mikebell

1) I applied for and successfully achieved a Schengen Visa for my TGF. I paid for Courier delivery. The sorting office mis-labelled it. The dolt went to the wrong house & hurled it up the driveway without securing a signature. It took hours of sleuthing & a visit to the Sorting Office. The problem was solved by the owner of the wrong house phoning my GF's telephone number on the front of the package. 2) I was then summoned to attend any branch of the Bangkok Bank because there was a problem. (I have over 1 million in a current & savings account.) I duly presented myself at the Numchai Branch on Suk & received a ticket showing 8 people ahead of me. After 45 minutes, the two desks finally completed dealing with ONE customer. Aged 82, I realised I was in more danger of dying of old age then getting served and left loudly declaring the inefficiency of the staff/banking procedures. 3) My GF's daughter finally graduated and I decided we would take a bus to Korat rather than risk this geriatric driver attempting a 350 kms journey. I found a depot on 3rd Road called Sri Monkol. It operated a VIP bus for 400 baht a head so I bought 2 tickets. The VIP bus had some slight damage to the rear. During the NINE hour journey I had ample opportunity to examine the road-worthiness of the VIP vehicle. Every crack in the road impacted the passengers probably because the tires were over-inflated. There was no visible tread on any of the tires. Prior to a visit to a Weigh Station (?) the driver maintained a 15kph speed limit for 30 minutes, then hit 150 immediately after passing an inspection! On the return journey we went with NCA who managed the return journey in a mere 7.5 hours AND provided free water & cookies for 25% less than the infamous Sri Monkol outfit. I feel better now.

Thank you both. I clicked on Pattaya news which does not have that facilty. I now can find it by just clicking on Pattaya.

I wish to contribute a new thread on the Pattaya forum. The drop-down menu prevents this allowing only a few accessible areas.

What difference does it make? He could be a pensioner; a diabetic; someone lacking in mental capacity. I don't understand what point your comment is trying to make.

and his money are soon parted.

Because I noticed they now have at least four eager beavers in a uniform, patrolling Pattaya Tai on motorbikes. Have you noticed Plod enforcing any traffic violations? (Apart from the odd blitz on helmets occasionally.)

Four + two reinforcements v One farang. Almost Thai odds; SEVEN being the minimum in a Thai gang.

Half for Policemen's Benevolent Ball.

Helpful; thank you.

At 11am?

What does this mean? Is it a thoughtful reply to a request for help from an 82 year old?

Thanks for that. Bank is conveniently opposite Soi Sex.

As I rarely go into town, I am confused about parking restrictions depending on odd/even numbers. I want to park on 2nd Road next Tuesday morning to visit my bank. Is it OK to park on the left?

Standard Operating Procedure for RTP: do nothing till forced into it then make what you can from those caught in the net.

Good luck with urging the BIB to do anything resembling work. They tarnish Pattaya's reputation more than pickpockets.

S-i-L was a victim of this. Despite the thief (a woman with farang husband) being arrested & taken to the cop shop, she was NEVER charged as the fat officer wanted 10K to proceed. The nurse victim continued to pay a car loan for 4 years when the car was (probably) in Cambodia.

A very polite description of Pattaya's invisible force. The only time I went in Dongtan Police Station, a fat, high-ranking officer wanted 10K to prosecute a car thief already arrested & in the same room. When the victim demurred, he washed his hands of the case & passed it up the line to Pattaya.

But a nice juicy contract for demolition to be awarded to a relative of the mayor.

The only way Thai police solve crime. The tip-off usually comes from the boss when wages are nearly due.

Yet this offence is tolerated by the police at EVERY school in the land. They even stop the traffic for them. Small wonder parents see no harm in it.

Good luck with that dear. Police only act when: a) there is something in it for them; or b) the swell of bad publicity forces them out of their habitual inactivity.

How many years now? They seem to have ignored the fact that ALL the establishments on Walking Street's sea side are also illegal and that's been going on for the 20 years I have been in Thailand.

At 82, I am sufficiently grown up to realise 'the bobby on the beat' is an Anglicism. There are no Peelers here. There is no beat in Thailand, just a hotchpot of hastily-contrived initiatives that fizzle out within days of inception. When you stoop to insult, you should know you are losing the discussion.

There's numerous angles to blame for the daily slaughter on the roads: education; corruption; even genetics. When compulsory seatbelts were introduced in UK there was some initial reluctance. Police enforcement was rigorous and the casualty rates fell until even the reluctant fell into line. In Thailand the police are lazy & inept. This lack of regular enforcement means helmets are rarely worn; red lights are a mere deliberation; speeding (the main killer) is ignored. So I would say the police deserve a huge part of the blame, wouldn't you?

I, (UK Thailand ex-pat) went touring US with my daughter (UK). For the ESTA(?) I put down The Bellagio, Las Vegas (on my bucket list.) No questions asked. I did get to see the fountains but from another (cheaper) nearby hotel.