What do ExPats Living in Pattaya DO all Day?

I love sex,but after the novelty of having available boys wears off (after about 3 weeks in Pattaya) I run out of things to do.You can only drink and have sex everyday for so long!! I don't mean the Expats running bars ,they're flat out keeping an eye on their business. I'm referring to those who do not need to work and not short of a quid.Going to the beach is not a big deal for me( I live in OZ), so what would be an average day for someone living over there.Please give me a breakdown .

[cdnmatt]

Well, what do you like to do? Golfing, wood working, painting, writing, rebuild cars, water sports??? Maybe volunteer, take a Thai language course, join the Lions club.

There's loads of things to do. The one thing I miss though is hiking. You can't really do that in Thailand due to the heat, and I'm not sleeping out in the jungle with the bugs and snakes, thank you.

[francois]

Some expats spend their free time posting on this and other forums.

[Patexpat]

some us work .....

Well, what do you like to do? Golfing, wood working, painting, writing, rebuild cars, water sports??? Maybe volunteer, take a Thai language course, join the Lions club.What volunteering activity is available to ex-pats in Thailand?

[Andaman!]

Well, what do you like to do? Golfing, wood working, painting, writing, rebuild cars, water sports??? Maybe volunteer, take a Thai language course, join the Lions club.

There's loads of things to do. The one thing I miss though is hiking. You can't really do that in Thailand due to the heat, and I'm not sleeping out in the jungle with the bugs and snakes, thank you.

Water Sports - I thoughts that's what the sadder expats got involved with after offing a boy. Yuk :pottytrain3:

I depends on you! It also depends on when you choose to start your day! I have always been an avid golfer and it fills 3 days a week. If you are social there is always someone to go somewhere with. My friends and myself often meet late in the afternoon at La Cage as they have a good happy hour. The best is that you can do everything or nothing totally up 2 U....That is why we are here. :hello2: ......Yes we are here for other things as well :sex:

I depends on you! It also depends on when you choose to start your day! I have always been an avid golfer and it fills 3 days a week. If you are social there is always someone to go somewhere with. My friends and myself often meet late in the afternoon at La Cage as they have a good happy hour. The best is that you can do everything or nothing totally up 2 U....That is why we are here. :hello2: ......Yes we are here for other things as well :sex:

Thanks for that civil reply Equalizer,I'm in shock there were no barbs!! LOL. Maybe I might drop in there (La Cage) sometime and say hello I'm getting bored again over here.It looks like I'm the problem not the location. Cheers.

[allieb]

Well, what do you like to do? Golfing, wood working, painting, writing, rebuild cars, water sports??? Maybe volunteer, take a Thai language course, join the Lions club.

There's loads of things to do. The one thing I miss though is hiking. You can't really do that in Thailand due to the heat, and I'm not sleeping out in the jungle with the bugs and snakes, thank you.

Water Sports - I thoughts that's what the sadder expats got involved with after offing a boy. Yuk :pottytrain3:

Nothing wrong with a little water sports.I would say the sadder expats would be more into solids

[blueboy]

Many expats I see do absolutely nothing all day, besides beach, dinner & watch TV with the occasional sex if they can afford the viagra. I suppose they do more than they would in their home country, with the beach & sex as extras.
Many are miserable old farts that do little else but bitch about everyone and everything - look at this board for one.

There is actually a lot to do - you could become another moaner on this board, become an alcoholic, waste money on boys (mobiles/homes/family),have plastic surgery or even better colonic irrigation.

Posters above me have suggested watersports, working, etc - actually a good social life is to be had, there are loads of very nice people, just beware the ones that talk or moan and drink too much. If you're not the active type, there is shopping, going to the cinema, or join a bridge club or similar.

Pattaya can be a fun place if you want to have fun - many people don't know how to anymore.

[Beachlover]

There's loads of things to do. The one thing I miss though is hiking. You can't really do that in Thailand due to the heat, and I'm not sleeping out in the jungle with the bugs and snakes, thank you.

Yeah you can. I've done lots of hiking in Thailand. I have been hiking down South. Sure it's hot and humid but you get used to it and don't mind. Bugs and snakes aren't a problem if you're properly equipped. And I haven't seen many snakes hiking in Thailand but in Australia I have nearly stepped on some really deadly ones many times. I feel much safer in Thailand.

If the heat is a real issue, just go North. Up to the hills near Chiang Mai. Lots of nice places to hike around there near the border with Burma with really beautiful lush scenery up in the cool mountain air... The great thing is you can just hike from village to village and stay in people's huts.

Lots of other great outdoor stuff you can do in Thailand too. There are lots of great places to go kayaking both in the sea and around some big lakes and river systems. People come from all around the world to go rock climbing in Thailand.

I don't know why people spend weeks or months hanging around Pattaya. If I had all that time to hang about I'd be off island hopping, trekking about exploring the Northern area where Burma and Laos are and doing a few kayaking trips. But unfortunately... money have but time no have... at least for now :-(

[Beachlover]

Many expats I see do absolutely nothing all day, besides beach, dinner & watch TV with the occasional sex if they can afford the viagra. I suppose they do more than they would in their home country, with the beach & sex as extras.

I know... what a meaningless existence. Too much of this with no end in sight just leads to depression. Really, I think people who retire and do absolutely nothing have little intelligence.

Many expats I see do absolutely nothing all day, besides beach, dinner & watch TV with the occasional sex if they can afford the viagra. I suppose they do more than they would in their home country, with the beach & sex as extras.

I know... what a meaningless existence. Too much of this with no end in sight just leads to depression. Really, I think people who retire and do absolutely nothing have little intelligence.


Well you are certainly in a position to know! :idea:

[TrongpaiExpat]

Yeah you can. I've done lots of hiking in Thailand. I have been hiking down South. Sure it's hot and humid but you get used to it and don't mind. Bugs and snakes aren't a problem if you're properly equipped. And I haven't seen many snakes hiking in Thailand but in Australia I have nearly stepped on some really deadly ones many times. I feel much safer in Thailand.


I'm an avid hiker in Thailand National Parks and agree the trails are very safe. There's one in Loei that has some narrow paths along high cliffs and a fall is certain death but if your careful there's no problem. Leaches are a problem in some of the Central and Southern Parks but remedied by the right gear, duck tape. You have to wrap tape around the bottom of your pants to the top of your shoes. In the North the problem is steep trails. I have never seen a snake, maybe they see me first? Monkeys will follow you in some of the parks due to humans feeding them. I would not go alone and for the most part you have a cell phone signal if you get in to real trouble. There's ranger stations and you register before taking off.

I have never seen a snake...

try BIG cock show at Future Boys

Really, I think people who retire and do absolutely nothing have little intelligence.

I have never met anyone who chose to retire and who does "absolutely nothing", in Pattaya or anywhere else. Most do what they want to do, given any physical or financial limitations; just because that may not be what someone else enoys doing, or imagines they would enjoy doing, is immaterial - after all, many have already done what others stuck in a job as a "suit" dream of being able to do some day.

"Duck tape" (duct tape?) for leeches?? That's the sort of thing "Bare" Grylls would say, or someone who imagines they are "properly equipped" to deal with snakes. No offence, TE, but this is a myth that started off as a joke for the uninitiated.

[TrongpaiExpat]

Obscure humor a la former US Attorney General Ashcroft. He advised everyone after 9-11 to keep a supply of duct tape and sheet plastic on hand for emergencies. A company then came out with Duck [sig] tape in the various alert level colors.

Attorney General Ashcroft did not get it either.

I did once notice a hiking group where the leader passed out duct tape to everyone on the hike to tape the bottom of their pants to their shoes.

"Duck tape" (duct tape?) for leeches??
http://www.kilmerhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/1945-ar-taping-plane-300x279.jpg
[X] Duck tape and duct tape:

"Johnson & Johnson had been making bandages, dressings and other products for the military since the Spanish American War in 1898 and, during World War I, the Company ran its surgical dressing production around the clock seven days a week to meet the needs of soldiers and hospitals. We continued making lifesaving medical products for the military during World War II, but as a routine part of the war effort, the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies was asked to make or develop a variety of products that werenтАЩt part of its usual product lines.

With the absence of permanent suppliers of military products as an ongoing industry in the 1940s, and the need for quickly gearing up production, it was standard practice during World War II for U.S. companies to be asked to mobilize to make a variety of products for the war effort: among the wartime products Johnson & Johnson affiliate companies made were gas masks (we still have one in our archives!), parts for airplane landing gear, wing hinges and unwoven cotton camouflage material (from our then-affiliate The Chicopee Manufacturing Company). Given the CompanyтАЩs long expertise in making adhesive tapes, the military asked Johnson & Johnson to have one of its operating companies make a waterproof, strong cloth based tape that could keep moisture out of ammunition cases.

The tape was originally called duck tape, for its water-repelling properties. (DuckтАжwaterтАжget it?) And, as the story goes, the fabric used to make the tape was called cotton duck. Soldiers soon discovered that the tape was incredibly useful in repairing just about anything that needed repair, from jeeps to planes to tents to boots. As time went on, тАЬduckтАЭ morphed into тАЬductтАЭ because of its use in the postwar building industry to help connectтАжyou guessed itтАжductwork for heating and air conditioning. Duct tape was originally made by an affiliate company called the Industrial Tape Corporation, which became Permacel. Its headquarters was one of the familiar тАЬFactories Can be BeautifulтАЭ buildings in Central New Jersey. Permacel still exists, but itтАЩs no longer part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies: we sold it in 1982." http://www.kilmerhouse.com/?p=956

Two men duct taping a duct: http://www.kilmerhouse.com/wp-content/u ... 1x1024.jpg (http://www.kilmerhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/permacel-catalog-duct-tape-sm1-791x1024.jpg)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Ready Campaign: http://www.ready.gov/america/other/faqs.html#q5

Thanks all for your informative comments.

Given the vast range of things to do within a few minutes drive of Pattaya, including a variety of "great outdoor stuff" and even hiking in the parks behind Wat Yangsangwararam / Vihan Xian / out to the Buddha carving and SilverLake for TE, I can't understand why the same people regularly come out with this rubbish that there is nothing to do in Pattaya apart from cruise the beaches and bars, unless they have never been there.

Instead of asking what people do / there is to do, maybe the Pattaya-knockers could come up with what they want to do that is not available in or near Pattaya, and what Pattaya lacks ..... maybe not, so I'll give them a little help:

No winter sports (no skiing, no boblseighs, not even an ice rink).

No symphony orchestra or Pattaya philharmonic.

No Disneyland (yet).

Limited "culture"; not strictly true, but the beer and butty brigade are seldom invited to the Pimms and cucumber sandwiches events.

Limited water; becoming truer.

Any more for any more??



Obscure humor a la former US Attorney General Ashcroft. He advised everyone after 9-11 to keep a supply of duct tape and sheet plastic on hand for emergencies.

The mind boggles! Seriously, TE, leeches mainly get on your skin when you brush against leaves and branches and the undergrowth rather than by jumping on your boots - DEET, the main ingredient in most mosquito repellents, kills them instantly in high enough concentrations, so as long as you are not allergic to it just give your socks and the bottom of your trousers a regular spray to control them (it does rot the fabric, though); alternatively on cleared trails or in good primary jungle you can do the opposite to what most people do and minimise your clothing (hiking sandals instead of boots, shorts instead of trousers, no socks, etc, and just put a drop of DEET on them directly when you or a friend see them on you.

[cdnmatt]

The mind boggles! Seriously, TE, leeches mainly get on your skin when you brush against leaves and branches and the undergrowth rather than by jumping on your boots - DEET, the main ingredient in most mosquito repellents, kills them instantly in high enough concentrations, so as long as you are not allergic to it just give your socks and the bottom of your trousers a regular spray to control them (it does rot the fabric, though); alternatively on cleared trails or in good primary jungle you can do the opposite to what most people do and minimise your clothing (hiking sandals instead of boots, shorts instead of trousers, no socks, etc, and just put a drop of DEET on them directly when you or a friend see them on you.

Exactly why I'm not too thrilled about the idea of hiking in Thailand. On top of leeches, all the ants, and tons of other bugs. Not to mention the heat. In Canada you sweat and everything, but nothing like you would in Thailand.

That, and in Canada you don't have to worry about much in the way of wildlife. The deer, elk, moose, etc... aren't going to bother you. The biggest worry is a grizzly, but even though, they'll more than likely leave you alone, unless you find yourself in the unlucky situation of either surprising them, or ending up between a mom and her babies. Even then, there's always things like bear scare. Other than that, you're basically fine, as long as you're not an idiot. If you don't bury food scraps, or hang your food from a tree, you can maybe expect some visitors, but for the most part, your fine.

I've done week long hikes through the Rockies and everything, but just can't see myself doing the same in Thailand. I'll save that for Canada.

I've done week long hikes through the Rockies and everything,

Please give 5 examples of "everything"

[cdnmatt]

I've done week long hikes through the Rockies and everything,

Please give 5 examples of "everything"

Oh, for fuck sakes. You actually decided to take the time out, and complain about that? Really?

[TrongpaiExpat]

I've done week long hikes through the Rockies and everything, but just can't see myself doing the same in Thailand. I'll save that for Canada.

We're headed up to Khon Kaen next month for a week and I guess your not the person to ask which of the near-by National parks are worth a visit:
Phuphtan Kham
Plu Wang
Phuphaman
Nam Nao
Nam Phong

Any place else worth a visit? Any advise?

I've done week long hikes through the Rockies and everything,

Please give 5 examples of "everything"

Oh, for fuck sakes. You actually decided to take the time out, and complain about that? Really?

not a complaint - a request
please answer

We're headed up to Khon Kaen next month for a week and I guess your not the person to ask which of the near-by National parks are worth a visit:
Phuphtan Kham
Plu Wang
Phuphaman
Nam Nao
Nam Phong

Any place else worth a visit? Any advise?
Nam Nao
This is an excellent place to see Woodpeckers, with Lesser and Greater Yellownapes being particularly common. Common and Greater Flamebacks are also easily seen as are Grey Capped Woodpeckers. Many other species of woodpecker are present, and I usually see about eight species of Woodpecker in a three day visit. White-hooded Babbler is a bird which seems unusually abundant here as are Red-headed Trogon and Green Magpie. Other notable birds that I often see in this park are Blue Pitta, Collared Falconet, Silver Pheasant, Bar-backed Partridge and Blossom-headed Parakeet.
Enjoy

Other notable birds that I often see in this park
[X] Copied from http://www.thaibirding.com/locations/north_east/nn.htm

http://www.birdwatching.co.th/pages/bir ... ons_11.htm (http://www.birdwatching.co.th/pages/bird_watching_destinations_11.htm)

[Smiles]

" ... I've done week long hikes through the Rockies and everything ... (oh for fuck's sake) ..."
Wouldn't want to be too picky (as well you know), but you must admit that your wording is a rather odd-sounding way of making a point.
" ... the Rockies and everything ..."? So, to the Himalayas you've been? The Spine of Nippon? The Alps (that's easily a 'maybe')? The Pamir Knot, or Gordian? Mt Kosciusko? The upside down Marianas Trench? The snow covered peaks of Antarctica ... Mt Erubus? Vesuvius in eruptus (North-West of Java) ... Krakatoa (South-East of Roma)? Pinatubo (just before)?

There's shirley many more geographicals which would include "everything"

Pedantic anyone?

[Beachlover]

Yes, pedantic... Sheesh... talk about taking things slowly and literally. It's a figure of speech, meaning, "that and more"...

You've never heard phrases in conversation like, "[Oh, has he seen a doctor?]"... "Yeah, went and got referred to a specialist and all"... or.... "[Have you tried massaging the sore muscle a bit?]... "Yeah, I went and had a professional sports massage, did the hot and cold thing and everything"... same thing.

[lonelywombat]

I've done week long hikes through the Rockies and everything,

Please give 5 examples of "everything"

They hog the gay forums with supposedly witty but negative comments like this.
getyournobout why dont you give 5 examples where you have been positive in this forum

[Beachlover]

Exactly why I'm not too thrilled about the idea of hiking in Thailand. On top of leeches, all the ants, and tons of other bugs. Not to mention the heat. In Canada you sweat and everything, but nothing like you would in Thailand.

That, and in Canada you don't have to worry about much in the way of wildlife. The deer, elk, moose, etc... aren't going to bother you. The biggest worry is a grizzly, but even though, they'll more than likely leave you alone, unless you find yourself in the unlucky situation of either surprising them, or ending up between a mom and her babies. Even then, there's always things like bear scare. Other than that, you're basically fine, as long as you're not an idiot. If you don't bury food scraps, or hang your food from a tree, you can maybe expect some visitors, but for the most part, your fine.

I've done week long hikes through the Rockies and everything, but just can't see myself doing the same in Thailand. I'll save that for Canada.

You whimp. :blackeye: Seriously, you are missing out if you enjoy the great outdoors but don't do any of that in Thailand.

The jungle stuff is one those things where it SOUNDS worse to the unfamiliar than it is.

Like bears for example. I would be freaking scared of bears and mountain lions in Canada. I mean, they're big things and if one decides to comes at you and all you have is a flimsy tent, you've got no hope. In Thailand you have nothing like that (except tigers but they're very rare). At least with snakes they can't get into your tent if it's sealed (and villagers usually have dogs around to kill them). But you're ok with bears because you've been around Canada lots right?

[cdnmatt]

I've done week long hikes through the Rockies and everything, but just can't see myself doing the same in Thailand. I'll save that for Canada.

We're headed up to Khon Kaen next month for a week and I guess your not the person to ask which of the near-by National parks are worth a visit:
Phuphtan Kham
Plu Wang
Phuphaman
Nam Nao
Nam Phong

Any place else worth a visit? Any advise?

Personal advice? Sorry, but no idea, as haven't visited any. Asked Kim though, and:

Phuphtan Kham -- I obviously couldn't pronounce that one correctly, so no clue.
Plu Wang -- No good
Phuphaman -- No good, and a long ways from Khon Kaen.
Nam Nao -- Good nit noi, but not really. Long ways from Khon Kaen.
Nam Phong -- Really good. Close to Khon Kaen, maybe two hours he says.


Wouldn't want to be too picky (as well you know), but you must admit that your wording is a rather odd-sounding way of making a point.
" ... the Rockies and everything ..."?

Oh geez, it's just a figure of speech. I don't know, I write the same way I talk. It's like saying, "I go to the gym loads and everything, but still haven't gotten rid of the love handles", or, "I put in loads of hours of work and everything, and still not appreciated by the boss". Clarified enough for you? By "everything" I mean, week long hikes into the rockies, simple day hikes around, lots of camping, some bicycling, etc.

[cdnmatt]

But you're ok with bears because you've been around Canada lots right?

heh, ohhh, definitely not ok with bears. :-) But no, it's just things like for example, I know what precautions to take to help ensure bears don't visit, I know the best things to do if I do encounter a bear, etc. For example, say I got lost in Canada or spraigned (sp) my ankle, or somehow lost my backpack. For the most part, I'd know how to take care of myself, could build a shelter, get some food, keep warm, know what to do, etc. I can't say the same for a jungle in SE Asia.

I'll probably do some day trips and everything, in national parks with trails and what not, but can't see myself doing any actual hiking in Thailand.

[Beachlover]

Sorry, Matt. I had the impression you roll around in the snow with bears having fun with them and all lol.

But yeah, that's my point exactly. It's not so bad because you're familiar with the whole bear thing... probability and level of threat and how best to handle it right?

Same thing in Thailand. Snakes are not an issue (as other posters have said) as far as I know. I've heard they mainly post a risk to rock climbers to stick their hands everywhere (sometimes where a snake happens to be sun basking) to haul themselves up.

Bugs and all aren't a major issue either unless you're actually sleeping on the jungle floor.... but you wouldn't be. You'd sleep in a tent. Or some villager's hut right?

The only thing that's really bothered me is some stinging nettle sort of plant (I forget what it was), but this was no problem as long as you didn't wear shorts or brush your arms everywhere.

Snakes are not an issue (as other posters have said) as far as I know.

Generally speaking I would agree, but it depends on the individual as well as the snake.

In the last year alone I have had several pythons in my garden as well as a number of assorted pit vipers and several rat snakes, a couple of Siamese vipers, and one medium-sized spitting cobra; on the other hand I have yet to see a snake in the wild in Thailand. As the largest I have come across in the jungle elsewhere was a python which measured 6 metres (19 foot), and one which looked as big a couple of years later when I was on my own but was probably no more than half that size, I am quite happy if it stays like that!

[mahjongguy]

In the last year alone I have had several pythons in my garden as well as a number of assorted pit vipers and several rat snakes, a couple of Siamese vipers, and one medium-sized spitting cobra;

Holy crap. Where do you live? I hope it's not Jomtien.

[Smiles]

" ... In the last year alone I have had several pythons in my garden as well as a number of assorted pit vipers and several rat snakes, a couple of Siamese vipers, and one medium-sized spitting cobra; on the other hand I have yet to see a snake in the wild in Thailand. As the largest I have come across in the jungle elsewhere was a python which measured 6 metres (19 foot), and one which looked as big a couple of years later when I was on my own but was probably no more than half that size, I am quite happy if it stays like that! ... "
Walking out of the excellent aquarium located just north of Bang Saphan we noticed a great commotion happening in the parking lot ahead of us. Getting closer we stumbled across a group of young Thai men (parking attendants and a gardner) wrestling with a huge Python . . . trying their best to stuff it into an equally huge burlap bag.
Apparently some customer had come back to his car and just about tripped over it's head lying out on the pavement, the rest of the body hidden in the low shrubbery. The head on this puppy was the dimension (or so it seemed) of a good size watermelon.

We watched the battle ~ and so it was ~ for awhile and after the final victory the big boy was trundled off down the road in a pickup truck. We got in the car and followed in the same direction. Soon, we caught up to it as it was pulled over on the side ... the boys were letting the beast out of it's bag, and it slithered ~ pissed! ~ into an adjacent rice paddie.

Gone Fishing ... seeing as how you live close by Pattaya, have you stumbled across any long, thick Trouser Snakes lately?

[Impulse]

Lol,makes one want to live high up in a condo.Gone fishing,maybe you can replace Steve Irwin and have you're own show .thats ridiculous,way too many snakes.Im glad I can't own a house in Thailand.

[Beachlover]

In the last year alone I have had several pythons in my garden as well as a number of assorted pit vipers and several rat snakes, a couple of Siamese vipers, and one medium-sized spitting cobra; on the other hand I have yet to see a snake in the wild in Thailand. As the largest I have come across in the jungle elsewhere was a python which measured 6 metres (19 foot), and one which looked as big a couple of years later when I was on my own but was probably no more than half that size, I am quite happy if it stays like that!

Snakes freak me out. I hope you keep a few dogs about to keep them at bay.

I think if you step on snake you're guaranteed to be bitten. I have come close to stepping on brown snakes, tiger snakes and red bellied ones a few times and I mean really close. And in some cases, with help several hours away at best, I think a bite would've meant kapoot.

They are supposed to feel your vibrations coming and slither away, but with this many incidents maybe I'm too much of a lightweight. I get a bigger, heavier mate to go stomping about in front when I know there will be snakes now :-)

During one hike in Thailand this little nutcase of a dog was following me from village to village. He would trip us all over by flying up and down the track between our feet trying to sniff out god knows what. The guide said he would probably follow us for a few days until bored then go back to his home village on his own and it was a good thing because the dog would get to any snakes before they go to us.

Snakes freak me out. I hope you keep a few dogs about to keep them at bay.

I think if you step on snake you're guaranteed to be bitten. I have come close to stepping on brown snakes, tiger snakes and red bellied ones a few times and I mean really close. And in some cases, with help several hours away at best, I think a bite would've meant kapoot.

They are supposed to feel your vibrations coming and slither away, but with this many incidents maybe I'm too much of a lightweight. I get a bigger, heavier mate to go stomping about in front when I know there will be snakes now :-)

During one hike in Thailand this little nutcase of a dog was following me from village to village. He would trip us all over by flying up and down the track between our feet trying to sniff out god knows what. The guide said he would probably follow us for a few days until bored then go back to his home village on his own and it was a good thing because the dog would get to any snakes before they go to us.


Why go anywhere when you can watch the snakes here? :hello2: And don't worry about their bite! knowing some of them they could eat you whole and digest you in 5-7 days!

In the last year alone I have had several pythons in my garden as well as a number of assorted pit vipers and several rat snakes, a couple of Siamese vipers, and one medium-sized spitting cobra;
Holy crap. Where do you live? I hope it's not Jomtien.[/quote]

About 20 minutes from Pattaya, and less than 10 minutes from Jomtien!,

Bear in mind that I don't live in a "village", and I have quite a decent sized bit of land, complete with lakes and a running stream (well, running most of the year!). The cobra was a bit of a surprise, particularly when it decided to spit at me, and the most worrying one particularly as it was at night; it was the only one I have seen in the wild and it may even have escaped from a local snake farm.

"My own show"? Somehow I don't think so; monitor lizards (2 so far) are caught, boxed up and taken for a drive before being released, as are the geckos if I can catch them, but I am afraid the snakes are disposed of on the spot, usually rather messily.

Dogs? Yes, several, but they usually make the problem worse as they all try to get in the way.

One of the many "things to do in Pattaya", perhaps!!