2 minutes ago, IsmeUno said:

In your mind...

In reality where I live is quite nice.

Crims, bikers, gays, Russians and Brits. Rather awful.

11 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Crims, bikers, gays, Russians and Brits. Rather awful.

In your virtual world perhaps. In the real world it's quite normal. Have you saved up for your trip to Thailand yet or will you visit vicariously through AI and YouTube?

6 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

I think that I could lay claim to be the most widely travelled person on this board

Nope.

You continually display extreme entitlement, manipulative behavior, arrogance, and an inability to handle criticism.

I've worked and studied, travelling to more than 40 countries.

My job requires me to fly internationally every month.

35 minutes ago, Celsius said:

So my wife was feeling nostalgic for some Texas Chicken because they used to have it in Thailand. I will be sure to pass your nutrition advice.

At it once in Thailand, did not rate it at all.

PTT pulled the pin in 2024 and shut all the outlets.....I guess Thai's did not rate it either !

9 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Nope.

You continually display extreme entitlement, manipulative behavior, arrogance, and an inability to handle criticism.

I've worked and studied, travelling to more than 40 countries.

My job requires me to fly internationally every month.

I think you are projecting again. Where have you see any inability of mine in handling criticism? Point out even a single post.

Whereas with you... you are famous for crying about people being hostile to you. Truly a pathetic human being.

The difference between our travel is not only have I visited far more countries than your 'good' self, I have likely visited far more places and more widely. Not once on business, so I actually travel, rather than working. You probably just work, drink and seek out the red light areas.

I don't know what you studied, because you seem as thick as mince.

24 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Nope.

You continually display extreme entitlement, manipulative behavior, arrogance, and an inability to handle criticism.

I've worked and studied, travelling to more than 40 countries.

My job requires me to fly internationally every month.

So what is the best asian city outside Thailand?

8 minutes ago, IsmeUno said:

You probably just work, drink and seek out the red light areas.

Nailed it 😂

I have many stories.

Here's one... When working Vung Tau, I'd arrive hotel early afternoon, have a few beers with lunch, go to sleep for a nap. Around 5pm I'd get a phone call from the rig manager, inviting me down to the restaurant for a steak and beer. I always had an early morning chopper flight to the rig so I'd leave the bar early around 11pm, saying goodbye to the rig manager as he was dancing on the pool table just wearing his underpants

Edited April 25Apr 25 by SAFETY FIRST

26 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

So what is the best asian city outside Thailand?

Lived both Singapore and KL for a while, I'd say KL one of the best, then Singapore but expensive.

1 hour ago, nick supreme said:

Jomtien has an upscale vibe, reminiscent of Monaco, making it an appealing destination for those seeking a luxurious lifestyle.

Roflmao. I enjoyed this one.

10 hours ago, Celsius said:

I live near the lake in one of the beautiful condos. I could also show you a view of the CN Tower from my condo. Would you like to see that?

Here's outside

And inside

... sorry it took a bit of time, I was looking for appropriate writing device

BRRR! No thanks. I hate snow and cold weather.

8 hours ago, Celsius said:

It costs 500 a month in condo fees. What place can you rent in downtown core for 500 bucks? Surely you can't be this dumb?

That's a reasonable condo fee, for the west--at least comparing some of my monthly condo fees in the US some years ago. If I did my math right it works out to around 12,000 baht--which could get you into some small condos in Pattaya. The cheapest rental at my center city Bangkok condo next to Phetchaburi MRT is 41 sqm and runs 19,500 baht a month.

The most expensive condo fee I ever had in Thailand was 7,700 baht a month for a large 3 beroom/3bath beachfront condo we owned in Wongamat. Although somewhat high for Thailand, the fee did include weekly maid service, which was nice. One of the great things about Thailand is the low condo fees, not to mention the tiny real estate taxes.

I would like to live in Pattaya.

But I can't find a job there that can match the benefits of my job in Bangkok.

I live in a quiet peaceful suburb of Bangkok, sometime I think a little chaos might be interesting.

11 hours ago, Celsius said:

I'm too poor? Look where you live

And this proving what ?

11 hours ago, Celsius said:

I'm too poor? Look where you live

Relax 0° Celcius,

It's just another burial spot.🙃🙃

8 hours ago, Jumbo1968 said:

Pattaya covers a huge area, only a small percentage of it is sleazy, lived here for 12 years never a problem, I never go further south of Soi Bukhao except for a trip to Central Festival.

Exactly what I've been saying--and I know there are many Pattaya residents like us. It's very easy to live in Pattaya and bypass the entertainment zones. Thanks for the post.

5 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

In your mind...

In reality where I live is quite nice. For someone who pretends to travel, one might expect you would have sought out the nicer parts using AI or YouTube. No sleaze where I live.

No sleaze where I live, either--and I've lived pretty much all over Pattaya. Just reading his clueless comments, you know he actually never saw very much of the Pattaya area, if he was even ever here.

I suspect, though, that he falls into the orbit of the Just Can't Quit Pattaya Fan Club, the very popular club for those who, well, just can't quit Pattaya and yearn to be back, but are stuck in some place they'd secretly rather not be. How else to explain the constant, never-ending posts from these poor souls every time anything at all to do with Pattaya comes up on AN? Who else does that? Serious question! It's nuts, this crazy obsession. But, I digress. Let me get to work and get another fan club application out.

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Nailed it 😂

I have many stories.

Here's one... When working Vung Tau, I'd arrive hotel early afternoon, have a few beers with lunch, go to sleep for a nap. Around 5pm I'd get a phone call from the rig manager, inviting me down to the restaurant for a steak and beer. I always had an early morning chopper flight to the rig so I'd leave the bar early around 11pm, saying goodbye to the rig manager as he was dancing on the pool table just wearing his underpants

I see some 'editing' has occurred since I was here earlier 😊

Just to set the record straight, absolutely no negative connotation to being a 'rig pig'. The point being to make a distinction between travelling to the same places for work and broadly based leisurely world travel.

Secondly, as suggested by @Ralf001, it has nothing to do with bragging rights, but to add context that after travelling to and living in some of the most exclusive places in the world, I still choose to visit Pattaya. It isn't as bad as the virtual visitors and the sex tourists make it out to be, as they tend to focus on the red light areas and sensationalist news.

I use to live in SoHo in London. You can imagine what some might have thought about that, some years back.

It really depends on the individual need and circumstance.

Edited April 26Apr 26 by IsmeUno

Pattaya has long been a hub for organized crime, but the "gang landscape" has shifted significantly. It’s no longer just about local turf wars; in 2026, the city is a primary base for transnational syndicates that use the city’s high-speed internet and transient population as a front for global operations.

Here is a breakdown of the current gang activity in Pattaya:

1. The Rise of "Cyber Gangs" (Call Centers)

The most dominant criminal threat in 2026 isn't visible on the streets. It's the transnational call center syndicates.

• The Operation: These groups (often Chinese or South Korean led) operate out of luxury villas in gated communities. They use Pattaya as a base to run "Pig Butchering" (crypto) scams and fake loan schemes targeting victims worldwide.

Nice beaches too

That's an extreme example in the photo above normally its much cleaner.

7 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Pattaya has long been a hub for organized crime, but the "gang landscape" has shifted significantly. It’s no longer just about local turf wars; in 2026, the city is a primary base for transnational syndicates that use the city’s high-speed internet and transient population as a front for global operations.

Here is a breakdown of the current gang activity in Pattaya:

1. The Rise of "Cyber Gangs" (Call Centers)

The most dominant criminal threat in 2026 isn't visible on the streets. It's the transnational call center syndicates.

• The Operation: These groups (often Chinese or South Korean led) operate out of luxury villas in gated communities. They use Pattaya as a base to run "Pig Butchering" (crypto) scams and fake loan schemes targeting victims worldwide.

Our virtual visitor is here again...

Classy city

8 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Nice beaches too

Where is that exactly? Do you know? 😊 AI should have told you.

Pattaya is world-famous for its ladyboy (kathoey) culture. It is widely considered one of the primary hubs in Thailand where the community is most visible, both in mainstream entertainment and the city's nightlife.

• Since the late 1990s and 2000s, Russian groups established a presence in Pattaya, often focusing on real estate, money laundering, and the nightlife sector (specifically at the north end of Walking Street).

• Modern Shift: Recent years (2024–2026) have seen a shift toward cybercrime and extortion. In 2025, there were several high-profile arrests of Russian nationals operating "fake mafia" schemes—intimidating fellow Russian expats and tourists for protection money.

3 minutes ago, IsmeUno said:

Where is that exactly? Do you know? 😊 AI should have told you.

In this 2019 thread

https://aseannow.com/topic/1099387-filthy-dirty-pattaya-beach-tourists-blamed-for-the-mess/

Poster Peterbilt put up the pics, its Pattaya Beach in 2016.

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

In this 2019 thread

https://aseannow.com/topic/1099387-filthy-dirty-pattaya-beach-tourists-blamed-for-the-mess/

Poster Peterbilt put up the pics, its Pattaya Beach in 2016.

Our virtual visitors focus on that central area. They know nothing else. At least it gives their tiny minds some form of entertainment.

On 4/25/2026 at 8:26 AM, save the frogs said:

claiming you shouldn't move to pattaya because of indians and russians is racist.

why should only white westerners be allowed to live there?

and these people don't bother you.

aren't many Russians white.?

Pattaya still can be fun for a family on a weekend. Having a car makes it quite easy. Two hours from most anywhere in Bangkok and if you avoid South Pattaya in its entirety it can be quite nice.

One of the better waterparks in Thailand, which is quite near a decent enough winery and a golden Buddah carved into a mountain. Also has some very nice beaches just 20 minutes south of Jomtien.

Ramayana water park, Siverlake Winery, and Kkhao Chee Chan, the last is White sands beach Sattahip.

If you dont have access to a car and dont like cruising around a little bit you often never find the better parts of places.

It also helps to live in Thailand. 😆

10 minutes ago, marin said:

Pattaya still can be fun for a family on a weekend. Having a car makes it quite easy. Two hours from most anywhere in Bangkok and if you avoid South Pattaya in its entirety it can be quite nice.

One of the better waterparks in Thailand, which is quite near a decent enough winery and a golden Buddah carved into a mountain. Also has some very nice beaches just 20 minutes south of Jomtien.

Ramayana water park, Siverlake Winery, and Kkhao Chee Chan, the last is White sands beach Sattahip.

If you dont have access to a car and dont like cruising around a little bit you often never find the better parts of places.

It also helps to live in Thailand. 😆

Just the traffic in Pattaya do not make visiting in the weekends, Thailand is best at travelling on normal weekdays, and even more preferable outside the peak seasons.

Still the worst thing about Pattaya and Jomtien is the locally sewer smell wherever you go.