praglen

I've lived in View Talay 2 for 10 years now and it's a great location. I'm not sure where the nearest gym is though. View Talay 1, 5 & 7 and View Talay Residences are all nearby though the Residences are on Jomtien 2nd Road so not on a regular baht bus route. Many condos available for rent and you'll have no problem finding a studio within your price range. All condos should have aircon, though some of them may be quite old. There should also be ceiling fans, which cost considerably less to run all the time than aircon.

There are plenty of restaurants and bars nearby and it's only 10 baht if you want to head into Pattaya.

Alan

Tony's gym is a 5 minute walk from VT2. Just walk down to the Monkey Monument and turn left. You'll see it on the left almost at the end of the block.

Just to underline what I said about my girl friend's experience at Burapha University's International College, her current textbook in economics is "Survey of Economics" by a professor at the University of North Carolina, which is an outstanding academic university(one of the three in North Carolina's Research Triangle: Duke, UNC and NC State). I leafed thru the textbook and can say, with no hesitation, that it's not a slam dunk for ill-prepared students who expect to slide by, if they think all Thai universities are a piece of cake....

I am happy to share my experience, with a 32-year old filipina who had a high school education with a B+ average. We applied at Burapha University in Bang Sen, which has an International College, taught entirely in English, and offers six business majors. Tuition is 60,000 baht a semester. She had to submit her high school grade transcripts and appear for a personal interview before she was accepted. In addition, all incoming students are required to take(at no charge) a two-month intensive English course to determine their level of competence. No selling involved. She is now in her sophomore year and since I've been helping her with some of her homework, I can categorically state that the level of competence required is a challenge for any college student. Maybe the PhD I got(not on-line) at an accredited American university disqualifies me to comment on at least THIS university, but I'm more than satisfied.By the way,lk they do have year-long exchange programs with universities in Switzerland, the U.S., Austria and Korea. I know you mentioned engineering, so if you're competent in Thai, check out their main university. I do know it has a medical and law school, so I assume it has an engineering program.

I, too, heard terrible things about Thai universities, but if you do the research, you'll come to the right decision for you.

I hear they sell them in Central festival. any other shops?

Banks, post office? Which is cheaper?

To the manner born...

It's more than a few baht: the bus fare from Jomtien for 2 persons is 268 baht; the shuttle to DM is free. If my math is correct, I can pocket 1132 baht, plus any tip for the taxi driver....

Two weeks ago, I asked about how early I should arrive at Don Muang Airport in order to catch my 3:30PM international flight. Someone said 2 hours should be plenty early. Then someone else wrote back saying at least 3 hours, due to the discovery of someone with a gun passing thru inspection with no problems and they added a photo showing halls filled with people. My experience was after arriving 3 hours early, I saw no lines anywhere. I first passed a screening device with no problems and no other passengers within 10 feet of me, waiting. I was NOT asked to put my backpack on the device; the attendant waved it away. I could have shaved 1 1/2 hours off the 3 hours and made my flight with time to spare. Just sayin'...

I once got it on my way to the gate for my flights. Do they still maintain the same Username and Password? In any case, what's the current ones?

It takes about 2 hours to take the shuttle bus to Suv from Jomtien(where we live - 2 blocks from the bus station) and they drop us off around Gate 4 on the 2nd level. We can take the shuttle to Don Muang between Gate 2 and 3 on that same level, so it's an easy transit....

We have a flight out of Don Muang at 3:35PM. Assuming we catch the shuttle at Suvarnabhumi at 1PM and that it takes approximately 1 hur to get to DM, will 1 1/2 hours check-in be enough? We won't have any luggage to check.

I want to clarify what I designed, so you understand that the shed itself, while built entirely out of hardwood, would rest on a hardwood frame which would be bolted to a cement wall. The only wood touching the ground are 4 hardwood poles nailed to the frame. If I dig holes for the four and anchor them in concrete footings, no wood would touch the ground. If I paint the entire frame, shed and poles with Chaindrite, will I have problems with termites? There should be no rot, because I would install a metal, sloping roof with flashing extending 4 inches beyond the front of the shed. This should insure that no rotting should occur. Or am I being too optimistic? Dimensions of the shed, BTW, would be 50" high x 12' long x 50" deep.

I'm planning to hit Koh Samet the next weekend or two. What's the easiest transportation from Sukhumvit and Threpasit Road, where to get off, then what do we take to the ferry and what's the latest return time for the ferry?

Thanks, but which Tru-VALUE store - there must be dozens in Pattaya.

Deadbolts, door handles(with and without locks)

Home Mart, Home Pro, Big C, Tru Value, _____?

thanks for your suggestions. I don't know about Song Taews, but the white minivans, it turns out, do run at least during Sunday evenings. We had not trouble catching one around 6:45PM.

Do they run on Sunday mights? If so,l when and how often?

thanks to all! I'll follow up....

I tried Big C - no luck. Is there a store on Beach Road or Jomtien Beach Road selling beach balls?

I guess I'll have to redesign the base and posts and use conwood for the walkway, sides, back and top. I may have some other questions later.Thanks!

Where can I located this conwood?(can't read Thai) I need it for walkboards, no problem.I don't have knowledge or experience in designing and finding concrete pillars for support, but I'm sure I can find people to sell and work with it. Any leads?

Well,l that's encouraging. I'm buying the hardwood from a reputable lumber company on Sukhumvit Road and only using hardwood, for the frame, for the walkboards, etc. It's expensive, so I hope it's good quality hardwood. Will Chaindrite penetrate it? How long will the preservative last before it needs to be repainted?

Hey, guys, believe me when I tell you cement and steel would be the simplest solution. Unfortunately, this is a proposed wood shed around a swimming pool that has to look "aesthetically pleasing". In other words, blended in with the shrubs and trees there. So practicality and maintenance have to take second place. It is what it is...

Thanks! Finally, I have someone who knows about local wood preservatives like Chaindrite. In your opinion, would Chaindrite penetrate as well in hardwood as in softwood? I've always worked with softwood in the states and hardwood is th only wood sold around here(as far as I know).