Pattaya46

Get around and look around. Check the tourist areas //

and you'll see many, many foreigners working illegally,

quite often the whole company setup is illegal.

Please, can you tell me how you recognize a foreigner who work illegaly?

I know several farangs working here as interpreters or in management,

but they do have a work permit and the corresponding visa. So? How do you know?

For those who never noticed this canal:

At Tony's Gym entrance on Soi 16

Idem, with the digger still here for more cleaning

In the back of Square Soho.

They didn't joked and really destroyed a lot of things here!

A lovely place at 100m from Walking Street

I like it. And it means sub-canals somewhere under the concrete...

Look at the red line on the ground. More demolition to come

Some big termites by here

Walking Street: A quiet and green area

Yes, we know it IS the law.. The questions, why is that the law ?? Who does that benefit ?? Why does that help Thailand ??

Laws should have some logic or sense no ??

Many countries have special conditions for retired people. I suppose they think they are no-problem about money because most of them will have a pension or a similar regular revenue, and they don't need to work.

You are wrong, about 22 million tourists yearly come to Thailand. Bangkok only for example has about 7000 Britons with retirement visas but tens of thousands seniors are there on tourist visas. Total number of yearly tourists from UK: About 900000. So they are killing to goose laying golden eggs.

I don't understand your answer?? This thread is about people who don't use a visa, and more precisely those who make visaruns using visa exemption. People in your answer mostly are NOT concerned.

This could crash the condo markets very badly.

Good luck trying to find the next tenant or trying to sell your condo.

A lot of exaggeration here I think. How many people really are concerned by this "crackdown"? Probably not that much. And how many of them rent yearly a condo? Probably very few.

In my condo I think that most people live here on long term visa (extension for wife, retirement, work-permit...) and others only come by period as true tourists using tourist visa. In fact I don't know any who live here on visa-run... and I supose it must be similar in most condos.

Anyone living here on money not earned here will be able to show large lumps coming in fairly regularly.

Seems so simple to solve..

That may be simple, but it's completely false !

Many people - like myself - have transfer big amounts of money in Thailand a few years ago when the Baht was extremely low. Result is that I don't need now to make wires regularly to live here.

May be there should be an international driving standard.

If you are talking about the "document",

there is already the International Permit

If you are talking about the "driving" itself;

we should first teach countries like UK or Thailand

to drive on the right side of the street...

Hi,

I am looking for some carved teak panels or statues for decoration in my condo.

A big place I know is Lukdod.com on Soi Paniad Chang, not far from North Pattya Road

Smaller shops like the one at the corner of this same Soi with North Road,

or the big bazar behind Big C 2nd Road : BL.L. Commerce.

Which are other places you would know and recommend ?

Thanks

Pics from Lukdod shop site:

I've got a friend in one of the more popular buildings in town. He's been playing around with selling for a few years. He figures the price has dropped some 15% over the past 2-3 years. Too much competition from the newer buildings. And too many units on the market. If he does sell, it will be below what he paid for it 6-7 years ago.

I would be curious to know which is this very popular building... because from what I see older condos still sell at very good (and increasing) price because of their lower price/sqm. It may be a problem if your condo is a shoebox, but not for any decent one (let's say 50 or 60 sqm minimum). I recently got an offer for mine at 30% over what I paid in 2008. I refused of course ;-)

// The "fast track" above is possible... // others questioned WHY... a days time wasted in Thai bureaucracy while others get fast tracked?

One day??? It took us less than 90 minutes in March to get a 5-year license from an expired 1-year license. Certainly not worth paying X,000 baht... or more.

Hi. Small remarks:

// I always carry along proof that I own my condo and also a copy of the previous month's utility bills, but have never been asked for it when doing the annual extension of stay. Some people have reported being asked. When doing the 90 day report I bring along a copy of a condo statement or Internet bill, which has always been sufficient. //

- Proof that you own the condo (like copy of chanote) have already be refused at Jomtien as proof of address. For them that does not prove you live in it... They prefer Electric or Internet bill at your name.

- For 90 days reports at Jomtien you now don't need any proof any more if you have been registered in the new computerized system.

Quite simple in my opinion. Since you hold a driver license mean that immigration have verified the address earlier, otherwise you would not be able to have a driver license.

- Problem is that your license can be 5 years old and you may have changed of address several time since you got it...

Any global drop in prices would also make a difference to those who have merely bought a condo to live in themselves, without any attempt to invest or speculate.

Why that?

If they bought to live in, they don't intendend to sell

and don't care too much about their condo price.

Have mafia?

No, just business :-)

Concessions to rent part or public domain

are present in many countries allover the world.

Hi. Agree that looks like nothing new. I take my bike last year on the control station on Sukhumvit and they checked for all that already: lights (road, stop, turn), brakes, tires, noise, gaz emission,... In fact they have a computer with forms to fill and when everything is finish they print a "control report" - including picture of the bike - and the doc you need for yearly taxes and that must be signed and paid inside. Price: 60 baht. Time: 5-10 minutes.

Volunteers in Thailand are doing something good for the country. Their are Thai and foreign volunteers and yes they are sanctioned by the police chief and all have an I.D. card signed by the chief.

Something good? Please explain.

The "farang guy in uniform" from the 1st post was here yesterday morning again (market day) :

I stayed looking at him while waiting for a friend.

It seem his only job is to stop farangs on motorbikes and to fine them...

I have no idea why they were fined; most of them have an helmet. License? Papers?

At least Thai policemen indiscriminately stop Farang and Thai...

Another article on this subject, with 60% of work done

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/pattaya-news/2014/05/03/pattaya-city-has-dismantled-60-of-the-builds/

Hi. I remember an article from a local motorbike club, 1 or 2 years ago, who clearly recommended to motorbike drivers to Not Stop if a farang in any kind of uniform make you sign to stop. Reason was that they had about no more rights than you and that it was not an offence to not respect their "order".

With today several "groups" of farangs in uniform, I wonder if this advice is still good...?

They primarily want stay in Thailand without the hassle associated with tourist visa's. My understanding is that this type visa is relatively expensive. I sure hope you are getting your monies worth and learning Thai.

When I was in a ED school, learning Thai, there was about only 1/4 of students at courses...

In my case it was not really expensive (less than 20'000 baht to stay here 1 year), and anyway far more convenient, comfortable and cheaper than any other visa option I could have found (Yes, I was not yet 50, not married,...)

PS: I used this school to learn Thai, but I am probably not as smart as some members here who are able to read and understand Thai after their first week in the country...

I wonder if people who have bought a condo there will later complain about the noisy boats and jetski in front ?

hundreds of boats being dragged to the sea every morning and from the sea every evening, it's not like if it was hidden, right ?

I will look for it as people stupidity always amazes me <3

My understanding is that Waterfront sponsorised a lot the new marina, and all boats should have move from their actual park area to the marina before Waterfront is finished. Their was a project of a big garden in front of Waterfall.

No fountain at Beach and Central roads... ;-)

Me too......$31 bl@@dy USD for a pizza?

Now I know why I don't go into places like that, they are getting ridiculous with prices like that.

Thinking exactly the same thing as you. Could the OP (try to) explain what could justify such a ridiculous price when very good pizza can be found all over Pattaya at 200-300 baht ?

Couple of nice bottle openers for 100 baht!

20 baht each in many markets or "all for 20 baht" places

Hi Asiacat,

A bit off topic, but you should be a little more specific in your request:

Nowadays many people have no idea what a "LP" can be...

Many places on THEPPRASIT RD.

Problem I see with these (good) places is that they seem to all be overbooked.

Many have big projects (like full kitchen for new condos)

and are not interested when you want a custom bookshelf only...

because Thais cant swim ??

Teach Thais how to swim

Generalizations are always ridiculous. There are many Thai who can swim, many probably better than you.

Do you think other "developed" countries do better ?

Google say that average 1/3 of people can't swim,

and that "37% of U.S. adults can't swim 24 yards, the length of a typical recreation-center pool"

http://ktar.com/22/1566312/High-number-of-US-adults-cant-swim