jacko45k

This kidnapping and ransom crime seems to be popular with both Chinese and Indians. Never heard much of it with Western tourists. Probably a Scots lady wouldn't want her Angus back after finding out he was in Pattaya and not away at PSG.

How do you know this? The tourist numbers suggest otherwise.

And I always saw Jomtien as a quiet, no trouble sort of place!

I wouldn't like to see that. Non belligerent drunks get helped home which seems fair for a tourist place built on getting you drunk, or laid, or both. Trouble makers, yes, put them where they can sober up without harming others. Multiple occurence, on the flight home!

I don't know if that is true. I thought they got a 90 day Visa exempt (reciprocal agreement) under normal circumstances but it only qualified for tourism, and cannot be extended.

Yes, but it all went ultimately to 15000 baht which seems excessive. I wonder if that included damage from the kick or a police contribution.

No, I have no agenda to push really, alcohol is mainstream. Don't see a need to capitalize weed. Good for you, a sober and innocent past.

People getting drugged happens, an easy target like someone who is drop down drunk could easily get taken. Could be many things, social drugs, the dreaded weed which doesn't mix well with alcohol. A falling down accident , a fight after belligerence, tried to rest his chin on his fist, slipped and gave his chin a good whack on the bar! Who hasn't woken up with a few injuries and blood on the pillow.

Yes, why not?

The sprinklers that water the grass can double as bum guns!

They would not get regularly cleaned and maintained. At least the ones in the Malls are.

Big-CX opens early, maybe 08.00, and Central not until 11.00 am. The latter has made me wait before, until I realized you can still access the ground floor bathrooms earlier.

I would expect there to be a charge. I have a neighbour who gets taken to (and from) the hospital quite often and they use an alternative to the expensive one the hospital is prepared to supply. I believe it is a voluntary outfit like the Sawang Boriboon.

You mean the innocent guy who was throttling one of the staff just prior?

How very sad...... such lack of safety in construction here.

I agree, people are being harsh for a situation they were not subjected to. A bit of spicy food the night before, a gut problem that age brings can contribute. There are not many public toilets around and I have had the problem myself while walking in the mornings. A kindly massage lady once let me use her place! Other than that you are hoping to get to the nearest Mall. Don't ignore the warning twinges.

Do they get used though? A little smoking pen, a few spaced around the beach would seem to be the ideal solution, a bit more open than the cancerous glass boxes supplied at airports.

You must be in the Priority lane then?

Yeah, I was squirming as I saw a couple of pedestrians cross Klang yesterday, going between stationary vehicles. I nearly got mangled myself once doing that, by a motorcycle speeding on the wrong side of the road to pass and get to the front. I was effectively a pop out looking the wrong way. I go down to the 3rd junction now where they have painted some road markings to help. Pedestrians aren't given much easement here.

Well since we are expected to do some wild speculation here...... perhaps he was trying to get in, not out!

Apparently there are quite a few complaints wrt the recent ones claiming shady goings on. So we might get a repeat performance!

I suppose so, but it looks like something the dog left and causes angst when stepped on!

Haven't been stopped at a roadblock in Pattaya area for years! My 3 or 4 year old licences haven't been taken out except to get my BigC discount! Only place I saw a policeman was on Beach Rd, in front of the station, the usual flagging down of idiot tourists without helmets. It is obvious the town is getting unconcerned and violates the rules without a thought nowadays, 3 up on a M/Cycle not a helmet between them down any main road.

Well, it all worked then, the big religious days no longer elicit sales bans in the tourist areas......elections are pretty rare things.

How is that 'visa exempt' for all and sundry working out?