Morty

So what would happen if taxis were available in Pattaya?

Obviously they would be cruising around where the customers are, along Beach Rd, Second Rd and Jomtien Beach Rd, exactly the same areas where the Baht busses are cruising, making traffic even worse.

They would also struggle to get customers as flag fall is 35Baht compared to 5-10Baht for a short Baht bus ride, ok, with three passengers in the Taxi the fare is more even.

You would not see any taxis cruising around Thepprasit, Third Rd or East of Sukhumvit.

What would happen if you flagged a taxi on beach rd and wanted to go home, somewhere east of Sukhumvit rd?

Obviously the driver would decline or ask for something like 200Baht as 9 times out of 10 he would have to drive empty back to city. Same deal as in Bangkok when the driver is not interested to go to your destination.

Ok, the choice of taxis would be nice but the only way it would work would be to have a few Taxi depots around the city where they waited for customers and the possibility of calling for a taxi. Cruising taxis, like in Bangkok, would not be economical for the drivers and would completely clog up the already bad traffic.

I understand that in BKK, sometimes when you get a driver about to leave his shift, he won't take you to a location an hours drive from where he's supposed to deliver his car, not considering the potential standstill at the roads (taxi's in BKK are rented by the day/hour by the driver). This, hovever will never be the case in PTY since the distanses are much shorter, and the congestion on the roads are far less eminent.

I guess for tourists wenturing beach road, sai song or sai sam the bathbusses are adequate, but for ppl. living here they're a nightmare.

At least thats my experience

but then again, I don't use'em EVER!

Like it or not Baht Bus is here to stay, and I predict you won't see any metered taxi(s) in Pattaya apart from pre-bookings or drop offs from airport elsewhere. Acceptance is the key to happiness.

Lor - no you won't get the ride for 10bht in a metered taxi. Just imagine the same amount of taxi(s) roaming Pattaya as BKK.

As a Pattaya resident myself, I thank god for cars and MC's. I'm living on a soi of sukhumvit (eastern side). For me to get to downtown Patt. I will have to use three bath busses (not considering the hassle walking down the soi to get to sukhumvit).

so here is the travel route:

1 One white song teaw southbound past pattaya klang, stop at a walking bridge to get northbound (or walk in the heat and get wet and sweaty).

2 One white song teaw to pattaya klang.

3 walk a couple of 100 meters and find the empty blue song teaws. (this means negotiatimg prices and all sorts of anoying stuff, esp. if in a hurry)

On a lucky day, that means 60 bath a day for a roundtrip. I guess I've could have a taxi meter for that, or close to it incl. taxi waiting

So as far as I'm concerned SCRAP the song teaws and get better transportation

It's a pity it won't happen, this being Thailand and all

As I'm Norwegian I will bring my family to the Norwegian sailors church in Pattaya, for a trad. Norwegian xmas dinner followed by a visit by santa. later on I'll get pissed on aquavite shots and beer, Norwegian style

I just applied for WH3000 with thaihealth it looks good as far as I'm concerned, and the price was 12000 baht a year. No medical checkup and other hassle. they have deals with all the major hospitals in Thailand, so I feel secure should anything happen to me. I also checked out BUPA but I thought it was to expensive. All the major hospitals in Pattaya and Bangkok was coverd by thaihealth. They have a list of hospitals that they cover on their website, and you get a card that you or your relatives present at the hospital and the bills go directly to Thaihealth, so you don't have to pay first and get reinbursed. The only downside, is that MC accidents are only covered by 50 percent, but I think that goes for most of the insurance companies.

Their website is www.thaihealth.co.th, and they have many coverage options so you should find one that suit your needs

just my 2 baht

Morty

Looking forward to seeing you all again. It's a pitty brit won't be there, but hopefully someone else brings a camera so brit can see what he's missing Mrs. Morty will be there too, for some reason she won't let me venture into walking street alone

Looking forward to the ribs and the free drinks at the BF

And of course Lennies tacos

This is the kind of trash that thailand is trying to get rid of with these new visa laws.

Seems like a smart fellow, eating trash so he can spend his cash on beer. Wow

Just out of curiosity. How would you recon these new visa laws would hinder

anyone/everyone to overstay the same way they've allways done?

Visas are for ppl who wants to follow the law of the land, and it's not getting easier,

that's for sure

I totaly agree that this is the kind of trash should be deported/ blacklisted.

Problem solved

But then again

TiT

Morty

Help

TV seems to have canged. When i click on an OP i get the replies as a list of the first line of the replies - instead of seeing the full messages.

This is rubbish because i have slow internet connection. I want to see all the replies when i click on a message

I have the same problem with my Opera browser, when I use FF it works like "normal" are there any settings that should be chamged, or is it just a bug in the publishing software?

Please let me know, cuz now I have to use two browsers, one for thaivisa (Firefox) and another for all the rest of my surfing, since all the cert. and stuff is located in Opera

Morty

How good is your luck? I get each year immediately before I visit immigration but understand being in Bangkok helps in that regard. Some have been able to use for many years. But from recent wording of Sunbelt posts I would guess that we may be needing a new one each year more often. Am not aware of any time limit but bank letter is usually regarded as one week so expect it would be at least that long and suspect a month, or even current year would probably be accepted by most officers.

Short answer; I don't know and don't know that there is an answer.

tnx for your prompt response, I think I will pit on my hansum man look and try with the latest letter I have.

BTW. I would have thought you knew the answer, but it might be as Sunbelt says, there are no rules

Keep up the good work!

Morty

Hi knowledgeable ones (yes it was hintet at you lop.)

I would like to know how many days/years the letter from my embassy stating my pension as proof of income is vallid.

i.e. do I need a new one every year, and if, how many months in advance can i obtain it from my embassy/consulate?

I just got one now to finance some stuff (paeng mak), and my visa reneval is due in feb. 07

Morty

I'm in Free drinks and all!

Since I live here, any day suits me fine.

count me in.

Morty

Two years ago I came close to packing up my medical practice and retiring in Thailand. I love this country and have traveled there since 1971. Circiumstances did not allow it at that time. Now I'm glad I didn't.

Although not active on the forum these days, I do read it regularly.

I am truely concerned about the changes taking place in Thailand.

It is enough to deal with losing personal freedoms here at home. I can't imagine losing even more freedoms one has by residing in Thailand. What's the trade off?

<snip>

I have met Taksin, twice. Once in Thailand at the Dutch Embassy and once here in at the Thai Embassy in Los Angeles. No thanks.

It is refreshing to see so much open dissent/discussion on the board about Taksin and the other governmental, cultural and socio-economic BS that permeates the culture.

"Freedommmm!!!" - William Wallace

I remember a time, not too long ago, when this was discussed very cautiously and conservatively. Mostly encouraged not to discuss these kinds of things at all.

However it appears that "the gloves have most certainly come off now."

I applaud the moderators for permitting and the members for contributing the truth.

I will be in Thailand from 11-07 to 12-07.

"Doc" I had promised you a bottle (or two) of good red wine on more than one occasion.

If it's OK to put liquids in the luggage, at that time, let me know where we can meet so you can take delivery. I will be around Samuts Sakorn for a few days visiting family before traveling around the country.

Best of luck to all of you.

We've all got an opinion let me close with one more,

"Instant karma's gonna get you. It's gonna knock you one the head.

Better recognize your brother. Pretty soon your gonna be dead."

'Cause we all shine on. Like the moon and the stars and the sun. Yeah we all shine on. On an on and on and on and on on onnnnn."

- John Lennon

Well I will be there next year. Im sure I will love the place, I hope you wont miss it too much

Well I will be there next year. Im sure I will love the place, I hope you wont miss it too much

DONZ

Take of your pink sunglasses (they don't fit you. by the way)

Have you ever morrgaged (spelling) a house and a car, put your kid(s) trough a deasent school, got your "tank" emptied and flushed and last but not least had your Mother in law (Jai) telling your wife how to do simple things in the wrong way (like bringing up children)? if not, don't reply to these topics

PS

The laws are going to be tougher on the undsirebles (no income,no visa and no life)

Morty

(you got me at last)

Couln't you still put 800.000 Bath in a savings accout and qualify for a one year non-imm-O, or is that of the table as well?

My guess is that it's the visarunners/visarun companies they're afther by this. (so watch out kerryd!)

The way I read it, it would make and end to 30 day stamps, going on forever. So I guess the medicine, so to speak, would get yourself a proper visa (easy for me to say, with a pension, and a thai wife)

Seriously though, a tripple entry touristvisa shouldn't be to hard to get your hands on if you're willing to spend some dosh travelling to somewere else then Penang (or they might do them again, down there), what do I know.

Morty

Thai police outside Bangkok are better.

I find the Pattaya police to be verry "by the book" , all of the fines paid at soi 9, and there you go either with license in hand, or on your way to pick it up, never offered to pay of a BIB in Pattaya for the last ten years, but it was different then.

Isaan is another story though

Morty

HI my name is Morty I'm a semi-new member so I thought it was time to introduce myself. I'm 39, married with two kids and living in fun city (Pattaya) I'm from Norway, where i run an ISP, and consider myself a computer spesialist, I don't work I LOS though since I don't want the hassle with work permits, taxes and stuff.

Morty

The navy run beaches in Satahip are as good as any beaches in LOS, juist ask Dragonman.

The downside is that it's 30 min. from pattaya. having access to a car should be necessary.

Any ideas about times folks? I live a good 30 minutes from PTY...

I guess anytime after eleven would be safe

I have heard about the Vic???

Just be careful not to wonder inside soi yoksak (soi 6) Then you could be in for a a hole different brekkie. Not that I would know beeing married and all

Miss Thailand Universe Contestants go to Koh Larn

I guess so I'm I

Maybe he was just a little paranoid, drinking a little less might have done the trick.

Anyway he will get whats comming to him if I know the BIB's

Morty

Congrats on your 500 mark.

but could I suggest getting a life outsidde your computer

Just kidding

Morty

well, at least he got treated to a biz. class flight back home, beeing out of work and everything. smart guy in my opinion

Any air travel should work. Land crossings might not be happy as they look closely for a stamp out of foreign country which you would not have in the Thai passport. Although Don Muang may also question you they should understand easier and you can work up if the line officer has doubts.

Air travel should be the option then.

thanks for the info.

Morty

My advice would be to get yourself a visa of some kind, It's cheaper than a return ticket.

And check out lopburi's list of requrements.

Just my two satang

Morty

As said you can not obtain an ID card until the age of 15 but you can obtain a Thai passport - once that happens you can exit on the foreign passport and return on the Thai passport and from that point on not need to do the extension of stay/90 day address reporting.

thanks lopburi, your're the best. would it be sufficient to got to lets say KL leaving on the Norwegian PP, get stampted out of th, get stamped in in Malaysia, get stamped out of ML, and switch PP's in the air, or would i have to go to Norway to make the switch?

PS! Norwegians don't stamp Norwegian PP for Norwegians

thanks again

Morty