Up2u

I don't know about "resident" experts or agendas, but I thought post #13 was right on the mark. Intuitvely, some seem to think when they see Romanization of Thai script it is "English".

There is an "official" transliteration system for the Thai language called RTGS for putting words in Latin or Roman script. Yes there are others but this one is primarily used by the government and businesses, and for most road signs, etc. For example, it is used on the chanote for my condo. BTW, a resident foreigner should recognize his own name in Thai script. If people would take the time to learn the transliteration system they might get close to the the Thai sound. An English speaker seeing a road sign would think the sign is in English and pronounce the words accordingly, but logically a German or Frenchman would do the same and none of them would sound like a Thai. Even a consonant can change sound if it is in the initial or final postion of a syllable. Here in Pattaya there is a tourist attraction called Nong Nooch Gardens. It's fun to listen to foreigners butcher that one. The Thai sound would be closer to Suan Nawng Noot. Suan is garden, Nawng is a term of endearment and Noot was the ladies name. All very confusing; solution of course is to learn Thai script.

The retirement home you mention is east of Sukumvit and the management made a presentation to the Pattaya City Expats Club a while back. Like the UK, America will not see the day where health care benefits (Medicare) are transferred outside the country even if the economics makes sense. The doctors (AMA) and health care workers/industry will not permit the outsourcing of jobs. Private insurers?....maybe.

Dale has consistently posted the same messages on only those gay forums that are businesses (e.g. advertising, banners, etc.) Some may not like his style but this is worthy cause and I have no problem recognizing the businesses and other sponsors of this event.

Well, he was out to get you but, just curious, if you had your motorcycle license and IDL with the motorcycle option clearly marked with you. I would have shown both documents at the police station too.

If I have an IDL and a drivers license from my home country I can rent and drive a car legally here in Thailand but I can not legally rent or drive a motorcycle since I do not have a motorcycle license from my home country. The officer probably wanted to see some kind of legal motorcycle license, preferably Thai, that shows you can operate a motorcycle.

Gaybutton provided you the directions. The service center is behind the store. I would visit and see what they say. Numchais advantage is you deal with factory trained technicians when you buy from them rather than the manufacturer. They price match too. If you are at Central festival you can get contact info. from any of their many stores.

To Bob, BBoy type refers to a break dancer which is a type of street dancing first made popular by black and Latino youths and now copied by others.

I don't have UBC. What about a DVD?

Friends at Center Condo seem to be happy with TOT. TOT sucks here in Jomtien. TOT and 3BB have comparable plans and rates. CAT is more expensive.

Can you get GWTW with Thai subtitles? It's my all time favorite too.

Yes cute, my type.

Try contacting the. Num Chai service center on Sukumvit near Pattaya Klang.

Nice pics. Phukets temples are nice too but CM better (in the Lanna style)

CM and Phuket are completely different, both have attractionswith completely different character. The OP should express his interests (other than boys) and travel dates would be the number one driver for me. From personal experiences I would strongly advise against summer visits to Phuket. If he is traveling in the next few months then pendulum swings towards Phuket. CM has changed. The polution is worst than LA in the 70's. The view from Doi Suthip is now hardly worth the visit. CM is a big city with traffic congestion and to say is it is not touristy? The Night Market is not special, along with the arts and crafts stores that every tour group must visit. The CM Zoo (despite the pandas) is Ok but not world class by any stretch. The few bars get a late start and frankly are boring with older less attractive types (my 29 year old bf asked why the boys so old!). I must say I enjoyed Phuket (when the weather is perfect) with visits to Phi Phi Is., Pha Nga, James Bond Is. followed by night visits to the bars in Paradise Complex. You can stay in the Paradise and go to the bars at night, try that in CM. Just flying into Phuket over the sandstone formations was fun. And yes Phuket has elephant trekking too with spectactular views. If the OP is going in Jan-Feb, I would try to visit the flower festival in CM and have dinner along the river at very nice (and inexpensive) restaurants. And a word to the wise, do NOT rent jet skis in Phuket or Pattaya!!

I suspect 4 days will not be 4 days after checking in-out of hotels and going to the airport, etc. You didn't give your dates. If they are Dec-March I would vote for Phuket. Phi Phi, Krabi, Pha Nga, James Bond Island are all doable and of course there are water sports, swimming, etc. in clean waters (unlike Pattaya). The gay scene in Phuket is also much bigger than CM. If you are travelling in the summer months then bad weather is too much of a risk and I would go to Chaing Mai and save Phuket for another visit.

I would use a taxi if I had luggage as I have been told the skytrain in not luggage friendly. If I had just a carry-on I would be more adventuresome.

I have always enjoyed my meals at Louis's but two negatives is there is no ac and the tour busses constantly drive by to the Thai Garden Resort parking lot. It is located on a soi behind Fairtex Health Club. Good value.

Alois was a favorite but we stopped going because things just kept worse. Now I understand the problem was in the kitchen. Meals were taking forever and the restaurant wasn't even crowded.

Every hotel and guesthouse I've stayed at in LOS has provided complimentary umbrellas. The big question for me is have they fixed the street so there is not a gigantic Lake at the beginning of the soi which hinders access?

re: post#2. Really? I hope you understand Soi 3 is the BT soi and Soi 1 is the one with X-Boys.

Tukcom is like Panthip Plaza in Bangkok; excercise caution. There are many knock-offs and crap. Iphones, memory cards have many fakes there. There are of course ligitimate stores such as PowerBuy, IT Center, JayMart, Winner, etc. where you can buy with confidence. As Michael said you can get better buys in USA. I bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for 24,000 baht at Powerbuy but that same phone is available from Amazon for 19,500 baht.

You can also have a Thai friend (or farang) transfer his surplus time to you at no cost to you or him. I believe the transfers are done in 30 days increments.

You can buy 100 or 300 baht calling cards at 7-11.

The Amari (Tavern by the Sea) in north Pattaya has a Thanksgiving Day dinner.