for real

If it's not a bus then it's a boat. There seems to be a real problem with the gravity here. I'm surprised he didn't say his brakes failed him.

I'm surprised he didn't flee the scene.

Thanks to all of you who posted helpful information.

Much appreciated.

I have never used this before and wanted some advice from USERS.

There are so many know alls on Thaivisa I wonder that they bpther to read any posts

But I guess they get their kicks from life by ridiculing simple questions.

I am pleased to know I have made some small creatures very happy today.

Can anyone tell me the cost and time it takes to get to Victory Monument using the Skytrain service from the airport?

Thanks,in advance, for any response.

4.Real

Can't test for common sense and reverse the idea or concept that the roads are yours only and no other vehicle could possibly be coming around the corner. Love watching so many people parking here. I oft get at least 3 minutes+ to laugh.

I've often wondered why Thai drivers seem to be obsessed with reversing into tight gaps, in say Big C etc. If they just drove straight in, often they have much more room to reverse out, and the boot of their car is in the correct position to load the shopping.

I just find it strange. Are they taught they must reverse into a gap, irrespective?. I don't know.

For once .they are correct to reverse into the space.They do not have to reverse into the gangway where some other driver may be looking for a parking space.

This will result in even more accidents.

20 years ago driving to Malaysia I came across many stright and broken yellow lines painted on bends in the road.

Sometimes the broken line was on the correct side.....And sometimes not.

I do not imagine anyone has botherd to correct this.

Ok I will take one for the team here. Today I am giving my liver the day off so there will be no Soi 7 however I am happy to test your theory and go out tomorrow and gauge numbers. So far the 13th was clearly the busiest with more venues throwing water.

FYI people drinking in bars such as Witherspoons and the one across from it on the corner who didn't want to participate were not being soaked whilst enjoying an afternoon beer. Getting to and from said venue whilst staying dry would probably be more of a challenge but it is hot so you dry really quickly. The baht bus is of course a target but the people I saw laughed it off.

Another FYI those powerful water pumps were being taken off people yesterday on Soi 7 and 8 by the police. I saw them doing it. I didn't see one fight even thought there were plenty of drunk revelers but the police were getting wet and getting involved.

It's not a theory - it is personal experience from 9 previous Pattaya Songkrans... and the experience from hundreds of others over many years.

If you get drenched in the hot sun you will not dry quickly. Undergarments will stay wet all day. If you're going into an air conditioned mall, that will be even more uncomfortable.

You will find that contributors to this forum are not tourists who laugh off getting wet (in the baht buses), but mainly expats who live here permanently and don't find it so funny anymore after many years. This is a survival thread for people who don't wish to participate. You have the option of starting a thread detailing how much fun you had during Songkran. You will also have your followers, I'm sure.

We welcome your summary on the 20th when it is all over. I feel you're not being objective though and trying hard to find a way to undermine the information you found in this thread. For example, what's the point of telling us that customers at Witherspoons were able to enjoy an afternoon beer without being soaked when it is impossible to get to Witherspoons dry and most got soaked on the way there.

Do you ride a motorcycle around, walk or take baht buses?

Spoiler alert: It's just water

Deep breathes.

Have you left your estate at any point during the last 8 Songkrans? You seem to be basing all your 'experience' on Youtube and Thaivisa posts Nothing wrong with that. I'm telling you what Pattaya was like on the first 3 official days of Songkran this year because I was in Pattaya. On the 'mean streets' if you like. I rode my bike, walked and got on the baht bus. No water was thrown on any of the small soi's before noon as far as I could see. Can you tell me about Songkran 2015?

I don't wear undergarments in the summer here as it's too hot Is that TMI? Commando is the way forward. My bad. If you don't find it fun anymore (assuming you ever did) avoid like 6 soi's in Pattaya not the whole of Pattaya. It's only in certain areas. Really.

I have to ask have you ever lived in Thailand before you moved to Pattaya? Are you of an age that cold water is a health issue for you? I guess it's about perspective, balance and recent experience. If that's an issue then your negative outlook is understandable. I have seen Songkran in other cities. Check out Khon Kaen and Korat if you want to see a city shut down for 3 days. That didn't happen here, sorry it just didn't.

I'm updating this thread because when I read the OP I was genuinely worried but now I know that the picture you have painted isn't accurate.

Maybe the 18th and 19th will be extreme but they are just two days not eight or nine. I'll keep updating this thread so those people who are avoiding the festival will know what the logistical challenges are in the future.

Unfortunately it is not 'just water'...

And where do you suppose the 'just water' that there is comes from?

expat.

Bedlam

expat.

Lunacy.

In London around 1970 a new word came into the language.

'Mugging'..

Many lone women who had for years walked the streets without fear were being robbed of their handbags in broad daylight...

Not long after another word came into use.'Steaming'

This was where a gang of men would surround a lone woman or teenage youth and harrass them until one stole their money..One of the gang would leave

with the goods and the harrassed victim could not say which one stole their belongings.Again in broad daylight.

The description of the thief/thieves to the police was always the same ..'Coloured'.

The police began a stop and search of young coloured gangs but the PC brigade and MP's who relied on the coloured vote to keep their seat put a stop to this practice.

London is now ruled by black gangs.

20 years ago I was stopped for no reason other than to get money from me.

I complained and spent 2 wasted days going to some hard to find police station far from my home where I waited for a couple of hours each time 'We have to get an interpreter'.

Better to have just smiled and paid up unless you enjoy this 'handilng complaints' procedure.

I cannot see how you [intended] can lose anything.

I wonder how you think she can do anything bad.

What have you given to her that is worth more monetarily than she has already given?

I think she has chosen the wrong man to fall for.

A good Thai lady will do everything for her 'man'.

How old is this good lady?

It's more convenient to get your passport renewed in the UK, and use the same day service. Plus you can spend a day or two in a world class city. Visit art galleries and stock up on books from Foyles.

Does Foyles still sell books written in English?

For decades now my own public library 's english section was miniscule and hidden out of sight.

Foreign books and foreign newspapers filled the vast hall.

All government leaflets were in numerous languages.

One local newspaper there written in English proudly boasted[word for word]...

.........'At White Hart Lane school in Tottenham,children from 50 countries speak 34 languages'

that was in the paper about 15 years ago.

The point is the sound level. Five times a day pressure chamber loudspeakers will call for prayer. This is a major disturbance, or sound pollution. Today there are Apps to remind a Muslim, when to pray, and I do not mind the Muezzin singing from the top of a mosque. But these speakers are a pain in the butt. Those should be forbidden by law.

Yes.The same has occurred in England.

The call to prayer was done before the invention of mass clocks and wrist watches.

The call is now done for the 'benefit' of non believers to inform them [if they do not already know] that 'WE ARE HERE'.

They then multiply profusely to ensure they will in a few generations become a major force in lawmaking in whatever region/country they have legitimately conquered

jpinx post # 990.

ok - what's 4% of the total cost of this years increment ?

Probably about the total sum value of 4 farthings I reckon. ( I can just remember spending farthings circa 1947 ish)

You must be really old then. I was only 3 in 1947.

I am also really old I can still remember spending farthings around 1954..The only place taking farthings then was the local baker shop.

I believe many loaves were still priced with a farthing as the last unit..

The tails side of a farthing was the picture of a wren..Small bird .

It seems a rather bizarre solution IMHO as this only makes Klang one-way (west) for a whole 260 m between the Third road traffic lights and the Big C Extra (Charoemprakiat/Arunothai traffic lights.

Earlier in the day, they had police directing traffic at the top end of Third at the Nua traffic lights... where they happily allowed buses coming in from Sukhumvit to make u-turns. I didn't go east on Nua but is this because they may have blocked the u-turn in front of the bus terminal to allow faster egress from Sukhumvit?

This is exactly what they've done. Found out today and had to divert clear across Nua to 3rd Road and come back to join the thousands heading for Sukhumvit to get to Nern Pub Waan. Fortunately I was on a moto, passing dozens of cars waiting at 3rd Rd to turn north or u-turn. What a disaster. They have installed the coloured plastic barriers, presumably filled with water. They are stacked really close together and run fully to the median ends so that not even motorcycles can get through. I assume the Bangkok buses will now turn later/earlier to a nearby soi on Suk and go the back way and into the bus station. Even more delays. Overall a disaster of epic proportions.

Amazing considering that the intersection is so narrow that most buses need to make a 2- or 3-point turn.

Maybe they should enforce lane management instead and insist that buses don't double park and stay in a dedicated bus lane when moving.... nah... too hard.

The buses coming from BKK go all the way to Dolphin Circle to turn. This probably adds 20-30 minutes to route under current conditions.

I go to BKK and back a lot. This is going to hurt. Every day there's another reason to abandon Pattaya.

Before Big.C was built on South Pattaya rd the place was called Duck Square.

It was designed so that the bug tourist buses could park there and the tourists enter Pattaya on provided baht buses.

.An excellent idea.

but.Mike [department store] and other places where the big buses parked said NO WAY...I want the punters brought to my doorstep with no chance of shopping elsewhere.

Something similar is needed now and for the next probable 5 years this new project will take.

Perhaps the "name" issue is actually an oblique way of asking this question:

"Why is it that North African/African minority groups make up about 13.5% of the population of France, but they seem to account for (according to the media) 90+% of the crime committed by French citizens in Thailand?"

Does it mean that "whitey" French crooks, with traditional Gallic names, prefer to thieve at home, or are the ex-colonised just easier to catch?

But you must bear in mind that the 10% of crime committed by the others are probably the heinous crimes of drunken driving.speeding and not paying correct income tax.

These are far more serious than mere muggings and drug dealings.

This is certainly the case in England.

So is it against the law if a Thai women scams an old farang who is now homeless out of money?

Or is it only if a Nigerian and Thai women is involved?

At least the old fogie gets something in exchange although it probably comes with some form of STD.

My house had iron water fittings fitted under the house

.I had water leaks [checked the meter] under the house but did not know where [nor hear water running].

Evidently the acid water can burn through the iron fittings

.I had to have some new plasic pipes replace those underground.Unsightly but I could not get to the iron pipes underneath.

I also had this problem before in Bangkok.

I live on the darkside.

My friend is a Thai girl with typical Thai salary .

A plane is out of the question unless you [only 30000 baht] will donate.

I have suggested taking 2 buses using Nakonchai which I have found to be a good service.

I think she is concerned about there being many other travelers wherever she changes buses.

Nahkonchaiair Bus line

Only Chan Tour has the bus to Kon Kaen.unfortunately.

It is a crap service too because it has the monopoly.

You can now understand the rush there will be on 1 April as they will not allow anyone to book early.

My friend wants to book now to go to Khon kaen for Songkran.In Bangkok she could book early.[now]from Bangkok.

She went to Chan tour [bus to KK]who said the earliest she could book was the first of April.

As you can imagine the office on that day will be packed.

Does anyone know how she can get an early booking that leaves from Pattaya?

Thanks all,in advance, for any response.

For Real.

I wonder if the broken yellow lines I saw years ago are still the same .?

Driving to Malaysia I came acrooss this set that the painter had done the wrong way .

According to the brokem line you could cross while blind to what was ahead.

In the 60's my sister and her best friend did the 'european tour'.

working their way when they could.

Coming home after 3 months of travel they had no money and were waiting for the ferry.

2 young guys ordered large beakfasts and my sister and her friend were looking at the food with envious eyes.

One guy said to the other'.I don;t feel hungry now.Do you?'

With which the 2 of them gave their unstarted breakfasts to the 2 girls...

How time have changed.

O f course the muslims are a peaceful folk.

Especially in London.

They love their families of 10+ children [think of the free government benefits] so much that the women go shop [lifting]ping with 2 or more of their friends

with all the children hanging tightly to the oversized buggies striding 3 abreast along Wood Green High road.and allowing just enough time foir the white folk [whose predecessors died fighting for freedom] just enough time to scuttle out of their way.

What wonderful family people...Just what England needs...

Moan, Groan, I have said this before, together with many others, why don't you just go home, The weather in Europe would be wonderful at this time of year. I had a friend who lived in Weymouth UK, we sometimes used the deck chairs, supplied from a surly vendor, they were something like 4 Pounds a day ( Baht 200) No problem with anyone "Pestering " you, as you were completely ignored all day.

But do they leave the chairs on the spot all day from sunrise?

Or ,like the beaches in England I go to. must they collect empty chairs and only allow them to customers?

leaving the beach free for those that have their own seating .