OMGImInPattaya

We have a new Italian restaurant in the Jomtien area!

'Made in Sud' is the name and I just received a leaflet with lots of promotions in it. I believe the owner originally comes from Naples Italy.

The one thing I notice from the menu is 'Every day special', a lunch menu between 12:00-16:00. you'll get 2 dishes and a glass of wine for 399 baht. A slice of pizza is 99 baht and most of the sandwiches are 99 baht. Also they offer Italian breakfast for 150 baht and English breakfast for 120 baht.

Some pictures from their facebook , I have not visited the place yet but the address is 410/9 M12 trepprasit rd.

That pizza looks good...too bad the place is so far away...don't get over the hill much.

I was treated to a sneak peek test run at Pastrami on Rye today with their bacon cheeseburger. They've hit a homerun imho. A juicy 1/3 pound 100% beef patty cooked to perfection. Hands down the best burger I have ever had in Thailand.

They start serving the burgers on November 1st and I will be a regular when I need a burger fix.

LL4A7262.jpg

Is PoR an official advertiser on T-V...I don't know because I don't see any ads on the site? Just curious as they seem to get allot of free PR here and I know that's allowed if a site sponsor.

555555555555

The poor woman was obviously in grief and suffering.

Wish she had someone she could have reached out to.

You gleaned all this from the article...maybe she was just out hanging the laundry and slipped and fell over the absurdly low Thai balcony railings.

So much nonsense. Why would anyone wish to study a dead end language such as Thai. Only reason would be possibly long term plan to work in los with main skill being able to speak thai and English. Even that's rubbish. You might get job in tour company. Or rather not. The folk pretending to wish to learn thai as a second language is rubbish. I'm happy for people to try and have extended (long) stays living in los. Seriously give us all a break. Ed visas were never about an burning love of the thai language. It was always a vehicle for the vast majority. The abuse of rules has sent the grim reaper. Happy days.

The one thing you can always be guaranteed on TV is the proliferation of narrow-minded views of those who presumptuously deem their opinions to be fact. I'm not sure there is such a thing as a "dead end language". When I studied Arabic and Persian at university in the 90s many people asked me why I chose to do so. After 9/11 that all changed, and I could now not do my job without Arabic. I have now been studying Thai for 2 years. One year with private teachers and one year at a school and can now communicate articulately on a wide array of subjects and read newspaper headlines and simple media reports without reaching for a dictionary. To the jacksams on this forum [of which there are many] I would point out that I have found Thai very useful in Thailand [unsurprisingly], and have yet to meet a Thai that views the language as dead end or my learning it as a waste of time. I have also made considerably more Thai friends and acquaintances as a result. He also takes the view that with proficient Thai you would be limited to working with a tour company, which again illustrates the narrow-minded perspective. Any language learned to a high level of fluency opens up many doors, as I have found with Arabic. As I said earlier, of course there are abusers, and they have made it difficult for those that aren't abusing the system. jacksam's presumptions are tantamount to non-retirees in LOS accuding all retirees of being little more than sad, embarrassing old men

I think when Thai is called a "dead end" language it's because it's of little use outside Thailand...it's like Finnish or other unimportant country languages in hat nobody outside the home country speaks or writes in it. Of course, it's very useful if one is living in Thailand for business or retirement and I'm sure all the Thai language students in storefront schools throughout Thailand are enriching their Thailand experience immensely by being able to converse with Thais in their native language, reading Thai newspapers, and watching and understanding Thai soaps on TV.

There's a few other changes too.

1. Must provide property rental contract for 3 month extensions. (not sure what's going to happen to foreigners living here without a property rented in their name)

2. Fill out a personal details form for 3 month extension. It asks basic details like address, phone. And also asks your estimated monthly spend in Thailand, contact details in Thailand for someone they can contact to verify your identity, and contact details of a person that financially supports you, if applicable. Also a bunch more personal questions but they said I didn't have to fill that out. I think its only "high risk" countries that do.

These are obviously in direct response to the Bangkok bombing.

Point 1 is stupid. When I was in Thailand for 11 months, I lived with my partner and the rental agreement was only in his name even though I usually paid the rent.

Foreigners here on Ed visas are here to learn something and this should be their main priority...not to shack up with the locals. Seems perfectly reasonable that legit foreign students would have some sort of housing accommodation in their own name.

1. What does having a house rented in your name have to do with shacking up with people? Mine is rented in my partners name and it caused an issue. Luckily I had to renew it this month anyway.

2. I don't think any particular Visa is more entitled/encouraged to shack up with the locals.

I would say non-imm O's extended on basis of marriage are most entitled to shacking up...then non-imm retirees...then tourist/30-day entries have shacking privileges in that order. Ed. visas have the least entitlement to shacking up with a local as they're here to concentrate on their studies and improve their minds and too much shacking would distract them from this goal.

Just a note Pastrami on Rye is adding a selection of hamburgers to their menu effective Nov 1st. Looking forward to giving them a try.

Thanks for the update. I have not had a "real hamburger" for a long time. Pastrami on Rye makes such great sandwiches--no doubt they will focus on top quality and make some great hamburgers. Please take pictures of their hamburger and post them here.

I have quite a bit of doubt if the quality of their pizzas is anything to go by...wasn't very impressed with my sandwich either.

always, nothing positive from you, I'm Shocked, Not...

Lots of praise for many places but I call them as I taste them...sorry if that offends you.

Numbers of tourists and expats has soared since the advent of the internet and later social media in all its forms so I'd say you premise is false.

Seems excessive if your Ed visa is to study Muay Thai or cooking.

Why? If your main reason for staying in the country is to be in education, it seems perfectly reasonable to expect you to attend a school every day.

If you're just going to a couple of classes a week, you're not a student, you're a tourist with a hobby.

While I agree in principal, this is about the increase from 4 days/week to 5 days/week. University students that have lectures 4 days/week aren't necessarily doing it as a hobby compared to students who have lectures 5 days/week.

The point is, serious students that come here have to decide whether the ED Visa (which restricts their learning options, and generally forces higher learning fees) is better than a tourist Visa (where they can choose whatever learning schedule they want - i.e. attend a group course 2 hours week + private tutor coming to your house + write your own essays etc).

If they want students to actually use the ED Visa, they have to make it a better option than the tourist Visa.

Students studying at recognized Thai universities have no problem getting or renewing their Ed. visas. These new rules apply to students at Thai language visa mill schools.

There's a few other changes too.

1. Must provide property rental contract for 3 month extensions. (not sure what's going to happen to foreigners living here without a property rented in their name)

2. Fill out a personal details form for 3 month extension. It asks basic details like address, phone. And also asks your estimated monthly spend in Thailand, contact details in Thailand for someone they can contact to verify your identity, and contact details of a person that financially supports you, if applicable. Also a bunch more personal questions but they said I didn't have to fill that out. I think its only "high risk" countries that do.

These are obviously in direct response to the Bangkok bombing.

Point 1 is stupid. When I was in Thailand for 11 months, I lived with my partner and the rental agreement was only in his name even though I usually paid the rent.

Foreigners here on Ed visas are here to learn something and this should be their main priority...not to shack up with the locals. Seems perfectly reasonable that legit foreign students would have some sort of housing accommodation in their own name.

You do know most of these tin-box safes used in cheap hotels can be opened using a potato don't you...if you don't believe me just Google it.

Also, many of them have screw holes or punch-outs for mounting screws that aren't used and a metal hanger can easily be fashioned to access the reset button inside the safe to open it.

As to those reception box safes...what's to stop the staff from making 3 keys...one extra of the guest's.

Best to just keep your funds on you during the day and lock them in your suitcase or hide the wallet in plain sight if you have a prostitute in your room.

did u Google how to open Zipper on Luggage, Very Easy

I thought it was assumed, but I guess that was taking too much for granted on T-V, that the luggage would be secured with a decent luggage lock. But if you prefer the potato-key safes for your cash and valuable be my guest.

omg could u be more Dense, u go thru the Zipper, not the Lock, now follow my instructions again and Google, ur common sense eludes u...

My luggage doesn't have zippers.

Just a note Pastrami on Rye is adding a selection of hamburgers to their menu effective Nov 1st. Looking forward to giving them a try.

Thanks for the update. I have not had a "real hamburger" for a long time. Pastrami on Rye makes such great sandwiches--no doubt they will focus on top quality and make some great hamburgers. Please take pictures of their hamburger and post them here.

I have quite a bit of doubt if the quality of their pizzas is anything to go by...wasn't very impressed with my sandwich either.

Phnom Penh is not the easiest Thai Embassy to deal with.

You should try inquiring exactly what the Embassy;s requirements are.

You are very unlikely to get more than a single entry (90 day) "O" visa even if the requirements can be met.

Much easier to obtain an 60 day tourist visa the entry from which can be extended at an immigration office for 30 days .

It is said that visas from the PP Embassy take 3-4 days unless an agent is used

It takes 1 or 2 days depending on how one counts...apply on a Monday and pickup on Wednesday. If an agent is used and you do it before 10 in the morning, next day service is available.

Tourist visas are easy to get with or without an agent and embassy is easy to deal with.

End the illegal Zionist occupation of Palestine and nobody has to die.

My return business class flight LHR-BKK was £1615 with tax and my mates economy ticket £466 return. No changes allowed but very cheap compared to others

Business class LHR/BKK/LHR tickets are always available for just over GBP1200 return, and occasionally for as little as GBP1000 or less. Not with non-stop airlines, admittedly.

In your dreams.

Not at all.

Royal Jordanian are currently selling business class LHR/BKK/LHR for GBP996.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premium-fare-deals/1715857-rj-lhr-bkk-996-j-787-all-legs.html

Probably Sri Lanken and Khazak Air as well I would imagine. No thanks.

I'm a little surprised that whole development never really found its footing; being centrally located you would think it would have been quite popular. I guess the nearby Central Mall and its Gourmet Marketplace (also a Tops brand) took its tool. I guess I shouldn't be surprised as I never shopped there much, finding everything I need between Foodland, Best Naklua, and the Gourmet Marketplace.

you must be young.....since I can remember there is some issue that let us all die in 10 years....non of it ever happened.

By now all Australians are blind from the hole in the Ozone layer, that will get worse another decade......We don't have any oil anymore since 10 years because we used all available.

The see level raised already 30 cm, etc etc....

The same Bangkok will still stay here in 30 years....

Weren't we all supposed to be dead from starvation due to famine caused by overpopulation sometime in the mid-1970s...I guess that's why I've been feeling a bit peckish for a while now

The earths gonna do what it's gonna do...humans will either adapt or die off...no big loss for the planet...and other lives will go on habitating this third-rock from the sun.

You do know most of these tin-box safes used in cheap hotels can be opened using a potato don't you...if you don't believe me just Google it.

Also, many of them have screw holes or punch-outs for mounting screws that aren't used and a metal hanger can easily be fashioned to access the reset button inside the safe to open it.

As to those reception box safes...what's to stop the staff from making 3 keys...one extra of the guest's.

Best to just keep your funds on you during the day and lock them in your suitcase or hide the wallet in plain sight if you have a prostitute in your room.

did u Google how to open Zipper on Luggage, Very Easy

I thought it was assumed, but I guess that was taking too much for granted on T-V, that the luggage would be secured with a decent luggage lock. But if you prefer the potato-key safes for your cash and valuable be my guest.

And what were the other half doing to get dead..."walking while Palestinian"?

So then it was obviously a legitimate target...WAR CRIMINALS!

Hmmm there are a number of reasons a person over stay's in a country and not all are simply people trying one on.

So in case of illness or accident as often happens and still have the 20,000 baht fine, now they want to have a bigger crack,

Welcome too LOS..............

I my self just forgot my 90 day check in, normally on the calendar but this time no'p, paid the fine all good,

if you sick you can get an extention, so no reason

Everyone keeps saying this.. But I know for a fact its not that simple..

Yes if you are actually in a private western type hospital, they can usually arrange a medical extension (often only a few days) while your an inpatient.. However they cant help when discharged and immigration doesnt give a shit about any 'doctors notes' I know I had one..

I recently broke some bones.. operations.. plates pins and the usual.. I was discharged but was in no fit state to travel. At that point immigration would accept nothing. Despite me being in agony, with rods and pins sticking out of me.. I should just get on the bus and head to the border (I doubt any airline would have let me fly in that state) to walk across the friendship bridge on a broken leg ??

The only time you seem to be able to get a medical extension is while as an inpatient at the hospital.. There are times you are unable to travel but are not also an inpatient.

I have seen the same with a patient who had a multi day hospital stay.. get discharged and the next day come to immigration with all his pospital paperwork asking for just a 7 day extension.. No go to the border pay your fine.. No discussion, simply officer discretion not given.

Those constantly saying how easy it is.. maybe should try it some time..

WRONG! I had emergency surgery and then was laid up at home for a couple months and had an entry expiry coming up and I was able to get two 30 day extensions from Pattaya immigration for medical reasons no problem. All that was necessary was a note in Thai from my hospital attending physician stating my condition and that I was unfit to fly. There must other reasons they wanted to see the back of you.

I have found immigration pretty reasonable if they think you were not out to abuse the system

being an old fool, I got my days mixed up and showed up at the airport,,, 1 day overstay

immigration could not have beem nicer

the officer looking at my passport called over the supervisor and assured me no big problem

the supervisor came over signed something and I was on my way,,, no fine or anything

have the feeling the overstays they are after are the ones with blatent dissregard for Thailand immigration laws

My understanding is that the first day of overstay isn't charged but that on the second day the fine is 400 baht (the first day's fine is included) and continuing onward. At least this is how it was in the past but maybe it's changed now. I do know that once my entry expired the day before and I had a flight out at like 06:00 the next morning and I wasn't charged anything but this was several years ago.

heads up: chaeng wattana queues are extraordinarily long.

word on the street is that the head of Immigration got 'replaced' after the bombing.

the new guy is tightening things all down the chain of command. officers are assigned 'quotas'. that is... they must show rejections increase a certain number or % and so are looking at every single document for anything... misspellings etc.

Misspellings of what...ones farang name transliterated into Thai on the TM7 forms?

Nice picture in today's Bangkok newspaper...some supposedly over-staying farang creatures being guarded by jack-booted police SWAT types, because they definitely look like a menace to Thais and a threat to Thai national security. It was also nice for the fuzz to put them all in t-shirts probably saying something in Thai script like "I'm a lawbreaking foreigner who is lower than pond scum."