We Were Up Early Today,

to complete my 90 day check in at immigration,

 on the way we stopped off at the new Coliseum and market complex on Thepprasit Road, the covered market complex is on the right-hand side,

 it appears that most of the glass has been put into the Coliseum so I am guessing in the next month or so it should be open for business,

 and this is where we were heading, the Immigration Office in Soi 5 Jomtien,

 looking along the road in the other direction in the distance there is the new road which runs through to the end of Jomtien,

 the One Tower condominium next to the Immigration Office has now been completed, we thought we would be the first almost to arrive but arriving at 08.40 there were over 40 people in front of us, but the queue went very quickly so by just after 09.15 we were on our way,

 to the Post Office which is in the same road but closer to the beach,

 the sea in the distance on the other side of Jomtien Beach Road,

 and the view looking towards the Immigration Office,

 a happy slightly windswept Diana makes her way back from the Post Office after sending a letter to her family,

 with more smiles as we make our way to the Surf Kitchen restaurant on Jomtien Beach Road for our breakfast,

 Diana decided on a club sandwich whilst I went with bread-crumbed shrimps and salad complete with an ice coffee each,

 the view outside the restaurant looking towards Sattahip, I was hoping for a cloud free evening this evening so I could use my Blue Peter's camera to telescope adaptor, but as the day wore on the clouds continued until in evening we could barely seen the moon at all, it is strange that since I made this small cardboard tube and have been trying to see if it works there has been clouds in the sky every night,

 after our breakfast we made our way to the small market just opposite Soi 5 that the Immigration Office is in,

all of this area is getting more popular but I wonder what difference the new huge market will make that is on Thepprasit Road which is just around the corner,

at the side of the market facing road there is a large car park area with lots of mobile stalls,

most if not all of these, selling preprepared foods,

 on the opposite side of the road from the market as a shrine with a new condominium in the distance now completed,

 a closer picture of the shrine, is a pity though that there are so many overhead power and telephone cables,

 but onto the shopping,

 we were here for some fresh fruit,

 and we were spoilt for choice,

 one thing we do both enjoy in the afternoons is that Diana makes a mango slushy, we decided to take the middle road and bought several of the 50 baht per kilo ones,

 shopping over we made a move back home, but before that this is the view looking opposite the market in the road that runs parallel to Thepprasit Road, at first there were just a few bars like the Wild West Saloon but now there are new bars stretching almost to the end of the road,

 I dropped Diana off back at home, then off to the bank which is just opposite the Pattaya Beer Garden,

 I then filled my bike with petrol before making my way to the motorbike repair shop,

 I had noticed that the the dipped beam in the headlamp had failed, so 70 baht later and I was on my way,

in the afternoon we watched The Day of the Triffids, the 1981 TV series, I am sure by now every knows the story of how the Triffids took over the world, the special effects did leave something to be desired but still a good application of John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Benyon Harris's book The Day of the Triffids, John Wyndham was one of a number of British authors discussed in a 1960 report into Science Fiction in BBC Drama, the document, which described Wyndham as 'the best practitioner' of British science fiction, led to the creation of the TV serial 'Doctor Who', the producer of this programme, Donald Baverstock, was the son-in-law of writer Enid Blyton and the man who, in 1963, eventually gave the green light for 'Doctor Who' to move into production, so all you 'Doctor Who' fans out there a big hand to John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Benyon Harris,

later in the evening as it was Monday on satellite television three new episodes of some of our favourite series were being aired for the first time, Alaska Gold, Gold Rush and Moment of Impact, after watching those we then decided it was time for bed.

We Had A Busy Day,

so off to the rear of TukCom,

 where we parked the motorbike and made our way to Pattaya Tai,

 passing one of the mobile brush sellers on the way,

 looking back to the side entrance of TuKCom,

 and this is where we were going,

 to the Tuesday and Friday Soi Bukaow market, no left turns into Soi Bukaow on market days,

 which meant at this end of it it was free of traffic,

 no parked taxis here today so the you can easily see the second-hand market on the other side of the road,

 in to the market, lots of fresh fruit for sale,

 rambutans are now in season,

 the aquatic shop in the middle of the market is still there,

 I continued through the market,

 as stall holders ready their wares,

 this lady selling eggs and fish,

 craft goods,

 these I think from the north of Thailand,

 I finally arrived at the pet section,

 the full time aquatic store, this is the front of a shop house as they are called out here,

 I wandered along the plant section,

 although not for sale this frangipani was putting on a good show,

 the flowers to me almost looking like they were made of wax,

 a view of the markets edge where there is a line of cafes and restaurants,

 I made my way out of the market, this is the entrance opposite the Friendship supermarket,

 crossing the road and making my way to the TukCom Centre where we had arraigned to meet,

 then a bit of a surprise, the coffee shop had closed, it was always crowded on market days, but also was popular even if there was not a market,

 but this could have something to do with it, one shop house further along the buildings have been removed, I guess for a new enterprise, so perhaps the coffee shop is next for the wrecking ball?

 I walked past Soi Bukaow on my right,

 and into the centre to meet up with Diana,

 we stopped by one of the food stalls outside for Diana to buy a snack or two, next stop to see Slim Jim, who we had not seen for a few weeks, we chatted away and arraigned to meet up for Sunday lunch,

 we were running low on sausages so into KPK Foods next, 5 kilos of Cumberland big sausages and we were on our way, 

 we could not remember if we had any limes for this evening, so we stopped at another market to buy some,

 and a kilo of grapes,

 the motorbike earned it's keep today, we were loaded with shopping,

 a cup of coffee and we were off, to the weekend night market on the Thepprasit Road,

 the motorcycle park lined with mobile food stalls,

 just light cloud looking towards Jomtien,

 construction going on a pace, the Jomtien tower now hidden from view by the new building,

 again just light cloud looking inland,

 I made my way into the market past various stalls,

 opposite the bar this evening a Yamaha stand,

 I quite liked this one, a 400 cc single,

 it reminded me of the British singles of the 1940s and 50s but with up to date features like this disc brake, the bike yours for 265,000 baht (at today's rate $7,890. £5,017,),

 going to another extreme,

 this speed rocket, unfortunately not yet priced,

 the first food aisle was crowded,

 rambutans and other fruits piled high,

 the second food aisle was not so crowded,

 but there was a lot of interest in the pet section,

 sunset over the market,

 we had passed the market a few times in the week and noticed a lot of work going on,

 with digging machines and huge concrete mixers at the site,

 and this was the result, a new floor,

 I made my way back to the bar, past this 3 wheeled Yamaha,

 and at the bar meet up with Bill for a chat,

as the egg-man walked past,

 the bike stand went trough a slight change,

 as the 400 was brought to the front of the stall,

 then here was a nice touch,

 whilst Mum and Dad were deciding which motorbike to buy,

 Yamaha had hired a clown,

 that could make balloon animals,

 to keep the kids amused,

 ta-da!

 then the sales pitch began, the volume was turned up,

 as two of the sales team,

 shouted out the virtues of buying a Yamaha motorcycle,

 meanwhile the balloon man had attracted another crowd,

 a bit difficult to see, but the dog is really enjoying the ride,

 you often see three on a bike, the good news is they are all wearing crash helmets,

 sunset looking inland,

 Mick, Moochie and Michael popped in for a chat,

 as a late arrival for the Yamaha stall arrived,

 Peter and his family called by,

 as did Brian,

 then a real surprise, Gamel from the UK was here and called by to say hello, we did not chat much, but if you are reading this have a good holiday,

 we said goodbye to everyone, then home,

where we settled down to beef stew with dumplings, delicious! we watched a couple from Boardwalk Empire then for us we were off to bed.