astromash

This place, 'Curries' on Soi LK Metro, I ate there tonight.

I'm a Brit, and it was the best British-style Indian food I've had in Pattaya.

I have no connection with the business!

I'm a Brit and the Thai bank I use is Bangkok Bank.

Feature-wise, compared with the online systems of UK banks like Lloyds TSB, Nationwide and Smile, I think Bangkok Bank's is quite good.

Except for one thing: LOG-IN SECURITY. To log into the Bangkok Bank system all you need is 2 things:

1. the customer number the bank gives you (in my case a 10 character number)

2. a password you make up.

I forget how complicated the password has to be, but that isn't my main point. My main point is that all UK financial institutions with online systems that I've used have more stringent log-in security.

For example, all the other (UK) banks I named require you to supply at least a third level of information before you can log in. This third level has to be entered with a mouse clicking on-screen prompts. This helps prevent so-called keyloggers recording what keys you're pressing on the keyboard.

Are the log-in procedures of any Thai banks as secure as, for example, the UK banks I cited?

Thanks.

But there is probably much more to it. I recall that the name Siam Reap means something to the effect that "This is the point where we turned back the Thais". A Waterloo or Stalingrad of some sort...

also from Wikipedia:

"The name Siem Reap means the 'Defeat of Siam' —today's Thailand —and refers to a centuries-old bloodbath, commemorated in stone in the celebrated bas relief carvings of the monuments."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siem_Reap

No one's interested in this subject then?

Mai bpen rai

GOVT ACCUSED OF BIAS FOR BANGKOK BANK (Bangkok Post, 21 March 2009)

"The opposition Puea Thai party has accused the government of favouring Bangkok Bank in getting it to produce the first batch of 2,000-baht gift cheques for low-income earners.

The gift cheque scheme, initiated by Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, is part of the government's 117-billion-baht economic stimulus package aimed at boosting domestic consumption.

The first batch of cheques will be delivered to those who earn less than 15,000 baht a month and register with the Social Security Office by Thursday....."

- - - -

I was rather surprised to read this. I thought a family earning about 12,000 baht a month was doing quite well by Thai standards.

Thanks everyone. Bought a shaver earlier today at Central Festival.

Yes, up on the 5th floor there is a place with a good selection.

Anyone know where there's an electrical goods store that offers a wide range of products? Preferably in central Pattaya.

I want to buy a mains/rechargable electric razor. Big C, Boots and Carrefour don't have much choice on offer.

Thanks.

I think you will want more than a scarf.

Thank you for your concern. Carrefour had everything else I needed. Including an unattractive woolly hat

So where can I get a scarf?

Have to return to Britain for a short while.

I understand it's very cold over there at the moment.

Where in central Pattaya can I buy a man's scarf?

Carrefour no have.

Thanks.

Whitehouse on soi VC does good dinner buffet for around B 200 everynite;

Perhaps you mean the 'White Night' restaurant on Soi VC? (And no, that isn't 'White Knight').

If so, I agree, the buffet at White Night is pretty good.

I'd also mention Anton's in Naklua. German-ish euro and Thai buffet - for around 200 baht the last time I went (nearly a year ago). Very good.

I've been using my Nationwide ATM card in Thailand for the last 3 months.

I always get a better rate from them than the rates advertised at the exchange kiosks or on the Bangkok Bank website.

Maybe you could also try going along to the Sunday meetings of one of the two expats clubs in Pattaya??

If you're an American this thread talks about PCEC (which is run by Americans, bless 'em!):

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Hobby-Photog...rs-t228824.html

Thanks astromash. Do you know what day the photo group meets? I couldn't find anything on their website.

From the latest PCEC newsletter:

PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP -- Meets MONTHLY, on the 2nd MONDAY of the month at 1pm in the Mark-Land Hotel Conference/Common room. There will be no meeting in December.

I recently got a DSLR and am looking for people to go shooting with or just talk photography over a few beers. Anyone?

There is a photography group at the Pattaya CITY Expats Club (PCEC). PCEC meets at the Henry J Beans Bar & Grill on Beach Road every Sunday morning. (Note: this is not the same expats club as the Pattaya Expats Club which meets at the Grand Sole hotel).

http://www.pattayaexpats.com/

The PCEC photography group meets once a month. I'm sure you'd be very welcome.

my understanding is that the thai web boards are full of those 'we can only keep you on at a 30-40% cut' stories

I think you're referring to Thai websites which advertise or talk about job opportunities? And they're talking about 30-40 percent wage cuts for people who want to keep their jobs?

The food I had was extremely good. Unlike other posters I also thought it was exceptionally good value for money. I had a chicken curry, which was enormous, too big for two normal people to eat, with lots of good quality chicken, plus rice and a naan bread, which was also huge. I think it all cost about 200 Baht,

Hmm. I ate exactly this as a set dish this afternoon. 145 baht. I thought the taste & quality were pretty good as compared with, say, an average British curry house. But there weren't many pieces of chicken in the 'enormous' amount of curry sauce so I was a bit disappointed.

I live near Carrefour so I'll try the place again soon.

Astromash, if you (or anyone else) has the URL for Dr Olivier's website, would you post it here please. I'd like to keep an eye on it for future changes (assuming it gets updated eventually) Thank you.

Aha! Methinks there is a website technical issue here.

Okay, the URL giving the OUT OF DATE info is:

http://www.dr-olivier-clinic.com/English.htm

But if you go to:

http://www.dr-olivier-clinic.com

Then you will get the NEW contact details. However the various language options on this webpage don't seem to work (yet!).

Cheers.

I was walking down Soi Hotel Day-Night yesterday and noticed the new location for Dr Olivier's clinic. Walking down Soi Hotel Day-Night from the South Pattaya Road end, the clinic is about half way down on the left. This may be where his clinic was originally before he moved to the soi off Third Road?

Apparently it opened a few days ago.

The last time I looked his website hadn't been updated with the new location.

Phone numbers: 0-3872-3600, 0-3872-3590.

Just stumbled upon a nice little outdoor swimming pool. 50 baht per day. nice little bar area, typical Thai food kitchen. Monday nights free barbecue if you have a 150 baht bar bill. recliners have decent cushion. Pool gets lots of sun but they have some decent standup umbrellas.

For those of you that live up Central Pattaya Road and only have an apartment, this might work for you. It is working out pretty good for me.

Go down Soi Yume behind carre four. Turn left on Soi 8. Just past Nanatan Garden condo/hotel.

Hello again gk10002000 on the subject of swimming pools.

I live near Carrefour.

So this pool you're talking about is at some place called Casablanca? How far down Soi Yume from Carrefour is Soi 8/Nanatan Garden condo?

Cheers.

You cannot prevent a British Citizen returning to the UK for health care without altering the rights of free movement under Magna Carta or the governing rules of the NHS.

Are you sure? Maybe since April 1st 2004 this can be prevented.

The NHS should be "a British service for people who live in Britain" (then Health secretary John Reid).

http://insurance.thaivisa.com/news/new-nhs...for-expats.html

most of the opinions I hear from expats in Thailand are left-leaning

Huh? Most expats in ThaiLAND are left-leaning?

I think maybe you mean expats in IceLAND or GreenLAND or New ZeaLAND?

I haven't dealt with this firm personally, but my dad just had them do his Last Will & Testament, and he seems quite happy with the services provided (especially considering he doesn't speak any Thai).

They are located next to TukCom. DMC Inter Law & Consultants

Not sure if they have a 24 hour emergency number or not. Might be worth a look though.

Thanks for that. Good English is a definite plus.

khun Katrina operates an emergency helpline which I believe is 24 hours, 0892449709

I believe khun Katrina is also one of the 2 lawyers in Pattaya recommended by the US Embassy.

However I have good reports about the 2 other lawyers I mentioned also.

Unlike many who post here seeking 'a good lawyer', I'm not looking for legal advice for buying property or running a business or getting married or making a will etc etc. I just want to make contact with a lawyer in Pattaya who is good at dealing with unforeseen legal emergencies like if in the future I get involved in a serious traffic accident or some criminal investigation.

I might add I keep a thoroughly clean nose and hope and trust I will never have need of such legal services! But TIT.

Friends and acquaintances have mentioned/recommended the following three lawyers/organizations:

Ponthep Werachon, Werachon Law Office, Thepprasit Road Soi 12.

Katrena Wonnasakda, Thai International Law Consultants, opp Day-Night Hotel, South Pattaya.

Supanee Dibbayawan (office manager), Swiss Siam Services, Thepprasit Road Soi 10.

I know Khun Katrena has links with both expat clubs and is the official legal emergency contact for Pattaya Expats Club so that would seem a good recommendation.

Very good English language and a 24 hour emergency helpline would be obviously highly desirable in a legal emergencies lawyer.

Any recommendations/comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Does anyone know if the Farang Aid and Support Team (FAST) still exists?

Their website doesn't appear to be there anymore.

I never signed up with them but it sounded like a useful service.