aussienam

This poll is rigged by starting at a high price and not accommodating lower priced bars. I'm in Pattaya and you can have a local beer for around 60-65 baht in a quiet local bar. If you hit bars with aircon, music, or loaded with the spruiker bar girls then you'll pay up to around 90 baht. Lady drinks are where a cheap night becomes very expensive. What a strange culture this all is!! Bangkok bars are a rip off. Paying same or above Australian prices for a beer - and Aussie beer is poured on tap chilled in a cold glass.

That's Iike me going for Mr Universe body building champions with a fat gut and getting "butt hurt" offended for being body shamed and booted out. I don't cut the mustard, but I won't have a tantrum like this woman and declare it's wrong and demand therefore that we all have to enjoy and be attracted to fat bottoms! Majority rules. Yes a lesser proportion of men enjoy fatter ladies, but most prefer slim. Miss Universe is supposed to select genetically supreme, fat-less attractive features. A wobbly large bottom in a bikini is not attractive in this level of scrutiny. Maybe for the woke culture being brainwashed on social media.

As a young man it was a dream - come to Thailand, open a bar, have a hot woman/women and "live the dream". Many years later, never did, and never found a "hot woman". And years on I now know about the layers of bribery to police, protection money, licensing, compliance, theft, etc, that adds to costs and now not a certain future anyway post COVID. If you are a criminal, like many are here, who managed to go through your life undetected by the law over the years in your home country and accumulate proceeds of crime, then if you can launder money and set up that dream bar, Go-Go, club it is pretty much a zero risk game anyway as it's free money. And many have done it that way. The honest punters who put too much risk into this business venture are often ones who end up going bust with no backup money.

Life is cheap in Thailand. So strict law enforcement and legislation change takes a back seat. Absolute moronic drivers in this country, far exceeding any country I've been to. And that doesn't just go for Thai drivers and riders. Farang idiot w*****s who ride motorbikes at 80-100kph through built up areas, with pedestrians and vehicles approaching intersections, etc., showing off like young Thai men and usually no helmet. Insurance won't cover most as they breached their policy conditions (no helmet , etc). You'd think at least farangs who have had better driver training (and hopefully an upright riding course) would be smarter. Nope. All about showing how 'fantastic' they are because they can speed faster than others and are somehow wonderfully skilled 555. Tossers to the extreme. Pattaya is full of them.

It's all about being a showoff show pony. "Look at me, look at me I'm rich!"

Thanks. I was covered when it first occurred in 2018. So all expenses paid. I was with another insurer. But I later renewed my insurance. I am now with ACS and my policy excludes pre-existing. I saw Dr Apichai this evening at his clinic on 3rd Road. He is the one who suggested the other hospitals. He unfortunately doesn't have equipment in his clinic to conduct intratympanic injections and audiometry tests.

I have suffered a sudden drop in hearing with terrible distorted sounds in my 'good' ear - another sudden sensorineural hearing loss. I am almost deaf as a result. I went to Bangkok Pattaya hospital in 2018 when my inner ear disease began in my bad ear. The audiometry tests, consultation and intratympanic injection with the steroid was up around 20,000 to 25000 Baht per time. And I needed to get three more tests and injections. I don't have insurance cover anymore for this as it's a pre-existing condition. It is extremely expensive. I saw an ear doctor at a clinic tonight who has said I could go to Queen Siriket Navy Hospital in Sattahip or Sriracha Hospital in Sriracha (now called Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital) that is run by the Red Cross. They are apparently considerably less expensive and he believes have the equipment to do intratympanic injections. I am wondering if anyone with inner ear problems has been able to get this done at either of those hospitals? I'll head out tomorrow to Sriracha as least expensive option if they do in fact do it there. Thanks.

Not sure if this could be the final COVID variant, but if the Spanish flu is anything to compare, that also fizzled out with less virulent and milder variants over time. Fingers crossed.

And those milkshake cups in Tree Town mustn't be pleasant to drink beer out of!

Sihanoukville on steroids = Pattaya Casino town! White farang monkey out. Chinese in.

The whole script regarding the poor village girl being forced to prostitute themselves so their families can survive is well and truly gullible tripe. Absolute BS. Many come as it is a lucrative, easy way to make a lot of money. Millions of others don't prostitute themselves, they work in regular jobs and help families, along with their siblings. It's a choice. I have spoken to and observed plenty of the girls over the years. Cashed up foreigners pay way over what they're worth for a basic biological act. Not complaining about that, but the fact is what is charged is ridiculous IMO - comparable to a week or two grocery shopping, month's electricity bill etc. The girls all want a few sponsors and gigs on the side for passive income from dumb gullible foreigners who they tell they love and get wired money each month (the stupidity is off the Richter scale for these guys). Or the girls want the 'big fish' - for a wealthy foreigner to marry them and support them for life. Less leg spreading and more lazy living. Plenty of prostitute women are extremely lazy, greedy and spend a lot of that money as well on themselves with luxury items. They learn to lie and deceive. I have seen and heard it all. And the internet is awash with thousands and thousands of stories of these vixens fleecing money off foreign men. Yes, most have a baby by a previous Thai man who has separated with them (the women will always pull the victim card). But you can want to believe the BS pity stories from the girls of being forced to come to Pattaya etc to become a prostitute. It may fit into many guys' 'white knight', 'woke', 'blue pilled', virtue signaling 'save the poor princess' fantasy mindset narrative.

Force tenants to vacate the land, then convince owners to sell when no more rental income in a dead town. Maybe part of the secret casino plans?!?!? Maybe this is the secret agenda????

Pawnbrokers are basically licensed receivers of stolen goods. After working several years in Oz auditing pawnbrokers and second hand dealers, the vast majority of goods pawned and sold are stolen. Not sure about Thailand but in Oz the person presenting the goods must produce ID and sign a declaration relating to ownership of the goods. Pawnbrokers obviously know that most of their goods are stolen, but to prove that is very difficult (need an admission or other evidence proving guilt). Police forces really need dedicated units who audit shops and check goods. Many don't and the gravy train of auctioned off stolen property continues everywhere.

I don't agree with the legalizing casino argument. All it does is industrialize and condone gambling with the vast majority of money being funneled in being proceeds of illicit means. It will bring in a hell of a lot more dirty money and along with it criminal entities. No casino is squeaky clean. Even in Australia where I am from, revelations have been revealed of knowingly facilitating and encouraging large scale money launderers - in both casino groups. Thailand with a severe lacking of corruption control and does not have the ability to conduct proper law enforcement. So many things can go wrong here IMO. This will make a lot of officials and casino CEOs filthy rich, but do very little to nothing for most Thais. It will change the demographics of the special economic zones set up for this (I can see Pattaya being eyed off for a likely zoned area). Sihanoukville is a an example of what will likely occur - Chinese backed casinos and infrastructure geared at high end spenders. Local Thais pushed out and any other foreigner definitely not welcome. Asian culture seems to love relying a lot on 'luck' and although there are many underground gambling dens, it at least does not equate to being on a grand scale. Gambling addictions, I fear will rise and casinos know how to lure repeat gamblers back. Bankruptcies, poverty and everything else stemming from debt issues (loan shark and debt collector threats/violence, relationship breakups/violence, kidnappings, murders, extortion, increased burglaries and other property /fraud related crimes from addicts). COVID has allowed a prime opportunity to make the move. I think the writing is on the wall that casinos are coming. Others may disagree and quote past discussions about this being canned. But COVID wasn't around then.

I read one opinion from a virologist/epidemiologist in relation to Omicron in that with regards to admittedly only early data, Omicron, although allegedly a lot more infectious, may have less severe symptoms. He said this could be a good thing if a highly virulent strain like this dominated, as it could rapidly spread and help cause COVID to naturally die off (words to that effect). So, from my layman understanding, a very infectious COVID strain with very mild symptoms that was allowed to spread could be the way to wipe this thing out.

This is a great question. I am taking the risk by flying to Phuket from Bangkok for a break from Pattaya boredom sending me insane. My insurance won't cover forced quarantine based on another individual being positive and me being deemed a possible infection risk warranting isolation. It's a risk I am taking. If it all goes to s***, I could be up for I am guessing 20,000 to 40,000 Baht out of pocket as well as a ruined holiday and no refund either on hotel already booked. It would make a very expensive 'holiday' in a prison hotel room. It's likely a huge deterrent for many people from traveling at all. I have read some horror stories online.

I am a retiree in Thailand and was vaccinated with Pfizer. Very mild side effects on first jab. Nothing with second. But a week after 2nd jab I got infected with COVID. This is known as a 'breakthrough infection' as the vaccine did not prevent infection. I felt typical flu symptoms first. I went to hospital and they confirmed through a test I had COVID. Isolation for 14 days. I lost sense of taste and smell, suffered vertigo, delirious feeling, listlessness, extreme fatigue, headache. My lung capacity got pretty bad with dropping oxygen levels and I was close to being hospitalized. I had to use Ventolin. I had to send temperature and oxygen levels (via phone app) twice a day. And more when my oxygen levels were too low. I developed hearing loss and tinnitus. The COVID virus can attack the delicate hair cells of the cochlear and destroy hearing - sensorineural hearing loss. And/Or the 'cytokine storm' caused by COVID causes inflammation in the inner ear that crushes hair cells.. So large doses of steroid medication to reduce inflammation and try to save hearing. I now have some permanent hearing loss in one ear. Without the Pfizer vaccine my symptoms could well have been far more severe and I may well have had to be hospitalized and who knows, even died from not being able to breathe. I believe the vaccine mitigated the severity of the infection, reduced the duration and prevented me from developing 'long COVID'. From reading studies reported online, the symptoms of a vaccinated versus unvaccinated are generally less severe, shorter lasting and not as many. My taste and smell returned after a few weeks. My energy took several weeks to normalize. I lost over 5kg. It is the worst viral infection I have ever experienced. Glandular fever as a kid comes in a close second. I am grateful that I had the vaccine shots. It's a nasty nasty virus.

5555. True. So many people mention 'Tree Town' like it is some amazing new hub in Pattaya. It is literally about 100 meters long, has a row of bars, a Thai club, a big food court, restaurants and drink/snack shops. Because there is ⅘ of f*** a** open in Pattaya, the place (mostly the food court) is stuffed with people. The adjoining kerbside to Soi Buakhaow is where the loitering expat alcoholics (with their 7-Eleven Leo beers) and hookers hang out. Walk any direction from Tree Town and the nightlife is D-E-A-D.

Anyone involved or having been involved in law enforcement and organized crime investigations, knows all too well that a main purpose of casinos is to 'legitimize' laundered money. Proceeds of crimes ranging from drugs, stolen property, fraud, extortion, corruption, tax evasion are funneled into casinos, exchanged for chips, played on tables and cashed in. Corruption with officials turning a blind eye and receiving gratuities is very common with casinos worldwide. The lower end of town gambling addicts make a minute proportion, albeit it also destroying lives. Poor people are best to stay away from casinos as we know the house will always win in the end and desperation with gambling is a terrible mix.

Knew it. I predicted this. Pattaya will become what Sihanoukville has in Cambodia as it's an easy fit for mass casinos. Massive Chinese investment coming. Criminal cartels will love this news.

Yeah ... look at Sihanoukville. The Chinese casino developers absolutely destroyed the place. Polluted the hell out of the water, kicked out Cambodians off land by threat of violence and arrests, place is a criminal mafia paradise, kidnappings, murders, all on the back of the mighty dollar. Government officials receiving huge cash incentives to let Chinese investors get whatever they want - rinse and repeat all over the world now. Horse has bolted. Better start to enjoy eating boiled dogs and bat soup.

What is in stall for everyone when the CCP-proud Chinese tourists come piling back into LOS. Sure, they are amicable to their Thai allies, but will be interesting how they react to Westerners post COVID (and vice-versa) after being forcefully spoon-fed two years of delusional propaganda and conspiracy theories. Wouldn't be surprised if they have security escorts wherever they travel.

Antibodies developed after a COVID infection I have read, that based on current data, you have good immune response for several months. After that period your susceptibility to being infected with COVID increases. Adding to the issue are of course the never-ending COVID mutations. Being previously infected with COVID and/or being vaccinated does not create life-long immunity unfortunately.

To be fair, this type of policy regarding restrictions for unvaccinated is being rapidly adopted around the world. Nothing unique about this in Thailand. This is a global drive to get those resisting the vaccine vaccinated and hence increase the %. The bottom line is ensuring intensive care units are not overwhelmed or worse, having to turn away critical patients, such as has happened in many countries and caused many deaths of both COVID patients and other patients with non-COVID life threatening conditions. Once borders are fully opened and all establishments running, infection rates will inevitably ramp right up. Vaccinated are much less likely to become critically ill and overwhelm intensive care and critical care wards. I don't think any one of us would like to be turned away from ICU when lying on a gurney in an ambulance suffering a serious injury, heart attack etc, because the beds are all taken up by COVID patients on ventilators and intubated. I personally don't care if someone doesn't want to be vaccinated as long as they don't end up in ICU taking up my bed if I need it urgently!

COVID has really revealed a massively uneven playing field where a certain few get the privilege of flouting the laws and allowed to continue trading alcohol etc and therefore saving their business and livelihoods (connections, and/or owners have significant wealth to assist in getting the green light). Others however (vast majority) are outright barred and because of this have gone bust or are heading that way. And if those not given a green light try to copy those premises allowed to operate, they face heavy fines and customers wallets and ATM linked bank accounts emptied. I don't understand why so many bar owners don't now have the absolute s**** and say "enough is enough" and front the authorities and the media and reveal all what is going on? Is it because of threat of death/retribution for speaking up? If enough got together then safety in numbers. You can't just allow some to operate if others have to watch on the sidelines with closed bars and zippered mouths. Something will give. Suicides are already happening and violence upon others will probably happen at some point IMO.