Nuff Said

It is the date of the latest TM Arrival Card that begins the 90 day clock.

But hey, Suan Plu is not such a bad place for an unnecessary trip. They will just smile and say come back in 3 months.

Be warned that the food counter at the entrance is not there any more, so you have to go across the street to get a bottle of water.

Cheers

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I returned from the UK on October 4th. My 90 day notification period, according to the slip in my passport, expired on October 20th and I went to Pattaya Immigration on that date to report as normal. The officer processed my new 90 day report form as though I had never been out of the country, even though I clearly stated on it when I had last entered the Kingdom, and issued a new Report By slip dated 90 days from then, despite having inspected my recent Re-entry permit, TM card and entry stamp.

I made the 90 day report to be on the safe side, but the officer didn't mention that it wasn't necessary. In fact he didn't say anything.

Much emphasis is made on ways to save fuel. Closing service stations earlier is the latest.

Why has nobody ever picked up on the baht buses that clutter the roads, mostly empty. Surely it would make sense for them to work every other day and still make the same money. A rota system would give them time off, save one days fuel, while still earning the same revenue from the double work load on the day they work.  Far better than having empty buses driving around, jockeying for too few fares.

    Is this too simple? 

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An excellent idea. I'd like to see it tried out. But it needs rigid enforcement, something that Thailand isn't exactly known for. Baht Bus drivers aren't exactly renowned for their integrity and the tempation to cheat and work on what should be their days off will be too much for some to resist.

Baht Bus drivers need to be convinced that such a scheme will be to the benefit of everyone, drivers and passengers alike. Passengers may have to wait a little longer and journeys may be a slightly slower due to more frequent stops, but I don't think that too many will suffer any inconvenience because of this.

Perhaps the Department of Land Transport should consider such a scheme as an alternative to any future fare increases. The supply of local transport in Pattaya far exceeds demand and this would be one way of addressing the problem without putting hundreds of drivers out of work or raising fares.

Not trying to put anyone of buying,but whats the construction noise like there now due to people renovating,talked to someone recently and he said it was unbearable and constant.

Also can take 20 minutes to get a lift sometimes,is this true?

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Those who comment or complain about the noise coming from rooms that are being fitted out should ask themselves one simple question. Was my room fitted out in total silence? Of course it wasn't. The room opposite mine is currently being worked on. Yes, it's noisy at times, but no more so that what my neighbors had to put up with when my room was being fitted out. Construction work is permitted to take place on Mondays to Fridays from 0900 to 1730. It is not allowed at weekends or on public holidays.

No, it does not take anywhere near 20 minutes to get a lift. Normally a couple of minutes at the most. Also the lifts are very reliable, I can't remember when one was last out of order.

Whats the monthly service charges there? And do they have wireless internet or ADSL internet available?

Cheers in advance.

I maybe interested in a purchase there but would not pay more than 1.4 million for a really nice place. Am realsically looking at 1 mil tops.

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The monthly service charge is just B300, that's B3600 payable annually in advance.

I don't know if wireless internet is avaliable.

You could probably get somewhere decent for B1.4m, but more than likely it will be on a lower floor. Many of the lower priced condo's in View Talay 2 are not available for foreign ownership, this is often, but not always, why they are cheaper. The 49% already registered in foreigners names, and as such transferrable to another foreigner, usually realise more. To my knowledge the only condo's avaiable for B1m or less are shells which have been bought by speculators and are on the market at a condiserable mark up on what they paid.

Pay regular visits to both buildings and keep an eye on the notice boards. There's always a selection of re-sales and you never know, it could be your lucky day.

Try Number 1 A Go-Go (formerly known as Champion) in Jomtien, coming from Pattaya it's on the left, half way between the arch and KFC. No Techno stuff here, the sign inside reads We Love Rock and Roll. And they do. They play mainly Rock, some from CD's or the MP3 player, others from DVD'S on one of the 2 big screens. Most of the DVD's are concert versions and some tracks are a bit on the long winded side. But there's plenty of Queen, Elvis, Roy Orbison, Rolling Stones, Bee Gees, Eagles etc as well as classic country and music that comes under the category of country rock. The DJ speaks English, requests are most welcome, and you can browse through the selection of DVD's and CD's. The beer is very reasonable, draught is B55 at all times.

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We have a WINNER! You're exactly right. I went there last night and it was damned good. What a change since it was Champion III. (Remember Champion II on Soi Diamond by chance?) They played the new Doors and it convinced me to buy that DVD, I was pleasantly surprised. (Robbie Krieger's really got some miles on him now, eh?) There were a few stumbles like Me 'n' My Monkey Robbie Williams (I'm afraid it's going to become the new Hotel California of videos in Thailand), Hotel California, and Sex Bomb, but otherwise just fantastic. Girls were OK and the dancing was above average: in fact, some of those ladies really worked out in the way you'll only see in a rock bar. The bar's layout is interesting (have a couch area too) and they've got the motorcycle theme even w/ a bike (or model thereof) in the bar. Love it. I'll be going back soon. I just hope they don't play the same videos every night like Tim seems to do.

Thanks for pointing out this fine rock go-go. It's a bit out of the way if you're coming from Pattaya, but you can stop by the new Mike's Mexican on the way, and all rock lovers enjoy eating Mexican. Hope it's successful and sticks around.

[note that bartender100, monty, and Jai Dee also put in good words for Number 1]

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Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit.

Re the point you raised about Tim Bar, the DVD's in No. 1. used to be a bit on the repetitive side, but are less so now as the bars collection of them has grown. The DJ usually plays a selection of tracks from the CD collection, or the 2800 or so contained in the MP3 player, from when the bar opens at 1500, then goes over to playing video tracks from the DVD's after a couple of hours.

Try Number 1 A Go-Go (formerly known as Champion) in Jomtien, coming from Pattaya it's on the left, half way between the arch and KFC. No Techno stuff here, the sign inside reads We Love Rock and Roll. And they do. They play mainly Rock, some from CD's or the MP3 player, others from DVD'S on one of the 2 big screens. Most of the DVD's are concert versions and some tracks are a bit on the long winded side. But there's plenty of Queen, Elvis, Roy Orbison, Rolling Stones, Bee Gees, Eagles etc as well as classic country and music that comes under the category of country rock. The DJ speaks English, requests are most welcome, and you can browse through the selection of DVD's and CD's. The beer is very reasonable, draught is B55 at all times.

I went down on 16 Nov and to get the letter certifying my 2 pensions cost me 1800 baht.

I went in on the first morning and picked it up the next morning. I also had to show my passport and leave the letters. I am afraid that I do not know the cost of EMS postage.

If it urgent it may be better to apply in person as this will only take a couple of days rather than send it by post which may take a week or so depending on where you are.

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The price must have gone up after the 10th Nov. because I'm sure I only paid 1600 baht. I went in on Wed. morning and picked the letter up next day. I didn't ask if they could send it because a friend told me you have to pick it up personally. It would be handy to know if they do post them. Anyway, this same friend who had been getting a fresh letter for his pension each year was told at Pattaya Soi 8 to keep this latest letter as he could use it next year. So when I got my visa, I asked if I could use the letter next year and was told NO! you will need a new one. Anyone know why? No wonder we get confused when everybody gets a different answer!

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When I was granted my first retirement visa the officer retained both copies of the pension verification letter from the UK Embassy, then handed me the original and said keep for next year.

If you want a ground floor condo in View Talay 2B without the problem of passers by looking in try for one on Jomtien side of the building beyond the main entrance, at the end of the building furthest away from the pool. This avoids most of the passers by looking in from the car park as these rooms are beyond the main entrance. The only people who will come close to your balcony will be the condo's gardeners who keep the grounds looking immaculate. Not all the rooms have glass doors to the corridors, some were fitted with them when built, presumably because they were suitable for commercial use. But glass doors can easily be replaced with wooden ones. Or get some nice curtains.

View Talay 2A's pool is longer but narrower than that of 2B, overall that are about the same size. Both are very well kept and often have their own security guard.

The security is adequate and the staff make regular patrols of the floors. But there is quite a high turnover of security staff.

If buying a condo in your own name is important, it is to me, do ask the seller if transfer to a foreigners name is OK, as the 49% foreign ownership quota in both View Talay 2B, and 2A for that matter, has long since been taken up. You can buy from a foreign owner no problem, but if you are offered a condo that's registered in a Thai's name you cannot have it in your name and will need to set up a company. 

As for you Darknight, you don't know your A's from your B's. View Talay 2B, the building furthest from the Thappraya Road, was the first to be completed; that was in October 2001. View Talay 2A was completed on November 15 2003. Just for your benefit each building is now identified with by a large A or B above it's main entrance.

Royal Bank of Scotland will mail ATM cards here, but their sister organisation for Credit Cards in Southend will not.

Do you have a friend in the UK who can act as a post box, then mail or courier the cards to you?

Citibank, who do send cards here, have a system whereby the cardholder has to contact the call centre to acknowledge receipt of the card and answer some security questions before they will activate the card. I believe that this is quite common practice throughout the industry.

You should have no trouble getting a visa from Hull.

Another alternative is to apply to them for a Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant 'O' on the grounds of 'visiting friends'. All you will need is a letter of guarantee from a friend or relative, don't worry about the wording as they even post a sample letter on their website. I have had several such visas from Hull, they really are most helpful and throughly deserve their reputation for being so. Their website is www.thaiconsul-uk.com

Good luck.

Regarding the sending of credit/debit cards by UK banks to Thailand, it seems from my experience that it varies according to the bank or credit card company.

The Halifax will send Current Account Debit Cards, but not their own issue Visa Cards. When I asked why they told me that Visa do not allow their cards to be posted to Thailand. So I use a UK address for this and get a friend to bring it over.

Citibank send Mastercards here, sometimes as disguised mail as they term it. By that I mean enclosed in a magazine etc, but my most recent one was just in an ordinary envelope by normal post.

There are 3 requirments. This is copied word for word from the British Embassy document information document dated 24/06/2004 and was current when I applied just over a month ago.

Photo copy of your current British passport

Original evidence of your current pension/income

Your local address to be typed on the letter.

The cost is B1600 and the letter will be ready on the next working day. You can apply by post if it isn't convenient to go to the Embassy's Consular section in person.

I would addd that the embassy make registering with them, if you haven't done so already, a condition of issuing the appropriate letter. They insisted that I did.

You can e-mail them - [email protected]

Website - www.britishembassy.gov.uk/thailand

Dr. Pat Pong.

The sign above the desk where such applications are handled in the pattaya Immigration Office does actually say Retirement Visa. Yes, I am over 50 and did show the necessary B800000 with a current Non-Immigrant O visa. The extension stamp in my passport is slighty different to the ones I have had in the past when I have simply been granted a 30 day extension. The top line is in Thai, I don't know what it says. Immigration also pinned a slip in my passport to infom me of when I had to confirm my address details again.

To be quite honest I don't really care what it's called so long as I don't have do do any more of those awful visa runs to the Cambodian border.

OK, in future I'll call it a retirement visa. What is the official term for one?

I was granted my first O-A in early August this year. I provided Pattaya Immigration with statements verifying B800000 in a combination of pension and bank deposit. So far as I know the requirements are still the same. For information, the service was quick, efficent and polite.