craig

I'm looking to find a reliable travel agent, preferably in Pattaya, to purchase a round trip ticket on EVA Evergreen Deluxe to Seattle. Does anyone recommend anyone? Any advise is appreciated.

I am presently living near Pattaya and have a "retirement" visa. I am considering moving to the Chiang Mai-Pai area. How friendly are the immigration officials in Chiang Mai. I find the officials here in Pattaya are friendly, helpful and easy to deal with. What is the story on the immigration office in CM?

Thanks for any information. I am thinking of either finding a place on the outskirts of town or in the mountains heading toward Pai...my Thai girlfriend and her children will move with me. She likes Pai but is wary of travelling on the road to Chiang Mai on any sort of regular basis...also the distance from medical facilities.

I scored low on all aspects of the personality test except Avoidance where I score moderate. I found I am a gluttonous heretic, however and banished to the third level of ######. I should find some pleasant company there.

I spent the night of 13 September along the river in downtown Lampang and noticed the following afternoon that the river had risen quite a bit. Did the floods hit Lampang city? By the way, both my Thai girlfriend and I enjoyed this place...she loaded up on a bunch of inexpensive ceramics to sell in Pattaya.

Stopped by the local DVD pirate and picked up some to watch this week...On the strength of some comments here and because I thought my Thai GF would enjoy it I bought DAWN OF THE DEAD...I liked it a lot. I watched my friend hide her face in the pillow, peek between her fingers at the scene of the woman giving birth, shake her legs and feet in fear and generally enjoy the shit out the film...We spent the night pretending to be zombies while we tried to screw ourselves to death, playing that the only way to kill a zombie is to make it have an orgasm. Guys, watch this film with a nubile young thing.

I also watched THE MAGDALENE SISTERS. A Peter Mullan film based on truth about women imprisoned and forced to work for free in modern day Ireland...Radio Canada did a brilliant special about this a year or so ago...Well worth watching.

I still think KING ARTHUR and TROY were terrible movies.

There is no perfect place in this world. I retired from working in the USA and now live in Thailand...I want to stay here and I find a number of things about Thai life aggrevating and would like to see them improved. Just because I would like to change some things does not mean I am complaining or I should leave this country. In order to improve life you must recognize things that should, in your opinion, be improved and offer suggestions to do so.

Driving here or being anywhere near where people are driving in Pattaya is a health threat. The lack of concern over public safety...open holes on unlit sidewalks. People crowding in lines at the post office. My major area of concern is noise...It seems that people here like to share their music and converstation with everyone...The people carrying on conversations with each other and over cellphones in the cinema, the neighbor across the soi who thinks everyone likes to hear amplified music at two in the morning and the dog owners who think dogs should run free and that the sound of barking is soothing to the ear.

I would like to see a more civil society here and have some issues with life here BUT I am here and intend to stay...I have adjusted a great deal and my attitude has become either much more accepting or I've become more accustomed to things here.

Lighten up on each other, folks.

I bought a copy from the guy a soi buokhow market. He is there Tuesdays and Fridays when it is open. A good copy of the DVD...not all the extras but it is all there. It isn't shot by a hidden camera in a theatre...there is a small open air shop across the soi in the other part of the market that seems to be open every day. I've bought a bunch of stuff from both of them and had only one which had a problem...they swapped for a good one.

I’ve been driving my motorbike for almost a year without a Thai driving license and my Thai girlfriend got her’s three weeks ago and I found out that my insurance company wouldn’t pay out damages if I didn’t have a current license. So, Friday morning we left my bungalow in Jomtien and after about an hour arrived at the license bureau. It was 8:00 a.m. and they opened in half an hour. At 8:15 we went inside, walked up the stairs and were able to pick up the forms. My friend filled them out and we approached a woman sitting behind a desk in the lobby and she checked them off. I had my residence form from Immigration, a doctor’s certificate, copies of my passport, two pictures and my passport. She asked if I had driver’s license. I showed her my Washington state license. She asked what it allowed me to drive. I tried to convince her I could drive anything. Another woman looked at it and they decided I needed to take the tests. If I had an international license I would have been exempted from the tests.

As she prepared my papers she tried to write on my pictures. She said that the ink would not stay on them and we had to get new ones. We walked across the street and for 100 baht I got four very small color pictures of me in about five minutes. We returned and she wrote a number one on my form and said to take the color blindness test. There was a large circle with smaller colored circles inside it. She pointed at a number of the colored pictures and I told her what colors they were. She said fine and to wait.

After a few minutes we were told to go inside the office. In the rear right hand corner was another testing area. My Thai friend said this was not here three weeks ago and she didn’t have to do anything here. As I was the first person there I didn’t have anyone to watch and see what to do and the woman administering the test spoke minimal English. First I was told to sit in a chair and look at two bright sticks inside a box some yards away. She indicated I was to press a green and a red button on a remote control that would move these sticks. I thought I was to move them together until they were one, similar to some eye examinations in the past. After trying to do this I found I couldn’t. She had me look through the side of the box and it became clear that the stick on the right was stationery and the one on the left moved backward when the red button was pressed and forward when the green was pressed. The object of this was to line the two sticks up at the same distance from me. A depth perception test. I did this and was told to take the next test.

This test consisted of sitting in the chair and on the floor in front of me were a mock gas pedal and brake. I was to press down on the gas pedal and a vertical row of lights in front of me would indicate speed as I pressed down...when the green lights became red lights I was to press down on the brake as quickly as possible. I did this and was told I was finished with this and to go sit in a “student’s” chair on the other side of the file cabinets. I did this and was handed a color booklet of traffic signs. I was to read this in preparation for the test. There was a TV and a video tape sitting under the window...an official said this was a lecture in English for the foreigners to watch. While I was scanning the folder of signs other people, Thai and a few foreigners, arrived at the depth perception test. One older Englishman tried to take the depth perception test and could not do anything...they tried to explain to him what to do as did his girlfriend. He could not understand what to do. I volunteered to explain to him. I did so and he said he could not see any difference in distance....his depth perception was shot. I said it seemed they would let him keep retaking the test...so after about a dozen attempts he accidently lined up the sticks or they just got tired of him and the examiner said he passed. He needed another dozen attempts to pass the reaction test with the brake. They passed him and as he had an international license he left to wait for an hour to get his Thai license.

I continued to peruse the booklet of signs as a few other foreigners joined me to await the video. At 10:00 a.m. they started the video. This tape is basically a comedy as a British accented voice began to explain some Thai traffic regulations. Infractions were shown and the need to be polite when driving, etc. None of these things seemed to be enforced in Pattaya. I kept trying to pay attention and after an hour it ended. We were immediately handed test booklets and answer sheets. I had twenty multiple choice questions. Just over half of them were on signs and the other on basic laws. I do not recall hearing or seeing anything from the video that related to the questions. I may have been daydreaming during the video. Each of us had a different test so we couldn’t cheat. I finished and was looking at my answer sheet when another woman walked past looked at my answers and pointed to number 12. She said “C” was better. I marked that answer and she said to write my name next to the other choice I had made. I guess we couldn’t cheat by reading each others’ answers but the officials wanted us to pass.

I asked her if my answer for question 20 was correct. She said it was. This question read something like: Where can a motorbike drive anywhere it want? The choices were something like: When there is heavy traffic you can drive in the special lanes. You can drive on the right side of the road. When there is heavy traffic you can drive on the walkway. I don’t remember the fourth choice. The correct answer is that the motorbike driver can use the sidewalk.

She took my booklet and gave the answer sheet to another woman. She said I passed and to go eat and return at 1:00 p.m. an hour and a half later. We ate and returned an hour later. At about 12:45 I was given my papers back and told to go to the driving range. I drove my motorbike to the rear of the building and we waited. I asked Mod what I was to do and she described what she had done several weeks before. I noticed a map of the course and what it appeared I would have to do. She said she had not done this. The inspector came out and I waited to see what others did. Some cars started first. The first person was a South Asian in a car. The cars were to stop behind a stop line, turn right, stop and start on hill, turn right and left on the course, enter a lane blocked off by colored poles and back out. Then they were finished. More than one vehicle could take the course at a time. The first driver while backing out knocked over a pole...the inspector was busy with someone else at that time and didn’t see this. The girlfriend ran out and put the pole upright. The man passed.

I watched some motorcyclist and a young European man was making hand signals which required that the right hand be used..weird, as this is the hand used for driving. My Thai friend had impressed on me the importance of doing this as she had to retake the driving test because she had not used hand signals. Today, the inspector said use the tun signals and not hand signals.

Motorbikes were to stop behind a stop line, weave between uprights (not on the previous test), make some turns, drive on top of and along a narrow wooden bridge (maybe 18 inches wide and not on the previous tests) and stop behind a pedestrian walkway. I waited until a number of motorbikes seemed ready to go and I entered the starting area. Well, as luck would have it the other drivers had to wait and I was the ONLY person on the course when I took the test. “Shit!” I thought as there would be fewer distractions for the examiner while I was doing this. I made it through, parked my bike, and approached the examiner who was watching four bikes go through the course...one of the bike drivers did not drive on top of the wood bridge. The examiner marked on this person’s paper to return on Monday to retake the test. Others who had made some errors were able to immediately retake the test. My Thai friend said the examiner knew the other man and didn’t like him...something to do with the Navy.

Now, I was to wait an hour to get my license. While we were waiting a number of Thais and one European exited from the room where the Thais had heard the morning’s lecture, in Thai, on traffic laws. The foreigner, in apparent disgust, threw his forms in the trash and stomped down the stairs. I asked my friend what this was all about. She said they had failed the test. About an hour later my name was called an I got my license. As we were walking away, I saw that the word “car” was typed on the license. I showed it to my girlfriend and she said they had given me permission to drive a car not a motorbike....I returned the card and about half an hour later was given a license for a motorbike.

So, it took the entire day as we left at 3:30 p.m. My advise is to get an international license beforehand and avoid this...they would accept a license from the US but it MUST state specifically what you can drive. Hope this is of assistance to someone contemplating obtaining a driving license in Pattaya

This is a concern for me also. I have not had the experience of being burgled yet. I don't have a lot of stuff to steal but if my laptop went missing I'd be pissed off. I live in a small housing compound that has security, who sleeps all night, and neighbors...most not overfriendly. I've pondered the idea of moving to the countryside...I'm a country boy at heart, but my Thai girlfriend, we've been together for over a year, says that it is not a good idea as if Idon't have other people around on a regular basis the place WILL be burgled.

Do you live inside the city or what? Best of luck in the future....

I will vote by absentee ballot for Kerry. I followed bush jr's career as gov of texas and shuddered at his ideas of civil rights then. I watched him on tv when he "debated" Gore and thought he looked like a scared middle school kid or a deer caught in the headlights.

When the coup took place and he became the selected president and Gore went along with it, I shuddered some more.

Then he hijacked the grief and horror caused by 9/11 and went off on his personal vendetta in Iraq. Yes, I shuddered again. In my opinion, bush jr should be tried for treason. He is a traitor to the USA. He took the resources of this nation and instead of going after the terrorists, he wasted them in the sands of Iraq...he wasted the money and the lives of Americans...my nephew is there now sitting behind a machine gun and wishing he was home...

I cannot really understand why any person with a lick of common sense or a desire to uphold the bill of rights would even consider voting for bush jr.

I thought that "King Arthur" was a load of rubbish....I thought the same for "Troy." This retelling of well known stories is pretty silly. I enjoyed "Collateral"...this film has some good dialogue and action. Probably one of the better films to hit this country's major theaters...."Cold Mountain" which is gone now was also good.

Ray Winstone is a delight in whatever film he is in...

On the 16th of July I purchased two first class tickets leaving Nakhon Lampang to Bkk on 14 September...I paid 1,172 baht each...Nakhon Lampang is 2hours south of Chiang Mai. We will fly up to Chiang Mai on Air Asia on 1 September for a total price for two seats of 1,177 baht. It is cheaper to fly...however, I like trains and live here so time is not an issue.

When we purchased the tickets, the ticket agent at the Pattaya train station showed us a diagram of the 1st class car and two months ahead of time there were already 8 seats sold...ours being number 9 and 10....my advise is book ahead as soon as possible.

I agree with Totster about the smell of the earth when it rains after a dry smell...I also love the smell of coffee in the morning and the sound of a good harmony and a bluegrass fiddle.

Sexy Beast and anyone living in Cambodia...

I've visited Cambodian now five times and enjoyed myself every time...I've thought about possibly relocating there but am hesitant because of the lack of medical facilities.

Can anyone give me an idea of what life is like for a retiree/expat in Cambodia...Is Phnom Phen the place to be? S'ville? What to do? There doesn't seem to be much going on that I could see and I think after a week or so I might get bored...the infrastructure here in Pattay is good, lots to do, easy to travel, etc.

Limbo, I appreciate your reply and agree with what you say. I was not clear in what I was trying to say. In my opinion, most of these men who claim some sort of mythical past of adventure and importance are anything but what they pretend to be. It seems to me they invent themselves and present themselves as something they are not.

I don't know a lot but am somewhat aware of politics, geography and history and when talking to some of these "heroes" it soon becomes clear they are not what they claim to be but are living in a dream. Some of us don't like what we really are and for whatever reasons want others and themselves to see themselves as an important person.

I just wanted to point out the large number of these sad people I ran into in the beer bars....maybe I just hung out in the wrong places.

Thanks, J-Mac, I looked this word up, never heard of it before. I enjoy learning new things. Thanks again.

I've booked a few flights with them on the website and all was well. I found that once in awhile the site does not respong but soon is back working. Just relax a bit and try again.

Well this thread has pushed this topic into my brain again...I've thought about this a bit but have made no plans. I'm soon to be 59, overweight but in pretty good health with a small pension. My thoughts on the matter include living with my Thai wife or paying for a live in provider. As long as I am not in pain or am penniless I think this is what I hope for...I do plan on ending it if the worse comes along...I am going to set out some sort of plan along that line. I am going to have to research morphine idea...does anyone have any real information on this? If you are reluctant to share on this forum please mail me. My family in the USA will support and assist in any decision I decide on.

I agree, marquess, about the imbecility of some of the posters. It seems to me that among the expats here are a large number of intellectually and emotionally challenged individuals. I first noticed this years ago when I frequented the bar scene...I have never met so many ex CIA, ex spies, ex green berets, ex special branch, ex...god know what. It seemed these people were living out some kind of fantasy in a strange land.

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This refusal to admit a mistake is not confined to Thais. I taught school in both mainland China and Japan and found the same sort of behavior. But...upon reflection I found this in many people in in the USA, where I am from. During my millitary service many officers above me, just would not own up when they ######ed up and subordinates the same...in the workplace the same sort of thing...

Maybe a bit of maturity, lack of fear of ridicule or a reprimand, and god know what will allow someone to admit error.

My Thai girlfriend is willing to admit and apologize when in error...it does take some persuading sometime to get her to see the error...or it might be she is just humoring me.

In any case, when the tension mounts get an oil massage.

I had extensive root canal work and complicated crown work done at Bangkok Pattaya hospital and have nothing but praise for the dentists. The price was a fraction of the cost in the USA but maybe a bit expensive for Thailand. A woman dentist performed four root canals over the four visits totalling about six hours of work. A male dentist, a graduate of Cornell, perfomed the crown which involved cementing a post into the remaining portion of the tooth to support the crown. This took three visits and was around three hours work. The total time was about nine hours.

Both dentists gave me their undivided attention...there was no pain...The total cost was around 14,000 baht. Most of the cost went to the crown. I probably could have found a cheaper place but I was in a bit of pain when I went in and was so pleased with my initial treatment I just stayed with them.

The year before my dentist discovered an infection in a root of this tooth the week before I retired and moved to Thailand. He said if I didn't take care of it soon it would become something much worse. I put it out of my mind and was reminded of it over a year later in the early evening with sudden and unrelenting pain. The dental clinic at the hospital is open in the evenings.

I retired one year ago from public school teaching. I will turn 59 in September. I live in a bungalow near Jomtien Beach and am usually not bored. I go off on frequent trips with my 30 year old Thai girlfriend. She is seeing parts of the country she could never afford to go to and I am seeing things I probably would not have a chance to see on my own.

So, travel, reading, movies, motorbike riding, cooking and generally just keeping busy seem to keep me fairly content. I spend little to no time at the bars but enjoy sitting under a tree with a book and cool drink.

I live in Pattaya and use a dial up connection...It took two months to get a phone line into my bungalow. I used Loxinfo for the first six months or so, it is easy to use and pretty cheap...A friend told me he used Asianet and it was cheaper. I now use Asianet. It is about half the price of Loxinfo.

The only catch to Asianet that I can tell is that it is good only in Chonburi while Loxinfo is good throughout Thailand...just be sure to dial up the connection in the province you are in or you will pay long distance rates.

Loxinfo, is, I believe good for one year from activation and Asianet is good for six months...none of this is a problem for me as I use up the time quickly.

I actually have both providers on my laptop...Asianet for daily use and Loxinfo in case of problems with Asianet (so far no problems) and if I take my laptop while I travel in country.

Last Saturday afternoon my Thai friend and I arrived by train and were pleased to see the entrance to the subway was right outside the train station. "Good Job," I thought, "they got it right as I don't need to walk blocks to find the station." The descent into the subway showed pleasant artwork and all but the number of Thais was a bit disconcerting. The area where tickets are purchased and the entrance into the subway proper was teeming with bodies. Rather than jump into the mass of humanity which was crowding against each other we opted to walk out and catch a meter taxi to Ekamai station. Maybe when the newness of the subway wears off and the price rises it will be possible to use it.

Udon, I can't access the site, www.korat.in.th, also. I've tried a number of times.