wump

47 minutes ago, Svante said:

They fill up with the meter ticking, meaning they make money while filling up! Buses and vans are most likely getting paid by the station to bring customers for their shops.

Might be true in tourist trap stops but not when they fill up at PTT megastations where there is just chain restaurants, a 7-11 and free toilets. I guess it comes down to poor planning, the driver needing a break/smoke or penny-pinching for using the very cheapest LPG station (waited a full hour at the station on the way from Rayong to Pattaya). The gas tank shouldn't be too much of a factor as they easily hold 50-60 liters, enough for 400-500 kms.

Regarding your first sentence: Drivers are typically paid by the distance traveled, not by the hour. Why else would they drive like lunatics?

I too have 48-page passport completely covered in blue and green stickers. I never had trouble even though they always take their time to examine my passport at the border and eventually do stamp me, but they don't exactly smile at that . I guess the key is to not spent more than 9 months a year over here if not on a proper visa?

Sorry to hijack the topic: So me coming in exempt (30+30+7+2 days) last November, coming back after 1 month with a TR visa (60+30 days) I should be okay to just do another border run to gain another 30+30? Can't really be bothered to get another TR visa as I only need another 1 month, 2 maximum.

I recommended this in another thread: Go to the travel agent right next to Paddy Rice Irish Pub adjacent to St 136. 5$ if you have documents/proof, 10$ if you don't. Easiest solution. Don't bother going to the embassy. Takes about 2-3 days depending of the time of the day.

I hate clothes shopping over here. Go to Central Festival into a 40 sqm store and you'll have 5 people hovering around you. Mega-annoying. I wish there was something like Amazon over here :/

1 minute ago, smotherb said:

Try not paying one and see.

I've been bitten badly and threatened with knives, so yes, sometimes they lose it, especially if on yaba or when needing money for yaba or when just losing face for whatever silly reason. That said, pushing someone over the balcony is really intent to murder and I would think this might be quite rare if there was no large financial gain from doing so (like murdering your husband and taking his assets etc.... nobody is going to stay with the wifey in Walking Street).

19 minutes ago, Khon Kaen Dave said:

I find the fact that you have only ever walked in your sleep twice, and at those ages,  interesting. I know a guy who only walks when he is absolutely drunk. He has been known to knock on peoples doors asking them if he can use their toilet.It's always the same question.They say that its your subconcience that is causing you to reenact an earlier dynamic.Did you ever seek medical or psychiatric help for it.

I said I have only been TOLD two times. Probably happens a lot more often. As far as I understand, I can't do complex stuff when sleepwalking so locking the door with a chain from the inside and locking the balcony door helps. This way I would know in the morning if I had been sleepwalking as I won't re-lock stuff when sleepwalking. The smarter solution is obviously to drink less and more importantly, to not be overtired from the previous night/day.

7 minutes ago, Khon Kaen Dave said:

And i found the accusatory statement of him being a sleep walker, rather flippant.But of course anybody close to him would know if he was.

 

Not necessarily true. I have only been told about my sleepwalking on two occasions in my whole life and that was at age 27 and 32. If nobody told you, you would never know. 

I started with the sleepwalking while drunk theory and if you google the subject, it is actually something really common and it wasn't meant as a joke. If you look on Google Streetview the handrails only look about 80 cms high so there is a possibility. Another poster pointed out that he had a towel with him so now I think the "having a smoke an leaning over a bit too much" theory is more likely than sleepwalking because who sleeps with a towel wrapped around.

I'm pretty sure the owner is reading this topic and could check his CCTV to diffuse some of the conspiracies involving bodybuilder ladyboys.. geez.

Okay, missed that part.

Since we're doing detective work here: How come he was naked? Who goes on the balcony completely naked? Another possibility: sleepwalking while drunk. I've done it before and being asked why I go out naked on the balcony in the middle of the night. I know I am not the only one (and since I know now, I always try to book lower floors).

To be pushed over he would have to voluntarily go out to the balcony NAKED first... since most of the girls/ladyboys wouldn't have the power to push a 31 yo English man from inside the room outside to the balcony and then down. Right?

1 minute ago, ajarngreg said:

Why else would he go to such a room? 

It is NOT a short time place, read the thread please or google the name of the guesthouse!

The Notebook and it's not even close. Also Slumdog Millionaire.

Both movies are available in Thai for streaming.

Wow... you guys are really masters at derailing a topic.

Big news: You can sign up with any of the 3 providers with any kind of visa. Some don't want money upfront, but some want you to have your account in the positive, therefore not really giving you credit but still letting you use the postpaid rates. If one shop refuses then just go to the next one.

The whole concept of compulsory military service is outdated anyway. Not to mention what goes on once you're there as a newbie.

Not the case:

Quote

In Germany, "Unterlassene Hilfeleistung" (failure to provide assistance) is an offense according to section 323c^[35] of the Strafgesetzbuch; a citizen is obliged to provide help in case of accident or general danger if necessary, and is normally immune from prosecution if assistance given in good faith and following the average reasonable person's understanding of required measures turns out to be harmful.^[36][37] Also the helper may not be held responsible if the action he should take in order to help is unacceptable for him and he is unable to act (for example when unable to act at the sight of blood). In Germany, knowledge of basic emergency measures and First Aid and CPR Certification is a prerequisite for the granting of a driving license.

I was told pretty clearly in the course that it "doesn't matter if you break a few ribs, just make sure you do your CPR".

19 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

and the UK.

In Germany it is actually illegal to not help and provide first aid.

That said, I think most people would help out of kindness anyway, not out of fear of the law.

I would have a received a much colder service in my home country so I'm not really complaining. It was only that in the past you'd be treated nicely at reception where they check your documents, but this time it was more like "fill this out", nothing else said. 

Went there last week. Not the friendliest service but after getting a queue number out within 5 minutes. The secret seems to be to just go at around 4pm... it's almost empty in there by then.

Kind of hard nowadays with their silly barriers and security guys watching out. Especially if your luggage is heavy. If just walking around with a backpack, that might be more easy.

I know it's kind of hard to haggle with their queue number system and their "official" price list says something like 1700 or 1800. So yes... for both sides, it's kind of take it or leave it once you're inside the taxi.

2 hours ago, Bastos60 said:

The last time I took a taxi from the airport was 3 years ago. I know they have increased the price per km since then. 
Not sure what the current set price is at the airport, but I think it was still 1500.

 

Every taxi from the airport will go for 1200 plus toll. Don't pay more. If you want it cheaper try to go to departures or book transport in advance.

52 minutes ago, Bastos60 said:

Taxis booked from one of those booths you see in Pattaya costs about 1000 Bht toll included.

Taxis from the airport are quoted as 1500 bht, but you can get them for 1300 bht (toll not included).

 

Back in 2006, I took a taxi with my TG from Pattaya to Bangkok and he used the meter all the way, costing me about 600 Bht. I was actually scared at the time it would cost
me double as it was not a set price. Taxi was a bkk taxi. He dropped me off in front of my hotel.

I had the taxi from the airport turn on the meter just out of curiosity. It was some 1,400 Baht. So you're better off negotiating a set price.