manul

You CAN, but sometimes you'd like to sit on your balcony for some fresh air (as fresh as Pattaya air gets anyway), and often you'd like to leave the windows open for a breeze. If you have to have your windows closed all the time, then you have to run your air-conditioner constantly.

Sounds reasonable. VERY reasonable. However, not so reasonable when you know what I meant. I meant AT NIGHTTIME. Just look above - what another man said "That's unfortunately the problem anywhere and everywhere in Thailand. The incredible noise pollution at all hours of the day and nite."

In my post I assumed that I ALREADY GAVE UP noise pollution during the day because to fight it in Thailand is an exercise in futility. I meant that before I had problems staying asleep in one very respectable condominium on the floor 17, once I moved to the place I really liked (though a lot less respectable) on only 5^th floor, I NEVER HAD BEEN WOKEN UP by anything else than my alarm-clock !!!! Believe it or not !!!!

So, what I am saying, NOTHING IS HOW IT APPEARS in Thailand.

My first place: huge condo in a quite semi-suburban, fenced location. Outcome: impossible to sleep. Why? Two reasons: 1) constant renovation work could be heard up to 10 floors 2) Thai people coming for weekends screaming and shouting in corridors starting 6:30 am.

My second place: small elite serviced apartments building in one of the busiest streets with motorbikes roaring 24/7. Outcome: I sleep like a dream. Why? 1) Soundproof windows 2) No renovation, units for rent only 3) No Thai tenants in this building, too expensive for them.

As for sitting on a patio during the day – I still do it – little exhaust fumes reach 5 floor and motorbikes are fun to watch. But I hardly have time to do it more than 5 minutes a day. As for the breeze factor, what you say is fair. But it is subjective – I use breeze only in April – June period, now I don't even turn on the fan too often, use aircon only when I have visitors.

· I think someone needs his head checked. “the incredible noise from the boat landing” – WHERE on Earth did you hear it?!? Just stand on the embankment near the spot where they do this “landing” and listen all you want – there is very little sound compared to the endless roar of motorbikes in busy central Pattaya streets. I personally live in a 5-storey building surrounded by 3 VERY BUSY streets. Motorbikes growl all the time, 24/7. I NEVER had a problem of awaking from this. Just use SOUNDPROOF windows, that’s all !!