kinyara

If I were you I think I'd first try mastering the art of getting suitable holiday accomodation for a few weeks, as failure in that department seems to end up with you crying yourself onto the plane every trip vowing to do us all a favour and never return.

Thanks, hopefully I'll never have to test that scenario out.

Not sure I'd say anywhere in Pattaya has what I consider a walkable ecosystem, I personally find the state of the pavements and the built up concrete/non-green environment one of the biggest drawbacks living here now. It doesn't have a "college feel" and I felt the air quality deteriorated significantly this year. I think in all the other points it's as good a place as any because I doubt anywhere can match all your requirements . Be interested to hear your thoughts after your one month sortie, good luck.

You'll do well to get past Soi 7/8 area of Beach Road dry in a baht bus. Let us know how you get on. 😁

So around 3,000 baht or so a month here, hardly likely to dent a 40,000 a month budget. Personally I budget double than and can go out and socialise with my friends in a regular pub/sports bar every 2 or 3 days. Any heavier and it would likely adversely affect my health and I'd probably enjoy it less anyway

I like my wine, can't be bothered with the fake nightlife scene and I effing hate karaoke. Works for me I think you are looking at the cost equation too much from a 2 week tourist mindset. How much do you drink a week in Australia ?

400,000 revellers not eating for a week, must be the biggest hunger strike anywhere.

I thought you had to wait 6 months until you were eligible for treatment upon returning to the UK.

I set my budget here on £10k a year here so around the 40k baht a month. The way I look at it is when I reach pension age I'll have a large pay rise as my other company pensions will also kick in as well as the state pension so I should be more than comfortable. At the moment I own my condo but don't have health insurance, it would be a struggle renting and paying health insurance. My plan is to sell my condo around pension age and rent then, the funds raised will be my back up health fund.

Definately a case of, " Not the real Thailand ", however the authorities have decided for Pattaya a week long tourist orientated festival benefits the city overall. At least it's concentrated mainly in the worst bar orientated areas of Central Pattaya. Buakow, 6, 7 & 8. I find it hard to believe that any tourist would choose to come here if they weren't prepared to be participants. Let the tourists have their fun. If you live here and your life revolves around those areas such that you can't put it on hold for a few days a year if it bothers you then I think you've got bigger problems than Songkran That or you're just a poor planner with limited interests or imagination. If you need to go into Central Pattaya it's one of the few weeks left where having a car is actually an advantage and dare I say enjoyable.

Double post

You don't even have the ability to master being a happy few week tourist so why would any expat living here pay attention to your incoherent rambling assumptions regarding their lives.

Bye bye little black duck, poor you.

If you were able to spend a day in Bangkok then you could go to Mega Plaza in Chinatown, which has a floor of used camera outlets. Since DSLR's are going out of fashion they are excellent value these days, and there is a plentiful choice of Nikon and Canon Full Frame and Crop Sensor models as well as a wide choice of lenses. You could also take the MRT from there direct to Phra Ram 9 MRT station and Fortune Town mall. There is a good secondhand outlet on the first floor there. Also check out the " Used" section of avcamera.com, they are a reputable bricks and morter shop in Bangkok you can order used gear from. They update their used section online daily.

There is a guy on here called Mike Bell who posts daily on every thread he possibly can that the local " plod " are inept and don't enforce traffic violations Why on earth then would you be worried about parking regulations ?