jesimps

I've been in Thailand for 16 years and been stitched up by the traffic police three times. It was only 200 baht each time, but still a stitch up. Twice it was for "spending too much time in outside lane" whilst overtaking a line of cars and the other was when the BIB showed me a small wrinkled piece of paper with "120 KPH" written on it when I was actually well within the limit. I payed up each time rather than surrender my license and drive to find some obscure police to pay the fine and obtain a receipt. Yes, I know, it just encourages them.

"But there are a few who will take advantage of situations where they think they can get away with stitching you up for a few thousand baht." A few? I'd say about 99% of them.

Trust the Thai Police? You have to be joking. After 16 years of being stitched up at traffic stops, and reading about their antics in other instances I wouldn't trust them an inch. They're just clowns in tight fitting uniforms who're no use to man nor beast. I know who I believe in this case, and it isn't the 'police'.

There's always one do-gooder on here trying to excuse the appalling driving standards of the locals, when we all know that driving on the roads here is a lottery. How anyone can drive here, even for a day, and say that driving in the US is more dangerous, is beyond belief.

"At the Big C Extra mall on Klang, a dominant language was Russian, with entire families thoroughly enjoying their freedom." Yes but were any of them smiling? Even before the war in Ukraine, they all walked around like they had a severe dose of piles. You'd think that getting away from that sihthole of a country for a while would make them ecstatic.

I'd say that it's the only 'decent' orifice in your body that if you have no pockets and want to use both hands, you can keep your change in. Many years ago when I played the guitar in a band, I used to put my lit cigarette in my earhole so I could have a crafty puff inbetween riffs. Disgusting I know.

Sounds like two other countries in this world who Thailand is in bed with.

"Police work for the public not financial gain," he observed. :):):):):):)

Got caught up in a police check yesterday afternoon at about 4.30 pm yesterday on Sukhumvit Road between Ban Amphur and Jomtien. Massive tailback, but didn't get pulled in. First one I've encountered for a while and strange, because they always used to take place before lunch time. Because of the road widening work, Sukhumvit is always chaotic without the fuzz adding to the mayhem. Looked like they were mainly after motorbikes.

I've seen similar posts as this at irregular intervals over the past 16 years of living here. I do agree though with most of your second paragraph.

I think he deserves asylum more than most of those coming across the English Channel, in that his life will definitely be in danger if they return him to Russia.

Sending him back home would probably be a worse punishment.

Yes, but it's based on your postcode and not whether or not you're a US citizen. You could be a Thai, Indian, African etc living in the state and pay the same as a US citizen. Here, the lower fee is purely for Thais. A clear case of racism.

What a complete and utter load of blx. You can't walk a few yards along Pattaya Beach Road without tripping over them, they're the ones all dolled up and loitering. Also I reckon at least 99% of bar and go go girls are also available for sex at a price. I've always reckoned that tourist police are about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Saying that, I personally don't object to them, they make Pattaya City what it is and attract a lot of tourists. Without the ladies of the night, they'd choose better locations to holiday closer to home.

Not bragging but the day after I arrived here I found myself in bed with the hotel housekeeper (the lady in charge of all the room maids). A few weeks later, after doing my bar monger bit, I met a waitress working in a restaurant I frequented. We've been married now for 14 years. I would say that it's difficult not to find a girlfriend in Thailand.

In my opinion, the venom is usually directed at where it's needed. In this case at the Australian woman. Unless of course you're one of those who think our host's behaviour is flawless.

I dunno, the ladyboy shows in Pattaya are packed with Chinese tourists. Also the floating restaurants/ladyboy shows off Bali Hai Pier will be thriving again.

Well it is, of course. The gun would still be laying where the mother put it otherwise.

I'd be inclined to blame the shooters numbskull parents rather than the constitution. I hope they get serious jail time, but I bet they won't. That part of the US is a bit of a tinderbox.

I've lived in the Pattaya area going on 16 years and Huay Yai where the murder took place for the last eight and have never been in a dangerous situation. Unlike when I lived in the UK. It's no more dangerous here than any other area in this country. However, saying that, in the minds of the bashers, it's like Chicago in the 30s. Mind you, I'd be very surprised if any of the critics have ever been to the city.

They should also shoot all those who never quit barking too. Especially those that live near me.

Yes, Phratamnak is well out of the way if going from Buakhao to Huay Yai. My money's on the carer's "brother", or road rage.

15 years living here, never been asked for money by Jomtien Immigration. The BIB are a different matter, I have three times been asked to pay money by them for trumped up traffic offences.

It's almost as though the authorities don't want the criminal scum to be caught when the most obvious means of identifying them is taken away. Here, it's mentioning nationality, in the west it's ethnicity. Seems the only ones who don't have rights these days are the law-abiding.

Normal service in most western countries.