Kabula

So if every waitress in Thailand asks if you want another beer, they can all be arrested for selling beer?  That is their job!

A menu with photos sells beer.

Many neon signs in and outside bars sell beer.

What's next?  A dry country?

5 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

Because you have only seen  from afar, the reports are to be dismissed as  fabrications and lies. OK.  When is the last time that the Pattaya government  released any information on water quality? We believe that it is because the gathering of water samples and other data  is forbidden. When was the last time a public health agency or  academic researcher has done any water and soil quality assessment?  My understanding is that the water is contaminated with feces and related e.coli along with some very dangerous and nasty bacteria and viruses and  toxic substances including heavy metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium ,that the information is suppressed. if the  public knew that  the water offshore of Pattaya was no better than a Bangkok Klong, tourism would suffer. I offer that the current  situation is criminal.

Your response is off topic from the initial post content. I admitted the water is not good.  However, the majority of the beach is great for a mile.  The picture depicted does not represent the entire beach. The content does not represent the true number of beach and city tourists. Go to the west coast of America if you want to see more Dead Sea life and trash.  https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=980&bih=621&q=dead+sea+life+in+cal&oq=dead+sea+life+in+cal&gs_l=img.3...3053.11604.0.11876.22.22.0.0.0.0.244.3474.0j19j1.20.0....0...1.1.64.img..2.18.3133.0..0j0i10k1j0i8i30k1j0i24k1j0i30k1.ASkR8K-_Uos

I was informed by two Thai banks that with my retirement visa if I close a Thai bank account I can't reopen it unless I have a work visa!

It's best to draw it down, but leave a thousand baht in there so it will always be available to move money into it in case your home currency becomes less valuable, bank holidays are predicted or bank bailins begin in your country.

In my opinion many of these news stories are over blown.

I just got back from two days in Pattaya and walked much of the beach and never saw what is depicted here.  It appears to be the far N. part of the beach.  Granted the water is not clean, but I observed most of beach full, of tourists, no trash as the umbrella vendors keep it clean in their areas.  There were many boats loading for the Islands.  At night the area around Beach Road was full.  The wait at Hops restaurant at 8 p.m. was close to an hour!  I had a wonderful time and look forward to going back.  I don't go in the water.

In fact, I've lived here for 12 years and go to Pattaya at least once a month.  I never saw dead fish in the central part of the Pattaya beach like depicted in the photo.  Perhaps up by the pier and far north.

It's sad to see the facts twisted and all the ignorant posters who have not been to the beach recently pile on.

All beaches in the world have some trash on them from incoming tides and weather, so why pick on Pattaya?

Ignorant posters cost citizens jobs!

Here is a crazy idea!

Avoid toxic locations!

If everyone did they will eventually they will beg you to come with your camera...

I guess no one thought about buying a little concrete mix and making a patch!

Easier to complain for months and watch people fall in the hole....

Yes..another scam.

They drag out picking up the box to put you in the next month billing cycle.

Most programming is shi@ and most are cancelling.

Free Utube is better!

The taxi drivers who have them will be more popular with customers.

I wonder how accurate anything is anymore.....

I'm surprised no tasers were carried by the students, nor brass knuckles visible, or dildos thrown.  They sell knives, swords, tasers, brass knuckles and dildos on the street! 

Where there is life, there is conflict!

Nice to see they were not on their cell phones...

Most will be safe in the bars or in bed with a new friend!

Yes...much worse until there are flying cars!

5 hours ago, jeab1980 said:

Got to love guys who belive the good old US of A can fix anything for any nationality.

Not my fault....those damn tri-vocals.  LOL

Your probably o.k., but you might want to stop my the U.S. Embassy and show them the passport and perhaps they can make a recommendation.  There is not enough time for a new one, but perhaps they have a form they can fill out for Immigration confirming all information.

If she is 50 years younger and walking behind you, it is not recommended....555

If you are walking with your Thai daughter it is not recommended as some tourists good doers will think you are a sick person and make stupid remarks.

Just walk close to her and she will let you know what she wants.

As more expats leave and less tourists come, better to maintain a low profile with the single ladies.

And we wonder why the citizens here are disliking us more and more?

With all the  negative comments about Thailand and it's citizens in Internet forums, on Facebook and Line, foreign suicides, foreign crime,  and bad behavior there will soon be violence against foreigners here like in Europe.

Wake up people!!  Don't forget where you are.

7 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

We live in a global society with a global economy.  No country only worries about their own problems.  What happens elsewhere can have a serious impact on your home country.  And in the end, this nut dictator is making the lives of many miserable.  The people don't deserve that.

 

No easy answers.

Globalism is dying and it's causing the death of the world economies, billions of lives, and the destruction of earth and nature.  If it continues, humans will be extinct.

If it continues the world will look like Germany after WWII!

The easy answer is free markets, each country being independent and each state run by the citizens being independent of the Government, but still controlling it.

Of course that probably has never happened, but that is the answer.

 I'm not optimistic that it will never happen as most citizens perception of good has been destroyed with fabricated stories.

5 hours ago, gedster said:

The driver filming the video was very calm and unfazed of what he just witnessed. He didn't make a sound or take evasive action. Probably seen this too often on the road. 

I do however wonder why it is that people that witnessed an accident like this, do not stop and render assistance in the case of injured drivers or passengers.

He also didn't stop to render medical aid and in many countries that can get you a traffic violation.  On the other hand, many  good Samaritans get killed on freeways from insane drivers rendering aid. 

7 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

What the hell is with all the foreign"balcony divers" in Thailand?  Is there a single week that goes by without reading about one?  Yes, some may be questionable, but even if you take those out, this has to be the suicide capital of the world for this sort of thing. 

 

 

Not really....it's happening worldwide.

When people lose it all, with little hope, they lose it!

The world economy is a mess; the financial/political news is bleak and I see similar tragedies accelerating on planet earth.

The U.S. needs to focus on their own problems and forget about interfering with the concerns of other countries.

Sanctions can be a prelude to another long drawn out confrontation and eventually war.

No surprise, as their business is war; mostly ones they can't win!

Schools and the Internet are the playgrounds for Pedos.

It's unfortunate the many parents don't educate their children in the manipulations and the intent of pedophiles.

Children today should have self defense training at a very early age and be trained to always be on the lookout for vans and people getting close to them, especially from behind.

The evil today is accelerating.

22 hours ago, Bundooman said:

And just, exactly, how would all that work? They've never met. When they do - they are most likely to be shy, reserved and cautious.

Now is just the time to make your position clear and sort out a few doubts twirling around inside your head - just so you know what you are letting yourself in for.

 

She:   "Hi. Great to meet you at last".

You:   "Me too. lovely to meet you, you look great"!

She:   Did you have a good flight"?

You:   Yes. couldn't wait to meet you".

She:   Well, what would you like to do first? (shyly). Go for coffee? Get a taxi? Or...."

You:   "Oh. Don't let's hurry. Plenty of time for all that. Let's get to know each other first".

She:   "Oh. OK".

You:  Do you have any friends, close girlfriends? Are you dating anyone and are they bi-sexual? Have you got HIV by any chance, and as we're at it - how much will  your Mum and Dad expect me to fork out on them? You're not pregnant are you and finally, what I really want to know is,.......What will you contribute to this new relationship?

 

She: Go F... yourself!

The angry losers, the mentally ill, the abused, the alcoholics, the drug addict's and the women that don't want a relationship would say exactly that.

And you would be lucky to hear it so you don't have to pay them to go away.

Certainly you would not ask all the questions at once.   If you did you would be a poor communicator.

Some may allege your a Troll.

16 hours ago, hanuman2543 said:

Your knowledge about Thai behaviour, character  and culture is virtually  non existent. Following your advice is the safest way to turn her away. Where have you acquired such a wealth of knowledge ? Some of your questions would guarantee a very violent answer from every Thai woman, including the ones working at Nana Plaza, Soi  Cowboy etc.

I'm LOL at your response!  I've lived full time in Thailand for 12 years and lived with a Thai women for 7 years.  If the women in Nan Plaza ran that is the best thing that could happen.  

If you get a violent answer then they are probably covert narcissists and can ruin your life and even kill you or make you kill yourself!  Do your homework and study psychology.  Understand human behavior when involving mental illness, poverty,  alcoholism, drug addiction, mental and sex abuse, bipolar disorder, and manic-depression. Those disorders are found in bars as that is their playground. Single ads too!

Understand psychological terms like Hoovering and flying monkeys.  No joke...look them up. You will never find harmony with a bar girl.

 If you hang with poverty,  alcoholics,  drug adicts, and depressed people you too will have similar problems.

Hopefully, the Police have not read your post and no one has reported you after you admitted your guilt on line.

Go with the flow, but keep your heart guarded.

Ask her if she has any close girl friends.  If the answer is no....big red flag.

Ask her if she has any friends?  If the answer is no...bigger red flag.

Ask her how she gets along with her family?  If she says she doesn't; ask why?

Ask her if she was ignored as a child, and abused mentally or sexually by family members?

Ask her if she is dating anyone and if so, for how long?  

Ask her if she is bi-sexual?

Ask her if she is married?

 Ask her if she  has ever been diagnosed with HIV or syphilis?

Ask her how her family is doing financially and if they expect you to pay money and if so how much monthly?

Ask her if she is  pregnant and if she wants children?

If she refuses to answer your questions...RUN

Ask her what can she contribute to your relationship!

If you feel like  you are pushed into a cul-de-sac and feel more pain than normal  from intentional sabotage ......RUN!

 If she is beautiful and always doing selfie's and looking in the mirror she's probably a narcissist.   If she tells you she's not a good person, and makes odd statements, admits to being ignored, taking cell calls and running, and tells you she feels nothing without getting cash, she could very well be a covert narcissist with absolutely no soul.  A very dangerous creature.

Ask the  hard questions few do and be the first to bail if she is causing you pain and sleepless nights.

Hey, the backup rental is always available 24 hours!

Good luck!!