tomcat76

Gee, I must've missed THOSE briefings...

Not just a matter of briefings. The navy has done a great deal to ensure that the prevention of incidents ashore is "baked in". Sailors who, despite all the "liberty plans", buddy systems, liberty limits, etc., etc., etc., STILL manage to get in trouble, pay a heavy price. Once designated a "liberty risk", a sailor simply doesn't get liberty for a portcall or two (and that's in addition to any formal disciplinary action). The navy well knows that it gets a huge black eye when bad things happen ashore, and makes sure EVERYONE feels the pressure... Some would probably tell you that the navy even goes a bit too far in this respect.

If it's been empty & inactive that long, I'd be interested to know if they haven't closed the account with reopening it not really an option.

I just changed some TCs earlier today. My rate was 29.61THB/USD minus 33b/chk=.33b/$ == 29.28 THB/USD. The cash exch rate for $100 notes was 29.47. (This was at a Kasikorn exch booth on 2nd Rd.) So, the cash exch rate is/was better. ( Plus, I paid a 1% fee to GET the checks!) And the bank booths don't generally offer rates as good as some of the indies (which don't generally cash TCs, BTW). Currently at least, peace-of-mind is the reason to carry TCs, not exchange rates.

I know it's severely non-PC, but after a few weeks in their country, I'm inclined to disagree. The country is filthy (wherever there are people living in the vicinity) and chaotic (just wouldn't even know where to start...), and it's ALWAYS open season on tourists and foreigners generally.. Then you see the Indians in THIS country, and, well, ....... it's pretty easy to connect the dots. Too bad visas aren't transferable. I'd love to be able to cash out my remaining entries.

At least they're not flying airliners into skyscrapers, blowing up busses, cafes, hotels, & nightclubs, beheading stray journalists, and generally in the face of every other religion on the planet... The Vatican represents a choice that catholics make with their financial support. Yes, they've got pedo-priests to answer for. Yes, church corruption & infighting date back centuries. Yes, their charity seems to come with sort of proselytizing strings attached. But the media hates the Church, and it's every non-believer's whipping boy, so I have to believe there must be some good about it.

Either about 3:30 late (which is not beyond the realm of possibility, esp. for an "Ordinary"), or it's another train that didn't come up when I searched on the SRT website.

Don't know too much about the foreign employment picture, but web design & marketing sound very much like areas Thais themselves are well into. If any boardmembers are actually working here in those areas perhaps they can advise you, but in the alternative I'd think it would be very much in your own interest to find a position BEFORE you make any commitments to relocate here.

BTW. Just out of curiosity, can you say about what time that was?

I like Fuddrucker's. Not really a fast food place but not a full-fledged waited restaurant either - everything made to order with all the veggies, add-ons, etc. in a sort of bar area so you can take all you want and fix it exactly the way you like it. Buns are baked fresh throughout the day on premises and the meat processed on premises as well. Bakery also does cookies, fudge brownies, etc. etc. etc. More expensive than the fast food places, but a real burger (you pick the size). ('They serve buffalo burgers, elk burgers, & wild boar burgers as well in some places... Hot dogs. Some other things.) They're in San Diego & LA; other places east & west coast; also Canada, Puerto Rico & the Middle East (?). Pretty popular with families wi kids in my area; their sports teams all seem to crowd in after their big games.

Sure enough. Two stations apparently. Found one train a day, in the morning. Takes about 3:15 to get there from BKK. Is this really really a practical way of getting to Pattaya from Suv, as the OP is asking? Unless someone knows of a night bus service (not so far mentioned), I think his only option is a taxi.

Had one of their burgers last month. Tasted OK, but it really cleaned out my lower GI... Kept cleaning for about a day & a half!

Any of the "zones" that AREN'T recommended? PS - the email address listed on their webpage is failing...

...so don't have sex with anyone under 18... Not really a US Customs issue, is it?

That's the Airport Rail Link. It only goes to downtown BKK, not Pattaya. And it's not part of the Thai Railways system. The station Jacko mentions must be on the 'Eastern Line'. Looking at a couple of its timetables, I don't see "Pattaya", so it must be called something else. I guess it must be theoretically possible to catch the Airport Rail Link to Makkasan or Phya Tai and then catch one of these Eastern Line trains to get to the station in Pattaya.

?

Of course. The question isn't being answered. The situation with US Customs is bad enough without creating bogeyman stories. We KNOW there are laws against sex with children ( as well there should be); that doesn't mean consensual sex with adults is now a federal crime, too. Have media on your laptop or other digital device suggesting sex with young ladies, and you just have to expect "interest", but even that doesn't mean the govt doesn't have to prove guilt in any criminal proceeding it decides to undertake.

'Wouldn't count on takeoffs being delayed no matter how backed up passport control or security is. A friend last year told me he begged some others waiting in line to let him jump in, and he barely made his flight to Manila, but he knew from check-in that the "flight was full", yet left about on time only about 1/3 full. The lines that night were backed up into the open terminal area and wrapped almost halfway around the terminal. It was by far the worst I'd ever seen it, but I don't believe many, if any, flights were being delayed. My friend had been one of the first to check-in when the counters for his flight opened, and still was only able to make it by jumping the line.

'Was in an internet cafe a couple of weeks back sitting next to a guy wanting to find some info about thai shrimp farming. He was just about clueless about how to work a browser & search engine. I had to give him credit for coming in to try anyway, and helped him out. We all were learners ourselves at some point, and some just aren't "intuiters".

LK Renaissance will cost you more, but I liked the place. If noise is much of an issue for you, I'd be surprised if the construction next to Areca was going to conclude any time soon. 'Not that bothersome for me - I'd stay there again. 'Would choose LKR again only on a price break. Incidentally there's a large vacant lot on the Soi Honey side of LKR, and they were doing some "clearing" there when I was a guest in early JAN. Whether that was just for its own sake or in preparation for a construction project I don't know.

You'd have to provide some case law to show that anyone ever gets indicted for the "travelling" part withOUT the "sex with minor" part, which sounds like what you're trying to suggest... Am I misreading something?

Unless it's for the meetup with the cutie as described by OP, IMO the passenger offload to Don Mueng has made the need for fast track service almost obsolete. My wait at immigration coming into the PI this time made almost anything I've ever experienced at Thai immigration, entering or leaving, seem trivial. I wouldn't even consider spending the money on FT at this point.

Kind of alarmist. You still get a jury trial, and the "guilt beyond reasonable standard" still applies. IOW, they still have to prove it. If you've engaged in commercial sex, but not with someone underage, an actual indictment is unlikely I think. Bringing in porn on your laptop or PDA is probably just asking for scrutiny in the 1st place. So, once again, there's no US federal law against prostitution per se. Yes, you can be arrested for pedophilia , as well as mere possession/importation of child porn. So, don't do that.

Airport train - to Pattaya? Airport Rail Link is viable option for getting into BKK. Thai Railways has a station at Don Meuang which I suppose might be an option for getting to Hua Lamphong or one of the other BKK stations, but I'm not aware of any station at Suvarabhumi, nor that lines run anywhere near Pattaya.