ProfessorFart

I dispute the argument that Pattaya is becoming a city. That's a nonsense. It's nothing of the sort. It's a large resort town at best. The economy is 100% based around tourism. It's a large tourist town.

Pattaya simply doesn't have the foundations required for a city in the sense that the misguided APMann seems to see in his wild imagination. There are no established Thai universities here, not even any colleges. There is little indigenous population - most of the population are economic migrants. Tourism asides, there is not even any infrastructure here to support other industries. I could go on and on as to why Pattaya would die if they closed the bars. It's just Human Geography 101 kinda stuff really. Plain common sense.

Sorry to rant but it gets my goat when holier than thou blokes who came to Pattaya for the same reason we all did in the first place - women and fun - then want to see it all change just because they've been here a few months, got what they want out of the bars and suddenly seem to think they know whats best for the place.

So - you want Pattaya to develop? As what?

As a modern, diversified city, with substantial career (not job) opportunites to people who as a result, may do better at school, or go too university to be able to work in 21st century workplaces, professions, businesses - look at Singapore if you don't believe it can happen. A more diversified and professional business base would also yield better tax receipts, to be employed in improving education standards for Thai kids, instead of pitchforking them into bars.

Sadly APMann seems to be missing one huge factor here. Pattaya is what it is today because of (sex) tourism. It only continues to grow because of same. Unavoidable fact. To suggest that moving 'upmarket' (What a ridiculous term) will improve things morally is a nonsense.

Pattaya 'city' is a tourist resort- albeit a large one- not a city. Its very foundations are build on tourism. Remove that and it would collapse back into the sea. Close the bars, remove the biggest attraction Pattaya has, as well as the biggest souce of potential income for the Thai people and they will slope off back home leaving Pattaya a ghost town.

Yup sure the Russians are here in numbers at the moment but thats a fad and another destination will be Moscow's favourite in a few years time. Such is tourism.

In conclusion. AP's replies are mere wishful thinking from someone who's had his fun in the bars and resents those who are still having theirs.... like me.....

Tragic. Such a talent wasted.

Sadly I had some bad news during the week and have had and have got a lot of running around to do!

Hope it was a good do!

The beaches in Penang are no great shakes and the bus service to and fro isn't too hot either and after dark you will get stung badly for a cab ride either to or out of Georgetown.

Its hard enough walking around somedays let alone running! Some people are gluttons for punishment.

You can get Mangosteen Wine in Klaeng in Rayong Province. Its not quite a liquor, more of a fortified wine not unlike a very sweet sherry. Nice stuff though.

Try the Hash House Harriers.

http://www.bangkokhhh.com/

Ditto Old Croc's sentiments.

I can't think of a better way to go than watching your fave team.

Smashing idea MrB.....but where does one discuss the mighty Rochdale?

Nice post BTW!

Seems more like you remember the era of your youth and these bands provided a soundtrack for that.

Music is a powerful memory stimulant. Most people can be whisked to a certain time and place just by listening to a certain tune.

I must admit that I have not heard of most of the acts you mention but don't feel as though I missed out because I too have my own soundtrack to my own youth.

Go away for a few days with the person you may miss the most when you are gone e.g best mate, mother, sibling etc.

Choose somewhere close to home incase you need to head back to cross any T's or dot any I's. Pick a place where you've never been but always wanted to go. Pamper yourself. Book into a nice hotel, relax, eat all of the food you'll miss the most and make plans for the rest of your life.

Boris! You're back! Thought I recognised that Oxbridge standard of punctuation!

I can picture the guy sat in tha bar the next evening banging on about how stupid FaLang women pay 20 Baht for corn.....

Ah man, we all love to pull on that corn..........

Monochaser will probably berate the water qualtity and say he'd prefer a Bud. Has he ever said anything different?

Fishing parks are all well and good for a day out and a few beers but its all a little easy!

Not exactly pitting ones wits against nature in the great outdoors though is it?

Got me there too.

It will be /should be John Terry.

Very sad news indeed.

A class act on the pitch (so says my dad - its hard to tell from just that scratchy black and white footage they always show of him!) and off it.

He also did a lot for cricket in the region particulaly in Malaysia where he would spend a month each winter helping to preach the gospel of cricket to the youth of Malaysia.

Do they show female topless darts?

All I could find was Black Eyed Peas in July and Robbie Williams in November.

Do we get to have a go on Tuky's water slide?

Chuchok's missing in action!

Where is Thailand?

Should be pretty high up on that list! Thais are way more patriotic than the Brits are.

My member has never drunk copious amounts of fluid let alone met any other members.......