Benmart

Barely newsworthy IMO.

What's next, "Malaysian Flight Attendant breaks wind." ?

There is a small group of people whose hobby is tracking each aircraft and recording its history, such as maintenance, incidents, etc. I'm not one of them.

The article mentioned "hundreds of tourists flock to Rayong" to watch the little creatures. That accounts for the quiet and lack of activity in Pattaya. .

Thanks for the photos.

Try a big stick!

In another 1,000 years from now, someone will still be asking the same question, and the answer

will be same, not much you can do to motivate Thai staff, they have their own logics, priorities,

timing and reasons to work the way they do and the western educated minds will never decipher

that code...

really?

Greed is not unlike self-centeredness. It is pervasive and tiring to those that observe it.

Funny thread...funnier op

The alternatives are not so much.

your sentiments are fine,but unrealistic.consider yourself lucky they've let you in.Go down to your local bar and sip a chang and enjoy the view!

Unfortunately, that sort of mentality wont solve any issues, neither is the mocking remark prior to your post.

I dont drink, dont play the fields and instead have 2 children in Thailand and have a wonderful wife that I met the first month I was here. That was eight years ago and would like to be able to buy some land and build a house in my name.

I would also like to open up a small business in my name and just build a future for my kids. To this day, my wife still doesnt understand why there is always immigration involved in our lives and neither does a few close Thai friends.

Nothing is for certain and I would like to have land in my name, should something tragic happen to my wife or circumstances change. As a husband, I take care of her and should I meet a tragic end or circumstances change, then she is ok and so are my children.

I am not retired and I have worked those 8 years, slowly building up my families finances and putting my kids into better schools along the way.

I would be very happy to start a small business and have the opportunity to leave it to my children to take over when they are ready. The same goes for a home and everything else we as a family have worked so hard to obtain.

Seems to me the only problem you have is yourself. I I I I and on it went.

Buy property and start a business in your wife and kids names. Problem solved.

You do trust them don't you?

Buying property, starting a business, etc. is a personal choice and I wouldn't dare assume that I know anything about someone I've never met. It's their life and none of my business.

Trust is an interesting topic. It's a concept that is degraded by those that may have made poor choices in the past and suffered as a result. Often their platform is to spread their unfortunate experiences with a broad and generous shovel.

your sentiments are fine,but unrealistic.consider yourself lucky they've let you in.Go down to your local bar and sip a chang and enjoy the view!

Unfortunately, that sort of mentality wont solve any issues, neither is the mocking remark prior to your post.

I dont drink, dont play the fields and instead have 2 children in Thailand and have a wonderful wife that I met the first month I was here. That was eight years ago and would like to be able to buy some land and build a house in my name.

I would also like to open up a small business in my name and just build a future for my kids. To this day, my wife still doesnt understand why there is always immigration involved in our lives and neither does a few close Thai friends.

Nothing is for certain and I would like to have land in my name, should something tragic happen to my wife or circumstances change. As a husband, I take care of her and should I meet a tragic end or circumstances change, then she is ok and so are my children.

I am not retired and I have worked those 8 years, slowly building up my families finances and putting my kids into better schools along the way.

I would be very happy to start a small business and have the opportunity to leave it to my children to take over when they are ready. The same goes for a home and everything else we as a family have worked so hard to obtain.

I belong to an expats club here in Pattaya and have participated in a large meeting at city hall that gave expats an open-mic opportunity to voice concerns, ask questions and receive answers from the Mayor, police and other officials.

Belonging to such a large and diverse group has given me the opportunity to network, share ideas and work on possible solutions to various issues concerning expats.

Those that opt to sit on a bar stool and negatively commiserate the status quo have that right, just as they have the right to make flippant and uncivil remarks on this forum.

The difference is that they are irrelevant and eventually will go away, either in a wooden box or via an airliner.

Geeze ... you guys, well, the OP anyway, are rich.

When I stay more then a day in the Hotel, I leave Bt20 on the pillow-case.

Always works for me.

The cleaner gets it.

IMHO ... Bt 1,000 is way OTT. But this being Thailand, each to their own.

20 baht?? cheap charlie...there really is some dour miserable greedy tight fisted sods go to Thailand... 1000 baht is basically only 20 quid... and if the cleaner is doing a grand job, polite and goes out of her way to make sure you have a pleasant stay , why not tip generously.. hard working people , long hours and get no thanks... make her day...

Well I have my own family to feed and not rich, so why should I tip? The size of their pay pack is not my problem.

I'm also hard working, do long hours, underpaid and get no thanks...It's called a job.

And honestly being a hotel cleaner ain't really all that hard of a job. I see lots of the ladies that clean working away, but also I've seen them all sitting in a room watching some tv show plenty of times. Farming, now there's a tough life, or repetative factory work.

Hotel cleaners often have multiple jobs and work long hours. I don't begrudge them a break to watch TV, chat, eat, sleep, etc. A snapshot of what they do does not often reveal their entire work day.

I am thankful for what I have and share what I can and when I can.

I've found that one's worth as a person is best measured by compassion and the way they treat their fellows.

When I tip, I give it to those that are to receive it, if they are available.

Disregard the condescending remarks about you having "issues" and sending your kids to do some checking.

It is easy for others to judge and comment negatively. Afterall, they weren't there, it wasn't their money, they are doing it annonymously and they don't know you.

One Day At A Time.

Look folks:

I will say this once more and hope it is the last time needed:

None of us knows how the new crack-down will be enforced until it begins in earnest on August 12th.

The most valuable information will be the trip reports of persons leaving/entering the country from now until after that time.

Please desist and refrain from useless opinion,speculation, trolling and arguing unless you have a first-hand trip report to post that is relevant to the heading of this OP.

'NUFF SAID

Let us hope the cotton is removed from ears that don't hear, sunglasses removed from eyes that can't see and fingers laid to rest that can't stop irrational typing.

why tight up the visa rules? it will just make more people overstay their visas..

Keep It Simple.

Back in '75-'80s the local were at owe and bewilderment when they saw a farang among them,

sadly, those days are gone....

There is more to life than than the bottom view of a brown bottle.

It's lovely to see Pattaya living up to it's old stereotypes! BF's indeed.

I don't knock them for their choice or lifestyle. I have acquaintances that budget so much for STs, BFs and drink. They lament how short of cash they are at the end of the month or how they were ripped off. I listen and am thankful it's not me.

If I ever get tired of my present location, I will move on.

Live and Let Live.

Why would you post a photo of a Japanese island and compare it to Pattaya?

I bet if you think about it real hard, you can figure that out all by yourself. I have faith in you, you see.

Next.

That's what's wrong with Thai Visa. I ask a reasonable question and because you don't have an answer you start a flame war.

It's much like sewer gas. One notices the stink and not the fragrance of the blossoming flowers next to the drain hole.

Don't get frustrated. Keep posting my friend.

Yes, many buildings do sell well off-plan but few of the farang buyers (who account for much more than 50% of purchasers in most developments here) seem to have any intention of ever living in the units they buy. Some may intend owning them and renting them out, others may intend "flipping" them on before the big money becomes due.

Both groups are living in a dream world as far as I can see, unless there really is some bottomless pit to draw on full of tenants and wanna-be purchasers of resale off-plan units. But there arent enough tenants around now to fill the existing condos outside of the peak December-February period, and where are the final buyers who intend to own and live in their units? I dont see too many of them.

To my mind this is real Ponzi stuff and quite scary.

You'd be surprised how well condos in good areas rent out. There is no surplus of rentals in my neck of the woods. It has always been the same in real estate - position, position, position. Build something nice in a nice area and you won't have problems renting it out.

My previous landlord on Pratumnak Road has close to 100% occupancy in all his apartments, even now.

People are confusing tourists and long stayers. Long stayers don't care if there aren't any tourists around and prefer it quieter anyway. Tourism numbers are mostly irrelevant to the people looking for long term tenants as most of the owners are not interested in short term tourist rentals.

The other "luxury" property I lived in closer to town was a revolving door of short-term noise makers. Glad to have moved.

Yes I have noticed many price increases for sure. Like a buffet I used to like went went up 25 percent since last month so I looked at it but they had stopped offering the main dish I used to go there for. Good move ... they got nada from me. Raise the price and offer less, good business IF you can get it.

While I understand inflation and the turmoils of a damaged economy, my forays to eat out have declined as has the food selection and levels of service at my favorite venues.

I eat at home most of the time and reminisce about the great places that offered variety, value-for-money and excellent service. They seem to be fewer and harder to find.

I too vote with my feet and move on.

Amazing Thailand

Someone has more money then sence!

I am trying (not really) to work out why it took the BIB and or Immigration 2 years to locate a redheaded Russian in Phuket. No,,do not tell mecorruptionnever!!

In addition, criminals often don't stay at the scene of the crime or advertise where they are. Illegal documents, phony addresses, mail drops, aliases, disguises (beards, hairdye, wigs, glasses) and all the other tricks can drag investigations on and on. Add all this to the other pending cases, the trained manpower available, etc., and it is not hard to understand the bigger picture.

CSI and other TV programs have given the inexperienced a false or distorted view of process and the difficulties catching some types of crooks.

Easy Does It.

Rogue my ass! Quit trying to downplay the flood of criminals they let in.

I'm trying to understand how that enhances or contributes to the discussion, as well as understand who "they" are.

I can bet that this guy is a victim the same as these russian who paid the money.

Maybe he just worked as employer in real estate agency, where bosses took all the money and he got just salary. After they left Thailand, he stayed without knowing what happen. So for all these who wrote these bad comments, think please also in opposite way.

Often the first person arrested in real estate and aimilar schemes is an unsuspecting dupe. The other "brains" have fled the coop and left him/her to answer. Hope the bad are caught and punished.

In any case, kudos for the authorities. I also hope the victims get some or all of their money back.

Why no pointing???

There is a new Sheriff in town.

"Give em' a fair trial and hang em'".

Go get em' PM.

no wonder the Dalai Lama is not welcome in thailand! they dont practise the same religion than him!

The Dalai Lama had 3000 slaves. The temples were often in war against each others. Hacking off a hand or foot was common punishment.

Till now the Dalai Lama sees nothing wrong in this.

But he isn't welcome because China doesn't want him in Thailand.

After all; when you lived in your own country did you spend much time thinking about 'what's best for the country ' ? I doubt it because personal survival always comes first.

Yes, I thought about what was best for my country when serving for over 20 years. I found that doing so enabled me to serve and make a decent living at the same time. Service, in or out of uniform, is an alien concept possibly due in part to the dynamics of capitalism. While I embrace capitalism, it seems to foster the "Me, Me, Me", "Take, Take, Take" mentality.

Volunteering is a great way to break this dynamic and I don't have any idea if the Thai culture follows this. From my perspective, the wearing of saffron seems to satisfy most since the relationship between religion and state are intertwined.

From the number of poor, disabled and maimed that are seen begging on the streets, I think that taking care of one another and service is a secondary concept.

I agree that survival is the main goal of most humans. How that is achieved varies from place to place. From my experience observing and interacting with the local vendors/merchants/drivers, the mantra seems to be "Get as much as you can, From as many as you can, As often as you can, Because you can".

Beg merit later.