Daveyh

It's a shame these "Farangs" weren't arrested & jailed/fined as they are flouting the laws laid down by Thailand in this period of global crisis to keep us all safe. We all need to comply & obey the laws, not ignore them! We are all guests here & should behave as such, not ignore the rules, but set an example for others to follow. Thai's do their own thing & have every right to do so, but make no mistake they notice everything the "Farang" does here. These acts of denial are shameful. We all get "tarred with the same brush" & these "Farangs" are doing no one any favors, especially long stay retirees & expats. Their complete lack of reason & ignorance of the fact that this COHIV19 is a global threat to humanity is beyond my comprehension. Their behaviour really labels them as undesirables, they should be given stern warnings by immigration, & only once, that further breaches of the law will revoke their visas & initiate deportation asap ....... there is no excuse for this type of behaviour. Those responsible should hang their heads in shame ..... fact.

I think the increase is probably very true as I've noticed the increase in aggression on the roads, which is probably proportional to the increase of traffic, especially in built up areas. During peak hours this increases dramatically, which can only lead to more accidents & deaths. My 20 years of driving here has seen a daily spate of accidents, some minor & some very serious, which could have been avoided but for the lack of forethought, "me first" attitudes & totally ignoring road signs & traffic laws. The roads are confusing at the best of times & incorrectly signed/marked on the roads are no excuse ........ people here just seem to have a "death wish". All this "Karma" stuff is nonsense, but the culture here will never change. Politicians, police & those in authority just shrug their shoulders & allow this carnage to continue year by year. If you drive here in Thailand get use to it ....... fact.

I can't say I disagree with this sign. Speaking the language is certainly an advantage as the standard of English here is poor & most is self taught. It's very noticeable in all restaurants as the waiters seem to struggle with the menu in any foreign language & that is evident as the photos far outweigh the descriptions. The food when served is invariably not the same as the photo & "woe betide you" if you want change something on the dish. 

Communication is important & between Thai's & Farangs here has always been very difficult, so not getting past that barrier often causes misunderstandings & disputes. Sad thing is Thai's are not that tolerant when it comes to customers rights etc, hence any arguments often lead to heated arguments & customers are asked to leave, but not before paying the bill ........ leaving everyone upset.

It can quickly become a strange environment to spend a holiday for those that are not aware of the culture here .......... I've been here a long time & still the onus to be polite, lower your voice, don't do this, don't do that, etc is all placed on the visitor. Tempers here are on edge & fray so quickly here, so it's always best to be on your best behavior & read all the warnings before you arrive, any trouble move on, find another venue.

The sign may seem to you to be "tongue in cheek", but trust me when I say there are dark undertones in the need of heeding here ..... fact. If I saw this sign it would make me turn around & go elsewhere. Who needs hassle on your evening out ....??? The thinking here is all wrong ....... even if it is tongue-in-cheek.

Hi Magmur .............. I never thought I'd ever stop. Then one day my son said to me "Please stop smoking Daddy". He been to kindergarten & evidently they were told about smoking. At the time I thought it to be little too young for youngsters to grasp the dangers of smoking, but I was wrong. I asked him why & he replied that he wanted me to live a long time & see him finish school so he could take care of me when I was very old! It really struck home ........ so I promised & you can't lie to your child. I had to keep my promise, hence it was a no brainer for me.

I think if you have something that matters the most in the world then use that to combat the addiction. I just made my mind up to quit & never looked back, didn't miss it for a minute once I focussed on my reason for doing so. Good luck ....... hope it works as easy for you as it did me. Cheers.

All the excuses in the world will not fix the problem that Thailand has today & it will continue unless the Thai Baht is revalued. This is not rocket science & lowering prices, promotional offers etc etc will not fix this. The government must take action, revalue the Thai baht to an acceptable level to get the economy going again.

People will not come on holiday here unless they consider Thailand to be good value for money. At the moment the exchange rate has killed the "golden goose" as most things here are more expensive than in their homelands. Even meals now have become very expensive whereas previously in yesteryears it was well known food prices were cheap, delicious & the food plentiful. Sadly, that has changed too ............ I've found the quality of the food is not the same. It could be that food is "in & out" of fridges too often due to the lack of tourists, but standards certainly have been lowered. I can only surmise that food stocks in restaurants are being kept longer due to this. Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos are being chosen rather than Thailand as a holiday destination as everything is much cheaper ........... fact.

Tourism is all about "value for money" ........... Thailand is no longer a tourist destination only because the Thai baht is much too strong. You only have to look at the 7/11's here to see the number of tourists using them ........ especially the Chinese who are the largest group of tourists here. It is not only for cold drinks, they "self cater" & do not eat in restaurants very often, probably to offset the cost of their holiday here. The Indian tourist group are very much the same too ........... as I've said it's not "rocket science" to fathom out why the economy is failing.

Yes, Safety Standards, Rip Off's, Road Hazards, Pedestrian Risks, Water Hazards, Health Issues etc etc are all things in Thailand that we can control/decide for ourselves & make our own choices, but can do nothing about the exchange rate. 

Hence, tourists are now voting with their feet & going elsewhere ...... and will continue to do so! Wake up Thailand, quick fixes are not the answer. You have had a land given to you on a "golden platter" that people will pay to visit here on holiday. Don't allow greedy minorities cloud your judgement. Stop the "super rich" from keeping the baht strong so they can get richer ..... fact. Long term growth & healthy profits annually are the key to a thriving economy, then the general public here will no longer continue to struggle & will be content ....... it is they who deserve the support of government, which is sadly lacking at this moment in time. 

My first experience of Thailand ........ Pattaya in particular was in 1964 during my military service. I can say with some certainty that the mindset here has not changed ................ girls working in bars are there for one purpose & it's a "two way arrangement". Perhaps they are looking for a farang to marry, but do not think it's for love, it's money, stopping working & not being poor. They work the bars only for money, to feed their children & family, in return they provide a service which is tailored to suit customer needs. I would say very few romances between Thai's/farang's end up as a successful partnership, mainly because there are so many "hanger's on" pressurizing her from immediate family for cash, which she will move heaven & earth to support their demands. Sadly, the farangs seems to always end up with the "<deleted>ty end" of the stick here & if he fails to provide a comfortable living you will be cast aside & she will move on! ....... fact. 

Most bar girls are real professionals & newbie's ( farangs just experiencing Thailand) must be very aware that your wealth will be sort after with vigor & given the chance "will bleed you dry"...... another fact.

Golden rule ............. commit only when you've been together for two/three years, by then all the skeletons should have come out of the cupboard & you'll know how many brothers, sisters, aunts & uncles she has besides mum & dad. Also, don't be surprised if she has a "gik" (a guy on the side, usually a Thai) along the way ....... it's very common here when girls have farang partners.

Lastly, my experience of bargirls is trust only 1% of what they say & do. The best way forward is to "pay as you go" as a newbie. That means short times/long times & no longer than 3 days. Don't mess up your holiday by falling for a beautiful girl immediately you arrive as you'll end up waiting, spending money & doing things that you never ever planned ...... these "cuties" are everywhere. Do not show your money, tipping is fine, but don't over do it ...... you'll realize if you are being too generous once you review the night before! Just don't be an idiot & give too much of your money away to someone you've only just met! Who would do that?........ people on holiday here seem to leave their "noddle' at the airport. Enjoy your trip & take care of number one ................. girls here will take great care of you, but don't forget it's all business with them & money to them is number one not you!

Remember you are in control ...... not them! Enjoy every minute .......... & good luck.

To be able to re-educate Thai's thinking regarding the need for driving tuition, awareness of road hazards whilst driving etc etc & a "mindset" that considers other people's lives will need miracle. Most Thai's are really stubborn by nature, trying to reason with someone is nigh on impossible here as they do not seem to be able to accept other people's point of view.

Culture wise I think we all know that there are "no go" areas when it comes to trying to persuade locals not to "risk life & limb", but their beliefs far outweigh the dangers that exist here. I stay out of trouble as much as I can, especially during holidays ........... by staying local, reducing my journeys & if it is at all possible stay home. Driving during peak periods is not recommended. I've learnt not to go out & get all my daily tasks out of the way before "rush hour". Driving is frightening here, at night there are too many bikes with faulty lights, daytime motorcycle riders take so many risks & I cringe each time I venture out to the shops. I have a 4x4 pick up with "bull bars" front & rear to give me the best protection available ....... plus wearing a seat belt is a must. There's no real health & safety laws here that are adhered to period. You have to be aware of your own surroundings at all times ........ I'm still confused & bewildered after 20yrs of living here, as daily I witness locals on motorbikes, pedestrians walking blissfully unaware that they are putting themselves at risk, hence any advice you attempt to give will be totally ignored ...... fact.

If this is true then this is a serious turn of events in Thai politics ................ Thai's accept most things but the tiger is awakening. Most people here are volatile by nature & this is the start to the lighting of the "blue touch paper". Sadly only a real strong political uprising can resolve matters here .......... hopefully peacefully, but don't hold your breath ...... fact.

What have they been smoking??!!! Ha! Ha!  Pipe dreams as if they have waved their magic wand & all we be well. Perhaps they too have a "tarot card reader" on their staff. You just can't make these sort of predictions without being skeptical of the outcome Unreal is all I can think of  ............ Merry Xmas & New Year everyone.

On 12/20/2019 at 3:42 PM, banglay said:

Check this place out it's in Pattaya     

https://www.bbqgrillsthai.com

Many thanks everyone for your help, special thanks to "banglay" as the shop looks amazing. I'll go & have a look in the new year. Cheers & enjoy the festive season folks ????????☝️

Hmmm ....... Although I agree that plastic is a real problem here & must cease asap, but what are the alternatives?? Government have not indicated to the general public what they are at all, so I guess it's the "up to you" syndrome again? Shopping is not a problem as I'm sure biodegradable bags will be on offer before long. Shops I've recently been to have cardboard boxes available .......... so it's obvious that these stores have taken the initiative & are aware that this law has not been thought through properly ............. well done to them. 

I think the main problem here is going to be the fast food on the street & the take home meals for the millions of workers who live in shared rooms, have limited cooking facilities & rely on this essential service. It will certainly create serious problems for them as buying a "hot & cheap ready meal" is paramount to their daily lives ............ & remember Thai culture .............. they need to eat as often as possible too! Perhaps everyone will begin carrying food containers to work as seen in China, so there will be thousands/millions of these littering the streets eventually, that's guaranteed.

It's not just here that this problem exists as this environmental disaster is worldwide. Thailand should be doing more to improve their infrastructure services, that goes without saying, especially the disposal of domestic waste. All these "landfills" dotted across the countryside are not the answer or the burning of rubbish, plus the dumping at sea it not acceptable. It must all be disposed of properly, but there's a cost, which may be not an option for years in Thailand ............ they need disposable sites here as in other countries for waste, so that it can be safely disposed of to minimize the damage to our environment. It's a huge task ............. I personally don't think Thailand is ready for it.

I would be most grateful if anyone could give me any info regarding buying barbecue supplies like grate cleaner & granules for fat trays. I would also be interested where anyone purchases their spare parts, weatherproof covers for storage & tools for cleaning/cooking. I've managed to find gas regulators in local stores, but other than that I've come up empty, other than using normal domestic tools as a quick fix. There use to be a "Barbecue Store" that sold Australian barbecues in Bangkok & Pattaya, which is where I bought mine from years ago. I think due to the situation here most european outdoor hobbies have sadly been put on the "back burner", but Thai's like their "Moo gah tar" etc, so there must be still some interest around.  I went to "Hafele's" on Sukhumvit, who have a good selection of good quality barbecues, but their after sales shelves have disappeared for whatever reason. My main searches in town have not been at all successful & any advice would be much appreciated. Many thanks & keep rock'in!

Warning signs have been ignored for far too long .......... now the "rot has set in" it's obvious that there's no turning back as the "loss of face" is so important here. It will continue with "immediate first aid" measures until they run out of "short term" quick fixes. Pattaya was a very profitable adult playground for Thailand & had been since the early days of the Vietnam war (1964 era) ................ it just sprung up from nowhere with very little investment. In fact, it was a "golden gift" which was the inherited basis of tourism here ......... everyone knew that Pattaya was the "city of fun". It was lively, exotic & adult entertainment at it's best. Now it's all doom & gloom, full of bored & angry people, both local & foreign ......... the fun is long gone. Most of us now have left or just stay home. Sadly the town now has the Chinese, Indian & Russian tourists who also have started to "dwindle" of late. It will not be long before all the neighboring countries will seriously benefit from Thailand killing the "golden goose". RIP Pattaya ............... I have so many fond memories of what "once was" ............ sad.

Golden rule here is cash or Banker's Draft .......... even then a safety net of at least two to three days is needed to make sure the deal is "kosher". Thailand is definitely the land of scams, especially within the "expat" community here sadly between Thai's & Farang's, but we are all adults & should not release any of our hard earned cash so easily. Why do we always drop our guard overseas? Bottom line is "Trust No One", even your "nearest & dearest" ..... Ha! Ha! Guarantees or better still "collateral" are a must, without them it's flawed & fatal when cash is involved. Crooks know that the law in Thailand is "iffy" at best & thrive on it ............ trust is in short supply these days where ever you go. The worst thing of all here in Thailand is "It takes an expat to screw an expat properly as we place more trust in our "mates" when we really should'nt. It happens so often here .......... sad fact

A mixed bag of tourists now holiday in Thailand. Russian, Chines & Indians will continue to arrive, but they are hardly quality tourists ........ European & States Side tourists are avoiding Thailand now. Rate of exchange is bad, poor safety records, sanitation & health issues also need to be taken seriously ......... too many problems here to make this a tourist haven ..... sad really, as they have beautiful beaches & vast areas of tropical paradise etc, but environmentally the people just do not care. Once you are off the main tourist areas it really is shameful to see the landscape full of human waste discarded in bushes & ditches here, especially the discarded plastic bags with food discarded by people on motorbikes daily. I feel so sad each time I see it ..... fact. It will take many years for Thailand to recover in my view, if at all. People here need to wake up to the reality that they are destroying their piece of the planet. Since early 2000's, when I arrived, it's gone from bad to worse in almost twenty years. It has now reached a crisis point environmentally. No one paid attention to the most valuable commodity of all .......... the tourist ....... most locals have just been focussing on money & giving nothing back! Now the quality tourists are gone it's doubtful if they will ever return ............. the economy will continue to spiral downwards........ sad.

Sorry mate, but my advice is to move on. I've been here for 20yrs & the best policy is for you to let them chase you. If you don't the next time you visit you'll be spending all your time answering your phone, waiting & being sent on a magical mystery tour! Do not tell any of them where you are living & guard your room number as you would your cash. Thai ladies are time wasters & most are so money oriented that "true love" is a myth here & scams are rampant ...... fact.

Enjoy your holidays here, develop your sense of not being conned, pay as you go & ask the price, confirm what you are willing to pay, stick to it, enjoy the delights of Pattaya. Don't be taken in by these girls as they are true professionals in extracting cash from tourists, guard your wallet & never allow anyone to see the amount of cash you maybe carrying ........ especially in the "Ago go areas". Stay safe, avoid dark alleys & use the baht buses for moving around at night. Being a "newbie" here it would be wise to stay in the area policed by the tourist police & always ask the price of drinks if it's not advertised in plain view as you can end up with a huge bill ............ enjoy.  

Her daughter should now go to the United Kingdom immediately, she has enough loot to buy her way in & apply be a front runner in either party for government in the next December election ......... she'd definitely fit in & be in the right company!