moogradod

That's what I call affictionados. 50 mugs are really special. Didn't the liquid alone kill them ? Obviously not. Everybody is different and some stand out. I could not eat more than 70 hot dogs within 10 minutes. Some can.

I think more of bottom line you cannot get: Just read that scientists combined several worldwide studies to draw the current combined conclusion concerning coffee and health: Result: Coffee is even promoting health for up to 6 cups (maybe even more - of course it depends on the individual). This means for me: I will drink coffee as much as I like (6 cups are much less than I consumed while working, now retired). The problem is only to find my highly esteemed Blue Mountain Coffee in a decent coffee shop here.

Some of these new standards did spoil the atmosphere. It was much nicer before they skipped the food stalls. Everything exactly planned and under control. Which has its advantages. I like a clean public toilet, too. But I do not like to be government controlled in many steps I take in my life. I think everybody needs air to breathe. What I dont like as well are the hassles to get a car. Application which needs ages, prices in the sky, need for a confirmation of a parking. And what I dont like are the (even) moderate Muslim influences. What I definitely like: The Raffles (and the Satay Club, if this still exists - it has been quite some time that I have been there the last time).

Exactly. And this why the question of country alone is not enough. Or would you like to live in the Netherlands while being a compassionate mountaineer ? But I would find quite any country quite acceptable if I had tons of dosh I believe. You might come and go to visit your other 15 residences. I did come from Switzerland. If you have the money (and I mean MANY of it) than this a very acceptable place to live, too. Just look where many of the celebritites or billionaires stay. There must be a reason for it. If it came to Japan, then I would rather prefer to be a (moderate) Oyabun instead of a salaryman (or maybe not ?) or a member of a buddhist temple. Same in Bhutan (omit the Oyabun then ????). Many possibilitites, many ways to change. Unfortunately for most of the possibilities you need funds especially during changes. Me and my wife are living in Thailand now. I find it quite acceptable and at times even superb and our funds are sufficient, too. I would not want to live here with only a bit to spend However to be a DJ - wherever that would be (no idea what AKB48 is) - would be out of the question, although I am a musician for nearly 50 years. But many things have changed since then.

Bhutan or Japan (if excluding Thailand)

I am exactly in the same situation and my membership (PE 5 years) will run out in November 2023 as will be my current permission to stay (a bit before). When you say they contacted you by themselves how much ahead of the membership-expiry was this ? I am as well asking because my current passport will run out at the end of 2027. So still enough time to get a new sticker in the current passport and then transfer all when my new passport is due sometime mid 2027.. The current passport has more than enough free pages. So far I have had only the best experience dealing with Thai Elite. They are precise and quick. I would be sincerely grateful if you could share your thoughts and first hand experience about this since you have obviously done it successfully. You may of course PM me as well. Thank you really very much.

Call them up before you go to make sure they have Chu- and O-Toro (the fatty parts of tuna) available. On rare occasions they dont because it is sought after despite the price. I prefer the Chu-Toro Nigiri. Start with a California roll (That's what I think they call it - the one with still slightly warm Ebi tempura inside). One of the best price-performance items. Around THB 350.-- Sometimes you get 2 beers (Asahi) for one if you dont like sake. If you like Sake then I would not experiment with the more special ones but order the 1.5l Hakutsuru with the golden etikette - to be enjoyed warm is the best for this one. Otherwise go for the refill of cold green tea. If you like it you may ask for a member card. Gives you 16% discount. Despite these measures do not forget your credit card. Enjoy. I hope you like sushi - then this will be an experience never to be had somewhere else in the rest of the region.

I really thank you for your suggestions. So far not the slightest disappointment. Quite the opposite. For the rest on your list I will do a precheck on the web, tripadvisor (at least the photos will tell you something, for the rest we know how legal issues could influence what is being published). I used to be a busy reviewer myself in the distant past - now not anymore because of said local legal restrictions. Tripadvisor does as well give valuable feedback if you read the answers from owners who have been critized and how they react to suggestions. In these cases I let the non residents do the work for me. One big recommendation I may give you in return if you like Japanese food and especially Sushi is the restaurant Ronin, Naklua 16/2. Best Japanese food around. Reasonable compared to what you get but that is a subjective thing of course. You may not expect prices like those of sushi chains there.

With a bit of unforeseen complications I remember I had to be absent from work for 3 months and a long time in the hospital. The rest is as you say - pelvic floor therapie etc. But no radiotherapy needed in addition nor any drug. I did not have any spread of bad cells into lymph nodes at the time of surgery. They took 7 samples in suspicious places. The rest is sort of a miracle. I had a Gleason Score diagnosis of 8 (measure of agressivity). This may not mean much to the standard ASEAN poster - but in short: This is a catastrophic prognosis. Now this is more than 11 years ago since the surgery and I did so far not have any sign of what is called a "biochemical relapse". From time to time I take a PSA test for there may be always a rest of cells which produces tiny portions of this antigene - which is normal as long as it does not exceed a certain threshold. So still alive and kicking. Very much to my surprize. Unfortunately apart from kicking there is not much to report (as you mention as well). I wish you all the best and may your condition stabilize for a long time to come or forever. My story shows to fellow patients that it must not necessaryly be the end of the world even under the worst pre-conditions. Thats why I recommended to the OP to move in ultra light speed (just in case).

So there is somewhere a published schedule plus a comprehensable price list for the different types of accomodations plus food/drink and the transport of the car and someone knows where ? Or is this a test run (if it is a run at all) ? Or all has been stopped or postponed indefinitely ?

Me too. Provided they have really this 5* ambiance at food level. It must not be for free but as well not overexaggerated pricewise. But I suspect exactly that to give it some "value" in the eyes of the organizer. Before we took a ferry once from Pattaya to Hua Hin. Not comparable, I know, but this was something special never to be had again. I have heard (or dreamed of) that they wont even start the service ?

Mine was 6.4 - jumping up from 4.4. The growth rate is important. Had a negative DRE before and even a negative biopsy performed by the private doctor. They took me to a top notch specialist of the University Hospital Zurich where they performed a deeper biopsy under anesthesia. Result: More than 40% cancerous with a Gleason Score 8. They did postpone several other surgeries to perform a prostatectomy on me immediately using a da Vinci surgery robot. That was THEIR view of urgency. My advice: Whatever you do or hope. Drop what you have in the hand, get on the phone and make an appointment for a thorough biopsy with the best specialist in Bangkok you can find at the very earliest possible date. Only a biopsy gives you certainty. Yes, I am well aware of the risks but these are tiny in relation to anything else. Every day counts. Good luck.

Next one on the list we have visited. Again very good and for pizza for the first time a place which I have visited myself and which I would recommend in and around Pattaya. Wood fired oven - right size - plenty of toppings - self made chilly oil - preparation ( I did watch the pizzaiolo doing it) and a vast variety of pizzas. This will be the place which I will visit if I want to eat a pizza in the future. And they even have parkings in front. The next good Pizzeria I know is on Koh Chang.

Thank you for the information. We never order food for home delivery but at least they can explain on the phone where exactly we may park our car. I love dumplings (like the northern fried dumplings - in Japan available under the name "Gyoza"). I have several times prepared some myself. Not sure what you mean by "open sandwich type thing" but I am sure the menu will uncover this mystery. If you like this kind of food there is as well a very small restaurant in Terminal 21 (Pattaya) on the 3rd floor named "Jiao Zi Guan (Shanghai Dumplings)" with very reasonable prices and gigantic portions of soup (attention: their Szechuan Style soup is really SPICEY). They do specialize in dumplings as well and offer many different varieties.

Thank you for the suggestion but I cannot find the place in Pattaya. The adress is not identifiable in Google Maps, there is no entry for this branch on Tripadvisor yet and I do not have Facebook. I know where the Orphanage is but in this case this does not help either with the information I have. It might be that on the Facebook page the location is somehow shown. Could you maybe post information which allows me to try out your Pick of the Year ? Such as a screenshot of the location shown in Facebook for example. Thanks a lot

And so we have been to "Suggestions" today. Again a direct hit from the recommendations of @Halfaboy and @soisanuk. The restaurant is on the same street as Time-out-Bistro that I mentioned before. They have a parking just in the front. Nice setting inside and something of a bistro with its chalk boards of todays specialities. Again top notch service and I find the prices quite reasonable. I may confirm the recommendation. We will soon visit them again.

We have visited "Pepper & Salt" and this is indeed very much recommended. Location and setting, food choices on offer end especially the courteous service which is on par with higher class venues. They even have some parking places across the street. This restaurant has now a place in our favourite list. They seem to have a decent wine list as well which we will explore once we will be there without car. To find it just follow Khao Talo from Sukhumvit. Just a few hundred meters after Siamburis you will find this nice restaurant on the right side of the road. Thank you @Halfaboy and @soisanuk for the suggestions. We will continue with "Vespresso" and "Suggestions".

Any reduction on something harmful will have a positive effect. Small or big. And drinking too much booze is harmful. But this 2-5 restriction does really serve no purpose, the effect is so unimaginable small. Time to get rid of this once and for all. It is a little bit like saying that you cannot drive a car between 2 and 5. This would reduce the number of car accidents. To disallow cars at all is even more effective - there would be NO car accidents anymore. Is it therefore desirable even if actually lives are saved ? That is all such a BS that this rule should be removed. It is neither practical nor has a positive effect. It is annoying - nothing else.

I highly recommend a microwave. Not that you might cook with it - dedicated appliances for grilling, baking etc. are better (and larger) but the function to warm up things is a definite bonus and you will use this quite a lot. Now I do not know how spacious your kitchen is and how important a kitchen is for you at all. We have friends here in our condo tower who rarely use it. But we are cooking enthusiasts and own a whole armada of kitchen appliances. These take tremendous space away. So build the microwave in the wall and make sure you will have support for it for a long time. This gives you more space for the rest of the machines you might want to use.

Thanks. Indeed we have not been to Gian's yet. Maybe a consequence of the lack of visible parking from the main street. Parking is a big plus for us for we stay outside of the web of public transport. Do not mind a Grab ride either - but then it must definitely be worth it. From what I have heard as well from others is that Gian's must be good - how good must be determined by a visit. And as you say they seem not to be the cheapest - which is not a hindrance as long as the price - performance ratio is within limits. Need to find out which we will.

Congratulations. You must be real rich then. ????

You definitely have a point there. A long time I did not understand why it is possible that unintelligent and people lacking compassion could rise to be the leader of a company or worse - even a country. But this seems to be the norm. I am extremely curious how this plays out in some of the current world-shaping situations we are confronted with.

I kindly return your good wishes. Yes, Hua Hin - nice for accomodation - we LOVE the Centara Grand - but we HATE the yelly fish.

Very well spotted. However the morons do not increase endlessly. To take one of your own favourite topics "Global Warming" ????: the undesired effects might be loosly linked to the increase of morons (who do not know what they are doing). So, once there are enough to spoil the setting strongly enough then a sharp decrease will follow. Thats the time when natural selection strikes. Unfortunately not only for the morons - that might be the flaw in my theory that just strikes me ????, so not strictly "selection". But I was too lazy to delete the post I wrote so far.

I believe you. I would love to try it out. However this location hardly fits the description "......nearest beach not far from Bangkok." OK, but much is subjective in life. ????