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I agree with you Metapod. FWIW the exact same 3.6km journey using GrabTaxi is ฿235-. Oh, and a Pattaya Taxi charges at least ฿250- and one has the added inconvenience of having to flag down this mode of transport, from the side of the road.

Yes, Eff1n2ret. The effect in London I read will mean a £10 ride in an Uber cab, will go up to £30 if TfL does get its way!
For me here in Pattaya, a 3.6km ride from home to work costs me just ฿100- using Uber and although I have only used them when it's been raining, ฿100- is what I give the motorcycle taxi driver too.

This is reminiscent of the Luddite movement in Britain during the early 19th century. As ABBA would later sing "the history book on the shelf, is always repeating itself". Very sad. 

17 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Boring, just get married, then you can stay, but marry one that let's you eat your cake too, and when you turn 50, if its not working, change from Marriage to Retirement, as for me, I will just keep eating my cake.

With great respect to you 4MyEgo but writing as a gay man living here and ever thankful to the people of Thailand for welcoming me here for the past 13-years, isn't what you've written somewhat condescending and misogynistic krub?

I do sincerely hope so because as you pointed out earlier, the PRK "has been doing this for decades." And it most certainly is "time to stop the insanity."

1 hour ago, inThailand said:

The chess match continues. Your move!

Hardly a "chess match" inThailand. More like a game of draughts (checkers). 

17 hours ago, giddyup said:

You don't really seem to understand the system. I came here 8 years ago applied for an OA visa (retirement) and have been here ever since, never returned home.

Yep! Same, same for me too giddyup. I came here 13-years ago yesterday and have never returned "home" either. 

3 minutes ago, TMNH said:

And the nationality of this scum bag?

American.

1 minute ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Interesting, but doesn't say if they are single use item or you can roll the cable up again and train with it.

There should be no need for training per se because the device is programmed to lower the person wearing the device gently.

It probably is "single-use" therefore ExpatOilWorker because of the limited 7-year warranty too.

After all, the odds of being involved in a high-rise, life-threatening fire twice in such a short period of time - must be astronomical; don't you think?

2 hours ago, Muggi1968 said:

SkySaver 260' Personal Rescue Device 

 

Thank you Muggi1968 for sharing details of this device. The cheapest price I've seen for this so far by the way - is US$899
260' 1-25 floors/stories 
The leading rescue products in the world SkySaver combines top professionals in the rescue and emergency readiness fields and cooperates with safety organizations from around the world to create and market the most advanced, safe and innovative evacuation devices - to save lives. The company's flagship product - SkySaver - was developed by a team of world-renowned experts. 
A First: Fast and Safe Self Evacuation from Multi-Story Buildings SkySaver was developed in order to evacuate people trapped in multi-story buildings during fires, terror attacks or natural disasters. Years of research developing the most advanced technologies were invested in order to create a quality safety product for you. With SkySaver, if you work or live in a multi-story building - you will be safe and ready for an emergency more than ever. 
How Does it Work? 
SkySaver is a compact kit in the shape of a backpack that can be comfortably carried and easily stored. The bag includes an integrated harness, a cable that is tolerant to high temperatures, and a unique automatic braking mechanism that allows a steady rate of descent. In the event of an emergency, SkySaver enables you to escape from the building in three simple steps: 

• 1. Put the backpack on and adjust the straps.
• 2. Clip the carabiner to the pre-installed anchor point.
• 3. Descend through any opening and the unique braking mechanism automatically lowers you to safety.

SkySaver is always available, without the need for help, training or an outside power source. Within seconds you will be out of danger. 
Specifications: 

• Uses and Features: High Rise Self Rescue
• Number of Users: 1
• Product Weight: 26 lbs.
• Descent Load: 66 lbs. - 300 lbs.
• Descent Speed: 6.5 feet/sec (max)
• Max Descent Height: 260 feet
• Braking System: Friction
• Cable Material: Galvanized Steel
• Size: One Size Fits Most
• Constant Speed
• Anchor Bolt included
• Strong & Versatile Cable
• Limited Warranty 7 year
• Standards: ASTM E2484-08, ASTM F1772-12, 12.1.2, ANSI Z359.4

2 minutes ago, halloween said:

Heading back to Brisbane next month for 6 months taxi work. News like this help https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-uber-driver-charged-with-second-rape-from-2015-20170719-gxegs0.html

It's NOT only Uber drivers that rape their customers halloween.

Case in point: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-12/former-taxi-driver-jailed-for-sexual-assault/7729614

2 minutes ago, AllThaiedUp said:

How does someone use photocopied ID to purchase things online? without help from ...perhaps his thai girlfriend... and getting credit card numbers and a security code...

This is just speculation AllThaiedUp but armed with photocopies of Thai IDs, which have name, address, date of birth and Thai ID number of each individual concerned, he probably accessed vendors on the Dark Web who he could have shared this information with, in order to perform identity theft and obtain 'legitimate' credit cards krub.

3 minutes ago, Nong Khai Man said:

 

No, It's the fact that They are not fit & Proper to hold a Licence,Mostly due to NOT Reporting Sexual Assaults ( Alleged !! ) By SOME Of their drivers in London....

With respect Nong Khai Man that's your opinion; not "a fact". The BBC and Sky News have been all over this like a rash this morning and an Uber spokesman has also complained about the false narrative apparently making the rounds krub.

"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned/Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned" me thinks. 

1 hour ago, Khun Han said:

I get the impression that Uber's biggest problem is not unprofessionalism, it's breaking the taxi mafias' networks/cartels. London's taxi mafia is notorious.

 

Bingo! 

Just now, melvinmelvin said:

Laem Chabang?

 

 

Yes, it's Laem Chabang melvinmelvin; thank you krub. I recall a guest arriving Pattaya by cruise ship about 3-years ago and his 'ride' was docked there. Thank you.

1 minute ago, Pattaya46 said:

This is nothing like "The present". A very old picture.

The Cavern agogo closed maybe 5 years ago already. Same for Teaser. The Lucifer Disko got a far more modern red big sign. The Happy Agogo sign is now in Soi happy. Etc...

A ha! Thanks for writing an update Pattaya46 of what's actually there on Walking Street in 2017 krub. 

1 minute ago, Sydebolle said:

They deserve empty beaches - what idiots are they? 

...and that's exactly what they've been getting Sydebolle on Jomtien Beach krub.

Just now, Thian said:

And of course changing a battery to save your life is far beyond your abilities?

No Thian; not beyond my abilities but more often than not, beyond my financial resources krub. My Thai employer doesn't pay me regularly you see and so many times, all I have is enough money to pay for food and a return motorcycle taxi to get back to work - the following morning.

7 minutes ago, trogers said:

Why do people prefer chutes to fire staircases?

 

I would most DEFINITELY take the stairs where I live trogers. After all, if management cannot replace Lithium 9V/PP3 batteries in my building's smoke detectors, I could never trust them to actually install these fire chutes in the proper manner.

17 minutes ago, nev said:

It is very dangerous living in high rise buildings in Thailand not just because of escaping fires.

...but also because of lazy management. For example, In the apartment block where I currently live, smoke detectors with failing batteries sometimes 'chirp' every 30-seconds; sometimes for over a month! Oh and when I report this fact to the assistant building manager, all he does is give me grief when I remind him of his responsibilities under the provisions of the Thai Building Act, 1992.

The "Present": Pulsating, Exciting Pattaya!

What's Proposed: Passé, Pyongyang-like Pattaya!

I have a definite opinion about which 'Walking Street' I would spend all my hard earned ฿aht. Although having a sterile "IKEA a go-go" type club in Pattaya would have benefits because at least one could buy decent Swedish meatballs at 2 in the morning.

7 hours ago, The manic said:

The actualization of such projects will be the death of Pattaya and have few benefits for Thai people. Golf courses and luxury hotels and the like just destroy communities and turn the locals into low paid wages slaves serving a tourist elite. Pattaya is a large community with people benefiting from a degree of wealth and independence that international vanity projects will rob from them.

A sad but succinct and honest appraisal.

1 minute ago, rebo said:

because the mentioned brown envelopes ...

Well, thank you, Governor. I appreciate your time in answering my question.

It may be the "only solution" Governor but respectfully now; surely you have an opportunity to kill two or three birds with one stone with minimal inconvenience. After all electricity and communications related infrastructure could also be buried. You know you're going to have to do this one day; so why not spend ฿1billion now instead of possibly having to pay many multiples of that - in say 5 or 10 years time?