craigt3365

With only 2 days, you don't have much time. I think you will find more things to do in Bangkok than Pattaya...and if you are a true backpacker, you might want to stay on Khao San Road. It's a crazy place, but that's where you will find cheap accommodations, cheap food and plenty of other backpackers!

Have fun!

Several derogatory and ridiculous remarks have been deleted. Keep this civil or posting holidays will start to be given out.

Posters arguing for either side of this topic are welcome, as long as they abide by forum rules. Be nice!!!

3 posts deleted for derogatory remarks. Let's not turn this into a bashing thread. The poor soul lost his dog, show some respect. He clearly took necessary precautions to protect his dog, but accidents do happen.

My neighbor has a pit bull, I will check with him and see where he got the dog from...but it is quite old.

If the SAS were helping the pro-Gaddafi forces (and I hope they were not) this could get very embarrassing.

I heard a BBC report where a man being interviewed said they were trying to make contact with the opposition....but he was very tight lipped!!!!

How about we move this over to World News as it is not Thailand related?

How about we move this over to the motoring forum?

How about we move this over to the Family and Children Forum???

P.S. Please visit the Forum Support Desk if you are having problems opening new topics. We welcome you and hope you get good responses to your query.

How about we move this over to the Thailand Accommodation Finding Forum???

I got all my sheets, pillows and blankets in the US (2 sets each for 3 beds). Much cheaper and a greater variety back home. Just a hassle bringing it all back!!!

I'm Russian. I think the vote should be renamed to "Do you think the Russification of Pattaya is a good thing for Pattaya or not?" ;-)

In my opnion it is a bad thing for Pattaya but a good thing for the rest of Thailand ;-) Because the rest of the Thailand goes on un-russified and unspoiled as far as service quality is concerned.

Myself I don't go to Pattaya anymore. Not because I don't like Russians but because of our low standards. A hospitality of this place degraded tremendously.

Yes, welcome! Always great to hear other points of view!!

I do agree, Pattaya is not known for being of high standards. There's an attempt by bringing in some 4 star hotels...but most of central Pattaya doesn't stand up.

Are you sure you want to take her outside Thailand? I've often heard people say they don't want to take them to their home country because it might spoil them. I think they mean it might change them.

I've heard that before. But in my case, it has been fantastic. She now speaks great English, understands slang and "off beat" humor, cooks Italian, Korean, Mexican, etc. Knows the streets aren't paved with gold in American/Europe (has seen lots of real poverty during her travels). Understands how beautiful Thailand really is compared to many other countries (Nicaragua, Albania, etc). Etc. I've not noticed any downsides....yet!

Canada has a 30-day visa exemption, so no visa required at all. You just arrive and they let you be a tourist for 30 days.

Everybody needs a visa. For some countries, like Canada, it's obtained free upon arrival...and thus called "visa on arrival". But a visa for anybody visiting Thailand is required. Whether obtained in advance outside Thailand or obtained via the free visa on arrival method.

Sorry...yes, that's where I went last week. Packed, but things moved along nicely....

I just went this week for extension to my retirement visa. Proof of address was required, no map needed. Bank letter was needed, not just copy of bank passbook...I use the embassy letter for proof of income, but letter from bank showing my measly balance was required!

Got there at 2, was done about 3:30. Picked up passport the next day.

How about we move this to the Bangkok Forum?

How about we move this over to the Health, Body and Medicine forum. Being a mod for the General Forum, I won't have to read this again here!!!

I'd thought you would of moved it to the Farang Pub and Ent Forum.

I did consider that also! But for sure, move it to a forum I don't moderate!!!!

What is Canadas' visa exemption? Do you mean that you will get a 30 day visa at the airport free? or applying at your embassy for a tourist visa which I think are still free.

I entered a year ago with a one year ED visa on a one way ticket Toronto, to Bangkok. No one asked me for a return ticket, not the airlines or immigration.

You had a visa already, so a one way ticket is OK. I got here the same way many years ago...one way ticket AND a visa in my passport. I am pretty sure that without a visa, it will be a problem.

How about we move this to the Issan Forum, as you are really interested in that areas take on this.

We got married in a village between Khorat and Khon Kaen. Sin sot is alive and well there...but did get most of my money returned...to make it easier, I just transferred it to her bank and at the ceremony, the MIL just showed the bank book! It was transferred back 2 days later...less some that I left so they could upgrade the house and get me a western toilet!!!!!!!!!

So, per the OP's request, let's keep this civil.

I had to have proof of address to open my BB account. This was last year here in Pattaya. But all that was needed was the rental agreement for my apartment.

I have done quite a bit with these guys over the past year and have never had a problem. I love being able to use their New York branch for transferring money here. Really easy....

Also, I recommend getting the ATM card with the chip on it. Quite a bit of fraud going on right now. This one is harder for them to deal with...but also does not work at every ATM.

Why don't you take her to a local restaurant serving British food? You order something like fish and chips and have her order a meat pie? See how she likes it.

My wife has traveled all over, and lived in the US for 5 years. She cooks all kinds of different foods. But still won't eat most types of fast foods, sandwiches, hamburgers, cheese, fish and chips, etc. She loves pasta, but mainly when it has seafood in it! And sushi is hard to pass up....even for breakfast! She loves visiting Japan for their breakfasts.

One way to keep out the Russians, as well as a lot of the Europeans, is to pass a law that says nobody who weighs over 200lbs/80kilos is allowed to wear a skimpy "speedo" during daylight hours. I spent three days at a hotel up in NaKlua last year, with mostly Russians and Germans. The number of pot-bellied old men (and a significant number of women) who strutted around with their belly overhanging whatever they may have been wearing underneath was shocking and offensive, and I am not easily offended. I could not sit out by the pool. Let's get a law passed, and get the someone (who?)to enforce it, and the problem would be solved.

I remember walking around with my ex-wife in a mall several years ago. We saw an extremely large lady wearing those stretchy spandex pants. It was a horrible sight. Her comment was that wearing spandex should be a privilege, not a right!

I saw 3 guys riding from the ambassador to town last week on the "baht bus". Wearing nothing but speedos. Unreal...

How about we move this over to the techie forum????

How about we move this over to the Health, Body and Medicine forum. Being a mod for the General Forum, I won't have to read this again here!!!

I'm awake now....moving this over to the Banking forum. Now for my second cup of coffee!!!

just that my thai friend is proposing me a house to purchase so I am wondering whether it's a good place to live after retirement.. apart of that, it's leasehold with no title deed, but they said no need to worry about it as it's much cheaper!

Wow...run, don't walk from this deal. As you probably know, foreigners can not own land. Period. Sure, they are ways around this...but they are kinda shakey. And no title deed brings up all kinds of red flags. There's been lots of problems with deeds in this area, with homeowners losing their properties.

Have you ever been there? Have you lived in Thailand before? If not, I highly recommend you rent there for a year before deciding to purchase. If you are not happy with the home after your purchase, getting rid of it could be a problem.

Khao Yai is a beautiful place. But can get fairly cold, is quite touristy, and doesn't have a lot of expat facilities....if that even interests you.

As a second home? Great, as long as you have somebody living there full time and watching it for you...can't imagine ever leaving it empty....which is true for houses in most of Thailand!

But it is for sure a very, very beautiful area...and being built up rapidly...