syd barrett

Forget laundries. Sure-fire moneymaker is to buy one of the many open-air beer bars that have gone busto and are available cheap. Make your Thai lady the mamasan. She can provide jobs for numerous "sisters" from her village thus increasing her status. No need to worry about losing money because all your falang friends will come to your new bar regularly and drink. You get to sit around and drink with your friends all day and as a bonus you get to perform the "chief talent evaluator" function.

You are joking right?

Nobody who really knows the score in Thailand buys a bar-beer to make a profit, or even break even. I think some of bar-beer owners actually do it for fun, as a hobby, even though they are making annual losses.

Laundry, it will be.

UPDATE on comments

I am English and like most normal non-gym going people shower twice a day only.

I believe that all you farang objectors, who shower 4,5 or 6 times a day, so don't take offence.

But the fact remains that there are a lot of unclean and stinky long-stay farangs here in Pattaya who wear clothing for several days in a row. Some of them are my friends and some of them are good people, but they are just soap dodgers (sometimes 55 years old plus) who have been brought up to appreciate a weekly bath and a change of clothes on a Sunday.

Thanks, all comments about the business plan welcomed.

I am absolutely sick and tired of the Thai wife lying around all day watching unfunny comedy programmes with irritating sound effects and the even more pathetic Thai soap series that run every evening from 8.00pm onwards.

I have an idea to set her up with a laundry business. I reckon I can rent a premises for 6,000 per month then there is utility bills on top.

I can set the place up with three washing machines initially, one washing machine will be for farangs only because this will be set to a higher temperature wash because farangs (unlike Thai's) wear their clothes more than once so there is more bacteria in their underwear and socks.

I shall get two ironing-boards (good quality) not the type which sag or slip around on the floor because they weigh only 1kg.

Then set her to work (with one assistant from her Isaan extended family (who has never been to Pattaya before, so appreciates a salary of THB4K).

I will advertise heavily for tourist business with English signs and flyers and get her to draw up some Thai-scripted similar.

Then I can just sit back and wait for the cash to come in.

Comments appreciated.

This charge should only affect short-stay tourists.

Anyone living here should be using the cheaper telegraphic transfer method.

If your living expenses are THB 50K per month using an ATM costs approx GBP44 (In exchange fees and charges).

Whereas telegraphic transfer costs only GBP9- GBP20 depending on your bank.

So do the mathematics and change your habit NOW!

If you put food in checked baggage on an airplane does it spoil? Or are the luggage storage areas air-conditioned?

Don't struggle with hopeless uncomfortable bus services. Just go to a travel agent in central Pattaya and join a joint minibus going to Trat (including boat fare) you can get a seat for around 500 baht if you shop around. They will pick you up where you are staying and stop for urination breaks on the way. (Approx 4 hours)

I have to relate this hilarious story, from Bell travel bus a week ago.

We set off to the airport and the bus was completely full. There were about 15 farangs and the rest were all Indian nationals all talking loudly and being inconsiderate as usual.

I noticed after about ten minutes that the air-con on the bus wasn't working, just blowing hot air really, I just shrugged my shoulders and thought only 90 minutes to the airport, no problem, it wasn't too bad really.

Then one by one, about every 5 minutes, and Indian lady then an Indian man went forward to complain about the lack of air-con to the driver and his assistant.

Suddenly, the bus braked and pulled onto the hard shoulder and stopped.

The Thai driver had had enough of all the complaints and refused to continue.

I must add here that I wasn't too bothered, because my flight was not until the next morning, so I sat back and enjoyed the fun....

A group of Australian tourists, who had a flight very soon, went absolutely mental, because they knew the complaints by the Indians had caused the driver to stop.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, there were violent threats made towards the Indians and a couple of Germans got involved and threatened to haul off all the Indians. Eventually (after 15 minutes) we were on our way again. When we arrived at the airport, there was a lot of shouting and bad feeling, but I grabbed my bag and that was it.

You should be able to satisfy a few of your titles at TOPS bookstore (second floor).

However Joseph Wambaugh is really rare here for some reason. If it's any help I recommend 2nd hand book stores in the Philippines (a lot cheaper & a lot more variety) stock up next time you visit Manila.

Duplicate post

The Bell bus costs 200 baht now. There is another service that goes from the airport to Jomtien. I agree that the Bell Bus Service does speed, perhaps at 70 mph, but I still reckon it is safer than taking a taxi.

Incidentally, last time I used Bell Buses, the bus was full of about 80% Indians and they kept walking up to the driver and moaning about the lack of (broken) air-con. Eventually the driver had enough, pulled over on to the hard shoulder and ordered all the Indians off the bus, before he was going any further to the airport.

We sat there for about ten minutes, I didn't care because my flight was in the late evening but then a load of Australian tourists really kicked off, because they were due on a flight and began shouting at a group of Indian blokes who thought they were nouveau-riche. There were a few punches thrown, and some blood and broken spectacles and a fat Indian woman in full Indian garb started wailing.

Great entertainment. I think that Bell coaches has some sort of contract with these Indian tours.

I have got to say, these Indian tourists really are the limit. Their attitude is terrible, just because they have a few thousand Lek in the bank, they think they can abuse anyone. If any of those blighters had a go at me, I would probably strangle them and take the full consequences of the Thai law. (Small fine for murdering an Indian).

A lot of people moan about Baht Buses but they are useful, especially when it is raining in Pattaya or when it is very hot indeed.

Also, they are great for travel from central Pattaya to Naklua (Post Office) and to Jomtien (Chayapreeuek).

I say, overall, I would not want to be without them.

The new 2 Baht coin has been in circulation in Thailand for a few months now. You might remember that the original silver coloured 2 baht coin was easily confused with the 1 baht coin so was re-issued in a golden colour.

Some friends back in the U.K. have warned of a common scam that has emerged recently on the streets of England. That is three 2 baht coins super-glued together and passed off as a one pound English coin.

Since 6 Baht is worth just 12 pence in England this scam is catching on fast: BEWARE!

Who else is enjoying the hugely funny political satirical puppet show 'Robot Government'shown nightly just after 10pm on the NBT channel (Channel 11 previously) in Thailand?

I have been watching it.

Dont understand all, but still it makes me giggle, as some is understood.

My laugh really laugh of it.

Screen shot from 'Robot Government'...Guess who?

I've seen a lot of people come and go in just a few years. They often sell-up everything in their home country after a wonderful holiday in Thailand and have dreams of running a small business here.

The initial money might come from the sale of a home and car, maybe an inheritence.

A few years back a mate of mine from the U.K. came here with around 150K GBP in his bank. It lasted just two years. It sounds unbelievable, considering the baht was 65+ and UK interest rates were around 6-7%.

The real long-term residents under 50 either actually work here or have a steady income and learn to live on it. There are always the October-March crowd who return home and do 6 months graft.

A suitcase full of football shirts and tobacco usually pays for a return flight ticket and the cycle goes on.

News stories of Gavin Mann's drinking were legion across Pattaya. He first popped up on Thai Visa pages in 2006. See link below.

Gavin Mann Link

From Pattaya Daily News: March 16th 2009

ANOTHER BRITISH MOTORBIKE FATALITY IN PATTAYA

On the 15th March a head on collision occurred between two motorbikes in the vicinity of Soi Boon Sampan 14 in Pattaya. One of the riders, a British national, was killed at the scene.

Following a report received by Banglamung police inspector Pol. Lt. Col. Jirawatpong Reungdee, a police team and the Sawang Boriboon Rescue service was dispatched to the scene of the accident in front of Soi Boon Sampan 14, Moo. 12 Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi

On arrival the officials discovered a black Honda Dream motorbike, license no. 301, Chonburi, which had crashed and was lying on the road with its left side badly damaged. The driver, Mr. Boonreung Sakulma [41] was sent to the Pattaya Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

Close by was the dead body of Mr. Gavin Mann [41] , a British national, lying on his back near his motorbike, a yellow and black Honda CBR, license no. 105, Chonburi. The deceased was clad in a black short sleeved shirt and army camouflage style trousers . His body was covered in wounds. His was still wearing a white helmet but his neck had been cut by the strap which had caused a substantial loss of blood. His girlfriend was crying near his body.

According to eye witnesses, Mr. Mann, was riding his bike along the street at high speed and was swerving from side to side as if he was drunk. Mr. Boonreung was approaching from the opposite direction. The Briton hit Mr. Boonreung’s bike head on causing him serious injury. Mr. Mann was thrown from his bike. It is believed he was killed instantly. For now the police have presumed Mr. Mann was responsible for the accident due to drink driving.

Don't expect any kind of satisfactory customer service in Thailand.

It's not their fault, they are poorly educated, poorly trained and receive a poor salary.

On top of that, due to the cultural differences they are unable to deal with simple, common-sense issues. Thai citizens are totally unable to deal with angry or frustrated customers. They also feel that they are unable to seek the help/advice of their senior colleagues, without 'losing face'.

The only way to survive in the LOS is wear an idiotic grin and agree with everyone, while doing serious business by telephone in the western world.

I couldn't understand why the credit on my phone was always approaching zero, when I hardly ever made calls. I found out that every one of those beeps and unsolicited messages was costing me 2 baht.

AIS could not stop them, so I changed my SIM card and I keep my telephone number a secret. It's the only way.

Good to hear that some fellow Thai speakers are watcing it.

They really lay in to Samak, and ridicule Abahsit for his age/education and small height.

Mon-Fri it's the best thing on Thai TV.

Any news on Tropical Bert's breakfast?

Do you leave your television set on 'standby' all the time? I do, it has been on 'standby' for more than eight years.

Would turning the button to 'Off' save me any serious money?

Who else is enjoying the hugely funny political satirical puppet show 'Robot Government'shown nightly just after 10pm on the NBT channel (Channel 11 previously) in Thailand?

Does anyone have any updates on the Bell Bus travel service re: times and ticket prices? With Songkrawn festival just a month away I am making plans for an escape from Pattaya/Thailand.

I agree--carry-on limits are useless, especially when the case it self weighs 2 or 3 Kg--but, I also lock all hold bags, and use hardsided Samsonites, but would you elaborate on 'cable ties' and how to use them?

In economy most airlines are quite strict about a 7kg hand luggage limit, but now laptop computers are accepted as a separate item, which is worth2 kg or so.

Plus I switched from a 2-3kg hand luggage bag to a 400g canvas holdall which helps.

The worst that happened to me was calling a lift; then the doors opened and it wasn't there just a 30 feet drop.

If I had been in a hurry or Chang'ed-up I would have been brown bread.

Pan Pan is good Italian in Central Festival. I've eaten there twice. The prosciutto is great alone or on a pizza, and their pasta was really good as well. They also do a tuna salad - chunks of cooked tuna, boiled egg, fresh tomato quarters, in a light dressing - that's great if you need something lighter.

Agreed, also their house wine is excellent. A 500ml carafe costing just 500 baht.