FarangBuddha

Why buy tequila, all 7's have Lao Khow for B 60...same-same.

The whole story doesn't ring true to me - the BiB effectively payed 25k for a shag?

My guess is that it would be for a number of shags. A hilltribe girl that I know in Chiang Mai has to go up to Mai Sai once a month and service a cop who busted her parents for drugs. This has been going on for a long time.

Seems like a pretty light punishment; considering Thailand has the death penalty for drug trafficking (assuming that was the crime...not posession/use of personal amount).

Not too bad...just returned from Naklua via North to the Farside via NPW...took about 20 mins. Both directions of North Pattaya Road have been made one-way going towards Sukhumvit (east), with the 2 left lanes (north-side) forced to make a left at Sukhumvit and the 2 right lanes (south-side) forced to make a right at Sukhumvit (you can make your lane selection at either the Dolphin roundabout or 3rd Road.

My assumption is that Central Road has been made one-way heading towards the beach (can anyone confirm this)? Though, on New Years last, it was made one-way going towards Sukhumvit. Maybe only South/Tai is one-way towards the beach and Central and North one-way going away.

Thank you to everyone, the search is over.

I bought my kitchen weigh scales and rolling pin from The kitchen furnishings shop adjacent to Foodland, what a great shop inside. Looks expensive from the outside, but similar to the upstairs in Friendship when you go in.

Prices are very reasonable, the scales were only 300 bt.

OK, off to do some baking

Can I put in an order for a dozen red velvet cupcakes

I see big signs outside Micky D's all around Pattaya looking for staff. Why doesn't your friend stop selling illegal merchandise, get off the game, and try a legitimate job for a living instead...too lazy?

Try living on 6,000THB a month and then let some cop stick his pecker up your as* when you decide to stop living in poverty and sell some copy CDs.

There are some real smug jerks around here.

Yep.

As a major cultural influence once (allegedly) said..

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".

You both, and others, can try to normalize prostitution all you want, and I have no moral opposition to sex work if it is legal and regulated for both the sellers and buyers, but just don't pretty it up in a country where it is illegal and then add that the people engaged in it have no other options. The fact of the matter is that Thailand suffers from a labor shortage in many industry sectors so there is plenty of work for people who want it. Sex work is also an option, like it is an any country, and it is usually much higher paying that other unskilled labour, but it comes with its own set of problems.

And just keep in mind that Pattaya is not Thailand and that 99% of the people in Thailand do not work in the sex industry.

Are these people living rough or just passed out drunks; also, are they Thai or foreigners? If Thai, lots of flood refugees in town looking for work and places to stay...if farangs, probably more of those "quality" tourists the TAT always brags about.

There is a pattern here of people commenting the food is too bland overall. Maybe the owner might consider upping the flavor a notch and/or there is always the SALSA BAR.

Noticed that too...upping the spice quotient would probably be popular with the trendy Thai customers as well

Bonthavorn should be your first stop...huge home building store/showroom on beach side of Sukhumvit between North Pattaya and Central Roads; continuing down Sukhumvit towards Jomtien, on the left, just before the turn to South Pattaya Road are two smaller home-building shops (Cement Thai and a Cotto Tiles showroom). If you continue down Sukhumvit another 2-3 kilos, on the opposite side of the Sukhumvit, is another huge home DIY store (Bavorn or Kanthorn or something). Now, of course, as you have made a u-turn and are heading back towards Pattaya, there is the Homeworks store next to the Big C shopping center at Sukhumvit and South Pattaya Road. If you continue to Central Road and turn down towards the beach, there is the Home Pro outlet at the Big C Extra (aka Carrefour) outlet down a block or so.

I was thinking maybe Friendship, upstairs, or Best supermarket at the roundabout, i will be looking later today.

Index home furnishings on Sukhumvit, Big C Extra (Carrefour kitchenware section), and the Ace Hardware (Sukhumvit near Theppraya junction) are other suggestions.

The kitchen furnishings shop adjacent to Foodland has these (there is also a branch on 2nd Road sorta opposite soi Pattayaland 2). I have also seen them in the kitchenwares department of the Central Department Store at the new Central Beach Mall.

I see big signs outside Micky D's all around Pattaya looking for staff. Why doesn't your friend stop selling illegal merchandise, get off the game, and try a legitimate job for a living instead...too lazy?

If you just have to have a "Mexican fix" and can't make it to Bangkok to Monitas or T&S, then Sunrise is ok but I would not make a special trip to eat there otherwise.

Have you had a chance to try Diablo...a new place deep down Sukhumvit soi 22?

I read a post earlier that stated the enchiladas were made with flour tortillas.

I looked at the menu today and did see enchiladas with corn tortillas.

There was a menu item named ranchalidas made with flour tortillas.

The poster must have ordered the wrong item.

I have enjoyed everything I have ordered so far except the carne asada burrito. Tough meat.

"The poster" (aka. me) ordered ranchilada enchiladas because of the huge poster of enchiladas on the wall. I thought that must be a signature dish. I also thought, naturally, it would be made with corn tortilla as that is normal (never have seen an enchilada made with flour tortilla). And, at that time, I did not have my glasses, so I could not even read the menu Thus far, two food items have stood out: pumpkin pie and the entire salsa bar. I would like to see a cheese enchilada on the menu made with corn tortilla (hint, hint, hint) and that chewy, white Mexican cheese inside.

Pumpkin pie slathered with salsa...sounds delicious...a new signature dish

Good luck sourcing Mexican cheese in THAILAND

I did just go back to Sunrise Tacos for a second time. The Cowboy Taco w/ soft corn tortilla was pretty good and w/ the salsa bar even better. The pumpkin pie was TOTALLY FANTASTIC. The coffee was really good too. My only complaint is that the girls (some good looking) are all wearing long pants. This is Pattaya-Jomtien! It is against the law for girls to wear pants here

Then you need to stop off at Swensen's on the way home for ice cream and ogling

Swenson girls are hot...love that they always have ribbons in their hair

Saw that it was closed and boarded up this morning...thought it was just the latest of the stores to go out of business.

I find it somewhat bizarre that 21 pages have been generated about a junk food outlet. Hope they don't open a McDonalds in Jomtien!

Not much to do in Jomtien so threads such as this provide some daily stimulation.

I am betting on........................the one that ends up making the best food at the lowest price Good luck to all of the contestants!

Well then Sunrise is already out of the running before the race even began

Up to you. I think these other places have been around for YEARS and people who want what they call "Mexican food" have already tried them and know about them.

Well, I for one, have never heard of Sam's before so it is useful information to me! Thanks Surf

As I rarely venture to BKK, I've just had my first opportunity to indulge at Sunshine Tacos, in Pattaya,

though I only ate the basic tacos

An an ex-Los Angeles native, who has often traveled in Mexico as well as to East LA, to enjoy the ambiance and food,

I've been completely disappointed in 10-years of trying any place in Pattaya which made anything even close to Mexican food!

All have failed miserably! Ah, now Sunshine comes to the rescue!

So, today (Tues) I only stuffed myself with their variety of tacos. The Baja fish was great; the tacos al Pastor were my least favorite.

Quite good, but I was surprised that each had either some mango or pineapple as one of the ingredients. I'd not experienced that in Mexico,

but that may just be something that's not usually available in the small pueblos? Not a criticism, just a comment.

Wow...there was even bottles of habenero, jalapeno and chipolte sauces available on the table, though their spiciness was

understandably slightly toned down for the farang taste buds. I also really like the salsa bar with the variety of sauces,

yet again found John's _hot_ and jalapeno sauces also (understandably) slightly less spicy than 'normal'. Again, not a criticism, just a comment!

All-in-all, I was totally pleased during my initial visit. Attentive service staff, good service and food!

I look forward to trying the other meals. I have not had birria since I was in Jalisco, many decades ago!

Thoughts:

Love the new location which provided an entertaining view of the zoo passing by outside.

Have Sopas been considered for serving as a snack...or maybe just for light eaters?

I've never been a fan of menudo and didn't expect to see it on the menu, however if it were offered

...but _without_ using tripe...and using crickets, grubs and larvae, it just might appeal to the Issan Thais.

Regards...

Wow, two completely different opinions on the taco promotion from what appear to be qualified tasters! The plot thickens.

Had dinner there again last night with a friend and I can report that the service was much improved over the last time. There was a delightful young man who waited on us. His English was perfect and there was not a glitch in the entire process. The food was hot and delicious (and prompt!).

Try it, you'll like it!

Nice to hear a positive report like this...it looks like management has been working hard to iron out the service and cooking operations. I will have to get there soon for the taco buffet

You would have a better chance getting players if you changed the start time... both of the well-attended Sunday expat meetings in Pattaya finish @ 12pm

People can come any time between 12 and 3pm.

we start to gather at 12.00pm and we start setting teams so first game starts about 12.30pm.

there is always a second game. so if held up you can still join us later.

I would think you would get a better turnout if you started at 9 am or 4 pm rather than during the heat of the mid-day sun.

Are there any people awake on Sundays in Pattaya at 9.00am???

And at 16.00pm with the sun going down at 18.00pm would not leave us any time to play? Unfortunately we are not that rich which could bring me to the next question any sponsor to pay for a lighting system would be very welcome.

And what would be the temperature difference be between 12.00 and 16.00pm??? Very hot to a little less very hot still?

Most people I know take naps between noon and 3 pm and there are lots of people up and about on Sunday mornings

You would have a better chance getting players if you changed the start time... both of the well-attended Sunday expat meetings in Pattaya finish @ 12pm

People can come any time between 12 and 3pm.

we start to gather at 12.00pm and we start setting teams so first game starts about 12.30pm.

there is always a second game. so if held up you can still join us later.

I would think you would get a better turnout if you started at 9 am or 4 pm rather than during the heat of the mid-day sun.

See the info below from the CCF website re the planned timing of the check mailings. They had more than 10 million claims submitted.

Here's a Q and A on the issue of the timing of the claims checks on the litigation website:

The Settlement Administrator estimates that checks will begin to be mailed in early November and will continue to be mailed until the end of the year (December 31, 2011).

I did pretty good then. I think the settlement was for like $ 350M so with 10M claimants, that comes to $ 10 per claim (on average).

I would imagine most (all?) of the checks have been disbursed by now so if one is expecting one, it should arrived already. As I said, my check is dated early November and had been sitting around in my mail pouch for a week before I opened it yesterday.

One other detail, the enveloped, using a pre-printed "stamp," is not franked (cancelled).

Can someone who's received a check post a scan of the envelope exterior and/or mention how the envelope is labeled on the outside...

It would help for folks who'd want to identify such envelopes when they arrive at their mail forwarding shops, but don't know what exactly to be looking for.

I'll post mine tomorrow (if one doesn't show up before). It's basically a non-descript white business sized envelope, with 2 see-through windows on the front (the bottom much larger in size). The bottom window would show your address and in the top window, you can see the words "Foreign Currency Fee Litigation Settlement Fund Settlement Claim Payment" or a part of it.

It's postmarked using a presorted first class mail "stamp" from Jacksonville, Florida, Permit No. 1284, pre-printed on the envelope.

There is nothing printed on the envelope other than the postage mark. There is nothing indicating it is a government or court check.