One month to go.

Aged 48, 20 year IT under me belt. Nine to six everyday till it nearly killed me. Had enough.

Arrive to Pattya in October.

Initally six months is plan..........

Read the books, been there once for 4 weeks.

Now the question

Can anyone give me insights/tips into what to expect there ?

Appreciate any help, tips, advice.

Thanks

Suggest lodging on a lower floor ...

Welcome!

You want to know what to expect in Pattaya? Did i read that right?

Expect to become suddenly very handsome.

yes, tell me what to expect and what you think it will be like.........

yes, tell me what to expect and what you think it will be like.........

Honestly, you haven't given enough info.

Is your plan to just stay 6 months and then go home?

Or is your plan to get your life set up here during those 6 months so that you will then live here permanently?

Your focus and activities will be different depending on your overall plan.

You can get a Whopper with Cheese. ..................... .........................

Initially 6 months to get feel of the place....then if I like I stay on..off course I realise I wont get a job in IT at all, but have a good wedge of savings....

you are 48... so not yet ready for retirement... so under what Visa do you plan to stay here...

Expect... many people wanting money...

Expect... to be extremely ill-prepared...

Expect... to go back soon being rich of many new experiences...

Expect... to get a lot of good advices of which most will not fit for you as you have not said a thing about you and your plans...

Coming at 48 would be easy for many. You can do the retirement thing at 50 if financially qualified, and it's really no problem sorting out visas for those two years (ED visa being popular), especially if traveling back home during that time.

Visa 90days,that I will then extend....maybe go for student visa after for 1 year.

I am 48 single, good wedge of savings, 20 years IT experience (good for nothing in Thai I know)

Irish,living in Munich(well for one more month)

You're still thinking like an employee, just do what you want, when you want. I mean how hard can it be…just come and enjoy yourself until the money runs out.

I wont invest in a girlie bar, but defo up to meet a "normal decent lass" one who works in a 7/11 or a bank....that would be nice. being in Munich for many years living like stag is not normal.

@Blithesome Blogger but then I would have to reurn to the EURO IT contracting scene, defo dont want that

@Blithesome Blogger but then I would have to reurn to the EURO IT contracting scene, defo dont want that

If you are smart the money won’t run out all that quickly. I have been here 35 years and still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up and still have a wedge. I said enjoy yourself, not be irresponsible.

Your still thinking like an employee, just do what you want, when you want. I mean how hard can it be…just come and enjoy yourself until the money runs out.

Ah, but you discount the western corporate mindset of indoctrination and compliance. It takes a while to deprogram and realize that you are your own man. Some never adjust.

I wont invest in a girlie bar, but defo up to meet a "normal decent lass" one who works in a 7/11 or a bank

Then why would you move to Pattaya? Meeting a "normal decent lass" up in the sticks is difficult enough, let alone in one of the world's largest red light districts.

I wont invest in a girlie bar, but defo up to meet a "normal decent lass" one who works in a 7/11 or a bank....that would be nice. being in Munich for many years living like stag is not normal.

There are some lovely girls in the 7/11's.

Why is getting a job in IT in Thailand out of the question? Set up a small IT type business catering to the expat community? All depend on how much money you got of course.

@lovelaos....I am a freelance IT contractor who worked round Europe, but just hacking some code for others,great cash etc....but from being a bog standard IT contractor to setting up a business is a huge step.....doubt I could do that,especially in Thai

@cndmatt Pattaaya is easy, going to a village as a first stop would be much more difficult to settle into. At least in Patts, you can get western style living without the huge cost

Why is getting a job in IT in Thailand out of the question? Set up a small IT type business catering to the expat community? All depend on how much money you got of course.

No need to hang out your own shingle as there are lots of freelance IT jobs available where the work is all online, so it really doesn't matter where on the planet you are, unless you have to comply with office hours of the company you're working for. Depends on your skill set as to the types of positions available. There are dozens of websites that broker freelance IT professional services to clients.

Why Pattaya? There are other places to retire at closer to the USA, if that is where u are from. (Costa Rica, Panama...)

Why Pattaya? There are other places to retire at closer to the USA, if that is where u are from. (Costa Rica, Panama...)

I dunno, maybe because he's not American?

Im IRISH....

@KeyserSoze01 Can you let me know what webistes offer this sort of work ? I am an ORACLE / PL/SQL based Tecnical Business Analyst

THANKS

I was 39 year old and left everything 3 years ago to come to Thailand and never return.. Just expect a normal saturday night out in your home town but in pattaya its everyday

Move here and get into sports so you can meet people away from the bars. I've met some quality expats this way. Use online dating sites to meet girls. Most will have 9am-5pm jobs rather than the 9pm-5am nightlife girls. Don't lend money to anyone no matter what. People will usually not repay. Go for the ED visa. It makes life so simple. Explore other cities in Thai and around Asia. Saigon, Singapore, and Philippines are all close and interesting. Enjoy non girly bars from time to time like Blues Factory for easy listening and relaxing. Head up to Chiang Mai and see if it's better for you. Don't pay too much up front for anything. Don't become a sponsor of anyone.

There is one essential life skill that you must learn prior to arriving in Pattaya. If you work dilligently over the next 30 days you may have a chance to master it.

Tomorrow morning go to your local bottle shop and buy 30 bottles of spirit, 90 bottles of beer and a girly magazine. The type of spirit is unimportant. If you like Irish whiskey, buy that. However, other spirits such as tequilla, rum, vodka and gin will also suffice. Buy the large 700ml bottles or 750ml bottles if available in your current abode. If available, buy Chang beer. If it is not available, then any other beer will suffice provided it has an alcohol content greater than 5%.

The following steps must be repeated each and every night until your departure.

Step 1

Tune your stereo to a station that is playing 80s rock ballards. Any tracks by the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, or AC/DC are also acceptable. Turn the volume of your stereo up to the very maximum available setting, and then wind it back just one notch. Kneel directly in front of your speakers, open a bottle of your selected spirit, and then drink it entirely as quickly as you are able.

Step 2

Walk briskley around your neighbourhood until you have a good sweat up. Then have a friend who owns an open backed pickup truck meet you at a pedetermined location. Climb into the back of his truck and get him to drive you around for 40 minutes. If your friend can find some peak hour traffic to get jammed in, all the better. It would also be advantageous to ensure that at least half of these nightly rides are during heavy rain. If there is no rain in your neck of the woods at the moment, have your friend bring with him each night, in the back of his truck, two large buckets of water. If there is no rain on a given evening, upon sitting down in the back of the truck, tip both buckets of water over your head.

Step 3

After completing Step 2, have your friend drop you back at your apartment. Once inside, drink three bottles of beer as quickly as you are able and then take a shower. Go to your bedroom, switch off your mobile phone, and hide your wallet.

Step 4

Recline on your bed and browse through the girly magazine. Turn off all of your bedroom lights.

Step 5

Put on a condom.

I wont invest in a girlie bar, but defo up to meet a "normal decent lass" one who works in a 7/11 or a bank....that would be nice. being in Munich for many years living like stag is not normal.

There are some lovely girls in the 7/11's.

They even have some genetic or is it generic girls there. Ya, Pattaya is just like your home town. Do you live in Sodom or Gomorrah? You'll fit right in. I did

@cathy211 Great info, I hope it works otu for me...........scarred !!

@Phronesis Vrazy, but I hear ya

May I ask why you are 48 and still single?