mran66

Place looks quite unique so should be recognizable by someone who has been there, even if there would be condo or hotel nowdays - looks like a place with two fairly small beach coves and a small cape between those, and recognizable stones on sea not far out. I wonder if such geographical location exist at all between dongtan and jomtien as beach is mostly one long curve for the some 15 km it covers. Looks like a place that could be in some of the larger cape areas (naklua, pratamnak, sattahip), however does not look familiar to me. And Sattahip capes mostly occupied by army anyway, just few public beaches open in the areas that geographically remind this. And sure not further out in Rayong area? Do you recall if the place was on flat land, or had to drive down from a hill to the beach resort? That might give a hint.

Pattaya has been center of culture and arts for quite a while. I recall it was late 1980's I came here for first time, and already then there was a lot of cultural shows and acts and different artistry visible, mostly focusing on dance performances on stage. Predominantly female performers I recall. Areas of cultural shows have since expanded,, which I think is normal in places where culture is so unseparable from local life. I recall cultural activies were mostly in WS and around soi 13s where most of artist shows happened. Now spread to Buakhao and even Jomtien, so for sure Pattaya deserves to be called a hub. Gender balance also broadened, though only a bit. Modern approach to sexual orientation choise broadly accepted, including all shades of grey between the extreme genders joining the culture activities. Graphical and sculpture artistry seems to be more and more extravagant also, esp on skins/bodies of performing artists. Graphics used to be fairly small scale black-white art before, now quite large size and multicolor. Sculpture was fairly uncommon, now sculptural work visible everywhere, mostly using modern silicon and other chemical materials, not bronze or clay like in some other places. In terms of the core Thai cultural shows that include objects like fruits, pingpong balls and bottles, progress since 80's seems less - which often is the case with areas of art with long history and deep rooting in local culture, progress just slows down and things start to look like ancient culture. Thus, we have combination of ancient show culture and more progressive too. Now just call it hub (like they do for everything these days) instead of center,!

Can recommend Eastern Home Decor on Sukhumit directly opposite to Tesco (at Thepparasit junction). They have all kinds of curtains and blinds (made to measure & installed blinds for me) https://goo.gl/maps/1SNvsLa1mWrFPrfU6 I recall they also have wallpapers but no personal experience on those. Friendly and professional family business, good price compared to many other shops.

Past couple of decades have been mostly steady improvement in terms of foreign income from tourism, thus regardless of all the talk over the years about casinos, there has not been burning need to proceed from that perspective, rather more than enough work to keep infrastructure in match with tourism volumes. Now, with the developments since 2020 with covid, the war, and consequent coming recession, situation is different and I also would be pretty suprprised if casinos would not come into the toolbox. Unrealistic to expect the decisionmakers to let that money to flow to neighboring countries who have the gambling places that attract asian gamblers. I would guess those casinos would be for foreigners and maybe for rich thais, and local mass market gambling will stay underground as it has been to fund police and other goverment officials related to that.

I had some plywood cut in this shop, they had several different thicknesses. But couple of years ago already not sure if shop still there. If not, stop by a woodworking shop and ask. Thepparasit also have some. https://goo.gl/maps/F6z2oHdAB5bxCPKi9

Last time I used was in late June, about 1hr 45min. Booked so that I arrived in airport 2hrs before scheduled departure time and had plenty of time for waiting as airport still quiet compared to pre-covid times (departure was on Monday evening 9PM), only few minutes in passport control.

Better just update the Thai Coup Manual and include the emergency decree as mandatory issue in case of military coup. In case of non-military coup could be left optional but still at will of coup orchestrator. No need speculate and wonder about it after that as it is in the manual.

indeed - any idea why so? anyway, maybe a good excuse for no need to maintain sidewalks in near term, the 5M guys walking on roads!

That is good yes. But walking around in groups in dark hours of the night in middle of road is less so...wonder what moves (or doesn't) in those guys heads as they behave as if there would be no car or bike traffic on the road at all. Personally I would turn my head like a radar if I were walking there - even on sidewalk - at 2AM. Especially so near walking street at the time people heading off from party...these guys just calmly walk in middle of the road as if it would be normal. Go figure.

TAT launched a marketing campaign in India, seems like a great success. They must have spread word about the easy opportunity for necklace theft, with good quality police reports proven to work with insurance companies! Win-win for thailand and gold loosing indian tourists. Not so for Indian travel insurers.

Southern end of 2nd road will be turned from continuous construction site to hanging place of Indian male groups then. Currently the wandering groups of 2-10 Indians males is a nuisance and danger as they walk in middle of the road, without even giving a glimpse to car or motorbike traffic. 7-11 in ground floor of nova platinum hotel will be thriving!

Heard that expression every now and then, wondering who should be credited for creation of that comparison. Used to live in southern CA long time ago and drove around in BH sometimes...have to admit my imagination is too limited to come up with that comparison..,

You mean Pattaya beach? Or somewhere in Pratamnak/Dongtan??

I have lived in bottom of Soi 5 for several years and no plan to move elsewhere. However, if you don't have your own transport, I would not recommend living here (unless you are truly Ok with mototaxis and bolt) - even though you really have everything you need for daily stuff in Soi 5 (several restaurants, tesco, bigCmini, market, even bars if that's your thing). But you do not have public transport without long uphill walk, and kind of loose a lot of your freedom without having your own transport. Up in soi 5-6 could be Ok as you could walk to Thapparaya baht bus in few min Having said that, if you do have your transport, this is very good area to live if you ask me. Few years ago looked at places in other areas, and every time conclusion was negative due to location. Quiet, ease of access/vicinity to places I frequent, best beach walk.

If you want results, do something about it. Imagine if Thai power holders approach towards traffic safety would be equally harsh and effective as what they do to keep democracy at arms length, and overall protection of the elite and their system. Even minor offence in that area gets actioned with severe punishment. And education from young age about how people need to behave in that respect. Just imagine if traffic would get priority even close to that. But no. Things are as they want them to be.

WHO making a clown of themselves. Maybe they should send someone to study the country a bit before making embarrassing statements like this. They could have emphasized the strength of Thai democracy in the statement as well to make it even more impactful!

She should try to get a job in thai embassy in some western country as cultural attaché. Looks like a perfect fit for a role to spread thai culture!

... Three or even more in quite a few as well...

what is expensive and what cheap I don't really know, however this place has quite some trees of different type and size, have bought some leelawadee trees from there if you looking very big ones, maybe not the place though - but they DO grow quite a bt is what I noticed too... just before the Shell on Sukhumvit driving towards Sattahip https://goo.gl/maps/aAzhaKnGGKBavyYP7

Would expect so but not sure, let someone else with experience to comment. I always use house book copy for everything immigration as it proven to work. Did not copy tm30 for my application and not asked.

Yes copy ok for the 2nd, one original enough. 300 baht for immigration. I recall immigration wanted 2 photos (1 stapled to certificate, 1 for their files) , and usual set of copies of passport pages incl entry stamp visa tm6, and something to prove your address (utility bill, house book or something like that)

These surveys are as meaninful for most people as information about average salary in Thailand. They represent comparable reality in a specific niche of the market (typically in the big company expat family with company full benefit package). Equally relevant for many countries, not only Bangkok/Thailand. Recall seeing these already 20yrs ago when living in China - we had staff in very different housings with most expensive being more than 10x the cheapest. In undeveloped places western quality premium housing tends to be very expensive, whereas housing for local relevance is many times very cheap, actually with very large price spectrum even within those. Bangkok is pretty similar to Beijing and Shanghai, with very large spread between different types of housing Average does not have much meaning.

Off-topic, but Hatari also has very good and cheap spare parts service of their own, can just send line message to them what you need, pay to bank, and couple of days later parts arrive. Any part you want, they have. Actually most appliance manufacturers here have well working spare parts service of their own, and parts usually fairly priced. Thus, often better contact the manufacturer service first, if they dont have the parts probably nobody has unless not model specific commodity part like capacitor etc

...have so many places ticking the boxes that would get exhausted if try to visit all of them... One comment re transportation - living at the bottom of Pratamnak soi 5 myself, this area is not really convenient if you don't ride motorbike (or car, personally just dont like to use car in city area unless carry something that cant do with bike) as a bit far from songtao routes - but of course plenty of moto taxis and bolt will take you around if that is ok for you. Up in soi 5 and 6 near Pratamnak road is fine as you can walk to Thapparaya to catch songtao. But if you ride, then the bottom area is good as have everything you need without need to go anywhere really - and is quiet, easy walk to beach too. But if access to public transportation has value, might be worth to limit the area within walking distance to Thapparaya or Jomtien beach road. Still many many options to choose for this price within 200m of those roads (where songtaos go). The area around ViewTalay 1, 2 and 5 as an example, those blocks alone must have tens of choices ticking all your wishes, and if you like smaller places have many such too (though if low floors seaview might be issue). Foodmart, Rompho fresh market, beach and bus to airport and even immigration within few minutes walk too. Only thing that is a bit further is hospital really!

Thailand seems to have their own scale for IQ which is understandable as othrerwise they would be offset quite a bit towards left on the distribution curve. Wonder how the 130 compares to mensa scale... Maybe 100 on mensa scale?