["Reefer Madness": Thai media continue to attack marijuana use blaming it for violence/addiction]

Cannabis isn’t as harmless as people think especially for teenagers and young adults when the human brain isn’t fully developed until 25yo. It can severely alter the psyche of these young people. Modern strains are highly potent and basically zonk people out of their mind. I myself was a regular cannabis and quit a few years ago when I noticed things in my life i didn’t like. Irritability and even outbursts when I didn’t have it and I also felt its better to face the world with a clear mind. Occasional users won’t have these issues but when it becomes a habit it can be harmful.

[Pattaya police step up overnight Beach Road patrols after multiple reports of thefts from Indian tourists]

I did a short walk along beach rd yesterday from Royal Garden to Walking Street and back and people kept whispering “weed coke ecstasy” at me. 

[https://aseannow.com/topic/1264321-airfares-from-bangkok-are-already-reaching-crazy-levels/Airfares from Bangkok are already reaching crazy levels]

I just recently spent $993 for a one way ticket back to the US after being here over a year on covid extensions. I can usually get a round trip for less than that. I’ll be happy to leave to be honest. The place has changed so rapidly and developed so quickly it’s not what it used to be. I’ll be back of course but I’ve had my share for now.

[Pattaya locals perplexed by freshly painted zig-zag lines on roads, police claim it helps slow down drivers]

To me the crosswalk seems like the most dangerous place to cross. It gives a false sense of security and people drop their guard only to get run over by a speeder not paying attention. The city already has speed bumps everywhere. 

[Foreign driver’s pickup truck overturns early this morning in Pattaya, driver uninjured]

I think the Raptors are cool trucks.

[Five million Indian tourists are expected to visit Pattaya by the end of 2022, Tourism Authority of Thailand says]

I saw them arriving by the busload to a hotel on soi 8 yesterday. 

[Indian tourist says he was physically assaulted by a group of security guards at a Walking Street disco in Pattaya]

In the last week here in Pattaya I’ve noticed the Indian tourists seem to have a lack of respect for just about everyone else besides their fellow countrymen. Indians getting pummeled in Pattaya will be the new trend. Serious attitude on a lot of them.

[Anutin: There's no going back now - "Vax passport" needed not Thailand Pass to enter country]

I can’t really take anything this government says seriously. It changes week to week. I’ll believe it when I see it. 

[Why are westerners so offended over the word farang? Get over it.]

Just a few days ago a nasty thai lottery vendor refused to sell me lottery tickets and said farang in a derogatory manner to me. 

[Fears growing that Covid may yet derail plans to reopen fully to foreign tourism from July 1st next]

I’m in a rural area of Thailand and covid has run rampant through this community in the last month. I’ve just recovered from it for the 2nd time. The first time I had it was 9 months ago and did 2 weeks in a covid hospitel now got it again. Most of the people here that are catching it have been vaccinated already. I think everyone is catching it as some point whether vaccinated or not. Maybe time to just get on with it and stop delaying the inevitable.

[Covid-19 visa extensions ending]

With 10 days left on my current covid extension, I was able to get another covid extension at an immigration office here in Issan today. Extended me into June with 60 days. Its looking like this will be the final one. 

[Scourge of "Hell Drug" continues in Thailand - more fallout from horrific murder of parents by son]

Similar cases like this seems to be regularly occurring incidents here in Thailand. I’ve read in the news many times when the son attacks the mom/dad/grandparent for finally cutting them off from the daily drug or alcohol money.

[Thai woman’s attacker appears before New York court charged with robbery and assault last year]

Nearly all of the hate crimes committed against Asians in America are done by African Americans. 

[Will new bill finally pop the cap on Thailand’s booze oligopoly?]

On my early trip years ago I drank a lot of Carlsberg. It was one of the more popular beers found in the bars back in the day but got muscled out by Thai beer companies. Certain payouts to govt officials can get rid of any foreign competition. 

[Isn't it time they took this monstrosity down?]

They still got the ghost tower in Sathorn area of Bangkok standing from when they stopped construction in ‘97 during the financial crisis. They put giant IPhone advertisements on it now. Let it stand as a reminder to people of the dangers of investing in Thailand.

[Warning against traveling to Thailand]

I arrived 7 months ago in Thailand and tested positive for covid on the first pcr test while in asq. They moved me to a hospitel where I stayed for the next 14 days. I was never asked to pay anything upfront. Only provide my insurance information. I recovered and was released and no hidden fees costs or insurance reimbursements were required. I walked out of there not paying a dime except what I paid for insurance before arriving.

[‘We want them back’: at Lunar New Year, Thailand pines for Chinese tourists]

I think the Chinese could be targeted for hate crimes if they start showing up in large numbers in Thailand. I definitely don’t agree with that but it’s possible. A lot of people blame China for covid and mixing in with drunks on Walking Street or just some crazy psycho which there are plenty of, could lead to some very ugly international incidents.

[THIRTEEN policemen sacked from RTP in January alone]

7 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Stole, or fined you?

Stole it out of my wallet. Two cops, one had my wallet and checking my passport while the other was talking to me about where I was going and where I was coming from. They returned my passport and wallet except it was 2k baht lighter. Why is is this so hard for you Thai apologists to believe? My motorbike taxi was the one who brought it to my attention and said the one police officer took money out of my wallet while the other was talking to me. There was 3k in the wallet, when I got it back there was 1k. Two cops 2k baht, they split it.

[THIRTEEN policemen sacked from RTP in January alone]

They stole 2k baht from me at a checkpoint in On Nut a few years back. I’ve hated them ever since. 

[Grandfather gave granddaughter, aged 12, 200 baht a time for sex - she's now had a baby]

Years ago when I first started spending extended lengths of time  in Thailand I was at bar talking with a much older expat who had a lot more experience here than I did. 
He told me a lot of these girls in the bars have usually been sexually active since they were around 12yo and their first time was likely with a family member, maybe even their own father.
I remember being disgusted with him for saying such a thing and thinking he was just some miserable old <deleted>. I paid my bill and left in disgust. I still remember him and the longer I’ve been here the more I think he was right in what he told me. I just didn’t want to believe that was the case.

[Are there still long queues at Immigration?]

3 hours ago, Leaver said:

 

Or, say screw it, and pay an agent.  Cha-Ching.  

 

Some old geezer will have a heart attack and drop dead in that queue one day.  

 

 

That actually crossed my mind while I was standing there today. I thought someone could easily pass out from the heat. I’d also be willing to bet out of the hundreds of people there at least a few have covid also. It just doesn’t make sense at all. 

[Are there still long queues at Immigration?]

The line today was massive, all the way out to the soi. Another hundred or so behind me. When I took this photo I’m posting. I finally got all the way up to the counter after a few hours , everything is in order and they told me to come back on Feb 3rd the day my stamp ends. When I go back on the 3rd I’ll only be able to turn my passport in, they’ll then tell me to come back on another day to pick it up. People are on edge in the line and a few people were trying to cut the que. I can’t believe this is the system they are using. I also overheard a few different people say they are already on overstay as the lines have been too long and they weren’t able to get their extension on time. I think the Thai govt is purposely making it as miserable as possible for people in hopes they just say screw it and leave and pay an overstay fines the airport.

[Pattaya police arrest a shirtless, intoxicated, foreign man in South Pattaya for allegedly trying to randomly fight local residents and police]

1 minute ago, firestar said:

They didn't "back down" if they never confronted the idiot, they did the right thing by calling the police but you seem to share part of the psyche of the offender and think taking up the challenge is being tough. Pathetic

 Reporting in Thailand is not very good and many details are left out. He was instigated and provoked by multiple drunk Thais who bit off more than they could chew with the young crazy foreigner and ran to the police.

[Pattaya police arrest a shirtless, intoxicated, foreign man in South Pattaya for allegedly trying to randomly fight local residents and police]

No Thais wanted to take him up on his challenge either. They all backed down and called the police. 

[Murder of Brit in Kanchanaburi: Injured friend sitting up in hospital gets Facebook well wishers]

I can already see it in the news clippings, the Thai murderer is being coddled, one police officer had his arm around him during questioning as if to comfort him. The poor Thai with mental health problems couldn’t control himself and was pushed to the edge by the foreigner being disrespectful to all things Thai is the narrative they’re pushing. It’s almost like they’re treating the murderer as a hero.