BigStar

Had the same problem yesterday. The problem is that the next screen doesn't come up with the dialog to send the verification email and let you input the received code. Though it pretends to offer you another method, in fact there is no other method. Unfortunately the product I wanted was more expensive at Shopee. I called support (you'd have to login to use the live chat) and they said that a lot of customers have been having the same problem and tech was working on it. This morning the problem was fixed and I completed my order. So maybe it's a kind of rolling blackout. Tomorrow's another day.

I used the new online 90-day reporting system to file my report on Saturday. Jomtien's my office. I used Chrome and filled in only the required fields. On Monday I got the confirmation back to print out and put in my passport. It's great! The old system never worked for me 'cause I'd had to renew my passport and hadn't left the country since. In theory this should relieve some of the suffering of our hapless expats.

I almost always get the draft for B99, I think, if I'm there at night. More often I hit it in the afternoon at happy hour when I'm downtown anyway. One tradition is to stop by after a visit to Immigration and relieve the pain, ha ha. Around B150 seems likely for a regular beer at non-happy hours. I suggest you verify for yourself. I'd regard it as reasonable considering the costs to provide the whole experience right there on Beach Road. 'Course our shrewdest ace Economists will observe it ain't the whole experience it was pre-COVID, but then the owners' costs haven't gone down that much AND there's the issue of back rents. Some landlords around town have cut deals w/ the owners to pay less but still pay something anyway during the downtime. So, it is what is. No intent to ripoff anyone. One poster here found a way to avoid all beer bar markups and achieve happiness by just buying beer at 7/11 and sitting on the beach with his music playing from a small portable speaker. That's certainly one option. ???? Now the TQ also pays the staff well, and so they're totally honest, loyal, and pretty hard-working, esp. during a crunch time like last night; and they lend a kind of familiar congeniality. When you're known to your fave waitress, you often get a friendly greeting, escort to your fave barstool, and your drink's already being ordered. You're home, LOL. Bit of a contrast to the surliness you commonly encounter elsewhere around town.

Quite a fine party it was, great opening night for the TQ, filled to standing room only in the back. Sufficient waitresses this time, the great old staff, including the parking lot attendant, whom regulars know well. Wimmin come and go, but the TQ staff abides to "take care."???? Almost like old times w/ of course a huge difference: no poles or hanging ropes, no dancing except for the random girl getting up on stage and gyrating minute or two. Girls, mostly new, were dressed in standard beer bar attire, no bikinis. Not a large number of free ones, either. Some guys packed their own. Shockingly, I saw no food in evidence. Tom said they're "working" on getting the dancing back of course and hoped it would be in 2 weeks. Good luck. Hopefully TQ can limp along and break even until better times. It was breaking even before the last lockdown, so there is a chance. I’ll be trying to stop in a couple times a week. I leave you with the song of the night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fulz4ytZ54 PS: Sad to report the brewmeister of the Hops, Tim, a notable TQ regular, passed away about a week ago. At his home, of heart attack, age 54. So he just missed the reopening. “I’m part of the furniture,” he used to laugh. Good guy w/ a great sense of humor, well-liked; will certainly be missed by his many friends. His ceremony will be at Wat Chai, South Pattaya, when the arrangements are complete. I trust there’ll be an announcement in the Pattaya Mail or here near the time.

As @aussiexpathas noticed from the sign outside, it appears that after a couple of false starts the Tahitian Queen will reopen on Feb 11. Details are on the TQ's homepage: https://tahitianqueen.com/ Says “start.” Wonder whazzat mean. The place was mobbed at the last reopening, quite a blast, but it was full on. Now, though? Will there be daincin’? Dunno, one must hope. Food? Before Covid, the TQ served food (“TQ food is good food”).???? They didn’t during the last Covid re-openings; no doubt they’ll revive the kitchen for obvious reasons. Kudos and good luck to management and staff. It won’t be easy.