smellyfarang

Oh, "SEE" the rainbow... sorry, my mistake.

-Smelly

I personally want to have a lot of respect for the BIB.

You could always use the hillbilly version

BoyzTown?

Jingthing?

No. Just another baht bus rider who doesn't wear rose colored glasses.

I don't normally look at the drivers, while they are driving and even while paying. So many are psychopaths that I don't want to establish even an eye contact "relationship" with them. Case in point: this thrilling account. Thanks smellyfarang.

Happy to have survived to report the experience!

-Smelly

So we hop a Baht Bus from Jomtien to WS with the usual afternoon traffic and crazy moterbikes zipping around everywhere. I happen to glance down through the back window and notice the driver is not only “steering” with his knees, he has his head down and is intently concentrating on some mesmerizing task that requires not only both hands, but apparently his full, undivided attention that couldn’t be bothered with such distractions as actually looking out the windshield.

What is this urgent, fascinating task you ask? Apparently he decided that driving through heavy traffic was the ideal time to roll a cigarette.

Oops, we hit bump in the road and he’s spilled his tobacco.

He now has his head down BELOW the steering wheel while he meticulously picks up every precious shred of brown heaven.

Eventually satisfied that he has retrieved all his precious puff from the seat (but not before also carefully inspecting his shirt for any strays), he resumes rolling his cigarette. At least at this point he now has his wrists in periodic contact with the steering wheel while he completes the process and lights up with a true sigh of satisfaction.

Finally a brief glance forward to confirm he hasn’t hit anything too large yet. Life is good…

Meanwhile I’m frantically looking for a parachute

What other interesting encounters have you had with these guys?

-Smelly

And as always, watch out for the motorbike taxies; I wouldn't be surprised to see one of those psychos driving up the escalators as well

-Smelly

Many people advise "advoid confrontation" while in LOS, and I agree. Even in harsh cases like the OP described, I wouldn't personally have gotten physically involved (especially with those no-win odds, unless you're a bad-ass ninja yourself ).

But I also almost always carry a camera, and the BiB would have high quality pics of these slime balls as would all the Patts forums out there. Even a crap camera phone pic could be enough to track the guys down (especially if you caught their license plates).

With cameras so cheap & small, these days I always have one in the car back home as well. With all the tough guy road rage morons out there, it's amazing how quickly they become subdued when they see you taking pics of them and their license plate.

-Smelly

Other threads also warn about the maintenance fees not being paid in many buildings, which leads to all sorts of problems. Something else to check before you commit.

-Smelly

The basement food court i thought great and good value .Have also bought some Thai mags at the big book store ,on the 3 rd floor ,i think .

I thought the food court was a major ripoff, at least for the drinks.

When I asked the gal for my usual "large coke, no ice" she proceeded to grab a small glass. Thinking she didn't undersand, I tried correcting her "no, no, LARGE".

To which she replied "Large no ice, you get small glass!"

<deleted>!?

I said "no thanks" and went across the hallway to BG where I got a nice, huge Coke with no ice and no grief from the cute counter girl.

So the food may be decent, but the drinks are a major scam.

-Smelly

Try Beach Road

Ditto; never saw people have any problems along there.

-Smelly

To be honest, this is pic is a lot more common of what I've seen.

-Smelly