gerry53

It's not the "agro" or the few baht - it's the principle that they were gouging me because they thought I could afford more that bothered me. I usually tipped well if the bike came back clean and they got 80 baht anyways. Thai business ethics suck in general.

I had a new place the next week and it was only 50 baht (plus tip). I really just wanted to know if other PCX owners had run into this here or elsewhere?

Perhaps they did put the price for cleaning PCX's up. At this stage you only think thy were gouging you but you don't have evidence.

Incorrect - my friend drives his 135cc Yamaha Elegance in and it is 60 baht but a bigger bike. Washing my 125cc PCX costs the same as washing a Harley? Not too difficult to understand - it is gouging.

Slightly off the subject but regarding the PCX from you other owners. The last time I took my PCX into the car wash at the PTT petrol station on Threppasit they wanted 80 baht because it was a bigger bike? They washed it before for the small bike price and never tried this on my 135cc Yamaha Elegance either. I would think the streamlined PCX would be easier to clean and it only has a 125cc engine. I think a case of gouging because it was a pricier bike - they shot themselves in the foot with me, I'll never return again. No amount of reasoning would change their minds even though I've used them regularly for 2 years?

What's the small bike price? 20 baht. That's a lot of agro over 20 baht.

Try Nakonsawan cleaners on Threpprasit Road near View Talay.

It's not the "agro" or the few baht - it's the principle that they were gouging me because they thought I could afford more that bothered me. I usually tipped well if the bike came back clean and they got 80 baht anyways. Thai business ethics suck in general.

I had a new place the next week and it was only 50 baht (plus tip). I really just wanted to know if other PCX owners had run into this here or elsewhere?

Slightly off the subject but regarding the PCX from you other owners. The last time I took my PCX into the car wash at the PTT petrol station on Threppasit they wanted 80 baht because it was a bigger bike? They washed it before for the small bike price and never tried this on my 135cc Yamaha Elegance either. I would think the streamlined PCX would be easier to clean and it only has a 125cc engine. I think a case of gouging because it was a pricier bike - they shot themselves in the foot with me, I'll never return again. No amount of reasoning would change their minds even though I've used them regularly for 2 years?

When I do go to the beach in Jomtien I prefer Dongtan Beach north of the police box (towards pattaya) - it seems cleaner and has less hawkers. For a nice day with cleaner beaches and water I prefer Bang Saray.

As suggested Sattahip and Koh Larn are great choices also but a bit more difficult to get to.

I heard that falling asleep on Dongtan can be a real pain in the butt.

I wouldn't worry. Times have changed. There was that incident about the hot borscht enema but that was obviously an urban myth.

Sounds like experience talking

When I do go to the beach in Jomtien I prefer Dongtan Beach north of the police box (towards pattaya) - it seems cleaner and has less hawkers. For a nice day with cleaner beaches and water I prefer Bang Saray.

As suggested Sattahip and Koh Larn are great choices also but a bit more difficult to get to.

last january price for small unit was 100.000 bath and renting 15.000 / month for new place of course ... and delivery time around 6 month

So rent is 180,000 baht a year plus the extra 100,000 baht a year (tea money to landlord?) plus utilities. A new bar needs upgrades like the bar itself, stock, fridges, tables, seats, security screening for off hours, awnings, pool table, policing donations, etc, etc. You have to sell alot of 50 baht beers to cover this plus wages - the competition is VERY keen. The ladies wages are small but many are changing bars more often than I change underwear . I would think a location closer to 2nd road would be a more desirable location than the newer bars.

Sorry but I came to Jomtien to retire from working and headaches - not to buy a job with questionable returns and risks.

I heard that one of the bars is now for sale at 1.5 million baht, it is a single unit not one of the larger middle (double units). It was located near the front in the better established area and overlooking the Rompho Market and was for the bar only, the buildings are rented. Other bars have changed hands in the last year also. New construction is ongoing and who knows what the final number will be. It is devastating for the other bars in the Jomtien area because many customers seem to flock to the Rompho beer complex. They did tidy up the front facing 2nd Rd. by putting in awnings (tents) for vendors and moved some of the food booths to the side.

I purchased mine from the Mityon Dealership on Thepprasit Rd (I think Soi 7). I didn't get much flexibility on the price but got a few extras and a 10% discount on add ons I wanted like HD springs, custom seat and pinstripping. After much checking in Pattaya and Jomtien I found the price differences were negligible.

This dealership is close to me and has a large well run service department. They also gave me a reasonable trade in price on my Yamaha.

I am happy with the PCX fuel economy, tank capacity, storage, comfort, security devices and the handling characteristics.

3 TVs have also now been installed, with 2 more coming. All are high definition. We will show sports, fashion, MMA, etc

I thought it was going to be a restaurant not a diner / sports bar?

Yes, we're a restaurant, not a bar per se. However, we have background music, and TVs to add something a bit extra to the dining room. Typically, the TVs are silent unless their is a major sporting event. We will keep some sound on the bar TV.

Gil

Going Thai I see...never understood the Thai penchant for having a dozen TV's on with the sound off! Very distracting and seems like a terrible waste of energy; not to mention just plain stupid.

It is truly amazing how a few keyboard warriors can offer such silly advice. I am sure the the owner has researched this (and many other things) and noted how the other successful franchises are operated. Gil I am looking foreward to your opening, please disregard some of these stupid comments or you will end up like a dog chasing his own tail.

Sunrise's burritos are much closer to typical CALI-Mex than Tex-Mex.

One thing I prefer to Americanized Mexican over Mexican Mexican is the traditional use of LARD in Mexican cooking. Americans generally prefer lighter. It's a similar thing to traditional Indians food using ghee when many westerners could do without the ghee.

Your culinary expertise is simply amazing JT. Is there a Arizona - Mex or a Florida - Mex that you can compare to the Tex - Mex or the Cali - Mex. I definitely wouldn't want to make any generalizations to arouse your criticisms!

Frankly, i admire this guy Gil, already

to have the balls to throw himself into this hostile environment on Thai Visa shows committment and a determination to succeed

it sounds like some members already have an axe to grind and hes not even open yet!

like many on here, i have been to all the Mexican restaurants on offer in these parts and like many have said, i have found them lacking

so as one who is often in search of something to tickle his taste buds, he can count on me as one of the first visitors

i wish him good luck with his venture

I have to admit I like this guys communication skills especially in this hostile envoirment ( = TV food critics). After living here for 2 years the normal things I hear in restaurants are "cannot" and "no hab" in MOST local eateries. I lived 6 months in Mexico and actually prefer this Tex-Mex food and this restaurant is only 300 metres from my elevator, it will be a good addition to my regular restaurants. I wish him good luck in his endeavers.

I hope when it opens it gives me one of JTs self proclaimed food boners!

I used to eat at Wendy's when it was on Pat Pong in Bangkok. I think they closed about the time of the crisis in 97. I was good though and I wish they would come back.

Sam's mexican food does do a good burger IMO.

Wendy's makes really good burgers (yuuuummmm). I had no idea it was here in the past. Sam's Mexican Food? Is that the place near the arch on the backside? I have never eaten there. I wonder if the owner knows that Sunrise Tacos is going to open right across the street from where he is located (ouch).

I actually like the Simple Simons burgers at 2 for 165 baht including chips but get them to give you a dish of mayo for the bun. I can't eat 2 of these so I take one home for later - it's good value and tasty. The Momma Burger Stand in front of the Rompho Beer Complex (Aussie Bar) is my favorite take away for burgers, fries and their bacon roll.

Sams Mexican is near the overhead arch and opposite Shennanigans on the small road that loops around to 2nd road. The new Sunrise Tacos will literally be a stones throw away with better road exposure right on Thappraya Road. It's nice to see some competition here and hopefully that will translate into good pricing, quality and service. Who would have thought Jomtien would end up having 3 Mexican restaurants when you include Mikes Mexican.

You guys are so negative. Now is an opportune time to start that diet and quit drinking.

Instead of everyone speculating about the food at this new restaurant why don't they just wait until it has opened and you form your own opinion good, bad or indifferent. I can't believe there are nearly 120 posts on a restaurant that has not even opened - some people have too much time on their hands??

At the present rate of posting from October 6th to today there will be 300 posts when they open the doors for business around the 3rd week of November.

URGENT UPDATE - There is a massive hole appearing at the junction of Theprasit - it is big enough to take a whole wheel - any one on a bike at night is going to have a bad crash. A car could be badly damaged.

I doubt if the "nightshift" road crew have fixed it since last night around 8 pm.....

I am sure they will dump a few bags of asphalt into it and tamp it down ignoring the real underlying problem. When a 2 metre monster hole appears and swallows up a few vehicles they will then shut the intersection down and do major repairs as usual. This is a real money maker.

It reminds me of the Soi Watboon and 2nd Road hole a few storms back!

Since this thread is about the paving- It has started - but will take about 5 years to complete at the pace they proceed and also the speed that the jungle comes back...

I watched a group of around 10 guys laying the bricks on top of the soft wash away at the first rain sand and none of them had the proper tools. One guy had a rubber mallet. They leave large gaps at the edges to let the rainwater wash out the base and return to the status quo of bombsite pavements and every one walking on the road.

If only the Pattaya/Jomtien road council (if there is such a group) could visit a first world Promenade and see what could be done with the right equipment. trained staff, and less backhanders and mafia payouts we would have a road and pavement that would bring thousands flocking to the area. But no.....we have mud and sand everywhere...that leads to the new town dump/landfill site at the end of the new road at the Chayapreuk junction...nuff said...

You are so correct. i have been watching Jomtien road construction and choking on the dust for 3 years and it is an ongoing project where contractors know they will be back making repairs when the job is finished. I really don't think the Pattaya city officials and / or businessmen want to see Jomtien succeed. They put many out of business in the Thappraya - 2nd road project and it isn't over yet.

I did mine on Monday around 2 pm. I had 20 people waiting in front of me and it took about 30 minutes. One desk got tied up when 2 ladies came in for approval of 12 passports - possible visa agents, it slowed down the process.

You need

- passport

-rental agreement or bill payment with address in your name

-TM47 filled out correctly

The photocopy store outside knows exactly what pages need to be copied - for me it was 20 baht.

Go inside the girls will check everything is in order - they will then give you a numbered ticket for the 90 day reporting queue.

Not much change other than the extra photocopies.

Yesterday as sunset I tried to find the place after a jog down the beach. I went to the soi and by the 7-11 I saw a guard post. I then saw the sign for the place past the guard post. I walked past the guards to the restaurant. The front gate was closed but I could see inside. Nobody was inside. No workers and no customers. I waited but finally decided to leave. I wish I could tell you how great the sandwich was, but can't! I wonder what the best time is to go there.

They don't open until 15:00

Sunset is after 1800 hours (6 pm.), if you are correct then they should have been open for 3 hours already? The guard station before the restaurant is definitely a turn off to some people.

Installation was probably delayed due to the rains.

They can't test the signal if it's raining.

Had the same situation myself this week.

Actually in my case when they did the instalation (after the heavy rains) they got a great digital signal according to the onscreen tests. That wasn't the issue at all - their ridiculous policies and inflexibilty were.

I have to tell you about my delightful encounter with a local Satellite TV company. I waited 6 days for instalation in Jomtien, my Thai girlfriend talked with the booth that sold us the service with no money down but 2000 baht upon instalation. The sales booth was in the local Tesco store and they took a photocopy of my passport as was required. They never advised me I would need a second photocopy and they didn't last time they did an instalation for me either.

The Wednesday morning they were supposed to do the instalation they did not arrive or that afternoon either. My girlfriend then had a commitment for them to arrive the next morning - they didn't show again. After 11:00 am she was told 1:30 and they arrived at 3 pm. They installed and set up the dish and reciever in about 1 hour then called their boss and handed me the phone. He wanted 2000 baht cash which I was aware of and had no problem with that. - he also wanted a copy of my passport which they had taken 6 days earlier.

He then said he would not activate the signal until I brought the passport in again for them to photocopy! I said no I will drive into their Tesco booth tomorrow (not the downtown main office on Pattaya Klang) and they can photocopy it again and foreward it to him but I wanted the signal activated now because I would then be paying for it. He said that wasn't acceptable so I told him if it wasn't "acceptable" to him his technicians could remove the equipment they spent about 2 hours including travel time and I would pay them nothing. He said he would activate the system only after I paid them brought the passport in to be photocopied again??? The 2 installers waited 15 minutes for him to phone them back with instructions which he didn't. They ended up uninstalling the dish, receiver and cables and leaving with no money and no 6 month minimum subscription for the service at 2000 baht per month.

You got to love Thai business ethics. I know the end result is I have no satellite TV but I'll be dam_ed if I will submit to their tactics and demands as a result of their own incompetence. Oh well I guess Sophon cable isn't that bad anyways and it is already included in my condo rent.

Is there any other GOOD satellite providers in the area?

I have to tell you about my delightful encounter with True Satellite tv. I waited 6 days for instalation in Pattaya, my Thai girlfriend talked with the booth that sold us the service (no money down but 2000 baht upon instalation). The True booth was in the local Tesco store and took a photocopy of my passport as was needed. They never advised me I would need a second photocopy.

The Wednesday morning they were supposed to do the instalation they did not arrive or that afternoon either. My girlfriend then had a commitment for them to arrive the next morning - they didn't show again. After 1100 am she was told 1:30 and they arrived at 3 pm. They installed and set up the dish and reciever in about 1 hour then called their boss and handed me the phone. He wanted 2000 baht cash which I was aware of and had no problem with that. - he also wanted a copy of my passport which they had taken 6 days earlier.

He then said he would not activate the signal until I brought the passport in again for them to photocopy! I said no I will drive into their Tesco booth tomorrow (not the downtown main office on Pattaya Klang) and they can photocopy it again. He said that wasn't acceptable so I told him to remove the equipment they spent about 2 hours with travel time and I would pay them nothing. He said he would activate the system after I paid then brought the passport in to be photocopied again??? The 2 installers waited 15 minutes for him to phone them back which he didn't. They ended up taking all the equipment and reciever back with them with no money and no 6 month minimum payments for the service.

You got to love Thai business ethics.

The culinary snobs are out en mass these days. Everyone seems to be trying to outdo each other with their cilnary expertise??? Why not try a restaurant and IF you enjoy it return and quit over analysing the cr_p out of everything. Remember food is only a short term rental anyways. I for one am looking foreward to this new restaurant and wish them luck here even if it isn't just like in Mexico, Texas or other parts of the USA.

^ page 1 post 19

Thanks for the reminder - the post has been ongoing for 2 months and I forgot. Thanks AC for the sandwhich update. :jap:

Is anyone going to post prices, menu or a critique of their food?

I would suggest the OP just go out buy or rent a suitable automatic scooter - we are not talking a dangerous mission like flying to the moon. For gods sake 12 year old Thai kids do it all the time! You will find everything suddenly accessible, easy parking, inexpensive to operate and also alot of fun. Just start slowly as previously suggested, drive defensively and don't drink.