VBF

My understanding is that the British Embassy said that as it couldn't actually confirm / verify the income independently, they were unable to issue the letters. I think other embassies said similar.

I would suggest that at least the first 25 of those "violations" is how people in Pattaya drive regularly. I do think that the wearing of helmet / seat belt should legally be up to the individual - i.e. the one likely to get injured, but I also think it's stupid not to wear them as appropriate. As for the wearing of "shared" helmets, I used to carry a baseball cap if I was going to use a motorcycle taxi and ask for a helmet to put on top of it. Having said that, I hate bikes of any sort, but now there's Bolt so those days have gone.

Easy vomit, though! 😆

You think? I see lots of Thais from the bars etc getting their food most evenings. Plus lots of motorcycle taxi drivers go there. Rather than bland and boring, I'd say it's very tasty and comparable to the food sold in Thai areas outside Pattaya etc. Opinion on the quality is of course personal and subjective.

Yeah enjoy your bowl of rice DUMMY With a red curry, or Penang Gai or Khao Man Gai at the "Tin Cup" I shall thank you. That's just one example of good venues (packed out most evenings) so you can apologise for your ignorance and rudeness any time you like. I imagine you going to Cheap Charlie's or similar for boring Western food and have no idea of what real Thai food tastes like. Lots of places like The Tin Cup - usually market stalls or food halls - places where Thai people eat Thai food.

And for Chrome, I've just found one in the Chrome Web Store, called "Select & Copy HTML Text." It works but you lose the formatting (of course) so from the website that @novanova quoted, what looks like this on the screen (via Snipping Tool) Comes out like this: PATTAYAPATTAYA GO-GOSLATEST NEWSPHOTO/VIDEOVIDEOS Mr. Egg’s Rum Runner Soi Buakhao Off to Great Start By Dave Rave News - May 25, 2025 There are others in the Chrome Web Store so I'd encourage the OP to look for extensions at whatever store relates to his browser, Chrome, Firefox, Edge etc.

Which is exactly what I used to do....then I discovered Bolt and now ride in comfort and (hopefully) a little more safety. I always hated motorbikes anyway!

Yes. Given that the stupid behaviour of some motorists will continue, anything to reduce injury is better than nothing. Remember also, that the person knocked off their bike by a drunk driver might not be the one driving badly - other than the lack of a helmet, they could be otherwise innocent.

I'm sure you have seen that, but we all know that for the vast majority of offences, and the vast majority of the time, the Police are only interested in the amount of cash that they can extract on the spot. Very true. That was sort of my point, it could be done given the will to enforce the law, but as you say.......!

I think the dummy is the thing you just spat out! Pity you didn't swallow it! I can get a good Thai meal in Pattaya for 50 to 60 Baht - I call that pretty damn cheap and akin to 3rd world.

So confiscate the vehicle until the fine is paid. Not too hard to work out is it? I've seen motorcycles chained up by the police awaiting payment of fine - I've also seen police loading bikes onto a pick-up to take them to the pound.

As the article refers to long-term expats, who presumably know where the places offering VFM are, that's really not an issue for this particular thread. Even I, as a regular visitor can avoid the extreme rip-off places fairly easily.

In Thailand? Really?!!

I understand that's one of the services on offer 🙄😎

You think?

Maybe he was Scottish - from Dundee? 🙄

For me it's simple...Pattaya or Pattaya! Apart from it being cheaper and much more choice of feminine pulchritude (sorry!) Most of the action is in Central Pattaya. Stay in the Soi Bukhau area and places like Tree Town, Soi Diana, Soi Honey, the so-called Soi Pothole (actually Soi Chaiyaphum) are on your doorstep. Soi Bongkot with its many "Gentleman's Clubs" is 10 minutes walk (or 100 Baht Bolt) and Walking St is a 10 Baht bus ride. I personally avoid Walking St but I don't really care for expensive Gogo bars. Get it right, you can be back in the bin in no time - Enjoy! 😎😊

I've got one of those Fluke meters, similar vintage, used it last week. Worth checking the battery isn't corroded from time to tome, btw Also a 1970s vintage QUAD 44 pre-amp, with the associated 405-2 power amp. And, finally a pair of Spendor BC1 loudspeakers that I bought second-hand 54 years ago! Sound quality out of this rig still brilliant.

OK - I homed in on the "go back and forth and need a phone while in the UK..." and assumed you set it all up in UK just as a UK resident might - I'm not doing very well in this thread - apologies

Correct - I mistyped - sorry ☹

I avoid November - January - it's manic and often not in a good way. I usually arrive early Feb - weather great, less crowded, cheaper.

Didn't know that 👍 - TK was the first time I heard it - maybe I should get out more 😩

I do sometimes amuse guys round the swimming pool with what Pattaya was like 40 years ago - when I first visited - and still having fun! 😎😆😋 Like most places, some things have worsened, but IMO, it's got better over all, hence why I still love my trips.

"As good once as it ever was" - you must be a Toby Keith fan (?) Like you, most of my experiences in "Patts" over many trips have been positive, suffering none of the issues you list. Like you I've had extremely nice times day and night. Do you think, that just possibly, our behaviour and awareness could have something to do with that?

Lycamobile is a typical UK mobile Mobile company and utilises the EE network for its mobile services. I presume this is the PAYG plan you chose? https://www.lycamobile.co.uk/paymonthly/en/product-details/24-Month-Unlimited-Plus If so, note that the cost doubles from £12 to £24.00 monthly after 6 months.