bangkokburning

WOW, a great deal of recommendations. Yeah, IF I had a car...We'd head down to Ban Sare and just have a nice day on the beach and then eat at the Naval Station in Sattahip. Great, thanks all.

Thanks Lop, that is impressive price. CAT offered same Dec-Feb prior. My gf is on DTAC, I'm all plugged in for now. Just bought internet pkg as well (100hrs 200B).

My phone has internet capability.

I am really unimpressed with voip/skype every time my friend calls from Dubai. I have old people to speak with - can't have delays and drop outs.

CATNET card was found at TOPS in Huay Kwang!

Thanks I'll try TOPS.

I found a like to CAT on teh internet but it goes to TTT ?? Anyway, its really close.

I am not going to belabor the issue.

Enjoy Pattaya.

Incidentally Thailand has the third highest per capita rate of gun murders on the planet. The overall murder rate is about 15th,

the leaders being the predictable Colombia, South Africa and Jamaica.

Exactly, in a country of about 75m. Now cull out the failed states and the likely suspects. Now drill down where serious crime really occurs. Pattaya starts looking VERY Scary.

...and that's whats on the books. Corruption here is legendary in its proportions.

Thank you Methane

PS: Flip on Pattaya news on any given evening and they will have some poor dope caught with anything from 100s to 1000s of ya-ba tablets. Every day - non stop - day in, day out. The city s awash in Meth and all the problems it brings. That alone sort of says it all.

The city is totally hopped up on Meth.

And plenty of farang in on that scene too!

I'd lived in Pattaya for on and off for many years. Starting about 2003 with the building boom and the influx of lager louts (not necc correlated to any of this). Came an explosion of crime.

I have been a victim of two serious crimes. The cops laughed. i have seen many violent acts as well on farang. At first I thought ALL farang sort of deserved it, but the more I poked around and got the story, it wasn't so straight forward. You can be very seriously bodily injured by a Thai and the cops in Pattaya will do nothing. The volunteers are even worse. They are only props inserted about the city to gather news.

If you wanted to really look at it - I am sure you would find over two murders, not including serious crimes such as above as well as staggering vice. I would not be surprised if the murder rate was 2+ per day on average now - with another somehow swept form public view. That is in a city of about 100k, far less in lowest part of year. The mafia does not return to Issarn.

The media and especially farang media is in bed with the cops/tat/etc.. and only report what they are allowed. The above is a great - we got'em story.

The mafia is Chonburi is legend. As strong or stronger than BKK. Look at the current head government (local) and family member/s, that is quite telling.

I was never in love with Pattaya and my experience is people that do like/love it in 2010 - don't know any better. They have little or no experience tripping Thailand and even more so Asia. Its Girls and booze and bar stools. If that's who you are, you'll love it.

Or use CAT Phone Net on 009 for WAY half (B6-7) that to USA. Where you been?

Skype is dead. Its for flunkies who have broadband and like to sit in their room and chat on their computers all day or worse the idiots who do this from the internet cafes (RUDE) OR people in dire thrid world countries that have some modicum of connectivity (Iran, Phils...)

I travel a lot - I want to dial a # and in 10secs speak to my elderly parents.

Skype - not

Just another reason to stay as far away from Chonburi as possible. I swear Pattaya has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world.

Yes, thanks Lop and sorry for all that. I have the copies and wil leave it in his hands - up to him. My girlfriend will explain the issue Monday as my Thai is poor.

The reason for my initial inquiry is that despite my turning 50 is ten months off, at least six of those months will be spent away from a computer. Just trying to gain a bit of understanding prior.

Thanks for your time and patience.

The place is worth for what it is sold for.

Property is way oversold the world over - US, UK, Spain - THAILAND...

I know is lovely piece of land in US developer was asking 900K, sold for 325K USD. And this guy is complaining... Many, many properties n states are seling now for 30-60% off their highs depending on various factors.

The new normal.

As a potential buyer ... I will never buy a condo in Thailand. What I see from the riots politically, the unreasonable prices and the hassle and indignity from immigration/MFA. I am no happy traveling about Thailand for half the year, few months in India and balance elsewhere in SEA. If it were not for my new found girlfriend - I'd be dong this. She is my attachment. I have no love for Thailand any longer. She may buy a <1m condo. BUt that is the extent of our investments here. As I posted in another thread - When I am a bit older, I can see myself back in states more than here. Thats shocking after 17 years in/out o Asia (come back for scuba in winter perhaps).

I'm not freaked out by chaos so much as - why. I have loads of options for buying or better simply living outside states. Finaly, Thailand has become so expensive and there is noway back down this road. Its as expensive as Malaysia in every way.

my 2 baht from potential buyer and Asia tripper for 17 years.

Anyone know where a CAT office is located preferably near Huay Kwang or along this MRT line.

CAT card to USA is great value and last year during years end I was calling to states for a few B per min (fyi)

Try Amorn, PowerBuy, IT CIty or small shops in IT centers.

Make sure you get the correct connecting pin on the end i its not the generic USB2.

Fresh Install always better anyway. You made the right choice. In the end hey are all just an OS and so all will look/feel much same.

XP is enough, just enough - but it's a dinosaur. people forget this. Have to be crazy to want to stay w/ xp for next four years. That OS is about ten years old.

Unless you have a screamer PC and into gaming. 32bit is fine. 64 is exotic and needs different drivers than 32.

No. No. At present -

I am simply staying with my gf in her flat for next five months currently on a TR.

Change the game up?? Is this now necessary iyo? I come and go...visa runs and we love to travel in Thailand and out.

What you are stating is that when I have my O, I need to register. WOW. Sorry. yeah, sure of course. Sorry for this being drawn out and wasting your time. Appears I misunderstood you from the post iniially and this became conflated.

So...one last Y/N - On a TR does the mgr ned to register me?? M hunch is technically yes. But I really don't want this hassle and I know he doesn't.

Sorry again - super thanks!

BTW - I know this does not change the law but the form you posted - it says in Thai foreigners of the region (not westerners). My girlfriend was adamant about it. I said just a mistake on their part - does not change the law.

BTW2 - That form is totally confusing! My home address (why) - the moo bahn.... prasart mak!

On my return I wll have another double TR - I will then go to south and my gf will join me on islands 10 days every month.

Next April, I will be past 50 and will either apply for an O retirement OR get an ED visa. I plan on taking six months of lessons anyway April-Sept 2011. No big block of time now.

Ok, so you are looking to buy a SIM and put it in an Aircard. You might look at a DTAC package at their shops (card/sim) I think my girlfriend said she paid B1500. There is a promo for an "internet SIM now B300. You can cheap it out buy buying the dongle and hen the Aircard but it will be about same price. I'd just buy th eDTAC that way if you have trouble...

You can connect to internet on your phone B1 per min w/o package

Currently DTAC has a promo buy 50hrs get 50free= 100 B200.

Speed is OK but Id go to internet cafe to up/download serious data. Sometimes it gets choked up a bit.

She tops up with KBank I think - Bank SIM.

Sorry - this is not clear to me:

If he reports before you try to use his paperwork there should not be any fine and likely only thanks

???

I try to use his paperwork?? I think you believe I need to report in person? I am on a TR and no need to report.

I beleive you are stating with that in mind, that I need to report myself - that I should not report in before he files his paperwork - correct??? hope so.

I have made photocopies of all and sundry and d/l your form. I will have my girlfriend explain to him and give B200. I am certain that if I go - that they will need to speak with him. The B200 given in friendship and inconvenience - one shot deal. Maybe I should give him 200 AFTER he reports. That way if they nee dto see me - they won't. I won't kiss b200 goodbye.

Yeah, positive this is a walk in...

Thailand is so dam_n complicated these days. All this just to be together with someone I love. Makes me long to be single again in some ways - really!

If you'd be so kind to clarify the above, I think I should be good to go at that point. Thank you for following this issue and bringing this to my attention. I totally forgot being in a real apartment.

Hi - thanks. I'm familiar with all yor points. Thanks. Yeah, I don't need one - but I want one :-). I figure it doubling as a modem rationalizes it. my Nok 6020 is internet retarded, but its a great phone and the battery and the thing keeps going...!

In Thailand they call it an Aircard. But yes, dongle is apt. My girlfriends speed is only about 236kpbs connected - what the speed and burst are ?? but its ok for reading Thaivisa :-)

DTAC works pretty much everywhere now save for Nakorn Nowhere Issarn. I have been to some pretty remore islands in South and signal ranges from none (Ko Rork) to great (Ko Surin / Phayam). I got into DTAC when it first started - it was an anti Taksin thing. AIS big mafia and I'm paying about a baht a min. My gf has DTAC as well.

Thanks for your input

Before I buy this new phone I really don't need...

I want to purchase a Nokia 5233 (non 3g), GPRS/EDGE

1. I want to use this Nokia 5523 as a modem to connect to the Internet - using DTAC GPRS/EDGE

2. Using DTAC will I be able to track my Internet time on the PC and the phone?

3. Will I need additional software to connect to Internet for PC and where might that be obtained do you think? DTAC presumably for s/w app and Nokia for driver.

4. Can I use Bluetooth instead of buying/using a cable? Will I get the maximum speed possible - DTAC appear to be about 240kbps

5. Should I get a cable (yet another cable!) for b100. It uses a "micro usb" I have standard small usb connectors, don't know if "micro". Don't know if 4 or 5 pin.

6. Can I get a call when I am connected to Internet? No.

7. Phone uses Symbian OS 5th ed. Anyone know about availability of apps in say Fortune-Panthip?

8. Can I use my old SIM and get same connection speed as "internet sim"? What is an Internet sim? Do I need to get a new sim card? I know I can get on the internet currently with my sim, but want th ebest speed. Presumably, marketing is the diff. a sim that is for data devices exclusively and has a promo package accordingly.

Thanks so much

Thanks. looks like he is already screwed. Wonder if he will try to fob the fine off on me. Only been back a week.

He took my name but no details last time I was here a few mos back...

Oh well, I will take care of it. Do you know how this form can get to Immigration? Must be walked in I presume.

Diana Estate - thats it! Your only hope for a one bedroom in that area. OH...Beach on 2nd road may have some large rooms $$$$$ monthly and scores of pkg indians

Andy - thanks again. Superrich was a far better rate. You are correct, the falsh xch store up front was just enough for those not clued in to change money, while the back gets all the local farang. was a bit worried about counterfeits but the SCB ATM ate them all.

Thanks!

Thanks to you both.

Thanks Nick. I am living here but don't really have pressing need to pay for wifi or 3G, Edge to check mail is fine.

i love my ipod classic. could not get me to downgrade to only 32gb hdd.

Thanks Tropo!!

Lopburi - doubt it but wil ask. Is there a number he can call. I think him having to go down to immigration - ain't gonna happen. Is this his problem or mine? Nov-Mar I will be in South Thailand where my gf will join me every 3wks for 10 days and I will take intermittent trip to Myanmar, Lao and Nepal. After 2011 I will be more permanent here though.

Really sorry this has become so complicated.