Banana7

The reasons are a couple posts back, referenced by Burma Bill

So the President and some ministers received their brown envelopes but not the immigration officers?

Actually, I think they can come for 90 days without a visa. Of course Russians extend the visas or change them to education visas, good for 1 year, so they'll be here for a long time. Countries like UK, USA, and others only get 30 days upon arrival. Thailand is turning into tropical Russia.

Thailand can expect hundreds of thousands of more tourists in March. Hundreds of thousands of Russians are being kicked out of Sri Lanka in March and will be looking for a new place to avoid the war. Many of the Russians started businesses in Sri Lanka and consequently dominated local businesses. Perhaps Thailand will experience lots of these Russian entrepreneurs in places like Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok and elsewhere. Let's see if the Thai people will tolerate being dominated by Russians? Also there will be second wave of Russians, after the Russian election in March, because of a potential military draft. Finally, Chinese can come to Thailand without a visa, effect March 3. See:

You are 100% right. Big problems for the locals caused by the Russians. Maybe Thailand should consider limiting Russians, or at least reducing their stay period and extensions?

Lots more Russians and maybe Ukrainians can be expected to arrive by the end of March. Thousands are being kicked out of Sri Lanka, no more visa extensions. To get the whole story, Google 'Russian, Ukrainian tourists told to leave country in 14 days'. I'd post the link here but some times the links are not permitted. see:

Sri Lanka is telling Russian and Ukrainian tourists to leave within 14 days. Just google 'Russian, Ukrainian tourists told to leave country in 14 days'. I'd post the link to the article here, but some links are not allowed. Thailand should be prepared to accept a massive amount of Russians and Ukrainians within the next few weeks.

So why do you think US military personnel are in civilian clothes in Pattaya, if they are not on R&R?

All the personnel on R&R are in civilian clothing, nobody is uniform, except when on duty.

No pain getting back at night. They get bussed into town and back to the jetty.

What's the make and model of the AC, see label on outside unit? How is the compressor mounted/secured? Any photos?

Over 4,000 personnel aboard the USS Somerset and USS Miguel Keith participated in Cobra Gold 2024

You're absolutely right. Took photos on Sunday and today Monday, exactly the same location as the original post. Both days, the red painted bus stop zone was fully occupied by motor vehicles. Pattaya Police are are certainly bypass a cash cow. They should have at least 3 teams out there with chains and tow trucks 12 hours a day, nabbing the illegal parkers and helping traffic to keep moving. They could clean-out this one area about 3 or 4 times every day, getting 20 bikes a round.

How big are your AC units, how many BTUs? Something is drawing lots of power and basically tripling your bill. Based on my usage, which is similar to yours, I estimate your usage should be 600 Kwh or less, if you have modern ACs 18K BTU or less.

My bill in Pattaya is 1500-2100b per month. The month ending January 17, 2024 is 2,182.23 baht for 465 units, billed and paid to the PEA. I run my AC at 23c, 1 unit 18k BTU inverter for 12-14 hours daily, 1 unit 18K BTU old R22 AC for 2 hours daily, 1 refrigerator, 1 TV, 2 hot water showers per day, 24 hrs CCTV 7 cameras, LED lights, 2 or 3computers, 3 or 4 phones.

US military service personnel arrived Friday night in Pattaya for a little rest and relaxation. I hope the bar ladies are friendly and accommodating providing unspeakable pleasures.

If it is just money and profit maybe USA should cut-off Thailand from USA currency, services and stop all imports from Thailand. Greedy Thailand.

They have the right, as have all countries, to impose sanctions who uses their currency and their manufactured products. Azur uses Boeing jets.

There much nicer Thai islands than Koh Chang. I've visited Koh Chang once, but there are much nicer islands a little further south of Koh Chang where the water is crystal clear. Koh Mak and Koh Kood are much better with no complaining operators, excellent service and clearer sea waters.

Why does Thailand continue to refuel Azur Air (Russian) Boeing jets in Thailand? Azur flies multiple jets daily into and out of Thailand. Is Thailand breaking the sanctions by supporting Russian jets? Brazilian aircraft servicing agents refused to refuel Russian aircraft due to sanctions. Why is Thailand exempted from USA sanctions?

I like that, create some drama, use creative acting.

Use ohms's law to calculate amperage. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm's_law : v=IR; where V= voltage, I = is current, and R is resistance Basically, take watts divide by voltage to determine amps. If the voltage is 220 to 240AC, and most electricity delivered to consumers is in this range in Thailand, 28 amps may be okay but not for shower water heater. It seems this water heater is for the whole house, and can draw up to 40A.

They would stop in the designated zones but these zones are 99% occupied by illegally parked vehicles.

One can write a critical review but just craft the review carefully. He could have said the service did not meet his expectations and is the worst he has ever experienced and did not have a happy enjoyable experience. Just talk about your own feels and not say the staff did a XXXX job.

Finally Pattaya Police are starting to fine and remove illegally parked vehicles. This is one of most popular places they love chaining the vehicles together then hauling them away a few at a time. No parking in the red bus stop areas! Location is beach road just south of the Hilton.