wcr

Do a search on Thailand Real Estate & Property Guide enter land in the areas you are looking for, you may find something. Also look in the classified section of the Real Estate Magazine Thailand, or newspapers again you may find a private person selling.

Yes its true!

And I'm not talking about those awful things the som tam sellers have. Proper freshly cooked pork scratchings, just like home. The missus just came back from the market on soi 17/ 3rd road with a big bagful for 20 baht (still warm), so I had to crack open a beer to enjoy them properly. Pure cholesterol heaven.

Apologies if you don't get it, it's a British thing.

I took a bag to Flannigan's - sat there and ate the whole bag accompanied by a pint of John Smith's and not a fat slag in sight

Were you enjoying a cigarette also at the time?

That place is full of smokers breaking the law. I have eaten there several times recently, although the food was good the smokey atmosphere was not. I won't go back until the ban is enforce as it is elsewhere, like the Pig & Whistle and Queen Vic to name just two.

I think this is all great news indeed. Now what we need is a telephone hotline number that we call call in to report these offending venues. Nothing bothers me more than when I am in a restaurant with my family and half the people are smoking like a 16 year old Korean. I have complained to the restaurant management but they couldn't care less. If I could then call in to report them and it was actually followed up by a 20,000thb fine then I think they would start removing the ash trays from the tables and stop the smokers from lighting up. Until they get fined, good luck getting them to comply. It is the responsibility of the establishment to enforce these rules. As we all know, the customers will try and get away with whatever they can.

If it wasn't for the fact that if you lit up a cig in say an airport or shopping mall that security was straight on you to put it out, folks would still be smoking in these places as well. Nothing will change until the venues themselves are fined. Imagine if the police walked into a restaurant or bar and started fining the establishment 20,000thb for each cig they found in the ash trays. Look how much money the police could make in a single night out in Pattaya.

I definitely think a hotline number is required or nothing will ever get done. The law has been on the books for years banning smoking in restaurants but they all still have ash trays on the tables. This means that the restaurant has no idea or motivation to enforce the rules. I hope this does change. Smokers should be forced to sit in small little boxes to smoke so they can enjoy all the smoke and not waste any. With the price of cigs what it is, why would they want to waste any?

I understand that Thailand has bigger issue to tackle but I sure hope this one does get some attention and smoking can be eradicated from public places where non-smokers have no choice but to breath in the air that is around them. If you chose to smoke then confine it to your own lungs!

I agree full heartedly. Give us a hotline to call and report the smoker and establishment. I'll be the first to use it. Some of you smokers are ignorant <deleted> and you just don't give a dam_n that someone next to your table is eating. You still light up and puff your stinking foul smoke over me. Give us a number please to report these uncaring and inconsiderate people.

Finally as you say it would be great if we could get the backing of a good investor, and we could invest in some new equipment, and media coverage, as I have said before, the competition already has this covered with their own different mediums,all over Pattaya.

DJC

Well as for advertising 103 is a Bartercard member. Anna should be using her Barter Baht to place ads in the local media. Also, 96 is very big on doing Barter deals and that brings in cash clients also. I have a direct barter deal with 96FM where I give him a page of advertising in my magazine and in return he gives me air time for my graphic design company. A win win for both of us.

Of course the other two promote themselves within their own publications or TV stations.

103 has always been poor at publicising itself. Maybe the Thai mentality coming through where they expect clients to just walk in the door? I am not telling her how to run her station, but lets just say if I owned it I'd be out attending functions promoting the station and spending some of the advertising revenue on promoting the station. Also it is bloody difficult to rely on volunteers to be DJ's. IMO the station doesn't have an identity of its own either. Either be English 100% or don't. 103 states its an English station yet most of the DJ's speak Thai, with a smattering of pidgin English thrown in. It's a turn off for me, and many others I would guess.

With respect DJC, your morning show won't make the station.

Take a look at this site for land. You may find what you need.

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YAWN! Sounds like a set up to defame and rip off the restaurant. You weren't too busy to get to a lawyer. People who rush to file law suits suck.

Agreed. Why contact lawyers? Surely it is a more polite thing to firstly contact the owner and give him chance to make things right? If you get no joy there, then go down the lawyer route.

I hope that the lawyers take your money (which they are very good at doing) and you get no satisfaction.

DJC - You are very defensive. I didn't see anyone having a pop at you, only the station.

I actually think that 103 has a good opportunity here. They were the first station to play in Pattaya speaking English. They now have two good quality competitors.

If I was Anna (owner of 103FM) I would get an investor in to allow the station to develop. Take the best of the two new stations, (music on 105, professional ads and announcements on 96) add them to what she is presently doing and keep some DJ's. Upgrade her equipment and get some competitive ad rates in place she could do well. There are plenty of people out there prepared to advertise on the radio as has been proven by the 2 newcomers.

Its very easy to go to Vientiane by yourself.

The cheapest way is by a 24 seat VIP bus from Morchit to Nong Khai. Bus departs every hour from about 5pm to 9pm and arrives early next morning. Then get a tuktuk to the Thai boarder. Then get on the Laos bus to the Laos border. Get your visa on entry (1500 Baht) then get a taxi into the town. All taxi drivers and tuktuks know the Thai consulate.

Alternatively fly from BKK on one of the cheap carriers to Udon Thani, get the minibus at the airport that goes to Nong Khai and tell the driver you want Friendship Bridge and he'll drop you at the boarder, then follow same as above.

Dear forum,

I was diagnosed with colon cancer and had the tumor cut out in a standard colon cancer op in November last year. I was told I was at stage 2, no spread of the cancer into other organs or lymph nodes.

I have been to see the oncologist at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital who recommended Folfox 4 chemotherepy. This is every 2 weeks and involves a 3 day stay in hospital and last for 12 cycles. They quoted me a whopping 120,000 Baht per cycle.

I went to see an oncologist at the Chonburi Cancer Centre. He also said that Folfox 4 was the correct chemo for me and quoted a price of 60,000 Baht per cycle. He also said that as stage 2, he thought it wasn't neccessary to have chemo. If money wasn't a problem then I should consider having it, but there was mixed opinions from doctors about if it would benefit me or not at stage 2.

I have read a recent report on the internet about the trail results for Folfox 4 on 5 year and 6 year survival rates. It says that for stage 2 cancer the survival rate goes up by an average 3.8% and for a high risk stage 2 cancer up by 7%, the same as the stage 3 results. I don't know if I am a high risk stage 2. It also says that it dosen't recommend Folfox 4 chemo for non high risk stage 2.

So, I am interested if anyone else here has been through this. Do you know what a high risk stage 2 is? I frankly don't trust Bangkok Pattaya Hospital in their advice. I could return home (UK) and receive the treatment for free (if they recommend it).

Join Rotary. Look at www.rotary-pattaya.org for some ideas of what they do throughout the year.

You mention being "transferred to the Bangkok Hospital of the chain".

What precisely does this mean, and has your lawyer advised you on this?

It ought to be important since the question arises whether the BKK hospital is responsible for what happened in Pattaya?

What is the evidence, medical or otherwise, that it was the Pattaya hospital which caused you to get the infection?

And have you put this allegation to the hospital and if so what do they say?

Can you give more details of the debit guarantee form, does that apply to the Pattaya hospital as well as BKK hospital?

Have you tried asking the likes of Sunbelt to recommend a specialist lawyer or indeed get advice frrom Sunbelt?

On the face ot if sounds like at the moment the advice from your lawyer is sound.

What about trying to negotiate paying part of what is owed?

You really do need specialist legal advice as quite apart from the law in Thailand matters can often be resolved "Out of Court" if parties are prepared to compromise and maybe that is what your lawyer has in mind before it ends in a full Court case.

Remember these hospitals have huge resources and influence if push comes to shove.

Good luck and sorry to hear about your misfortune.

BKK is certainly not responsible for what happened in Pattaya. My thoughts were to tell BKK to get the money from thier hospital in Pattaya.

The transfer was instigated by my family. The hospital transfered me to thier hospital in BKK. I wasn't aware of what was taking place at this time as I was in and out of consiciousness. I had no lawyer at this time.

I have no evidence per say that the hospital caused the infection. All I know is that I didn't have it when I was admitted, and fell ill after the second operation.

I haven't spoken to Pattaya yet about this as I only got discharged last week. My intention was to communicate with BKK only.

The debit form is only for BKK. I have paid already the amount for Pattaya and cleared that side of the bill.

I haven't spoken to Sunbelt.

I also believe the bill at 2.2 Million sounds high for a 1 month stay. That equals about 73,000 per day! I have paid a 100,000 Baht initial payment to the hospital prior to being discharged.

Just to confirm things.

1) I have paid the Pattaya bill in full. I didn't have a problem with paying this part of the treatment. My insurance will pay for 80% of this anyway.

2) My insurance was brought in Pattaya as I live and work here and not an international insurance.

3) I have been left partially housebound from the second infection. My lifestyle has changed dramatically as I am unable to walk any distance as I get short of breath. I ceratainly believe that in the west I would be able to sue for compensation as well as my medical bills due to the disabling effect it has had on my living conditions. But TIT.

4) Bills were given to my family and friends at the begining but I didn't see these until I was discharged. I was really not in any position to do anything anyway at that stage due to being on a ventalater and drugged up!

On 1/11/07 I had an operation in a well known Pattaya hospital. Following this operation I got an infection in hospital and had to go down for a second operation. Following the second operation I got another (and this time critical) infection whilst in the hospital.

This second infection resulted in my going into the critical care unit and then later into intensive care. Pattaya were unable to improve my critical condition and at one stage gave me 3 days to live. This statement prompted family and friends to get me transfered to Bangkok. I was transfered to the Bangkok hospital of the chain.

They admitted me directly into ICU where I was looked after for 2.5 weeks before being well enough to go into a private room. After one month there I was transfered back to Pattaya for recuperation. Prior to leaving BKK I was presented with a bill of 2.2 million Baht which I was unable to pay. I was asked to sign a debit guarantee form which gave me until 31/1/08 to settle the bill. I do have insurance but that was maxed out by the first hospital stay in Pattaya.

I have taken legal advise as I feel that I am not responsible for this bill due to the fact that I got the infection whilst in hospital. I wanted to find out if I could sue the hospital. The advice for the lawyer was that it is very difficult to sue any hospital and that I would need a doctor to back up my claimes, which I probally wouldn't be able to get. He told me not to pay the outstanding bill and wait for them to sue me. At that stage appoint a lawyer and put my case to the judge in court.

I have a couple of problems. 1) I don't have the capital to pay 2.2 Million to the hospital without selling my business. 2) I have ongoing expenses in connection with the original illness that will cost me another 300,000 Baht over the next 6 months.

Anyone able to give me advice on being sued here? My lawyer said it is a civil matter and therefore there is no possibility of my passport being taken away or me being arrested and I will be free to leave the country if I wanted to. I am not too comfortable with this action, however don't have a lot of choice.

On 1/11/07 I had an operation in a well known Pattaya hospital. Following this operation I got an infection in hospital and had to go down for a second operation. Following the second operation I got another (and this time critical) infection whilst in the hospital.

This second infection resulted in my going into the critical care unit and then later into intensive care. Pattaya were unable to improve my critical condition and at one stage gave me 3 days to live. This statement prompted family and friends to get me transfered to Bangkok. I was transfered to the Bangkok hospital of the chain.

They admitted me directly into ICU where I was looked after for 2.5 weeks before being well enough to go into a private room. After one month there I was transfered back to Pattaya for recuperation. Prior to leaving BKK I was presented with a bill of 2.2 million Baht which I was unable to pay. I was asked to sign a debit guarantee form which gave me until 31/1/08 to settle the bill. I do have insurance but that was maxed out by the first hospital stay in Pattaya.

I have taken legal advise as I feel that I am not responsible for this bill due to the fact that I got the infection whilst in hospital. I wanted to find out if I could sue the hospital. The advice for the lawyer was that it is very difficult to sue any hospital and that I would need a doctor to back up my claimes, which I probally wouldn't be able to get. He told me not to pay the outstanding bill and wait for them to sue me. At that stage appoint a lawyer and put my case to the judge in court.

I have a couple of problems. 1) I don't have the capital to pay 2.2 Million to the hospital without selling my business. 2) I have ongoing expenses in connection with the original illness that will cost me another 300,000 Baht over the next 6 months.

Anyone able to give me advice on being sued here? My lawyer said it is a civil matter and therefore there is no possibility of my passport being taken away or me being arrested and I will be free to leave the country if I wanted to. I am not too comfortable with this action, however don't have a lot of choice.

I just came back from 2 days in Chantabury and the drive is between 2 to 2.5 hours from Pattaya.

Additionally, the issue of work permits for the FPV was never fully answered in the other thread.

And no matter how much you beat your gums on this issue, it never will.

Shame really as it seems it should be such a straight-forward issue, but anyway, now that we have FPV's wcr and FTPA's dodraugen both here, maybe today is our lucky day.

I will be more than happy to answer all your questions srirachajohn....but not here. You see....the information we give out on the net, will always be misused by someone that either are jealous or dont like us from the beginning. I knew when wcr started this thread, that we would be mentioned.....but we have adapted a policy, that if you want info about us....just come down in walking street....and ask us there.

I would also strongly recomend the FPV`s not to mention anything that has to do with the FTPA`s. This is because they dont know what we do.......

Personally, i think you guys do a good job down at soi 9......but just remember....like Howard said...you are a new organisation......we are not. We do different things. I guess...and understand, that a need for a thread like this will always be there. Serious questions about what we do is allowed. We do need more quality people, so i will be happy to answer questions on how to apply, and a little bit of what we require.

Ummm, interesting comment from the above poster "I would also strongly recomend the FPV`s not to mention anything that has to do with the FTPA`s. This is because they dont know what we do......."

How are you so confident about that? There may well be ex FTPA within the ranks of the FPV's. Have you considered that?

And please don't take this the wrong way, but what right do you guys have on saying what another organisation does? As a FPV I wouldn't presume to tell your organization what new duties you should or shouldn't do. And, do you know what experience I or any of the other 68 FPV's have? I don't want this to be turned into a bitch fight between our two organisations. You continue your work as you have done so already, and we'll continue to do our work and if the leaders of our project consider a new duty worthy of us to trial, who am I or anyone else to it shouldn't be done? And particularly if that request has come from the chief of one police division to the leader of the FPV's.

This thread is about the FPV's assisting the HP on a trial period. Please lets keep the posts on topic and then it won't be closed down with any luck. I think that congratulation are in order for all posters as so far it has remained largely on topic and been carried out as a healthy debate.

Usually takes me around 2hrs 30mins.

My God, thats moving it!

Allow 3 hours of normal driving. My friend when he does it takes him 4 hours, but he drives like an old woman

4) hm1973 makes some assumptions that are wrong. Firstly the primary role of the FPV is NOT to assist the tourists (unlike the TP who's role is), the role of the FPV is to assist any foriegner who comes into the police station, or to assist the Thai police with any foriegner they are having problems with. Secondly the FPV's are not being "taken out of Soi 9". These are additional duties being carried out over a trail period. Our duties in the police station will continue to be carried out as usual. As for being "in the field" our duties are no different to that in Soi 9 so there is no need to worry about that. The only difference is we will be sitting at a desk outside as opposed to being inside. Although I am not a leader in the FPV's group, I have attended a meeting where the HP representive was there and as previously stated this request has come from them and they say there is a need.

I would suggest you tell the public what the FPV are...and what they do. I dont think you know what FTPA are. Follow your own suggestion here.

I think wcr has already answered your point in post 63?

begsaresponse

Thank you, yes I have. I have stated what the FPV's role is on numerous occassions and on the old thread that was closed down also. Also on the old thread other FPV's also stated the role. I am not going to go through it all again. There is a search facility if you want to use it.

Also it is not my position to say what the FTPA role is. That is up to those people to state what they do, but do it in a different thread not here

I suppose I shoudn't really get involved in this thread but I feel I have to comment and what better place to do than here......

As co-Group Leader of the FTPA (Foreign Tourist Police Assistants)...I have to say that I really don't see how they can improve things. The Highway Police normally run a checkpoint in front of their South Pattaya Office which comes under the jurastiction of Banglamung Police, by the way, because it is located on the Eastern Side of the Sukumvit. There work at Soi 9 Police Station is proving to be invaluable and they are really starting to make a difference there. They are a great help to us when we have to bring a foreigner to Pattaya Police Station for whatever reason and we are more than happy to hand the cases over to them, if required. Most of the Highway Police work is taken place outside the boundaries of Pattaya by patrol cars who will often set up speed traps and pull over people not wearing seat belts. The reason why these checkpoints are located outside of Pattaya is because any fines have to be paid for in Chonburi District and cannot be paid at Pattaya Police Station so as to provide maximum inconvenience to the driver. A good tip for all car and truck drivers....always belt up when you leave Pattaya, especially during the day!!!!

Both groups primary role is to assist the Tourist, that is why we are based mainly at Walking Street and the FPV's are based at Soi 9. It would be a shame if FPV's are taken out of Soi 9 to work with the Highway Police, who, in my experience, can take care of themselves and their English skills are adequate. I hope that the FPV's good work at Soi 9 is not affected by this extra duty for them.

Finally, I don't mean to sound patronising, but the FPV's are a new group with limited experience "in the field". Take some time to learn how Pattaya Police operate and get some cases "under your belts" before you diversify into other things such as the Highway Police. Trust me, there is a lot to learn and even after more than 5 years as an FTPA, I learn new things every day. Basically....'don't run before you can walk" otherwise mistakes will be made which could affect your reputation and could ruin all the good work you guys have done so far.

Howard

Glad to see you coming out HM so why don't you start your own thread on the FTPA as WCR has done so on the FPV, it would be most helpful.

Please do not post any comments about the Tourist Police volunteers on this thread. I requested this on opening this thread. It would be nice to let this sensative subject run without being closed down. Thank you

There is very little wrong with the Thai Government employing people to assit with communications between law enforcement agencies and tourists, or workers from overseas who find their systems confusing or the language barrier is creating fear or mis-understanding.

At a roadblock?

Pray tell me what is confusing at the need of having a drivers license when driving, at needing to wear your seatbelt when driving a car or wearing a helmet when on a motorbike, at needing to be sober when operating a vehicle, along with your vehicle being properly insured and road tax paid?

Is this so radically different then in the places these tourists and foreign workers hail from that the presence of volunteers able to converse in the native language of these foreign visitors is needed to inform them of these utterly confusing requirements?

I for one am positively confused here

I have been away for a couple of days so haven't seen these replies.

1) You would be surprised obviously at just how stupid many of the tourists who rent bikes are. I have seen this many times in Soi 9 when they come in to pay thier fines for not having thier licence with them and start shouting at the police its in thier hotel room. If you think I exagerate come down and watch!

2) As for us "enforcing the laws" we do not. We have no powers. As I keep saying, we are there to assist the tourist, foriegn resident and Thai police WHEN REQUESTED by any of those groups to do so. We understand how proceedures work, we understand where you need to go to report crimes, we know where to send people for help, we have lists of Embassys and consulars to direct people to when they are in trouble. Can you see the BIB doing this?

3) I cannot answer any questions yet about the HP as we have not done any duties yet. However I role will be the same as in the police station. We will not get involved unless requested, and will only advise then and explain proceedure. We will not be standing in the road. We will not be involved with Thai drivers.

4) hm1973 makes some assumptions that are wrong. Firstly the primary role of the FPV is NOT to assist the tourists (unlike the TP who's role is), the role of the FPV is to assist any foriegner who comes into the police station, or to assist the Thai police with any foriegner they are having problems with. Secondly the FPV's are not being "taken out of Soi 9". These are additional duties being carried out over a trail period. Our duties in the police station will continue to be carried out as usual. As for being "in the field" our duties are no different to that in Soi 9 so there is no need to worry about that. The only difference is we will be sitting at a desk outside as opposed to being inside. Although I am not a leader in the FPV's group, I have attended a meeting where the HP representive was there and as previously stated this request has come from them and they say there is a need.

5) The uniform is not something we can change. It was designed by someone (I don't know who) and if you volunteer you have to wear it. That's it, no discussion so there is no point bring that up. You won't see FPV walking around with handcuffs, pepperspray etc on thier belts.

Mobi, to be truthful I have no idea. As yet this programme hasn't started. There was one dry run last week. The trail period begins from November. I have said I will take part in this programme. The request came from the HP, so I guess they have seen a need. The head of the HP Thai Volunteers spoke to some of us last week and said he was very happy that we were joining them and we were needed.

So, lets wait and see. As I keep saying, these requests are coming from the police end, so they see a need.

This is now a 2 month trial down from 3 months. It is a TRIAL as stated. It came about due to the success of the project in the police station. The Highway Police requested the assistance of FPV's due to the confussion sometimes with foriegners stopped at these roadblocks (as I understand it).

Not every FPV is happy with this development, and we are not obliged to take part. They are voluntary duties.

As for the uniform. Well again, as you know from the previous thread, not all FPV's like the uniform, however, it is what was designed, and we have to wear it. It doesn't create any problems for me personally.

Plastic Pig. Your comment about the Thai police "don't need you lot" is wrong. It is the Thai Police who are requesting this and driving it forward. Perhaps you can explain why you believe it is folly, and not just say it is.

WCR,

I think "fight" is a bit strong......certainly no "fight"

Howard

Anything for a good attention grabbing headline eh?

The FPV's do not tell the Royal Thai Police how to do thier job or how to do a road block etc. We are there just to support both communities. There are many nationalities of FPV's and many of those speak 2 or more langagues. One gent speaks 5 or 6!!! So if a French national comes through who doesn't speak English or Thai the chances are someone will speak French, or we can contact someone who does.

whats the point of having day only road blocks?

surely they would be better of having some at night. might stop all the idiots from drink driving

They have night time roadblocks, just the FPV's will not be taking part in these untill after the trial period and if it is successful.