lapd

9 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

What cheap prices? Bar fines at gogo's 1500 - insane. Most overpriced drinks (170-200 baht for Smirnoff?!). Not surprising they were all mostly empty, and the only gogos full (of Chinese, mostly) were the ones with 100 baht happy hour.

 

Quite a few people though, I haven't been this time last year but seemed busy everywhere.

Then don't go to gogo's or only go during happy hour.  There are lots of other cheaper optins for booze and the other thing

1 hour ago, teigen said:

Information for the "Zoo gym", Pratamnak hill, corner of Soi 5.

Warning: Dual pricing, the different rates are for male/female.

 

Outdoor gym.  And prices not even that great.  No thanks.

I find AIS data works very well for VoIP calls internationally.  No drop outs or stuttering.  Much better than WiFi.  At least at my hotel which uses CAT internet.  The WiFi is fast and works well for general internet use but just doesn't work well for international VoIP calls.

On 9/9/2019 at 7:54 PM, morrobay said:

 

 

Right they were near Walking st last week. Guess when/where this photo was just taken . If the tourists liked walking by that sorry mess of construction trailer 

trash for the last 5 years - they are going to love this walk to Walking st. Ya all are missing the point here regarding infrastructure "upgrades" Sure they are needed but the

problem is the never ending series of failed projects, redo, failed project ... That creates a sorry construction , construction worker environment. Take the last major work on storm drainage at Nua, Soi 6 and Walking st with 2 meter pipes going off shore. But the did not install pump stations and the piped filled up with sand. I posted a photo.

 

 

Not sure what your point is other than to try find reasons to complain about stuff.  They are going very fast as far as I can tell.  Well past Royal Garden now when they were at walking street a couple weeks ago.  And they are digging stuff up on 2nd Rd and Pattaya Klang as well which I assume is all related to this.  They still need to put the concrete back overtop the new pipe.  Looks like that will be starting soon.  Lots of rebar going in now near walking street.  They are working 24/7 as far as I can tell so they are probably going as fast as they can.

Regarding the high season / low season Pattaya is totally doomed never ending discussion.  Was out walking last night and it looked quite busy to me.  This is on a Tuesday night in the middle of rock bottom low season.  A mix of everything.  Asians, couples, families, single men.  Lots of restaurants were busy.  Same with legit massages and Beer bars.  I don't know what high season looks like but it sure looked busy to me last night for low season.  Yes, even in some of the out of the way off the beaten path areas.  Buakao was a zoo.  Lot of bars hopping with customers and the booze was flowing.

8 hours ago, ThaiBunny said:

The inconsistencies of this policy are truly amazing. iPhones are sent through the post and travel on planes without anyone blinking an eye. Did you consider lying when asked to declare whether there was a battery included?

Are you sure about that?  I think stuff with lithium batteries needs to be marked.  Maybe it's only shipped by freighter only flights?  I don't know.  Batteries come from the factory only half charged.  So maybe that's considered ok?

Oh look another "Pattaya is doomed" thread that never dies.

Just came back from a walk around Pattaya on a Tuesday night around 9pm during the lowest of the low season.  There was no shortage of tourists around spending money in restarants, legit massages, beer bars etc.  A mix of families, couples, and single men looking for company.  Lots of asians.  Can't tell if Korean or Chinese or Taiwan.  Lots of East Indians too.  Doesn't seem to be as many Russians as in past years during low season but more of everything else. Everything looked fairly busy.  Not just the more touristy areas either.  It's spread out all over.  Soi Buakao was a zoo.  You would think it was high season. 

Yup, Pattaya is doomed, doomed I tell ya...booga booga!

16 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Mall food. Seriously? I can hear the amount of MSG couple of hundreds of km away. 

???  A lot of authentic restaurants are in the malls and T21 has decent and cheap everyday Thai food which is probably why it's always full of everyday Thais.  And this obsession with MSG.  Maybe I am wrong but is it really that common in Thai food?  I was under the impression it's not.

47 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

Que Pasa ...Bangtalad Pakkret...Mexican and other....good food-good value

 

Large selection of beers...  I like their homemade root beer 

Googled Que Pasa.  Only thing with that name is in Bangkok.  Nothing came up when I googled Bangtalad Pakkret.

Speaking of Mexican in Pattaya.  Has anyone tried Taco Taco?  Walked by there a few times.  Seems busy enough although it's just a little tiny shack.

https://www.facebook.com/TacoTacoTexMex/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/TacoTacoTexMex/menu/?p_ref=pa

18 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

She probably has them but thinks that's what the tourists want. 

So you think a Thai Chef, cooking Thai food will just not put any spices on at all ...because farang?

There is a difference between making Thai food not too spicy for farangs and not using any spices at all so that it tastes like cardboard.  A lot of the spices and flavors they use do not make the food too spicy for foreigners.  Things like ginger and garlic for example.

7 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Then request they put some spice on it..

Yea, it's not like Thailand is known for putting spices on food or anything.  Sheesh.  People have such unrealistic expectations sometimes.../s

20 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There are still a couple of bars in Bangkok with lots of hotties.

I am so sorry I can't give you more details. But I have to make sure those places don't get too crowded. ???? 

 

Lol.  As if.  There are no such secrets anywhere.  Word gets quick out if there are any such places and things change very fast anyways.  Girls all get sponsored or whatever.

And you are obviously trolling by adding that picture.

22 hours ago, fforest1 said:

Hooters customers care zero about getting value for their money....Its as simple as that... 

Not caring about value is going to food park in the basement of Central Festival and paying 120 baht for Kao Man Gai.  

Hooters prices are waaaay beyond that.  They are a complete rip off.

3 hours ago, joeyg said:

Agreed, all places need investment and upgrade into infrastructure, Pattaya included.  Seriously even if they have "Killed the golden goose in Pattaya" to say it needs upgrade your infrastructure is a gross understatement. As far as tourism goes I cannot understand why anyone come here if it was not for the Girls.  And a high percentage of them are turning into sweat hogs as well so, short of a casino, I can't imagine why anybody would come here especially with families.

Oh look another Pattaya is doomed, the end is near, it's all going downhill post.  Those are just so rare (rolls eyes). 

People have only been saying these things forever.  Funny thing is, none of their predictions ever happen.  What is really changing is the people making these posts.  They still expect the girls to scream when they see them walking down the Soi like they did when they were coming here 20 years ago or whatever.  But it can't have anything to do with them.  Oh noooo.  It's Pattaya that is going downhill.

In my opinion, Pattaya is as good as ever.  A little bit lower low season this year but that's a good thing for me.  Probably has to do with the exchange rate more than anything.   Still LOTS of punters around though.  It's anyone's guess what happens with the exchange in the future.

3 minutes ago, Leaver said:

I wasn't one of the ones who previously complained, nor am I complaining now, but don't you think it's too little, too late?

To late for what?  To little of what? 

On 9/1/2019 at 10:47 PM, morrobay said:

 

High season along Beach rd preview. For those Westerners who happen to visit this high season for relaxing days - most likely are not coming back.  

In Addition to all the other ongoing construction especially the North Pattaya area and now even into Naklua

So let me get this straight.  People on here complained that the flooding was going to drive tourists away.  Now that they are digging up roads to fix the flooding you are saying that that is now going to drive tourists away....rrright.

And they are going pretty fast with that work on beach road.  They were near walking street last week and now they are at Royal Garden.  Anyone know how far they are going?  That's a huge pipe they are putting in there.  Looks like about 5' to 6' diameter.  Big enough to stand inside.

2 hours ago, Lumbini said:

50 baht a day is way over the top ? Guess that says how important a good workout is worth to you .

 

I didn't say that.  I guess that says how important a good education that teaches reading comprehension skills is.

Anyone know how to see the menu in English for some restaurants?  For example, If you try order Texas Chicken it's all in Thai. I can sort of figure it out from the pictures but it would be nice to see what it says in English.  The app doesn't seem to let me cut paste the Thai into google Translate either.

15 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

I'm talking about the taste. Most don't bother cooking with fresh herbs and other clean ingredients but just throw ready ingredients ( including fifty tons of MSG ) in a wok. They still did it all from scratch. Of course it takes a while waiting for it, but worth it.

What kind of Thai cooking are you talking about because most of the stir fry places I go to use fresh ingredients and do not use MSG as far as I know.  I presume you know about that place on Pattaya Tai near Tukom in front of Center Condo.  I think it's called Ohai Ohai or something like that.

If you are talking Fish there is the covered fish restaurant place on Pattaya Klang near the Mango stick rice places.  Multiple booths to choose from and mostly fish items but other stuff as well.  There is a literal hole in the wall place on Soi Buakao almost across the street from the LK Metro entrance that is always busy.  Just look for the places where the Thais go.  

Like I said, they are all over the place.  Maybe some use MSG but I don't think so. And a lot of them have fresh herbs and ingredients hanging there and cook right there in the open if you want to watch.  That is just normally the way these hole in the wall places are because that is just normal Thai cooking as far as I know.

And there are also excellent food carts or those semi-permanent sidewalk restaurants that open in the evening when the stores behind them close.  Fresh ingredients and no MSG as far as I know.  The best Kao Man Gai anywhere is probably that place on the corner of Soi Buakao and Pattaya Tai in front of the motorcycle store. Probably the best Pad Thai I have had anywhere is that evening sidewalk place on Pattaya Tai near the Wat.  Right across the street from that down that side soi is an excellent grilled chicken cart.

27 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

 

I was recently in Koh Chang and all the Thai places near the bridge in Kai Bae blew the doors off of any of those. No MSG, prepared right there for you to see, plastic chairs and metal tables. Absolutely delish. Almost extinct in Pattaya now.

???  They are all over the place in Pattaya.  Where have you been looking or maybe you are talking about some other type of restaurant?

Two Lions Pub & Restaurant.  It's on a side Soi just off Pattaya Klang near Soi Buakao.  The sign outside said the special was free Spaghetti Bolonese on Tuesday so I gave it a try.  Normally costs 250baht.  Just needed to buy a drink even if it's just water.  I thought it was very good.  I don't know if I would pay the menu price for that portion unless it's bigger and it may very well be. 

Their current weekly specials look good.  Especially the 2 for 1 Tuesdays.  So 2 can eat a 450 baht menu item, for example, and the less expensive meal is free.  Sundays are 199 16" pizzas.  Italian style.  Normally they are around 250-350.

The 100 baht Mojito was excellent.  I will probably go back just for that.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/twolionsrestaurant/locations/

https://www.facebook.com/twolionsrestaurant/menu/

1 hour ago, Jip99 said:

 

The natural habitat of eating Thai food on metal tables, and sitting on plastic chairs, is for Thais who can’t afford to eat in proper restaurants - and westerners who think it is cultural to eat with chopsticks. Rarely have I had decent food in such places.

 

i applaud May’s approach and appreciate Jingthing’s report.

It's all about the food not the atmosphere.  And don't assume because you are paying more that it is better.  Some of the best cooks in Thailand are at some of these hole in the wall places.

I remember some years ago reading about a Michellin star chef who just runs a food cart out in the street in Bangkok.  I have heard many a story of HiSo Thais at a fancy dinner party quietly sneaking out to go try some noodles at some popular new food cart they just heard about.

16 hours ago, gamesgplayemail said:

 

Aircon at 28 is still aircon, and even if I like it cooler, I find stupid to complain when a gym costs 1000 thb month MAXIMUM. I do not know the owner, I just date one of the staff and she told me that the owner doesn't give a f about what people think because they will never find any other gym with aircon for 1000 thb and if they are not happy, they can go pay 2000+ anywhere else, he doesn't need your money. When idiot locals propose a gym without aircon for 1500+, he proposes gyms with aircon for less than 1000 if you pay for more than 1 month, so who is stupid enough to complain ?!

 

 

If that's his attitude towards paying customers then sounds like he will suffer the same fate as other business owners who have been in Thailand too long and develop the same sort of attitude. 

It doesn't matter to me if I have to pay another 50-100 baht per visit for decent aircon.  A-One hotel is only 8000 per year for ice cold aircon.  Fun Gym is around 5800 now.  Not a big difference over a whole year.

18 hours ago, Chivas said:

I havent been on soi 6 (bar just the once) since I was in one place and bought the manager a drink. Didnt think nothing of it until I went to check bin. There were 2 Lds prices there and I had bought just one...."oh no" says cashier "manager get commission as well"

Have been just the once in three years since that and avoided that bar

Your first mistake was fraternizing with a manager.  It's best to avoid them imo.  Don't be one of those guys that likes to say "I know the manager".  Contrary to what some may think, that's not a good thing.