Butch

One thing I remember about MM was his fondness for Wine. I intended and indeed promised to bring him a bottle of South African white this upcoming trip for him to enjoy. What always struck me was that Martin was one of only two people I've known to drink wine when out and about in Pattaya in the bars themselves, the other one being Andy from Electric blue. I know our now-left-the-forum member Bullfrog enjoyed a bottle or three but I never met him sadly. I will enjoy a bottle of red at home (white gives me heartburn) but for some reason I can never bring myself to order it in a bar or even in a pub in the UK. Yes, I have been known to raid the Wine cooler of a close friend when I'm in town, but the crafty sod locks the good stuff away and fills it with plonk upon my arrival ;) So my drinking habits are perhaps slightly skewed, red wine at home (seldom as I work shifts but if I've got a day or two off then why not?) but Beers followed by Gin & tonic when I'm out in Manila or anywhere else. Anyone else feel that drinking a glass of Red in a GoGo seems slightly out of place?.

I think the market remains saturated. High end stuff will always be at a certain price point, but at the lower end of the market it is always possible to negotiate discounts. From our point of view I know the market pretty well in Manila where we have a few condo's which provide us with a rental income, they are all small units (relatively speaking, 40 - 55 SqM) and are rented out to students and local workers. We always buy off plan, always pay the initial deposit in cash and fix a repayment percentage at 0% over 3 years with a final payment. With the smaller units it's easy to do this due to the amount available, but at the high end there is little or no flexibility unless you get in really early, i.e 3 years before the project is due to be finished. I would imagine since the russians stopped coming and buying up condo's due to the rouble dropping in value since 2013 there must be more around.

Hi frosty I was going to PM this but thought it might be an idea to bounce around. I own a few domain names and have done for years (will PM the names of them), now I know you probably don't want to go building up another website, but if there is anything you can do with them as a way of covering the costs then I'd be happy to help. With reference to your above post hopefully they might be of some use. Although I've been a member since days 1, I've been meaning to ask what the "SSG Members" were, are they people who donated in the past?. Lastly, many of us have contacts in Pattaya, friends who own businesses and associates from way back. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to have a package that could be presented to them and call in a few favours re advertising. check your PM's frosty.

We have a return of TWD on Monday after the mid season break. Despite it being rubbish in recent episodes I'm tempted to give it a go until the end of this season and then decide whether to bin it permanently or not. One which I am half way through and am finding very enjoyable is McMafia. The acting, camerawork, direction and storyline are all very good indeed. It can get a bit complex at times regarding the plot but it is certainly one worth watching, so far the standard is very high throughout. The main character played by James Norton is developed nicely as the series progresses, along with some interesting twists and turns, character and plot development from other actors adds to the overall enjoyment of what is essentially a very high quality and enjoyable series offered by the beeb / AMC / Cuba pics. Should be on AMC by 26th Feb. Don't miss it!!

That's very impressive Kojo. I admit that you look a bit different to how I'd pictured you!. 300B Bar fine?? Mate, I'll dare you a Heineken you wouldn't walk through boyztown with that on lol.

Who's dude with the shiner at the back rear?. Looks kind of familiar...

Option 1: Early start means little traffic on the roads. I'm guessing for a 10am flight you need to be at LHR for 0700, I'm in the SE (Suffolk) and from door to LHR car park it's 2 and a half hours, so for me it would be an 0230 rise to leave the house at 0300, arrive LHR 0530 time enough for a breakfast and coffee before getting on board and grabbing a few hours on the first leg, then take a melatonin and sleep or doze for the second part. It means that you're in BKK and have spent most of the previous day from the UK travelling, so you have not lost much, whereas the last option means you lose the best part of a day and a half. Option 3: No rush to get to LHR, arrive at a decent time and get some food inside you, get on the plane, just before food is served take a xanax or melatonin / zopiclone and wake up 2 hrs before landing. Into hotel and shower etc, then out on the town and yes, that spaced out singha feeling is wonderful. Lie in the following day. Personally if I were going on a 2 leg journey, option 1 would be the best to go for, but going direct then it needs to be option 3. If you're there in late April, I'm hoping to be in town as well, so maybe some of us (I think Accyboy is out as well at that time) could meet up in Le Pub one afternoon?.

Not as such, but there are male GoGo bars which mainly cater for the gay community. They can be found around the Soi Pattayaland 2 area called "Boyztown" which is a small street doing a "dog leg" onto Second road. At the top of Soi Pattayaland 2 (The same Soi that The Penthouse Hotel is on) are a couple of Gay GoGo bars, and on the adjacent soi (Pattayaland 1 which runs parallel to Pattayaland 2 from Beach to second road) there are again a few male orientated bars and GoGo's with men only in them. Not being an expert on the above area, I cannot comment on the quality, type or indeed decor of the establishments, only that they employ young Thai males who offer company and more. If you have any questions about the gay scene in Pattaya, just ask. We're all pretty confident in our sexuality here (with a couple of exceptions) and are happy to help a fellow BM.

From a beer bar owners perspective, a Camera or security system is probably an unecessary expense, something that is probably not kept up to date and only looked at when there is an issue in the bar. As time goes on and it's not used or looked at, it might well be broken and the owner not aware until they need to check it. The more cynical of us would argue that if it puts the bar in a bad light, then maybe it is better to have it not working, also any other innocent guys who were in the bar at the time might not want their mugshot posted on global news feeds and same for the girls who don't want their family in the village to know they are working in SE Asias biggest knocking shop. Understandable I guess. Anyway, that's the best looking farang woman I've seen on Soi 6 for a while...anyone know what bar she's working in?

The tourist SIM comes with data, minutes and texts etc, valid for 15 days (I think) and the data throttling is not applied until you hit your limit. I tend to eat a lot of data while in LOS doing LINE and Skype to the Philippines and UK, and sometimes WiFi is not always reliable enough. There are more cost effective ways of getting a SIM of course, but for the first time traveller, if he needs reliable internet and a quick SIM option then the various packages are available, http://www.ais.co.th/travellersim/ I didn't mention I normally add a few hundred baht on top for credit.

Lol you've lost me there, Atlas. I meant to say my breafast in UK consists of a slice of toast and tiptree jam - meaning that I never even get to have an English breakfast in England.

Fairtex has yielded a lot of quality fighters and from what I know are very good in their regime, they cater for everything from basic training right through to diet programs. The famous Muay Thai champ Yodsanklai was trained there, and I think continues to instruct and train. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yodsanklai_Fairtex

Can't really knock EVA Econ, although on some routes they're changing to 3-4-3 across in that cabin. I'd actually put EVA econ on par with Cathay.

Pig and Whistle is over priced and the portion is small. Queen Vic is very good, I had a couple there last year. The Golf club on LK Metro is good, I always opt for a "Wentworth", never fails to satisfy me. Also round the corner is Robins Nest but not been there for a few years. I wasn't impressed with the irovers breakfast to be honest, crunchy baked beans and rubbish bacon. Ironic that the only place I ever eat an full english is in Pattaya. Normally in the Philippines it's a dollop of rice with an egg, in the UK it's a slice of toast with some Tiptree jam.

Looks damn good. Careful Kojo, you'll have most of PT rocking up at your doorstep before long.

Thanks for the suggestions fellas. I decided to go with the LK Royal Wing in the end. After seeing some youtube reviews and reading about it, I think that at 1600THB per night for a superior room is not too shabby and pretty much on my Hotel budget. As long at it is quiet and has a pool I'm happy. All the LK hotels are guest friendly as well, but as I don't monger, it matters not. Their comms are very good actually, which is a good sign. I will write a full report after my trip along with some probably crappy pics.

Had an email today from a friend staying in Pattaya next month, asking me if I've ever had anything taken from my hotel room while in Pattaya or even the RP. I told him no, simply because these days hotels have CCTV along most corridors and Guest houses which are already established have done so on a basis of being honest and reliable. He is asking me whether the in room safes are reliable (they're not - but are good to use as a "distraction", by putting a hundred quid in cash or so in there so anyone breaking in will go for that first and hopefully leave the real stash alone) - and what methods he should use to secure his valuables. Without turning the hotel room into the Pattaya equivalent of Fort Knox, I suggested putting his valuables into his lockable case secured with a locking strap around the outside, plus other security measures such as ensuring the patio or balcony doors are securely locked and if needs be, place an obstruction into the sliding channel on the floor (such as a small doorstop or wedge a coin in there). Hiding stuff is an option but not a great one, as any cleaners finding it will assume it was left by the previous occupant. Many years ago I'd take an old, out of date credit card with me and leave it in the room safe with £140 in cash plus some baht, so anyone opening it will take that rather than search out my large cash sum, passport and CC's that were in my padlocked rucksack inside my locked case, working on the theory that a thief doesn't have a lot of time. I never take cameras or laptops etc on holiday with me for that very reason, getting them pinched would ruin it. One thing I always do is make a note, print out or write, the emergency numbers for my health insurance, and keep safe. Debit and Credit card "lost or stolen" numbers plus my account details, as usefully the lost and stolen numbers are written on the rear of your card, which is not a great help if they're stolen, plus you try asking a stranger if you can look at his debit card to get a number off it !. The only hotel I ever felt "iffy" was the Eastiny on Soi 10, not because of the staff but because of the residents, large groups of young men, large groups of Indian men and just some shifty looking people in general! I soon stopped using that hotel. I know it still happens, but more often the victims might have been careless in their behaviour allowing an opportunistic thief to grab and run.

Absolutely right! not wanting to TF but showing a MC Taxi guy on google maps where I want to go is soooo much easier than saying it (wrong) with my rubbish Thai.

Hi Ian and welcome to the forum. Plenty of English bars around LK Metro and soi bukhao. for a first timer I'd reccommend searching out "Kev in Thailands" early videos on youtube which are useful for orientation and work as a general "FAQ" for new guys. As an intro I always usually raise the following points: Before arriving in Pattaya: Get a map , familiarise yourself with the location you are staying in and the layout of the town, try to orientate yourself by watching youtube vids of walks down Sois 7 and 8, buakhao and LK Metro, you'll soon realise that they are fairly close to each other. Transport is everywhere in Pattaya, it might be a 10 baht bus ride or a 50/60/70 baht Motorcycle taxi ride but you can literally get anywhere fairly quickly. Don't change ANY money in the UK, once you land and get through immigration, change about £100 at the airport cash desks (located near the baggage carousel) to cover Taxi costs and just to give yourself a small float until you get into Pattaya where the rates are better. Cash not TC's by the way. Pre book your Taxi, use either Nams (highly recommended) or PT Taxis Pattaya. They wil be at the airport with a card with your name on it. Bring an unlocked phone, get a tourist SIM at the airport (1000 baht) insert and don't worry about topping up, the girls will always do it for you if you give them the money. Once in Pattaya: Grab a couple of cards when leaving your hotel and write your room number on the back of them, because when you are pissed on the first night, you can then hand it to the Motorcycle Taxi guy along with a 100 baht to get you there safely (to the hotel, not your bedroom) as you'll probably end up lost somewhere on Waling Street. Personally I wouldn't recommend irovers, especially if you're a light sleeper. There's much better within that budget juust as close to the action, but it is your choice. Change money at the TT currency exchange booths. They offer the best rate but you might need to take your passport when doing so, once done, go back to your room and put your passport back in the safe, don't be tempted into a bar for a beer with your passport because losing it is a right royal fucking pain in the arse. If heading out alone, the girls don't bite but they can spot a first timer a mile away. be careful about getting rinsed for drinks, and if you don't like the look of the girl, tell her to politely leave, it is that simple. your money, your holiday, your choice. billabong opposite the irovers is a great place to get orientated and maybe meet up with someone who knows the ropes. If you are feeling brave then head into a GoGo bar alone, but again be very careful of being rinsed for drinks. Maybe buy a maximum of 2 lady drinks if the girl sits with you for any decent amount of time. Ask here on the forum for prices for Longtime and shortime, plus maybe get an idea of the abbreviations used here for general chat (just ask if you can't find it) eg: LD= Lady drink, ST= Short time , LKM = LK Metro etc etc. Any questions just ask. lastly, whatever you do, don't fall in love.

Enjoyed that. I take it thats the new construction planned at the end of the Sabai Wing in the pics?. I wondered how long that house would remain there.

I have seen one in the past week or so, they still chuck out a fair bit of soot (in comparison to an airliner) and the noise they make is unmistakeable, as far as I've googled they stil have 8 engines - I might be wrong though. now this is dirty:

But what if you have access to a free 24/7 power supply, courtesy of the fucking great power generator where you work?.

Hi, Not really "Airline discussion" (unless you are bomber crew) but I've recently been watching and hearing (mostly hearing) B52 bombers coming in over the UK and dropping into RAF Fairford as I've been visiting the area the past few days. They're incredible machines, and if you are in the area or lucky enough to be on the flightpath, keep and eye or ear out. Here's a schedule: https://ffdmovements.blogspot.co.uk/ sorry if in the wrong area, Mods feel free to move and my apologies.

I've never been on an aircraft that's had a rough or hard landing, thankfully. If I were on board any of thiose in the vid Idefix, I'd be both sick and trying to say my prayers at the same time!. Mr Fiend, hopefully we will see the A380 in the skies for years to come. From an engineering persepctive I think it is an incredible feat and am awestruck every time I see one take off and land. To think that something that big can take off, travel half way around the world and land again is mind blowing.

there are actually 3 norths. Magnetic, True and Grid. shame he couldn't even get one out of three!. Still, magnetic North does change occasionally so one day, it might actually be correct. And there was me expecting a GOT reference.