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17 hours ago, Screaming said:

I would have to agree, Pattaya is one big toilet. Why build a new one when you already have one.

I didn't know Pattaya had been officially downgraded from a cesspit to a toilet.  I would have expected an intermediate ranking of at least an open sewer before such a serious demotion to that of a mere toilet.

For clarity, I reside in the cesspit and love it for both what it is, and what it isn't.

And back on topic - the lack of public toilets can be great entertainment.  Nothing funnier than sitting in a Beach Road bar and watching an ageing philanthropist mincing his way from the beach to the bar wearing his bathers, dangerously dodging scooters and song-taeows with that "I'm on a mission" look on his face.

He yells out "elephant" to the staff as he heads towards the pristine facilities of the establishment, emerging 20 minutes later to his (by then) warm beer and muttering about no loo paper.  A discussion promptly ensues regarding the benefits and pitfalls of bum guns, imodium, charcoal, and antibiotics.

4 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

I hope very soon. Those poor poor ladyboy gangs, scam artists and jet ski mafia operators have been in such dire straits trying to find people to rob, beat up and rip off. How will those beach chair/umbrella hawkers realize the 1,000% profit they were promised by the "Public Beach" mafia that "rented" them state owned property? It truly breaks my heart to think about the entire line of knock-off, fake Rolex watch makers, shippers and peddlers being starved out of existence.

I do so long for the days of yore when tuk-tuk drivers entertained prospective passengers with random machete fights and gang beat downs of the occasional drunk tourist that refused them an extra 10 baht.

And OMG!, What's that smell? Is that Air?!? Where's the motor fume filled airways we have all come to love and adore that goes so hand-in-hand with the pristine beach and never ending road construction?

Aw, but I'm just preaching to the choir, aren't I? 

You know something?  I'd forgotten just how much I miss about the pre-covid world until you reminded me how wonderful Pattaya can be. 

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

....and there's me thinking it must come before shelter ....555

If we could get in the TARDIS and head back 40,000 years and ask the first Neanderthal we met if he had to choose between a cave or a woman, what would he choose - It'd be at best a toss-up as to what the answer might be, especially if it wasn't snowing at the time.

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

Surprised Maslow's hierarchical needs didn't include Nana at some level.

Actually I think it does.  Self Actualization - achieving one's full potential and creativity.  

4 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Just the consequences of a free market economy where supply is structured to meet demand I guess.

 

If the supply or the demand is missing nothing is going to happen.

In general agreement, but my book of Keynesian Economics clearly suggests that since the dawn of time there are only two commodities for which there is always more demand than supply even in a free market, and one of them is food. 

They'll be back but not in the same numbers as previously.  The "genuine" ones - with a genuine owner who ran the place as a bar to make a few baht after paying off the coppers will have mostly folded and they won't return in volumes unless some totally new owner is prepared to invest some funds.

However, the ones that were clearly a front for laundering money will definitely be back.  Seeing some gogo's with 180 staff and 5 customers per night will be the order of the day for a while. 

As long as they can open the door and turn on the lights they have a vehicle for inflating actual revenue, procuring genuine tax invoices for salaries and utilities, plus "creative" invoices for inputs from other suppliers. They then wash the money through the bank, pay their legitimate taxes, and hey presto, 10M of dirty money is turned into 5M of clean money.

I can empathize with them.  I always cross myself and say a Hail-Mary every time I press "submit" on my annual tax return.

And I'm a Jehovah's Witness.  ????

The best place is in Jomtien.  It's called Jack 'n Daves.  On the 3rd floor of a building next door to Frazers restaurant on Thappraya Road.

They're a couple of Indian dudes and they know their stuff. I've had several suits made by them and they are superb.  They aren't cheap but if you want something that is well made and looks sharp, these are the guys.  

I had an Aussie mate with a similar problem with Commonwealth and he was unable to resolve it.  He ended up changing the phone number registered with the bank to his son's Aussie number and liaised with him when he did the transfer to sms him the the code to authorise the transaction on the app within the time limit.

From what he told me it was a bit of a nightmare to get the phone number changed.  Ironically they wanted him to authorise the change with a code that he could not receive - a bit of a circular problem.  But eventually he got a sympathetic ear at the bank and they did some kind of "one off" change.

Anyway, the son got the code and sms'd him - all went well.

I'd ask him for clarification but unfortunately he passed away a few months ago.

For a 2009 model I think most large roadside MC shops will have an aftermarket part.  Certainly here in Patts I replaced panels after a lowside.

Try polishing the plastic screen with a cutting compound - it may just be faded or worn - I used to carry a water bottle there and the mini vibrations made the plastic go opaque.

Or it may be water getting behind the outer plastic and fogging the gauge itself.  If so, a large MC roadside shop could probably sort you out. 

If you're in Patts I suggest the shop on Pattaya Klang, about 30M up from 3rd Road heading away from the beach - a favorite place of the Thais and their parts assortment puts the Honda and Yamaha dealers to shame.

Actually, the real question that should probably be asked is what is YOUR GF doing while you aren't here.  I've been propositioned by the GF's and wives of several acquaintances over the last year. 

Their gripe is that their man has been somewhat less forthcoming with the cash since they can't see them in the flesh, and they are less believing of their need for additional cash to support the family who are more desperate then usual.

I haven't obliged, but the darker side of me is thinking that if I do oblige, I'd be helping out both the girl and the boyfriend marooned in Farangland.  ????

2 minutes ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

 

You are actually asking strangers intimate details about their sex life.....?

 

Seriously?

I thought voyeurism had died a natural death thanks to the internet age.

7 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

 

I did an online 90 day report yesterday, my confirmation of approval was instantaneous.

You were probably lucky enough to find that 38 milliseconds that it actually worked. I'll keep trying as often it just "works" even though it didn't work 5 minutes previously. 

I suspect Thai websites have been constructed from legacy software that was once used in the early days of online gambling.  So if you try often enough, you'll eventually get the poker machine to fall in your favor.

I'll put them at the top of my list for future investments. 2nd on the list is an unbelievable opportunity to buy the Brooklyn Bridge and have it relocated to Khon Kaen.

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Correct, as to the 90 day online is working I've tried again now, due date 30th Oct... not working for me beyond 1st page info... it requests a visit in person yet again.

Last time it worked for me was Feb 2020... exactly the same info each time, very frustrating.

 

Ditto.  Due the 30th and online not working. Tried every trick re cache, Explorer, Edge, Chrome, Firefox, laptop, phone, dropdowns, include/exclude flight number. 

It's forked. You'd think I'd be used to that SNAFU feeling by now.