wedders

Got to do a visa run from Pattaya in the next three days, decided last minute not to fly somewhere. I've a hire car, so why not drive myself there. Might as well get some pleasure out of this chore, so which border crossing is best? I was thinking of driving along the coast to Trat - never visited this part of the country. From Trat, where should I head?

From the Cambodian border, should I feel like staying more than a few hours, ie overnight somewhere, is there anywhere within easy reach I can visit? Can't take my hire car into Cambodia, of course...

Any advice/info appreciated.

Thanks

Been here a month now, myriads of massage places everywhere, but still can't find a good one that has cottoned on to the fact that when you have a massage, muscles relax, heart rate slows, and unless you're carrying a few extra kilos of fat - which I'm not - you can quickly get uncomfortably cold. Room temperature in Thailand is usually kept at a level which keeps the hard-working masseuse comfortable, not the customer.

Ask the woman to adjust the aircon, or even turn it off, and they reluctantly raise the temperature from 17 to 20 degrees. 30 would be about right for me, when it's 35 + outside.

Ideally I want to find a place with fans only. Can't tell from outside the massage places what the temperature is like inside, have to go in. Once in, it's too late.

I live at the Tukcom end of Pattaya Tai, so anywhere along Soi Bukhao and 2nd Road is easy for me to get to. Would happily go further as I have a car, for the right combination of great therapist and temperature!

I'm here for another 3 months this stay - any suggestions gratefully received.

In the Pattaya area for four months soon, and wondering what to offer as a babysitter rate per hour. It will be a pretty easy job as it will mostly be while my 3 year old is sleeping during the evenings.

Has anyone an idea of the going rate for a babysitter, for a total of something like 40 hours per week... either an hourly rate, or perhaps a monthly figure, based on 160 hours or so?

I was thinking of something along the lines of 80 to 100 baht per hour, or say 12000 baht a month (live out). But really, I've not a clue. The babysitter will probably spend most of the time parked on the sofa watching tv, but even so I don't want to offer an insulting figure.

If anyone has employed nannies/babysitters over here, would be grateful for some input.

Thanks

I'm one of the few who's had enough of Chiang Mai, and am thinking of moving to.... gods forbid... the Pattaya area. Yeah, have to admit I've been one of its knockers over the years, but it's winning me round. I mean, all the bad stuff is grossly exaggerated, and what there is of it can be easily avoided, right?

I need all the usual stuff that comes with life in a lively city, although I reckon I'm old enough to steer clear of the bg scene now. Ok who am I kidding, most of the time anyway. Anyway, as a mug who's ended up looking after a nearly 3 year old on his own when he should be looking forward to a laid-back retirement in a few years' time, any extra-curricular activities, should I still be able to summon up the enthusiasm or energy, would have to be restricted to kindergarten hours. So I should be pretty safe then right? After all, most of the bar girls aren't even up by the time schools close ...

So apart from needing to find somewhere with relatively clean air yet still within easy reach of town, my main concern is the toddler. Long story, but she speaks 3 year old English and French equally well/badly, with some Thai (she's Anglo-Thai, but has spent some time in France). Obviously Thai isn't going to be a problem long-term, but I need to keep her fluent not only in my mother tongue, English, but also in French. Don't suppose there's any French international schools in Pattaya, with a nursery section? Done a search, can't find anything. If all else fails I can alternate speaking English and French with her myself, cos I speak both, but it would be a bit false.

Still, looking forward to getting down to Pattaya in November, need to find a rental for four months or so to begin with, but despite having spent a few weeks over the years in Pattaya, really haven't much of a clue about the place. No idea where to look to rent a not too expensive condo for a short-term let - don't need a lot of space, but a couple of bedrooms would be good.

Don't need luxury - just clean, and easy reach of town, and preferably the beach. And having found some great (authentic) Thai massage places in Chiang Mai over the years, it would be great to have one nearby. (I'm pretty choosy as far as massage goes, I reckon for every really great masseuse there are dozens of poor to average ones).

Don't really spend much time socialising with expats (no offence), so that's not an issue. In Chiang Mai, always lived in exclusively Thai areas where farangs were a pretty rare sight.

November's not far off, must get finger out and arrange accommodation now. Wouldn't normally bother, would just turn up and find somewhere, but with a toddler in tow... Any TV expats with a place they need looking after by someone reliable with a non-destructive kid for a few months ? Need a place with a decent international wifi connection already set up, and at least a basic English language TV package...

Anyway, looking forward to joining the Pattaya crowd for a few months, with a view to making it permanent. Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions.