jinjok

i would like to suggest that someone who is:

1. has time and inclination

2. uses baht buses

3. living in pattaya

4. has internet connection

start a blacklist

it could be very simple.

1. send email to get on the list

2. list is distributed to a group each time another bus is blacklisted

3. can use google spreadsheet to put numbers in order

4. scan the list in your pocket b4 boarding

*very simple and VERY effective

> for myself i think the ban should be for life but someone could run two lists. first for 3 mos, second (2 complaints or if a dire complaint is registered where someone details the abuse = life).

**no explanation needed. if you have been wronged, ripped off or abused just put the BB# in the subject and send to the email address!

as for myself, i do not meet any of the above criteria and actually looking to move on from pattaya/thailand anyway.

this is one moment in history that farang can fight back and have direct impact on abusive situations against us! someone please take up the cause! lets finally take control over or lives here even if its in a small way.

first i would like to acknowledge and thank all the supporters. everyone has a story of these mad men - but i refuse(d) to be intimidated. i do not need prozac and why does such a rude imbicle deserve the 5b more than me? if they wan to make the price 10 - so be it.

note: i have seen the post in the songtaews and note the wording - maximum. and in fact thai plice confirmed to me that the price is b5 - so there. that is fact.

ok as for the guy chasing me - yeah, this was the worst incident ever for me. maybe it was i spoke thai and said - everybody pays same so there! maybe he lost face in front of his wife (are you going to take that!?), maybe he was drunk or drugged as we all know they are habitually - you can smell the lao khao fumes from outside the cab. i dont know...

what i do know is that both the city and police support predatory mafia that think nothing of assulting foreigners basically for sport.

i must say though - thai men are really lucky. i know that in a spat, i cant win so i will always back down or go. ill go to jail - not him. ill pay him! that is thailand thank you. im not afraid of them one bit. they dont scare me for a second. im not here to pick fights - im also not here to be a victim of theft, verbal abuse, mafias and possibly assault.

anyone thinks that thailand isnt as dangerous as phils these days is wrong.

finally - yeah, the tuk-tuks in bkk are bs. i have said for years dont even bother, just grab a cab. only had one guy in 15 yrs try to rip me off in a cab and when i started yelling at him where the hel_l are you going in thai!! he took me back to sukhumvhit half way, dropped me and said sollee with a smile.

what im am so disappointed in is the cities, police support of the bad behaviour becasue it obviously is encouraging these men to act violently without fear of reprisal. when they kill someone what will pattaya city say - oh well ....

i think not the bar girls but the songtaew driver should be tested for drugs and alcohol!

from what i see the thai lady will pay double so not to lose face and start trouble. often i see them give 20 EACH. there is a secret 'feeling' among thais they all help one another at this level.

for instance ... if you are on the beach and youre eating and drinking alot youll get overcharged. she will take you back to the same place for the time th efarang is in town. after a week or whatever she will come back an dcollect a cut.

tropo: to your point about race/skin color on the other thread. color of skin color does not denote race and only minorly ethnicity. there are three races in this world: caucasian, asian, black (negroid).

ps: hey mobi - its becasue ive been here a long time i dont want to put up with the crap. but like i say - i never take the mafia buses.

speaks as much to the cops as it does to the songtaews though.

dental hosp suk 49 in bkk

BUT if you want to be cheap about it --- banglamong clinic

up to you

ive been taking the bus to bkk for well over a decade - i can never recall a movie or music. was this a private??? maybe you ought to do it they way all of us do .. thru the north station

were you on one of the orange buses out on sukhumvhit - yeah, those can be dire and take longer - why??

i decided to open a new thread becasue this is the definitive answer and i did not want it to be lost in the related thread.

today i had to go to pattaya mem for a BP check up. normally i walk EVERYWHERE, i loathe songtaews and think the drivers are about the worst representation of thai manners i have ever seen. today was the worst. i 'had' to take the bus (500m mind you) so as to not increase my blood pressure before the chkup.

the price is b5 everywhere save for: dolphin to sukhumvhit, nakula, over jomtien, pattaya tai north late night. those are b10

so i gave the guy b5 and he blew up (and so did my blood pressure). i should have gave him b10 so as to not cause the conflict - but being here 10 yrs and paying this, its just natural.

edit: i told the guy IN THAI > thai's pay five baht, farangs pay five baht -same

the guy repeatedly tried to run me over and then chased me up to (but not into) the hospital. he circled the hospital numerous times with his shrew of a wife in tow.

i called the police and reported that the man attempted to murder me with his vehicle and is now stalking me.

THAI POLICE WORTHLESS FOR FARANG: she stated that if i wanted to take action i had to file a complaint - sound familiar?? if a thai was raped, cracked skull, knifed ... do they have to file a complaint?? no. but i digress.

the woman on the phone CONFIRMED THE DOUBLE PRICING STANDARD. thai pay 5 farang pay 10. i said im here at the hospital - we pay the same. we alsopay the same at the airport, the restaurant, the barber, the cinema... she was speechless - but murmured - but not at the aquarium na. WORTHLESS.

there can be no double pricing FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT - PERIOD. this is racism pure and simple and to prove this my friends daughter who is thai holding french pp pays 5.

as stated prior - we all know why they do not post the price which is further insulting. it appears they will attept to kill you for paying LESS than 10 - but aer quit ehappy to take MORE than ten from you. in the end - they are <deleted> thieves and i am so sick of this crap and pattaya bs and crime in general i may write to the travel agencies and the iata.

thai police support racist double pricing fully. 100% fact.

and btw - the next time someone tries to kill you - go file a complaint!

the price is 10 - period. i stand corrected as racist this policy, 'law' - whatever is...

they are everywhere!!!!!!!!!

try pattaya bay - the location is dodgy butthey are ruuning a special for 13k for standard room.i think for that money you could get the suite.

i dont like the location BUT ... if you are now able to come thru the new mall 24 hours a day - that makes the place much easier access.

ps: free wi-fi in tuk-com did you know??? so youre not locked down to your room w/ computer.

anyone have any idea where to getanipod fixed? i have a broken select button (center). nonot the mac center - they for b6500 will EXCHG and send to sin.

someone nota hack and can get orig parts??

im screwed

apple does not support ipods here either - must send to singapore

"no parts"- quote

another hater.. ok thats fine.. I would think there would not be so many narrow minded individuals

yup when i want broad minded people i always go to john'the drunk' gibson, shill o'lielly and sean banality and all the neo-con support lemmings

that business guy neilknows squat about business andis only a total shill for the rethuglicants.

when people say - i watch fox - i know: white, republican trailer trash or nuveau riche and potential bigot.

fox is not fair minded and all you need to do is check newshounds.us or mediamatters

further - its 'news' is nothing more than infotainment. its a joke,a moralizing joke.

the same things that fox cablemoralizes about are thesame that fox tv exploits!! fox tv is the caters to the lowes tbase instinct.

fox- of course it has preety WHITE BLONDE GIRLSWITH LEGS. now thats quality news!

god why wouldanyone PAY for that idiotic, lying facist blather.

fox - americas worst export

i am truly embarrassed by fox as much as i am jerry springer.

are you insane!!!!!!!!!!

the price is b5. i would consider b8.

on rides now b10 (jomtien,dolphin-suk, nakula) to b13

you can go half way through los angeles for twice that price on an a/c NEW bus.

incidently - they are the most sleezy people in thailand i have ever met and i DO NOT TAKE THEM UNLESS I ABSOLUTELY MUST. i walk everywhere!

no sympathy for songtaew drivers!!!!!!

they PURPOSELY do not post prices so as to rip farang off. many europeans give b20+++for short rides. if it was posted - that would stop.

wake up dude!

actually - i weighing the costs of this nonsense. based on what a visa costs (incl transit) is bordering stupid. im sure i do it cheapest of anyone if you couple a TR with 3 visa runs --- ten months here will cost you minimum of b19k from pattaya. that is sleeping in a dorm in penang and eating local ..and beers in the cheapest drinkshop on penang as well.

i just wish philippines housing wasnt such a poor value,tat is the only thing keeping mefrom the move atthis point.

i think they just want to continue to keep the language as mystified as possible so they can continue to talk behind our backs.

of course -quadrupling the fees doesnt hurt either...

the thai language coursesi was going to take ...forget it

you can stack that against the condoi was going to buy

and the country club membership i decided against

go team thailand! chaalat thee sut!

id forget any idea of running a business out of indonesia. its a pretty broken nation. ive spent lots of time there. its getting worse not better. its growth is based on commod exports mainly.

for indo as phils youll need a ticket out. ow tickets out of indo are full fare

ps do not fly garuda!!

i had already emailed philippine tourism with some suggestions to draw more expats

no ticket out - show money/cards

simple/cheap multi visa

combat petty crime

reduce airport scams

reduce housing/hotel costs

stable intl cost for flights

these are basically the only real impairment to floods of foreigners heading for the islands.

philippines needs incentives. thailand does not, thats why we all stick around. my biggest gripe with phils is costs getting there, costs for room/hotel/gh (of course, the food sucks). i am already considering 6 mos in phils and may have a look (again) mid october.

jr - no one is going to pay us1000 to stay here. the total max fine for overstay now is only b20k i think.

the solution is simple - show money B500K for a year visa. i only spent 2/3 of that. obtain visa only in home country for TR long stay.

ps: i already have a ten year visa for india (6mos, no reporting <180days) cost was b6000

iPod Video - Clickwheel Broken (select/center)

Mac Authz Cntr Bkk "no parts" "must send to SIN" B6000/6500!

anyone have another option?? i had a zen fixed near it fortune but forget the name, tower across the street.

thanks

hi thx pb

i see in other forums you are CONTEMPLATING a move based upon nonsensical visa laws. i too have had similar sentiments. i have only thought about teaching lightly in passing but its just not a good investment in time (and money: tefl, clothes, etc...)

i think thailand had jumped the shark a few years ago, if not half decade++

thank you for your input.

only a few of you guys have got this sorted...

while it surely impacts all spouses (and kids) w/o income it is aimed at the wifey from phils or cambo. -which makes it as much or more xenophobic... if youre going to marry from the third world and want to live in thailand, we insist you will marry a thai.

thais have always been a churlish, petulant people. ask any farang with a sucessful business located near unsucessful thai neighbors.

ps: all these new laws and nonsense - juat another reason ive never bothered with the O visa.

After many years I'm seriously thinking about taking Thai language courses as my speaking abilities seem to dwindle every passing year. As a benefit I presume that being somewhat fluent will assist me in potentially working as an teacher. I have taught about 1.5 years about a decade ago in Korea and Cambodia.

I have...

a BA from a very respectable university (good grades), Masters work

a english certificate (about 40-60 hours??) from 1995

taught technical courses professionaly (lithographics-computer equipment 5yrs)

> How qualified does this make me to work in the Thai market?

I would like to ...

work in Bangkok or a coastal city

work at a university, govt agency - possibly high school

> What are the chances of the above?

What is the pay like for these positions...

> a university, govt agency, high school

> How difficult is the pratom6 really?

my understanding of the teaching scene has been this:

1. pay is about 200-350b per hour (BKK 'may' be a little higher, not much)

2. visas still can be a headache

3. private schools often wish to work you w/o visa and not pay for your visa costs

4. hours are spotty and often you are worked split shifts and weekends

thank you

i will have to scout it on a map but thanks for the advice. part of the issue is that i dont know bkk all that well -

ok ... well i found a few maps and it looks a bit daunting (size wise, map).

thanks...

I am seriously thinking of taking courses at Piammitr Language School but I am concerned about what I may have to pay for room. I am old Asia hand - looking for simple accom. while I learn Thai/script.

Lower Soi's a plus, but the school is near Asoke/Suk23. ***

Place should be nice and quiet and conducive to being inside for study

Simple, coolish, clean room (fan)

Bed/Furn/Fridge

Cold water fine

Cable TV a plus but not necc

Reasonable power rates (B6-8 per)

No/Reasonable deposit

My budget is 6k, can spend up to about 8k all in.

Please dont respond/post anything above 8k or with unwieldy terms. Please no cracks about the price/room/quality or whatever.... I've been in Asia quite long enough and this will be sufficient even if it wouldn't work for you.

THANKS THANKS

im sitting here in delhi. 5 weeks in india, im headed back to thailand. after 15 years of backpacking about asia and another two continents im wrapping it up.

lack of authentic experience, overpopulations costs, exceedingly dirty (india/cambo/indonesia), overdeveloped tourism impact, nasty-rude isreali's that have throughly ruined the backpacking experience. lazy travelers who know nothing about the country/people they are visiting.

im done too. came this realization a week back.

nothing i havent seen before, years ago, way more authentic. so ill build a house or something ...

i always hate these posts...

i have so much money... what should i do? WAh wah

i semi retired at 33, retired at 43. i will burn my cash down to the point of nothing by 65. minimal govt pension kicks in at 62. inheretence ??? about same time.

some dopes live to work. they have no love in their life and no love for life. they are quite happy toiling away. it fills th eempty viod that should be their LIFE. i have two friends, millionaires - never stop work. never holiday. they will not know what to do with themselves!

i have few regrets -

earn as much as you can and when you have difficulty commanding good wages and can tolerate the work - i always say.. never quit but let the job/career take you out. for me in i.t. it was early in life, luckily i planned somewhat.

something else... there are loads of farang here now who live big fat excessive lives. for this you need a matching bank account. all of the wiseguys in the financial media woiuld lead you to believe youll never save enough. if you are one of these - maybe you wont.

but heres a secret - if you can live simply you know exactly the money needed and can make it happen. while i have been living past ten yrs on 15-20k baht a month there are a bunch of losers dreaming and scraping the money for the 45k lifestyle. they will come here with their big money and equal big demands and live as they did back home.

anyone can have a great, simple life for b30k a month

retiree: i am not willing to forgo a payout -that may well not even be there for some pie-in-sky number drawn on a bankrupt nation. take it and run!

i have for years run out to theconsulate on my own - by bus even. i have this thing about making visa myself - but i have given in. now i just pay (penang) and get the visa back in a day.

going by train/bus/minibus its about b5500 all in from pattaya.

penang is boring but i never understood what the rush was to get back. espec when vast majority of thai expats have seen scant amounts of the region.