Gsxrnz

IS - US......same same.

IS summarily executes people by beheading without a trial and their only crime is being non-muslim.

Your post reveals more about you than I can possibly add here and remain within the rules.

Thanks for your input.

The acts of terrorism you describe are abhorrent and unjustifiable.

Equally abhorrent and unjustifiable is the executions of innocent non combatants in the middle-east as a result of US "strategic" bombings and missile attacks. Guantanamo Bay and the acts of inhumanity committed there are also unjustifiable.

The UN has had a hell of a time over the last 50 years being able to actually define what terrorism is. It would seem obvious wouldn't it, however because the US and it's allies (my country included) continue to commit acts that would otherwise be generally classified as terrorism by any right thinking person, they have to constantly redefine the word to avoid them being labelled terrorists. Check it out, makes interesting reading.

As you will see, I consider any act of terrorism totally unjustifiable.

Unfortunately, both sides in this long standing conflict consider the other side to be the terrorists.

The reality is that both sides are terrorists in my opinion, but the US, the UK, and their allies don't quite see it that way.

If it's any consolation to you, I think the same way about the IRA conflict - the British government were no lesser terrorists than the IRA.

It's an old scam. Pull up at the pump and wind down the back window so you can see what they are doing and can read the pump - and more importantly, they can see that you can see what they're doing.

I've had a few block me out so I just get out of the car and walk to the pump. They soon realise you're on to them and give up.

OP - don't forget that just like New York, it's common here to blast everybody with your scooter horn if they do something that causes you grief on the road.

Yes, I am well aware that all cultures are different and I didn't say one was better, I'm just asking what those small differences are for you.

My second, third and fourth musing.

People trying to get my attention at every store, restaurant, anything I walk past. Even fine dining restaurants they greet you as you just walk past. This I found to actually annoy me.

Once in some of these restaurants, it is not uncommon for the server to 'hover' waiting for you to order, which makes me feel forced.

Buffets have time limits. What gives!? I've been to many buffets in America, including very trendy upscale buffets in Las Vegas and yet, never faced a time limit. this makes me feel a little rushed.

In Thailand you'll be asked to enter the restaurant or purchase goods from hawkers of every possible item and in every possible location - from restaurants, shops, street hawkers, and even outside top quality stores in shopping malls. We can either just ignore them, say no thankyou, or stop to check the menu or goods.

The servers hover awaiting your drinks order which they will get for you and allow you time to peruse the menu, or to be told to come back in 5 minutes. Typically, most Thai shops and restaurants are overstaffed compared to western equivalents, so it's not uncommon to have them over attend you in some situations.

Have you noticed that when you check bin, they bring back the folder of change and will wait. It's so you can verify that your change is correct, although some will say that they're waiting for their tip. If there is a dispute over the change and they didn't wait for you to check it in front of them, problems will invariably arise.

There are certainly benefits to these things but it will take some time to become accommodated.

Just roll with the punches. I frequently have a fried egg with rice for breakfast (eaten with a fork and spoon) and would never do that at home. You soon learn that if you don't want a typical crozzled Thai fried egg, that you ask for "kai dow mai suk" - fried egg not well done". Or a recent trend is "kai dow falang" - you gotta love 'em.

Or when you order an English breakfast and specify that you want marmalade for your toast and not jam, don't be surprised when the meal arrives with jam (oh well), and then two minutes later they also bring you an omelette. Marmalade sounds a bit like omelette to the Thai ear. Or I once ordered water in Thai, and got a bottle of fish sauce - naam pblaou v. naam pblaa.

These are the things that make every day here enjoyable.

Yes, I am well aware that all cultures are different and I didn't say one was better, I'm just asking what those small differences are for you.

My second, third and fourth musing.

People trying to get my attention at every store, restaurant, anything I walk past. Even fine dining restaurants they greet you as you just walk past. This I found to actually annoy me.

Once in some of these restaurants, it is not uncommon for the server to 'hover' waiting for you to order, which makes me feel forced.

Buffets have time limits. What gives!? I've been to many buffets in America, including very trendy upscale buffets in Las Vegas and yet, never faced a time limit. this makes me feel a little rushed.

In Thailand you'll be asked to enter the restaurant or purchase goods from hawkers of every possible item and in every possible location - from restaurants, shops, street hawkers, and even outside top quality stores in shopping malls. We can either just ignore them, say no thankyou, or stop to check the menu or goods.

The servers hover awaiting your drinks order which they will get for you and allow you time to peruse the menu, or to be told to come back in 5 minutes. Typically, most Thai shops and restaurants are overstaffed compared to western equivalents, so it's not uncommon to have them over attend you in some situations.

Have you noticed that when you check bin, they bring back the folder of change and will wait. It's so you can verify that your change is correct, although some will say that they're waiting for their tip. If there is a dispute over the change and they didn't wait for you to check it in front of them, problems will invariably arise.

Um....How is the fork and spoon in Thailand any different to the knife and fork in Western countries. It's normal to be holding two utensils while eating a typical meal.

Although I do note that many Americans seem to like to cut up their food into small pieces and then discard their knife. Maybe that's where your comparison is coming from.

Americans use a fork and knife only when cutting. For example, when eating a steak. If we are eating pasta we're not scooping it into a spoon using a fork and then eating it from a fork.

Nor do we use a fork and chop sticks to gather noodles or rice. The special lady friend was using a fork and spoon last night to eat rice, which I found particularly interesting.

Whereas in most other English and Western cultures, we hold a knife and fork all the time while eating a typical meal and cutting the portion you are about to eat. Have you not seen this happen in your travels?

The Thais think it's funny when they see a westerner eating Thai food with only a fork - especially rice.

It's just cultural differences. Aussies, Brits, and Kiwis would never think of cutting up a steak into small pieces before eating it as the Americans do.

Looks like they are using a grinding machine to knock down all the high spots prior to repaving.

Hopefully they have stabilized the road slab to prevent the new surface from undulating.

Yes I'm sure they'll be doing that, as well as creating appropriate runoff camber to appropriate drains so that 2nd Road will be alleviated of future flooding issues.

Um....How is the fork and spoon in Thailand any different to the knife and fork in Western countries. It's normal to be holding two utensils while eating a typical meal.

Although I do note that many Americans seem to like to cut up their food into small pieces and then discard their knife. Maybe that's where your comparison is coming from.

can anybody advise if they're just resurfacing the road or are they doing new drainage etc?

Give it 6 months and I bet we'll see a gaggle of three breasted ladyboys mincing down Pattaya Beach Road.

I'm starting a factory now to manufacture 3 cup bra's in anticipation of this trend developing.

Investors wanted - please PM me.

"A 12-year-old boy this morning was arrested by police after he was caught peeping on a teen girl in the shower and stealing her underwear."

Why can't he go to an internet shop and watch porn like every other 12 year-old boy?

I thought Yingluck gave those tablets to all the kids so they could view porn in the comfort of their own home?

without electricity and wifi???

Battery charged from car socket, aircard - sorted.

"A 12-year-old boy this morning was arrested by police after he was caught peeping on a teen girl in the shower and stealing her underwear."

Why can't he go to an internet shop and watch porn like every other 12 year-old boy?

I thought Yingluck gave those tablets to all the kids so they could view porn in the comfort of their own home?

My Toyota dealer uses sealed 1/4/5 ltr cans. They give me the empties as proof, plus any left overs..

My Shell garage does the same, watch 'em uncork the can and fill.....

Interesting. Thanks.

I wonder if there was a tendency for shops to charge for a premium oil while actually pouring in some cheap grade? Maybe consumers responded by insisting to see what they pay for?

Giving the empties is standard practice.

Not only that, if you get repairs done that involved replacement parts, they give you the old parts as well.

I had to replace the two half shafts in my diff. I went home with two old half shafts, bags of seals and bearings, and boxes of brake shoes that had been replaced. At my Toyota dealer, they even make you go through the invoice to make sure you have received the old parts that they have charged you for.

I drive and ride assuming that the people in control of every other vehicle on the road woke up that morning with the sole intention of killing me.

On that premise, driving defensively comes naturally.

I wouldn't give them the implied mana that being called "organised criminals" suggests.

They're simply criminals.

Kiwis

We also invented pineapple chunks!

Yeah I'll volunteer for that. Same as the other offer - a free lunch and a beer. Supply your own bike (and don't rent a 600cc, go for the smallest you can get, or nothing more than a 250cc).

I'm in Jomtien - lots of places out here where you can ride without getting nailed by a baht bus. I even know a huge vacant car park used by novice riders/drivers.

Ridden and raced sportsbikes all my life and only hung up my racing leathers a few years ago. Also done some informal race school training at club level.

EDIT: hey I just re-read your post. It sounds like you have NO experience at all, not even a scooter. If that's the case, I suggest you learn how to ride a scooter first and learn all the handling basics of road riding specific to Pattaya on that scooter. Then when you have some road confidence, learn how to use a clutch. Happy to teach you both - PM me if you want.

If you learn how to ride a clutch bike, then try and learn the basics of road riding in Pattaya on that bike from scratch, you won't be long for this world. Riding in Pattaya is unique.

If it's cycling on off all the time and you have all taps/faucets turned off, it implies that you either have a faulty pressure sensor/backflow valve in the pump, or that there is a broken pipe somewhere on the outlet side.

Is water actually being consumed? If not, it implies a faulty sensor/valve in the pump. If water is being consumed from the cycling, you've got a leak/broken pipe somewhere.

EDIT: And checking for a broken ballcock in the storage tank is irrelevant to the actual problem, although you will have to look into the tank to determine if water is entering the tank when the pump is cycling (and all known taps.faucets are closed) to determine if you have a leak on the outlet side of the pump. I suggest you turn off your pump, ensure the storage tank is filled or allow it to fill completely so that the ballcock valve is closed, then restart your pump and see what happens. I'm assuming that you actually have water pressure at the taps - if not it could be as simple as repriming the pump.

The OP is talking nearly three months.

And all the big (and most of the small) condos in Jomtien have an office that manages short or long term rentals on behalf of absentee owners.

Yes the price varies season to season and is more expensive for short term, but to say that the "don't look kindly on short term rentals" is misleading in my opinion.