coralia

What a pity... I was hoping for someone to post a picture of a soaring bum!!

(I hope you realize that I'm joking... I'm not a native English speaker either.)

I think valgehiir does great with his English as well

Of course he does.... But some typos/spelling mistakes are simply hilarious... I couldn't help myself!

No, nothing hidden, at least not intentionally. English can hard sometimes

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What a pity... I was hoping for someone to post a picture of a soaring bum!!

(I hope you realize that I'm joking... I'm not a native English speaker either.)

Ayjaydee, please don't get angry with me. I was just saying that Yoga offers a shortcut towards meditation... Walking the arduous way is fine, of course.

Actually, just trying to help the OP keep the topic alive.

Last few nights i been trying to sit on pile of bricks on the promenade, not really bricks, those brick looking thingies that are used around palm trees.

This week it has also been possible to sit down on Beach rd, near to entrance to Walking st. There are large piles of bricks that will be used to finish the last 100m of the road. Every night people are sitting there.

But the small piles, 4-5 bricks self made seating arrangements, after sitting more than few minutes, bum gets soar. No fun.

Some of the typos on this page are simply adorable... "flee market"... "bum gets soar".... I wonder if there are any hidden messages in there...?

we don't need to meditate ,living among thais and not kill anyone and stay calm is a deeper practice

Reading your post carefully, I can only conclude that you should move to another country.

First off meditation is a benifit in many ways and to find such a group...well... I belong to FairTex sports club and they have a Yoga schedule that is good... I kept fit and enjoy meditation...I seem to be the only one to float on water as I use the pool to streach out and float..this is my meditation...just to be able to float and relax...looking at sky and birds that fly by..peace I leave with you...Ron

Yoga is definitely the best place to start for meditation. I spent about a decade reading books about Buddhist meditation and struggling on my own... but didn't make any progress until I started practising Yoga. Yoga teaches you breath control, breath control leads to meditation... that's how it works.

Friend of mine studied yoga in India under a famous guru and then went on to enjoy great success teaching his own "naked yoga" variation to female backpackers on the hippie trail.

You must be so proud to have such friends... I dare hope that you studied with him as well .

First off meditation is a benifit in many ways and to find such a group...well... I belong to FairTex sports club and they have a Yoga schedule that is good... I kept fit and enjoy meditation...I seem to be the only one to float on water as I use the pool to streach out and float..this is my meditation...just to be able to float and relax...looking at sky and birds that fly by..peace I leave with you...Ron

Yoga is definitely the best place to start for meditation. I spent about a decade reading books about Buddhist meditation and struggling on my own... but didn't make any progress until I started practising Yoga. Yoga teaches you breath control, breath control leads to meditation... that's how it works.

Please, if you dont mind, share some of your insights and the basics of breath control.

Iyengar has a book called "Light on Pranayama" - all about breath control - I bought it at Kinokuniya in Siam Paragon four years ago; there is also a wealth of information on this subject on the Internet. However, I really suggest that you start with a Yoga class. Yogic exercises were especially devised to help the practitioner concentrate and gain control over his/her breath, their ultimate goal is to lead the practitioner towards meditation. Even simple asanas (Yoga positions) will help, you don't have to become a Yoga expert or stand on your head all day (although standing on your head will definitely help you concentrate!)

The problem with "Buddhist meditation" is that it makes us think we can bypass Yoga and physical exercise, this is generally not true, especially for westerners... unless they are exceptionally gifted (not my case!)

Good luck, and don't give up!! EVERYONE can meditate. And it's worth it!!!

Over the last month I have become a victim of a clever 'Eastern European' scam while out shopping. Simply dropping into the supermarket for a bit of shopping turned out to be quite an experience.

Here's how the scam works:

Two seriously good-looking voluptuous 20-21 year-old girls come over to your car as you are packing your shopping into the boot. They both start cleaning your windscreen, their breasts almost falling out of their skimpy T-shirts. When you thank them and offer them a tip, they'll say 'No' and instead ask you for a lift to another supermarket..

You agree and they both get in the back seat. On the way, they start undressing, until both are completely naked. Then, when you pull over to remonstrate, one of them climbs over into the front seat and starts crawling all over your lap, kissing you, touching you intimately, and thrusting herself against you, while the other one steals your wallet!

I had my wallet stolen October 4th, 9th,10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, 24th and 29th. On November 1st, 4th, 6th, 10th and 13th and twice yesterday.

So please warn all the older men you know to be on the lookout for this scam.

Well, if you had so many wallets stolen, I can only assume that they were all empty...

Me!!! But I'm not in Pattaya, unfortunately... (Maybe when I turn 50... in 2016, I think... unless some disaster happens in Thailand before that )

Again the lesson here for myself and all is pay what is demanded no matter wrong or right or risk being assaulted.

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I am surprised this first occur to you now JT, I think you had problems with bath bus drivers before, yes?

I also read about the guy who got beaten in the head with an iron bar in a dispute over a bar bill.

Another one I read about was a British man on Phuket that got severely injured (also by an iron bar) over a dispute over work done on his house, I hope he survived, think he was in a coma.

Just pay man, it's not worth it and since you didn't really got hurt (pride only) then you have to consider if you will complain at the police station and look over your shoulder the next 3 month or stop using the bath buses all together. The taxa people here are mafia which we all know and they will always stick together and they might retaliate since you live here and are not a tourist and can leave tomorrow if needed.

I only use the motor bike taxa's now and again (when out drinking with friends downtown) and here you have the advantage that you agree on a price before you go and I never had any problems and they drive me straight to the gate of my house.

Paying 20 baht for going over the hill Pattaya/Jomtien is cheap as chips compared to the rest of the world (and Phuket).

I think the British man in a coma was in Hua Hin... I remember that story, it was absolutely horrible.

I have also witnessed some scenes of shocking violence in Pattaya... in broad daylight, nobody stepped in, everybody behaving as if nothing was happening...

Looking at the violence in Bangkok these days... If they can be so ruthless towards each other, why should we be surprised when they turn on us foreigners? After all, they only see us as a source of income - especially in Pattaya.

I won't pretend Suthep doesn't say things which will cause some to think he's a few sandwiches short of a picnic. However, I find it hilarious that some people really believe that Yingluck has any clue about what she is doing. It is genuinely funny that anyone out there could know how to use a computer, keyboard and an Internet forum and yet so bloody stupid to believe that Yingluck knows what she is doing after she's finished applying make-up. A female clown of the highest order.

Some people only move to Thailand so that they can freely express their misogyny.

This is going to be just great for tourism... especially Asian tourists who cancel their trips at the slightest sign of trouble! I remember flying on an empty plane from Korea to Bangkok five years ago, and that was (obviously) before they seized the airports!! Did they have to do this (again) at the beginning of the high season?...

Been working at two 5-star riverside hotels today. One of them is receiving a steady flow of postponements and/or cancellations and the other has lost 300+ room nights (from cancellations) in the past 48 hours alone.

This 'situation' is having direct effects on the high-end tourism.

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I wonder why the Yellow Shirts always start these protests with the beginning of the high season?... Just like 5 years ago, when they occupied the airports... Maybe they just don't like foreigners?...

BTW, isn't this Suthep the same Suthep who made some vaguely xenophobic comments a few years ago, when he was a member of the government...? I'm sorry I don't remember exactly what he said, but I'm sure other TV members do.....

And what was it about that German photojournalist who was assaulted at one of these rallies, a few days ago?........

No worries. Quality Chinese tourists are always an option.

Asian tourists are the first to get scared and cancel their trips whenever there is trouble.

But it probably won't...

Newest Pattaya attraction waterfalls

Are those "waterfalls" flowing directly into the sea...? Amazing... I have only seen this in Korea until now... and the Koreans boast that it's unique, if I remember correctly... Surely tourists will flock to see this new "attraction"...

I love it! There's a certain sense of satisfaction in being able to say "THEY MESSED UP" when it's from gross managerial incompetence.

I'd like to be a fly on the wall at city hall when that subject comes up in a meeting.

Newest Pattaya attraction waterfalls

Are those "waterfalls" flowing directly into the sea...? Amazing... I have only seen this in Korea until now... and the Koreans boast that it's unique, if I remember correctly... Surely tourists will flock to see this new "attraction"...

To Morden:

I don't live in Thailand, and I'm quite sure that I can't buy pepper spray where I live. So where could I find a "good police equipment store" in Pattaya or Bangkok?

To all "dog lovers".... Just a couple of days ago, a 4-year old boy was killed by a pack of street dogs in my native country (mercifully I don't live there anymore)... As far as I'm concerned, the presence/absence of street dogs makes the difference between the civilized world and the third world.

There is a police supply shop on Soi Suan Phlu, Sathorn Bangkok, opposite the police station.

I'll remember that, thank you.

To Morden:

I don't live in Thailand, and I'm quite sure that I can't buy pepper spray where I live. So where could I find a "good police equipment store" in Pattaya or Bangkok?

To all "dog lovers".... Just a couple of days ago, a 4-year old boy was killed by a pack of street dogs in my native country (mercifully I don't live there anymore)... As far as I'm concerned, the presence/absence of street dogs makes the difference between the civilized world and the third world.

I don't know where they are in those two places. However, if in North Pattaya you go the mall that includes Big C, there's a shop that sells all kinds of self defence equipment up to BB guns. Perhaps they also sell pepper spray or can tell you where you can buy it.

I agree with you regarding street dogs. A scourge in any neighbourhood that should either be confined to the owners' land or killed off.

The mall that includes Big C in North Pattaya... would that be the Central Festival Mall on Second Road? I don't remember any other Big C in North Pattaya.... I haven't been to Pattaya for a couple of years though.

To Morden:

I don't live in Thailand, and I'm quite sure that I can't buy pepper spray where I live. So where could I find a "good police equipment store" in Pattaya or Bangkok?

To all "dog lovers".... Just a couple of days ago, a 4-year old boy was killed by a pack of street dogs in my native country (mercifully I don't live there anymore)... As far as I'm concerned, the presence/absence of street dogs makes the difference between the civilized world and the third world.

Where do I find a police equipment shop......???

OP good to hear you are almost OK.

Next time have a can of pepper spray ready and give them a good dose.

I also have a road I ride through almost everyday and one mean dog sometimes attack but not often so you don't know when it happens but I know the bastard by sight and are ready to give full throttle.

Where do you buy pepper spray in Pattaya?

Markets as suggested but also try a police equipment shop for the really powerful stuff.

OP good to hear you are almost OK.

Next time have a can of pepper spray ready and give them a good dose.

I also have a road I ride through almost everyday and one mean dog sometimes attack but not often so you don't know when it happens but I know the bastard by sight and are ready to give full throttle.

Where do you buy pepper spray in Pattaya?

Now just what is it you learnt from your mistakes Jingthing?

Not much yet.

I was HOPING for some intelligent and knowledgeable feedback related to the idea that locals would have pressed the driver for compensation and that I should have as well.

Of course in this case, there isn't much to be compensated FOR but there could have been and I seek the info for possible future events and also for other people who learn about who also may be in future baht bus related accidents.

We were once involved in an accident in Thailand (not in Pattaya and not involving a songthaew/baht bus). My friend was simply hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing (of course pedestrian crossings are worth nothing in Thailand but we didn't know that at the time). She ended up with a broken bone under the left knee (but she would have died if I hadn't pulled her at the last minute, when I noticed the car was not stopping), she spent four days in hospital and then six weeks with her leg in a cast...... that was one "great" holiday we had.

Now about compensation... The driver stopped and got out of the car, but then his first instinct was to get back into the car and drive away. I was in shock and extremely angry (my friend was sitting on the pavement, obviously in great pain), so I stood in front of his car and didn't let him drive away... Within minutes a policeman showed up, called an ambulance and started talking to the driver... Later at the hospital, the policeman showed up with the driver, they kept talking, they seemed to be negotiating... or perhaps that was my impression. The total hospital costs for the four days of treatment were 28.000 Baht, this was exactly 700$ at the time. The hospital expected our medical insurance to pay for everything, but we had no insurance whatsoever (there were good reasons for that, but this is a different topic). I insisted that the driver had to pay for everything, and quite amazingly, he DID. If I remember correctly, his car insurance paid 15.000 Baht and he claimed he had to borrow the rest of the money... The hospital kept my friend's passport until everything was paid for. I have always wondered what happened exactly... Does the Thai law/custom force the driver to pay? Or did he reach some deal with the police so as not to lose his driving licence? Or was he simply afraid of accumulating bad karma? Could he have gotten away without paying?...

Well... I don't know if this is the sort of feedback you were looking for, but one thing is certain: if you want any compensation, you have to get the police involved.

I pre book with thelimopattaya.com via the net, I have been using them for last 7 years modern cars, good service, and they have never let me down.1200 bht for a car inc tolls .

This seems to be the best option... According to their website, they don't ask for any advance payment.

Will be arriving at Suvarnabhumi with an elderly lady + wheelchair, so we'll have to take the best and most straightforward means of transportation to Pattaya... What would that be and how much should we expect to pay? I remember there was some kind of "limousine service" in the arrivals hall (but I haven't been to Thailand in three years, perhaps that has changed), would that be the best way to go? And how much are they likely to charge us for Pattaya? I have never done this, always took the Bell bus, so I'm really worried.... Please advise.

Thank you.