piker

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Today has been productive but not in the photographic sense. Went down to the pool bar which is run by my surrogate mom, Oy. She’s such a fantastic cook. She ensures I never lose my baby fat whilst in Thailand.

In my opinion the house special is the Chicken Vindaloo. It’s so popular that she ran out of the Vindaloo sauce today.

Woke up lazy and hairy today so I went down to soi Buakow across from the new R Con condo complex to get a proper shave with a straight edge razor for 50 baht. As they charge by space, I paid 100 baht for face & head.

Getting my money’s worth as they also throw in a 5 minute massage!

My neighbor who is a board member on some Pattaya boards: SteveBC (posted with permission).

My mate got to use my cam while I was getting clipped and did the typical: self portraits.

Soi Watermelon

THAI LOVES THAI?

We had lunch at Carrefour where I bought a neck massager I had been dreaming about for awhile. The model retails for 2500 baht. I sent my Thai mate to the sales table alone with instructions: “Thai love Thai. Go get me a good price.” She came back to my hiding spot around the corner and said “3000.” She slid the 2000 baht I had given her as the “praying for” price wasn’t happening so I went over and used my newly shaven smile to good use and got it for 2400 baht. Loving the massager and have had a good nap most of the afternoon.

Now we're getting somwhere!! Great shots!<br /><br />Where's the beach by the way, is it the North end of Pattaya beach or to the North of that? Wong Amart or something, or in between those? How do you get there, from the dophin roundabout and then left, or do you go up Nakleua road first?

Naklua soi 18 turn left to Wong Amat beach. The Russians stay at Long Beach Hotel. Worth a visit.

But how about, starting Jan. 9, starting a thread that says, "What I've seen (Daily) in Pattaya from 8/1/9."

And post your new daily pics in that one single thread.

That'll keep that "Cluttering up the Pattaya forum" camp happy while not taking away from the "Nice Pics, Keep em' Comin'" camp.

Yes, I agree...good idea.

Tomorrow........

Piker, is that the Yamaha Fino you are riding?

Me and the mrs have some bikes which are rented out most of the year and are thinking of buying a Fino as they seem to be in at the moment. Are they any good (for a moped that is)

The Fino is great on gas and the wide seat does the job. It's a slow & light bike.

I rent for 2400/month.

Piker - hows about just keeping it all on one thread instead of multiple ones? Cheers.

I will try if TV permits it. There seems to be allowances to the # of pics posted in 1 post. I might have to break it up but will do that for tomorrow.

PART 2

Let's Make A Deal?

Hot Tip #1: Starbucks has this pretty air conditioned room with a clean toilet and an ocean view on the 2nd floor.

From the roof of Starbucks and a zoom lens, I look around.

Which gender would you like to accompany you to the Ball today?

Rare beach shot: Man & Woman near in age walking together.

Mike Shopping Mall

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

The chilly nights are behind us…summer is here!

I wake early and contemplate a few laps but I spot early on the retired Danish Army

doing their stretches in Speedo bathing suits so I very willingly opt out as I

Haven't eaten yet and this could have repercussions on my appetite.

So I hit the road and head past the new massage shop that advertises a 2hr Thai or foot massage for 159 baht on Arunotai 2.

Paris or Niran Condos? A sight unseen in Thailand.

Le Trafalgar Bar and guesthouse on soi Lenkee. This game is not as easy as you might think with all your reliable good shots useless.

Through the arcade to Big Horn Steakhouse which has a daily lunch special from 12-5 for only 100 baht. The menu changes daily so I enjoy the meal roulette.

Feeding time at the trough.

The impressive display outside Mike Shopping Mall.

Artists work from photographs. One artist had a magnifying glass in 1 hand and a brush in the other studying a tiny photo smaller than your hand.

The Beach and all its trappings.

CONTINUED ON PART 2 DUE TO THAI VISA'S PHOTO ALLOWANCE LIMITS....

Located north of the 3rd and North junction, is this little oasis. I only lived there a month but it was so quiet with a beautiful north shore breeze. Rent for 1 month was 7000 payable in advance. 60 rooms with only 10 occupants. Felt like a ghost town. Cannot locate contact information but just a few meters from the junction.

Took a drive out to Khao Chee Chan, checked prices and room quality at The Love Inn near soi Arunotai (clean/quiet), hung out on Wong Amat Beach to see the frowning Ruskies in G-strings, and had seafood fried rice at Carrefour.

I don't know if the thread is the least bit entertaining but in the vein of Thai Visa, hopefully one can get some info of where to get this or that again from an expat's perspective and not a 2 week millionaire. I've got plenty of friends in the frozen tundra worldwide right now who are wondering year after year how they can somehow work and make it day to day in Thailand with an income stream. I'm living it so at the very least, I hope my thread will show people it's possible to make it here even far from retirement age (I'm 35 and sexy ) but also how to find the things you may need like a good visa run package and its location or a good bowl of Kao Soy in an air conditioned place. Yawn. Enjoy the pics.

That's 3 days on the trot you have subjected us to your rather uneventful life. Go and get yourself a girlfriend or something.

You can put me on ignore so you won't be tortured any longer with the banality of my life as a working expat.

The point is not to show off the red lights of Pattaya but for a change show the other elements and as so often people wonder if they should move here? I have many expat friends in Pattaya and the reality is, when we're not meeting our girlfriends, we eat and work. Meh.

By 7am, I realize I’ve been awake working most of the night. I stand up to snap the sunrise.

Down Klang to pay the bills and over to The Sportsmans on soi 13 for breakfast and to look into their door to door tourist visa run package at 12,000.

This isn’t very attractive.

Reading Sportsmans’ menu makes my arteries clog so I head over to Carrefour. In the mornings, the aircon is very pleasant. I order spicy Kao Soy (dark broth soup with chicken leg) and a marinated pork dish with a pineapple shake.

The good news is that the warm weather has returned. Not to sound like a whiner but I like Hot Thailand all the time. Cool is fine but cold is not happening. The good news was my morning shag, the bad news was I had a dental appointment. D'oh!

I stop in at my favorite restaurant on soi Buakow which has no name but it's across the street from Stereo Bar. The atmosphere is horrible & hot but the food is cheap & outstanding. Some of the best Thai food I've ever had was here. Most dishes cost 55 baht & they're open 24 hours. I had my usual breakfast of Tom Yum Seafood Soup with coconut milk. I toss my rice into the soup which always raises eyebrows. Another good element by sharing tables, you get to meet some lookers occasionally. I've found my dinner and post dinner dessert there numerous times.

This woman is a culinary genius.

I am fascinated by police paraphernalia. I always visit the sales table whenever it's on. Amazingly handcuffs, tazer, pepper spray, current badges & patches, cop eye glasses, & most of the uniform can be purchased at the station. Now would be the appropriate time to say: "This is Thailand!"

"Ma'am, I'm going to have to subject you to another cavity search."

I visited the fine dentists at Pattaya International Hospital on soi 4. With a little pain comes pleasure if you can count the nurses' uniforms as eye candy (I do!).

Began my day in the usual way by looking out at the panorama from the balcony. As the nights have been chilly lately, I'm not always sure what level of clothing to wear in the morning.

I decide to forgo my usual Thai breakfast and head to soi Chaiyapoom where I then must decide between Seaside, Canterbury Tales, or Crazy Dave's. The challenge is which one is the most satisfying if any.

It's starting to heat up and I'm wearing long everything so it's back on the bike down to Walking.

Then it's over to Mini's Aviary to see my little feathered friends who have gotten to know me. They let mehold, touch, and piss them off with pen. The African grey parrots often speak words of Thai and English.

Sad event but I'm impressed with the rider's impressive aim and the fact that he hit both your faces!! Was it like a ricochet off your forehead into your wife's face or did the gob split mid air giving you perfectly equal portions? Sorry for your misfortune by the way.

Outback Bar is located on Soi Arunotai which is the soi adjacent to Carrefour. The bar is attached to Shagwell Mansions. I live near Outback Bar so send me a PM if you need a drinking buddy. The girls are a little older than in the main tourist areas but that will please the largely frequent visitor crowd that stays there.

A friend owns an expensive condo in Northshore Condos (Soi 5 Beach). We enjoy taking in the view from his sea view balcony. Sadly, the noise is unbearable from the 16th floor. I wouldn't live there if it were free. Central Pattaya or bust.

Try www.jewishthailand.com

There's often a party thrown at Dusit Hotel at the Dolphin Roundabout on the Naklua border. Try the above link or PM me for a local contact. The party is not aimed at Israeli Jews but I won't post why that is.

I think the last bus from Ekamai to Pattaya is 21:00. Better to check the schedule. Bon voyage.

I found this link but it might be outdated:

http://travel.yahoo.com/trip-view-953767-t...attaya_thailand

This site says 23:00:

http://www.pattaya.com/pattayainfo/go/index.htm

While this site says 22:00:

http://www.mypattaya.com/58howtogopattaya.asp

And back to 21:00(!):

http://www.1stoppattaya.com/getting_here/bus/

The best deal I've come across began this week on Soi Arunotai 2 (near Carrefour and Shagwell Mansions). 159 baht for 2 hours of Thai and/or foot massage! Nice!

Factory workers do hard work for 12 hours/day @ 200 baht or less per day. Use that as measuring stick when tipping. 100 baht tip is approx. 6 hours of work for a factory worker!

This place is about 18k/month with internet and looks fantastic but I don't favor the south Pattaya location. I would live there right now if it were central or even Naklua.

The Moonlight Serviced Apartments

650 baht per day. 590 baht for longer stays. All inclusive prices.

Somewhat unrelated, there was an old scam that I read about where the owners of the rental shops would follow the customers and either steal the motorbike using their copy of the key or remove a small part that would prevent the bike from starting. Then the customer would likely contact the shop who would gladly help by sending a mechanic of their choice who would charge an exorbitant amount for the "repair."

I hope someone can give you the advise you require. Good luck and happy holidays from now on.

1954!

Whoever said a little ____ is bad for a community?