Hobgoblin

Watch the Car Park guys. I had drinks with a friend next door, did my shopping at left at 1:15am. It took THREE guys to work out how much I owed, as the first one trying to overcharge. I did not care about not being allowed my one hour free for shopping, thinking of it as a "Take car of my car" tip, until another guy ran up to me as I was driving out.

Agreed. I went there with a friend to have lunch at the Au Bon Pain and to shop at Villa. Au Bon Pain stamped our parking ticket, then at Villa, they stamped it again to make sure we would not be charged for parking, as between the two of us, spent about 6,000 baht there.

Lo and behold, the parking attendants tried to finagle parking money out of us even after seeing the validated ticket - they wanted 40 baht because we were there for over an hour. I told them I would not pay because our ticket was validated from Villa... they still wanted 40 baht and said "You still pay". It was then I gave him the finger and drove out of the parking lot.

I talked to the manager of Villa, and she assured me that the parking attendants will get a good tongue lashing.

Because it's difficult to get your full shopping trolley up to the multi story carpark without any lifts.

Translation: Because it's difficult to get your full shopping cart up the multi-story parking garage without any elevators.

[sorry, but It's rare I come across a sentence with so many Britishisms so close together. Forgive me ]

Villa Pattaya is grossly overstaffed ! Today there were about three or four

people just hanging around each cash register chating

And *how* this is different from any other Thai business?

I'm a huge fan of Villa... I've been making "Villa Runs" to Bangkok for years, so it's nice to have one locally, especially when buying stuff that one cannot really buy in bulk because of freshness, lack of space, et al.

I've made good friends with one of the managers, a lady named "Tatar", who has assured me that she can acquire specific goods for me. It's only been a week, but my fingers are crossed that some of my demands will be met. Among my requests were Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, certain flavors of Wheat Thins and SOS Pads.

I am also friends with the baker lady - she's a neighbor of mine, so I now have a place to get fresh San Fransisco style Sourdough bread and NYC style Jewish Rye. Yumm!

True, some of the readily available goods, such as Pepsi 6-packs and Thai products cost a bit more than they do at Tesco or Carrefoour - but Villa lacks sufficient storage space to provide deep-discount prices on such items. It's important to bear in mind that Villa's niche is rare and imported grocery items. For everyday things, it's best to shop elsewhere. If I want Pepsi or Lay's potato chips, I will go to the local Sev or Tesco. If I want a certain imported spice, a certain type of Mexican ingredient or something that I know Tesco's probably will not carry, I will head to Villa.

Sure, Villa's prices on certain items are astronomical compared to the prices for the same items in the US. A tub of Cool Whip at Villa is 230 Baht, more than 4 times the price at a Safeway in the US, but you have to consider the cost of transporting such a good halfway around the world. Small items, light items and non-perishables are cheaper because they do not require any special care during the haul. But fresh meats, produce and frozen goods that have limited lifetimes require special care during shipment that are added into the final cost. Frozen Eggo waffles are a delicate item, hence the large price tag. However, I've bought a couple boxes, along with some other things, tacking up a bill of over 3,400 Baht. The benefit of paying such a steep price for certain foodstuffs is that I conserve by eating less - which is healthier because we all know many of these American goods are loaded with fat and other unhealthy ingredients... but they sure hit the spot once in a while!

In short, I'm glad Villa is here, but although I'm a lifelong customer, I'm only a customer for certain items - I'm also a lifelong customer of Tesco, Carrefour, Big C, 7-11, Foodland and Friendship.

God, I love this store... enough said

I think what "Khun Shenanigans" is forgetting is that a large percentage of his clientèle partake in what he defines as being lurid activities - those patrons populating his tables and booths are not in Pattaya for the Opera or the Symphony.

Although Pattaya is becoming more and more gentrified, the base attraction here *is* the bar business. While many living and visiting Pattaya are of the "Cheap Charlie" persuasion, even they at times are willing to saw off the arm and leg which a meal at Shenanigans will require.

If upmarket is what they want - they should have moved their location to a certain city about 120 kilometers to the north, and not across the street.

I personally don't find the food there anything special, and I've found tastier fare for less elsewhere.

-H

Its very loud.

เสียงดังมาก = siang dung mak

Also, you can shorten it to "dung (dang) bpai" ดังไป

Dont be late

อย่ามาสาย = yah ma sai

Or, yah ma cha: อย่ามาช้า

-H

Wow, this is great news.

I've been making "Villa Runs" for over a year to stock up on bagels and other items that Foodland and Friendship don't carry.

Since Villa is actively monitoring this thread, please carry Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper. I've seen these before at the Sukumvit Soi 11 store. They're import items, so they're not cheap, but when you need something besides Pepsi or Sprite, its worth the extra cost!

Why Thailand has crap food.

One reason is holding temps. Food cannot be held at room temp. It will poison you. Food should be below 40F or above 135F.

Another is cross contamination. You can’t use just one cutting board for chicken, pork, and so on.

Why? Cooking it will destroy all germs - it's all the same raw.

Another is three compartment sinks. One to wash, one to rinse and one to sanitize. They are non existent in Thailand.

Next time you eat at a street side vendor look for the above things. When you get sick you can remember reading it here.

I think I'll be OK, as I have for the past five years.

Why does Thailand not enforce even these basic standards? Anyone have any ideas? I don’t really have a clue.

Because Thailand isn't a country full of pussies like the US and UK whose immune systems are so compromised from living in such a hermetically-sealed environment. When small pests come along, strong immune systems kill it off, while reeking havoc on weak immune systems.

That said - I smell a TROLL.

highly suspect...you can't be immune to bacteria.

I think you meant "you can't become immune to bacteria. Bacteria are parasitic organisms - there are bacteria that are harmless and even beneficial, such as escherichia coli, which live in our intestines and aide in the hardening of stool (which is why taking broad spectrum antibiotics gives us time to be more acquainted with our hawng nams).

As an earlier poster pointed out, Thais who have centuries of lineage have become accustomed to certain bacterium that we, from the West, have not. Because we grow up in cleaner environments, we are genetically predisposed to be more prone to foreign germs that our feeble antibodies cannot quell. So, it's not a question of "rolling around in filth" to strengthen our immune systems, but a gradual experimentation with more bacterium that can eventually boost our immune systems to keep these germs at bay.

Why Thailand has crap food.

One reason is holding temps. Food cannot be held at room temp. It will poison you. Food should be below 40F or above 135F.

Another is cross contamination. You can’t use just one cutting board for chicken, pork, and so on.

Why? Cooking it will destroy all germs - it's all the same raw.

Another is three compartment sinks. One to wash, one to rinse and one to sanitize. They are non existent in Thailand.

Next time you eat at a street side vendor look for the above things. When you get sick you can remember reading it here.

I think I'll be OK, as I have for the past five years.

Why does Thailand not enforce even these basic standards? Anyone have any ideas? I don’t really have a clue.

Because Thailand isn't a country full of pussies like the US and UK whose immune systems are so compromised from living in such a hermetically-sealed environment. When small pests come along, strong immune systems kill it off, while reeking havoc on weak immune systems.

That said - I smell a TROLL.

I'm contemplating buying a new laptop my next vacation, at Tukcom.

Of course, I want to get one with Microsoft Vista on it.

Whatever for?

Does anyone have a laptop with Vista on it?

What has been your experience with it? (i,e,. Do you reccomend it?)

The unwritten rule of thumb regarding the instillation of newly released Microsoft *anything* is to wait for the first Service Pack, where all the bugs are worked out. Vista is currently a disaster from what I hear.

Also, I'm wondering if Tukcom is the kind of place where you can haggle for a discount.

Tukcom is more likely to give you a deal, but I would *never* purchase a laptop or anything that expensive from there. You're much better off going to Watthana Computer (opposite Foodland). There, you may not be able to haggle as much, but you will get much better service and support should you need it (and you *will* if you go with Vista this soon).

To all my fellow Cesar salad fans,

Pattaya is in the grip of a monstrous cruton shortage. Friendship, Foodland, Foodmart, Tops and even Carrefour used to carry heaps of boxes of Pepperidge Farm giant seasoned salad crutons. They were sold in boxes (half the size of a cereal box, the real volume escapes me) for roughly 100 baht.

However, what used to be huge stockpiles of these has since dwindled to zero. I need my crutons! I bought a small box from the Foodland bakery, but were very small (1cm cubed), and alas, no flavoring. Friendship currently has bags of some German brand of seasoned crutons in stock, but for an astronomical 695 Baht... no way am I paying *that* much.

So, has anyone seen these illustrious crutons being sold anywhere? Any cruton news? Weho?

Who are the twins hurting? The people with the problem would seem to me to be the ones who can't stop staring at the two gentlemen in question, all the while looking down on them and calling them names. How superior they are!

Just because there's some arbitrary no-shirt-no-service rule in the west doesn't mean that it has to be imposed here. Plus one for Thailand as far as I'm concerned.

Every time I go back to the west I'm amazed at how much more restrictive things get. More rules, more things you can't do; it just gets more stifling. Yeah, it's too far the other way in Thailand, but the price you pay is having to look at two interesting twins in that high-class restaurant Took Lae Dee (or not looking if you're too uptight to see how interesting they really are).

It's a health issue. Unless the restaurant is on the beach or open air, it's incredibly rude to dine without a shirt. If you think Thailand is lacking the standards that dictate whether or not a SHIRT should be worn at public restaurants, then try dressing like that and eating someplace in Bangkok. More than likely, no one will say anything about it, because Thais are very non-confrontational, but you can bet the bank they're thinking it.

Why do you think foreigners living in Pattaya have such a bad reputation? It's because of people like these two horror shows.

Do I think I'm superior to these guys? In general? No. In attire - most definitely. In respecting the cultural taboos of the country in which I choose to live as a GUEST? Absolutely.

This is why foreigners living in Pattaya have a bad name. It's disgusting and totally uncouth for even the most casual of eateries.

Had I been there, I would have said something - probably to one of the waitresses (sorry, servers) or to the store manager, but not to one of these guys. They look to be the assaulting type.

I feel sorry for that poor lady sitting next to them, and for the rest of us who are constantly being conflated with the likes of people like these in the eyes of the sophisticated Bangkok Thais who influence immigration laws.

No Shirt? No Shoes? No Service!

Try Doctor Sawadeepong in South Pattaya. Great service, no long queue and great English. Most maladies I've gone in for have been totally cured, and usually always less than 1,000 Baht.

His office is located on Pattaya 2nd Rd. (Actually, Lower Pratamnak Road, where all that horrendous road construction is taking place) near the old OD Bowling. From the Thappraya Road/Third Road viaduct, head towards the beach, merge onto Pratamnak Road, heading north. His office is about 200 meters north on the left-hand side.

You should write a book, Weho. The only problem would be whether to stock the book in the Travel section, or Humor.

I go to Malaysia three to four times a year, and I find the greatest benefit there is the absence of tax for electronic goods and such. I purchased a new Nikon D200 camera in Penang for 20% less than it was being sold for Thailand. The downside is yes, a dramatic upturn in the number of people bereft of common etiquette... especially those from traveling from countries of which we do not speak.

Admittedly, I'm jealous that you were afforded the opportunity to use the whole 'Borat' fiasco to abase a rude Kazakh jumping an egg queue. I'm not one to use such tactics, UNLESS such rudeness is presented to me. My favorite insult is to Russians who jump queues... "Hey, this ain't a bread line - there's plenty of eggs for everyone".

Your post seemed to ruffle a few feathers here, but I always try to look past the underlying and at times, blatant contempt you describe in your posts, and have a good laugh. After all, these people *are* in the service industry and have to deal with the occasional demanding and high-maintenance client.

Looking forward to Part 2!

I emailed that address, but it bounced back to me. My last resort is to call.

Hi,

I will be taking a month-long trip to Romania this August, and will need to obtain a new tourist visa while abroad. Has anyone experienced the embassy in Bucharest (Romania)? I'm also curious if they will issue a double or triple tourist visa as opposed to the singles one gets from nearby consulates/embassies such as Penang.

Another issue is that I'm staying about three hours away from Bucharest while I'm in Romania, and if it is at all possible for them to issue a visa in an express manner, so that I would not have to take a six-hour round trip to and from Bucharest to retrieve my passport. I can't imagine the embassy there would be terribly busy.

Any information is greatly appreciated!

Hi Weho, just been reading your last post, are you male or female by the way?

Maybe I'm "gender-neutral", maybe I'm both, maybe I'm neither. Maybe I drive a pickup trick and wear flannel shirts, and have lots of cats running around.

Please explain why you need to do, or what it has to do with the price of a cheap sandwich, and I'll be happy to respond, if convinced.

And regarding the good value meals, I was referring to farang-type food... I'm sure you can get local Thai food for 5 baht... but you might also get Tomaine (sp.?).... or trichinosis.

Driving a pickup trick? Sounds kinky.

I disagree with the "local food"comment you referred to. I've eaten many delicious meals at small noodle stands or other varieties of what we can refer to as "street food", and I have never gotten sick from eating any of it. The places I *have* gotten food poisoning from include Subway (Carrefour), Bob's Texas BBQ (Beef Brisket) and the slop atop the Russian Erection (Pattaya Park Tower Revolving Buffet).

I do however, understand why people avoid street food. Some people have a higher tolerance for bacteria and other things that swim in undercooked or poorly kept food. A friend of mine got a violent case of ptomaine from some duck... which I also ate, and did not affect me at all. I suppose I've eaten enough street food to have a fairly healthy tolerance.

Thanks for the suggestion for the roast beef sandwiches at Carrefour, but there's no way I'll order a "kids" meal at McDonald's

It's the principle, and I agree with Weho.... although I draw the line at major chains like Fuji, Sizzler or farang-operated restaurants. If it's a small, Thai-owned shop, I would let it slide, since the money goes directly to the owners and not a corporate bank account, so I usually play the guilt card. It also depends on my mood. I'm more prone to frugality towards the end of the month.

I love Fuji, by the way. I always order the Gyoza with a small side of spicy mustard.... mix the mustard with the sauce that comes with it.

Fuji is generally good for customer service. A friend of mine always orders the Salmon Negri sushi, and sometimes they try to pass off the ends of the fillet that are not to be used for sushi since the ends of the fillet are chewier. He calls them on it every time they do it, and they always comply and bring proper pieces.

The employees at Fuji don't really care - they always have a minimum of 25 people working at any given time, so you know they make a pittance. It's all about "losing face", and them removing that charge from your bill means someone there lost face.

Hi all, im looking to buy a large stainless steel BBQ.

Where is the best place to start looking?

Im not too familiar with pattaya, any help would be much appreciated. Cheers

You could try HomePro on suhkumvit, located on the south side of Big C, Pattaya tai. I saw some nice ones there a while ago

That would be HomeWorks. HomePro is on the 2nd floor of the Carrefour shopping center on Central Pattaya Road (Klang). Both have BBQ grills (charcoal and propane). Overpriced, but they're there.

If there is a protest, I will gladly attend. This is an inexcusable waste of life - I would love nothing more than to see this get international press, and watch BPH and their brand-new, multi-million dollar building fold.

I got over 50,000 baht worth of dental work done there (and am quite pleased with it), but because of this, I will NEVER spend another cent there again. I will of course, be spreading this news like a virus to everyone I know.

BPH - Shame on you.

Do yourself the greatest favor - use Firefox and forget IE even exists.

Go with Linksys if you can. Linksys routers are far superior to DLink. And avoid buying it at Tukcom - try a real computer store like Watthana opposide Foodland. If you have problems, you can take it back.

Hi Hobgoblin,

Just out of intrest is this a joke? or have you have any offer's?

Chris.

No Joke.... I just want to get rid of these - cabinet space for me is limited, and they take up too much space.

Hi,

An English friend of mine came to visit, and he brought a rather liberal supply of Tetley tea. I personally prefer the PG Tibb's, so I'm stuck with over 1,300 bags (3 x bags of 440) of the stuff, and I'd love to unload it on someone who'd enjoy it.

All three bags have been loaded into a single plastic tote to keep moisture out. Judging from the amount of loose tea I see at the bottom, a few of the bags may have burst open.

I'm offering all of it for THB 1000... anyone interested?