Penangfreak

Dear all

Can any insider kindly point out a hotel in price range up to 2'000 in the Bangla Area (C&N is full for my dates). Walking distance to Bangla & Beach. Great with pool and breakfast buffet.

Thank you all very much PF.

3 nights ago seen a large group of younger Thais on Walking Street, all of them (including girls) in various Hitler fashion. Could not believe my eyes. What ignorance....PF.

Fully agreed ref. BPH. Mostly bad experiences. But there is some good Doctors and I can't generalize.

Very pleased about Pyathai, also not as plush as others. Pattaya International has improved a lot, but would not use for major surgery, trauma. Memorial only for minor problems, except if you have personal recommendations for a specific Dr. / case.

Anything cancer do NOT use any hospitals away from Bangkok. There is some ok. choices there, even Wattanasoth / BH-Group. Also very good experience at Bangkok General, also BH-Group. Unfortunately Bumrungrad now full of Arabs, Horizon Cancer Center also filled with Arabs same for Check-up Center. Stopped going there myself and with friends.

More important than the hospital is the choice of Doctor, if you have a choice. And a good insurance. Good luck. PF.

+ 1, Best for sure....and no rip-off.

Just had 1 delivered. Arrived after 25 mins (soi 8), still hot.

The small classic crust meatzza pizza and spicy chicken wings were good. The sauce on the pizza is different from UK, it's a little more tomatoee tasting. I got the wrong drink, no big issue. And yes, the driver got to keep the change. Altogether 300 Baht including 50 Baht tip.

I would order again

Great info thanks. Do you have any more details? This is good stuff. Would love to get some info which water is good to drink and still contains minerals etc. Thank you! PF.

To each his own. I prefer the classic Italian version: thin, crispy, fresh ingredients, TLC from a real chef, baked in a stone oven.

On more thing. Pizzas do NOT come from the middle of the Pacific. Pineapple is a huge no no.

Given the number of crappy thin crust pizzas available in Bangkok, Dominos is a welcome addition.

For me there is no stand out Italian place doing great pizzas in Bangkok.

Don't give me Pala which is lunchtime stuff in my view....with good pasta. Or Limoncello which has become just dog average.

+1

If you buy a group of only males, some of them will eventually transgender into females and become able to breed. Nothing to do with Thailand, I guess it is just survival of the species!

But it shouldn't be so difficult to find a mix. Quite a few places in Thepprasit road have them and they are probably the easiest group of fish-pets to keep and reproduce in captivity.

If he's going to Pattaya, he should feel really at home!

+1`

Indian Safe Shop opp. Food land. Any model, any price range. And friendly service. PF.

Where available? Any experience with it. using 3BB and quite happy, but True has a MUCH better deal, so would consider switching if available in Central Pattaya.

Thx. for any feedback. PF.

So is every Black African you meet a drug dealer then?

Not sure such a racist topic should be continued..

You may as well say that every Fat English guy you meet is a sex tourist!

They told me same about fiber in central pattaya, even when i offered to run extra fiber to condo. No, we only deliver to 2nd. floor. Strange indeed....Pleased with 50mb 3BB so far...A bit pricy, compared to TRUE, but they will probably come down eventually. PF.

I have this VISA sh.t luckily only once a year and call it in my case unfair. I'm married with a wonderful Thai woman for close to 10 years. Together we are proud and happy parents off our daughter. Yearly I have to proof myself again. I entered years ago nice amount off Euro's and multiplied this amount quiet a few times thanks to good, property, investments. Our property-evaluated by 2 banks (I paid them both for taxation report just out off curiosity). The properties and land is evaluated at around 9 figures in Thai Baht before the decimal! But Immigration/ Thai authorities doesn't give a sh.t about this. Because we keep investing and always improving our properties. We do have sometimes Cash Flow shortage. If I have this around new Yearly VISA application I'm completely stressed and they drive me nuts with this. This gives then again a huge blow to our normally happy family.

This 400.000 baht regulation is very unfair to people like me. I provide many Thai laborers/families most construction people year after year with an above minimum wages income. I have staff on and around my properties and our land. We feed many families and provide a lot off help to a village in Isaan. i keep investing to secure my wife and kid, for when I pass away (15 years elder then my partner and weak health but fairly good brains) but sometimes Immigration rules are unfair (and always their; "It is Up to You Remark". Thailand should treat us and give us the same opportunities as Thai's get in foreign country's.

Check article 17.1 & 17.2 UN Manifest for Human Rights!

See where wealthy Thai's own easily and legally private property abroad (Thaksin as an example), but many wealthy Thai have the same. Many Thai's working abroad (Europe, US and so on) can buy and OWN.

China is open for foreign investment, even Cuba, Cambodia, Malaysia and so on, but Thailand is still old fashioned and over-protective. A limitation on maximum land-sizes and property could be understandable for security off food supply.

But current Visa & Ownership rights is out off time.

This only beneficiary to the wealthy Thai, many from Chinese origin (Shinawatra family). They "passed the test off time". I keep "wrestling and struggling" knowing that my beloved daughter & if they ever come my Grandchildren will not face the same unfair treatment. They will be Thai. But for me and my wife the system has been really unfair.

I still love Thailand!

In a few weeks it will be my VISA turn again. And it looks this year more easy for me. Currently I'm Bank-book wise in the Safe-zone.

Edwin

I could complain ab out many things here in Thailand. But certainly I would never complain about retirement visa requirements which must be some of the easiest and most straightforward in the world. A minimal amount of 14K$/28K$(unmarried) in the bank, a few copies and 1 hour at immigration. WOW! Great!

I wish it was so easy in the USA/Australia/NZ/Switzerland or any of the other countries I would love to try out. PF.

Looking for a dog-friendly (small, quiet poodle) condo in Pattaya to book for next year season 6 months? Thanks. PF.

Thanks to everybody! PF.

Anyone can confirm they have Fiber Optics in their condon complex?

soi bouakao running....got 50mb and 30mb in several places i own installed.....need to pay from street to your condo/house. 3bb refers to "private" company. so total setup incl. 3bb & fiber optic to the house can run around 15-20k. so far speed good and reliable...I will wait for True to be ready as they are cheaper for the fast ones for further units....PF.

Anybody seen these in any shop? http://www.polaragolf.com/ultimate-straight/96001102/detail Thank you! PF.

Any ideas where to find "Sun dried Tomatoes" in Pattaya? Not the Italian style in olive oil. Thank you. PF.

I pm you. PF.

What about that dam 3 legged dog.

She is a lovely little creature. PF.

Pattaya apologists always make irrelevant comparisons like referring to other cities crime rate. We are only concerned with the crimes involving tourists and foreigners. And in this case Pattaya has undoubtedly the highest crime rate in the world. It also has the highest tourist involvement in crimes than the rest of Thailand put together excluding Phuket which is fast catching up. Or does Thai Visa only report crimes in Pattaya and Phuket.?

+1

Some terribly sad individuals there already early morning...But they can be found allover Pattaya....But City Hall will turn it into a high class resort town anytime now... PF.

I agree with the OP's post completely, but the plus's are good climate, lower prices than UK, Buddhist culture, wonderful food, easier/slower pace of life, no dress code, great night-life, to name but a few.

Interesting.

Climate? It's too hot and humid here to be really nice.

Lower prices? Some are. Many aren't.

Buddhist culture? Yes, but I cant say it makes much difference to me on a personal level. I dont believe in any religion.

Wonderful food? Nice enough but I certainly I wouldn't say wonderful.

Easier pace of life? If you're retired you're retired. I dont do any more here than I did anywhere else. Trafic and congestion here is MUCH worse than where I was in Europe.

No dress code? I wear exactly the same clothes here (weather permitting) as I did in Europe. Except that in Europe in winter I put an anorak and trousers on. But to keep warm not for any dress code reasons.

Great night life? I would describe it as unbelievably boring. I hate bars and discos and clubs and everything else in that vein, Luckily they are easy to avoid.

There are more "con" points:

full of Russians and tourist families

becoming steadily more and more dangerous

becoming steadily more and more expensive

And there are some plus points you may have forgotten:

No tax (for those who know how to organise themselves).

Fairly cheap and varied food, even if it isn't wonderful.

Utilities that work most of the time.

Easily obtained retirement visa.

Good and fair post! PF.