Is Pattaya Safe? - Beach Road Ladyboy Gangs Could Kill You :D

Pattaya has something of a reputation.  And arguably, it is well earned.  Once a city becomes known globally as being the (paid for) sex capital of the world, and an adult Disney Land.  You can be sure that it is going to attract more than its fair share of ‘ unsavory’ types.  

A news search covering just the week of writing this post uncovers one shooting, a mixed bag of assaults on tourists by teenage lads, and gangs of marauding ladyboys.  Corrupt drug-dealing cops.  Purse snatches.  Scams of various natures.  And numerous tourists killed in traffic accidents on Pattaya’s manic roads.  

So, Pattaya isn’t safe then?

While the above list of offenses condensed as they are sound daunting.  Chance is, if you were to Google news from any other populous city in the world, at any given time, you’d find a similarly disturbing ledger of crimes, and abuses carried out.  Particularly, in any other city of an equivalently diverse, and often temporary population.

So, Pattaya IS safe then?

While the above is true, most who have spent any significant amount of time in Pattaya would agree that the potential for danger and risk, in Pattaya, is significantly higher, than one might find in a city of a similar size, that doesn’t cater to the same type of clientele.  A growing daily influx of cash-rich tourists has not just attracted the attentions of legitimate business, but also has attracted the attentions of those who would happily separate traveler from money by any means necessary.  With native Thais, and those from neighboring countries devising a multitude of mechanisms, some less painful than others.  And with the Thai police force (at time of writing) being well known for corruption, chances of receiving any real help when things go wrong (in the event of being scammed especially), are not high.

Some of the more well known dangers and scams of Pattaya include the ‘Jet Ski Scam’, a scam that is perpetrated with frequency against tourists hiring jet skis in Pattaya.  The tourist hires the jet ski and takes it out, but upon return to the shore, the jet ski operators (usually operating as a gang) inform the tourist that they have damaged the jet ski, and must pay for repairs.  The amount demanded by the jet ski operators varies (who will demand the money with increasing aggression), but is known to have been as high as $10,000.

Other danger spots include ‘Beach Road’, especially at night.  Where gangs of prostitutes, and ladyboys do from time to time, attack, and rob, unsuspecting tourists.  Often leaving them very badly beaten.

Summary

Ultimately, the dangers are there. And those who are not cautious of them will find them.  But, having holidayed in Pattaya more times than I could count on both hands,and having never suffered any worse fate than having perhaps overpaid from time-to-time, I would certainly recommend Pattaya as an interesting destination (though don’t take your kids), but would strongly encourage you to keep your guard up, and your wits about you, more so, than were you for example, visiting Paris, or London.

How to Tell if a Thai Girl Likes You? - Answered

Assuming that you're talking about a Thai bar girl, you can be sure that as long as you're willing, and/or able to keep the cash and gifts flowing, 99.9% of Thai bar girls are going to 'like' you.  But if you've found yourself asking the question, as to whether or not your Thai bar girlfriend 'really' likes you.  There really is only one way to be sure.  And that is to cut off the cash.  Something that most guys engaged in a relationship with a Thai bar girl will realize later, rather than sooner.

And with the above statement we don;t mean to tar all Thai girls with the same brush.  Especially not those not actively working the bar scene.  But while there are exceptions and many men who have holidayed in Thailand have met the woman of their dreams, and have gone on to enjoy long and happy relationships.  They are without argument in the minority.  Essentially, if you met her in a beer bar, GoGo bar, etc.  Chance is, primarily, if not solely, she's most interested in you, for your money.

Thai women are not only incredibly beautiful, they are also incredibly talented at making visiting men fall in love with them (they even swap note books, and tips at their bars, designed to increase their chances of hooking a 'benefactor').  And every Thai bar girl knows, that while twenty dollars for lying on your back for the night might be worthwhile, a few hundred dollars plus every month, sent directly into your bank account from abroad, most likely from numerous men, with at most, having to hook up with them for a week or two once a year to earn it, and the occasional text or phone call, is much much nicer.

Don't Be Prey!

The majority of Thai bar girls (while working - which includes extended periods of time that she's spending with you which YOU might not class as her working) are predators.  Does that make them 'evil'?  Not in my book.  This is their job.  And they do it well.  But, equally, it is your job not to become her prey.

Your Thai bar girl girlfriend will have summed you up to some degree almost instantly, and if you've spent more than twenty-four hours in her company, she will know with almost zero degree of error, whether you are the type who is going to spend the next few years sending her your monies via wire.  And basically, if you've done anything more than buy the ticket and take the ride, if you've taken her out for a nice meal, or an evening at the cinema, then chance is, she'll be enjoying your hard-earned cash sometime soon (unless of course you heed the advice of those who have made the same 'mistakes' before you).

So, cut off the cash.  If you really want to be sure.  And sooner, rather than later, if you were hoping for the kind of relationship based on 'something more' that most Westerners relentlessly search for (though as a point of note - relationships based around financial provision are considered to be perfectly normal throughout much of Asia).  Because the average Thai bar girl will soon vanish as if she never existed, the minute that funds become lacking...  And should she be happy to maintain regular contact without the cash injection, and should she be counting down the days until your next visit to Thailand, when you haven't been sending her cash all year long, well, then maybe you can help her out with the financial support you'd presumably offer if able to any woman from anywhere else when in a loving and committed relationship, just as soon as she has proven herself to not be an international 'gold-digger'.

Pattaya Jet Ski Scams - Thailand

Jet skiing is fun.  What isn’t so much fun though, is having all of your holiday savings scammed off of you by a group of cheating Pattaya scumbags, backed up by a corrupt police force...

The Jet ski scam in Thailand, and particularly in Pattaya, has been operating for a while now.  With evidence to suggest  that (at time of writing) it is becoming particularly more frequent.  With more, and more tourists, and travelers in search of fun being targeted by groups of jet ski operators along Pattaya beach, and separated from their holiday cash in large chunks.

Essentially, the scam is, that the jet ski operators will use a paste, or filler of some kind, to cover pre-existing damage to their jet skis.  You, before being rented the jet ski will be asked to give the jet ski a once over to prove that the jet ski is in good condition, and then, upon return, the covering will be sneakily removed, and a group of ‘angry’ Thais (Burmese, etc.) will confront you, in attempt to extract money from you, for the ‘damage’ that ‘you’ caused to their jet ski.  And with jet skis not being the cheapest of machines, the amount that they will try to cheat you out of, will usually be considerable.  And being surrounded by a group of angry Thais demanding cash, can be a very intimidating situation for the casual tourist/traveler.  One that will likely, scare you into handing over the cash without putting up too much fight.

But still, at least you’ll have the police on your side, should you choose to report the incident.  :)

Unfortunately, this is not usually the case.  Because as with most scams in Thailand, it is generally believed that the notoriously corrupt Thai police force takes its cut from the scam.  And historically, with regard to the jet ski scam in Pattaya, those who have sought the aid of the police for assistance, have often found that doing so, can make matters worse.

What can I do?

If you’re looking to go jet skiing in Pattaya, Thailand, and want to run zero risk of being robbed of all your cash over faked jet ski damage, all you can do is attempt to seek out an operator that offers insurance, should you be able to find one.  Or seek out more organised jet skiing activities (such as a quality hotel might offer), over those offered along the beach by touts.  Other than this, ultimately, if risking jet skiing along Pattaya beach, you buy the ticket, you take the ride And it could well end up being a very costly one...

Ms Hard Rock Pattaya - An Alternative Thai Beauty Pageant

A prominent landmark, and social hangout, the Hard Rock Cafe, Pattaya (part of the American chain of themed restaurants, and hotels), located along Pattaya beach road, plays host to the ‘Ms Hard Rock Pattaya’ competition - a beauty pageant of sorts designed to showcase the varied talents of some of Pattaya's hottest women folk.  

With a first prize of 30,000 baht, the competition attracts a number of entrants, with the only real criteria for entry being that competitors must be female, of Thai nationality, and over the age of twenty.  The potential Ms Hard Rock’s of Pattaya, are judged upon a number of criteria.  From their ‘Rock style’ (where individuality of look scores big points), through to being quizzed on their music knowledge (an essential for the Hard Rock Cafe), and of course, upon their ‘beach style’, because any great Ms Hard Rock Pattaya has to look awesome in a skimpy bikini (this is Pattaya after all).

Usually held in September, the contests prize package for the winning girl also includes paid photo shoots, and other promotional work for the Hard Rock Cafe chain.  And as of 2012, the contest winner can also go on to compete for the title of ‘Ms Hard Rock Southeast Asia, going head-to-head against the winners of similar pageants held in the likes of Bali, and Malaysia.

What makes the Ms Hard Rock Pattaya contest different from other similar pageants?  The 2012 winner, ‘Cattaleeya Schulze’, arguably summed it up best by cheekily stating that “To me, Ms. Hard Rock is not a regular beauty contest, it is all about talent, personality, attitude and style.” - qualities that the beautiful Miss Schulze displayed in abundance.

Finding Cheap Flights to Thailand from the UK on eBay

If you’re hoping to score a cheap flight to Thailand from the UK, and aren’t committed to any specific dates.  You may find the following tip useful.

If you’re not aware of it, eBay does have a fairly active ‘Flight Tickets’ category.  Where those who have booked holidays in the land of smiles, but who, for whatever reason, are forced to cancel, are able to offer their flight tickets, and/or packages for sale to bidders.  Usually, those who are forced to sell their flights in this manner, unable to get a refund from their operator, are often selling close to the date of departure, and are just trying to recoup whatever they can.

To search for flights on ebay.co.uk, click on the ‘all categories’ on the ebay home page.  Next choose ‘Holidays and Travel’, (and if primarily interested in just flights, select the category ‘Flight Tickets).  You can now either browse through the category, or use the search box, by typing in something like ‘Thailand’, to check if there are any flights/holidays being offered for sale.

If there aren’t, at the time of searching, (and this is the tip), you can store saved searches in ebay (you’d be surprised how many people don’t know about this option).  And what this does is, every time somebody lists a new item that matches your search criteria (i.e. Thailand - in the Holidays/Flights section), emails you to the email address associated with your ebay account, to let you know of new listings.  So that you’ll never again miss out on any cheap flights to Thailand that might pop up on ebay.  

And if you’re particularly free and easy with travel dates, and departure points, you could score a real bargain (I have).  And additionally of course, if it doesn’t necessarily have to be Thailand that you’re looking to visit, this also works for any other search criteria too (and also works on most non-UK ebay sites too). 


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Thailand Scams - Tuk-Tuk and Petrol Coupons

You won’t have been in Thailand long, before being approached by a Tuk-Tuk driver, who offers to give you a tour of wherever you’ve touched down (assuming that is, that you’re holidaying in one of  the more commonly visited locations), often, for a ridiculously cheap sounding fare (even for Thailand).  And should you climb aboard the waiting Tuk-Tuk, you have just become, potentially, the next victim of what is known to some as the ‘Great Tuk-Tuk Scam’.

While you might have been hoping for a tour of the more scenic areas of your holiday spot, you’ll find that your driver is more inclined to take you on a tour of a more commercial nature.  At some playing on your sensibilities, by explaining that if you’d be willing to visit a shop he knows (his brothers, uncles, whoevers), he’ll be rewarded with free petrol coupons.  

You had no specific agenda in mind when you set out, and as a wealthy foreign traveler, feeling a little sorry for your poor Thai driver, who in these hard times could obviously use all the free petrol coupons he could get, you agree.  And so your tour begins.

You’ll be whisked around the city, from one stop to the next.  Delivered by Tuk-Tuk to sellers of fine art sculptures, electronics, jewellry, and to high priced restaurants.  Establishments, that form deals with Tuk-Tuk drivers, and pay them commissions, both upon final sales, but also for every potential customer they can bring through their doors.  

As scams go, in general, the Thai Tuk-Tuk scam is not among the most severe.  Tourists are not usually forced into visiting these establishments, by means other than a persistent cajoling.  And as long as you keep your wits about you, and your guard up, you should come away from your tour with, at worst, your wallet a little lighter (or considerably so), than when you began.  With the main problem, with this scam for tourists ultimately being in lost time.  Because if you’re not the incredibly rich globe-trotter that many Thai’s will believe you to be.  And you’ve saved up all year for a single week or two, in the exotic land of smiles.  A day lost to the sneaky shenanigans of the commission seeking Thai Tuk-Tuk driver, is a day (and a memory) you’ll never have spent doing something far more rewarding.

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The Samurai Pork Burger - Eating at McDonalds in Thailand

For most, it’s the differences from back home that make travelling so exciting.  And while the discovery of an ‘alternative’ McDonalds menu item may not be the greatest of cultural differences, such small discoveries can still be fun.  And at the very least, offerings such as the ‘Samurai Pork Burger’, give the less gastronomically adventurous travelers among us the chance to tell the folks back home how much they enjoyed the local Thai cuisine - without, arguably, telling too big a fib.

The Samurai Pork Burger is a burger common only to (at time of writing) Thailand.  And is a burger made up of a pork patty, salad, and teriyaki sauce (A Japanese sauce made of soy sauce, sake or sherry, sugar, ginger, and seasonings).  Priced at around 50 baht (if I remember correctly), the Samurai Pork Burger is a must try for McDonalds lovers abroad -and makes for an interesting alternative to the usual selection of cheese-laden beef.  

Taking their name from the ‘Samurai’ (a powerful military caste in feudal Japan), the Samurai Pork burger are also available from time-to-time in Malaysia.  Though as a seasonal promotional item, rather than as a permanent menu fixture, as in Thailand.  And a similar burger is also offered to customers in China, though there it goes by the name of ‘Shogun Burger’.

Other Thailand specific items served up by McDonalds in the Land of Smiles include: Jasmine rice patties, the Caribbean shrimp burger, and a salad shaker based on som tam papaya salad.

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