redwood13

Don't know that Big C has any expertise in operating a farang targeted market. Thai is what they know and as I see it, that's the direction the old Carrefour is headed. I expected prices on specialty imported items to rise as they will not purchase in the volume that Carrefour did.

-redwood

Allowable entry as concerns passport expiry will depend on citizenship of passport holder, type of visa held and country of destination.

International Travel Information

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp

-redwood

Anyone seen canned low sodium chicken broth in Pattaya (or even in Bangkok). I've looked in the usual places and so far no luck.

-redwood

^ Me neither. Had to Google it, looks like a French owned hostess/gogo bar, close to Nirun Condo.

Thats it, have a look on Youtube it looks quite good. :D

Mate of mine sez the owner said Club 4 would be closed for a couple of weeks. Nothing said re legal problems. Good reports on it. It's on the same soi as Full Love Inn - 100 m. east.

-redwood

Maybe that's where the proposed MBK center is going to be built and other land they own closer to the beach could be used for a condotel when the lease expires

That's the first I hear of a proposed MBK center in Pattaya. Don't find any references in Pattaya either. Any more info about that?

Way back in 2007 it was said:MBK plans Bt5-bn project in Pattaya

-redwood

Cha am

Lots of apartments

Hospital? not sure but BKK is 2 hr by car

Shopping - small tesco, the Village Mall in Hua Hin

Transport - about 2 hours to BKK by car or minivan

My wife is a nurse's aide at a private hospital here in BKK, and she says there is no particularly good private hospital option in Hua Hin or Cha-Am....

Bangkok Hospital opened in Hua Hin a few months ago.

-redwood

I would also love to know more about who his family is, out of pure curiousity

There was movie made about the family. I think it was in Melbourne but not 100% sure.

You're likely thinking of the 2010 Australian film Animal Kingdom which was loosely based on the Pettingill crime family of Melbourne. (Film is excellent.)

-redwood

Come on guys someone has to know this...

http://www.soidb.com/en/pattaya/stay/apartment/my_house.html

-redwood

Do search for "cataracts" on thaivisa's Health, Body and Medicine Forum. Here's a recent discussion:

-redwood

Friendship is selling pies simply labeled PIE FACTORY. Anyone know who's making these? Contact info?

-redwood

Kodak on Buakhao just S. of Soi Leng Kee.

-redwood

What with being closed on Wednesday, Jomtien was so overwhelmed with customers on Mon and Tues. After arriving at 08:30 a mate of mine was turned away on Tuesday and told to go to Siracha on Thursday to get a re-entry permit which he did.

-redwood

Swollen feet diagnosed as gout by a Phyathai cardiologist (whom I'd been seeing for about a year) and an orthopedic surgeon there to whom he referred me.

Went back to Bumrungrad in Bangkok for a second opinion was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension

All good now

-redwood

Thanks guys. I'm still a little unclear on how I initiate the transfer from America. Do I just call up my bank over there?

Try looking at your bank's website re international wire transfers. You may then have to call/email them for further clarification of their policies.

Wells Fargo for example states that you must:

"visit a Wells Fargo location. We cannot accept wire instructions through email or fax because your signature is required and must be witnessed by a representative of the bank."

You can request repetitive transfers in which case only your initial signature is required to allow for transfers over a period of several years.

Other banks, credit unions, etc. will have varying policies.

Do a search in the banking forum for FETF (Foreign Exchange Transaction Form which is the new name for the Tor Tor 3) for more on all this.

-redwood

British friend who owns a condo in Pattaya and is under 50 years of age got his second Non-O Multiple Entry visa from Brisbane in Jan. 2011. Request was submitted by mail from Melbourne.

-redwood

Mate always gives me some mince pies around Christmas time. However he tells me the baker he's used in the past has gone out of business.

Need a source for mince pies.

-redwood

From what I've read all the Carrefour stores will be re-badged as Big C. Though it will take until 2013 I don't see much of Carrefour remaining once synergizing has been completed. This will include "improved purchasing terms, rationalised distribution and higher efficiency in the greater Bangkok area, where Big C’s presence will more than double,".

I think what a lot of that means is Big C will put the screws to its suppliers for better terms given their increased purchasing power. Tacking on parts of the Carrefour model just doesn't fit in with high volume purchasing. Not likely to see a lot of the specialty items i.e. French cheese, wines, olive oil etc. At least not at the current Carrefour pricing levels.

BTW, Bloomberg reports, "Carrefour SA, the world’s second- largest retailer, canceled plans to sell its businesses in Malaysia and Singapore after a strategic review, according to a person familiar with the situation."

-redwood

Competition from all the newly opened hotels in seemly better locations over the recent past has made it tough to keep Shagwells occupancy levels what they had been especially during the low season. Are they still advertising as they once did? Loss of Darcy has maybe made the place less Aussie friendly? Day shift at the bar needs to be managed. And nearby cheap beer bars have siphoned off customers.

There does appear to be a move to change the name to Wombat Hotel which is what you get if you google “Shagwell Pattaya” - however they still have a Shagwell Mansions website which pops up as well. Seems re-branding is a hard thing to do.

Post by hellyes2oo2 is correct as far as I've heard, except Bob is not sole owner of the hotel and bars, but rather has at least one partner.

Mixed reports on Lovejoy's success here and elsewhere. Number 3 in the works for Soi 6?

-redwood

Arrived at Jomtien at 15:30 on Tuesday - filled out TM7, got copies made and photo taken at the adjacent shop. No waiting - I was next up at the retirement desk. Out the door at 15:55.

Of course had to return the next day to pick up passport.

-redwood

Kenney's appointment is awaiting confirmation by the US Senate.

-redwood

The Canon ip1980 printer can be purchased at Pantip or Tukcom (in Pattaya) for around 2,000 baht complete with add-on ink tanks fitted. I've had mine for many months without having the tanks refilled. The colors are not as good as the Canon ink but are OK for my needs.

-redwood

Read one report that it was his "B" Visa that was canceled.

Not sure he's all that wealthy. The two houses were described as being very ordinary back of Sukhumvit of the village kind, with one in dire need of repair. And who knows whose money is invested in his businesses. Given who he knows in Russia I wouldn't think he would have had much trouble obtaining investors.

He has a long term contract with Deutsche Grammophon but classical music recording sales have been dismal for years and now for pop music the days of CDs are done, never mind classical. I'd think his major source of income is concerts. But to live the life of an eminent musician in Russia is not cheap.

-redwood

World Cup rights for Thailand were purchased from FIFA by a Thai company called RS. They did not buy any audio rights. TrueVision bought the rights to show WC matches - in HD only - from RS, but without audio as RS had no audio to sell.

-redwood

Did anyone actually go to see Boy George? Just curious if it was worthwhile or was it a non-event.

Mate of mine went and said he enjoyed it. Beers were 200 baht and admission 350 I think he said.

-redwood

Shop in S. Pattaya Rd. E. of Soi 20 about 8-10 doors down. (Next to McFlight Travel if McFlight is still open.) Don't think the shop has any English signage. Just a glassed front with work benches inside. Recommended to me by a local Farang who knows audio equipment.

-redwood