Experts at a conference promoting a motorcycle safety campaign have said that Thailand is no. 1 in the world in motorcycle accident deaths, with 5,500 bike riders dying annually on Thailand’s roads. As a result, they have now called on Thai motorcycle manufacturers to use available technology to limit speeds to 90 kilometers per hour. Continue Reading
Swiss Expat Drowns in Communal Swimming Pool in Pattaya
In some kind of bizarre freak accident, a Swiss national reportedly drowned whilst cleaning a communal swimming pool in a small housing estate in Pattaya. The 58-year-old expat, identified as Mr Peter Heinz Ballmann, was pronounced dead at the scene at around 3 p.m. on Sunday and left the victim’s Thai wife “devastated.” Continue Reading
Elderly Chinese Woman Drowns off Jomtien Beach
A 72-year-old Chinese tourist on a group holiday with her elderly husband drowned in the sea off Jomtien beach at around 10 a.m. on Sunday. The fatal incident happened opposite Jomtien Soi 5 and was reportedly “not the first in the area” in recent time. Continue Reading
King Rama X Promulgates Thailand’s 20th Constitution
In an ancient royal ceremony broadcast live on national television and not seen in almost 50 years, His Majesty King Rama X on Thursday signed Thailand’s 20th constitution approved in a controversial referendum last August. The endorsement is usually held at the palace and a public ceremony is not obligatory. The promulgation of the new… Continue Reading
More Visa Hassles for Long-Stay Tourists Under 50
Staying in Thailand longer than just a couple of months or maybe half a year has never been easy for “professional” tourists under 50 who neither legally work in Thailand or are married to Thai girl. The problem is there isn’t really an affordable long-term visa option available for foreigners under 50. Since the beginning… Continue Reading
Foreigner Making Video Call Hit, Killed by Russian Motorist
An unidentified young foreign tourist thought be a Russian national was hit and killed by a fellow Russian motorist as he crossed Jomtien Beach Road making a video call on his phone. The fatal accident happened opposite The Now Hotel on Jomtien Beach Road just before 3 a.m. on Sunday. The yet unidentified victim carried… Continue Reading
New Crackdown on “Too Many” Tourist Visa Applications
Staying in Thailand for an extended period of time, or perhaps even living here more or less permanently, has never been easy for Farangs aged under 50 years old who neither legally work in Thailand or are legally married to a Thai citizen. Granted, you could treat yourself to a so-called Thailand “elite card”? Fees… Continue Reading
How Ugandan Women Are Lured Into the Sex Trade in Pattaya
There aren’t many black freelance hookers from Africa you will come across in Pattaya but you can always spot a number of mostly Ugandan women at the southern end of the beach promenade near Walking Street. Now two young women from Uganda, named as Miss Forsia and Miss Dollar, who were lured into the sex… Continue Reading
Russian Tourist Caught Stealing Watch From South Pattaya Shop
There’s no shortage of Russian quality tourists (sic) visiting Pattaya it seems. A 44-year-old Russian holidaymaker named as Mr Grigoli Korolkov was now caught by a shop owner in South Pattaya after the foreigner had stolen a watch from his store, as he claimed, just to “have a look at it.” Continue Reading
Two Foreigners Complain Confiscated Phones Not Returned by Police
Here’s a bizarre story that may or may not come as a surprise to some readers. Two foreigners, one an American national, the other one an Indian national, have complained that they were recently detained for drunk driving in two separate cases and had their mobile phones confiscated by the police. While that’s business as… Continue Reading
Silver Star A-GoGo Bars Raided on Pattaya Soi 7, Soi 8
Two GoGo bars on Soi 7 and Soi 8 were raided late Saturday night as police appear to be continuing some kind of selective crackdown on GoGo Bars and “lewd show entertainment” in an attempt to clean up Pattaya’s seedy image. The raids on the two Silver Star A-GoGo’s which are virtually located just around… Continue Reading
Old Cheap Charlie Attacked by Bar Girl After Refusing to Pay Bar Bill
An elderly British couple in their Sixties were attacked by a bar girl on Soi 8 last night after they refused to pay their bar bill in full. Why they did so? Because the drinks in the beer bar weren’t quite as cheap as in 7-Eleven or Family Mart and the nutcases felt ripped off… Continue Reading
