Replay. Camtasia is slower to use but is cheaper. Replay's interface is the best I have used for cam capture.

Zaphod, great find thank you for this post.

Wow that combination mexican plate looks very delicious. Do they make chile verde, or tamales? You know, I have been told that mayonnaise does not keep well in the shelves in Pattaya by a restaurant owner. He states it separates. I wonder how they use mayonnaise in coleslaw or serve it with sandwiches?...hhhmmm

Bruno's is good. The 5 star places Marriott, Sheraton, Royal Cliff do a good steak, not the best, but the beef is good and tender possibly from aging. Will have to try Charlie's, heard a lot about this place although thai beef sometimes can be tough and sinewy.

Pete been in the hospitality business for 32 years now. Is your kitchen set up to handle 500 meals a day? That you have to check. Prep work is crucial for specials and favorites. Is your menu too extensive?...I am sure with your documentor system, you know what menu items are ordered the most and can prep that on a daily basis by monitoring this daily. Training of wait staff is crucial in order to run a smooth operation. I personally have eaten twice at PBG. Once in the evening at approximately 1930 hours, the place was not full rather slow actually(midweek), the order came in late, but the bad part was the bar waitress(sat on the bar with a girl), was nowhere to be found to tell her to check on the food. Another time, I was waiting on a taxi to pick me up in 2 hours, and took my girl for a late lunch at 1400. I again sat at the bar and told the bar waitress (liew liew,sp), and she did just that. I tipped her well for doing so. The chicken with cashews was great, the pad ka pow and fried rice was good too. Pete, I for one, can understand the time and patience you are putting into this business. I can only wish you well and know you will weather the storm and come out doing very well. I hope to share a glass of that good red wine you mentioned the next time I am in PBG. Best of luck for 2009 Pete.

Very funny, loved that line!

I liked Babydolls when I went there with 3 girlfriends to check it out and say hello to Ricky. The lesbian jacuzzi show was great and the bar was lively and full. I had to stand and the 3 girls around me as it was standing room only. I cannot tell what the "high" season will bring if Pattaya will recover from that mess with the stupid PAD supporters screwing it up for all of Thailand and it's tourists. Let us wait and see.

Pete, don't tell too many about Preecha, it is one of my faves and it gets too full on the weekends already...ssshhhh

Soi Diamond 2nd floor where Galaxy Suites is, and right across from Diamond Beach hotel.

Here you go Pete. Cold Stone just uses marble slabs that are on freezer/refrigerated counter. http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/icecream/..._creations.html http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/icecream/..._creations.html

Be mindful of Dusit hotel as they charge a ridiculous amount for a joiner fee unless you register with 1 girl. Last I have been told the joiner fee was close to 1000 baht. This is more of a family hotel that is why they frown on having multiple partners. Sheraton is 5 star quality but mixed information on joiner fees. Some have had to pay others not. Mercure likewise has mixed reviews on joiner fees. I would choose Sheraton for free rooms if you can get away with joiner fees. Mercure would be close 2nd and hopefully no joiner fee either.

Dynasty on Soi 13 has lots of parking in the courtyard also.

Whilliam, I do agree with you with regards getting a girl to open up whether it be verbally or her legs with the right amount of drinks and talk, it will usually work. And the times it doesn't work, you just throw the fish back in the water and go fishing again. One thing that would tempt me to go to Coyotees is get rid of that stupid 1000 barfine. I did pay that once, but never again. Have to think with the right head as she was a starfish.