thecyclist

I have asked this question before, but I need some updated information on this. With tourism rebounding rapidly post Covid there might be new shops opening up. Where can I rent a bicycle in the Pattaya area?

Even worse :They don't give you the option to write a review about some of the electronic junk they are selling. Stuff from China that breaks down after only a week. You can't warn potential customers that this item is not worth a single Baht. You might as well flush your money down the toilet. I understand that Lazada can't test all their merchandise, but let customers review not only the quality stuff they are selling and but also the junk.

Yes, out of a given number of applications, that a low level Cambodian clerk had approved, the Thai superior had to (at random or not) pick a few and override the approval to show who was in charge. That's the Thai way. The Thai embassy in PP hasn't been a friendly one since the anti-Thai riots when rioters set the embassy on fire, and the Thai staff had to climb over the wall to take refuge in the Japanese embassy. Before that it was a no questions asked repeated TVs possible. After that lots of questions asked.My only ever denial of a TV visa I got when they were housed in that temporary shed(while regular embassy was being renovated), after waiting for hours in the hot sun. A Thai guy came out to briefly join me in the hot sun. He had listed all my previous entries(2 from Laos, 3 from PP). When I tried to appeal, he warned me off by telling me that I could still get a visa exemption at the border or go to Laos, but any further arguing would result in a red stamp, which would make the alternatives more difficult.

Was in Phnom Penh a couple of weeks ago. Although I moved to Vietnam a few years ago and don't need Thai Visas anymore, I did have a chat with the agent I used for 15 years for Thai visas. He told me that he has never seen it as difficult as it is now. 60 % of visa applications are rejected by the Thai embassy. One would think that coming out of the Covid Pandemic,Thailand would do everything in it's power to bring back foreign tourists, but that seems not to be the case.

There might be a much more "innocent/mundane reason for all these questions, like : 1)She was relieving her boredom with a little bit of small talk. 2)she was practicing her English 3) She was showing off her language skills.

Instead of bickering about the relevance of the post, it would be more fruitful to discuss whether the arrival/departure card shouldn't be scrapped altogether in this digitalizied age. The current suspension shows that it can be done, and that it speeds things up. Vietnam, ruled by control freaks, scrapped it ages ago. They have all the information they need by scanning your passport, plus your finger prints. The arrival card is a relic from the pre-digital era, serves no purpose anymore. I hope someone in the current administration realizes that. Not holding my breath though. There is so much unnecessary red tape in LOS, which an enlightened government like Anand administration would get rid of in no time.

555 I did use my imagination, and 2000 is way too much for what my imagination suggested. 200 maybe.

What was the 2000 Baht for?

Not always. Finasteride sometimes can regrow hair to varying degrees. In my case it did, after a few months of taking it the bald spot on the top strarted shrinking.

Thais are not readers of books, never have been. In the eighties you got on bus with a book or a newspaper, chances are you were the only one reading. The Thais would sleep, doze if they were by themselves, talk if they were in company, rarely read. Snacking was another favorite national past time,pursued on intercity buses and trains.

'just a dog we feed' and farangs shouldn't be cycling 555 that is so very Thai in its logic. If you you you farang hadn't come here the accident wouldn't have happen. You can't argue with this Impeccable example of reasoning.

Thai dogs hate cyclists. Got bitten 4 times in Thailand. These mutts timed their attacks in a way that I needed the whole 5 shot course every time. It's like them saying oh this guy just got bitten by a buddy of mine. Let's wait till the 2 year period (after that boosters are not enough anymore) is over, and we bite him again. Really pisses this odious cyclist off.

Exactly, that's why I always stock up on drugs when I am in Cambodia. But didn't reckon with a 2 year border closure Stocks ran out, and I had to shop around for drugs in Vietnam. To no avail, they are very restrictive with sedatives in Vietnam. At pharmacies here they often look at you like you had asked for heroin or cocaine.

You cannot get Zolpidem, whether generic or not, OTC in Vietnam. Not only that, but pharmacies just don't stock it. Even most hospital pharmacies in the provinces don't have it. You will have to go to one of the bigger hospitals in bigger cities. The locally produced version of Zoplicone (Zolpistad) is readily available OTC. Zoplicone is not Zolpidem, but for me they are equally effective.

In theory yes, in practice no. Visa exemptions require outbound ticket, visa holders do not. But don't think they ever check. Not even airport immigration does, but airlines often ask for an outbound booking at check-in.

In 30 years of in and out not once by Thai immigration, but often by airline during check-in, most recently in Saigon 2 weeks ago by Vietjet ground staff. I had a round trip ticket. Don't know what they would have done if I hadn't had one.

During his first term I sounded out the electorate and was told by my local market fruit seller that she opposed his candidacy because he "is too handsome". The Thais really know what makes a good premier:Being ugly. Except for Abhisit, they have all been hideous, and therefore competent. ????????????????

Lots of Indians out and about in Pattaya too. A certain corner of South Pattaya is completely dominated by them.

Was at the Backyard Bar today. The ladies present didn't think there was any such service provided, although there were two very decrepit looking miniature folding bikes parked in front of the establishment, good enough to get a normal sized farang to pak Soi, but not much further.

Soi Pothole. A lot of them have potholes, of course., but while one is the Soi Pothole?

Numchai is a shop practices two tier pricing. Farang pay 20 to 30% more.

Looking for a place that rents out bicycle in Pattaya.

The exchange for Thai Baht is not very good at the airport, excellent at some money changers in Saigon, and very bad in most cities in Vietnam.It's simply not true that USD is widely accepted in Vietnam. in Tourist resort towns Hotels often ask for /accept dollars, but it's actually illegal now to do so. You pay for just about everything in Dong, Vietnam is not Cambodia.

Especially the folks that head straight to Pattaya from the airport. No detours, as the Eastern Seaboard simply has the best temples in Los. The wats on Pattaya walking street and Soi 6 are second to none.

What exactly counts as fully vaccinated. 2 shots in November 2021 still good, or is a booster required?