thainet

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Hi Rumcabal. Can you tell me a bit of your situation at the port ?

I went up yesterday but as the other guy said I could not get past the security gate I was alone and tried to drive through.

When you went up did you have a Thai partner with you ? did you try to drive through ? or did you hide the car and sort of blend in with others who were walking through past the gate ?

When I was there I tried to offer the security my Thai driving license but was told that any person going through the gate Thai or farang who was not crew of the ship had to show Thai identity card. maybe as always this is just TiT.

Hi - I went there with 2 colleagues of mine, both Farang. We parked on the road outside and walked straight down to the ship, a distance of about 200m. At that gate, I didnt notice any security guard. At least if there was a guard there he didnt say anything to us. I have a Thai license but never had to show it. Come to think of it security was unbelievably lax. From the sounds of what others are saying it seems that we might have just been lucky on that day.

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Hi again Rumcabal. Thanks for taking the time to answer my question, I wish I had been with you, it seems to me it was right place right time. I did think of doing exactly what you did and park up the road and try to walk in like I was one of the crew coming back from pattaya but after trying to drive in and the guards seeing me it was a waste of time.

'Rumchabal' I think you are telling little lies here.

The gate in the picture is no where near the aircraft carrier, but if you had actually got near to the correct gate (and could see the ship over on the right) then the Thai guards (with Navy security also) would not of let you into the inner sanctum, plus just inside this gate is Navy security and you are funnelled into this by nearly 100 huge steel containers forming a barrier around the whole ship, plus the ship has guards and officers at each gangplank, so sorry your story is not plausible.

Also the 3 ships left this morning for Japan and refitting.

What would be the best hotel in town to stay for 1-2 nights.

I remember the Eastern Hotel from many years ago but sure there must be more/better now.Thanks for any answers.

I have been hassled by the Volunteer tourist police before. That being said, I understand the need for them. I have seen them help many a tourist that has gotten them self into a jam. Mostly explaining the Thai way and helping to smooth things over. I do however think that some type of dress pants and a white or yellow polo shirt with Volunteer in large letters would be more appropriate then the current swat type uniform. At times I do see them wearing a more toned down version that seems more acceptable. The current uniform just creates animosity from the expat community. Maintaining a professional appearance would improve things immensely for them and the tourists / expats.

It's dicks like you who give forums a bad time.

You resurrect a "6" year old thread to obviously rid yourself of some feelings of inadequacy.

I have actually just now returned from a night out on Walking street and thought as I passed the Police van how smart the Foreign and Thai Volunteers looked.

The Foreign Assistants wore proper dress pants with black dress shoes and black business shirts with their logos. Very smart and professional looking. Far cry from swat uniforms.

The Thai Volunteers had black trousers with white polos--also looking nice and professional.

I would say you are not even in Thailand and are just making up stories, as you have definitely not ventured to WS lately with those remarks and comments.

My 3bb internet service has been down since yesterday at about 9am until now.

It is in the Siam Country Club rd area.

I've checked my equipment etc and it seems to be definitely an outside problem.

Anyone else had this problem and if yes any ideas why.

Also about 1-2 weeks ago we were down for the whole day also.

Hope this is not a 3bb trend (as they are installing a big amount of DSLAMS all over Pattaya it seems).

I've actually had to revert back to my original Loxinfo dial up at 38 Kbps.

The procedure is simple.

Thailand to New Zealand:-

At check in with the airline, show US passport so the airline know that they can enter New Zealand. If asked why they have no Thai visa, show them their Thai passports.

At Thai passport control, show Thai passports so immigration know they have not overstayed.

On arrival in New Zealand, show immigration their US passports.

New Zealand to Thailand:-

At check in show Thai passport so the airline know that they can enter Thailand. If asked why they have no New Zealand visa, show US passport.

At New Zealand passport control, show US passport so immigration know they have not overstayed.

On arrival in Thailand show immigration their Thai passports.

There is no need to show Thai immigration their US passports at all, entering or leaving the kingdom.

My wife and daughter do this with their Thai and British passports every time we enter or leave the kingdom. We have only ever had one small problem when my daughter completed her blue immigration form in English. The Thai immigration officer made her do another one in Thai, saying "If you're Thai, fill this in in Thai!"

thanks for that info which is exactly what i told my wife buit she has had a couple of clients traveling with infants that were turned away because of no visa, hear say so who know tit but your method makes clear sence.

Mac Man---7by7's info is 100% correct for NZ, and it basically doesn't matter which country your other passport is from as long as you can enter NZ visa free. Remember at the SUV airport, airline requirements and Thai immigration requirements are completely different. Airline want confirmation of your validity to enter NZ (so they don't have to pay to have you repatriated) and Thai immigration are only worried that you entered, stayed and departed legally (ie: within your visa if you're an expat) or just see the Thai passport if you're a Thai citizen.

Do of course make sure both passports are valid,

To the OP----Don't you read the newspapers or look at any news channels.

Bangkok problems have been over for ages. Already had a district election in Bangkok and the government (with some uniquely Thai problems of course) are going along as before. This forum is of course for questions and answers, but sometimes some posters seem to come from another planet and not quite in touch with reality.

Hear this question a lot but can't seem to see a thread on it.

I have my local POP3 email acct, but with 3G, GPRS and much better Internet speeds these days (ie: 3bb) I am to open a web based email acct. So my question is to solicit comments (good and bad) on GMAIL (which seems the most popular), Hotmail (which seems to be getting better) and others such as Rocketmail, Yahoo etc etc before making my decision.

Thanks.....

Howard is a really honest and forthright person. I'm sure he'll do the position proud.

All the best to you. I'm sure the British Embassy in Bangkok have chosen wisely after exhaustive checking of all candidates.

Good Luck Howard...thainet

Howard is a really honest and forthright person. I'm sure he'll do the position proud.

Yes he is locally grown and has had a business here for many years.

All the best to him. I'm sure the British Embassy in Bangkok have chosen wisely after exhaustive checking of all candidates.

Good Luck Howard...

Actually Rafval I believe (from yr past posts) your first encounter was when you were having a ST in the PS Guesthouse in Soi Yamoto (must have been ST because no one in their right mind wld actually live there?), so although I cannot condone what happened (and as u said the guy has been punished) it's very different than going into people's apartments etc which you've made us all believe.

Your latest comment that 'it's happened many times, believe me' worries me. Why do you think you know this and why do you care so much. My conclusion is that you must be possibly trying to perpetrate a similiar operation and this alleged other guy (or guy's) are stepping on your territory, so your posts are only vindictive or for your own immoral purposes.

Smokie36 also sees thru you---I think you shld quit while you are ahead.

Rafval this is the 3rd or 4th so-called 'Police thread' you've been on (or been the OP) in the past few weeks. Seems to be always so called factual info on an individual or organisation. You are either a police hater, a troublemaker or someone that likes to post to see the reactions of others----or perhaps you've just got it in for cops en masse. The more viable scenario is that you are an 'ex volunteer' of one of the organisations and probably let go under a cloud and now have an axe to grind. Anyway your posts seem very fishy to me. Nuff said.

Thank you so much, Thainet for the clarification.

I am assuming that you have obtained this information from the relevant authorities.

I have no desire to be awkward on this, but for all normal purposes Pattaya City does not extend on the Darkside to the Rayong Highway.

Much of the Darkside is outside of Pattaya City limits and is subject to different police authorities - most of it under Banglamung as opposed to Pattaya and as you drive up Nern Plub Wan there is a sign which defines the city limits.

This has also been evidenced by the Darkside having different opening and closing hours to Pattaya city, and a different police authority who enforces the laws in these areas.

They even have local elections on different dates to Pattaya.

So I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but I would be grateful if you could kindly confirm the source of the information in your post.

Thanks.

As I said this info is a generalisation for the explicit purposes of the nightlife curfew---not politics, city limits or other jurisdication stuff.

So yes it was obtained explicitly for the above purposes from reliable Thai sources.

Anyway it is only info, take it or not, or go with your own ideas, but I think you'll find if you drive around tonight that I'm right and that the blocks and checks will be closer to town, as dictated from BKK not from City Hall.

Ok here it is.

Pattaya extends as far as the end of Jomtien, over the darkside to the Rayong Highway and to the end of Naklua.

Bang Saray/Satathip and Laem Chabang/Siracha are the next and come under their own jurisdiction.

So this is the general definition as far as the night life areas (and therefore the nightlife curfew).

As for the roadblocks or checks. These will be in force for a while at definite points and also roving points as long as the government deems them necessary. As you can now see these are not tied to the curfew as the curfew itself has now been lifted in the Pattaya area, but the checks have not.

This is a quick generalisation for those that wish to know--hope it helps.

Go to a gold shop (such as Aurora) and buy 10 baht weights of gold bars. They give you a certificate of authenticity and it can cashed in on the spot at any of their shops. Gold is going to over $1600 by next year so even at these prices you won't lose, specially since the EURO is probably doomed and of course the dollar will follow if that happens. Cheers.

You guys are obviously dreamers. The EURO will be lucky if it's a currency in the very near future (if Germany and France refuse to back it) then it's all over. When the EURO goes then the Dollar also tanks as it has no use as a mirror currency anymore. Hold Baht by all means because it'll probably be worth more in the long run (but Gold will be worth the most from now until doomsday). thanks.

Don't worry it's only for one day of local Elections. Everything open tomorrow as normal.

Some really interesting answers--think I like the wire netting and the 'bird of prey' best...many thanks

Pattaya's first and for a long time only gogo bar... a piece of local history.

I hope nobody was hurt and also that Woody's most excellent selection of music DVD and videos weren't lost. This would be a Friday afternoon fire? I bet the fire trucks had a struggle getting there with all the Songkran bs. Not enough water maybe?

Anyone with news and pics, please post.

Nanlaew--PM for picture detail

Have over a 100 pigeons a day on my roof.

Have used fishermans netting before which does work somewhat but it rips and gets tatty very easily.

So guys does anyone have experience in getting rid of these noisy and terribly dirty birds.

Scarecrows, horns ???

Any help greatly appreciated...

Sorry to say that the TQ1 on Beach road has just been burn't to the ground.

Been one of the longest Go Go's in existence.

Moderator-- sorry can you please post under the normal 'Forum Topics' Thanks

Driving home last night at 2:30 am from Nakluea, I got on the highway on Sukhumvit and got off at the "Basjke exit". If you take a wide sweep from the right lane, no need for reverse

accident waiting to happen (plus probably maiming others in the process).

Anyway doing that will get you off the forum--can't post from heaven (or hel_l).

Maybe they'll need a permanant 'Boriboon' vehicle stationed there

The guy you are trying to help is obviously yourself (why do people ask questions for ghostly friends), so you'll get better answers by just saying---Hey I'm on a budget, but want the best education for my child, can you help with government school ideas. You'll get better answers for sure. try it.

Seadoo why can you really believe a group of Foreign FTPA's can be responsible for enforcing work permits for kebab sellers. You say you don't want a witch hunt but you are definitely looking for trouble by posting like this. These guys do a great job within their scope of operations on WS.

As these guys have been around for nearly 10 years and in your own words 'they actually do help the city' then give them some praise and post sensibly about the perceived problem naming the "correct division" responsble.

Gonzo is correct that Immigration are the enforcers of work permits in these cases and actually WS is under the control of the City Hall police who you see at various tables on WS, but the actual trouble enforcement of WS is up to the TP and FTPA's/TPV's up until about 2-3 oclock in the morning and then reverts over to the Soi 9 police. The other thing you don't understand that these people have been given permission by someone to be there, as are the Russian girls working in the upstairs bars--doesn't really hurt anyone and they pay a fee to City hall of course, so everyone's happy.

The other thing is why do you care about a few Turks or Middle eastern people selling kebabs or ice cream. If you feel that strongly about it go and report it to immigration yourself, otherwise let it be and enjoy WS for what it is--A great entertainment area, which is kept safe by Government and volunteer groups of dedicated individuals.

Thanks....Thainet

thainet - the restaurant you are thinking of is Au Bon Coin. Turn down Soi 6 (it is the 2nd street on your left if you came from South Pattaya up Thepprasit Road and turned right at the T-intersection opposite the Courts) and the turn right into Soi 9 and it is on your right - only spot it by the lanterns hanging in the trees. Usually needs to be booked as is always busy and if I remember rightly is closed Monday and Tuesday. Went to dinner there a few weeks ago. Superb - I actually had 2 entrees: a to die for pate and spring rolls stuffed with goat cheese and a main course: roast lamb. Service is excellent and the food is something worth going out of your way for and the best news not that expensive!!

jingthing - Monte Cristo is the new place - not opened long also went not so long ago. I enjoyed my dinner - but in all honesty really can't remember what I had apart I know I had fish for my main course. Another friend had the kidneys but they were cooked for too long - not a problem they were taken back and a new dish was cooked to perfection. Once again the service was excellent and the setting is nice. Also comfortable chairs on the terrace to have before and after drinks (and a cigarette). I will say that I think this will be one of the up there restaurants once the "start-up hiccups" are over.

2 other good restaurants that are excellent for those special nights out are Pagoda in Jomtien Complex - I have eaten just about everything on the menu and cannot complain about anything at all Last but not least Alois on the beginning of Thappraya Road - opposite The Resicence Suites (was the old Icon night club). Once again great setting, good food and service is again beyond reproach.

Yes, lucky me I have a good friend here who likes to eat at good restaurants and have managed to be invited about 4 times a week to join!!! Once he goes home it will be back to baked beans on toast

Aussiechick and others---many thanks for your great suggestions--should take some time to get thru them.

Have chips with your baked beans as it makes the meal go further.

Actually I went back to El Toro last week (last time was about 20 years ago) and it was still surprisingly good.

I know this has been covered in 08 and 09 but maybe time for an update.

Need some names/reviews of good quality western/european restaurants where one might go for special occasions or dinner with friends.

Doesn't necessarily need to be hugely expensive, just nice ambiance, good food and service.

Done Bruno's and Mantra but know there are lots of other new and old restaurants (actually heard good things about a new one just off Pratumnak Rd down one of the side sois,but can't remember the name).

Anyway all reviews gratefully accepted.