piker

In front of Royal Garden, there's no less than 10 baht buses at night sitting idle waiting to be hired.

I tried negotiating 150 baht return to Buddha Hill and was told to ###### off.

I pointed out the drivers sit there for hours doing nothing and how much more did he expect to get off another customer for a short trip?? 150 is better than 0.

I was told to ###### off again.

You wan't us to think.

a baht bus driver told you to <deleted> off for 150 baht to buda hill.

Sorry BS mate.

No, sorry maybe your right he did.

Think he must have thought, you were a complete <deleted>.

you should try and brush up on your negotiation skills.

Have a nice day.

Sounds like your reply was written by a taxi driver with a grade 5 education. Cheers.

In front of Royal Garden, there's no less than 10 baht buses at night sitting idle waiting to be hired.

I tried negotiating 150 baht return to Buddha Hill and was told to ###### off.

I pointed out the drivers sit there for hours doing nothing and how much more did he expect to get off another customer for a short trip?? 150 is better than 0.

I was told to ###### off again.

Try bike shop on corner of Lenkee/3rd. Many choices with/out visors. All new. Prices negotiable. Bring a Thai.

My big head is swimming in space.

I have a mate owning a bar in Jomtien which is enclosed and fully air conditioned. The hawkers come right into his establishment like they own the place and proceed to do the poking and prodding (sounds dirty...).

What I must ask my mate is WHY are they brazenly allowed to do this??!?

I like to think if I were a bar owner, I'd put an army of women at the door blocking their path. Or maybe that's what the taser is for...

The problem doesn't only end with Thais I'm sorry to say. It's common enough to see farangs driving motorbikes with their Thai wives and baby. The parents' heads are "safely" covered but little Billy, who will undoubtedly leave his mother's arms on impact, is without protection. And what amount can this tyke helmet cost the parents anyway??!!

How dare you say you love your child that you carried in your womb for 9 months and but let them be so unprotected??? Th e child, if he/she doesn't die of head trauma, will probably be mentally challenged from an unprotected blow to the head. Seems to me, the parents already suffered such a blow...

I have uncovered a few solutions for the beach vendor problem.

1-Accept that it won't change due to the fact the foreigners have bought and will buy again so they figure they've got a shot at you.

2-Consider other beaches. Wong Amat isn't horrible or Bang Sare just south of Jomtien is really charming.

3-Get yourself connected. I have the most recent phone # of a Pattaya city beach security officer. One can often see the vendors scurrying off when they make their presence known. I have also sat near one of these officers who intelligently (or lazily) parked himself in uniform on a beach chair facing the road. I didn't have 1 annoying vendor come to see me!

I feel Walking St's vendors have to be paying tea money because there's this one tiny annoying old lady selling roses and her tactic is not only to tap your arm but also to shove the flowers under your nose and/or in your line of vision thereby blocking it. When you attempt to ignore her, the bouquet's jagged stems brush against your presumably sleeveless arm which doesn't tickle.

Other tea payers are the bag vendors on the beach side of Royal Garden, the taser sellers which might even be illegal to own?!

I can almost say I love annoying vendors compared to the ones selling laser pens. My eyes are so sensitive to even the reflection of that light. I feel like asking to inspect the pain and then "accidentally" zapping them in the eyes. Oops, I did it again.

pm me for security guard's phone # and be prepared to tip him when he arrives.

Some say Pattaya is only interesting after 6:30pm when the sun goes down. First of all, the girls have come out of their 15 hour comas for feeding time, the sun has set, and there's a general buzz in the air.

I find lots to do during the day. I'm in my room with my girlfriend until noon. Then I drive her home, get some lunch, maybe walk along the beach, nap, eat, and come evening, I'm ready to eat again and find a new girlfriend. I also work every 2nd day so I'm often pulling an all nighter every 2nd night which chews up the daytime.

Some might say there's little to do and the heat and poverty is more visible by day until the beer goggles come out at night.

http://pollstar.com/tour/searchall.pl?Cont...All&PSKey=Y

Eventually here.

I have TT&T and I think my service is slow.

Bob's BBQ is scheduled to re-open October 1 on Soi LK Metro.

Coming from Soi Diana, Bob's will be 2 shop houses before Lolita's.

Joke: "Bob's is close to Lolita's so you can _____________________. "

Ok I must confess I live a stress free life in Pattaya except...I often miscalculate the placement of my water bottle and when I hit the green dispense button, the first blast ricochets off the side of the bottle sprinkling me trousers and then people might think I've peed my pants. Please fess up if this has happened to you at least once (or weekly).

I drink it and haven't died lately.

The best public pool in Pattaya is on the roof of Mike's shopping mall. I believe it's 60 baht and there's a food court one floor down. Only drawback there is very little shade but some of the...erm visuals will leave you hot for sure. Nice 360 view of Pattaya though.

Any possible updates to the list of Singapore forums? Thank you.

I used to live in a condo overlooking the Jomtien police station. There were loud beach parties until sunrise just a few meters from the police station. I never once opted to complain figuring nothing would come of it and just maybe, it was a few on or off duty police as part of the revelry.

Now I live in a condo undergoing major construction. The farang manager enforces a quiet period from before 11am and after 5pm which I find reasonable. He gives his business card to everyone and is very dilligent when condo "security" fail to stop the various construction crews who march in daily at the crack of dawn with their drills. Sigh.

After living here 3 years, I finally met the mayor of Pattaya today! I've never seen him carrying his shopping basket at the Big C checkout. I've never seen him passing up offers saying "mai ow krab" while strolling the beach. I've never seen him cursing as he hits a pothole. I see him on TV all the time but never live in the flesh.

Today I met the mayor of Pattaya at a function. He was very pleasant.

Have you ever seen or met the mayor?

I've been to Hua Hin just once and feel that it could be my new home but I need to spend more time there. I was wondering if you know of any furnished condos or long stay hotel packages under 15,000/month? Any board members renting out property? Anyone reading this in Hua Hin wanting to meet for a round? Thank you.

A cop showed up solo and I was pressured to pay 3000 baht to a disgruntled female anatomy renter. I was a new arrival in Thailand. At this point, since all my papers are in order, I might even consider fighting the charge.

The ultimatum was to head to the police station and I assumed I could get hit for more or be required to spend the night in a cell.

3000 baht and I went to sleep in my own bed. I've told this story numerous times and I ask you: "what is your breaking point?" At what point would you say, "that's too much of a bribe?"

I've been operating on WIFI in my Pattaya condo for over a year with no complaints. As I began using Skype, I felt there was a need to upgrade to a faster connection or the calls were garbled.

I heard TT&T Maxnet had a really good promotion and I had heard horror stories about ToT so I went to the Carrefour office, paid 1500bt for connection, signed a 1 year contract, was given a free modem and was told the connection would be made within 10 days.

On the 10th day, TT&T calls and says they've made the install

Now I needed to have my condo's technician make the install from the phone box to my actual condo. The cost of the work and the cable: 1500 baht.

To me, this is all money well spent if it is in fact better for Skype.

What was your experience with any ADSL connection? Thank you.

First of all you have to establish is that what these boys on bikes are doing is against Thai law (apart from 3 on a bike?!?!) and detrimental to society (us) - then it might be worth harassing them - are they a danger to the general public though?

I fully agree with you but my radical suggestion is to harrass them anyway. With the good, the police are bound to round up some bad too. All part of the plan as it's a major warning that enough is enough and there's a new sherrif in town. Obviously die hard criminals will try to find a way to thwart the law enforcers but a good percentage will be scared off from carrying out any future plans. I still think the key to reducing and/or eliminating most of the problems is to knock out these lads' transport.

Many of us can't be empathetic until we're victims. I've never been mugged per se but I was once parked near the side of the road in front of Buakow Market around 2am and some young helmetless joy rider sped by and grazed my leg but just not close enough to hurt me but it did knock off my shoe! I'm sure many wouldn't argue that's the stereotypical <deleted> that needs to be off the road (as a driver at least).

To save you the trouble of reading the previous 2 pages, I think all of can agree that there's a visibly increasing (as opposed to decreasing) trouble element in certain parts of Pattaya.

Having said that, I'm interested in focusing on the solutions if there is one at all.

I'm very pleased with the presence of tourist police volunteers posted nightly on the beach and walking street. We can't even guesstimate how many incidents have been eliminated or reduced due to this.

I don't see enough random police check points. I think this is the key. I still see a large number of young Thai boys/men riding around 3 to a bike rather wildly at all hours of the night. Many don't have license plates. My suggestion for solution is to have the police harass these ######ers non stop every night. Non stop ID checks, Non stop vehicle registration checks, Non stop checks under the bike seat, etc. It's obvious discrimination but nobody would complain. Ladyboys get rounded up periodically on the beach and are fined for....being ladyboys!!

Any failure to pass these simple tests results in an impounding of at least 30 days. Even if no fines changed hands, without the means to escape, some of Pattaya's popular crime plans would've never hatched. I'm also guessing the offenders might reconsider their next move if they could possibly lose their transport over it.

Next problem: Fake police officers!

http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_20_07_50_4.htm

I think The Shark is one of those seaside restaurants out in Naklua near the waterfront market. Either way, I've had several romantic anniversaries (about 1 a week ) and would recommend a seaside dinner away there from Walking Street prices. Try the crab in yellow curry. Divine...

I enjoy Sugar Hut more during the day as there's less mosquitos and you can take in the lush greenery. I'd recommend the Naklua suggestions. Enjoy your fantastic meal with the sounds of the waves lapping at your heels while enjoying the cool breeze.

:D

Went to the Great American Rib Company tonight on a fact finding mission. This thread got me in the mood.

I ordered 1/2 rack of ribs (295bt) which came with a choice of any 2 sides: bbq beans, baked potato, cole slaw, potato salad, curly fries, corn bread, garlic bread, and corn on the cob. The full rack (16 ribs) would be 485bt.

If you're really hungry or simply a pig, try the "Great American BBQ Feast" (1095bt):

Full rack, mound of pulled pork, whole chicken, pepper coated pastramied pork tenderloin and this all comes with ALL the sides mentioned above.

All prices subject to 10% service + 7% VAT.

I felt there was nothing special about the rib sauce which is what really makes or breaks a rib or wing meal. The meat was tough and dry. It did not fall off the bone.

I have recently dined on BBQ Bob's ribs were much easier to chew and came right off the bone. Unfortunately, there was very little sauce on his ribs.

There were no other customers tonight. I also didn't like the pic nic table benches as I enjoy reclining on the back of a chair at least. I know the all American pic nik feast image they're trying to convey with the plaid tablecloths and all but for that price, I want a more comfortable atmosphere.

I also really enjoy Thai/Issan food so maybe I'd rather stick with what I'm spoiled by than shell out for ribs again.

Maybe that's Niels Colov's (Pattaya People presenter) new version of the Tourist Police Volunteers?

Great American Rib Company? Longhorn? Beefeater? Crazy Dave's?