WaatWang

15) Waatwang

Hi Rimmer,

Confirmed my BF will be able to attend also for a few hours, so please update the count to +1.

It will be nice to see you again (and many of the others I've also met in the last few months)!

Thanks for organizing this for us - really looking forward to it.

We had a curfew here in Pattaya for a couple nights but as was mentioned before it's all over with now. I think it's a good time for you to come to Pattaya, Magoo! Hope you have a fun time.

Then again maybe they are just digging up anything, so they can talk on the news about something other than than the oil leak...?

Maybe they are secretly worried she's a lesbian and would be an advocate for gay marriage if it came before the supreme court in the future - ? Nice the article doesn't mention this, but I can't imagine why else this would be such a big issue Gay marriage has been a hot topic in the US for a long time now though.

Personally, I hope she gets in!

I know Pattaya Garden Resort has an aviary as well with parakeets, maybe would be willing to take another - ?

Just throwing this out there since it seems you did not receive any other suggestions...

Good luck - I used to have a pair of lovebirds, so they're close to my heart!

"A few years before she died my mother gave my wife a necklace. Nothing fancy. Probably only cost US$50-60. My late mother and wife got on very well although we spent most of our time in Thailand.

My mother was the sort of person who would keep any gift given to her and we discovered the extent of this after her death on sorting her personal belongings.

A few days ago I saw my wife give the necklace away to one of her two favourite nieces (ages 7-9) who we both love very much. She had given another necklace to niece 2 and niece 1 (oldest) was jealous. I said I wasn't happy about this as it was a present but she said that "it was looking tarnished" and she never wore it anyway.

...

My wife is a very dutiful generous Thai daughter who cannot say no to her family. She feels guilty if she has something they don't have. And by the way most of them are very good at exploiting that generosity."

Hi PJ,

It sounds like getting the necklace back would be more for your sake than your wife's. If you want to try to get it back, maybe you could purchase a new necklace for niece no. 1 - maybe she could go with you and pick it out? - and ask for your mom's in return. Then everyone would be happy.

You mentioned that your mom was the type who saved everything, when you had to go through all her belongings after she died. Do you think she would be upset now that your wife gave the necklace away like this? If so, definitely try to get it back. But we can't take this stuff with us, and it sounds to me like your wife felt it was more important that someone enjoy it now rather than just let it collect dust. Your niece would enjoy having the necklace, even though the reasoning for its being given was not ideal (jealousy because the other niece got one first).

Is it really a gift if we have stipulations about how an item will be treated or cared for after its left our hands? I think giving in its truest form is having no strings attached, seeing that person receive the gift and being happy with it in that moment. If there is an item that you care about so much about, or worry it won't be taken proper care of, don't give it away. Likewise, if there are other items your mom (or someone else) have given you that you would feel upset about if your wife gave away, now would be a good time to talk to her about it to make sure they stay intact!

I try to think about what will matter 100 ys from now. Where will that necklace be, or that camera? We can't take it with us, and neither can the person we give the stuff to. IMO - your wife sounds like a precious jewel and that is what I would worry about taking care of most. It's people that matter, not 'things'.

I think upstairs at Friendship supermarket have them. (Pattaya Tai)

Yes, the last time I was there I remember seeing a ton of the lucky draw tickets there in all different colors.

I will attend.

Not sure about my BF as we don't have his work schedule for next month yet.

Rimmer, sorry to hear about your wife! I hope she is feeling ok and maybe has the courage to try again someday.

Here's my baht bus confidential:

I needed a ride into Pattaya from Thappraya Road. The one that stopped was full but the driver said I could sit inside the cab. I speak passable Thai and we started chatting. Everything was ok until he started making advances and offered me B2,000 to go to a hotel with him! I declined but he was very persistent, trying to hold my hand, etc... I got out at Royal Garden, paid my fare and have not seen him since (this was several months ago now). I still ride baht busses frequently but will not sit inside again.

I'm with the theatre on this one, because when you watched the preview (caught it a few times watching other movies at Major), it showed the release date for Iron Man 2 as the 29 April, which was technically Thursday. The 11pm movie was a special offering to see it an hour early. So I would expect the Thursday price to apply.

Also as LongBall mentioned, most theatres (it is the same way in the US) do not give discounts or even allow you to use gift certificates / free tickets for the first few days of a new release. It's at the theatre's discretion.

Personally, I feel I'm blessed to have a discount every Wednesday for BHT 60 and enjoy popcorn & drink for BHT 100, when doing the same at a theatre in the States on ANY day of the week would set me back about BHT 500. Even paying their regular price (what is it, BHT 120?!) is still a bargain!!

o007,

Sent you a PM with a couple different suggestions.

Have fun in Pattaya!

Kind regards,

WaatWang

I played Tennis in HS and I guess that's how I became such a big fan. I don't play much anymore but if there is a tournament on I basically watch as many games as I can catch for those two weeks. And if it's Rafael Nadal or Serena Willams playing, don't talk to me while the game is on!

I think the guys (and girls, seeing more and more ladies recently) working taxi ranks get a bad rap. Most I've met have been kindhearted and fun loving. Also witnessed on two occassions when there was an accident nearby, they ran to help the person, get the bike out of the road, even sweep the debris out of the street. Good people.

Hi Kish,

May I recommend DC Hill? It's a quick & easy sorng thaew ride from Walking Street but in a very quiet neighborhood. Has all the amenities you requested except the dvd player, but each room has a balcony and free internet. Brand new, very clean, each unit has a flat screen tv & cable, too. I believe their going rate right now is B600/night but if you're staying a longer period of time they would give you a better rate. I don't know if they charge a fee for bringing girls back as I have never done that, but you can ask them about it.

Google 'DC Hill Pattaya' to find their website and contact info. Site comes up in Thai first but there is a button to change to English.

Kind regards,

WaatWang

Hello,

I am a relatively new student at this school. So far I am very satisfied with them. From what I have heard from talking to other people doing the language courses in the area, some make you study the alphabet & only reading first. At Progress we had a few lessons in speaking basic Thai first and now we are doing half the class on speaking and half learning the Thai characters. The staff is friendly yet very professional in making sure I have what I need for my visa, and making sure I am satisfied with the classes. So I think you made a good choice!

Kind regards,

WaatWang

Wow who would think it's so difficult to write about a good place to eat -!? I for one enjoy hearing about new places to try, and what their experiences were like.

Please don't let these paranoid types discourage you from posting again on new restaurants, AussieChick!

Thappraya Rd. construction : "Hey Boss, you know that wall beside where we were digging the big hole......"

...

At first I thought they undermined the foundations of the wall. Then I remembered that the wall probably didn't have any foundations.

Finally I realised that they had failed to appease the spirits of Thappraya Rd..

Spalpeen - LMAO!! That's exactly it!

I live further down Thappraya Road and often walk there. What I find is also funny about this project are the nice sidewalks alongside. Going up Thappraya there are big piles of the tiles they'll (eventually) use for the sidewalks, but many of them are already broken. And the further down Thappraya Road you go (where the sidewalks have already been installed), you will start to see more and more big sink holes with weeds growing out of them. One of the motorbike taxi stands actually fixed the sinkhole in front of Family Mart on their own, which I thought was quite enterprising. But by the time the construction teams finish the road, they will need to go back and (hopefully) repair a lot of these sidewalk issues as well.

Good luck getting your dogs back into Australia, or are you going to dump them here?

Who said we're going back ourselves?

But I'm sure after we drop $1,500 to get them here safely, indeed we're planning to dump them on the streets of Thailand asap.

if you want to ask me anything particular or would like a contact at the company i used, PM me.

Thank you - I sent you a PM.

We're desperately short of dogs in Thailand, why only bring one?

GungaDin,

What a thoughtful and helpful reply. Perhaps an abandoned dog in Australia would make you happier - just throw them away and adopt a new one here in Thailand? I'm assuming that the OP is taking responsibility for an already beloved pet in order to shell out this much cash to get them here.

Lingnoi,

I am hoping you get some truly constructive advice from other members. Much to GungaDin's disdain I am also planning to bring my dog here. Curses, two more dogs in Thailand.

WaatWang

What will 20 hours do for you? it doesn't sound like a long time.

Does anyone have a rough idea of how many hours would be needed to become semi literate and reasonably conversational?

6 years of daily hard work.

I think it's hard to answer this question because we all learn at a different pace and have different experiences.

When I was thinking about moving here I started learning at home - just using Pimsleur / Rosetta Stone products, and practicing with the people at the local Thai restaurant once a week. I have been here for five months now and would say I am 'reasonably conversational', but I spend most of my time with native Thai speakers, listen to Thai music and like going to Thai movies. Every little bit helps!

If you are a farang but stay pretty much isolated from native speakers, it will take a lot longer. It also depends on how easily you learn foreign languages. It's easier for some people than others. So only you will be able to know how long it will take *you*. I don't think any of us can answer this for you precisely.

Definitely beach side but I'm not out there walking too late, always before 11pm, and usually before 9.

The shop side is too jam packed with tourists window shopping and vendors asking me to buy things. The sidewalk on the beach side is more even, it's less crowded, and has a better view, so I really enjoy the walk more. Being a lady myself, none of the ladies there have ever bothered me.

Hi Crypt,

I had posted before a long time ago about pet sitting in Pattaya area. I have a house with a garden and am willing to board pets so long as they are housebroken. I would also be willing to do pet sitting (at your home) if that is more convenient and comfortable for your pets. I ran a pet sitting company & dog rescue for several years. Depending on how long you will be away, etc we can work out terms that we are both happy with. Let me know if you're interested.

Kind regards,

WaatWang

Sounds fun! Would you like RSVPs? And can I bring anything?

WaatWang

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and concern.

Manarak, she is just under a lot of pressure from both job and family. And the last few months she is just feeling like she can't get ahead or catch a break, kind of like she's been taking one step forward and two steps back for too long.

I'm glad she could talk to me about it so I can be here to help her. Thank you all again.

WaatWang

Thanks very much, Phil! I really appreciate it.

Mods, at your discretion you can move this to whatever forum you think will be most beneficial for this topic. I started in Pattaya because I was looking for resources locally.

WaatWang