healthcaretaker

I find the info from the Pattaya floating market website but it doesn't show where to board the bus to the floating market, anyone know where to reach this bus ?

Thank you but the 1st one given is totally Thai and the 2nd one is to simple and not to scale, difficult to figure them out. Anyway, I will look for the Red Line Beach bus provided. Thanks.

cake and bake

a black and white painted cafe on the soi that used to face the now demolished Excite disco

great cakes, good grub, good service, free wi fi, aircon, nice crowd..............

Care to describe where is this place near ? In case finding a "demolished" Excite disco is difficult.

Can you please be more specific in reference to my post ?

Pattaya Tai from Walking Street is just 500 m at the beach end but the beach end of Pattaya Tai to Sukhimvit end is close to 3km, which part of it is Boat Restaurant ? Is what i seen in googfle map stated in #post5 correct ? Is Boat very near to Sukhimvit Road at the Citin garden Pattaya resort ?

Boat isn't really anything special. Not aircon. I just like their Pad Krapow. No, it is nowhere near Sukhumwit! It is on 2nd road between Royal Garden and Pattaya Tai (south Pattaya road). Sorry, best I can do. I'm sure you can find Royal Garden Plaza mall. (The mall with Ripleys Believe it or not.)

Ok, I gather now that it is in Pattaya Sai Song, somewhere just south of Royal Garden Plaza(less than 500m away) before reaching Pattaya Tai; and the Boat Restaurant at google map is a different one. I presume i can find the word "Boat" in English at their place.

I missed to mention it must be somewhere I can reach cheaply without the need to charter the whole boat or car; don't mind walking 1 or 2 km for it.

I failed to find such a place during my last visit due to shortage of time. The Pattaya main beach as well as anywhere along Jomtien which I have visited before is not possible for me. I am looking for a place that is remote, no people if possible, because I need to tan in total nude; at least in a place where I can see if anyone is coming nearby, at least 100m away, so that I can put my shorts on if anyone is getting near.

I have more days now, so wondering if Koh Larn, Ko Samet or Ko Si Chang will has such a beach ? It need not be a beautiful beach or really clean water. I just need the place to tan while I can enjoy seeing a beach. I know going nude is illegal or an offence in Thailand; I will do it discreetly, at my own risk.

Please don't recommend the hotel balcony or anywhere far from Pattaya

Thanks in advance.

Anyone know if there is any passenger boat on a regular basis to get there ? What's the timings, fare etc ?

I can't find any discussion threads here.

How many floating markets are there in Pattaya ?

I find these photos very appealing but the 2 maps are not clear as to where exactly is the floating market.

http://www.google.com.my/search?q=pattaya+floating+markets&hl=en&rlz=1C1SKPC_enMY401MY401&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=OvFFT_qQEMXKrAfsvoWoCw&ved=0CEsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=707#q=pattaya+floating+markets&hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1C1SKPC_enMY401MY401&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=c8ecda57da450467&biw=1092&bih=565

Have anyone been there and give some tips ?

How to get there by songtheaw and what's the opening hours for this place ?

Can you please be more specific in reference to my post ?

Pattaya Tai from Walking Street is just 500 m at the beach end but the beach end of Pattaya Tai to Sukhimvit end is close to 3km, which part of it is Boat Restaurant ? Is what i seen in googfle map stated in #post5 correct ? Is Boat very near to Sukhimvit Road at the Citin garden Pattaya resort ?

I like Boat Restaurant on 2nd across from the sex sois for pad krapow. Ask for it spicy if you want that.

The trouble with Thai food in general in the tourist areas is of course the tourist trap mentality of most of the places. To get closer to the real deal you generally need to move away somewhat from the main tourist areas. For example from 2nd and Pattaya Klang, start walking on Klang towards Sukhuwvit. There are a number of small Thai eateries that cater to both Thais are more localized foreigners.

Thanks again. What do you mean by "sex sois" ? Is it at the Citin Garden Pattaya Resort, somewhere 2 -3km east of walking street, just before reaching Sukhimvit Road ? I found it it at Google Map but google map occassionally have mistakes.

Where is "from 2nd and Pattaya Klang" ? I have problems with Pattaya adresses, so many 2nd, or soi 2 or tai 2, it's confusing.

I am only familiar with Royal Garden Plaza, the intersection where you change songtheaw to Jomtien and the newer and bigger shopping mall with viewing platform to see the sea(what name is this ?)

Any newly developed areas with night market or more a/c cafes ?

pumpum,

This is typical Asian practices. Only in Singapore you can't any of such happenings.

My only "ticketing" problem in Thailand is when I queue for tickets at the Green Bus in Chiang Mai. it took me 30 mins to reach the window and the seller tell me "today full". I told her, if today's tickets are all sold out, why don't you put a notice on the window so we don't waste time for the long queue ? With broken English, she will point to the Hotline number shown in their English banner telling me to call them ahead in future or complain to them instead; and I have to explain that I have called that number many times but no "live" voice ever answered me. It's always answered with a machine-set voice in Thai language. Of course, no one cares

In China, the condition is worse. You queue for train and bus tickets window, someone will jump and cut right at the window and the ticket seller or a security nearby see it but will do nothing about it.

In Malaysia, you can queue for 15 mins at a ticket vending machine for a ticket and when you reaches it, you find something not working there; or your money eaten by the machine or the ticket you bought doesn't work; then the information counter staff will ask you to go all the way to another station to make a report. If you do the report, you need to leave your phone number with them, they will tell you it takes 14 to 21 days for them to get back to you but they will never did.

Or you queue for something, suddenly they tell you to go to another line as "counter closed".

In fact, I find people in Thailand already getting very polished. Such incidents are getting less now, showed that people are getting more civilised now.

It's the offices and tickets sellers that give me problems, not the people around.

It's just like forum chat, occassionally you find someone reply you with some unreasonalable remarks too, isn't it ?

In fact, Thai practice has a good side too. If you take too much time asking at the ticket counters, people behind you won't complain. In China, if you ask too much or take more than 60 seconds, people behind you will make noise.

Anyone can give me some tips or advice on these 2 places and how easy or near is it from the Ramkhamheang Airport Link station ?

Can I assume you are mostly looking for Thai food?

Yes, thank you. I prefer Thai food but foreign food can be taken too if it is specially outstanding and not costly or out of the way. For Thai food, I am willing to go anywhere for it as I have many days there. I love the basil leaves fried with minced meat or crispy pork. I must have it every 48 hrs, even as a snack or between meals.

For cafes, I prefer western types but not those inside a hotel.

Any local can recommend where to find any outstanding restaurant or street food for local food other than those touristy seafood restaurants ?

Which part of which road can I find the most cafes with a/c ?

Thanks.

Althought the full moon date is Nov 28th this year, their events dates may differ. For eg, Sukhothai & Chiang Mai will always have their final day differently so that visitors can visit both places. TAT is doing a bad job. I always have problem finding the exact days of the various places' events. Don't understand why they can't decide on the dates earlier and announce them.

Thanks agian but will all these communications(for the mini van) be possible if I don't speak Thai ?

2 hours ? Isn't a bus to the Ekkamai or Eastern Bus terminal also 2 hrs ?

Maybe, but your journey doesn't end at Ekkamai, does it? Get to Ramkamhaeng, Bang Kapi and that's where you want to be. Bang Kapi is a little further also. Two hours door to door is very good.

As far as not speaking Thai, I'm sure that you can say "Pattaya" and also "Bang Kapi". The woman in the office in Pattaya speaks fair English. Why fret about all of this as it's child's play.

It depends...If I get to Ekkamai or On Nut, I can visit that area too. Depends also how easy is it to get the mini-bus and how's the bus condition. Remember my worst Thai journey is a mini-bus from Hatyai to Penang in Malaysia. The minibus is cramped and hot with poor a/c.

why not take your luggage to Suvarnabhumi in the morning, store it at the reliable left-luggage-counter (lock it, of course, and don't leave any valuables inside), and then take a taxi from there (you can hail one from departure level to avoid th 50 THB surcharge and those are usually more honest anyway) to Ancient City, and in the evening return to Suvarnabhumi to same way. That seems to be the simplest way and hassle-free. you could even take a public Bus (one of those 550ies) from the public transport terminal if your budget is limited. One used to go to Samutphrakan, but there have been changes and I am not aware if that line is still operating....

You mean I can get taxi from departure level ? Oh, I never know that, can try it out but it will be a problem if the taxi don't speak English, Thanks.

Lower Ramkamhaeng is as boring as it gets. the "nightlife" takes place Soi 53 up, going until Lamsalee Junction. The gay places are around there, so if u stay at lower Ram, you will "safe" if that is your concern. THE MALL 3 at RAM is as well as boring as it gets.

the "fun" Mall with scored of people at any give time of any give day is the Mall BANGKAPI, and that indeed is very far from Nasa Vegas (6-7 Km me thinks). during evening rush-hour, this can easily take 60-90 minutes by Bus.

Did you actually inspect those apartments at Nasa Vegas already ? I did that a few years ago when it became clear a station would be built right next to it, but all units I saw were run-down on the brink of being disgusting, and overpriced as well. If I would have found a decent unit at a decent price, I would live there now.

If you want to live in a "lively area" of RAM, you should not stay at any Soi lower than #39.

but if ur desire is to mingle with Farang, Sukhumvit is of course much closer.....

KHOR HAY SANOOK !

Thank you but your 1st 2 lines in 1st 2 para is so confusing. And you mean the nightlife there is totally gay ?? or not and what you mean by "safe" ? Thanks for the Bangkapi Mall info; and how about Fashion Island Mall nearby which also have a FF outlet ? How is it compared to Bangkapi Mall ?

Just curious, travelling between BKK - CM, more people fly, train or bus ? From this thread's forumers, bus will be the least but how about generally overall ? I see so many buses going this route at the bus stations departing throughout the day till night. Are they used mostly by locals ?

Any particular food stall or restaurant that you guys know that is outstanding there ? Thanks.

Thanks all for the replies.

I go to Chinatown not for nightlife but my favourite fishballs noodle soup that opens late at night.

If 150 baht taxi means it's not really that far; well worth the savings compared to city centre hotels if the RKH area is nice.

BTW, is there any subway transport near RKH ? Is it near to go Cultural Centre subway stop ?

Petchabury MRT Station is a 5-10 minute walk from Makkasan Rail Link. The nearest BTS is Phra Khanong. There is an inbound (Same side hotel) bus stop 200 meters from the hotel, turn right on Rhamkhamheng and it's just past the footbridge. Some of the buses will let you get on in front of the hotel if they are stopped in traffic.

The #40 (yellow=a/c) and #501 will take you to Chinatown although a lot of the 501's run a short route. If there is a red sign in the front windshield, it won't go to Chinatown. The #40 and #501 will also stop at the Phra Khanong BTS, first stop after turning onto Sukhumvit. The #71 buses will take you to Ekkamai via Rama-4. The #22 bus will also go near Chinatown.

The bus stop going the direction of the Rhamkhamheng shopping centers and University is on the opposite side of the hotel, slightly left in front of the tall glass building. #'s 71, 40, 22, 501, 109 and 115 will all go there. The bus will cross the intersection of Rama-9, then look on the left side for FOODLAND. There are several malls 2 stops down.

Thank you for the buses details, you must be staying near there or involved in the bus company

I don't think I will use the bus from hotel to city as it takes a long time, better use the BTS or MRT but returning from city to hotel to sleep, maybe I will use the bus. What's the night(or after 12 midnight) bus that runs from the city to the hotel ? Thanks.

Any fellow forumers who stayed there care to share their experience?

I have booked for 1 night to try it out. Will report later.

Maybe between 40 minutes and 60 minute intervals. I use it a lot and, whenever I call the office to make a booking, the minibus arrives within 20 minutes. If the minibus is collecting you from where you stay, the booking will be confirmed by telephone by the driver. The driver will give you the registration number of the minibus so that you can identify it amongst the hundreds of others that ply the streets of Pattaya!!

Bang Kapi Mall is the final stop and the journey takes about 2 hours. It depends if the driver goes to refuel the minibus and if there are other "outlying" pick-ups planned.

Thanks agian but will all these communications(for the mini van) be possible if I don't speak Thai ?

2 hours ? Isn't a bus to the Ekkamai or Eastern Bus terminal also 2 hrs ?

Thanks all for the replies.

I go to Chinatown not for nightlife but my favourite fishballs noodle soup that opens late at night.

If 150 baht taxi means it's not really that far; well worth the savings compared to city centre hotels if the RKH area is nice.

BTW, is there any subway transport near RKH ? Is it near to go Cultural Centre subway stop ?

Kodan covered it pretty well. As far as nightlife, there is a well known "Mor Lam" nightclub ISARN TAWAN DANG on PATTANAKHAN, not too far from the hotel. (Pattanakhan is the road if you turn left at the nearby lights, Petchabury Rd. if you turn right) There are 2 nightclubs across from one another, Tawan Dang is the one on the right side. Late in the evening the crowd is lively and fun. The place is LOUD so bring some ear protection.

If you go down Petchabury rd., there are several large "fishbowl" style massage parlours. If you were to go straight at the lights onto Sukhumvit 71, you will find mostly Thai Karaoke joints; not recommended.

Thai Karaoke joints ? I love Thai songs !! I will look forward to visit them