jimn

Its easy to say that. A lot of people me included do not wish to leave 800k wasting away in a Thai bank and prefer to pay 13k to an agent. Before you say that "if you cant afford to leave 800k in a Thai bank then you should not be here". I say. I own fully £350k my own house in the UK and with my Thai wife a house worth 7 million baht in Thailand. Its about choice. I do accept however that there are some who cannot show the money in income or in funds and live day to day. These people have no choice but to use an agent. But they have enough money to live on and are no problem to the Thai authorities.

I am convinced its got nothing to do with what Thai bank you transfer too or the time of day. Its more to do with the reason for the transfer. If you select "general living expenses" it is done almost immediately. If you select "funds for long stay in Thailand" it can take much longer due to them ensuring that an FTT transaction is shown on the statement for immigration visa purposes.

Because they are operating as a taxi. They want you to go to the driver and ask the price. If you just try to get on the back for 10 baht, they drive off. Surprised you dont know this.

I avoid Bangkok like the plague. Its a dirty busy city, with the nightlife spread over too far a distance. I much prefer Pattaya with all its main nightlife in 2 tight geograpical areas on Soi Baukau/LK Metro/Tree Town and Walking Street. Prices much more resonable as well.

I agree with that. By the way I was responding to a post with a 3.5 year old link that mentioned dirty black water at Na Jomtien.

Are you serious, what are you on? That is an article over 3.5 years old. I swam in the sea at Jomtien today. The water was very calm and very clear. Followed after by 3 beers watching the sunset. A perfect day and evening, you cant get that in Bangkok its just a busy smelly city and Chaing Mai full of air polution. Pattaya/Jomtien for me every time.

Personally now that all the tourists are back I do not like Pattaya at all. Pattaya is great when its busy but not full of all the 2 or 3 week millionaires who are now decending here in their droves. The roads are busy and journey times have doubled. I also hate it when the foreigners who bring their foreign wives/girlfriends with them. The women look down their nose at the the many beautiful Thai girls and the men just stare and wish they had left them at home.

There are no more checks than normal. There are 3 main areas you avoid that nearly always have checkpoints. 1. Outside the old Tony gym at the junction of Pattaya Tai and 3rd road. 2. As you mentioned at the junction of Pratumnak and Thrapraya road 3. On 3rd road by the Dolphin roundabout. These checkpoints are nearly always there, avoid them. I know of no others. The police do not set up random checkpoints anywhere in the city at that time of night.

You choose to live in the middle of nowhere surrounded by uneducated Thai's. Then you complain. Come on now. Its your own fault.

Been doing it for 10 years. Used to bring bacon as well, lol.

We bring back from the UK. (1) My favourite Sausages 4 kilos (2) Cadburys chocolate loads (3) Cheese 2 kilo (4) Anti pirspirant loads (5) Shaving gel (6) My medication 7 months worth Many other things I cant remember. All the above expensive in Thailand. Never been checked coming out of UK and the x ray machines at BKK are rarely used, just there for show.

Thanks for the clarification, I had never heard of this place but yes Bone is well known. Its hardly a tourist venue and is frequented by Thai's, I suspect the "tourists" are Thais from Bangkok. The main tourist night clubs in Pattaya for farangs are Insomnia and Republic. Bone although popular is not a tourist venue.