gguy

I was walking home from Villa Market on Second Road about 4AM when I was approached by a little girl (2 to 4 years, I guess). The little girl was very tenacious. I was walking fast to avoid her. She kept up to me and fell 3 times but she always showed up again. When I hit the temple entrance on Second Road I looked back and saw her face down on the sidewalk about 1 block up. She dogged me from Villa to the temple. The girl will be a great life insurance salesperson.

There are more ladyboys than unattached girls on Walking Street especially later at night.

The ladyboys seem to be getting more and more aggressive in pushing the merchandise. It seems there is an increase in verbal and physical alternations. Many of the ladyboys just can not take "NO" for an answer. In addition, many of the ladyboys seem to run in packs with their ladyboy friends.

Over the past several years, the number and aggressiveness of the ladyboys on Walking Street (and Beach Road) has increased.

I do not know the answer but this type of behavior hurts tourists and expats.

The reason I do not mention the girls is that for the most part the girls are passive. The most aggressive action have seen is the occasional girl trying to hold your hand to get some attention. Most of the girls sit on the sidelines and occasionally waive and/or say "Hello" to get your attention.

You and your cat should move out of Pattaya.

Circumstances like this the leg is better amputated,costs about 4000 Baht.

If you PM me where the dog is I'll take a look and see if anything can be done for the dog,if anybody else has a bit of sympathy for this dog a donation for the animal would be greatly appreciated.

Just took a dog for rear leg amputation after a fracture,bone mended but too much nerve damage

I agree it would probably be better if the leg were removed. I have only seen the lady once. The vet probably advised removal but 4000 baht may be a month's salary. The dog is healthy, very clean, and a little on the chubby side. I think the dog has a good life with an attentive owner.

When I was walking home from WS tonight, I noticed a shop sweeper and her small dog. The dog's front leg was completely broken where the bone attaches to the body. The front leg was only attached by skin and muscle. The front leg just dangles.

The dog was a mini poodle. He was very clean and wore a pink sweater.

The sweeper said someone has dumped the dog from their car about five years ago. She rescued the dog. She indicated a vet told her the leg could not be repaired.

I do not know how someone could dump a dog in this condition. The dog is completely defenseless.

I gave the lady 100 baht for a meal for her and her dog.

OP

What do you think the 'rip-off' cost you in hard baht?, at the 1 baht per dollar difference.

about 10 baht. however, i have to work for my money.

Use CC at reputable vendors and where I can see entire transaction. Never let my card out of sight.

As far as I am aware you cannot 'choose' which currency to be charged in, the processor will automatically convert to your home currency.

I trust they charged a 4% transaction fee as well.

Incorrect. According to Visa, the customer can be billed in Thai baht or use dynamic conversion to convert to another currency if the customer wishes.

So you have a Thai Baht bank account linked to this VISA card against which they would debit the credit card bill ?

Cardholder you are confusing the transaction. In Thailand, you are normally billed in Thai Baht. However, as a way of ripping you off by the merchant, he offers to convert the transaction in US dollars at a very unfavorable exchange rate and pockets the difference as additional profit.

As far as I am aware you cannot 'choose' which currency to be charged in, the processor will automatically convert to your home currency.

I trust they charged a 4% transaction fee as well.

Incorrect. According to Visa, the customer can be billed in Thai baht or use dynamic conversion to convert to another currency if the customer wishes.

Ate at Sizzler and paid with a US credit card.

My bill was converted in US dollars without my permission. I checked with VISA and the current exchange rate is 30.03 and my bill was converted at 29.03. Told the girl I wanted to pay in Thai baht but charge went through in US dollars.

The Minor group owns Sizzler, Pizza Company, and some other establishments.

Be careful when you pay with credit at Sizzler.

Looking for an inexpensive mattress with a useful life of 1 to 2 years.

Looked at department store at Central Festival but everything is so expensive.

Any suggestions for reasonable purchase prices?????????

Need to send a parcel to US. Is the sea mail option still available? It is not listed on Thai Postal website.

Looking for the cheapest method. Time is NOT of the essence.

Thanks.

I noticed sophon cable internet is now available in my building.

Any experiences with Sophon????????

Fee from who?

I belive you can pay in 7/11 10baht.

No internet bills at 7/11. Bank fee to credit account.

The fee to pay your TTT internet bill keeps going up. First it was free. Then 10 baht. Now 15 baht.

Fee to pay TTT internet up from 0 to 10 to 15 baht.

CM for a few months per year has some of the worst air pollution on the planet. Pattaya has cleansing ocean breezes for much of the year. Pattaya food has strengths and weaknesses, as does CM. Neither is obviously superior OVERALL unless you are talking about food classes. For example, Pattaya is the best place in Thailand for Iranian food but has horrible Mexican food. Pattaya has the distinct advantage in having an excellent and super cheap BAHT BUS system for those who don't want to run a vehicle. This "culture" you are talking about in CM. What exactly? Opera, sympathy, and theater circuit? Yeah right.

Without a car you are lost in CM. CM baht bus very expensive and not reliable. I can live very happily in Patts without a car. If you are centrally located, purchasing a car in Patts is a waste of money. Better to rent for occasional excursions.

Rents in Pattaya are higher than Chiang Mai for sure.

I like Pattaya, but I could do without some of the package tourists around here.

There seems to be a glut of old condos and the prices are lower than Pattaya. However, new construction is fairly comparable rent wise.

All in all, the cost of living in both places seems about the same to me. It would be higher in my case since I would probably get a car or truck to get around. CM is compact but interesting places are scattered so transport is required.

Visited CM for a couple of weeks to see if I would like to live there.

Cost of Living is equal. Some rents maybe cheaper. Western food restaurants seem to be more expensive in CM (I did not know all the right places to go).

I missed the ocean.

You really need a car or motorbike to enjoy CM. It is very spread out.

I tried to be as objective as possible. I think initially I had a CM bias after reading all the glowing reports on the web. Being single I like Pattaya's glitter. However, if you were married, it might be different.

After looking for a couple of months I just rented a condo in PS Mansions 2 http://psmansion.com/ click on the Mansions 1 and Mansions 2 is at bottom of web page. New Condo - Great rates including basic cable t.v., cable internet, pool, nice exercise room, balconey, no condo fee, Great location near Nimminhamen area on Huey Kaow Road. They need to improve on web site as not enough pictures inside units and of facilities. I have more pics of condo and rooms if interested let me know.

They look nice. What size did you get? Studio at 8000B looks good. Wish they would drop the windows music playing every 30 seconds. Do you pay electric to electric company?

Currently live in Pattaya but thinking about moving to CM.

Any recommendations for a condo in CM that has parking, swimming pool, good security, and good location (Central to everything but also within walking distance of good western style restaurants and shopping)? I am looking for a studio 30 to 40 sq. meters.

Desired price 8 to 12K baht per month.

Any suggestions?

I'm not sure what type I've got. The doctor did mention the word 'angle' but I thought that she was talking about my eye-glass prescription. Anyway, she really wanted to see my medical records from previous opthamologist visits. It has been about 4 years and it may not easy for me to retrieve those documents as I don't recall the name of the doctor, only a general location for his office back home (I'll have to do some research). Otherwise I've got an appointment scheduled in 3 months to see if there has been a change (for the worse). Personally, I'd rather not wait those 3 months prior to beginning treatment because that would be 3 months of irreversible vision lost.

One other thing, the tonography (air-puff-in-the-eye) test showed a normal pressure. That actually scares me because high-pressure can be treated....but what if my glaucoma developed despite normal pressure? In such a case, I wonder how to treat as all the medical options that I read about online focus on lowering high-pressure.

My wife if going to ask around for a specialist but I have a feeling that the better specialists are in Bangkok. Does anybody have a specific doctor that they can recommend who specializes in Glaucoma (even if in Bangkok)?

Also I recall from the exam that the optic damage was more advanced in the left eye, less so in the right eye. Is this normal?

Thanks, I really appreciate your replies.

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Go down to the Petchburi end of Sukumvit Soi 21, Soi Asoke, and check out the Rutnin Eye Hospital.

http://www.rutnin.com/eng/html/about.html

I've been seeing and been treated by Doctor Chaiwat Teekhasaenee, M.D. for 15 plus years, including two cataract opns two laser zaps, and a "trab" on my right eye, and am very satisfied with the treatments received.

BTW, he speaks quite excellent English.

I was diagnozed with glaucoma in one eye back in 1984 when I was in my mid-40s, the eye doc then, in the U.S., told me I'd be taking eye drops for the rest of my life. So be it. Not a problem, given the alternative. BTW, "pigmentary" glaucoma.

Catch it early and arrest the progression of the diease, for the most part, early!

Mac

Rutnin seems to be the place to go. I would seek multiple opinions. Make some appointments and come to Bangkok for a week. Each opinion should not exceed 1000 baht plus tests. Bring all your test results to each appointment to avoid duplication of tests. Try to read up on internet and see what treatment options are available and discuss the options with each doctor. Develop a list of questions and treatment options and compare doctor visits and then reinterview doctor that meets your qualfications and begin treatment. Be as organized as possible to get the most info. Good Luck.

Traveled to Bangkok from Pattaya for a meeting and decided to stay the night.

First time in Bangkok in over 5 years.

It has changed for the worst. I did not feel safe walking down the small sois of the main street.

Looking at my spending patterns, it has effected me more than I thought. Have not take a vacation or trip from Pattaya in last 18 months. Eating the specials at restaurants. More "happy hour" bar outings.

It is amazing I am still spending the same amount of USD but my lifestyle is downsized.

One man I met in bar indicated that 5 for his last 8 letters from his son had been opened. He indicated all letters under an ounce with just correspondence and maybe a picture of the kids or dog.