gerry53

I had my base replaced at the Office Depot just south of Big C at the Suk and Pattaya Tai. I forget the price but it was reasonable.

I went in there last week. Did they replace the base from a chair you purchased there? I was under the impression they can only order parts for chairs they sell.

I had purchased the chair there but I got them to put on a heavy duty base not one made of cheap pot metal.

I had my base replaced at the Office Depot just south of Big C at the Suk and Pattaya Tai. I forget the price but it was reasonable.

I would have thought the disabled get enough excercise and workouts trying to maneuver through the streets, curbs, sidewalks and buildings - few are handicapped friendly. Wouldn't it be more practical to spend the 3 billion baht to improve their lives and mobility around Pattaya? I suspect 3 billion coming in for a project this large will involve large payoffs. The handicapped need facilities in Pattaya but it should benefit all of them not just a few atheletes.

Ok JT my 2 favorites are French style resaurants and I consider them not only delicious but great value also. I would willingly pay considerably more in my own country for a similar meal.

The Ritz in Jomtien Complex with a 3 course meal in a classy atmosphere for under 400 baht. There are many main courses, appetizers and desserts to chose from.

Mementos Restaurant off Thappraya Rd at the Cocco Resort.

My lady loves both for special meals, unfortunately I am easily pleased and have the culinary tastes of a hungry soi dog!

Apparently, anyone can use anyones credit card here in Thailand, no checks at all. But then, maybe the clerks that sold then the items, thought they were German!

Maybe they had a little German in them?

It was reported this 19 year old has been arrested before on similar pimping charges of minor children. A look at her photo indicates she made a good income for a long time and could afford to eat regularly.

I wish it was a rare occurance.

I detest all dual priced systems I see in Thailand. It's just is not right and I will not return when I get stung even if it is only 21 baht - it's the principle. I love many things about Thailand but this is a sore point, it is not about the money but the disrespect it shows. People who support dual pricing for westerners puzzle me, maybe they carry lubricate to ease the pain?

I normally tip to western standards for good service because I know the servers generally don't make much money. on the other hand I do expect the owners not to gouge me.

The national parks are a joke with some charging 5 times the Thai rate even when you produce a Thai drivers license.

Thanks for the honest advice, you might be right but back home I have no place to stay, no job, no gf and all my friends are busy with their family life and it would be a big loss of face for me to go back now

I know you want to break my dream but I'm not yet ready to give it up yet

Smedley is correct that retirement at 30 is dilusional especially if you don't have an income stream to fund 50 plus years of "ar_e time". Living here and roatating back to your country to get periodic work to fund your lifestyle seems more sensible to me. The other option of getting work in Thailand is also a great choice as others have done.

Your statement about having to lose "face" if you had to return home is too funny - you sound Thai already! You have to be flexible with life - especially at 30 years old. Plan B could be find a nice Thai lady to enjoy your life with and return home with her to keep you company, contribute financially and keep you warm on cold nights.

Good luck.

Not much information to give an intelligent answer.

Have you been deemed a non resident of Canada yet?

How long have you been out of country?

Do you still have ties with Canada? (Provincial drivers license, banking, real estate etc.)

The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) can get their hooks into your money if you are deemed or volunteer you are a non resident icluding withholding 25% on proceeds of real estate sales. Tax rates on income are also higher on pensions and income than if you are a "non resident" which is incredible because you are not there to use the services.

This in my opinion is why most Canadians only leave Canada for less than 6 months every year. Their provincial health care is also another concern.

Have you cleared this restaurant review with Jingthing?

Are you Jingthings sidekick? When you post he in on it in minutes???

I enjoyed the old Lincoln Restaurant on second road and will try this new one. Even the sign is very similar.

What a wonderful proposal, but I must be a skeptic. I was hoping they start building the overhead rapid transit system they had talked about to ease the traffic problems first. Actually the transportation mafia and their supporting cast seems to have control of everything including the baht bus system? It would be nice if even one Pattaya taxi turned on their meter but that would bring swift reprocussions . Maybe the study should have run this proposal by the mafia first for their approval!

The OP originally asked if members have any insights, tips or advice for retiring in Pattaya at 48? After 7 pages of of mostly useless crap I suggest "Irishlad" reconsider asking mostly bored older whingers and keyboard warriors with too much time on their hands and to just make the move. When he gets here for his 6 month longterm stay he may find some decent friends in the area to discuss life in Pattaya and early retirement.

Don't get short sighted. Think 5 years down the road, then jump to 20.

There's a lot to be said for living in the present too.

You must have a very depressing existence with such clear vision of the future. Have you planned your funeral yet?

Obviously a sharp tongue, large ego and too much time on ones hands makes some go overboard on their responses?

Seems things have changed for the worst. My own experience some eight years ago,was absolutely brilliant.

My wife and I went to the relevant department,and there was 60 or 70 people there waiting,so we was preparing for a long wait.

5 minutes later a lady came out from the office,and in we went,she looked at my UK Licence,and said I can see you are a good driver (not especially true) and then she said I will give you a 1 year Driving Licence,come back next year and I will give a 5 year Licence,and sure enough she did.

No tests or hassle, amazing! Apparently from later reports she was moved deep into the office heirachy and never got to meet Farangs again,I think maybe she was too bright for the system.

Hold on there Majic. You claim she was was too bright for the DLT system yet say she issues UK (only) drivers unchallenged 1 year & 5 year Thai drivers licenses even though you claim you were not a good driver???? I think they should have fired her and rehired her at immigration! Are Aussies, Canadians, Americans and Eurpeans inferior to you Brits? I did not have to do the computer or driving tests on my 1 or 5 year licenses but the color, reaction and depth perception tests were required - you would think with the number of older retirees here it would be mandatory for safety reasons?

hotandhumid I am a freelance IT person, worked and lived in Dublin,London,Berlin,Munich, Luxembourg, Hanoi .......never met the right lass plus me a "real lad" so not suited to marriage

May I suggest steel underpants for when the scissors come out from Ms Thai lady

And was your reattachment surgery successful???

Just one less nutter in Thailand.

I never minded seeing him pedalling around town, he was flamboyant but always smiling and pleasant. I can't say that about some of the drunken, scowling and unstable farangs i see aound downtown Pattaya.

Not saying scams don't happen but very often jet skis are indeed damaged and what is seen is fierce negotiations of what that damage should cost.

I think it is just the opposite. Damages can happen but the majority are trumped up allegations against newby tourists from previous hidden damage to the jet ski. There are far too many people making big money from this long running scam. The fierce negotiations appears to be extortion backed up by the jet ski mafia, the BIB and other locals that share in the windfall profits. Most of the reported damage involves scrapes or minor dents that the owners are trying to claim tens of thousands of baht - we all know how inexpensive labor and bodyshop costs are here.

Jez JT are you trying for 40,000 posts???

29 and retired....bizzare!!!

Jealous ?

Yes

Has me beaten. I'm 31.

At 31 was it a brilliant invention, great stock picks, winning a lottery, family inheritence or sticking up an amoured car that got you guys into this envious position???

I have a portfolio in Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket and generate enough to keep the fridge full. But the only way it works is if you are debt free and have a reliable agent to manage the properties.

I have money in the bank and in other paper investments and they generate enough to keep the fridge full, pay my rent, and cover regular trips to the Hilton buffet also, along with all my other monthly expenses.

I do this without needing any agents, and without paying any commission to anyone.

I also do this without infringing any laws anywhere on the planet, and entirely in my own name.

YMMV

Hilton buffet?

i have been there four times in the last seven days

i never saw a large yellow member.....

Darrel obviously left with his pants on.

OP you are obviously aware of the potential problems, corruption, theft from employees, etc in owning and running a bar. Why would you want to spend 12 hours plus each day managing one when you have enough assets to retire ??? Most of us retire because we want to leave the rat race, you seem to want to jump back in? If you are bored try a hobby you enjoy where you can possibly earn income without risk or capital or manage your own money.

Why would you want to work these kinds of hours to "break even" when you don't need too financially? Keeping busy is healthy but there are so many other things to do here.

Hi Jingthing - you are in a good position because you don't need emergency surgery. As suggested get other quotes in Chonburi province and Bangkok then throw out the high ones. Take these to your surgeon and negotiate with him to keep costs down and he may do just that. If it is emergency surgery they know you need it now and you tend to get hammered on the pricing. The pricing tiers are definitely in place but you want to get the best surgeon at the lowest tier and price.

If perscription drugs are needed don't buy at the hospital, Fascino is much cheaper.

Good luck

Too much talk about sex. Can't we get back to serious stuff like bahtbus prices and breakfast buffets?

Some of us only have a few decades left to live.

H_ll Darrel - if you keep eating at the buffets I would keep the defifilator fully charged!!!

I had a good look at the menu although I didn't exactly study it. It is near the Dongtan police box.

Sorry: after eyeballing the place and looking at the menu, my interest in even TRYING this place is ZILCH.

I would be very shocked if this turns out to be a serious New York deli. I don't care if the "owner" is from "New York" as so are millions of people and most of them know nothing about running a proper New York deli.

Instead of respectable names for the deli items like CORNED BEEF, PASTRAMI, etc. we get a bunch of CHEESY gimmick names like The Brooklyn Bridge, The Staten Island Fairy, Babs Best, Jerry Seinfeld's revenge (made those up). Danger Will Robinson! The pictures such as existed which may just be stock photos were nothing like what someone craving real New York deli would want. The prices at the 100 baht range mean there is absolutely no way they could possibly deliver quality meat in appropriate portions on quality bread. Look we got spoiled for a short time with the Deli-zza joint which needed to charge in the 300 baht range for real New York style deli sandwiches. They were NOT a rip off. Yes, they closed sadly.

BTW the "sandwiches" come with a pickle and potato chips. Potato chips. Lazy, eh?

Also the LOOK of this new place. Not convincing at all.

So I won't try this place. By all means you guys try it if you like. If you rave about it, I don't think I'll believe you though.

Yes I guess just DID sort of write a "review" of a place I never tried and probably never will try. Brownie points for chutzpah?

Wow. That's harsh for a place you've never tried! I agree with most of your restaurant reviews but give a guy a break!

I'm used to seeing JT give his kiss off death to his favorite restaurants but without even trying this one seems nasty and mean spirited. Maybe he did try it as he did with his self confessed early undercover visits to Sunrise Tacos. If they feel they can sell a reasonable NY style sandwhich (who cares about it's name) for 100 baht more power to them.

It's just a suggestion but why don't you invest in the Stock Exchange of Thailand? Some of he major banks have mutual funds investing in the top Thai companies, some with no taxation for farangs. It should give you a superior return compared to the Pattaya area condo market with it's thousands of newer units coming online every month - yet they can't sell the existing new units. This condo fever can't continue forever - the signs are everywhere. Do you really want to spend your days here collecting rents, hearing excuses and fixing things with multiple units? If still interested in condos wait until after a correction and buy them cheaply - as mentioned previously they are way overpriced at the moment.

Good luck.