johnnycthedog

They might enjoy wandering around MBK, Siam Centre & Siam Paragon. They may also want to be titillated with a walk through Patpong and a visit to at least one gogo bar - just to say they've seen it.

Although hard to get to by foot the Royal Barges Museum on the western side of the Chao Phraya River is worth a visit. If they are not "templed out" then a visit the Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple) and Golden Mount are worthwhile. Lumpini Park and a serious Thai boxing night out are other suggestions.

China Town is great in the mornings and the tourist trail along the Grand Palace and Wat Po has great food stalls along the side of the river before catching the cross river ferry to Wat Arun.

I think you might find that the heat gets to them a bit and they may enjoy just sitting down in a fan or air conditioned food hall or restaurant and watching the world go by for an hour or two - possibly every day.

Gee what are the odds..... :-) Perhaps if the police checked immigration records and looked to see if anyone has entered with the last name of Carmen........ :-) He sounds like a bit of a bad boy, Thailand could certainly do with less people like that. Guess the computers at immigration are not really hooked to anything, as it seems entering Thailand with a long record of crime is a piece of cake..

Carmen was the name of the lady he murdered in the canary islands RODNEY!

I like the irony of this = poster is "EyesWideOpen" then goes and quotes the surname of the deceased female "Carman" as being the deceased male from Sweden.

But I agree with the fact that Thailand needs less of the criminal types. So all in all no great loss, except to his relatives.

Not so sure about diesel fuel on the surface preventing the eggs to float but I use kero or diesel occasionally and when the rainwater tank overflows, its gone.

Far safer than the Estrogen mimmiking pesticides, for still water application that is.

Have you watched lavae try to surface for air when theres diesel or kero micro film just been added to the surface?

They stop wriggling and die.

Latest ABC News. A far north Queensland trial aimed at tackling the spread of dengue fever will be extended next month.

Researchers have been working in Cairns, releasing mosquitoes infected with the wolbachia bacteria, which blocks dengue transmission.

That's right. I saw the ABC program last week. Dengue fever is rapidly on the increase in the tropical parts of northern Australia. The mosquitoes infected with the bacteria eventually will overtake the population of mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus. If it works successfully you'd imagine that the project will be "exported" to countries such as Thailand. However that will be a few years away from being implemented - perhaps 5 to 10 years.

225 Karaoke bars, damn, now I know where I'm going for my next vacation!

And this statement says it , This is the reason these girls are being abused. The problems is sex tourist not the girls,

Damn I just recently drove through that area . Thought all there was to see was the main Wat in town.

I'd suggest that sex tourists aren't an issue in Chachoengsao. I don't really know - but I'd suggest that all these Karaoke bars are for Thai men only and if a foreigner walked in and wanted a piece of the action he'd be shown the door real quick.

Whilst we think of all the bars for foreigners in Pattaya, Phuket, Bangkok, Chang Mai etc they are far less in number then all the Karaoke bars for Thai men in every town around Thailand and foreigners are not welcome.

How do you know we're not welcome? Thais love farangs and their money! Also, let's not forget that if the girls hanging around outside see you walking or driving a motorcycle past their premises (they can't spot you if you're sitting in a car), the girls will invite you in! I know this because the girls in the two areas with karaoke bars in Lad Krabang/Nong Chok that I pass on my way home spotted me once when I was riding my motorcycle and they wanted me to come in! However, as I'm not into that scene I would never think about entering as HIV/AIDS must be a serious problem in these kinds of places so I did what every sensible person would do and drove right past without making even so much as eye contact.

Not to mention the fact that the demographics of karoake bar patrons in Thailand are red-shirt middle aged Thai men working blue collar jobs in their 50s. At around half their age and being white collar, educated and not giving a crap about Thai politics but if I were to choose I'd be more of a yellow shirt guy, clearly that's not my crowd.

This is an old topic now but your reply to my comments is a recent post. I'd like you to try to go to a few Thai karaoke bars, stay a few hours, take a girl and let me know the results. For a start Thai men don't want us foreigners messing up the price structure. They pay considerably less for P4P girls then farangs do. Thai men like their whisky and can become very aggressive towards anybody they don't like or want in their bars. There are pool bars in Pattaya and Phuket I would not step into because I know and sense these are for Thai men and their girlfriends only, especially late at night, and there's plenty of venues for the farang anyway. I'd suggest that in the provinces the karaoke bars would be the same - foreigners not welcome. You might get away with having a drink but that's about it.

And at the other end of the scale there's "gentlemen's clubs" for the wealthy Japanese and Chinese visitors that we, as average farang, are not welcome in either. Would you pay 10,000 baht, or more, a night for a delicious young Thai beauty? Plenty of wealthy Japanese and Chinese businessmen will.

But I will admit that I haven't actually been into a provincial Thai karaoke bar to drink and take a woman. My comments are based on talking to a number of expats living in Thailand, Thais working girls and general experiences over many trips to Thailand. We as foreigners can get into enough trouble there without going out and looking for it.

Swedes like beaches and they used to flock to places like Phuket. But as my ex wife (Swedish) said to me, if she wanted to be surrounded by Russians she would have gone to Russia for her holiday.

This is one of the most accurate statements.

Turkey was a popular holiday destination for Europeans, until the Russians arrived

Egypt was a popular holiday destination, until the Russians arrived

Thailand was a popular holiday destination, until...........................

Bingo.

Russians have driven several of my friends out of Phuket and Pattaya. I personally will not live around a lot of Russians and if they come to where I am now, I will leave.

Not to turn this into a Russian slam session, but very few people like them. Even the Thais strongly dislike them.

Interesting comments. I was in Ko Chang recently and the German hotel owner and Thai manager where we were staying spoke very disparagingly of the Russians. Didn't want them as guests, didn't want them on the island.

I agree Pattaya would be a ghost town if not for the Russian tourists. Got to say though there were a lot of spunky young Russian girls around when I was there last month and they all seemed to be having a good time at the Russian run nightclubs in Walking Street & elsewhere.

Come on you expat residents of Pattaya. Does anybody know something about this? Time in Pattaya running out.

For you Pattaya expat locals - a question. What happened to the Uma Devi Art & Gallery shop? It used to be downstairs in Central Festival. I went there today and was told the shop had closed. Everything was set up differently to what I remember 3 years ago. I think in it's place is the Asian Bazaar. The shop directory still had the shop listed and as usual I got the typical Thai advice (any answer just get rid of him).

The internet search gave me a name, address and phone number but no joy there. The internet site they had for overseas sales is gone.

So has the shop moved? Please let me know as soon as possible because I'm moving on from Pattaya very soon.

[ Last time I saw so much I loved but didn't have the dollars to buy]

Wow this topic set the posters alight with enthusiasm.

Actually since I posted the topic a few days ago I've delved further into the previous posts and although they are 3 or 4 years old I identified some websites listed and they are good value. Added to this the assistance of the Lonely Planet I'll be OK for things to do, even if it involves a lot of eating.

So in the absence of any immediate posts this topic can probably be closed.

Hi to those posters living east of Pattaya. Heading to Chantaburi for a week or more soon. Wife's home town. Been there before for a flying visit but many years ago. I did go up the mountains for a swim in the fish ponds but did nothing else of note.

I'm looking for suggestions for interesting places to go & things to see / do + hotels recommended by posters. I will have a car so driving around isn't a problem (and I won't be burdened by family commitments).

I have read half of the forum postings to date and got some ideas for hotels and beaches along the way (Rayong etc). But now some of the earlier posts are probably out of date.

I'm not looking to break any speed records for touristing and will just be idling along through Rayong etc.

Read a lot of posts on Ko Chang and doesn't sound my cup of tea (after spending a lot of time x visits to Phuket) - the beauty of Phiket has killed it -

So a few of your suggestions would be most welcome.

Hey It's the 1st of April everybody!

Are you really as rude and arrogant in person as your postings would imply?

Far, far worse.

No he's just a very naughty boy. Actually I think he's the number one shit stirrer on TV and I always laugh at his responses. Would be a good guy to have a beer with.

For most of us middle class types we've never had to think about how to spend loads of money. So it wouldn't be a walk in the park to change a lifetime of living in a certain manner.

To live without debt would be nice. To plan a holiday and not look at the cheapest fare & cheaper range of accomodation would be nice. To travel overseas to places just for the hell of it because it looked nice on TV would be nice. To travel to countries in their best season, and to get away from your own country when it's too hot, too humid or too wet would be nice.

Personally I'd set myself up with deposits to generate a regular income. Take care of all family member needs well into the future. Set up educational scholarships for those students who genuinely work hard but are held back by poverty and their surroundings.

Good food and wine (without being worried about the price), cook less & eat out more, a full time housekeeper, some debauchery, and whatever travel takes my fancy sounds like a good way of spending some of the money.

But I'd still never buy property in Thailand.

Nikkoid66 quoted "Lemon cake, you seems to know everything about Pattaya. Are you Russian?

You haven't seen that all the south part of Walking Street is Russian operated?

And you never heard in the news that taxi blocked Phuket totally to protest against Russian competitions?

That close to Phuket, a village and all its population went in the streets to protests against Russian businesses?

Are you speaking with Thais about this problem?

Russians are taking business from the Thais... just wait an see. If the authorities do not act, Thai will solve the problems with guns...

All the Thais I know positively hate Russians for the following reason:

- do not respect Thai culture and language

- talk in a rude way which is a sign of lack of respect and infuriates Asians in general

- do not speak English and do not care to learn Thai.

- open businesses in sectors traditionally reserved to Thais like: souvenir, massages, transportation and touring"

===============================================

Nikkoid66 - couldn't agree with you more. Dozens of big burly Russian girls working as hookers in Pattaya. Venues in Walking Street purely for Russians with Russian writing on the wall - One is the restaurant/bar opposite "Rolling Stone Bar 2" end of Walking Street + GoGo Bars. I suspect a number of hotels down that end are operated purely for Russian tourists as well.

What I've also noticed is the increased Arab influence in both Pattaya and Phuket - tourists and restaurants/bars.

Pattaya is a disgusting toilet. I honestly have no idea why anyone besides a creepy sex tourist would want to visit there.

What an incredibly narrow minded and ignorant statement. There are many other things to do in the Pattaya area rather than visiting bars and hookers and there are many Expats that are happily married, with families who like living in the area. I know because I am one of them.

I am not allowed to post a link, but try Googling 50 things to do in Pattaya you might just be surprised.

Most short term male tourists go to Phuket or Pattaya for the sex scene. Phuket has better beaches by far, especially over the dry summer period. But everything seems to be cheaper in Pattaya. Sex for the night, hotel room rates, food, tuk tuk travel, beer, music scene, clothing and IT products just to name some things. Go back two kilometres from the Pattaya beachfront and it's sssoooo cheap.

In my opinion the beauty of Phuket has killed it as an enjoyable relaxed tourist destination whereas Pattaya never had that "idealic destination" tag to lose - not unless you go back to the 60's & 70's.

I know Pattaya is seedy but I enjoy it more for many things it offers at a cheaper rate compared to Phuket.

However Phuket does have the advantage of tourists being able to island hop to a range of different destinations.

ive been sitting/standing/drunk on my 20th floor balcony for 4 months now and not even the tiniest of slips or attempts to dive off it. could i have a great sense of balance or is it because ive only had 1 woman out there with me and that 1 doesnt seem to be a psycho?

I keep the door shut & never venture out there. Even looking out the window at any height makes me giddy. I think you're spot on when you refer to the company you keep on your balcony. No nut cases equals safer living.

Someone should tell the government. This is what is really bad for Thailand's image. This kind of thing is what foreigners care more about. A lack of safety.

All true.

But the unsaid truth is that they are safer here in Thailand than where they come from in many cases. Here it is front page news where they come from it is relegated to the back pages it is so common.

I supose we should be glad it is so uncommon here it gives a chance to take cheap swings at Thailand.

I cannot dazzle you with statistics but having been a regular reader of events reported in TV and some other Thai papers over the last few years I'd say there has been hundreds of rapes of foreign women throughout Thailand. Furthermore many of the raped girls have been murdered afterwards.

To Kaleho

Stop all money. Stop all contact. Change your phone number if necessary. This relationship is already toxic just by her actions. The hurt will mend itself in time.

If you choose to continue this relationship it will be an emotional and financial death by a thousand cuts. Alternatively just gas yourself now to save time.

Every poster has advised you to move on, man up, and get away from this trollop - this is all good advice from experienced ex pats /falang who are married to Thais, were married to Thais or have sufficient exposure to the thai GF scenario to know whats what.

SO TAKE THEIR ADVICE. NOW. IMMEDIATELY. WITHOUT FURTHER ANGST OR DELAY.

Men who commit suicide because of girlfriend problems should remember there are plenty more fish in the sea. Do not kill yourself. Quickly, get yourself a new girlfriend.

On several occasions in my younger days (before age 60), when I had a failed relationship, my recovery strategy was to promptly find a younger, nicer, cuter lady in order to "get even" and to salve my temporary sense of loss. This is not difficult to do most anywhere in Asia.

I must say it worked well for me.

Yes it would work for most of us. And it works wonderfully well when you are calm and sensible. But this guy let his immediate emotions get the better of him.

Had he thought about it for 24 hours he would not have jumped to his death. Had he rung a mate to spill his guts with he would not have jumped to his death.

I bet there's a lot of impulse bashings, knifings and murders that would not occur if the people had 24 hours to calm down and think about things. But they happen because many people are unable to control their immediate emotions.

We don't know what was in his head. We don't know how much money he lost to her. We don't know what his Thai GF was doing. What he did was stupid to only himself and his loved ones. The Thai GF probably couldn't give a flying f88k about what happened.

This story will be repeated again and again in Thailand - only the names of the players change.

The way the Thai government in Bangkok along with most of its citizens around the country and the super powers worldwide are ignoring this prolonged and continuing conflict is amazing to me. What will it take for the world police (USA, UK and France) to get involved help protect the people of the Deep South here in Thailand? Maybe after another insurgence strike with a higher profile target like some tourist places in Phuket or Pattaya will make the outside world help and take notice of this terrible conflict and loss of lives here in Thailand?

I hope not.

I've posted a few times on this subject that it's only a matter of time before they target Phuket. Cut the tourist trade like they did in Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya. Thailand would stand to lose a lot of money. Big money.

That's more effective than the "tit for tat" killings down south.

Again I hope I'm wrong - but if they can reach Bangkok then Phuket would be a breeze.

Can't even begin to imagine the pain of his family, and so many other families that are faced with similar tragedy. So many of these deaths are unnecessary.

Yes death is bad but it's final and the family grieves at the unnecessary loss of a loved one.

But I feel really sorry for the British guy that lost a leg in the accident or any other person that is maimed in this way whether it be an arm lost, a leg lost, paralysed, brain injury etc.

I agree with Johnny above that this case has all the markings of a setup...

But I disagree with his comments about Thai IDs... As I and others posted on above, the recent version of Thai government issued national IDs -- a version that anyone range 13 to 19 years would have -- has both the Thai year and Western calendar year of birth clearly listed. And the Western calendar year is done in the normal format, as in, 2000 if the girl is 13, or 1994 if she were 19. So it wouldn't be difficult for anyone actually looking at the ID to know where they stood, assuming she wasn't using a fake ID.

Yes I edited my post after reading about the new ID's issued from 2007. Sometimes 15 pages of posts are a lot to read.

The funny thing is I've never looked closely at my Thai stepson's ID issued in 2010 when he was 20. And yes there was the western style date of birth on it. Good that we learn something new everyday.

BTW, thoughout this thread, I haven't seen any explanation or justification for the following part of the OP, which kind of puts the police's role in this matter in question.

Officers from the Police Region 2 Child and Women Protection Unit were monitoring the 13 year old girl around 4am on Tuesday Morning...

If they thought they had an underage girl streetwalking at 4 am in the morning, what exactly would there be to monitor? She was in violation of curfew, assuming she was a juvenile. And if the police weren't sure, all they had to do was approach her and check her ID...

Unless, of course, the police in this case were doing a different kind of monitoring...not aimed at protecting the girl, but rather, aimed at entrapping an unsuspecting farang who thought he was engaging a 19-year-old. So they could make a big publicity case out of a small thing (in the context of Pattaya), all the while ignoring and condoning the vastly larger array of truly illegal and harmful things afoot there.

A book called "Thai Private Detective" (or something like that) was written by a NZ guy fluent in Thai who worked as a PD in Thailand for many years. One of the chapters concerns an underage Thai girl selling sex to foreigners in Bangkok. She was supplied with a mobile phone by the Thai police and would contact them when she snared a foreigner and was about to engage in sex. The police would bust the foreigner who upon the payment of a huge fine would be released after being held in jail. The girl, of course, would earn a commission on the scam.

Not saying this is the situation here but it looks as though the police were waiting for the crime to be committed before acting to "protect the young girl".

Now, I am not condoning what he has done, if he knew that she was actually under age. But, the article actually states, "He revealed that he had paid the girl 700 Baht for her to company him to the room but he was told by her that she was 19 years old and Mr. Rosenthal was allegedly unaware of her real age."

So, admitting that he paid the girl to accompany him to the room, puts him trouble anyway. Is he a pedophile? Not sure, as he did ask her her age, problem is he did not ask for proof as in her I.D.

Nice thought. But how many tourists know how to interpret the Thai year of birth on the ID card. It's not the same as western ID. I'd guess it would be less than 1%. So asking to see the ID would not enlighten them at all.

As with some other posters I smell a set up.

--- Ah just read jbrain's post re new ID card. So I stand corrected. I guess it means that the ID cards I've seen have all been held by adult females because I didn't know about the new ID cards.----