Why should I be embarrassed about living in the Pattaya area. I live in a gated community about 7 km from the city centre in Nongprue. I own my own house with my wife. The Sukumvidt is 5 mins away with Big C, Lotus's, Macro and Go Wholesale superstores. We go to the gym in Jomtien 5 days a week it takes 15 mins each way. In my area there are plenty of local restaurants and bars. If I want to eat in town I grab a Bolt taxi for 150 baht to eat at one of the many top class restaurants. If I just fancy a few beers with my friends and a little eye candy again I jump in a BOLT taxi.

I dont go to Walking Street any more, I prefer the LK Metro and Soi Baukau area. The last time I see trouble of any sort was years ago at least 10. Do I feel safe absolutely. Definitely not embarrassed, I tell people where I am with pride and when I go back to the UK, my friends are jealous that I spend 8 months or more here. I am 70 years of age, I am older yes but not incapacitated and certainty capable of enjoying what this fantastic city has to offer.

6 hours ago, Nemises said:

Ah yes, the mythical land with no drunks, no crime, no bad behaviour… and apparently immigration control personally tailored to your preferences too. Sounds less like a country and more like a comments section fantasy.

I don't have to queue or make an appointment to visit our friendly local immigration office, and do online reporting for 3 out of the 4 requirements so it couldn't be easier.

Thailand is very different, and rather pleasant, when you don't live near a beach.

1 hour ago, IsaanT said:

I don't have to queue or make an appointment to visit our friendly local immigration office, and do online reporting for 3 out of the 4 requirements so it couldn't be easier.

Thailand is very different, and rather pleasant, when you don't live near a beach.

Interesting… another reply about immigration offices and beaches, yet still no answer to the original question: where exactly is this near-perfect, crime-free utopia you claim exists?

You’ve written several paragraphs defending it, but seem strangely reluctant to actually name the place.

4 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Interesting… another reply about immigration offices and beaches, yet still no answer to the original question: where exactly is this near-perfect, crime-free utopia you claim exists?

You’ve written several paragraphs defending it, but seem strangely reluctant to actually name the place.

He doesn't want it spoilt with dumb Brits and Aussies

32 minutes ago, Celsius said:

He doesn't want it spoilt with dumb Brits and Aussies

Too late mate… one already got in and started posting vague tourism brochures about his secret paradise on an internet forum 😂

7 hours ago, Nemises said:

Interesting… another reply about immigration offices and beaches, yet still no answer to the original question: where exactly is this near-perfect, crime-free utopia you claim exists?

You’ve written several paragraphs defending it, but seem strangely reluctant to actually name the place.

Korat,a very boring city.

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

Korat,a very boring city.

Ahh Korat… thanks for dobbing in his secret paradise 😂

No wonder he was so reluctant to name it. I agree — painfully boring, and ironically also home to the deadliest mass shooting in Thailand’s history… yet somehow he’s on here creating threads attacking Pattaya as if nowhere else has problems. Amazing logic 👏

8 hours ago, Celsius said:

He doesn't want it spoilt with dumb Brits and Aussies

They only go to Phuket, Samui, Pattaya and Hua Hin.

On 5/14/2026 at 1:52 PM, Hummin said:

What bothers me is the lack of common sense, and the constant chasing of other members who are simply sharing things, which is what a forum is supposed to be about. ... That kind of behavior makes it so very few people share anything anymore. And that is how a forum slowly becomes hostile: a few spineless individuals contribute nothing except games, attacks, and baiting.

Took me a while, but I finally stopped replying to a few, and they remain on my 'list'.

Some folks are here simply to troll and contribute nothing of value.

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

Took me a while, but I finally stopped replying to a few, and they remain on my 'list'.

Some folks are here simply to troll and contribute nothing of value.

AN is supposed to be the no 1 forum on Thailand. Yet you, myself, Hummin and a couple of others discuss Thailand. 50 trolls here.

14 hours ago, Nemises said:

Interesting… another reply about immigration offices and beaches, yet still no answer to the original question: where exactly is this near-perfect, crime-free utopia you claim exists?

You’ve written several paragraphs defending it, but seem strangely reluctant to actually name the place.

No problem, I thought my profile information gave it to you. I live 25 minutes south of Roi Et.

4 minutes ago, IsaanT said:

No problem, I thought my profile information gave it to you. I live 25 minutes south of Roi Et

Ahh yes… “25 minutes south of Roi Et.” 🤣

“25 minutes south of Roi Et” is still pretty vague though — especially after acting like you lived in some secret Shangri-La 😂

So after all the dramatic build-up about this hidden paradise with no crime, no drunks, no Russians, no Indians and apparently no problems whatsoever… it turns out the secret location is basically “somewhere near Roi Et.”

James Bond-level secrecy for a place identified only by driving instructions. 🚗💨

Edited May 20May 20 by Nemises

17 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Ahh yes… “25 minutes south of Roi Et.” 🤣

“25 minutes south of Roi Et” is still pretty vague though — especially after acting like you lived in some secret Shangri-La 😂

So after all the dramatic build-up about this hidden paradise with no crime, no drunks, no Russians, no Indians and apparently no problems whatsoever… it turns out the secret location is basically “somewhere near Roi Et.”

James Bond-level secrecy for a place identified only by driving instructions. 🚗💨

Your curiosity is intriguing but all the locals know where I live so I don't see any problem in answering your question: N15.8326, E103.7250.

If you're passing through, just ask the locals where the big tilapia pond with the fountain is. And send a message in advance and I'll either put the kettle on or pop to Lotus for some cans, depending on your preference. 🙂

The house was completed last December - the pond photo was taken in October. The night photo is recent.

On 5/19/2026 at 9:03 AM, thailand49 said:

I was once sitting with my niece over lunch with her friend who was visiting from China, she added in conversation when I told my friend I lived in Thailalnd she said, is it true the place is full of whores and why men go there.

I said, you is right, it is in fact Daiseyland of Sex! Is there a problem with your Uncle getting his pipe clean from time to time?

If there is any it quicky goes away once I sitting in a GoGo, knee deep buying drinks!🤣

For thumbs down🤣

1 hour ago, IsaanT said:

Your curiosity is intriguing but all the locals know where I live so I don't see any problem in answering your question: N15.8326, E103.7250.

If you're passing through, just ask the locals where the big tilapia pond with the fountain is. And send a message in advance and I'll either put the kettle on or pop to Lotus for some cans, depending on your preference. 🙂

The house was completed last December - the pond photo was taken in October. The night photo is recent.

Well played — after all the mystery and “locals know” comments, it turns out you literally dropped GPS coordinates 😂

Fair enough though, that actually does look like a peaceful setup. Big pond, fountain, fresh build, cold cans from Lotus on standby… you’ve gone from “secret utopia” to Thai countryside tourism board pretty quickly 😄

1 hour ago, IsaanT said:

Your curiosity is intriguing but all the locals know where I live so I don't see any problem in answering your question: N15.8326, E103.7250.

If you're passing through, just ask the locals where the big tilapia pond with the fountain is. And send a message in advance and I'll either put the kettle on or pop to Lotus for some cans, depending on your preference. 🙂

The house was completed last December - the pond photo was taken in October. The night photo is recent.

Looks very quiet.

28 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Well played — after all the mystery and “locals know” comments, it turns out you literally dropped GPS coordinates 😂

Fair enough though, that actually does look like a peaceful setup. Big pond, fountain, fresh build, cold cans from Lotus on standby… you’ve gone from “secret utopia” to Thai countryside tourism board pretty quickly 😄

I had no intention to be evasive. I just note most posters retain their anonymity and generalise about such things. There are very few foreigners here so everyone knows who I am.

It looks quiet, and it is. When I lived in England a 'place in the country' was attractive to me so this was my preference here too. We're 600m due north of the village so this week, even though the temple is playing loud music late at night because of the rocket festival (do coastal towns have these?), we can hear it but it's muted by our 200mm thick walls. We're surrounded by rice farmers on all sides and lovely neighbours they are too.

I've attached a video from last year's rocket launching event - the action starts around 20 secs in.

The farmers fly kites through the night here in the dry months when it is windy and the kites make a lovely unmistakeable humming sound, produced by a tensioned band that is vibrated by the wind. I showed interest when I saw a local farmer building one and he then built one for me, free of charge. I bought him some beers but he didn't ask for them.

The pond is 73 metres long and 4 metres deep. The tilapia thrive in it - until caught, then they're on my plate about an hour later. 😋

We have 6 rai of land. When we bought the land, the adjacent road was just a mud track that led to adjacent farms but we knew the village headman and he had told us that the next year's budget included provision to tarmac it properly. They did that last year. I now have about 6 kilometres of pristine local roads starting outside the house that I use as my private velodrome for late-afternoon cycle rides. I've had a total of three cars go past me in a month when riding (many more scooters but they're fine). See image below of my deserted velodrome (the scooter is one of ours so that doesn't count!).

We have two wells, and the one for the house water is fully filtered and softened. We probably have the only house in the village where the bathroom taps and shower fittings still look as shiny as the day they were installed because the water is really hard here. We also have three-phase electricity and fibre optic broadband (not sure how we got this because they usually have a limit of a few hundred metres from the nearest junction box and we are nearly one km from it but I don't ask too many questions).

Edited May 20May 20 by IsaanT

On 5/20/2026 at 11:07 AM, Nemises said:

Ahh yes… “25 minutes south of Roi Et.” 🤣

“25 minutes south of Roi Et” is still pretty vague though — especially after acting like you lived in some secret Shangri-La 😂

I was curious about the origin of the phrase "Shangri-La". Gemini told me this:

'"Shangri-La” comes from the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by the British writer James Hilton. In the book, Shangri-La is a hidden Himalayan valley — peaceful, beautiful, isolated, and almost timeless — where people live unusually long lives in harmony. It was essentially presented as an earthly paradise.'

If you substitute 'Himalayan valley' for 'northeast Thai landscape', as in:

"Shangri-La is a hidden northeast Thai landscape — peaceful, beautiful, isolated, and almost timeless — where people live unusually long lives in harmony. ',

I'd regard that as an accurate description. 🙂

1 hour ago, IsaanT said:

I was curious about the origin of the phrase "Shangri-La". Gemini told me this:

'"Shangri-La” comes from the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by the British writer James Hilton. In the book, Shangri-La is a hidden Himalayan valley — peaceful, beautiful, isolated, and almost timeless — where people live unusually long lives in harmony. It was essentially presented as an earthly paradise.'

If you substitute 'Himalayan valley' for 'northeast Thai landscape', as in:

"Shangri-La is a hidden northeast Thai landscape — peaceful, beautiful, isolated, and almost timeless — where people live unusually long lives in harmony. ',

I'd regard that as an accurate description. 🙂

Certainly a lovely setting.......................

By any chance, were you an estate agent in your previous life........!

2 hours ago, IsaanT said:

I was curious about the origin of the phrase "Shangri-La". Gemini told me this:

'"Shangri-La” comes from the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by…

To be fair, “25 minutes south of Roi Et” does sound a little less mystical than “hidden timeless paradise” 😂

On 5/12/2026 at 12:56 PM, Rockyroad said:

White rice and pizza base are both high gi foods. Pizza base has more protein. White rice is junk food imo.

On the subject of pizza base. I've been looking at some pre-made pizza base made in Thailand with Italian ingredients. Anyway, have any of you guys tried this place:

https://tindoro.com

I'm not much of a cook, but I could probably handle adding pizza sauce and mozzarella and whatnot to a pre-made base. I have an oven.