Viral “begpacker” photos from Pattaya Beach Road cause polarizing debate on social media

[webfact]

 

By Adam Judd

 

Pattaya, Thailand-Viral photos, included in this article, of what appears to be a young foreign man sitting on Pattaya Beach Road with beads and signs offering to sell them for one baht to fund his travel around the world have driven fierce debate on social media.

 

The trend, which was common before Covid-19 but has been rarer in recent times, has been called “begpacking” by many. Essentially, it means that one is looking to either beg or sell small items, like the individual seen on Pattaya Beach, to fund their travel around the globe.

 

In this particular case, the unidentified, young, long-haired foreign man was sitting not far from Mike’s shopping mall on Pattaya Beach in the evening of September 12th, selling one baht beads and necklaces. Signs asking to help support his travel were placed near him in Thai and English.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/09/13/viral-begpacker-photos-from-pattaya-beach-road-cause-polarizing-debate-on-social-media/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-09-13

 

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[Lemsta69]

That's Greasy...

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S7FsAgPuVwU

[Dmaxdan]

What's next? The go fund me packer?

[roo860]

Well done young man, a budding entrepreneur!

[2baht]

How times change, I funded my travels when I was younger by working and saving, crazy hey!

[Peterw42]

Why doesn't he just call himself a "digital nomad" and make dropshipping videos like everyone else ?

[2baht]

3 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Why doesn't he just call himself a "digital nomad" and make dropshipping videos like everyone else ?

Why would he when he's got beads to sell at one baht a throw. Kaching, kaching! ????

[cyril sneer]

what's he doing in Pattaya? shouldn't he be in Bangkok or Chiang Mai?

[bunnydrops]

Nothing new. I've seen travelers selling things they make, singing, performing acts for money in every country I have been in.

[Gecko123]

I think foreigners including the press should keep their nose out of this issue.

 

What people don't realize is that much of the charm of Thailand comes from the diversity of the people who are attracted to the country and its welcoming people. Not all of Thailand's mystery and charm is homegrown. Look at the way Khaosan road's 'crossroads of the world' charm has been obliterated in the process of cleaning it up. Who goes there any more? It's appeal these days seems to be largely nostalgic.

 

Get rid of all these so-called 'unwelcome' elements and what are you left with? In the interests of not offending anyone, I'll refrain from answering that question, but a clue might be found in the bathroom mirror. And by the way, to all the cannabis enthusiasts out there, do you really think that decriminalization is not going to attract a certain (perhaps large) number of these free-spirited vagabond type tourists? Whether the cops succeed in preventing them from setting up sidewalk vending operations remains to be seen, but something tells me beach side resorts like Pattaya might see a lot more of this type of tourist in the future.

[smedly]

13 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

In the interests of not offending anyone, I'll refrain from answering that question, but a clue might be found in the bathroom mirror

mirror mirror on the wall who's the ## of them all

 

 

out of interest what do you see ?  

[jacko45k]

Have to reconsider the idea of taking 300 baht off them on arrival, and reintroduce the check that they have at least 10,000 baht or 20,000 to help sustain themselves. 

[marcusb]

14 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

And by the way, to all the cannabis enthusiasts out there, do you really think that decriminalization is not going to attract a certain (perhaps large) number of these free-spirited vagabond type tourists? Whether the cops succeed in preventing them from setting up sidewalk vending operations remains to be seen, but something tells me beach side resorts like Pattaya might see a lot more of this type of tourist in the future.

Edited 3 minutes ago by Gecko123

Good point!! Those dirty greasy long haired hippies and their wacky weed are going to descend on Thailand like locusts in biblical passages!  I tell ya, its the beginning of the end.  Its disgusting that they come to Pattaya for marijuana, instead of sex and booze and gambling like normal folks.  

[mikebell]

Who buys one baht necklaces?  Indian tourists?

[worgeordie]

Much ado about nothing , he's selling not begging , but then there

are people on the social media that seem to want to criticize  ,

complain about anything, maybe it makes them happy.

 

regards Worgeordie 

[2baht]

18 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Who buys one baht necklaces?  Indian tourists?

No, they have gold chains!

[simon43]

He needs to sell a lot of 1 baht necklaces to fund worldwide travel these days...

[Gottfrid]

58 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

I think foreigners including the press should keep their nose out of this issue.

Why? In reality he is breaking the Thai labour law.

Asking people to fund his pleasure of travelling around the world, when there are people not having food for the day. That´s just plain egoistic and lazy. Better for him to get deported, and go home make enough money to travel.

[chuang]

1 hour ago, Dmaxdan said:

What's next? The go fund me packer?

????????????????

[AsianAtHeart]

53 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Much ado about nothing , he's selling not begging , but then there

are people on the social media that seem to want to criticize  ,

complain about anything, maybe it makes them happy.

 

regards Worgeordie 

Ahem.  Perhaps so...but he's unlikely to have a work permit, and selling is a job a Thai could do, so he couldn't get the job anyhow.

[SAFETY FIRST]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

foreign man sitting on Pattaya Beach Road with beads and signs offering to sell them

I'm sure it's against your visa requirements. 

 

Deport. 

 

[PremiumLane]

25 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I'm sure it's against your visa requirements. 

 

Deport. 

 

Peak Thaivisa / AseanNow comment 

[shackleton]

Well at least he is making a attempt  to make money .to

fund his travel ????

 

Could have taken the easy way out on a  Gofundme 

 

There would be people who would no doubt contribute to his cause 

 

[Iamfalang]

Show me the work permit!    Breaking the laws of LOS as a falang is not clever.

 

Just do onlyfans and make 800,000 a week.    Become a Bitcoin billionaire.   Do something legal!

 

Netpeople hate falang more because of this.    Call the swat team!

[Kaopad999]

This is so embarrassing and quite frankly pathetic!

If  you're that broke then look for a proper job, or just go back to your country. 

[LALes]

Hey, if he's got good stuff, he will make it.  If not, he will have to hit up mom and dad to get him home.  In any case, he doesn't seem to be hurting anybody.  BIB might think otherwise, tho. 

[austhai]

Charge them for working illegally plus a warning then next time out.  

[featography]

A question we should be asking is, Why arent they being arrested for working without a work permit?

[malathione]

Harmless fellow who isn't hurting anyone. Let him do his thing and let him be.

[chalawaan]

5 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

what's he doing in Pattaya? shouldn't he be in Bangkok or Chiang Mai?

Maybe he's thinking to sell his "favours" in Soi Boystown if the beads don't buy that Emirates sky Suite.