syd barrett

'FarangBudda' makes an excellent post above.

I am always amazed at the Pattaya bashers, what is their motive? Jealousy? Perhaps they got badly ripped off, lost everything and returned home?

Also, many might be married and living in a different part of Thailand and are jealous of the excitement here.

There was a thread about Soi Buckhaew a few weeks ago and the poisonous comments quickly appeared, even from one person who admitted to visiting....Once! How foolish he must feel. So many comments are from people who have never been to Pattaya for any length of time to discover what is available.

I would say, if you don't like the place, why comment? It is very 'Daily Mail' to slag off Pattaya. It is such a large place, there is something for everyone.

In my opinion Bangkok is a much worse place to live out of choice, but understandable if you work there.

Actually, there are many successful businesses on Soi Chayapoom. You've missed Canterbury Tales, Neeroys, there's a bakery that seems to be in it for the long haul (Best Bakery Pattaya?), Seaside II has been there forever, the French restaurant next to Le Snack (Le Cap Breton) has been there quite a few years (at least 5), and that's just to name a few. In addition, the owner told me has other businesses in Pattaya, so he's no pie in the sky dreamer--he has experience (unless he lied to me, which I doubt as we were just chatting).

I'll be very surprised if this place closes in 6 months. However, I won't be super surprised as I've seen so many places close quickly just as you predict.

To the OP thanks for the review, I'll check the place out in the next few days.

Slightly off-topic, but can anyone tell me how many years 'Crazy Daves' has been open?

I have read right through this thread but I have a few questions because a family member wants to extend his tourist (60 day) visa in Jomtien next week.

1. His visa expires September 26th is it O.K. to go six days early?

2. Is the Immingration really too busy on a Monday?

3. Is the system still the same as the old days (drop off passport & forms & fee 8.30-10.30 then return the same day at 3.00pm for pick-up?

Thanks for any feedback.

Regarding the menu. How many pints in a 'Tower' of beer?

if its a 3 litre tower the that would mean around 6 pints.

What a rip-off 6 pints would cost 594 Baht and they are charging 599 for just 5.28 pints.

Actually if you really want to know there is 7 and 1/2 pints in the tower of beer. So make it 7 pints x 99 baht or 14 x 1/2 pint at 69 baht - you do the maths.

Probably not a good idea having 7.5 pints of beer hanging around in a tube tower getting warm and losing it's gas.

Yellow Fever innoculations has been discussed before see link below:

yellow fever

Crazy Daves

Fish & chips at Crazy Daves is hit and miss, more often a miss depending on what time of day you go. The fish are those frozen triangles from a supermarket and depending on your luck the chips are usually O.K. At least you can drown the lot in Sarsons vinegar and make chip butties.

Regarding the menu. How many pints in a 'Tower' of beer?

if its a 3 litre tower the that would mean around 6 pints.

What a rip-off 6 pints would cost 594 Baht and they are charging 599 for just 5.28 pints.

Regarding the menu. How many pints in a 'Tower' of beer?

If you want Butchery products i recommend Western Wholesale on Chaiyapruek 2, Beef, Sausages, Bacon, Pies, Black Pudding etc.

Yes, seconded. I went to Westerns yesterday and stocked up on bacon and sausage etc. It is just a pity they don't do smoked bacon.

Anyone know where I can get good smokey bacon?

Also recently tried the Village and enjoyed it a lot.

Had the local fish, large size. It wasn't huge but large enough, so for big eaters don't you dare order the small.

Good taste, cooked well, not greasy, batter was nice, a bit on the lighter side compared to Pigwhistles and Friars, not a bad thing at all.

The mushy pea order was generous and certainly not dry. Bland but I think its supposed to be bland.

Chips, pretty good, the portion included with the large order, a tad on the small size.

Cost. Great value, better than the competitors.

Tartar sauce, to an American's taste -- BAD. So much water, didn't see any pickle, is it anything but watered down mayo? They ought to offer good tartar sauce at least as an option for cost for those of us who like it.

Tartar sauce? Sorry but I prefer salt and malt vinigar on my F&C's!

But everyone to their own taste!

Yes, I like salt, vinegar, AND tartar sauce. Yes, to each his own taste. We have had this discussion before, with Brits asserting they don't really care about tartar sauce. I wouldn't know that for sure, but Americans love it. However, perhaps having crappy or no t-sauce makes a place more authentic. If so, that's a case when I would be wishing for less authentic.

I'm British and like Tartar Sauce with fish. I recommend you do as I do: Carry your own tiny plastic sachets of Colman's Tartar Sauce in your pockets.

The Tartar Sauce on offer in Pattaya restaurants and diners is usually very disappointing and often contaminated by unhygienic diners.

In may case, Euro Optic REFUSED to use the scrip I arrived with from an actual eye doctor. They insisted it was their policy to test themselves and make lenses based on THEIR results only. Perhaps their policy has changed.

That is quite common with many opticians and is the professional approach.

There are 2 in Central Festival Beach, 1 counter in Tuk Com, 2 on Sukhumvit, 1 in RGP.

And you forgot the one on Second road about a 100m past Soi 6 and the one in the Avenue mall also on Second road oppisite the Lek Hotel.

So that's a total of 8.

There is a small McDonalds on Beach Road 100 yards from Walking Street.

Sorry, cant answer that question, but if you ask how many 7 elevens there are in Pattaya, they answer is about 1000!!!! All within 100m of each other. Mc Donalds has a bit to go, before they catch up.

PS, and they all have a white mange soi dogs sitting in the door way!

The 7-11 I go to (Next to Yorkies) has an outdoor market leading up to the 7-11 entrance with three hard sell Thai market vendors selling their wares.

I avoid McDonald's food now, because there are much better burger places in Pattaya.

Yes- The style of the young ladies on the right really turns me off! Anytime I go into the 7-11 beside Yorkies the girls on the right always make a super-obnoxious, relentless pitch for me to buy something. They pitch everyone who walks in/by. They are a huge pain in the ass. So, I only will buy from the 2 old lady sisters on the left side. I have known them for 5 years, since well before the arrival of the right side vendor, and they are polite and soft-spoken... much more pleasant to shop with them if you need someting.

It is very annoying.

Those two girls try the hard sell on me both on entry and exit from 7-11.

I wouldn't mind but they don't sell shorts with my waist size, no way! And those cheap towels are poor quality, besides, since the Mrs has become a towels-on-the-trolley-street-vendor I get them for free.

On Pattaya 2nd Road next to TIMS bar you can get rooms for 200 baht per night with a fan. Just look for the big blackboard and coloured chalk advert.

Without a shadow of doubt the very BEST rates available for GBP US$ and EUROS is the T & T Exchange booths on Pattaya 2nd Road. Coming from Pattaya Tai the first booth is closest just 100 yards down on the right. The second booth is on the left hand side of the road but further down but before Royal garden mall.

I would second this recommendation for $US as well. If you have more than a couple of thousand to change get hold of the owner/bosses phone number from one of the branches and she will usually give you a better rate. I consistently received a better rate here then from the the one mentioned in Walking Street which I had previously used.

They also have another branch on Beach road about 300 metres before the entrance to walking Street. The T&T name stands out well as it is on a bright yellow background.

Thank you for making that valid point. You are absolutely correct.

I asked for a telephone quote for an exchange of 1.3 million Japanese Yen and got a rate better than the day rate on the internet.

T & T is the place to go.

Without a shadow of doubt the very BEST rates available for GBP US$ and EUROS is the T & T Exchange booths on Pattaya 2nd Road. Coming from Pattaya Tai the first booth is closest just 100 yards down on the right. The second booth is on the left hand side of the road but further down but before Royal garden mall.

Euro Optic is the place to go if you need progressive lenses. They fully understand these types of lenses and can offer you many options.

I used to think that as I used them for my first pair of progressives. It turned out later they made a big mistake on their test which was later corrected by an actual optometrist. I suggest going to a REAL doctor, sorry.

Did you return to Euro Optic and file an official complaint, backing up your claims by the REAL Doctor?

If you don't complain, how will they be given the chance to respond to your dissatisfaction?

Sorry, cant answer that question, but if you ask how many 7 elevens there are in Pattaya, they answer is about 1000!!!! All within 100m of each other. Mc Donalds has a bit to go, before they catch up.

PS, and they all have a white mange soi dogs sitting in the door way!

The 7-11 I go to (Next to Yorkies) has an outdoor market leading up to the 7-11 entrance with three hard sell Thai market vendors selling their wares.

I avoid McDonald's food now, because there are much better burger places in Pattaya.

As I expected, lots of cheap and nasty comments from people who either don't live near Soi Buakow or who have never visited Pattaya.

There can be no argument about the sad lack of pedestrian paving or the insane and speeding traffic.

But the Soi is a very long Soi. And there is a mixture of cafes, cheap restaurants, friendly bars, banks, money changers, massage shops, apartment blocks and not forgetting the twice weekly market (TUES & FRI).

There is a very frequent baht bus service 24 hours per day and lots of very cheap eateries (30-40 baht) for Cheap Charlies like myself.

Personally I find it offensive and snobbish when otherwise long-standing members of this forum cite Soi Buakhow as QUOTE "Ugly" "A Midden" "Sleazy" etc. etc. I very much doubt if these harsh 'know-all's' visit regularly or have any grasp of the community spirit that IS Soi Buakhow.

I suspect that those people who criticize smugly, are the nouveau riche element who live on inherited wealth or the filthy lucre of organized crime.

I have to say to these critical posters, why comment? Does it make you feel good condemning a 2 km Soi just because it offends you?

At Robin's Nest today (Soi Diana) for fish,chips & peas. Very tasty 119 Baht.

I prefer Simple Simon's fish and chips, in the same general area. On Jomtien Soi 5, the same soi as Immigrations.

Simon's Fish & Chips are just too expensive these days (B350, I think?) for what you get.

I must agree 'Simple Simon's' is better in Jomtien.

In Pattaya I must recommend the 'Small Wonder' cafe opposite Mike's Mall. They do fish and chips with a choice of 100% cod or 100% Haddock for 175 Baht.

Very good Fish & Chips in the heart of Pattaya.

Fresh meat and dairy products are not supposed to be brought into Thailand. There is an announcement on some flights stating a 20,000 baht fine if caught.

Tea bags, tinned food and all other foodstuffs are O.K. though.

I very rarely even have my bag scanned so the chances of being caught with bacon and sausages and black puddings is still very small.

I can't recall reading on this forum of anyone fined for meat & dairy....yet?

Sad condolences to the deceased friends and family.

Once again we have press photographs taking pictures of the deceased in an undignified way.

Can nothing be done to stop this?

At least in PDN news, cadaver shots have face and genital close ups pixillated. In the Thai National Newspaper Press there is no pixillation at all.

Why have a go at the embassy? Their advice about what they can and can't do in such situations is quite clear:-

http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/when-things-go-wrong/if-you-are-seriously-ill-or

It's not their job to dole out taxpayers' money.

The people of the UK won't agree with this, all the embassies do it spend taxpayers money. A similar situation happened recently when the woman in question who was in Spain fell off a hotel balcony while drunk. She was injured very badly. An internet campaign to raise the money to fly her home succeeded and raised the money (some £20,000 I think) in less than a day. This was within the last few weeks

Exactly! I can't understand why this man's family and friends down the local pub can't have a whip-round and get the money together. After all U.K. Pakistanis raised 1 million pounds in 24 hours for the flood victims.

Looking on the bright side, for this unfortunate young chap, following a similar accident the actor who was Batman made a lot of progress and I saw him on the television talking and riding a bike and raising a lot of money for stem cell research which might help this young man recover in the future.

My reviews can never be as good as Cochrane's but I have been very happy to dine at the OPAL restaurant; location is on the corner of Soi 7 and Beach Road in Jomtien.

Their Dim Sum is excellent; priced at just 70 baht and their seafood dishes are excellent. The service is good (daytime 4-7pm) and I have been quite a few times in the last few weeks, so it is consistent. It is not meant to be a highbrow restaurant but I am very happy with the food there.

So many times I have walked past and not given it a try, I wish I had dined their sooner.

(I have no connection with this place, or the Bowling Green or Crazy Dave's so no sarcastic comments please, this is just my views on a good eating place in Jomtien).