Bel Mondo

Due to moisture exposure, a lithograph of mine has developed mildew.

Can anyone recommend either a frame shop, art gallery or individual who can clean and restore it?

Many thanks in advance.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Going after anyone -- filing either a criminal action (either through the police or pursuant to a private prosecution) and/or a civil action is really a waste of both time and money relative to such a small amount. You will wind up spending almost as much in legal fees as you can ever hope to recover. I won't even mention the amount of stress under which you will place yourself. Litigation in any country is NOT an enjoyable experience unless you, yourself, happen to be an attorney who understands and is trained to cope with this scenario.

Even if you win at the trial level, appeals can be taken. The first appeal will take at least 1 year.

You must also understand that since your debt flows from a business context, you could wind up being merely a creditor in bankruptcy --- an UNSECURED creditor at that! Absolutely no chance of getting compensation.

Best advice --when doing business "anywhere" -- "Show me the money (NO postdated checks) and I'll give you the product!"

Consider this a lesson learned.

And remember --- Todays "reputable businessman" may very well be tomorrows "indicted defendant" or "plaintiff in bankruptcy".

I suggest you approach a Foreign Police Volunteer with these pictures.

You can find some on Walking Street wearing black uniforms.

I believe they will be helpful and follow-up on this.

I suggest you ask them to organize a "sting" operation on a Baht Bus with you along to ID these SOB's.

They have the power of arrest and will do it --- knife or no knife

Wild Pigs On The Road –

Of course we have all heard and seen them – aren’t those the geriatrics who ride those obnoxiously loud Harley's? The same guys the Thais point to and say (In Thai, of course) “ Big noise, small (x)ick”?

Good news for Pattaya!

How are we going to stretch this one to be Thailand related? 'World Economy' Joker has already been played.

Thailand related? A few thoughts ----

Oil spikes to $200 USD or more ----

How can airlines cope with this? Fares are already up by 20% or more. I bet they may go up even more.

The SET – Not doing so well lately – I bet it would do even worse.

Inflation – Thailand’s essential commodities (like food for the people) – costs are skyrocketing. I bet the problem will get even worse. Ask the Thai who is not driving a Mercedes or going on his/her next shopping spree at The Emporium --- Are they hurting bad -- Really bad? You bet they are!

Exports/Imports – I bet these would suffer also.

Terrorism – Do you really think Thailand is immune to this? Do you think there would be no retaliation against allies of the USA? Remember – Thailand is an ally of the USA. The USA uses Thailand’s air bases and naval bases and always has.

Israel attacking Iran has major global economic repercussions.

To avoid this issue is like trying to ignore a 2 tone elephant standing in your living room – it’s an economic issue that can’t be ignored by anyone in any country.

Is this issue “relevant to Thailand”

You have to make up your own mind on this.

Throughout the past months, I have read many posts on this forum and respect many of the participants for their insight.

I have included a link to an article from the New York Times discussing the inevitability of Israel attacking Iran within the next few months.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/opinion/18morris

Question: Assuming for the sake of argument that an attack on Iran by Israel is inevitable within the next few months, what portfolio of investments would you recommend?

A typical “doomsday” portfolio would probably include: Gold options (November or December); Oil futures; Puts on DOW, DAX, FTSE, TASE (Israel’s index) --- pretty obvious – so……….

Currency Question: In the past, the USD was the safe haven during times of world crisis. Iran might attempt to block the Straits of Hermuz. There would probably be a number of terrorist attacks against both the US, GB, Germany and France. No western country is safe.

So what currency would the world “rush” into this time?

What other individual investments would you make?

Also – on what date do you think Israel will attack Iran?

Israel always seems to attack on or a short time before an historical date (1973 Yom Kippur War). So I have provided some dates to choose from below.

Sunday 10 August:

Tisha B'Av: A solemn day that commemorates a series of tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people over the years, many of which have coincidentally happened on this day.

Tuesday 30 September:

Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year

Thursday 9 October:

Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement - the most solemn day of the Jewish year.

Tuesday 14 October:

Sukkot: Sukkot or The Feast of Tabernacles, commemorates the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land, and celebrates the way in which God took special care of them under impossible conditions.

October 16 – David Ben-Gurion’s birthday – First Prime Minister of Israel

Tuesday 21 October:

Shemini Atzeret: Shemini Atzeret can be translated as "the assembly of the eighth (day)." In Israel the festival is combined with Simchat Torah.

Simchat Torah: Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah." This holiday marks the completion of the yearly cycle of weekly Torah readings.

Monday 22 December:

Hanukkah: Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights and marks the restoration of the temple by the Maccabees in 164 BCE. Hanukkah is celebrated at roughly the same time as Christmas, but there is no connection at all between the festivals.

Harsh Reality – Frank!

It costs to live in “Beverly Hills” and “Miami Beach”

When you want to be seen in “all the right places” among all the top socialites, politicians and captains of business who abound in “Beautiful Pattaya” you have to pay the price.

Remember – Pattaya is no longer a place of dirty beaches, working girls who inhabit Soi 6, Walking Street and Beach Road.

Pattaya is a place of elegant night spots and very expensive condominiums – thousand of them, to be sure.

Barely an hour goes by that I don’t see people driving by on Pattaya’s beautiful, tree-lined streets with Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Mercedes.

And just look at the quality of tourist and local resident! These are upper echelon, wealthy people. I venture to say that any tattoo they sport would cost no less than 20,000 Baht. Now that speaks of quality!

So, Frank – you have decided to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world populated by some of the most wealthy and important people who live on our planet.

You just have to pay the price!

Hire a lawyer.

Assuming the plaintiffs are successful and VT7 is ordered to demolish the building --

Question: Will the same demolition team that was supposed to demolish the 101 illegal structures on Walking Street several years ago be in charge of the VT7 demolition?

We all know how "successful" this demolition was.

Point: The actual enforcement of a court order is many times a lot more difficult than obtaining that order.

Good Luck!

Had one done in the States many years ago.

Had one done at Bumrungrad Hospital around 15 years ago. Good job.

Since I live here in Pattaya -- can anyone recommend a good physician (Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon) here in Pattaya.

Commenting on anyone's personal experiences would also be appreciated>

Thanks

For 2 days already, I have not seen the PCN report broadcast.

Instead during this time slot, some idiotic rock concert is playing.

What's up?

I didn't realize Pattaya had these places. I am happy to hear about this. Would someone please supply more details about this such as the description of the 2 places, and the other phone number - Thanks

Now that Pattaya has become the new “Miami Beach” and “Beverly Hills” of Asia, why would any “legitimate” business person be concerned with such simplistic concepts like “high season”?

With literally thousands of new multi-million Baht condos and houses for sale, we all know that Pattaya’s business infrastructure is thriving!

Surely all those property purchasers are overflowing with money to service all the restaurants, discos, Go-Go Bars and beer bars –not to mention Door-to-Door and pizza delivery outlets.

Some people who have lived here for a while get the wrong idea. From what they see walking around Pattaya and riding the noisy Harleys, they probably think Pattaya has “no class”. They tend to view Pattaya as a place for “losers” who came here to finally become “winners”. But they are wrong!

Pattaya is “Happening!” –

Property developers are happy. Cash (a lot!) is coming in – Dutch, Russian, Taiwanese, Korean, and Yakuza –

The local news channels and newspapers are happy – “Mediocrity”---but where else can you advertise?

And local internet sites are making money because everyone has an opinion. This translates into revenue for the internet site, so money is made.

High Season? Low Season? --- How can this be a viable concept in Pattaya – the New Miami Beach?

Villa produce is very good. Please stock:

Organic Tomatoes

The Goat Chesse that comes packaged in the tray wrapped in plastic wrap---very good!

Here's a question that affects tourism as well as investors.

Last year at this time, the Euro was around 51. Now it down around 47+. Taking into account the problems in France, the new government in Germany and the advance in the USD against the Euro---where do you think the Euro is headed against the Baht.

Considering the problems in South Thailand, the weakness of the SET, the immense deficint created by the 30 Baht medical scheme and the numerous billion baht infrastructure programs, I cannot see why the Euro has lost strength vs. the Baht.

I am not a forex guy, so I was wondering what your thoughts might be on this and what predictions you may have.

Voice-over candidates? Look no further than the various Pattaya news channels. A selection of smooth American voices to Brits who talk like they stuffed a sock in their mouth. Great variety!

Big Al has opened a large, full-service Mexican Restaurant behind Jupiters on Pattayaland Soi 2.

He is serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 24 hours.

Big Al got an East LA graffitti artist to paint the wall leading up to his Taco Stand.

If you like his food, come over and have some--and tell him "how good it is"

If you don't like his food or don't like him---I "dare" you to come over and tell him! (only joking!!)

Both Pattaya People News and Pattaya City News do a credible job within their "context"---small community cable access news reporting. This is what cable TV (as opposed to network TV) was created to do--give access to reasonably priced broadcast media for members of a defined geographical community.

As orginally conceived, cable TV was not suppposed to be a "professional" (however you want to define it) broadcast vehicle, but a vehicle for the non-professionoal to voice his or her position on whatever topics he or she wishes.

Therefore, within this context (i.e., amateurs being allowed access to reasonably priced media), PPN and PCN do a credible job for the Pattaya community.

I just wish PCN would not keep replaying the restaurant interviews day-after-day for an entire month! Extremely BORING!!

Usually--if you are looking for some hard-to-get ingrediant and want to cook at home..........stop into a western-owned restaurant and ask the western owner for help. More likely than not, he will ask his suppliers about this and get what you need--and --NO CHARGE to you.

I do this many times in my restaurant...I am always happy to help anyone who needs any special ingrediant (or hard to find one) for his/her home cooking.

Please come and enjoy our Grand Opening of Wild West--Night Club---Today--Friday--September 30---6:00 PM onwards.................

Pattayaland Soi 2-Great ambiance, wine/champagne and "outlandish" shows!

This Soi has now "broken its mold"----it has now become "Ecumenical"

Come say "Hi" to Steve and Gop----

PS--Nice hors d'oeuvres also!!

[COLOR=blue]Today--Sunday---September 25---6:00PM until 9:00PM---[/color]

The United States Navy League--Thailand, Eastern Seaboard Council in concert with the Pattaya Expats Club is sponsoring a Hurricane Katrina Benefit at Cafe New Orleans (Pattayaland Soi 2).

Tickets are 1,000 Baht---buffet, beer and wine (all you can eat and drink)

Cafe New Orleans is donating ALL proceeds to the American Red Cross.

Clicked on this sites "Free SMS Thailand"....logged in as instructed. Could not find out how to sign up and get the SMS button on the thaivisa.com bar.

Anybody know how?

Thanks

Guess the street vendors and whatever working girls are left in that disaster area should start practicing "Hello Sucker" in Russian, Polish, Slovac and Lithuanian.

Gentlemen:

The bubble has BURST!

Have you seen Beach road and all the "Will-Be-Developed" and the ultimately "Still-Undeveloped areas?

Have you seen the pathetic pilings on the large "Eastern European" styled condo on Beach Road? Nice artist's rendering on what investors "hope" a "finished" project will look like....assuming more purchasers pay down-payments to get this project off the ground.

Pattaya Trader keeps getting thicker as do other real estate publications. Good for them! But food for thought and CAUTION.

The 1997 economic collaspe here as well as the Philippine economic collaspe under Marcos were fueled by the same factors as we are seeing in Pattaya--"Hot Money"---

Developers having easy access to cheap bank loans (or easy, rich investors) never intending to pay back the loans if things go wrong;

Speculators using cheap down-payments to buy on "spec" and never intending to pay the next BIG installment or finance with the bank (their goal is to "flip" the property);

and a diminishing "Focus Market" i.e., that bunch of "suckers" who are wiling to part with their money after a good sales pitch and a pretty 3D rendering of the "project

Right now--Pattaya is full of HUSTLERS---all colors, races and creeds---and many of them seem to have focused on our "Beverly Hills" propety values.