Police crack down Pattaya, farangs taken to station I

See catawampuscat "The shit hits the fan" on this board and similar from Gaythailand

"GaySacGuy
I just received a phone call advising me that all the Farang in Wild, Wild West without a passport in their possession were detained/arrested/taken to jail??? Not sure which, but definitely not good. It is 10:30 p.m. in Pattaya, apparently this just happen this evening. Also rumor of two or three bars being closed, but no confirmantion. Can anyone either confirm or deny this information?? I sure hope it is some kind of mistake, but the way things go, you never know!

painai
Yes, I was there, thank goodness I carry a laminated copy of my passport (which includes the first page and copy of my visa), only 2 of the customers, myself and a Japanese tourist who had his passport, were not taken away in a pick up by the (I assume) Bangkok police. The police came in only questioning the customers, and those without id were rounded up, searched, questioned and taken away. About ten or twelve all together were taken away. It really looked sad to see the elderly farangs who had trouble walking trying to get in the pickup. Moral of the story, carry your id!"

catawampuscat - my apologies for having spelt your name incorrecly - now I cut and paste to get it right.

[allieb]

Moral of the story, carry your id!

No dear the moral of the story is Fuck of Thailand. Let everybody stand up to the Thai authorities and an show them who puts the rice on the table. Boycott Thailand for 6 months and see them come back with their begging bowls. The treat us like shit so stay away for a while. No other country treat their tourists (guests) like this

I live here but I have to agree. Tourists shouldn't put up with this. This is harassment and bizarre. Its not worth it.

I live here but I have to agree. Tourists shouldn't put up with this. This is harassment and bizarre. Its not worth it.

The law is that an ID must be carried at all times.

Those arrested were not carrying ID's.

End of story. :bounce:

I live here but I have to agree. Tourists shouldn't put up with this. This is harassment and bizarre. Its not worth it.

The law doesn't make any difference between foreigner or Thai.

I live here but I have to agree. Tourists shouldn't put up with this. This is harassment and bizarre. Its not worth it.

The law is that an ID must be carried at all times.

Those arrested were not carrying ID's.

End of story. :bounce:
Bullshit. Almost nobody carries their PASSPORT with them. It is much safer to keep it locked up at home. This law is indeed on the books, but almost never enforced. Now, it is being enforced.

Harassment. Plain and simple. And very irrational. Sending bar customers to jail? This is an OUTRAGE!

[Aunty]

Fascinating. Of course one wonders what sort of questions the arrested ID-less Farang's will be subjected to. Why have you come to Thailand? Why have you come to Pattaya? Why are you in a boy GoGo bar? Did you come to Thailand to break Thailand's laws on prostitution? Have you offed any boys? Have you paid any Thai boys for sex? What was their age? What was their name? Are you a homosexual?

Will the names of those arrested be passed to immigration? Will they end up on the black list? Will the authorities in their home countries be notified of their activities while in Thailand? Oh, it's better than a Soap Opera!

I live here but I have to agree. Tourists shouldn't put up with this. This is harassment and bizarre. Its not worth it.

The law is that an ID must be carried at all times.

Those arrested were not carrying ID's.

End of story. :bounce:
Bullshit. Almost nobody carries their PASSPORT with them. It is much safer to keep it locked up at home. This law is indeed on the books, but almost never enforced. Now, it is being enforced.

Harassment. Plain and simple. And very irrational. Sending bar customers to jail? This is an OUTRAGE!

I don't recall mentioning PASSPORT, if you bother to read the post it said 'carry ID

If you don't carry ID and get arrested tough luck. If you don't like the law then leave the country - simple really.

As for rounding up the sex tourists (especially in the gay bars) this is just a continuing part of the crackdown ordered from up-high.

Will the names of those arrested be passed to immigration? Will they end up on the black list? Will the authorities in their home countries be notified of their activities while in Thailand? Oh, it's better than a Soap Opera!

I imagine that many of those farangs picked up in the gay bars will find themselves pulled over when they arrive back in their own country

Remember that the new police chief did warn some months ago that he intended to 'Clean up Pattaya' and with the recent intervention of the top man from Bangkok it looks as though he has been told to produce results or lose his position. Also remember that the Pattaya police chief is the man that was responsible for the closure of many establishments in Bangkok that were involved in providing services for the gay sex tourist and his record in Bangkok was one of the main reasons that he was appointed as the top man in Pattaya.

[Brad the Impala]

Harassment. Plain and simple. And very irrational. Sending bar customers to jail? This is an OUTRAGE!

Some ridiculous over reactions and presumptions here. Being taken to the police station is not the same as being sent to jail!

You are taken to the police station in the same way, if you break the law and don't have your driving license with you when driving. You pay a fine and are released.

Does anyone actually know that these people are in jail?

No, I do believe it is indeed the law that all foreigners are supposed to carry their PASSPORTS with them at all times.
That would be INSANE to actually do.
Like at the beach. Or even a night on the town.
I am sorry, this is abusive, this is harassment, and people shouldn't take it sitting down.

I also think people who actually defend this kind of "crackdown" are basically fascists.

[Aunty]

Will the names of those arrested be passed to immigration? Will they end up on the black list? Will the authorities in their home countries be notified of their activities while in Thailand? Oh, it's better than a Soap Opera!

I imagine that many of those farangs picked up in the gay bars will find themselves pulled over when they arrive back in their own country

Remember that the new police chief did warn some months ago that he intended to 'Clean up Pattaya' and with the recent intervention of the top man from Bangkok it looks as though he has been told to produce results or lose his position. Also remember that the Pattaya police chief is the man that was responsible for the closure of many establishments in Bangkok that were involved in providing services for the gay sex tourist and his record in Bangkok was one of the main reasons that he was appointed as the top man in Pattaya.

I agree that Pattaya needs to be cleaned up, but is this the right way to do it/ Will this actually clean up Pattaya? Picking on Gays is just taking the soft easy option really, isn't it? (I exclude from that statement any underage activity of the pedo set). Prostitution and the GoGo scene is a victimless crime. What about all the Farang/Thai Mafias, the con-artists, drug dealers, the crims laying low? What about Russian crime, and just the general low-class farang trash that's all over town? (Most of that is str8) Will the girlie bars be targeted too?

Or is this just picking on an easy soft-target - the corrupting homos? It's better to be seen doing something when the pressures on, but in reality, vested interests are still protected?

Perhaps wowpow might like to help here.If u need to take a copy of your passport, which pages do u need to copy. I must admit that for over 10 yrs of visiting thailand i have never carried my passport while out and about, but i also know guys who have been pulled up in bangkok without any Id,but this is the first time i have heard of it in pattaya.

"A first hand report from a friend who was in Wild West was that the Police came in and checked with his friend who did not have a passport. He was told to carry a copy in future. His boyfriend's rucksack was searched. My friend was in the toilet when they arrived and he was not questioned. The Police spent some time at the far side of the bar but they could not see what was going on. About half a dozen people left and then the place returned to normal and the show was at 10.30 as usual.

I read the reports in the wee small hours and was concerned incase they had been carted off to jail. Its all very strange as this friend rang me yesterday afternoon to see if I had been in jail - a rumour seems to have started after the article from Lonely Planet Thorntree about "In the monkey house for no exit stamp".

I carry, in my wallet. a copy of my passport main pages reduced to credit card size, double sided and encapsulated in stiff plastic. It looks very official and includes my photo, persons to contqct in emergency and signature. I also carry current photocopies of my Visa, entry stamp, arrival and departure paper and my 90 days report slip. I got the passport photocopy and encapsulation done at Central Chitlom. It was very inexpensive. I had several copies done and I keep one in each piece of my luggage for indentification.

I think it might be a better idea if people stop panicking every time the men in brown parade themselves into a bar with the intent to enforce a randomly selected archaic law that, god forbid, deprives a few punters of a nights bar trawling. Only those who are in the bars with intent to commit a more serious crime than staring at a lean muscled local lad parading around in underwear on stage, need fear anything. The offence that is taken by all and sundry when they are reminded of their comparatively insignificant place in the grand scheme of the 8+million tourists per year that pour through Thailand, the vast majority of whom never set foot in a bar (boy or otherwise), just because one of the arms of state power has the audacity to appear, either blocking their view of the boyz on stage or unceremoniously taking them for a ride to the station, such as this most recent of events, is just laughable and really reflects just how conceited the average sex tourist can become.

For a state that is in the grip of a failing coup and hence subject to massive internal pressures as opposing groups jockey for power, a flex of the "foreigners must carry ID cards" muscle is nothing on what they could have done (probably will do). The outrage exhibited here is just so disproportionate to the event that I think you need to get a grip people. Ask yourselves just what actually is it that makes you think that by being a tourist (or expat for that matter) you are somehow subject to extrateritorialty treaties exempting you from the laws of Thailand. On the one hand you exploit the police's turning a blind eye to prostitution (to your hearts content) and then expect that they OWE you zero interference in all spheres. Probably the most absurd thing is that the bar "raid" was not actually about you people, but rather local power, national power and its exhibition in a public place. That foreign catering bars were targeted is not a surprise as the entire regime has been targetting western influences in all of its ideological campaigns since it took power in Sept 2006 of which capitalism and its affects are central concerns and prostitution and immodesty are metaphors of.

As far as this kind of thing becoming routine or being the beginning of an end to the boy bar frolicking days of old, I think not. Pattaya is able to look after itself in the face of any of Bangkok's interference and it is more likely than not that the raid was in fact a reminder to someone or some people that certain arrangements regarding Pattaya's autonomy from BKK haven't been met, a courtesy call so to speak. Even if the bar life has to go underground the trade will remain...probably cheaper, less surveyed and most appealing in my opinion with far fewer "mamasangs" screeching "you ly boi?!", "hab many boi!!!" "you wan boi?!! "what boy you ly?!!" "big boi?!!, small boi?!! hab many boy!!! you look!! you ly!! you speak me I get boi you!!!"

[TrongpaiExpat]

Yep, just a matter of time before all you Pattaya residents/sexpats/expats/O-A visa Pats are chained together pickin up trash on the highway with some stern Thai guard sayin "what we have here is a fail-ure to com-municate" or the Thai version "farang not risten me"

[catawampuscat]

amazing how many posters have reacted so strongly to this law about carrying IDs.

If you are an ex-pat or have a visa which allows you to get a Thai driver's license, the license is acceptable ID
to the police. The other alternative is to have a photo shop make you a mini copy of your passport and visa stamps
and then they laminate it. It is cheap and satisfies the police as ID. It is as small as a credit car or ATM card and not
really too much to ask foreigners in one's country to carry on their person..

The irony of this situation is that the police go into houses of prostitution which is illegal in Thailand and ignore the boys
and their potential customers and just target those not carrying IDs.

The easy solution is to carry ID or stay in your room.... :cat:

[TrongpaiExpat]

I had planned on cumming to Pattaya this weekend but now there seems to be all out war on homosexuals. I think I better change my tastes to ladies. I'll start out slow, first get used to the smell of tuna by wifin a few open cans then move on to very small breasted women and work my way up from there.

I had planned on cumming to Pattaya this weekend but now there seems to be all out war on homosexuals. I think I better change my tastes to ladies. I'll start out slow, first get used to the smell of tuna by wifin a few open cans then move on to very small breasted women and work my way up from there.

stop that! you will set billy off!

I have traveled all over the world. Never experienced or heard of such an outrage against TOURISTS. This is indeed an outrage. There are OTHER countries to go to. Go there. Teach Thailand a lesson. They do indeed need the money from TOURISM and they also need the HARD CURRENCY from SEX TOURISTS.

Cut them off.

They want to be xenophobic? Let them STEW in it.

[bkkguy]

money from TOURISM and they also need the HARD CURRENCY from SEX TOURISTS.

pun intended? or is this a ploy to start a market for currency viagra?

bkkguy

Yes, pun intended.
I live here now and I intend to deal with living here, and the coming dark times, due to war, xenophobia, and a military dictatorship.
Tourists don't have to come here.
They shouldn't.
Thailand no longer deserves your money. They only see you as walking ATMs who has NO LIMITS on both withdrawals and ABUSE by Thailand. Teach them a lesson. BOYCOTT THAILAND. Tell your friends. There are better places to visit where you will sincerely be WELCOME.

Moral of the story, carry your id!

No dear the moral of the story is Fuck of Thailand. Let everybody stand up to the Thai authorities and an show them who puts the rice on the table. Boycott Thailand for 6 months and see them come back with their begging bowls. The treat us like shit so stay away for a while. No other country treat their tourists (guests) like this

Good point.
No other country .... OK, et's meet in Saudi Arabia for a mixed disco hop in Riyadh, have some beers in an open street bar in Madinah and later on fun with with some Dammam boys from a gay club and take many pictures.

I`ve meet some handsome Saudi's in Beirut. They praised the nigh live of Makkah especially. Maybe we should go there once too.

[bing]

The suggestion of not going to Thailand may be a good idea, but most of us plan many months in advance
in order to make proper airline reservation and reserve hotel accommodations as well. Anyone who has
made the effort to reserve and pay for an airplane ticket will not be willing to eat the ticket or even take a hit by trying to reschedule for later. I'll be there next month, and do hope the cops get all the sweeps out of their system by that time.

[allieb]

Moral of the story, carry your id!

No dear the moral of the story is Fuck of Thailand. Let everybody stand up to the Thai authorities and an show them who puts the rice on the table. Boycott Thailand for 6 months and see them come back with their begging bowls. The treat us like shit so stay away for a while. No other country treat their tourists (guests) like this

Good point.
No other country .... OK, et's meet in Saudi Arabia for a mixed disco hop in Riyadh, have some beers in an open street bar in Madinah and later on fun with with some Dammam boys from a gay club and take many pictures.

I`ve meet some handsome Saudi's in Beirut. They praised the nigh live of Makkah especially. Maybe we should go there once too.


Oh dear you are so pathetic Saudi Arabia doesn't encourage or want tourists,its flush with money. The product of Saudi Arabia is Oil and the code is Islamic. Thailand on the other hand is badly in need of money and its 3 main products openly on offer are bum, cock and cunt. For your information the nightlife in Saudi is good with plenty of free sex and lots of booze if you want it. Booze is illegal and never seen in public. In Thailand whores are illegal but seen on every street corner Who are the hypocrites?

I think you're grossly over-estimating the value of sex tourism to Thailand's overall economy. As I've said many times, whatever that value is, it is greatly exceeded by the damage it causes.

[allieb]

I think you're grossly over-estimating the value of sex tourism to Thailand's overall economy. As I've said many times, whatever that value is, it is greatly exceeded by the damage it causes.

A good point but I would also bet that a huge percentage of tourists in Thailand get involved at some point either secretly or openly with sex.To say they don't is rather like saying Tourists go to France and don't try their fine wines. or in Italy not eating pasta. A lot of tourist brochures for Thailand I have looked at offer tours to ladyboy shows or what they refer to as the red light district.

I think you would be very surprised that the vast, vast majority of tourists who come to Thailand have no interest whatsoever in prostitutes. A visit to Alcazar or a walk through the Patpong night market does not make you a sex tourist.

[Smiles]

Just a shot in the dark (i.e. no stats to back this up), but my gut feeling would be that gay tourists particpate in the Thai sex industry at a greater ratio than straight tourists.

Obviously there are far more straight tourists entering Thailand than gay, but the proportion of gay guys coming to Thailand for sexual adventure (amongst other things ... I certainly hope) is probably a lot higher than that in the straight crowd.

Like I said ... gut feeling only.

Cheers ...

[Up2U]

This story could be related to this discusssion.

http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_09_03_50_4.htm

Where ever I am traveling, I always take a photocopy of the pages of my passport where my ID is shown. I do this to be sure that, if anything happens to me, hospitals, police and others will known who I am. So selfish. :cheers: I am sure a copy will me enough. At least was in Cuba. Easy, ask the reception to do it. Interesting that it should be an harassment to wear an ID.

Where ever I am traveling, I always take a photocopy of the pages of my passport where my ID is shown. I do this to be sure that, if anything happens to me, hospitals, police and others will known who I am. So selfish. :cheers: I am sure a copy will me enough. At least was in Cuba. Easy, ask the reception to do it. Interesting that it should be an harassment to wear an ID.

Yes, you where completely correct. In Thailand you should also have the pages with visa plus TM card copied with you. You can copy all onto one sheet (back/front) and should sign both sides with a coloured ink pen (best is blue). This is usually sufficiant. A good idea is carrying a business card from your hotel or guest house or at least some paper with contact address and phone number as well.

Since many years I did recomment this to my friends and they never ever went into trouble after showing this papers.

Moral of the story, carry your id!

No dear the moral of the story is Fuck of Thailand. Let everybody stand up to the Thai authorities and an show them who puts the rice on the table. Boycott Thailand for 6 months and see them come back with their begging bowls. The treat us like shit so stay away for a while. No other country treat their tourists (guests) like this

Good point.
No other country .... OK, et's meet in Saudi Arabia for a mixed disco hop in Riyadh, have some beers in an open street bar in Madinah and later on fun with with some Dammam boys from a gay club and take many pictures.

I`ve meet some handsome Saudi's in Beirut. They praised the nigh live of Makkah especially. Maybe we should go there once too.


Oh dear you are so pathetic Saudi Arabia doesn't encourage or want tourists,its flush with money. The product of Saudi Arabia is Oil and the code is Islamic. Thailand on the other hand is badly in need of money and its 3 main products openly on offer are bum, cock and cunt. For your information the nightlife in Saudi is good with plenty of free sex and lots of booze if you want it. Booze is illegal and never seen in public. In Thailand whores are illegal but seen on every street corner Who are the hypocrites?

No tourism? You're joking. Why is Saudi Arabia attending the ITB in Berlin, the world largest exhibition and promotion trade fair for tourism? Why do they operate webi ssite like this?: hwww.the-saudi.net/saudi-arabia/tourism.htm

I have been there, and also many other Islamic countries like Jordania, Iran, Syria and a few more. They all want tourists. They all have rules and regulations.

I think you're grossly over-estimating the value of sex tourism to Thailand's overall economy. As I've said many times, whatever that value is, it is greatly exceeded by the damage it causes.

Correct. Take also into account the herds of people doing the visa run. Any visa runner is accounted as tourist. Any stop-over tourist for connecting flights counts as tourist. They count even Thai returning to Thailand as tourists if they work outside the kingdom.

This is why the recent tourist statistics are only available to a very limited number people. And I can tell, the figures are shockingly changing since the last four years.

If Thailand would not get so much mass tourism from China it would look very dim.

Phuket is doing not to bad with visitors from South Africa and many from Australia since there are cheap flights available. Phuket now became the alternative to Bali which uses to be popular wit Australian.

The regular Thailand tourist is old. It’s just a question of time if this source is getting thinned out. The age group below doesn’t see Thailand as ideal holiday destination.

And many others around are developing there tourism. China is increasing and now India is preparing the grounds for mass tourism.

Winners are presently Cambodia and Viet Nam. Singapore is still strong with a breathtaking night live.

I have been asked a number of times at police checkpoints for my passport (while in a car with a Thai driver). I've been asked twice in Thai nightclubs (by the doormen).

News reports are showing that police are checking in both gay and straight clubs to make sure people are in the country legally. Seems fair to me. Thais always have to have an ID (as I do in the US). Is it really that hard to carry one's ID (or at least a copy)?

Pete

[Hmmm]

I think you're grossly over-estimating the value of sex tourism to Thailand's overall economy. As I've said many times, whatever that value is, it is greatly exceeded by the damage it causes.

Granted it's notoriously difficult to estimate the importance of sex tourism. But perhaps worth a try on the back of an envelope ....

A plausible estimate is 1 million sex tourists a year ....
http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/arti ... hp?id=6889 (http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=6889)
Total tourism is around 12 million, if you account for visa runners. So perhaps 1 in 12 tourists is a sex tourist ?

From the above article, "Tourism overall has been the country's major foreign currency earner since 1982", accounting for about 6% GDP in 2003 (300 billion baht).

So sex tourism could be around 1/12 of the tourism GDP, or 0.5% GDP (25 billion baht based on 2003 GDP). And how much of the 'sex baht' is unaccounted for in total tourism GDP ?

Adding the Thai-for-Thai prostitution sector, "The income directly generated by prostitution was estimated at 100bn baht (┬г1.5bn) by the respected Thai economist Pasuk Phongpaichit in a 1998 study. This is about a third of the value of the agriculture sector, which employs more people than any other in Thailand." (same article).

As has been said on many occasions, the Thai-for-Thai prostitution sector is much bigger than the tourist/expat prostitution sector.

The same article also has some interesting things to say about the farcical origin and proliferation of the sex trafficking 'figures' bandied about by NGOs.

[ikarus]

Since junta came to power, things are rapidly deteriorating in Thailand in all directions.
Regarding the episode in question, do not forget that the reason for id checking en masse is the murder of two Russian girls. Despite the fact that Pattaya police quickly apprehended the killer, big wig from BKK, new police chief, mister clean, will not leave a single stone unturned until he finds a foreign trace. It is interesting that all these misters clean in Thailand are absolutely uncapable of doing concrete job or work within the system . Purachai comes to mind.. There is no need to boycott Thailand. If things continue in the current direction, tourism will dry up very soon in Thailand.
BG you just becoming pathetic, stupid jerk. Of course, you got stuck in Thailand and things are not looking good for you.
I just hope that by contrast with junta many at least will give a thought to many great efforts Thaksin made to transform Thailand and freed it from devastating power of mediocre, xenofobic and paranoidal elite...

Where ever I am traveling, I always take a photocopy of the pages of my passport where my ID is shown. I do this to be sure that, if anything happens to me, hospitals, police and others will known who I am. So selfish. :cheers: I am sure a copy will me enough. At least was in Cuba. Easy, ask the reception to do it. Interesting that it should be an harassment to wear an ID.

Yes, you where completly correct. In Thailand you should also have the pages with visa plus TM card copied with you. You can copy all onto one sheet (back/front) and should sign both sides with a coloured ink pen (best is blue). This is usually sufficiant. A good idea is carrying a business card from your hotel or guest house or at least some paper with contact address and phone number as well.

Since many years I did recomment this to my friends and they never ever went into trouble after showing this papers.

Sure, last year I was in Thailand two times for vacation, I was carrying both a copy of my passport and the businesscard from the hotel or guesthouse with room number written on it, I always forget that damm roomnumber the first night LOL. It is written in both thai and english. How difficult can it be. If your are not that sober, it is also nice to have is, to show the taxidriver. I don't know what people are thinking not to do that, also before the new situation, ignorants? *LOL*

Just to add to the debate - Thailand is not alone in this.

In Taiwan at most gay night clubs you will get asked to show your passport or even leave it with the door person until you leave, but not at the gay bars.

I think you're grossly over-estimating the value of sex tourism to Thailand's overall economy. As I've said many times, whatever that value is, it is greatly exceeded by the damage it causes.

Granted it's notoriously difficult to estimate the importance of sex tourism. But perhaps worth a try on the back of an envelope ....

A plausible estimate is 1 million sex tourists a year ....
http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/arti ... hp?id=6889 (http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=6889)
Total tourism is around 12 million, if you account for visa runners. So perhaps 1 in 12 tourists is a sex tourist ?

From the above article, "Tourism overall has been the country's major foreign currency earner since 1982", accounting for about 6% GDP in 2003 (300 billion baht).

So sex tourism could be around 1/12 of the tourism GDP, or 0.5% GDP (25 billion baht based on 2003 GDP). And how much of the 'sex baht' is unaccounted for in total tourism GDP ?

Adding the Thai-for-Thai prostitution sector, "The income directly generated by prostitution was estimated at 100bn baht (┬г1.5bn) by the respected Thai economist Pasuk Phongpaichit in a 1998 study. This is about a third of the value of the agriculture sector, which employs more people than any other in Thailand." (same article).

As has been said on many occasions, the Thai-for-Thai prostitution sector is much bigger than the tourist/expat prostitution sector.

The same article also has some interesting things to say about the farcical origin and proliferation of the sex trafficking 'figures' bandied about by NGOs.

Both, tourism and prostitution are very big businesses. No doubt about that.

On the mediate or longer term Thailand will loose on tourism against many other competitors.

But the kingdom will become more and more a working bench, supplying cheap labour locally and abroad. Since 2000 the increase if Chinese business in Thailand is very significant.
There are five major aspects to be taken into account: at 1, man power is less expensive in Thailand – overall costs in China are much higher with a very view exceptions, 2, Thai people are reasonable well educates, trained, easy to motivate and easy to deal with, and 3, for Thailand is more easy to go around WTO agreements since it is only a small third world country, and 4, Thailand is well controlled and easy to discipline, and 5 Thailand is keeping its strings to countries that are not really en vogue, like Myanmar.

The assets of Thailand are Kon Thai.

Moral of the story, carry your id!

Wowpow with the bad advice again, errr or is it just someone else's bad advice? Hard to tell from a post by someone who likes to just cut and paste other's text, as if, or maybe not as if, it was his own opinion.

Very bad advice. If you want to LOSE your passport, and it is a hassle to replace, then carry it whereever you go. If not, then have a good copy of the details page, maybe a copy of your last entry stamp page, and of course know and tell where the real passport is (Hotel) if the police should ask you. I doubt you'll ever get asked for it eating in a MacDonalds or Burger King, or dancing at a disco, but some things are not legal more than other's here, and if you are in these more not legal situations, like a bar with underaged employees, then you risk detainment until you produce ur passport from where u say it is. But at leasdt you hadn't lost it or all of a sudden found yourself in a rather "compromiosing" situation to get it back (not known here in Thailand but I've been in African countries where "buying it back" can be expensive).

I would wait for any urgent advice by a proper government authority before ever following Wowpow's bad advice.

Yes, you where completely correct. In Thailand you should also have the pages with visa plus TM card copied with you. You can copy all onto one sheet (back/front) and should sign both sides with a coloured ink pen (best is blue). This is usually sufficiant. A good idea is carrying a business card from your hotel or guest house or at least some paper with contact address and phone number as well.

Ttom, did you forget to say to make sure you write your room number at the hotel on all this too, should you not already have it on the key in you pocket?

I was in Wild West and I was taken off to the police station. It was not pleasant. But now I know to carry ID with me in Thailand. This is no big deal. I have to show photo ID to use a credit card back home - which means I carry photo ID all the time back home. It's no different.

[fedssocr]

Very bad advice. If you want to LOSE your passport, and it is a hassle to replace, then carry it whereever you go. If not, then have a good copy of the details page, maybe a copy of your last entry stamp page, and of course know and tell where the real passport is (Hotel) if the police should ask you. I doubt you'll ever get asked for it eating in a MacDonalds or Burger King, or dancing at a disco, but some things are not legal more than other's here, and if you are in these more not legal situations, like a bar with underaged employees, then you risk detainment until you produce ur passport from where u say it is. But at leasdt you hadn't lost it or all of a sudden found yourself in a rather "compromiosing" situation to get it back (not known here in Thailand but I've been in African countries where "buying it back" can be expensive).

I would wait for any urgent advice by a proper government authority before ever following Wowpow's bad advice.

Where are you carrying your passport that you are going to lose it just by having it with you? I carried mine with me almost everywhere in Thailand and never once came close to losing it as far as I know. I usually had it either in my day pack or pocket of my pants that has a zipper. You can also fit them in a money belt pretty easily which is a very safe place for it.

But I like this idea of a small laminated copy and will definitely look into getting one made next time. Seems to me that the advice to have your ID with you is a pretty good idea, and not worthy of bashing.

Does any guy know where to go to get a laminated copy made of your passport? also is it ok to make it smaller, or do thee police like full size

If you carry your passport everywhere, it tends to get bent or suffer others kinds of damage. It is not practical to expect all foreigners to carry their passport at all times. This won't last and/or tourism will suffer greatly. Maybe thats what they want.

To you skeptics, you are wrong. If they follow through on arresting people who don't carry their passport, this will be all over the international press. People will think, rightly so, that Thailand is now a POLICE STATE. Why go to such a place for a vacation?

Does any guy know where to go to get a laminated copy made of your passport? also is it ok to make it smaller, or do thee police like full size

This can be done at any copy or photo shop. Laminating a copy of passport is a good idea. Carrying the full passport at any time around is not a good idea. I never do except I need to do some jobs with the bank, like open another account or something similar.

If you are really clever, you scan all your documents, flight tickets, TM card, travel insurance and any other documents of importance into a picture format and send all those to your own email address. If you need a copy, al you need to do is opening your own email account and copy as many files as you need.

In case you've lost some documents due to an accident or theft, you can always speed up the process of reproduction if you can prove all on good quality copies. It’s a small job to do and can just in case safe you a lot of time and trouble.

[allieb]

But the kingdom will become more and more a working bench, supplying cheap labour locally and abroad. Since 2000 the increase if Chinese business in Thailand is very significant.
There are five major aspects to be taken into account: at 1, man power is less expensive in Thailand тАУ overall costs in China are much higher with a very view exceptions, 2, Thai people are reasonable well educates, trained, easy to motivate and easy to deal with, and 3, for Thailand is more easy to go around WTO agreements since it is only a small third world country, and 4, Thailand is well controlled and easy to discipline, and 5 Thailand is keeping its strings to countries that are not really en vogue, like Myanmar.

The assets of Thailand are Kon Thai.

If that's the case Thailand will end up like the Philippines a dangerous poverty stricken shit hole with about 10 million of its people working abroad building other countries economies

... People will think, rightly so, that Thailand is now a POLICE STATE. ...

It HAS BEEN since Sept 2006 when the Military overthrew a DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED government.
Hasn't anyone been paying attention?

The only thing Military Dictatorships have ever been good at is shooting at and arresting people. :salute:

Oh, I remeber of shooting during the Thaksim area too. A lot of people in north was killed by a gun, during the fight agaist yabaa. Not even been to the court. not to talk about the south. come on nothing has changed. Same Same as before

Does any guy know where to go to get a laminated copy made of your passport? also is it ok to make it smaller, or do thee police like full size

BIG C - North Pattaya, 2nd floor near Swensen's Ice Cream - a small booth. Make both original size and credit card size. Keep the credit card size in your wallet.

One should carry a copy of his passport, visa & entry stamp simply because it's the wise thing to do for so many reasons. Can anyone give a compelling bad reason? I've read all this and haven't seen a good reason given not to do so.
But wonder if it's wise to put passport copies in your (Checked) luggage, or luggage left in hotel rooms or left anywhere where you will not be; your name & contact information should be enough--But if you insist...may as well throw in a couple credit cards.

First sex tourists on record?
The sons of Adam & Eve:
'So they went down to the Land of Nod.
And the sons of god looked upon the daughters of man and found them comely.'
(Or something like that--I'm too slothful to look it up.)

`twas a time when a foreigner wishing admittance to a late (After pub hours.) London club had to show a passport at the door, at least once: to have the info recorded in the 'guest book.' And UK citizens who were non (Club) members were not admitted; which really pissed some people off, especially Scots down for football.

Word is they are going to start requiring the ORIGINAL PASSPORT. I for one, will NOT carry this with me.

Word is they are going to start requiring the ORIGINAL PASSPORT. I for one, will NOT carry this with me.

Well la-dee-da!

You'd have to crazy to carry your original passport everywhere you go. It will get stolen or damaged, just a matter of time. Let me know when the "crackdown" is over. For now, I will limit my visits to certain nightlife areas.

[wowpow]

A friend who was at Wild West was told by the Policemen, who interviewed him, that he should carry a copy of his passport in future. That seems like a sensible requirement. Many countries require everyone to carry some form of ID and you should not only to comply with the law but in case of accident.

I have no idea where Khun Jingthing gets his "the word is that they are going to start requiring THE ORIGINAL PASSPORT" and would be interested to hear the source. It is so obviously unsafe to carry a valuable document around and on the beach.

The word on Thaivisa from a poster with inside dope is that on April 1 they will start requiring ORIGINAL passports. Not an April fools joke. Whether this happens or not remains to be seen. I propose we revolt and refuse to do this. They cannot arrest everyone.

The word on Thaivisa from a poster with inside dope is that on April 1 they will start requiring ORIGINAL passports. Not an April fools joke. Whether this happens or not remains to be seen. I propose we revolt and refuse to do this. They cannot arrest everyone.

But they can put you on a flight and stamp your passport to stop you returning.

We will wait to see the photo of you holding up your protest banner published on the front page of the Bangkok Post.

You going to put your money where your mouth is?

[cottmann]

Many Departments of Foreign Affairs advise their traveling citizens that "It is advisable to take a number of photocopies of your passport with you. During your stay you should carry a photocopy of your passport at all times." Thailand is not unique in requiring visitors to carry passports or ID with them at all times - Egypt and Uzbekistan do to. Both Indonesia and Japan require all foreigners to carry either a passport or Alien Registration Card/Residents Stay Permit (if they are here more than 90 days - requires registering with the local authorities). The Philippines requires ID but allows photocopies of relevant pages in the passport. Some countries go further - requiring all temporary visitors or those wanting residency permits to carry a medical certificate proving they are free of HIV - I believe China will not allow HIV positive persons to enter for any purpose. If you chose to visit a country, you have to accept such requirements.

The word on Thaivisa from a poster with inside dope is that on April 1 they will start requiring ORIGINAL passports. Not an April fools joke. Whether this happens or not remains to be seen. I propose we revolt and refuse to do this. They cannot arrest everyone.

But they can put you on a flight and stamp your passport to stop you returning.

We will wait to see the photo of you holding up your protest banner published on the front page of the Bangkok Post.

You going to put your money where your mouth is?
I will not carry my original passport. Period. I suggest others do the same. If nobody complies, this new crackdown CAN NOT LAST!
The source about the crackdown starting 1 April from thaivisa:

The guy who later this year will become the ambasador of Thailand to the United Kingdom.
A GOOD source, huh?

It's certainly no more valuable than your driver's license, or

So carry your driver's license with you where ever you go and see what I care. It's valid gov't id. Just don't try and tell me to do anything other than keep my passport in a safe spot. By the way I can still get on a plane home if I lose my driver's license, but not the passport! I can even drive without the physical license. A missing passport requires a local police report (duhhhhhhh) and a lot of time to replace. I honestly don't understand the stupidity of a lot of "posters" on the board. Something like this seems intuitive, even to a 12 yr old.

It's certainly no more valuable than your driver's license, or

So carry your driver's license with you where ever you go and see what I care. It's valid gov't id. Just don't try and tell me to do anything other than keep my passport in a safe spot. By the way I can still get on a plane home if I lose my driver's license, but not the passport! I can even drive without the physical license. A missing passport requires a local police report (duhhhhhhh) and a lot of time to replace. I honestly don't understand the stupidity of a lot of "posters" on the board. Something like this seems intuitive, even to a 12 yr old.
Word! Daizy! You go girl!

BTW, aside from the obvious hassle and expense getting it replaced, AND your visas replaced, I have a friend who had his passport stolen at the Malaysia Hotel in Bangkok years ago. To this day, he is still hassled by US customs, and they told him why. He is on a list because people who have their passports stolen are considered suspects (that they might have sold their passport, etc.)

[ikarus]

What jerks like BG missing in this discussion is that it is not about requirement of carrying the passport. Yes, it is true that, say, in Japan, all foreigners are required to carry the id all the time. However, I cannot imagine Tokyo police entering a gay bar frequented by foreigners, lining them all up and checking their ids. Not to mention that (unlike Pattaya) the chances that something will be stolen in Tokyo is equal to zero.It is more like an action of gestapo in Warsaw getto and shows gross disrespect to foreigners, guests in the country. The episode discussed here happened in a go go bar and that allowed jerks like BG to start their usual routine about sex tourists. But how jerks like BG know that it did not happen (or may not happen) in other places, say restaurants, movie theaters etc.?
This action shows great disrespect to foreign tourists and jerks like BG should know that
and shut up.

Only a twelve year-old might be worried about losing something that fits so easily in one's pocket. Really, dears, how difficult is it to keep a passport in your pocket from going astray? Maybe you can get your mommies to put it in a little holder around your neck? Oh, I forgot...your mommies probably died decades ago.

Perhaps they could get their mommies-in-law to do it for them. The geriartric fools on this forum who have difficulty carrying their own passports all have mommies-in-law decades younger than themselves.

[Michael]

Ikarus, you make some good points. I feel uncomfortable hearing of gay men being lined up if they failed to show their Passports. However, these men were inside a Go-Go bar (do they have these in Tokyo?) and in an area that has something of a reputation for underage prostitution, which I think explains my lack of outrage.

As an aside, I finally understand why my friend Oh has, for many years, insisted that I carry my passport with me at all times!

Word! Daizy! You go girl!

Whheeeee. Well THERE's the second only GENTLEMAN I've found on this board! Thank you "JT".

UR certainly much better a person than that louse that sends an American girl anti-US messages to my private mailbox and says he {ignores} me, which of course he can't because if he ignored all the same ids in all his IDs then Jinx would figure him out and put an end to his immoral methods of attack once and for all.

A friend here in this north African shithole I'm stuck in got into a bit of trouble losing his passport on a stop in a bath on his way to the airport! He was delayed 7 days, couldn't find a district policemen willing to give a report (as that could have focussed attention on the district) so he paid another district, but the thief was caught admitting stealing it elsewhere which resulted in all sorts of suspicion and his detention on his return home.

[ikarus]

Ikarus, you make some good points. I feel uncomfortable hearing of gay men being lined up if they failed to show their Passports. However, these men were inside a Go-Go bar (do they have these in Tokyo?) and in an area that has something of a reputation for underage prostitution, which I think explains my lack of outrage.

As an aside, I finally understand why my friend Oh has, for many years, insisted that I carry my passport with me at all times!

Yes, Michael, there are go go bars and host bars in Tokyo and even ones which cater mostly to
foreigners. Tokyo police would never do id check up en masse. Of course, under certain circumstances (e.g. foreigner violating the law) the id will be checked and foreigner can be taken to the police station. The law in Thailand says that foreigner should carry the passport all the time and not just in go go bars. That is why police, in principle, can make such a check up en masse in a restaurant, in a movie theater , in the library for the god sake.
If it is about foreign mafias operating in Pattaya, what are the chances to get mafioso in a gay bar? And why not in a restaurant?
Talking about so-called Russian mafia in Pattaya, to be honest with you, I still need to see a slightest evidence of its presence. I have heard that Russian restaurants serve as a facade
for Russian mafia. I frequently dine in places like that and know some owners. They all are legitimate businessmen. As well as vast majority of Russian tourists are just tourists.
On the contrary, it is quite evident for everybody that the local gangs of Thai youth represent a real nuissance and recently even violant crimes against visitors became a norm rather than exception.
All these points should be obvious for the new police chief in BKK and that is why recent police actions are so outrageous. BG knows that. However, he reached the degree of degeneration where he will be willing to support any absurd action of Thai authorities.
I am sure that if castration of all male tourists will be a requirement to enter Thailand, he will support it either (probably with the same argument about family jewelry as he used in case of passport).
What can I say? Jerk is a jerk.

[TrongpaiExpat]

Talking about so-called Russian mafia in Pattaya, to be honest with you, I still need to see a slightest evidence of its presence.

Maybe no, but many sure look the part. They act in a manner that seems to scare the Thais. They are loud and aggressive, the voice deep and they point and gesture in a way that is scary not only to Thai but I keep my distance as well. They do no act the same as most other farangs.

Even when they are friendly they are aggressive. I have had them come on to me and they do not take "no" with a smile.

I have been stopped and asked for my passport coming out of a bookshop in Ni-chome on a quiet Sunday morning. The police car was cruising and asking only non-Japanese for passports. They were content with my employer's photo id, but it was in the gay quarter and it was only gaijin.

... we were caught up in this at wild west, and as a tourist I was not happy, after lots of hassle managed to get our passports and all was ok, but those at the immigration soi 8 were not ok, dunno what happened in the end to them. Copies of id are a must but in actual fact I dont know what the police gained from it, cause they were targetting the wrong area, should have been Marine disco or Simon bar, they would have caught dozens.

What annoyed me is the waiter asking me for the 300 bht for the drinks before leaving. Not there fault I know, but a little much I thought and hence I wont be going there again.

By the way, the police officer in charge said "if you not overstay then there is no problem, we will check computer at Immigration Office", mind you, how they would check at 11:00 pm at night I dont know. All ended well.

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

as I always make a lot of sense especially after a long lunch..if the Thai government had any brains they would turn this to another money making scheme which is all their immigration lark is about...and organise some sort temporary ID card that tourists could get at the immration counter upon arrival for a fee..like a credit card ..that caries their passport details..scanned and printed quickly and paid for that they should carry at all times with a fine if not presented when asked by police.

Carrying your passport invites a mugger..passports are worth money on the black market for god's sake..their like bloody gold..especially when you carry a wonderfull glorious BRITISH passport like ME..obviously they would cut out my photo..but Mrs O'Booze could pass for any old Eastern European haridan..
now obvious BOYGEENIUS would hate this if he is a Thai citizen as he knows he can't get into any other country on a Thai passport so no-one going to steal his and WD40 or whatever he's called well everyone thinks AUSSIES are balmy so they're a bit suspect but I think they're passports are still valuable to sell
and the bloody things get bent in your pocket and all sweaty , you could easily loose them and who wants one of silly damn MAN HAND BAGS ..not me !!...actually have you noticed that only straight men now carry them..and you never see a poof with one ?

as I always make a lot of sense especially after a long lunch..if the Thai government had any brains they would turn this to another money making scheme which is all their immigration lark is about...and organise some sort temporary ID card that tourists could get at the immration counter upon arrival for a fee..like a credit card ..that caries their passport details..scanned and printed quickly and paid for that they should carry at all times with a fine if not presented when asked by police.



I'm afraid the service would appeal only to sex tourists, as normal tourists have about zero chance of having a police officer ask to see ID. In 17 years in Thailand, I've never been asked. Not even once.

By the way, the police officer in charge said "if you not overstay then there is no problem, we will check computer at Immigration Office", mind you, how they would check at 11:00 pm at night I dont know.

By turning on the computer, maybe? You think they take the immigration database offline every night for sleepy-bye?

I wish you would'nt be an idiot BG, the Immigration Office probably does work 24 hours, however, they would have limited resou" rces overnight I'm sure, and I suspect some regional areas might not work after a certain hour, and even if they did, there would be "waiting periods I'm sure" - and yes I do think they "switch off" certain information bes at night time.

With regard to "everyone" who has posted about sex tourism on this board, the majority of people who visit Pattaya don't visit Pattaya to look at the Palm Trees - get real, what planet are you guys living on - its in your face - and just because BG hasn't been asked for his ID in 17 years means nothing, I suspect the majority of people who live and are on holiday in Thailand have never been asked - wrong time wrong place - your'e a bit of hipocrite BG, making out your'e so ***** snow white - AND LIVING IN PATTAYA.

[TrongpaiExpat]

I was asked one time by the police to show ID, I had my original passport on me. I was in Mai Sai and was going to Chiang Rai and just as we arrived at the Mai Sai bus station the third class bus was leaving. It was cold and the lack of AC was not much of a problem and it was just a short trip.

We came upon a police road check. The second and first class buses along with all the tour buses were waived on but they boarded the third class one. I was the only farang and they thought that to be very suspicious. I was asked what I was doing on a "Thai" bus and why I was not on one of the tourist buses. My papers were examined by three different police officers. Two searched all my bags and suit case. My BF was taken aside and questioned, so was I. They then conferred a few min. and gave me back all my papers and said thank you. They were very polite.

A few of the Thai passenger were also searched as well. They were a bit rough with a few of the Thai passengers with a pat down and pocket search but did not put a hand on me or the BF.

Every other time with these border area police checks, I am waived on. They generally show no interest in seeing my papers or ID.

[Geezer]

A car in which I was a passenger was stopped, and I was тАЬfinedтАЭ (no receipt) 500 bt. for having a copy rather than the original passport.

The original is required virtually every time I register in a hotel.

A car in which I was a passenger was stopped, and I was тАЬfinedтАЭ (no receipt) 500 bt. for having a copy rather than the original passport. One of those informal, on-the-spot fines for which the Thai police are so famous

I was asked one time by the police to show ID, I had my original passport on me. I was in Mai Sai and was going to Chiang Rai and just as we arrived at the Mai Sai bus station the third class bus was leaving. It was cold and the lack of AC was not much of a problem and it was just a short trip.

We came upon a police road check. The second and first class buses along with all the tour buses were waived on but they boarded the third class one. I was the only farang and they thought that to be very suspicious. I was asked what I was doing on a "Thai" bus and why I was not on one of the tourist buses. My papers were examined by three different police officers. Two searched all my bags and suit case. My BF was taken aside and questioned, so was I. They then conferred a few min. and gave me back all my papers and said thank you. They were very polite.

A few of the Thai passenger were also searched as well. They were a bit rough with a few of the Thai passengers with a pat down and pocket search but did not put a hand on me or the BF.

Every other time with these border area police checks, I am waived on. They generally show no interest in seeing my papers or ID.

Yes, there are several check points especially near border regions. Usually the Highway Police is carrying out routine checks. Foreigners, including Burmese, Laos, or Cambodians do have to produce there TM card. Thai's without ID card get arrested and find.

There are checking anybody and searching cars.

Sometimes the Highway Police get some "assistance and support" from Bangkok. There main aim is fighting drug trafficing.

A car in which I was a passenger was stopped, and I was “fined” (no receipt) 500 bt. for having a copy rather than the original passport.

The original is required virtually every time I register in a hotel.

That’s you own fault. If you’re in doubt about the police officer, just call 191 and ask for the head officer on duty for advice. That’s no problem at all. Every policeman is obliged to hand out a protocol including receipt to you.

You never need to pay the policeman directly on the spot. Payment can be made at the police station.

There are sometimes policeman around who are using trying to extort some money. Within and around Pattaya especially from Buriram are known for kind of practice.

I you’re in any doubt, just call the police station of even better tourist police at 1155; there English language skills are better

[Geezer]

тАЬThatтАЩs you own fault. If youтАЩre in doubt about the police officer, just call 191 and ask for the head officer on duty for advice. ThatтАЩs no problem at all. Every policeman is obliged to hand out a protocol including receipt to you.тАЭ

That sounds like a good stratagem, but I havenтАЩt had the audacity to risk it since a friend told me he tried that. The policeman told him that if he had to search the car he might find drugs.

Then there was the time we were stopped on a sinuous mountain road for тАЬcrossing the yellow lineтАЭ (sure). We were given the option of paying it there, or going back 20 kilometers to the station where the fine would be much greater, and it would go on the driverтАЩs record.

If there is a reliable way to gain the upper hand over corrupt police, I would surely like to know it.

[Geezer]

No wonder corruption is so prevalent, with people like Geezer all too ready to hand out a bribe because it's cheaper and easier than going the legal route.

YouтАЩre right, of course.

The next time IтАЩll go back to the headquarters and have the false charge posted on the driverтАЩs record. I hope the officer doesnтАЩt add additional false charges.

The license could be revoked.

And I can assure you that the Immigration database is accessible 24/7. It doesn't even take naps. Your information can be called up within a matter of seconds.

Yes I know that, even by a telephone call it can be done - however, my point was while this is being carried out, there is a lot of wasted time.


I don't live in Pattaya...can't even stand to go near the place. Why would you assume I do?

Is that it! No reason why you should tell me where you are located and I'm not interested, however, you post on here and that's good enough for me.

Is that it! No reason why you should tell me where you are located and I'm not interested, however, you post on here and that's good enough for me.

It's the "Sawatdee Gay Thailand" board, not the "Sawatdee Gay Pattaya" board. Not all of us here are Pattaya bottom-dwellers.

[x in pattaya]

No, I do believe it is indeed the law that all foreigners are supposed to carry their PASSPORTS with them at all times.
That would be INSANE to actually do.
Like at the beach. Or even a night on the town.
I am sorry, this is abusive, this is harassment, and people shouldn't take it sitting down.

I also think people who actually defend this kind of "crackdown" are basically fascists.

Actually a photocopy of your passport will generally be acceptable and it is hardly insane to carry ID with you. If you were involved in an accident or had a heart attack, being able to identify who you are (or were) would probably be a useful thing. Whether or not every law on the books is enforced relentlessly does not make it more or less reasonable. Being able to prove who you are is pretty well accepted as reasonable in every country.

Considering the number of farang in Thailand who keep popping up with passports that have expired or without a valid visa, it would be INSANE for the police to not check ID. No matter what they do or do not do, they will be vilified by the mini-libertarians (i.e. self-absorbed ninnies) or by the law-and-order freaks (just read some of the "letters to the editors" in the newspapers these days about the alleged unbridled "crime wave" in Pattaya).

As far as boycotting Thailand or expecting Thais to come with their begging bowls to get back the cretins who spend all their time bitching about paying 10 baht to ride a song taeow or who want to tell Thais how to police their country, get real. Pattaya is obviously having no trouble attracting farang. I only wish there were a few less of them. No matter what happens with the exchange rate or police crack downs or bombs in Bangkok or the South ... the predictions of farang disappearing en masse bubble up like the swamp gas it resembles.

When it comes to shelling out some cash, the kii dtuut farang go on and on about a few baht here and there and being treated just like Thais, but when it comes to obeying the law or dealing with the police, the same people want to be hoisted on a pedestal with a tiara provided free-of-charge.

Please boycott Thailand if that's what makes you happy. We'll soldier on without you.

[TrumplesOz]

On the night in question I was happily sitting on the balcony of Amor when the local constabulary came down the soi. They pulled out quite a few guys from Panorama and other places on the block. All the time my partner and I just contentedly munched on our dinner and enjoyed the show being laid on.

The sprint one of the english boys made from Wild West to Le Cafe to grab their passports was sufficient to qualify him for the London Olympics!

As Richard said after they had wandered off - "there is no charge for the show we've just provided."

[jinks]

OK - it might be wasted time - I have cut the crap out.

Keep it on target PLEASE or wowpow might chastise me again.

[ikarus]

I have been stopped and asked for my passport coming out of a bookshop in Ni-chome on a quiet Sunday morning. The police car was cruising and asking only non-Japanese for passports. They were content with my employer's photo id, but it was in the gay quarter and it was only gaijin.
O'K. This is highly unusual. In my experience, police simply stay away from the whole area.
I wonder when it happen? Probably many years ago...

[ikarus]

Talking about so-called Russian mafia in Pattaya, to be honest with you, I still need to see a slightest evidence of its presence.

Maybe no, but many sure look the part. They act in a manner that seems to scare the Thais. They are loud and aggressive, the voice deep and they point and gesture in a way that is scary not only to Thai but I keep my distance as well. They do no act the same as most other farangs.

Even when they are friendly they are aggressive. I have had them come on to me and they do not take "no" with a smile.
Trongpai, I understand what you are saying. You may be annoyed with amoumt of Russians but do not forget that they are almost the only ones who still come to Pattaya in large numbers and Pattaya needs business to function... Regarding the behaviour, well, there is certain amount of trash in every nation and this proportion is generally higher among those coming to Pattaya...
What you described though are not typical attributes of Russian mafia. I would be more afraid of quiet, well build military types...

[globalwanderer]

Just come through Soi Leng Kee by motor bike taxi... Was going to stop off at Cartier.... but it looks like it was the turn of this soi to get the attention of the boys in brown... pick ups at each end and large presence. Only interested in the bars Did not seems to be bothering Cartier, but there was a large presence and I saw one farang being transported away. decided not to stop!

.... it is aimed at the gay community or all over ....

[ikarus]

X in pattaya: No matter what happens with the exchange rate or police crack downs or bombs in Bangkok or the South ... the predictions of farang disappearing en masse bubble up like the swamp gas it resembles.
Dream on. By the way, you are not X.
X was brilliant. You are just pathetic.

[Smiles]

" ... Dream on. By the way, you are not X.
X was brilliant. You are just pathetic. ... "
:thumbright: :thumbright: :thumbright: :thumbright:

Cheers ...

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

" the same people want to be hoisted on a pedestal with a tiara provided free-of-charge." :cheers:

although I'm quite prepared to pay for the privilege and will provide a copy of my passport. Is there a service of this type being offered in Pattaya ? (I can even bring my own tiara but alas-I have no pedestal !)

And preferably I'd like to be carried along the beach by a team of muscled Russians ! :cyclopsani: :cyclopsani: :cyclopsani:

[globalwanderer]

.... it is aimed at the gay community or all over ....

seems to be aimed at all establishments where foreigners go... not just gay bars

[x in pattaya]

By the way, you are not X.
X was brilliant. You are just pathetic.

Alas, poor Icky, it is me.

Sorry that you feel my performance over the years seems to vary from brilliant to pathetic.

Your contributions, on the other hand, remain remarkably consistent and your record has seldom been marred by anything approaching brilliance.

I could call upon the board's eminence grise to validate my identity, but I've noticed that he too seems to be fading as the years pass and his caregivers caution against upsetting him over trivial matters.

(No, Colonel, I don't mean you, but the French term was inserted in the hopes it would aggravate you) :clown:

[ikarus]

In one of his last posts on Pattayagay.com X informed us that he is going back to US and asked about the advice on a new Laptop. I checked archives of Pattayagay and I do not see this post immediately. May be I have not looked well enough... What was the title of the post?
It was quite unusual and I still remember it. If you want to persuade me ( and sure many others) you have long way to go. As a first step: what was the title of the post?

It's the "Sawatdee Gay Thailand" board, not the "Sawatdee Gay Pattaya" board. Not all of us here are Pattaya bottom-dwellers.

Make that "bottom feeders". Any Utube Vids of hapless bottom-feeders being dragged away by the police for not having their proper documents on them?

Make that "bottom feeders".

Why? Is there a significant difference?

[ikarus]

You, X in Pattaya, claim that you are the same poster as X. I claim that you are imposter.
Here is the second test. In his last private message to me on Pattayagay.com X have sent me a private mailing address. What was the address? You can PM it to me. If it is correct one, I will publicly apologize.
Also, he wrote:
"If you are going to miss my messages, you probably..." in the same message.
Can you complete the phrase?
I still have this message.
Either you take on my challenge or you de facto recognize that you are imposter and lied in your last message on this thread.