It’s been a long few days that started last Friday at 5 am, a six hour flight to California with a 12 hour layover and then a 15 hour flight to the land of Smiles. Thank Buddha for business class. I landed in Bangkok at 5:45 am on Sunday the 22cnd and breezed through immigration, baggage and customs in 20 minutes, a new record me thinks. What could be more fitting than being greeted by my driver with the above sign, not quite right but this is Thailand and it was close enough to make me laugh out loud.

Walking into the warm breeze of Bangkok I had to stop for a moment, although I have been planning this move for a long time it didn’t hit me until I was halfway to the minivan…I was home. My driver didn’t disappoint, he hauled ass to Pattaya using every lane possible including both shoulders and often careening down the middle of two lanes at once. I watched the familiar landscape pass me by and before I knew it I was in Pattaya.

Pookie Arrived earlier in the morning and went to her sisters apartment to sleep and after a quick nip into the 7/11 I was headed to bed as well. Jet lag can be a bitch sometimes but I was able to get a few hours sleep until Pookie called. We spent the rest of the day and night catching up. Unfortunately for me sleep was hard to come by as my body hasn’t adjusted yet but Pookie slept for the requisite 12 hours and still seemed tired.

With little sleep it was time to go check out the condo. If you hadn’t already guessed I have decided to live the first year in Pattaya, there is good and there is bad but Pattaya and Bangkok have it all and I’m not quite ready to settle down on the farm just yet, although we will be making trips up country frequently and it seems like we might be bringing back a little guest with us to visit.

For anyone thinking about a long term stay in Pattaya all I can say is now is the right time. There is a glut of open rentals on the market and you can pretty much name your own price. I contacted Alan Bolton Properties and was very fortunate to get a brand new Condo at the Nova Avenue which just opened last November. It’s a very small 46 sqm single bedroom condo but it ticked all the right boxes. Right in the middle of Pattaya between Second road and Soi Bukiow, quiet yet close to everything.

As you can see by the photos the place is very well appointed and at 15,000 baht a month a great deal considering internet and cable are included and although I have to pay electric from what I have gathered from other residents the bill should be around 1000 baht a month, we’ll see.

Of course all of this wasn’t as easy as it seems, this is Thailand after all and you have to expect things to go pear shaped quickly. Shortly after moving in we headed to Big C to pick up needed items and some food. When we came back the kitchen was flooded, the bathroom was flooded and the hot water heater was dead, Welcome to Thailand Imothy Vull…you just gotta laugh. Luckily the office was still open and the office manager is very good. The leaks were fixed and the hot water heater will be replaced tomorrow.

It’s already starting to feel like home and although I brought too many bags over with me I couldn’t do without the trinkets, photos and memories of my past life. It’s small yet comfortable and it’s home. I have to keep saying that because it’s still hard to believe, fortunately someone just rang the bell at the beer bar next door so if that doesn’t bring it home to me nothing will…you’ll have to excuse me now I think I can just make it next door fast enough for a free beer!

This last picture pretty much sums it up , it was a gift from my mother years ago when I moved into my first real apartment.