chuckd

From Boyz Town to septics to friendly fire. You girls have done yourselves proud in demeaning the US members of this board.

I for one don't appreciate it and suggest this thread be closed rather than let the garbage continue.

does the Butterfly bar count as a golf bar?

No, but it is a requirement that you stop there to be properly indoctrinated into the Pattaya golfing groups.

Andy:

A few suggestions.

1. Upon arrival go to the Pattaya Sports Club on Third Road behind the Pattaya Driving Range and sign up for a membership. The cost will be 700 baht for the first year and you will probably save this much in discounted golf fees within two rounds. Their web site is:

http://www.pattayasports.org

2. After you have joined the PSC, pick up a copy of the Pattaya Mail, turn to the sports section in the back and look at the weekly schedule for golf. That will show most bars that have regular outings and how to get there. For serious golfers, Lewinski's on Soi Pattayaland 1, Kroneburg Cafe on Soi Diana Inn and the Haven on Soi 13 are perhaps the most avid. This is the link for the Pattaya Mail:

http://www.pattayamail.com

3. You will have little trouble getting a game but you will have to do a little work. Go to the respective bars and sign up. Transportation is usually arranged at the bar so that normally is not a problem.

Enjoy your golfing experience in Pattaya. There are some good courses around.

wilko:

We (the expat community) are paying for it with double tier pricing. I would bet most of those baht bus drivers donate to the city coffers the extra 5 baht I am charged in order to help clean up the trash. Do you think this is a possibility?

By the way, your assertion that the expat is responsible for the pollution in Pattaya is patently ridiculous. This thinking is similar to the police thinking that if my car is involved in an accident it must be my fault. If I wasn't here, there would have been no accident...ergo, my fault.

Let's be sensible here. I think it is the fault of the Bush administration since they still allow the US military to participate in Cobra Gold. Get rid of the nasty Yanks and Pattaya will clean itself up.

Anybody agree with my theory?

Unfortunately pollution is not an accident and the same would apply to any car crash you had if we drove with the same lack of forsight as we have with our garbage... P.S.- why do you think Pattaya is here then?

Why do I think Pattaya is here??? Me???

Perhaps an act of God? Go out to the Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm and ask them.

I still think it's the Bush Administration.

....Let's be sensible here. I think it is the fault of the Bush administration since they still allow the US military to participate in Cobra Gold. Get rid of the nasty Yanks and Pattaya will clean itself up.

Anybody agree with my theory?

I think it is the fault of all the golfers. If nobody played golf, all the golf courses could be converted into landfill sites, and downtown Pattaya would be clean and tidy.....

The problem with the theory about golfers is that so many Thais play golf. This could, therefore, lay some blame at the feet of some of the Thai people for their own pollution problems.

I suggest we still blame the Bush Administration. That seems to be the safest approach. After all, isn't the Bush Administration solely responsible for shooting down the Kyoto Protocol as well?

wilko:

We (the expat community) are paying for it with double tier pricing. I would bet most of those baht bus drivers donate to the city coffers the extra 5 baht I am charged in order to help clean up the trash. Do you think this is a possibility?

By the way, your assertion that the expat is responsible for the pollution in Pattaya is patently ridiculous. This thinking is similar to the police thinking that if my car is involved in an accident it must be my fault. If I wasn't here, there would have been no accident...ergo, my fault.

Let's be sensible here. I think it is the fault of the Bush administration since they still allow the US military to participate in Cobra Gold. Get rid of the nasty Yanks and Pattaya will clean itself up.

Anybody agree with my theory?

I used to live in BKK for many years, and never had to worry about water shortage in the summer months....

because we have many "ong - giant clay pot" ... around 20 of them outside the house storing rain water for use during dry spells....for shower, washing, and cooking....for all 4 of us!

Just curious...did you have any mosquito problems?

The UK Embassy closing 40 minutes for lunch seems pretty reasonable to me.

The US Embassy operating hours are....0730 to 1100 and then 1300 to 1400. They are closed from 1100 to 1300 for lunch.

Perhaps one year ago, I took my 12 year old daughter to BPH as she was running fever and I needed an expert opinion.

I checked in and was directed to Pediatrics. Upon arriving in Pediatrics, I noticed perhaps 50 children waiting for a doctor. When I inquired as to the length of waiting time, I was told..."Only 1 doctor now. Maybe long time."

We left, went to my friendly little doctor on Central Road and all was taken care of in 10 minutes.

I probably won't go back to BPH, but I have heard some good reports about the Royal Thai Navy hospital in Sattahip.

Ironically the more the Thai government tries to curb the sex industry, the more rapes will occur. I don’t get it, this guy could not afford to find a lady? You can’t walk 100 meters without getting hit on there.

rape is not about sex it's about power

Yes I agree. I have often thought that the sex going on between customers and sex workers is also a act of POWER, not sex. If you meet the average farang expat living in Pattaya, he is usually divorced with woman issues. He is usually an older guy who has hostility to western woman and woman from his past. I have often thought that the guy doing the sex thing in Pattaya is on a power trip not a sex trip. The act is very similiar to rape, its not about the sex its about the power over woman, gives vent to their anger. So in a sense its kind of like paid/bought rape.

As a long time resident of Pattaya, please allow me to take exception to this statement about power.

Having never raped anybody, I cannot confirm or deny the "power" theory. I will leave this one alone.

However, I have had sex before (Yes, Martha, I ain't no virgin!) and I can positively, absolutely guarantee you that the few times I have had the pleasure, it wasn't about "power". I won't go into my feelings at length other than to say "power" over the willing partner never entered my mind.

I am an average farang expat living in Pattaya so I respectfully state....your theory is full of mud.

You didn't say which hotel you are in but you should be able to get a car and driver to take you to any golf course you want by checking at the desk. Hire him for the day and let him wait for you at the course to return you to your hotel.

Since money is no object, I would suggest the following courses:

Laem Chabang (Nicklaus design)

Khao Keow (Pete Dye design)

St. Andrews 2000 (Desmond Muirhead design)

Eastern Star Resort (Robert Trent Jones design)

Century Golf Rayong (Desmond Muirhead/Nick Faldo design)

Great Lake Golf and Country Club (Nick Faldo design)

Try this link for a little more info on the golf courses and have a good time.

http://www.pattayainfo.com/golfcourses.html

If you really want a challenge, go to Soi Dao for a couple of days. I suggest you take a companion with you to massage away those sore muscles and ill temper after playing this one.

Sunset Village is a resort located about 20 kilometers out of Pattaya towards Sattahip. It is a lovely resort with a private beach, swimming pool on the beach, restaurant serving decent food and very, very quiet.

On the weekends it can be a little crowded as lots of Thai families come down then but during the week it is somewhat deserted. They have some lovely free-standing cottages right on the beach. The honeymoon cottage looks particularly interesting but I have never stayed in it.

It may be too close to Pattaya for your desires but I highly recommend it. Stayed there a couple of years ago and went for dinner a couple of months ago. Still a pretty nice place.

The upside is you are close enough to Pattaya to run into town if you wish.

PS: I believe the bounder in an earlier post mentioned it. It is called Sunset Village however. The website is:

http://www.sunsetvillage.co.th

How many of you defending those idiots actually live in Pattaya? Try taking your bike and try parking in any of the zones they've decided are their turf.

There are nothing polite in the way they ask you to get the <deleted> of their turf.

I have lived in Pattaya for years. I agree with this statement as I have also accidentally ventured onto their own little playground. I was always in my jeep though so there was little they could do. I drove off nonetheless.

These guys are nothing but a bunch of thugs.

Edit in: Opothai, I suggest strongly that you give in. You WILL be outnumbered and severly thrashed if you decide to get physical. Discretion is still the better part of valor.

Did any of you in Pattaya look for the bus driver Khun Somkuan ? ...

Shouldn't you give the man some bath's for his good work ?

Or are you all Scottish or Dutch ? ... And you don't like to spend some money ?

Give the man a party ! There must be bar-owners on this forum . Bunch à @%$#*

As for the dumb American ... That seems to be the regular stupid *sshole.

Thinking that some bar-girls was hìs girl .

I feel sorry for him, but he was acting like a stupid sex-tourist.

And when you get careless, they will get you, anywhere on this planet ! Also in Amsterdam ...

Hahaha ... If I'd been there , I'd cut his throat with his own knife. This man was propably 120kg.and had no martial arts experience .

DNFTT

(Do Not Feed the Troll)

Not foreigners warned, but Americans :-)

This is a Warden's Notice from the US Embassy to US citizens in BKK.

Perhaps that is why it addresses concern for US citizens???

What is your embassy saying?

There are a couple of schools in the local area that might work.

Try......Pattaya International School. It is located on Sukhumvit near the Naklua exit but on the opposite side of Sukhumvit and towards Central Road. Does that make any sense?

Another one you can try is B. E. S. T. (Burapha English School of Thailand). This one is located off of Sukhumvit as well. If you are heading towards Lotus, take the first left turn after you pass South Pattaya Road. Perhaps 150 meters towards Lotus. It is at the end of the very narrow Soi.

Good luck.

I have been out several times to watch the younger guys play. At 68, I am a little old to run the bases but I have no problem in the field.

Methinks poppa has never been...just wants to criticize something he knows nothing about.

It is a Pattaya Sports Club recognized and sponsored activity and has been going on for at least the last 20+ years. The first time I played was on a Sunday afternoon in 1983.

Look it up on the following link:

http://www.pattayasports.org

Click on the softball link in the header and read away. See how easy that is, poppa?

The Pattaya Mail web site also has the restaurants/bars that have daily outings listed in their sports section.

Find one of the restaurants/bars and show up with your clubs. You can get a ride to and from the course.

If you wish to go to the Pattaya Sports Club, it is on Third Road behind Pattaya Driving Range. The 6 year card cost me 2,000 baht a couple of months ago, but the one year is 700. Be sure and bring a couple of small photos. I am on my third 6 year card and it is a bargain.

A couple of good links are:

http://www.pattayamail.com

http://www.pattayasports.org

Enjoy your golfing.

For the golfers out there....I wonder if she used an overlapping or interlocking grip?

I have it from a reliable source (No, I won't tell you who it is) that a total of NINE (9) Americans died the past year in Pattaya. Eight from natural causes and one from a motorcycle accident.

I would believe a total of 150 might have died in Thailand for the year but certainly not in Pattaya.

This is just more outstanding reporting from the local rag.

There is no commercial connection. I know them both. TPE is a member here just like you and me.

And I have no dog in this fight either.

Here's my take on transportation in Pattaya.  I previously owned an Audi with extremely thin skin.  I have since sold it and traded down (so to speak) to a Suzuki Caribean with 2 inch steel pipe surrounding it and front and rear bumpers made of solid iron.  I then smoked my windows so nobody could see my eyes and where I was looking.  I have since found out the motorcyclists take a much different approach to cutting me off or trying to force me into a ditch.

Now, they just bounce off of my car and I drive away, laughing hysterically.

I would drive an M1A2 Abrams if I could get my hands on one.

PS:  Do not take your wife to the Butterfly.  It is a place best visited alone or with male friends. 

Edit in:  I just noticed that I didn't answer your question about parking.  You will find that motorcycles take up all available motorcycle designated parking areas.  You will find that motorcycles take up all automobile designated parking areas.  Those parking spaces not occupied by motorcycles will be taken up with plastic chairs, mop buckets, flower pots or other such items in order to save the parking place for the store/bar/tailor shop owner who happens to have a street front shop.

When going downtown you can often park in Royal Garden Plaza, Mike's Shopping Mall and several small lots that nobody but me and 7 other people know about.  I do not intend to publicize their locations.

Safety?  Lock it and leave it.  Get theft insurance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, Chuck, I KNOW I'm gonna LOVE those motorcycle punks! I suppose it is illegal to knock them into a building, right?

By the way, Cobber didn't suggest taking my wife to the Butterfly Bar. He suggested Kuhn John's was a good place to take her for a meal. I think the name alone would be enough to tell me that the Butterfly is NOT a place to enter with a woman!

George

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

George:

Unfortunately, knocking a motorcycle into a building is frowned upon by the authorities. It may be the only traffic law they enforce.

I, too, have a house off of Nern Plub Wan and there is a very good restaurant out there. Excellent Thai and Farang food. Probably the best in Pattaya, in my humble opinion. I am currently in the Middle East but will return in mid-December on a business trip. If you are there then, PM me and I will give you directions to the restaurant.

As far as trust is concerned. Some of the comments make me think many of you have never graced the shores of Thailand. A wise man once said...trust, but verify. wink.gif

This may be true if you meet your GF on the Pattaya shores and she is over 30 and good-looking and says she has never been married, especially if she comes from Isaan.

Pattaya gets the worst of the bunch, but there are, of course a few exceptions.

I have used the services of TPE on a personal family problem not related to my wife and found him honest, forthright and very efficient in getting the job done. He used reliable Thai individuals with the proper backgrounds to do the job. They blended in well with the community and did not stand out, as another poster seemed to think they would. I have been very satisfied with the work done and will continue to use TPE should the need arise again.

Remarkably similar writing style to TPE!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Neeranam:

I use English, TPE uses English.

I have $10,000 laying around that says I am not TPE. You want to call that bet?

Put up or shut up.

Hey guys!

My house, which I'll move into in April, is located near the east end of Nern Plubwarn. What's the entertainment situation way out there?

I'm also wondering about the availability and safety of parking in Pattaya city. I will likely be buying a new pickup. I note that many, if not most of you, mention riding motorbikes. I've never ridden or owned one, and would feel much more comfortable in a 4-wheeled vehicle.

Do those with motorbikes do so for safety reasons, or just to get through the traffic faster?

George

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here's my take on transportation in Pattaya. I previously owned an Audi with extremely thin skin. I have since sold it and traded down (so to speak) to a Suzuki Caribean with 2 inch steel pipe surrounding it and front and rear bumpers made of solid iron. I then smoked my windows so nobody could see my eyes and where I was looking. I have since found out the motorcyclists take a much different approach to cutting me off or trying to force me into a ditch.

Now, they just bounce off of my car and I drive away, laughing hysterically.

I would drive an M1A2 Abrams if I could get my hands on one.

PS: Do not take your wife to the Butterfly. It is a place best visited alone or with male friends.

Edit in: I just noticed that I didn't answer your question about parking. You will find that motorcycles take up all available motorcycle designated parking areas. You will find that motorcycles take up all automobile designated parking areas. Those parking spaces not occupied by motorcycles will be taken up with plastic chairs, mop buckets, flower pots or other such items in order to save the parking place for the store/bar/tailor shop owner who happens to have a street front shop.

When going downtown you can often park in Royal Garden Plaza, Mike's Shopping Mall and several small lots that nobody but me and 7 other people know about. I do not intend to publicize their locations.

Safety? Lock it and leave it. Get theft insurance.

Wonder where our city fathers are planning to get the potable water for it.

Truck it in?