jaywalker

Every time I see these clowns in a police photo pointing at something it reminds me of Young Frankenstein.

Hump? What hump?

Years ago I got caught in a rain squall on Sukhumivit Soi 8. I took refuge under the eves of a tailor shop.

An extremely nice Indian guy invited me inside and didn't try to sell me anything, but offered me coffee, water, tea & even a beer!

A few months later I needed a couple suits made so I went to see him & ordered two suits. I still have them 13 years later!

Absolutely fantastic fit (be prepared for at least 3 visits over the course of a week to get the tailoring done correctly).

One visit to choose fabric & order, another visit for a second set of measuring & fitting, and pick them up on the 3rd visit. Order on Monday done by Friday.

Top quality material & the jackets have actual pockets, no fake ones.

It was $180 USD for two suits, and included tailor made shirts and silk ties.

No idea about current prices, but I did stop in about a year ago just to say hello & they're still going strong.

http://www.jimscollection.com/location.htm

My guess.....Container truck had zero lights and was traveling at 10 kph/5mph due to a pathetic truck, due to corruption/300%tariffs on bringing in a fricking Peterbuilt that can haul 50K lbs on a roadway at 100 kph.

Dumb-ass bus driver "wasn't dead yet", but from the looks of the "Face" of his bus, it's not a pretty "Face".

Som nam naa Thailand......Funny how the term "LOS" has fallen out of use these days.

Land of Smiles has been replaced with "Thainess".

If you have to go to Asoke, Soi 22, or Thong Lor, and you are on foot, just keep your eyes peeled and you stand a good chance of seeing any police before they see you. They are not the most quick or quick witted you'll meet and I would not think it would be too difficult to stay away from them. Cross the street, turnaround and walk quickly in the other direction, whatever it takes to avoid them just as you would avoid crossing paths with someone who looks like they might mug you.

If you get into a position where they can stop you, feign confusion, or pretend you can't see, hear and/or understand them or whatever it is just short of running away and just keep walking, don't stop. They probably will not physically grab you and make you stop. Look at your watch as though you are in a hurry and maybe even break into a jog. The minute you stop and open the interaction then you are totally vulnerable to being cooked in the tom yam tourist pot.

Maybe start acting mentally retarded, drool & spit a lot when you say something.

Sounds stupid but I bet it would work.

Has anybody tried to use an AIS (or other) wireless USB internet dongle (little thing about the size of a cigarette lighter) in Prasat lately?

I had an AIS one that worked great in BKK & Pattaya, but could barely pick up an EDGE signal in Prasat, but that was almost 2 years ago, so just wondering if anyone has any recent experience?

Saddened by this tragic event.

But still, police couldn't be contacted ? They was too busy ? Had to use the internet ? What if it was you who phoned the police, and there was no answer ?

And the building itself. A victim of the Asian economic crisis ? What, the one that hit Thailand back in 1996/97 ? The building has been in this state since then ? Nearly two decades ?

And, on the Skytrain, between Nana station and Asoke station, and maybe a bit beyond as well, are the partly-built buildings still there ? I take it those were also buildings were construction stopped during the building process, due to lack of money for wages and materials.

The abandoned one near Nana BTS on Sukhumvit (Post Office side) was pulled down a few years ago. It's a big open space now.

Further up is the Times Square U-shaped complex which was built decades ago and left unfinished for many years. It was finally finished some years back and seems to be doing well.

The big one at the corner of Sukhumvit and Asoke (going to the Convention Center) was also finally done for occupancy after years being left unfinished.

As for the sky-high monster where the unfortunate farang was found hanged I've looked at it over the years every time I've been to Saphan Taksin BTS and wondered why such an attractive-looking high-rise in such a prime BKK location could have been left so close (apparently) to termination. An insurance-unacceptable flawed safety design in the fire-escape stairwells ?

It's not good for such buildings to be left open to the weather for so many years. Rain waster will eventually get in the concrete and the re-bars will rust and crack the concrete. I was surprised to see the long-abandoned Times Square building being resuscitated !!

I was thinking the same in regards to the rebar not being worth a hoot after almost 2 decades of monsoon weather.

Kinda makes one wonder at the safety/structural integrity of those other buildings you mentioned.

Avoid the long tail boats like the plague.

They are... L-O-U-D!

No muffler at all, and the seats are like a slave galley.

The Bangkok police should stop urine testing foreigners and do a blood test direct. This would save the foreign men the indignity of urinating in public. To show their commitment to women's equality in light of the Bikini comment. More women police officers should be trained to take urine and blood samples from women tourists especially if they look trashy and are with seedy men. This would help in the fight for national security as well as put an end to the scourge of people 'relaxing' while on holiday in Thailand.

Thought you were going to suggest more women police patrolling in bikinis for a second there.

That would bring in the tourists in DROVES!!!!

I see idiots every day on the roads.

Always wondered why the police don't exploit this as a money maker?

Could make a 'legitimate' fortune handing out tickets to these morons.

Back in the 1980's I was in the Florida Army National Guard, and quite a few guys were in Law Enforcement the other 28 days of the month.

One guy was an Orange County Florida (Orlando =SUPER Tourist area - Mickey Mouse lives there) Deputy Sheriff & he said they had 500 deputies.

Let's say Pattaya is as big as Orlando was 30 years ago = 500 Pattaya cops.

They each currently get, what? 10,000 a month? Let's say 20,000, as I have no facts, just a guess.

500 cops write 10,000 baht worth of tickets every day in legitimate tickets for legitimate public safety violations...500 X 10,000 = 5 million baht per day going to the Police Department coffers = 150 million gross per month.

HMMMM......Nah, just let them set up a check point here & there & randomly enforce the law & let them pocket 800 baht a day illegally, WITH A BADGE & WHO CARE ABOUT LAWS OR SAFETY?

Doesn't look like the Chevvy took off. From the reports it would appear that he was a drunk driver so they should throw the book at him, lock him up and throw the keys away! They were supposed to be making this stretch of Jomtien Beach Road a one way system. What happened?

Of course drunk is no excuse, but odds are there were a couple guys standing on the back, in front of/behind the tail lights/brake lights, which I have always found to be terrifying.

I can deal with no turn signals, but no tail lights & no brake lights??????

Standing there blocking the view of the traffic behind you as a passenger???

No thanks!

ALLOWING passengers to do that? STUPID all around.

Baht bus driver, idiot blocking view of vehicle lights of their transport & add in a soaky coming from behind.

What could possibly go wrong?

That's "Safety First" in Thailand for you.

I see idiots every day on the roads.

Always wondered why the police don't exploit this as a money maker?

Could make a 'legitimate' fortune handing out tickets to these morons.

Yep, Yes and YES!

How about stopping baht bus drivers with so many people loaded on them that people are standing between the brake lights & the vehicles behind them?

Ah! Who needs brake lights when you [insert excuse here]?

One could NEVER possibly need brake lights when one is stopping!!!! They're just there to look pretty.

If I were a BIB, I could write 50 tickets a day in Pattaya for this, at say 500 baht fine each = 25,000.

Even if (BIG IF) it went to the police department, and 20 cops a day did it, it would add half a million baht/day for a legitimate safety issue = 15 million baht/month.

Ha! The police force might be able to pay their boys a decent salary if that happened.....AND improve safety.

Even if it went straight into a cop's pocket, it would be fine by me, as long as they only gave out tickets/demanded bribes to actual traffic law-breakers.

No, too much thinking involved "You Tink Too Mutt!"

It might even [GASP!] improve safety and the overall image of Thailand! DUH!

EDIT: - Make it a 2,000 baht fine, same as tossing a cigarette butt on the sidewalk at least, probably 5,000 baht would be more suitable as it involves public transportation.

Boggles the mind to read, year after year how the NE people and the government simply doesn't

know how to deal, and how completely unprepared they are to the cold season, I mean, com'on, is this the

first cold season you have experienced in your life? and every year the same story, people die,

people starve, shortage of blankets food, heating etc. etc..

when will you ever learn to prepare for anything in life people of the north? here is a clue,

cold seasons will come every year round this time of the year, let's see the headlines next

year...

Same as floods & droughts.

Re: Cold weather, I was in Surin & father-in-law wears a jacket in the winter! Smart Guy!

He still wears shorts & flip-flops, but he does own a jacket.

I did 4 years straight in Thailand & returned to Florida in December once. I almost DIED....Felt like it anyhow. I was OK, just miserable at near freezing.

Relatives had their thermostats set at 75F/25C & I was miserable.

I didn't die though. I sure as hell didn't eat any poisonous animals!

"In Buriram, the public health office in Ban Kruat district is warning locals against consuming alcohol and poisonous animals to ward off the cold."

And, and, and, don't run with scissors, don't stick your hand in a fan etc...

Crimony!

This clean out seems to be very targeted and very limited to a very small circle of officers, almost as if it is a very deliberate witch hunt based on very specific ulterior motives. Could it be that this is not about reform at all?

Bingo.

What we are witnessing is a PURGE, and has absolutely nothing to do with reform.

Pol Pot (Political Potentate) & Stalin come to mind.

Everyone sits and complains when the boys in charge DO NOT go after the big boys. The moment they do, they start screaming conspiracy. What the hell! Just have to believe people love to complain for the sake of complaining.

Which came first? The chicken or the egg?

If both are corrupt, how does one eliminate the other?

The entire charade is a farce, much like trying to explain to a waiter/waitress you want your food "mai phet/not spicy".

Corruption, like spicy food, is so ingrained in society that any other option is 1,000% beyond all comprehension.

Siam = Land of the Free......It's much like the USA, where it's the Land of the FEE, except at least I'm free to criticize current and past powers that be.

Heaven forbid one develop one's own opinion in Thailand. They'll tell you what to say & think.

Big honking red warning at the top of this screen. How can I ever say anything derogatory, as I don't know anything, as He is not allowed to be discussed.

Not that I have an opinion on it/Him, just, sheesh... Land of the Free my butt.

Reminds me of Kuwait where booze is illegal. I've never seen any country where they sell sugar & yeast in such large bags.

Every supermarket there sells sugar in 20 kilo bags.

They should outlaw pine trees & rice husks as they are both wild plants as well..

Weed should be like booze. Don't drink & drive. Don't smoke weed & drive. Other than that leave the smokers alone.

It's yet another farce ... they either don't see the need and oftentimes won't admit that they actually need foreigners and foreign investment here, and they certainly don't want to "lose control", so any changes will be minimal at best.

I'm still waiting on the UK (and other countries) insisting on reciprocal treatment for us ... but I guess that's never going to happen either ... Vietnam is looking increasingly attractive, along with MANY other Asian countries, whilst Thailand just goes backwards every day. The illusion of progress and modernity here is just that and always has been, whilst in other countries it's becoming a reality rapidly.

Reciprocity is long overdue and if ever it starts I can image the screams coming from LoS.

But...But...But... Thailand is a poor country! They aren't ready to compete fairly on the world stage!

Much like they'd never compete fairly in a farang VS. Thai dispute, be it in a back alley bar-fight or on the world stage.

Archaic laws will never be enhanced with yet newer laws.

They should repeal STUPID laws (as should most countries).

1. Grant 60% controlling interest in a company to anyone willing to be an Entrepreneur. 40% Thai owned seems fair enough & they'd have to pay taxes at 30%.
2. Allow Retirees/Pensioners to own at least 1 rai/half an acre of land & a house on it.

I could go on and on, but just those two above, would see MASSIVE amounts of foreign capital inflow.

Another quality Russian, arrest and deport .send him back to the pond life he emerged from.

I recall back in the 1980's near the end of the Cold War, I was in the US Army in the Panama Canal Zone.

About 25 of us (a platoon) happened to be on a hillside next to the canal when a Russian ship made it's way through.

We all mooned it.

I have since figured out that some Russians are, like most folks in general, decent enough, so I neither love nor hate them.

I dislike Obama, Putin, Prayeth, Thaksin, Busch, Saddam Hussein, Hitler & Pol Pot.

I've met Brit's Australians & Kiwis and Americans & Italians that are a waste of sperm & egg cells. Many Thai's Arabs & Latino's as well.

Most are decent folks though.

I once had a deep hatred for everything British. That was quite short-sighted of me, as I now evaluate people on an individual basis and count some British, Scottish, Irish, Thai, Palestinian, Argentines, Mexicans, Taiwanese, Chinese, you name it, as people I respect & some are close friends.

I've been around obnoxious Russians for sure. Same as all of the above nationalities, including North Americans, Nigerians & Canadians.

Most folks are decent at heart though.......Until they enter politics or join some police force, which is another subject.

Have these guys even had a bail hearing/arraignment? Have they been "officially" charged with any crime aside from maybe illegal immigrant status?

I'm from the USA, yeah it's different in Thailand I know, but... Either charge the guys with a crime or put them under house arrest until the RTP & prosecutor get their "acts & stories" together.

Being charged with murder = no bail. Being detained & investigated for months on end makes no sense at all.

After all, it's a "Perfect Case" & the RTP can do nothing more with it, according to a statement by the police.

If they are guilty then drag them to the nearest tree & string them up. If not, they deserve a chance to defend themselves sooner rather than later.

I'm reminded of that really cool movie called The Village Monster. They called them "Those of whom we do not speak".

Get a video camera/iPhone whatever.

Start shooting videos. Develop a YouTube Channel. Start a blog.

Post each video with a short article on said blog.

Start a Facebook Page about the blog & post videos there.

Use the free version of Mailchimp (Google it), to get folks on your email list, and then keep them updated.

Learn how to use Google Hangouts to interview folks live on camera (again free).

Use the free iRecorder for Skype (Google it), to do audio only interviews.

Start interviewing people. Start providing value, then tour operators and other interviewees will be tripping over themselves to help you.

I'm doing the same thing in a different niche right now. Interviews are nothing more than 10 questions where you talk with someone on the phone (except it's Skype or a video chat on Google Hangouts).

Spend 5 minutes on each question = 50 minutes of content more or less.

Do you know Wordpress? It's a super easy way to do a blog & you can add videos very easily to it.

Get busy & work on that every single day for a month.

Send me a Private Message if you need more help.

It cannot be set up overnight, but then again, Rome wasn't built in a day either.

So the Thai cops admit there is a bit of corruption.

In other, breaking news today, it was announced that the sky is blue and water is wet.

Sorry but Nigerians have such a bad reputation around the world, deserved or not, that they should be made to apply for a visa, even for a holiday, before they are allowed to visit Thailand.

This could help keep some of the less desirable ones away.

So do Russians Chiese & Israelis. Raid their homes, embassies and places of worship with militarized police swat teams? Genius thinking buddy.

I wish a SWAT team would raid those Cambodians near my Mom's house.

30 years ago they were burning crosses 300 yards away from there, which was one extreme I disagree with.

Now foreign folks seem to have taken over the neighborhood. It's in the middle of no where Florida as well. One nephew (I have many nephews & nieces) is a deputy sheriff in the local county.

I keep telling Mom to get him involved. She (78) refuses to do so as "That would be nepotism!"... She doesn't know the meaning of that word 'nepotism', but that's what she's saying, bless her heart.

Arrrgh!

I need to call that boy-sheriff/deputy myself I guess (he's 35 or so) & tell him to go put the fear of his badge into them or get some of his buddies to do so. That boy loves his grand-ma for sure.

Asian culture is quite exotic, and pretty cool, but...

Were they all born so stone-cold deaf that they have to play everything from disco music to Buddhist weddings to Buddhist funerals to Mosques at 5,999 million decibels?

Look up 28707 CR 46A Sorrento FL 32776 USA on Google Earth.

Quite incredible that I can be in Thailand and hear Asian music (which is cool at a decent volume level), over the phone, on my Mother's phone that is hundreds of yards/meters away.

Imagine playing Led Zepplin at that level in a Thai neighborhood. I'd enjoy it. I doubt they would though, so I never entertained the thought until just now.