11 hours ago, Mark1969 said:

No, it's worse in Pattaya, definately.

Maybe consider relocating back home if you don't like Thai people. 

 

Just now, save the frogs said:

Maybe consider relocating back home if you don't like Thai people. 

I'm trying, it takes time.

56 minutes ago, Mark1969 said:

Your problem is you are playing ball (ie. golfing), when you should be on a solo bikeride.

 

Unfortunately it's unavoidable.

 

Last time I went there I was in a quietish bar in TreeTown waiting for someone, playing pool with one of the staff, watching the Chelsea game. Went to the toilet, came back and in the meantime one drunken moron had come in and told me (admittedly in a friendlyish way) I had to remove my shoes in that bar. When I asked him why, he said he'd just made up this rule (which he clearly thought was absolutely hilarious) and all the staff had agreed to it, so why wouldn't I?

 

Obviously I (relatively politely) told him I wouldn't be participating in his silly little power play (disguised as a "fun" game) and it turned into a totally unnecessary, ridiculous argument out of nowhere about why I wouldn't remove my shoes as he had requested. If the staff hadn't told him to be quiet it could have descended further fairly rapidly.

 

This is one of countless examples I could give that ruin Pattaya for me. You can be minding your own business having a pleasant time and still end up in an inane conversation/dispute with a complete drunk/weirdo foreigner over absolutely nothing. 

 

Now I like a good night out but this never happens to me in Bangkok. Never happens to me in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin etc. Just some unique thing about Pattaya that attracts complete tossers. IMO that's why the Thais are sometimes unfriendly there as well, they've met so many people like this and assume you are another cretin like the "hilarious" drunk, Mr No Shoes.  

 

 

29 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Unfortunately it's unavoidable.

 

Last time I went there I was in a quietish bar in TreeTown waiting for someone, playing pool with one of the staff, watching the Chelsea game. Went to the toilet, came back and in the meantime one drunken moron had come in and told me (admittedly in a friendlyish way) I had to remove my shoes in that bar. When I asked him why, he said he'd just made up this rule (which he clearly thought was absolutely hilarious) and all the staff had agreed to it, so why wouldn't I?

 

Obviously I (relatively politely) told him I wouldn't be participating in his silly little power play (disguised as a "fun" game) and it turned into a totally unnecessary, ridiculous argument out of nowhere about why I wouldn't remove my shoes as he had requested. If the staff hadn't told him to be quiet it could have descended further fairly rapidly.

 

This is one of countless examples I could give that ruin Pattaya for me. You can be minding your own business having a pleasant time and still end up in an inane conversation/dispute with a complete drunk/weirdo foreigner over absolutely nothing. 

 

Now I like a good night out but this never happens to me in Bangkok. Never happens to me in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin etc. Just some unique thing about Pattaya that attracts complete tossers. IMO that's why the Thais are sometimes unfriendly there as well, they've met so many people like this and assume you are another cretin like the "hilarious" drunk, Mr No Shoes.  

It sounds like some guy tripping on how he is more Thai then you, more of a seasoned expat thing. So he enforces a cultural norm on you.

 

The old adage that you "can't avoid the locals" is very true. A lot of people move to foreign places and think they can set up shop on a cheap beach, but it's not realistic unless they are ultra wealthy and have a gated castle somewhere and just have most stuff delivered and choose your own butler to take care of the place and invite visitors in.

 

I guess the solution is you really need to like who you live around, even if you are not interested in socializing much. The reason being, people will keep coming at you even if you are not interested.

 

Can you give some more examples? I find them interesting.