yaagjon

Why not get a tablet, I have a Samsung tablet and a Microsoft Surface, they work fine for me.

Tukom generally  sell copies from China, Central and PowerBuy sell genuine.

Should make the traffic a bit more bearable, hopefully.

On ‎25‎/‎09‎/‎2016 at 3:49 PM, paulbj2 said:

All this talk of drugs reminds me of a report I read the other day on the relative dangers and social harm done by the various drugs people take. The outright "winner" and by far the most dangerous street drug in the world, by a substantial margin, was alcohol. That report was specific to Britain and was authored, if I remember correctly, by Prof. Nutt. A similar report prepared by the European agency charged with surveying drug abuse reached the same conclusion regarding alcohol. I have noticed in the past, that many of the harshest critics of drug use are, themselves, inveterate drinkers and smokers. The reality is that alcohol and tobacco account for many hundreds of times more deaths every year than all illegal drugs put together.

 

My brother was a consultant in Acute Medicine at one of Britain't largest hospitals. He said that 75 - 80% of his admissions were alcohol related. Naturally, the cost to the NHS of alcohol abuse is astronomical. I have seen far, far more lives destroyed by alcohol than by any illegal drugs.

Well duh, I think you have just qualified for post of the year.

Obviously if the amount of people taking illegal drugs and alcohol were the same, the figures would be completely different, old chap.

15 minutes ago, Naam said:

 

i agree with you but i consider the advantages outweigh by far that some of old Pattaya's charme doesn't exist anymore. if i was, like in olden times, a tourist i'd miss the charme. as a near 12-year resident in the outskirts of Pattaya i enjoy what is offered today. for example a 100mbit fiber optic connection vs. the 128k wifi offered by a fistful of hotels or internet cafés 20 years ago.

As someone who lives in Paradise like yourself I agree with you nearly 100%. I just wish something was done about the traffic.

Why don't you go to Mogadishu, things are pretty cheap there.

Once you get used to business it's hard to go back to economy, although the lounge in E leaves a bit to be desired.

I only fly business class with Thai, they have Fast track which seems only available to Thai airlines flyers. I don't think Malaysian business class can use Fast track, although there must be something arranged for first class I would have thought.

It's not just 40m Baht, it's 40m Baht for the next 10 or 20years hopefully.  Surely a much better use for the limited funds that are available to improve Pattaya.

23 hours ago, whiteman said:

Monthy income in Bhat 156,200  expenditure 102,670   savings 53530 per month  have own house in wifes name 2 cars free hold employ a 6 day a week live out worker have health cover expensive but will keep it.

 

All bases covered very happy in my 13+ years living in Thailand.

 

Monthly Income is derived from personal super cpi ed      and shares and fixed term + cash. I planed to live here before I came and have lived my dream.

 

Good luck to you all I hope you will live your dream long term here as well

You do well to live on 102,670 Baht a month. Your dreams must be quite sedate on 100k a month

18 hours ago, Sheryl said:

There are indeed side effects, considerable ones. Both unpleasant ones and potentially serious ones.

 

There are two ways this can be used in people not yet infected with HIV.

 

One is as pre-exposure prophylaxis. For this, it has to  ta be taken consistently, every day, long term. This is recommended only for people at sufficiently high risk that the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

 

The other is post-exposure prophylaxis. In that case it is taken for 28 days after a high-risk exposure. It has to be started within 72 hours of the event and the sooner the better in terms of efficacy. As the unpleasant side effects of this tends to be worst at the beginning, doing this for 28 days is no picnic.

 

This drug will not prevent other STDs nor Hepatitis (B or C)  infection, which is also a risk in unprotected sex and more easily acquired than HIV. You would obviously be far better off using condoms.

 

See http://www.avert.org/learn-share/hiv-fact-sheets/emergency-treatment

Thanks for that.

Are there any posters taking it as a preventative.

Is it worth taking for the odd moment of stupidity when drunk.

Any side effects?

2 hours ago, pepi2005 said:

Thanks for all the interesting comments so far. I've learned that despite of the obvious reduction in Western tourist numbers here in Pattaya, other tourist sectors like Asian tourists increasingly seem to make up for it.

Not sure about occupancy rates in the 'condominium projects' though, most if not all if all of the units in those large buildings seem to be empty if you look at them at any time between 8 and 12pm. So the 'rent condo' market indeed seems to be low and I'm not sure whether the 'income model' for many can work out.

 

I fully agree with the concerns about the direction Pattaya took since a while. For me as a European, it feels horrible watching more and more of the few remaining trees in the city fall for even more concrete. To me, quality of living is strongly connected to at least feel in touch with nature ... living on Pratumnak and watching Buddha Hill getting slowly destroyed (to make space for more parking lots and tennis courts, and closely surrounded by high-rises) and trees being replaced by constructions of which some failed and may stay that way here forever is horrible. Even if they'd put a 'chocolate factory' there (for me as a chocolate lover) would not keep me from moving away from here if Pattaya turns into yet another faceless concrete Asian city congested by cars and stinking busses and heating up because there is no remaining vegetation anymore.

This is what I really despise in Thailand: that there seems to be no planning whatsoever.When there is money to be made, trees fall and make place for the 100th copy of some other mall, franchise food stall or 'condo project'. Parks or open spaces for recovery and relaxation don't seem to be part of City planning at all ... pretty much nowhere in Thailand. Without the king's properties (many of which are parks or untouched land), some cities would just be horrible. So if there would be a Green group in Pattaya demonstrating for public parks and to keep the remaining Pratumnak as it is (a place where joggers, although already under heavy breathing, still can do something good for their bodies), I would definitely join.

 

Regarding the red-light scene:  I admit this is one of Pattaya's major attractions to me. Basically I can deal with much of the b.s., the traffic congestion, the dangers of driving a bike here, the dust & dirt, the smell in Central Pattaya, the floodings, the various exploits etc. because the smiles of the girls and the fun in some bars make up for it. And this is where both sides of 'development' may eventually clash: I was disturbed to see a new shiny mall has popped up right next to Soi 6. Eventually, the 'shopping fun' side of Pattaya will eat up Central Pattaya's remaining night entertainment spots, and I doubt that Soi 6 as a whole will simply move somewhere else... My nightmare would be if 5 or 6 b.s. tourist gogo bars would remain on a shopping/McDonald'ized Walking Street and everywhere else just a Thai copy of 'wasteland'.

 

It would be great if the people in charge would at some point come up with a concept of how they want the city to look and feel like in, let's say, 20 years from now. If I had a say in it, I would be happy if there would be a few parks that are protected from the construction lobbies, a few corridors for viewpoints to the beach and Koh Larn that would be protected from being blocked by further high-rise construction, and a few true entertainment zones where the naughty side of Pattaya could proliferate (also without interferance by the construction lobbies). It would be a pity if Pattaya's famous (and till today, well-working) tourist slogan 'the city that never sleeps' would one day have to be replaced by 'the city with millions of condo beds to sleep in'.

 

Careful, you'll have the real estate brigade on, making everyone aware, that just because there are no lights on, it doesn't mean condos are empty

All around the world woman are with men for money, just look at some of the woman Hugh Heffner or Rod Stewart have been with.

Certainly if you are a wealthy Falang and understand how the game is played you will have a much greater chance of success.

Why posters would expect girls from Issan to be any different is beyond me.

On ‎30‎/‎08‎/‎2016 at 11:47 AM, n210mp said:

 

Ha ha ha thanks !

Of course you have  some of it wrong but who am I to argue and 

your words are contradictory !

 

Pattaya like London's  Soho is a Cesspit, Hell  or Heaven of different cultures.  (depends on your take I suppose)

As you state there are many Ethnic origins including Thai workers from all over thailand who are either here in Pattaya to make money from the unsuspecting traveler or to "service" the economy, one way or another. (There are many Farangs trying to do  a similar job here as well)

 

In that mix there are the  good, the  bad and the indifferent,  regional pride you talk about does not generally  exist in the greater Thailand, never mind the hotbed of iniquity that is Pattaya!

 

As for your take on my having any pride for Pattaya or indeed Thailand  , didn't you read my OP thoroughly?

 

I only mentioned I suppose places of interest but if you could have read through my lines, granting me a little poetic licence then  it follows that just maybe, I have a personal  interaction with most of the places that I mention.

 

For instance I play a French game called Petanque with mostly Thai people at a temple behind Sukhumvit at Bansare, I play cheap charlie golf with my Thai and European friends at a Thai navy marine base in Sattahip. I cycle  with my Ozzie mate Rob and occasionally with a fantastic group of thai people around the whole Eastern side of Pattaya.

 

To say I am proud of these interactions with my Thai friends and acquaintances  would be overstating or indeed  "guilding the lily" so to speak but I am pleased that I have fully integrated despite language difficulties and been to some extent fully "accepted" by my Thai Hosts around the places mentioned.

 

I have many Thai friends at these places and they, for the most part are typical of the genre, pleasant, always smiling and joking, in other words a pleasure to be with so very different from the mainstream culture of central Pattaya, which I was , as you must well know referring to in my OP

No doubt you are fluent in Thai?

If you can speak Thai it makes a huge difference.

26 minutes ago, BaldPlumber said:

For the massage shops, which was the joke that the poster made originally.

Which for some reason, no one seemed to understand.

Ahhh, that's because everyone thought he was referring to Soi 6 in Pattaya, which would be worth detouring for, unless you are on Jomtien Beach.

10 minutes ago, BaldPlumber said:

 

 

He's talking about the soi that has a dead end, a few massage shops and practically nothing else.

Have you actually been to Jomtien?

 

Why would you detour down a Soi that has practically nothing in it.

3 hours ago, Rod Gold said:

Actually I have lived there for years.  Soi 6, oddly enough, is situated between Soi 5 and Soi 7.   Imagine that!

I lived in VT 7 for two years.

You are already on Jomtien Beach Rd, no need to detour anywhere, old chap.

32 minutes ago, Bob9 said:

Wrong. " If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident heading overseas, your super remains subject to the same rules, even if you are leaving Australia permanently." ATO!!!

 

I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you genuinely though that was the case. Perhaps you confused the tax requirements on Super withdrawals that applies to non-residents, that previously worked in Australia and accumulated Super - but even then DASP applies to them and not the non-resident tax rate on income.  But I would request you double-check before making such broad statements about Tax issues in a public forum - some people may have thought you are correct.  

He is writing about a non tax resident over 60 withdrawing Super. Your statement lifted from the ATO is about a citizen or permanent resident taking their Super and then heading overseas.  Two different scenarios I would have thought.

1 hour ago, Stray said:

I understand the point several of you are making that the growth of Pattaya is not necessarily a good thing, particularly in an unplanned way.  However, the OP stated that Pattaya was going downhill because it was not growing.  The person wrote that, many, many projects were being abandoned, bars and shops were being closed, tourist numbers were in decline etc.

 

Many of these items have been discussed and several incorrect observations were corrected (at least, in the mind of this poster).

 

As this thread evolves it seems the tone, according to some, is that Pattaya is going downhill due to it's expansion, not contraction.  I don't think the OP expected that.

 

If nothing else, Pattaya appears to bring out some passionate views, both for and against.  That does seem unique to the area.  While people in other towns and cities have their likes and dislikes of where they live, work, relax and play, the level of attack and defence on those places does not seem to reach the levels as the mention of 'Pattaya' does.

 

There are even posters, who claim to dislike Pattaya, that get upset when they think you are being negative about the place.  Dare I say that many feel a great pride for Pattaya, regardless of their view?

 

As always, it's been an interesting topic to see unfold.

Before you pass comment on the comments, why don't you keep your views to yourself and actually visit Pattaya??

12 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

 

Careing for a sick spouse or family member would probably be accepted by ATO as a reason you dont reside in Australia. And retain resident status. 

I wouldn't think so. It's more to do where your "home" is. You can spend 5 years traveling overseas but if your "home" is Australia then you will be ok.

It's really very simple, it just requires thinking outside of the square.

11 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

You are correct in all the above, unfortunately Centrelink does, as they advised us after being 6 weeks out of the country that Border Control or whatever they call themselves advised them, and as we are absent any payments such as family A & B will cease until we return, I am not entitled to family A & B as I earned too much, so don't know why they had to advise me, probably standard procedure, e.g. on the system, now if they did that, I am sure they advise the ATO ?

 

The only gripe I have is the first financial year that I have to do my tax return being a foreign resident, it goes like this:

 

I worked 5 months, July to November, then I came here and have been here since, so I am over the 183 days, in June I sold a property which was originally purchased as an investment property, then I moved into it, so I have capital gains tax to pay on that on a pro-rata basis, fair enough, what erks me is that I don't believe that I should have to pay 32.5 cents for the first $80,000 then 37.5 cents after that, its a crime, having worked it out, we are talking $15k the difference as a minimum, that's about 400,000 baht or a years survival money here, for what being a foreign resident 7 months, just over the 183 days.

 

Not fair, if anyone can tell me different it would be appreciated.

You probably need to add the 2% medicare levy to those tax rates, unless you can get an exemption certificate.

1 hour ago, JSixpack said:

 

No, it's you who didn't understand that there are other Chinese visiting besides those on package tour--as otherwise you just could NOT understand HOW CentralFestival Pattaya Beach doesn't go bankrupt as you firmly prophesied 7 years ago (!). Anyway it hardly matters. You may question members of Chinese package tour if you wish to make absolutely sure that not one of them is staying at the Hilton. That would be a bit of an upgrade.

TAT announced that 5 Chinese tourists spend as much as one Russian tourist.

Central won't go bankrupt because their costs are low and their many of their prices are comparable with the West, certainly the bread cutting board that I bought for 4,200 Baht earlier this year I could have bought a similar one for nearly half price in Australia.

16 minutes ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

You're entitled to your opinions; only remember that no place is perfect...as the headlines from Nha Trang show.

Absolutely, I love Pattaya, I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

2 hours ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

LMFAO...it would be nice if all the Pattaya whingers buggered off to parts unknown.

Why am I a winger if I disagree with your point of view.

I live in Patts 8 months a year, I'm just calling it as I see it.

If you follow the 80/20 rule which I do, you'll understand that 20% of Thai Visa posters are, or have been reasonably successful in life, and the other 80% have basically achieved nothing.

It's as simple as that.