SunSeek01

I'm going to ask a related question here instead of opening a whole new thread. For the 30 day extension, does it matter if I go a week or so early, I mean will it go into effect at the end of my current 60 days (hopefully). Or will it take effect right away and possibly lop off those few extra days between then and the end of the 60 ? I'd like to go about 4 days early. My flight back is booked already. Thanks - SS

I like to walk too and I'm a late riser. We walk from deep Naklua to the beach sometimes or sometimes take the bike to the Northern most beach and walk to WS and back, sometimes shorter. Anyway, I'd be interested in walking up the hill in the late after noon. TV name is Sunseek01. Great idea.

Can you live a decent life on the west coast with 2000$ a month -

I've been away most of the last 5 years but I'd say it would be like living in TH on about 30,000 a month, which sounds like alot but if you count every spend it adds up quickly. European beer in the States is about $ 8 - $9 a six, can get a 12 pack of bottles like Warsteiner on sale for $ 12 - $ 14 sometimes but not often. Rent, of course depends but even Florida, anything below about $ 750 a month is gonna be rough, although you prob get a 2 BR apartment for $ 750 that is OK.

The West coast on $ 2000, very hard, especially if you don't speak Spanish. The $ 750 Florida Apt would be about $ 1400.

Hope you don't smoke but if you do, over $ 5 everywhere and big lib states like NY and CA, probably $ 8.

I always wonder how the heck they get visa's. And also, there are some extremely hot African ladies, English accents, etc, but they don't show up around here!

Manchester - I have spent time in HKT and Pattaya and I assure you Pattaya is cheaper all around. I admit I've mostly been in Patong but I rode around alot. Also I can tell you that you probably don't want to live on Soi Baukau - It's a great place but more for tourists and partiers which is fine. Check Jomtien, Naklua, outside 2nd Road between N, Central, and S. Many good places.

The main thing there are more long term expats here. Plenty of tourists obviously. If you are English (and even if not) check out Mickeys British bar in the News Plaza just past the big Central Mall. 35 baht for Chang bottles ! Maybe 40 now, it's outside but about 5 screens .

I walked from the far North of Pattaya Beach to Walking Street (and back) today around 5 pm. It was great. Yeah alot of tourists from places other than Farangland and some trash. They have made an effort to make it nice though and I appreciate it.

Nothing is perfect and today was a darn nice day. I'll tell you one thing, it's a darn sight better than Patong Beach.

We don't live in South or Central and there is a huge area outside the Klang to Tai area in Pattaya that is somewhat normal.

I think also that more times the beer gets cold then warm again it makes it stale and sour. Just a theory. My friend asked me to grab a San Mich Lite from 7 the other day, brought it back. She only drank 1/2 of it so I was about to down it. Took 2 tastes, really bad and I'm not that picky.

Yeah they had this crap at the check points in Baghdad. Check points are among the most dangerous places when traveling. Most times you must get out of the armored SUV or US Army truck, wait on the side while they wave these things around. No dogs (the tops abhor dogs) or anything. Pretty scary. I think the Iraq Govt spend 60 million USD on them!

It compares favorably compared to many other airports.

Take a bus to Eckamai (or better they can let you out at Udon Suk), BTS to Aslok MRT, to Hua Lampong train station. Get a 2nd class AC lower bunk to Nong Khai (about 900 baht). Leaves around 7 pm, arrives around 8 am.

Probably you have figured out by now about Bell Travel - http://www.belltravelservice.com/

200 baht, they pick you up almost anywhere in Pattaya (except Jomtien probably but I'm not sure) in a mini-van to the North Pattaya bus station, then a decent bus to the airport. They know where every place is in Patts, very convenient.

Forgot to mention Pattaya Beer Garden. It's really a beautiful spot to eat, day or night. Not the cheapest but nothing expensive about it, especially considering the views.

What's funny is you, you have to walk down beside a pretty big bar complex, complete with Muay Thai (fake fights but very entertaining none the less) to get to the back where Pattaya Beer Garden is. It's very nice, no aircon but the views are wonderful.

Right before the entrance to Walking Street. It's the big bar complex on the water side of Beach Road at Walking Street, just walk down the passage on the right of the bar complex. I used to love the Muay Thai thing too even though I knew it was fake. They still put on a good show. The Muay Thai show and PB Garden are 2 different places just to be clear.

http://www.lukdod.com/

This place sells all imaginable kinds of Thai made stuff. It's a real fun visit. Close to Sukumvit and Pattaya Nua (North Pattaya Road).

I'm in Naklua and we use True H. It's great until you hit the darned 5GB DL/UL limit. Then it is almost unusable. They say they cut you back to 128K but it's more like 20K at times. I was so hot one time that I went out a bought an AIS aircard for around 1000 and paid another 800 per month. This was because I used up the 5GB on True after about 20 days.

Anyway, you would be fine with either. I DL alot of movies and shows but probably you won't hit the 5GB limit.

Second the train. I took it in March to Nong Kai, about 900 baht each way for 2nd class Air Con lower bunk. Upper bunk 100 less but no window I think. It's pretty nice, clean. Takes around 12 hours, I got about 7 hours sleep, lets you out in NK around 7 or 8 AM, plenty of time to drop off your passport before the 1 PM deadline, then pick it up next day. Train station on BKK is Hua Lampong.

I think the 113 baht cost bus and the Bell Travel 200 (to your door) both have last buses at 6 PM but not sure on the 113 bus.

Bell you must book online prior to arriving.

I have long wondered about the economics of the baht bus and at the same time hoping they never go away. I figure at least for one example, if they get 500 rides in a day, that's 5000 baht. Probably takes all day like 10 or 12 hours. Also 500 may be overly optimistic. For gas, driving all day, probably costs at least 2000, maybe more, all that stop and go. But even so they still make 2000 or more a day which is a good wage. Of course it's all assuming around 500 rides.

There are alot of posts on this including mine from when I went in March. I took the train from Hau Lampon (BKK), about 950 baht (each way) for a 2nd class air lower bunk. Upper bunk is about 100 less but getting the lower is worth it. If you smoke, you can smoke in the bathroom at the end of the car with the window open. Very clean, comfy, there is a curtain for complete privacy. It's about 12 hours, I got about 7 hours sleep. You get off at Nong Khai around 8 am, get into Lao by about 9 am and get to the Thai Consulate before 10 am. Fill out the forms, drop off your passport, done by about Noon. Then come back at 1 pm next day. Getting into Lao costs either $ 35 USD or 1500 baht so if you have USD you save a bit. Check Thai holidays to make sure you don't get caught on one and have to stay extra, which would not be so bad anyway, Vientiane is OK and cheap. Guesthouse about $ 20.

I took a V run 2 weeks ago and it was Ban Parkard. The guy drove like crazy but we got there in about 3.5 hours. They had an agent on the CBodia side just took our passports and gave them back to use 30 minutes later. Another 3 hours back to Pattaya. $ 2500 baht. A guy on the van told me that our driver was actually quite careful ! Queen Vic hotel lobby on Soi 6 Pattaya.

Jing has it mostly right in my view. It's very far here, there is only one direct flight (it's from LA) and even that is I think 17 hours. A flight from Florida to the West Coast is 4.5 hours non-stop or about 7 with a layover, then off to TH from there through NRT, HK, or Seoul for another 20 - 24 hours. It's a haul.

Then there is South/Central America that draws probably more expats than Thailand altogether and only increasing. That being said, I still like Thai food and Thai women more. Thailand is pretty nice too!

Remember that the mini-van takes I think about 12 hours, that's a very long time especially if your driver is going 140 the whole time and passing on the right at every chance.

Consider taking the night train from BKK Hua Lampong station, 980 baht each way for a AC 2nd class lower bunk. Very clean, still takes about 12 hours, and I got about 7 hours sleep, you have your own bunk and curtain so it's private. Bus from Patts to Eckamai = 113 baht, BTS to Asoke, then MRT to Hua Lampong = 60 baht I think. 2 entry visa = 2000 baht, 35 USD to enter Lao (or 1500 baht if no USD).

But the bigger thing for me was, no way was I going mini-van for 12 hours!

Wow I never knew Kiss was that bad! I used to go quite a bit and I like it. The first distinction in my book here and back home in the States is - indoors with AC or outdoors!

Kiss can be slow at times but usually (and hopefully) it is because they are busy. I've eaten at quite a few upscale places mostly back home and the food was subpar, in my view because they don't sell enough food and the perishable food gets served well beyond its due date.

At least with Kiss if you have to be outside there is some activity to check out.

The notion that Obama might win is far fetched at best. The mainstream media which is full of liberal arts majors from liberal arts colleges can't stand to think that he may not win but even before the Wisconsin landslide last week, Romney is a shoe in. If you see polls to the contrary, look to the source and it will be either Time, CNN/ORC, or some other liberal outlet.

That being said, I would surely think it's better to be aligned with the US, broke as we are, than a communist regime even if they are the biggest. Who wants to be a commie, not me !

To do the Form TD F 90-22. (FBAR) with Adobe Reader and print it out took me about 15 minutes or less and I have 2 foreign accounts. It's a one page form unless you have more than about 10 accounts, then you go to page two. I did have the address info on the accounts from 2010 already so that saved me a bit.

All that being said, I think it's a giant waste of time and money. Government bureaucracy gone wild in my view. All Jing's comments are true I believe.

Yes, thanks Jing, this is indeed good info. As for what the US can or cannot do, I agree it might not be right, but like an old girlfriends Mom told me when I asked her if the Euro's like us, she said, they like our money!