redwood13

When queried by one bar, the cop shop at Soi 9 refused to say whether it was OK to open or not!

They said go watch TV and see what it says!

-redwood

Police were just in Soi 6 and announced a curfew for tonight starting at 20:00. This a report from a bar owner and long time friend of mine.

-redwood

So if I actually lowered myself to read the Pattaya Times I could read more about "Chrome pole molesters" "Ogling dens" and "imbibing amber nectar".

And a continuation of the interminable pim..... er, I mean, product placement of the Roo Bar.

-redwood

Before calling have a look at your airline's web page.

For example here's KLM's re Flight Disruptions..

-redwood

Cooked flank steak last night from Foodland. Med. rare: 2 1/2 min. per side on an electric grill.

so the reason we dont hear about it is just lazy reporting?

Who? Howard and Niels accused of laziness? The cheek of some people!!!!!!!!!

I realize they have their hands full photographing dead people but maybe they could take on some more staff

Believe that news sources are only allowed to report details as outlined by the police. Any deviation from the "facts" is strongly discouraged. Lots of self censorship as they know what is going to be acceptable to the authorities. Publication of follow-up stories would only be at the request of the police. Failure to follow the proper procedure would likely mean unemployment.

-redwood

Thanks much. Great detail. I assume these same type buses go further south to Pattaya Tai and Thepprasit?

There's a N. bound stop on Sukhumvit at the petrol station just N. of Pattaya Tai and certainly there'll be stops at BigC and Tesco-Lotus.

Really there seem to be pickup points at any site where fair numbers of people are found, i.e. malls, wats, schools and so on.

Talked to a guy who lives in Sattahip and he asked me about my experience with the bus as he hates the drive to Siracha and was considering the bus as an alternative. So this bus may well go as far S. as Sattahip. Queen Sirikit does not have a cardiology dept. hence his need to go elsewhere.

-redwood

Could you describe this bus? What color? What is written on it for destination? What is the fare to Sri Racha? Does it make set stops or do you call out for stops?

It is blue and white with an orange stripe running the length of the bus, i.e. 2nd class bus or as known locally a "caterpillar". Also known for its very loud air horn.

Have no idea what's written on it. Never had to flag one down. I ask the "conductor" - the guy who jumps off at each stop and yells at potential passengers to hurry up and board - "ROBINSON???" and if I don't get a "no" I board.

Fare is 40 baht to Siracha - not sure if the pricing is "tiered" or not. On boarding find a seat and eventually the "conductor" will come around and ask you where you're going and collect the fare. No tickets or receipts issued.

They seem to remember where passengers are going and yell out the stops. I try to sit as close to the front as possible as you're expected to be at the front of the bus and exit ASAP at your stop. I can recognize some "landmarks" now and he has always called out "Lobinson". Problem is the curtains are almost always all drawn so it a little difficult to tell exactly where you are at times. I've asked my fellow passengers on a couple of occasions if I wasn't sure.

I'd think they'd stop anywhere there's room for the bus to pull over off Sukhumvit. Returning they stop in front of Index and then again just S. of where Klang tees into Sukhumvit.

-redwood

Though time consuming you can reach Phyathai by public transport from Pattaya. I catch the bus in front of the petrol station on Sukhumvit just N. of Pattaya Klang. They run frequently, in fact there's almost always one there when I arrive. Never had to wait more than 15 min. It takes about 45-60 min. to reach the Robinson store in Siracha. Cost is 40 baht. The hospital is W. on the road to the N. side of Robinson - a 5-10 min. walk. Return to Pattaya from the bus stop across from Robinson.

-redwood

Thanks very much for time & effort to post for me

Is Phyathai in Bangkok ?

Cheers

"Our group consists of four hospitals; Phyathai 1 & 2 in the center of Bangkok, Phyathai 3 also in Bangkok but in the Thonburi area, Phyathai Siracha, located a short drive south from Bangkok and just outside Pattaya. Phyathai 1 & 2 are both conveniently located near the BTS."

-redwood

Can of anchovies (Consorcio brand) 112 baht at Friendship --- 200 baht at Carrefour.

BTW, anyone seen any anchovy paste in Pattaya?

-redwood

Sign: "For Sale"

-redwood

Reported a couple of weeks ago on a Pattaya board that a first time applicant for a retirement extension was denied based on his living in a hotel. Immigration wanted to see a lease from a condo or apt. to grant the extension.

-redwood

Back in 2007 Sunbelt wrote:

"I wanted to check with our legal staff first before commenting. Bartender is not a restricted profession and we have had cases before where foreigners applied for a work permit to be a bartender and were approved. They were not a F & B mgr, but were listed as a bartender. Of course the job description went into much depth why their skills were unique and needed for the business."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Work-Permits...mp;hl=bartender Post #8

-redwood

Many of the numbers given above for consulates in US no longer in service. Tried Oregon, left message but received no response.

Portland Consulate moved in 2008 I think it was.

Mary Wheeler

Consular Assistant

Royal Thai Consulate General

1136 NW Hoyt Street, Suite 210

Portland, OR 97209

503-221-0440

[email protected]

www.thai-or.com

-redwood

As another suggested, apply for the O-A at the Honorary Consulate in Portland, OR. They don't have any territorial limits as far as applicants go. Turnaround was very quick.

Back in 2003 I submitted the following letter to Portland on a Wells Fargo letterhead.

My name and mailing address.

"At the close of business day M/D/Y the to your credit on our books for your checking account was $XXXX.xx. The balance to your credit on our books for you savings account was $XXXX.xx."

Authorized Signature

[Also enclosed business card of the signatory with contact details.]

I always suspected the word "guarantee" as used in describing the bank letter is some sort of mistranslation from the Thai.

-redwood

The best place to use is Wattanaporn Curtain Co in Nakula. Take the Nakula road north from the dolphin roundabout for about 3 kms. When the road turns right towards the market they are on the left a couple of hundred meters up the road. Make sure you speak to the old man as the girls don't know too much English.

A mate who's used them several times recommended them and I've been very satisfied with their results on two occasions now.

-redwood

I asked about there service in Tesco and was told no can do we dont service that area (soi arunathai)

Mate of mine lives at Nirun (which is on Soi Arunothai) and has True internet. On asking at Tesco a 2nd friend was told no service at Nirun. When he pressed the issue she changed the answer to a "yes" Avoid Tesco and just telephone your order.

-redwood

I think Pattaya (Cholburi) Immigrations is one of the places that wants to see a bank book and a bank letter even when the applicant is using an Embassy letter of B65k income. I go to the Pattaya office, as I believe Jingthing does, but not sure what office the OP would be using.

Yes, both have been required for the past few years no matter what method of qualifying for the extension is used.

-redwoood

As of tonight back in stock at Foodland.

-redwood

There's no reason to believe the couple were drugged with Dormicum aside from speculation by a doctor on Koh Chang. Given comments here by posters re the short acting action of the drug it would seem that they did not show symptoms of Dormicum ingestion.

'The doctor there examined us and listened to our story and seemed to know what had happened straight away.

'He told us we were showing all the symptoms of having been given the drug Dormicum – a date rape drug. I do not know the drug, but it seemed of no surprise to the doctor.

'When I asked the doctor if he could check for any traces, he said no, it would have been cleared out of our systems by now.'

-redwood

Given up on the cost of ink cartridges, went out and bought a laser printer

What did you buyl?

I'm looking to buy - maybe the cheapest - the Samsung 1640 for ~2700 bht.

I had a Canon i1980 ink-jet. Added ink tanks and it lasted about 4 months until the b/w cartridge clogged.

-redwood

Need advice re putting together a new desktop computer for a mate.

He has a couple of boys around 10 y/o. They will naturally want to play games, but otherwise it’ll just be used for surfing, watching videos, etc. Since I’ve no experience with games what I need is suggestions as to components that will run games satisfactorily without getting into the latest and greatest. Keeping the final cost down is important.

From what I’ve read I’d think the AMD 770 (no onboard graphics) or the 785G with graphics (Radeon 4200) motherboards might be acceptable. If one of these is OK, which AMD processor would be suitable?

If not the 785G then what graphics card would work?

2MB or 4 for the memory?

He may start with XP but would want to be able to upgrade to Windows 7 eventually.

HDD suggestions?

-redwood

Definite improvement - thanks

-redwood

Mate told me that by Sunday afternoon the retail shops on the 4th (is it?) floor were cleaned out in anticipation of this.

-redwood