Up2u

I'm like Bob. I have international funds managed by my broker and pay my taxes on these funds as it is my duty as an American citizen. I make no attempt to hide money in foreign accounts and not pay my taxes. These rules are not a burden for me.

True, and here is a draft of the new instructions. I really can't see how an American retiree in Thailand will be impacted by these changes. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/fbar_instructions_final.pdf

Many Americans may not be aware, if they have > $10,000 in a foreign account they must report this to the IRS by June 30 of each calendar year. This is not Obama's law but has been law for years. There are both civil and/or criminal penalties. http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=148849,00.html

Go to Thaivisa.com to check out discussions and current visa requirements. If you over 50 you may qualify for a retirement visa. Thailand has been cracking down on long-stay tourists so a retirement visa is your best option.

The 60 day tourist visa can be extended an additional 30 days at the Immigration Office. You didn't say where you were going to stay (Bangkok, Pattaya, CM?) so can't give you specifics. I would recommend renting a condo and eating in to reduce costs whenever possible. For example, if you are a beach person, I would rent a condo in the Jom Tien area.

As others have noted there are a wealth of restaurants in the Jom Tien area and if you willing to walk a little or take a short baht bus ride there are more places likes Mike's Mexican, Cafe de Amis, Mata Hari, Manhattan's, Magg's (on Thepprasit),etc. Years ago, when I used to stay in Boyztown it was always a challenge to find acceptable dining accommodation in that area. There was the Amour (over-priced and now closed) and Cafe De New Orleans (so-so), Ambiance Coffee-shop (ok for breakfast). There was a restaurant called the Paradise opposite the Royal Garden that was popular with my friends but that closed years ago. I suppose one could jump on a sawng taeo and go to Central Festival mall with all it's chain restaurants or schlep over to the Tukcom-Day/Nite area. So finding good food in the Jom Tien is no problem.

Really? When did it close?

I would get your phone "unlocked" before you come. AT&T should give you the "unlock" code for free. You will then be able to swap SIM cards as you choose.

How much?

"...But, I have bought about 20 from the same dealership and the manager knows when I walk in that I will buy that day if he gives me a good deal." Excuse me GT but surely that is a typo, didn't you mean two?

A lot of information here if you want to open and analyze all the Excel spreadsheets:

Choose your poison, there are two buildings, 5C and 5D. 5D is near Thappraya Road and 5C is near the beach. View Talay 7 construction ended last year and owners started moving in last November.

Absolutely true, and that is why these bars are required to make contributions to "police charities".

Here too: http://www.learningthai.com/thaifonts_01.htm

The $ has strengthened the last few days. Now over 33 baht again. http://finance.yahoo.com/currency-converter#from=USD;to=THB;amt=1 IF the long anticipated market correction in fact takes place the $ will be rebound more in the short term.

The arrest of the Frenchmen is part of coming bar crack-down that was first reported in the Pattaya Times: http://pattaya-times.com/a4959-police-crackdown-nets-pattaya-foreign-sex-bar-owner http://pattaya-times.com/ n the first night of the Pattaya police crackdown, bars were checked and arrests were made in Pattaya's Sunee Plaza, which attracts mostly a gay clientele. With cooperation from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), agents from the Department of Special Investigation (SDI) with cooperation from Pattaya Police, Chonburi Immigration Bureau and the Women and Children

Apparently my 1-2 Call account has international roaming. Works here in America (California). Didn't even know I had it.

I think your observations are right on the mark. If lucky, one might find a farang needing to repatriate and willing to negotiate. Hey, GT, I've got a condo for sale at Jomtien and I'm willing to negotiate!!

.....how true!

Wonderful news if you're an American expat. The $ has weakened and is now below 33 (32.85). How low can we go. http://finance.yahoo.com/currency-converter#from=USD;to=THB;amt=1

Perhaps PattayaGayTV will give this event some coverage.

RichLB, GB and myself are American expats. My circle of friends are American although I have British and Aussie friends too. I do believe that the likes and dislikes of drag shows is cultural. Notice that the owners/performers of places like BBB, Copa and now the Venue are Brits (what about Oscar's "Miss Dolly"?). My English friends have confirmed this; that drag shows like we now have in Pattaya are popular back home and is part of the gay scene. Years ago (many, many I might add) when I first went to S.F., many gay bars had drag shows and it was part of the gay scene. Then the questions were asked; were they popular?, were they stereotyping gay men?, were they any good?, were they good for business? The answer was that they disappeared quickly from the S.F. gay bars. Today, of the hundreds of Gay bars in S.F. only 2 or 3 have drag shows. My conclusion is obvious, our dear Brit/Aussie friends are more sophisticated than us Yanks!

I would have to disagree with z909. The OP is here for only two weeks and I wouldn't waste those few precious days traveling. He has seen Chiang Mai (years ago) so I agree with GB, Pattaya should be his destination of choice. Four or five days in Bangkok (at max) and the rest in Pattaya.

A friend reports that Helmut has sold the Pagoda in JomTien to a former owner of the New Cafe. Helmut will stay on for a few more months to help with the transition but no major changes are immdediatley planned.

Thanks for the pics. Thailand wouldn't be Thailand without it's ladyboys!