Stevie R,
Like I said earlier I don,t really like Pattaya
But your post earlier was inflamatory towards most who go there....
If I was a retired 'dude' looking for some place to stay(without any previous Thai experience)I might well choose to stay there...
I don,t think i would want people to think i was a sex tourist/gangster/low-life/pervert....
I agree though that Pattayas reputation is 'well-known'..but if i was a elderly gent I don,t suppose I would care anyway....I don,t know why Harvey is getting sensitive

quote:

Originally posted by caller:
Harvey, not that I know the place, but it has been reported that Pattaya is more expensive than many other places in LOS, probably down to the tourists and ex-pats. The same as many tourist places I guess? The fact the guys you know live on the fringe and don't partake is kind of irrelevent.

I love Hua Hin, but I ain't gonna live there, for the same reason - cost.

Hi Caller

To draw a comparison you could say the same thing about most cities or major tourist attractions, Blackpool or Brighton comes to mind but to smear the people who retire to these areas is to be ignorent of what surrounds these resorts and the reasons that people retire there in the first place.

On the sensitivity issue thing. Ok maybe I am a little over sensitive especially after a couple of whiskies but when I hear such stereo typical generalities coming from some one who should know better I cannot resist and attempt to put right a whole glut of wrong and negative conclusions.

In my meanderings around the whole of Thailand I have seen many Anglo/Thai relationships doing well and living happily ever after but I have also seen many lonely Falangs sitting from early morning in the local market bar, "Happy" I am sure but possibly missing out on a lot of discourse and stimulation (but not from the Beach road area) that they could have if living in the Pattaya area.

I was quite happy to go and live in the Khon Kean area of Thailand to be near my wifes family but then my wife who even after a short time of marriage seems to know me better than I know myself, suggested that the area could be a little too quiet for me and my nature.
Its great being married to Wan, I love her very much, her family are first class too but I could see what she meant. Being in the presense of Thai speaking family and friends 24X7 could be intectually limiting and I am grateful that she has had the foresight to see a potential problem.

I have also seen some Falangs attempt to go "Native" and fair play its their decision but its not for me at my age I am too fond of my creature comforts to go down that road.

So my wife and I compromise we will live in one of the quiet areas around Pattaya, possibly north of Sukumavit road or possibly the Ban Chang area near Sattahip and take advantage of the many Hospitols, health care clinics, supermarkets, gyms and golf course that abound in and around Pattaya.
When the mood takes us, or there is a family need we can drive off up to Khon Kean to visit the family and stay for as long as neccessary.

Caller. You got the phrase spot on " living on the fringe"
Yes thats it too right! we don't want to be in it or too far from it. (Wherever or whatever It is) Also my friends always without exception let their ladies do the shopping for goods or services and I can assure you that unlike you or me they will not pay more than they have to.
However I do not understand what you meant when you said my friends don't participate.
They play golf, they go to gyms, they attend the various Ex-Pat clubs, they support local charities,they interact with the local community and also their Thai families.
Are they missing out on some thing?

Whilst on the subject of costs it does not escape me that in the last year alone fuel, concrete, food especailly rice has escalated in cost.
Even the Baht bus has had to increase its cost to the customer 100%

Regards Harvey

quote:

So my wife and I compromise we will live in one of the quiet areas around Pattaya, possibly north of Sukumavit road or possibly the Ban Chang area near Sattahip

Ban Chang won't remain quiet for much longer-some massive development announced there.

We have a home in BanPong, Ratchaburi, and even there so called progress has seen a Big C open and a Tescos planned not far down from our village in the last few months.

quote:

Originally posted by rolyshark:

quote:

So my wife and I compromise we will live in one of the quiet areas around Pattaya, possibly north of Sukumavit road or possibly the Ban Chang area near Sattahip

Ban Chang won't remain quiet for much longer-some massive development announced there.

Eh up Steve

Don't retire yet for another 15 months but well into the planning stages Etc.

Had a look around Ban Chang Sattahip areas and seen some nice houses being built but also seen a lot of older houses/condos left neglected and abandoned.

Only heard that it is an up and coming area once again but thats all. If you know of any other big developement would like to know what it is.

Your suggestions on any area within reasonable commuting distance of Pattaya that fit our (Now known) criteria would ne most welcome

Thanks Harvey

quote:

Originally posted by Harvey at home:
However I do not understand what you meant when you said my friends don't participate.

Oh go on then, I'll give you three guesses!

quote:

Only heard that it is an up and coming area once again but thats all. If you know of any other big developement would like to know what it is.

Ooops-I was mixing my Bans-it's Ban Saray where the development was announced

quote:

Originally posted by caller:

quote:

Originally posted by Harvey at home:
However I do not understand what you meant when you said my friends don't participate.

Hey up Caller,
Oh go on then, I'll give you three guesses!

Ok I'm rumbled I really did know but I was a bit shy

Regards Harvey

quote:

Originally posted by rolyshark:

quote:

Only heard that it is an up and coming area once again but thats all. If you know of any other big developement would like to know what it is.

Ooops-I was mixing my Bans-it's Ban Saray where the development was announced

Hey up Steve
by coincidence you were actually right, there is talk of big commercial developement in the area but it is confined to existing industrial area expanding up to the main highway 36 and not towards the the beach area which in any event is mostly ( I am informed ) is owned bt the Thai naval department

Regards Harvey

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thread even if it begins with a cock eyed optimist {great imagery there)If ever there was a candidate for three strikes and you are out it should be the OP. Still hope springs eternal...
The reason IMHO for Pattaya and Phil being the sh**hol** they are is down to the Yanks. They made them and they ruined them.
Pattaya isn't thai. It's a monstrous confection of sex fuelled tourism peopled by some of the lowest brow neanderthals you would ever want to avoid.
If thats your idea of living in Thailand I bet you take holidays in Disneyland too. Thats not to say there aren't thai places and thai life on the periphery but lets face it the reason guys go there is the sex. First middle and last. Other sites...not this one at all are full of posts from 'respectable middleaged guys' with thai wives all boasting about their cheating on the side. They are in pattaya precisely because they can play the cool golf playing expat during the day and the sex tourist at night when their wife thinks they are out with pals for a drink or two and relive the days golf. Pattaya is expensive because its full of non thais. I would no more think of living there than flying to the moon. If you believe that Thai culture and its people have something good to offer then the closer you get to them the better. That doesn't mean squatting in a mud hut somewhere in the back of beyond, but it does mean living somewhere predominatingly thai, catering for thais and not saturated by western culture.
Pattaya is a freak show at its heart whatever ameliorating developments spring up on its periphery, it's a blot on the landscape and an ugly reminder of what america brought to Thailand. The gross and public display of sex for sale.
As to the Big C in banpong I must admit, I like Big Cs its my favourite place to shop and middle class thais love it too. At present we drive over to Nakhom Pathom for the nearest Big C. Perhaps we should be glad that the thai middle class is getting bigger as more people move out of poverty. Even if it marks the creeping big store demise of the small shops that we dont like in the UK. As long as it has a 'Black canyon' coffee shop and restaurant I will be happy.
So to sum up this posting, IanB..get a grip..literally, it will be cheaper and safer in the long run.
Pattaya is a crack heads, sex addicts paradise, like paying to see a two headed cow, once you've seen it don't go again. It's a freak show.
Finally, as long as I can sit drinking a phuket paradise and eat black rice with prawn and a side order of spicy northern sausage in a Black Canyon I don't worry about IanBs journey of self discovery, Pattaya dwellers self delusions and why ex miners like Pattaya, though I suspect it may be something to do with beer and coal dust.

Forgot to say that living in Singapore was like living in a shopping mall, sanitised, over controlled and plain dull. OK for a quick visit but any longer yeeuk

quote:

Forgot to say that living in Singapore was like living in a shopping mall, sanitised, over controlled and plain dull. OK for a quick visit but any longer yeeuk

Were we living in the same place?

I think you must have been living in the Pattaya of Singapore. If you want to get to see the real Singapore you have to move out of the ex-pat areas and 'go native'.

quote:

Originally posted by duster:
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thread even if it begins with a cock eyed optimist {great imagery there)If ever there was a candidate for three strikes and you are out it should be the OP. Still hope springs eternal...
The reason IMHO for Pattaya and Phil being the sh**hol** they are is down to the Yanks. They made them and they ruined them.
Pattaya isn't thai. It's a monstrous confection of sex fuelled tourism peopled by some of the lowest brow neanderthals you would ever want to avoid.
If thats your idea of living in Thailand I bet you take holidays in Disneyland too. Thats not to say there aren't thai places and thai life on the periphery but lets face it the reason guys go there is the sex. First middle and last. Other sites...not this one at all are full of posts from 'respectable middleaged guys' with thai wives all boasting about their cheating on the side. They are in pattaya precisely because they can play the cool golf playing expat during the day and the sex tourist at night when their wife thinks they are out with pals for a drink or two and relive the days golf. Pattaya is expensive because its full of non thais. I would no more think of living there than flying to the moon. If you believe that Thai culture and its people have something good to offer then the closer you get to them the better. That doesn't mean squatting in a mud hut somewhere in the back of beyond, but it does mean living somewhere predominatingly thai, catering for thais and not saturated by western culture.
Pattaya is a freak show at its heart whatever ameliorating developments spring up on its periphery, it's a blot on the landscape and an ugly reminder of what america brought to Thailand. The gross and public display of sex for sale.
As to the Big C in banpong I must admit, I like Big Cs its my favourite place to shop and middle class thais love it too. At present we drive over to Nakhom Pathom for the nearest Big C. Perhaps we should be glad that the thai middle class is getting bigger as more people move out of poverty. Even if it marks the creeping big store demise of the small shops that we dont like in the UK. As long as it has a 'Black canyon' coffee shop and restaurant I will be happy.
So to sum up this posting, IanB..get a grip..literally, it will be cheaper and safer in the long run.
Pattaya is a crack heads, sex addicts paradise, like paying to see a two headed cow, once you've seen it don't go again. It's a freak show.
Finally, as long as I can sit drinking a phuket paradise and eat black rice with prawn and a side order of spicy northern sausage in a Black Canyon I don't worry about IanBs journey of self discovery, Pattaya dwellers self delusions and why ex miners like Pattaya, though I suspect it may be something to do with beer and coal dust.

Where do you get your info?
With the greatest respect you talk in generallities, most of your diatribe like the other person who picked up a similar theme is full of Half truths and wrongful accusations made up to resemble the whole truth.It sounds malicious and nasty and smacking of tunnel vision

When will people realise that most of the people who are now living in Thailand probably started their journey to full residence with one or two holidays in or around BKK or Pattaya.

Why do you refer to the initial poster as a "Cock eyed optimist" and then make an inane remark (Great imagery there, candidate for 3 strikes and you'r out)?
Your references in this thread tall us more about you than your post tells us about Pattaya.

Look around with a weathered eye, what you see in your face in Pattaya you can find easliy although more hidden in any town or city worldwide.

Its easy to get on the "Knock Pattaya bandwagon" and judge it only as a sex tourist paradise but if you look around and meet some of the genuine people who live there instead of focusing your comments on the Beach road and adjoining streets, you might meet a better class of Ex-Pat and then you can be a bit more specific in your critique.

Finnally I must also take great exception to your quote; the reason guys go there is the sex. First middle and lastWhere have you gained this fantastic insight? Its not true at all I know many "families" who have had holidays there and of course the Thai tourism ministry is always trying to promote Pattaya as a family type centre. Also I know of many anglo/Thai families who come down to Pattaya from the country to holiday and party, especailly when meeting family who come over from the UK on their holidays.
Some of the Ex-Pats I know in the Khon Kean area often meet their relative at the airport and have a few days in Pattaya, like us up north in the Uk going down to London to see a show Etc.

I re-iterate my earlier comments, there are too many people making negative and dogmatic statements in a very bitter and twisted way.
Like the other poster said " If you cannot say anything nice don't say nothing at all.

We all know the seemier side of Pattaya and of human nature.
We do not need to be reminded about it with sarcasm and acid type comments about the place or new posters to this forum.
Isn't Pattaya the place that Everybody should visit at least once in their lifetime? I don't know who said that but I would like to.

Enough sad Ragards Harvey

Guys aren't families, are they, guys go to pattaya for the sex. They don't go for the culture. And as for cock eyed optimist..sorry you don't get it three strikes and out...sorry again. Perhaps if you read more about IanBs somewhat colourful path to true love you might get it. he has a sense of humour, you don't. the reason the Thai tourist authority is trying so hard to change Pattaya's image is precisely because its known as the sex capital of thailand. If you choose to live there for the golf good luck to you. You may not have noticed but there are golf courses all over the place...well away from sex tourism. As for your suggestion that if I can't find anything nice to say about Pattaya don't say it. 'Pattaya is the perfect place for a maiden aunts holiday, crime is virtually non existent, drugs are unknown there and sex is only for making babies between married couples...' happy now? If you want real commentary on Pattaya just read the thread about a bar on soi 8 we have murder, robbery and arson. Charming.

Your quote :

"Pattaya isn't thai. It's a monstrous confection of sex fuelled tourism peopled by some of the lowest brow neanderthals you would ever want to avoid."

Your quote;

posts from 'respectable middleaged guys' with thai wives all boasting about their cheating on the side. They are in pattaya precisely because they can play the cool golf playing expat during the day and the sex tourist at night when their wife thinks they are out with pals for a drink or two and relive the days golf.
And

I don't have a sense of humour? I answered your post did'nt I?

and yes thanks I'm quite happy now


Regards Harvey

Like everywhere on the planet if you want something you can probably find it , its simply some places like Pattaya make it a bit easier to find

I take my kids there because its easy to find things for them to do and its relatively cheap.

When I visited on my own I enjoyed the fishing food and the ambience which I have found everywhere I visited in Thailand and many other countries.

I prefer it to Patong and Ko Samui and certainly would be happy to live in Jomtien or Chon Buri at least for part of the year.
ash

my english kids are 13 and 10 and they say, as well as me, that pattaya is the best place they have been, where else can you get mcdonalds for 39 baht, go karting, catch some of the biggest fish in the world, pattaya waterpark for 100 baht, feed tigers, etc etc, how can people slag off pattaya who have never been there???? of course you get bad people and bad places, but you do everywhere, LONG LIVE PATTAYA, FOREVER

quote:

They are in pattaya precisely because they can play the cool golf playing expat during the day and the sex tourist at night when their wife thinks they are out with pals for a drink or two and relive the days golf.

Indeed. There's many the night I've spent carousing on soi 8 reliving the day's golf-mainly debating just how to get the ball through the windmill and what a doddle the loop-the-loop hole is.

Whether I look a cool golf playing expat in my flip-flips,shorts and checked shirt will remain a matter for the fashion police

I usually get round without recourse to a golf cart,caddy and usually just the one club,although I did hoick a tricky putt down beach road once. I was allowed a mulligan,as it was unplayable from the patio of the Pink Lady.

Of course the Pattaya ex pats do nothing to further good causes such as the Orphanage and Camillian Rayong centre in the Drunkathon fund raisers. Likewise,it must be a figment of my imagination that a member here takes his racing team to Bira for the karting AND gets rational national media coverage and backing for the charity work undertaken.

No one is forcing you to live in Pattaya,Duster and I doubt anyone living there considers all,or indeed any, of Thailand to be the same. Horses for courses....

Quote by andy muay thai
------------------------------------
LONG LIVE PATTAYA,FOREVER
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Exactly
As Ive mentioned before in a previous post on another topic my 70 odd year old mum and my 60 odd year old auntie love the place.Surlely there not sex tourists.

Well, just got back from a short 4 day jaunt to PI and thought it was great again.

PI?