Up2u

The Hot Stone Grill is in the JomTien Complex. You can approach it either from the Posedion or Exxit sois. Same owner as Olivier's. I'm particular about my meat (aren't we all) and my first choice for reasonably priced steaks is the Mignon.

My suspicsions are that the poster Thaiquila who joined the board yesterday is not the same person who posts on SF and Thaivisa. Also Hotmale's first post adding to fuel the fire could be the same person. I suggest we just don't play their game and just Ignore.

Could go even lower than that. From the Nation: Experts see baht at 35.50 per dollar The Thai baht is expected to strengthen further - even test the Bt35.50 resistance level against the US dollar - because the Bank of Thailand (BOT) is unlikely to buck the global currency trend and seeks only to ensure that the baht's adjustment to the dollar's depreciation is consistent with other Asian currencies, experts said yesterday. Robin Wilkin, a JP Morgan Chase technical strategist in London, was quoted by Reuters as saying the baht could potentially rise a further 5-6 per cent against the US dollar before meeting resistance on the charts. He said he expected a move towards between Bt36.50 and Bt35.50, representing the baht's strongest point since 1998-99. After breaking through the Bt37.44 level last week, the baht should be stronger and the US dollar's bearish position confirmed. Meanwhile, DBS Group Research said recent intervention by the Thai central bank did not mean the BOT wanted to dictate the baht level against the US dollar. "What the BOT wants is to ensure that the US dollar's downward adjustment is consistent among the baht's Asian peers," it said. This explains why the US-dollar/baht rate has been tracking the US-dollar/Singaporean-dollar rate, with a 91.7-per-cent correlation, more closely than the US-dollar/yen rate, showing only a 40.2-per-cent correlation. "In other words, the BOT may just be complaining about the divergence between the US dollar/baht [rate] and the US-dollar/Singaporean-dollar [rate]," said DBS. The baht closed yesterday in Asian trading at Bt37.58 to the US dollar, after reaching a six-year high on Friday. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/08/18...ss_30011336.php

I think something has happened to ES and/or he has not paid his bill.

You've convinced me.....we'll go back.

Dined there in July with a party of six. Our experience was mixed. The ambiance was great, the service was at a measured pace (to be polite) and the food Ok but nothing super considering the slightly up market prices.. My lasagna had a cool center and was not as good as Pan Pan or the Paradise. Give it a try yourself but but Queens won't be added to our regular dining circuit. If you like steaks I can recommend the Mignon and I'm very fussy when it comes to my meat (?). Reasonably priced for good steaks from NZ.

Many of us post from Internet cafes when in LOS. I use Future or World Net in the Sunee and quite frankly don't recall if they have word processing applications. Simpler or basic versions of Word for example probably do not have spell checkers. Maybe we'll have to cut LMTU some slack.

Yes, I'm referring to View Talay. I suspect the vast majority of condos are less than 49% foreign owned. But let's face it foreigners gravitate to the newest, nicest projects with best beach front locations. Many older buildings I crossed off my search list simply because they lacked sprinkler systems, ggod location or 24/7 security which is important to me. I wonder how that new Royal Hill Condotel on the road to Jomtien will fair. I wondered why purchase there when there are so many others options available.

Yes, that's my understanding, for example View Talay 5 & 6, not sure about VT 3. With the prices they're asking for the newer projects I don't think the numbers support these units as good rental units for investors, except of course for the choice front-corner seaview units. I could envision the developer keeping these units and renting them in hope of minimizing his losses. If in fact there is or will be a condo glut in the real estate as there was in 1999 I could see another revision to the Land Act similar to Section 2 (see link). I understand View Talay 2 just missed out on this exemption (Section 2.2B) in 2004 and also lost their appeal. Well anyway the saga continues. http://www.dol.go.th/guide/foreigner_Eng_ver.htm

Depending on your exact length of stay in may be to your advantage to get a tourist VISA at a Thai embassy before you enter Thailand. Enrty good for 60 days and 90 days from the date of issue. When I stay longer than 30 days I always get a tourist VISA because it can save me a VISA run or a trip to the Imigarion Office for an extension. http://www.thai-la.net/ Just curious if you've seen Angkor Wat? Definitely the first choice, then followed by Luang Prabang. Vientianne was a disappointment.

Your third to the last paragraph makes no sense to me. Enforcing this law does not force farangs to buy condos rather than houses but denies farangs the opportunity to buy either houses or condos. These new developements that you describe aren't cheap by Pattaya standards. The 49% foreign ownership is already sold out. Using 10 M baht as an example do you think a farang is going to find legal Thai partners for 5.1M. Would any foreigner agree to such an arrangement? Why would a Thai, assuming everything is done legally? I wish you would state the source of your information. I heard from "sources" that the only "farang" companies being investigated are those purchasing quantities of land. In other words they're after foreign land developers. Also, reportedly Pattaya real estate companies will meet with Thai officals shortly in Chonburi and hopefully come to some sort solution to all this. Right now the only source I want ot hear is a Thai official speaking in an official capacity.

Good advice, GB. Americans especially beware, Homeland Security works in concert with Thai authorities. Mr. Sims problems have only just begun. I suspect he will be arrested by Homeland Security at U.S. Customs.

I have T-Mobile in America and take my GSM phone (unlocked) with me to LOS. If I recall is costs about 800 baht for a new number with a 300 baht card (good for 30 days) included. You can reload minutes easily at any cell phone shop or 7-11 store. I read about the problems One-Two was having. I would think DTAC should be just fine in Pattaya, although Thais may prefer One-Two because the coverage is supposed superior in rural areas.

Shockdevil, I agree with francois although he may be a little harsh. Mosaik is nicer only because it is new and everything works. It is no means luxurious so don't set your expectations too high. Give it a few years and it will be like most any other condo/apartment in Pattaya. Both Center Condo and Yensabai have swimming pools which the Mosaik doesn't. The baht buses run down South Pattaya Rd but you must flag one going to JomTien by pointing (only) the direction you want to go (left), otherwise walk to the corner of 2nd Rd and South Pattaya and catch one there. Center Condo is just a little closer to Boyztown. Go to Pattayagay.com and check out the district maps (the Mosaik would be above the Luxor Restaurant and across from the Flamingo on the map), http://www.pattayagay.com/pattaya_maps/index_main.html

My stay at Mosaic with a huge two-room unit (1-bedroom) came to about 25,000 THB/ month for everything. That was in January and included the 30% premium. Consider also the Center Condo which is even more convenient to the bars (Sunee Plaza and Boyztown). Contact the GayPattayan (gaypattayan@pattayagay.com), I believe he has units for rent or knows people who do. What's most important to you....the beach or bars? If you stay at JomTien coming into town using baht buses or motorcycle taxis can be a hassle. Conversely, going from Pattaya to the gay beach during the day is a snap. JomTien has good drinking bars (no go-go), massage studios and restaurants. There is gym (Hardbody?) on your way to the beach near Bamboo's. If you stay at the Mosaic, Yensabai or Center Condo try Chevon's Gym around the corner and behind the Flamingo Hotel.

I stayed at Mosaic last January and enjoyed it very much. Tends to be a little pricey for what you get (I had a large one bedroom unit). In July I will try the Yensabai Condos near Sunee Plaza. http://www.pattayarentaroom.com/rent-index.htm

Well the timing of this decision couldn't be much worse for me and many of my farang friends now living in Thailand. From what I've read on the Internet the intent was not to damage the real estate market but to go after several high profile foreign land developers. The unintended consequence of course has thrown the housing and condo market in chaos. I'm sure everything will sort itself out in the end but in the meantime there are a lot of nervous folks. I purchased a construction contract at View Talay 7 and supposedly am one of the "chosen" 49 percenters. Make me feel better if a had something in writing. Hopefully this isn't going to be a bumpy ride.

Ok TeePee, intersting post. So do you have a minimum tip for satisfactory service (Tawan Bar excluded)?

"The standard is 1,000 baht for short time and 1,500 baht for long time and that has been the standard for years. No it has not!! As I said previously I have not offed for three years and so cannot comment from personal experience on recent changes, but there has simply not been a standard for years, nor should there be now."......Sorry fishing that has been rate since I started coming to LOS in 1998. This was the boy's "expectation" as explained to me by my farang friends and not some edict from a big Boyztown meeting (surely made jest). You commented you hadn't "offed" in three years so now you know. Perhaps you have a problem with the word "standard" and maybe "suggested minimum" would work better for you. I do agree in not paying for "poor" service and this has happened only once or twice many years ago. A muscular boy from the Tawan bar seemed to think all he had to do was lay on the bed and chuck wow. I gave him taxi money and showed him the door. Like everything else expect market forces to raise the "suggested minimum" in the not too distant future. I have friends who now pay regularly 2000 THD for short time and I ask why? Their response is their recent financial circumstances allow them to so they do. One ex-pat farang also sponsors the education 3 or 4 boys.

I agree, that's what good friends are for.

I pay 1000-1200 THB short time and 1500-2000 THB. I treat and tip a bar boy from Sunee the same as a bar boy from Boyztown or Soi Twilight. Apparently some folks think there is a different standard, I don't. I don't pick-up m free-lancers from the beach, Walking Street, Lumpinii Park, etc. but my friends will tip them 500-800 THB. "And again I say, IT'S NOT A DATE."....well maybe not. But in the words of Elisa Doolittle "...the difference between a gutter snipe and a lady is the way their treated".

Very clever of you and well worth the trouble!! The 2300 does seem high though, you must be flying from America's heartland. Typically a NW coach fare from SFO to BKK is about the same as EVA's Deluxe Economy. I 'm an ex-NW flyer having converted to EVA and have loads of NW ff miles remaining. Years ago my vacations to LOS were shorter and every day there was precious. EVA (and other Asian carriers) effectively gave me one additional day in LOS with their preferred departure/arrival schedule. Other plusses are newer aircraft (than NW), no bus gates at Narita or BKK, no Narita period and superior cabin service.

"Maybe I am just a dreamer and maybe it

The EVA Website fares shown are without taxes and surcharges. When you price with a travel agent the total includes everything. Months before my trip I will visit the EVA website and get the their best price, THEN I contact my travel agent and with this information do my booking. My TA alway saves me 40-60 USD.