TobyOliver

Thanks for the Tip, it's always a pain but. I guess the actually cost was the time and frustration as opposed to £18 750tb

In England I got busted £200 quid for doing 33 in a 30 zone. I also had to go on a speed awareness course which I had to re-book because the dates clashed. . .. Another £100 booking fee. 555 look back and laugh now

And what's with the road in Jomtien, the slightest bit of rain and it turns into a river. Lack of drainage ?

Also the beach chairs have been moved back (after the sand kicking incident) so you can put a towel down and your own brolly rather then pay 100 baht for a chair every little helps

Well it could be worse lol ... They seen to have a fair bit of cash but I can't see them spending it down walking or Lk 555!

Just sitting on the beach in ko larn.

Lot of young Chineses and Korean people about especially girls, few Russians. 0 falang

Will this high season be an Asian invasion ....

By balcony flooded and the water won't drain away . On the good side now I can say I have a top floor infinity pool

I have to say I have noticed the same thing, but only in Pattaya. Anywhere else in Thailand not rampant with Falang and Russians gives good service.

Reason is when a particular type of person and or culture is repeatedly rude and dismissive you almost want to give up the niceness to them.

Many a time I have held a door open for a Russian and been totally ignored. Unlike in England where you get a smile nod and an effort to almost duck through the door.

But!! I still always maintain the standards I believe are ok in terms of being polite and curious to others.

Treat other people like you want to be treated and maybe next time they will follow suit and change the tone.

However there have been times before when someone has been consistently rude to be despite all efforts. In which case take them aside and give them a firm but fair talking to.

In Thailand there very tolerant. If someone wants to have a big colourful bird (probably cared for well) and gets beer money for photos who cares. That's what makes it a fun place unlike our home countries where you would be arrested and fined.

Yes saw that! Was on motorbike taxi, we had to stop after going into a dust cloud and couldn't see more then 2 feet ahead!

Pattaya is still not expensive even on a moderate budget.

Even Joining evening clubs and taking advantage of the weather beaches and good food is far better then what you would face back home.

However the days of living like a king on a pension have long gone

To visit places and do the best activities is expensive so I could see how having only the basics could make you feel bored when tourist next door is blowing 10 k a day

I find on a budget of 1000 thb a day you can live pretty well but need 3000 a day to have the works.

Nice review guna give it a visit :D


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

After one of my friends visited some of the Islands last year he happily announces "Thailand will be like the next Ibiza!"

He couldn't quite understand why I was worried to here that :P

I haven't been to these Places in Thailand. It's not my kind of thing

Any thoughts?


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Thanks Pattszero and MPJ

its a topic close to me as I was also bought in by the 'get a degree and your set for life'. This was not the case

I think the standard of degrees should have been maintained as opposed to schools pushing everyone into further education. often when they didn't want to in some cases or we're not suited to am academic future.

And cypress hill, it's a good thing in moderation.

however if graduates start flocking to Asia there will be an over supply there aswell. that will be extremely bad for graduates currently in the job searching phase ( locals included ).

On a side note young graduates now represent a proportion of sex tourists in Pattaya

How would lots of rich young, educated guys ( be it unemployed ) going to Thailand to work benefit guys already here

There would be an oversupply just like in the UK, good for the girls, not good for the guys.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

I have ideal reply for this.

As a young guy (23) I moved to Thailand.

For young educated people the opportunities are endless.

Many older people especially whose who don't live in the uk/eu have not realised the jobs market for graduates has completely failed to epic proportions.

I was offered a job paying three times as much as back in the UK.

For young people unemployment is like 25% or something and graduates who do have jobs are in menial work.

I can't begin to explain how dire the situation is most of my friends after graduation (guys with masters degrees) earn less the a £1000 a month doing whatever they can. It's a complete waste of potential.

They will new be able to afford a house or a nice car.

If your educated in Thailand then it's like the job market in the Uk was 50 years ago (or so I have heard) because of the growth In Asia this will play out massively over the next few decades.

Sadly expect to see an influx of graduates coming to Asia.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Jealous, everyone thought I was mad for moving. Now they all want to come and visit. Pattaya is the reward for being adventurous in life, don't let sceptics have a piece of it. They can stay in fun town Europe.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

@ UKguyinthai

I totally agree, from a qualitative perspective they could increase the 'value' or the bar experience.

After all that is one of the things that I think most people were initially drawn to.

I'm quite happy to buy a girl a drink and give her a tip if there charming hostess, but not if they demand it.

There's been a couple of times iv explained this ( nicely ) and the response is usual ok. Many guys just say ignore it and walk on, but then the lesson is not learnt. Every business and employee should try the best for themselves and the business so constructive feedback is essential for the learning prosess.

If you get ambushed I find the best thing is to say 'I don't buy girls I don't know drinks' it's firm to the point and gives an option for a new approach, or conversation that could lead to a drink or tip

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

I often see Japanese/ Korean guys in bars more sober, have more money and probably understand the culture better.

I was in a go go the other night and a bunch of guys from Manchester came in, then the swearing started . . Followed by chanting . . Followed by fighting and then being sick.

These guys were like late 20's seemed to have lots of cash and not one of the girls were interested.

I'm the UK that would have seemed normal but here they just don't get it lol

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

I think this topic needs to be debated at length so we can get an idea of what to expect.

Firstly prices have gone through the roof and that includes LT asking prices 1500 BF 4500 LT which I use as the economic cornerstone for Pattaya . . . It's almost cheaper in Europe now. When prices are even we can expect them to level out at the least.

Anyway I have a background in Economics so I was surprised then prices increased faster with decreasing demand

I believe this is why

Let's take the UK for example . . After recession hit In 2009 we saw inflation on goods and services go up to the highest level for many years. 6-7%

1. This is because people and business try to match falling demand with higher prices

2. this works for a short period as customers have savings and people will in turn continue to pay more to maintain there standard of living.

3. After some time people run out of money and only then stop buying.

4. Then one of 4 things tend to happen. Business aether go bust or drop there price to become competitive or the currency devalues. If the currency is pegged/ or a single money is used like in Europe and currency can't devalue the service quality reduces or prices fall which is more damaging.

Conclusion

I would expect that is this continues there may just be hope that we could return to a cheeper and less tourist saturated pattaya .... But then again who knows with Thailand it seems to have a mind of own.

Any thoughts?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Yeh really good indoor range,

Aimed at tourists though so you pay a high price (1500thb) for a handful of rounds each if there's 2 of you

However if you get a yearly membership for 1000thb then you can get 30 rounds for like 500thb which considering the gun rental is included isn't to bad. happy hunting

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Actually while on this fun Topic a word of warning about Big C and there DVD players!

Now I'm a nice guy and I try to give other people a chance to be a good citizen and help me (after all I'm a foreign person in someone else's country and lot of things I don't know)

So here I am in big c looking at DVD players. . . I know roughly what I want a well know brand, durable ect ect

Anyway matey boy in the isle who had been stalking me like a lion does a wounded gazelle jumps in for the sales pitch.

"This Samsung no good mr" I show you best one (points to random brand tacky looking player) "yes this good one, play everything other one only play Thai DVD and no play copy" my friend have this one very good"

in my heart I new I should have been firm and gone with the good old brands we all know and love. . . Alas I gave in, after all, he seemed an expert on the subject of DVD players.

I get home and guess what . . . .

DVD player no work lol

However it did play music CD's so I gave it to my girl friend. Amazingly she was really happy . . I ask her why as it was broken. "Owh yes but it play copy music, very good for price"

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Also I hope other foreign people continue to have here head in the sand . . Otherwise they might come here and ruin it for the rest of us.

Most guys I know back home would not be able to cope here, they are to pussy whipped by western society. Shock to the system would be to great

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

England has high unemployment, unfriendly people, unaffordable houses, boring leisure activities ball breaking women.

I'm one of the so called lost generation, graduating just as the financial crisis hit. I would never want to go and live in England again . . Before I had nothing to compare it to (only visits to family in Thailand when I was a kid) so I just got on with things wondering if it was normal.

After living here I think going back would put my sanity at risk

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Needed to open bank account to buy a condo in Pat

Bank clerk "sowi sir you need thai residency certificate"

2 hours later at immigration office

"Can I apply for a residence certificate please"

Response "sowi can not do, I need see Thai utility bill, you get when you are living here"

Words fail me

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Well if you wear a 4000 quid piece of jewellery and carry a grand in cash what do you expect lol

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Yeh English law and culture basically make being a man a crime.

And agree with greatfull farang, it's the culture and climate for me at least

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand