Ohio

I assumed you'd just tap into the pole outside your home & avoid all the hassle

Halloween actually started in Roman Times with "Parentelia" parade of the Dead. Then the Celtics Ireland & England also had Samhein "All Hallows Eve" Change of Season or Life to Death.

I wasn't around then but it is the accepted historical basis.

What the heck , it's a fun time & so what if Thais copy , if we hadn't copied the Chinese , would we have Spaghetti or Gunpowder.????

In Australia the advent of the movie bought it into the Aussie Culture as well. But then Aussies don't need much of an excuse to have FUN

It's all supposed to be fun time so enjoy.

Always looking for a Biz opportunity & thanks to this thread & other sites I realise , that investing in Jet-Ski Hire in Pattaya , Phuket & other areas is the way to make a very good killing.

NOw , how does a 6'3" Pale skinned Farang get onto this money making machine ???

strange, if the police want to stamp out drugs why are they selling yaba to the inmates at soi 9 police station?

Brown shirts = brown tablets doesn't that qualify as an exemption ?????

When I read this, although I felt for the couple robbed, I thought how bloody stupid some people are. Why were they walking around with so much jewellery on? Where ever you are in the world you must take precautions about personal safety. I was a police office in the UK for many years, spending the last 7 in central London, and tourists were being robbed and ripped off all the time. The difference here is the police don't give a ######, in the UK we did.

Hear , Hear. The "Police" here , (I use that word advisedly only.) don't care less.

BUT < I have to say that in a lot of other Tourist destinations wearing of Expensive Jewellery does NOT make you a Target because of the Professional Police Presence & protocols in place.

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Place an open can of your favourite beer firmly up the rear end of a large chicken, wrap wingtips and leg ends with tinfoil, then stand on a low/medium heat barbecue for 45-60 minutes.

Delicious Beer Barbecue!

:cheesy:

Have walked up there at that time over the 25 years , I have been going to Patts, if I have been having a bit too much to drink ...NO WAY

I am 6'3" & fairly trained , but not stupid.

Just be aware of your surroundings

When we are in Patts , (been visiting 25 years ) like the Soi for food (last time we ate at 18 Coins Restaraunt regularly) also second hand Bookstores for the wife.

The lack of sidewalks is my only b***h , but , hel_l , it's Pattaya after all.

My idea of cooking.

This photo made me DROOL & then I remembered one of the important things I love about getting married, a stunning wife that COOKS Fresh food.

Back to Patts for a Month as of Nov 15th & we wanted to spend a 4 day week-end in Laos. (Last there in '68) wife never.

Any suggestions as to Cost , Visa etc

Thanks

Been coming to Patts for 20+ years - of course prices rise & I avoid being there for Songkran. (Hate Sewage waste disguised as water)

But just been to Penang for the 2nd time in 6 months & going back there in July, seriously considering it instead of Patts.

On the Gold Coast / Surfers Paradise at the moment , Australia cheaper than Paataya , ARE YOU KIDDIN'.

This place is ridiculous

Stun Guns are classified as a 'Prohibited Weapon' in Aust. Restricted Import in USA , but local manufacture is OK. Some States are Banning Taser even for Law Enforcement at this time.

UK , Japan , Scotland , & many Countries regard them as Firearms under the Weapons Acts & Customs Acts.

Irregardless , most Countries Prohibit Weapons being smuggled in.

Same applies for OC - Pepper Spray as it is a "disabling" Agent by the way NO Airline will Transport "pepper spray" under IATA . All by Ship & Road.

Malaysia & Singapore Instant Jail for bringing in any of the above. ISA (Internal Security Act ) allows for up to 2/3 years before charges heard

If they had they would have collected a lot more items and got the people selling them.

By the Thousands & then what about the economy ????

The latest talk in Asia (Thailand , Malaysia , Philippines , Vietnam etc ) is that this is a MULTI Billion Dollar Industry that would devastate economies if Totally stopped.

I am a guilty purchaser , I have the real deal & copies of same . Worst thing is , there is not much difference in Quality in some items.

Another "Crackdown" that really Cracks me up

Let's hope they never find out about a place called Walking Street.

It is obvious they are working their way there & should hit about December 2014.

[

OK, so there are a few dickheads that go over the top with the water guns that I will agree

I would suggest that last year the "few" were several dozen per day that completely diminish the actual meaning of "Songkran"

Sucking up Sewage into Trucks to fill water guns for Drunken Idiotic Farangs & Followers of low mental ability to spray passing traffic causing life risking accidents is NOT what Songkran is supposed to be.

My opinion after 20 + years coming to Patts & making sure I am never there again during that period of 'lunacy' .

But, hey maybe this year we can get over 15,000 serious traffic injuries to families in Thailand to show how great a celebration it is ?? & if there is a REAL effort of Idiots water BOMBING motorists we may be able to surpass the 300+ deaths of last year

Songkran ....ya gotta love it

I've never been stopped for anything other than bribe money, and this has happened many, many times.

Excellent idea, I will be getting one.

Guy in Western Australia & others have done similar in NSW & Victoria , amazing the fines that were disallowed in Court & charges that have been dropped. Same in california & Texas I remember.

Never been stopped in Patts , BUT, I do carry a Video capable phone with me at all times after what I have seen over the last few years there. Not just Traffic !!

Well done

I thought it was KFC that was 'Finger Lickin' good' could this be a Marketing Ploy ????

Aquila non captat muscas

Go and speak to them on Walking Street.

Just don't go strapped.

or a 'covert' camera ?????

That's a big chunk out of their 6,000 per month salary - not much left to feed the family

Obhviously not counting the 'Tea/Helmet Money' etc which could be as much if not more

Stopped Jet Skiing & Scuba in Pattaya & generally in Thailand several years ago , too many near misses & total disregard for normal safety rules I was trained in.

RIP & the Nationality of the victims have NO bearing on the Tragedy.

Is this another nail in Pattayas tourist destination Coffin ????

A great 2010 to everyone & this would appear to be an observation of standard practise wouldn't it ???

Well Done , anything getting Drugs & Guns of the street is a good job !!

Thanks thainet for an interesting insight into a difficult problem.

Yes,but it has nothing to do with the topic.

According to the UN Stats Thailand rates 5th out of 47 for more Police per head of population , on another site it also rates as the 3rd most Corrupt.

I must admit I am always a little surprised when I stay in Pattaya that unless there is some special function happening there are hardly any actual Police about , but there is a plethora of 'Assistants' which seems to increase every year.

I haven't seen any 'Assistants' in Bangkok in my memory. No matter how it is coated , Pattaya has a rep as a Sex tourist spot & one would think that would encourage a large Police presence :- 1. To eradicate it 2. To improve the image to encourage 'normal' Tourism

Now I have supplied a brief bit of levity I must retire to my New Years 'Hair of the Dog' celebration .

May 2010 bring you all you wish for folks.

I must admit that I am absolutely AMAZED that every time a 'Volunteer' is caught doing the wrong thing . He / She is a "former " or "failed" one.

I am extremely impressed with the system that keeps the "Teams" so straight & narrow & believe that some of these systems should be Introduced to other Agencies , not only in Thailand , but, worldwide.

Perhaps the Protocols could be in a Manual for dissemination on the web to assist all Law Enforcement Departments on 'Best Practise' for pre - employment.