The FB is visiting Patong for a few days and thought some observations viv-a-vis Pattaya, as such comparisons always sparks some lively discussion.

Airport van for 4 people to Patong was B 1200, not too bad. Offered us return airport run for B 1000.

Weather beautiful this am for walk along the beach. Enquired price for beach chair...B 100 vs B 30 in Patts. Jetskis N1000 and B 1500 for 2 person models. Pattaya B 1000.

Asked a "taxi" parked on Beach Road how much to go to Central Mall and quoted 700 return vs B 10 bahtbus in Patts.

A couple friends rented bikes for drive down to Kata and back...reported back that stopped 3x by BIB for license checks. Lucky one has Thai one and other international so nothing changed hands.

Finally, is this Starbucks on beach road the most expensive in Thailand? Small latte is B 90!!!

The sand is softer and water a little cleaner but still much prefer Pattaya.

and water a little cleaner

Have you been to Pattaya beach lately?

It looks and smells like the Ganges in summer and recently had a report of a dead body bobbing about. (!)

Somehow I think the water in Phuket is considerably cleaner...

Have you been to Phuket lately? Current issue of local Phuket rag had story of dead Russian tourist found and fished out by local fishermen.

So I think problem of faring plotters is not confined to Pattaya.

Have you been to Phuket lately? Current issue of local Phuket rag had story of dead Russian tourist found and fished out by local fishermen.

So I think problem of faring plotters is not confined to Pattaya.

Yikes.

Aren't there any nice beaches left in Thailand? (Without corpses doubling as buoys?)