Pattaya News Flash - The Source
Seen on NighWalker's T-shirt!
March 2016
Click here to read our February 2016 News.
The Rats are back!
Don't let your children play on Pattaya Beach!
The Rats are back!
The rats are back on Pattaya Beach and our Officials from City Hall close their eyes.
According to a report published by Pattaya Mail on March 11th, the City already launched a new offensive on beachfront rats.
It seems the 'offensive' was launched for publicity only. The rats still enjoy a happy life on Pattaya's Beach and its Promenade...
Pattaya Professionals toppled a four story building
Pattaya Professionals...
Yesterday at about 12:30 Pattaya Professionals toppled a four story building uncontrollably near Walking Street. It damaged two shops and three utility poles.
Enjoy the video uploaded by Khaosod!
Chonburi's former Senator Surachai Chaitrakulthong is luring potential investors from Taiwan and other countries by promising 'Thailand's plus is the availability of a skilled workforce'.
The contrary is true, Thailand's problem is the lack of a skilled workforce.
Thai education in free-fall
Education activists claim that Thai education is in free-fall under the new charter.
Thailand's Elite obviously still believes that uneducated people are the future of this country, they don't ask questions. Thailand's education system is characterised by oversized classrooms, unqualified teachers, and rote learning a report published by Prachatai claims.
Thailand's Military Junta remains in Power
Thailand's Dictator General Prayuth Chan-ocha decided that according his new constitution his hand-picked National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will hand-pick 194 senators from 400 names nominated by a selection panel. Six other senators will be the chiefs of the three armed forces and the Supreme Command, the defence permanent secretary, as well as the police chief.
The remaining 50 senators will come from a list of 200 names provided by Thailand's Election Commission and will be hand-picked by the Military Junta.
Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, Defence Minister and a deputy junta leader told the media that an all-appointed senate will prevent future coups d'etat.
For more information please read the report published by Bangkok Post.
Anand Panyarachun, a former and also unelected Prime Minister, told the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand that (military) coups in Thailand are different from those in Africa or Latin America...
Pattaya's deadly balconies
Please be aware of Pattaya's deadly balconies.
Falling deaths raise eyebrows Khaosod englisch writes and and quotes a local reporter who said I feel all of the cases were suspicious.
Dictator ignores the environmental movement
Thailand's Dictator General Prayuth Chan-ocha and his handpicked National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) released 3 orders to circumvent environmental and health impact studies.
For more information please read NCPO underestimates activists' strength published by Bangkok Post.
Return to Happiness
doesn't pay off
According to the 4th edition of the World Happiness Report Danmark, Switzerland and Iceland are this World's most happy countries.
Thailand ranked 33rd out of 156 nations - one place up on 2015. Obviously Thailand's Military Junta didn't succeed in its Return to Happiness campaign.
The report ranks Burundi as the least happy country.
Report a Bribe
and go to Jail!?
Be warned: If you report a bribe by an official you can end in jail, Khaosod english reports.
Update (March 18th):
Same same
but very different?
3 days after causing 2 road deaths, the son of a luxury car importer is still not charged, Khaosod english reports.
Update (March 17th):
After strong criticism of the police investigation - they not even made an alcohol test - the authorities charged the Mercedes-Benz driver with reckless driving.
Update (March 18th):
Update (March 20th):
Update (March 21st):
Driver faces new charges.
A former case mentioned in the report published above and a second one published here by The Nation drastically shows that Thailand's Laws are almost powerless as long a delinquent is a member of Thailand's Elite...
Bangkok Post claims that Benz crash triggers probes into similar cases.
Update (March 29th & 30th):
Smog alert
Smog alert
Smog levels in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces has gone beyond safety levels for two consecutive days, Thailand's Pollution Control Department (PCD) reported yesterday.
In other provinces in the North the readings remained within the safe level of 120 micrograms per cubic metre, the PCD claims.
Update (March 21st):
Thailand's Dictator
Stick to Power
Thailand's Dictator, his handpicked Military Junta and Thailand's Military try to cement their power in a new constitution.
Please read too:
Military Junta's Election Poker
Violent South East Asian Countries
Bangkok Post reports that Lao women battered by domestic violence outbreak and writes that one in seven women have been physically or sexually abused by their partners.
The newspaper forgot to mention that according to a report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) 41% of women in Bangkok and 47% in Nakhon Sawan experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner...
Please click for Pattaya Cat Cafe
Pattaya Cat Cafe
Spike from Pattaya Days reports from the City's all new Cat Cafe with beautiful photos and some useful recommendations.
Thai Education:
A complete Failure
Supachai Panitchpakdi, a former chief with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has expressed serious concerns about Thailand's education system.
It needs immediate reform: It takes a massive 20% of the Government's budget but in its current form it's a waste of money.
Moreover, a recent study by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) showed that the educational administration in Thailand is a complete failure.
For more information please read the report published by Bangkok Post.
Yingluck Shinawatra
Pretty Woman
Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ordered Soldiers to follow former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her own protection, not to intimidate or harass her, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon told the press.
It's not harassment. I can assure the NCPO means no harm. We're there to ensure safety. But if she isn't happy with that, we'll ask the officers to ditch the uniform, the Deputy of Thailand's Dictator said and added that Soldiers also take pictures of her because she is a pretty woman...
... and Pigs might fly!
Police News
Pattaya News Flash does not report about the daily crimes in Pattaya.
It you are interested in - and you should for your very own security - then please click Pattaya Daily News and Pattaya One.
Pattaya News Flash reports about the funny side(s) of this World Class Resort.
Police cleanup Beach
Police cleanup Beach
Tonight, long before midnight, Pattaya Police cleaned up Pattaya Beach Promenade from its Coconut Ghosts. To improve the image of Pattaya, they claim.
But, as our photo shows, the real garbage they left untouched to pollute the air all night long.
To improve the image of this City our Authorities should hand out breathing apparatus to the tourists instead. Free of charge.
TiT (This is Thailand)
Loan Sharks arrested
During January 2016 Pattaya News Flash reported about the still lucrative Loan Shark business in this country.
On March 4th Bangkok Post reports the Arrest of 23 Loan Sharks in Phitsanulok.
As usual in cases like this, Police captured the small ones only. The boss(es) remain at large - and will restart the business with new henchmen.
Crackdown on Thailand's Underworld
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan announced yesterday that a taskforce identifying underworld figures had finished its task and would launch a nationwide crackdown from tomorrow.
In Pattaya the local Police have to crack down on those preying on visitors, we were told.
As always we will all have to wait and see.
But the best
is yet to come:
We update NightWalker's News Page as soon as we get new information.
Immigration News
Important Notice
Since General Prayuth Chan-ocha and his Military Junta launched their Coup d'état on May 22nd, 2014, Thailand's Visa ground rules are constantly changing. More over, not every consulate can issue all the different Visas. Some smaller consulates even display notices to the effect that non-immigrant visas are unavailable.
Our advice: Before booking your holidays please contact the Embassy in your country to obtain information about Thailand's latest regulation(s) and check the Chonburi Immigration Website or the website of Thailand's Immigration Police.
Update (March 2016):
New Overstay Regulations
Thailand's new immigration policy will take effect on March 20th of this year.
Please click for details!
Twitter
Pattaya News Flash at Twitter Follow us on Twitter
Pattaya News Flash March 2016 - The Source
NightWalker's News
from the City where your Passion is still a Possibility©
Welcome to Pattaya
According to the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome and his City Hall about 10 million tourists visited our City in 2015, but Business Operators claim that the number of tourists visiting Pattaya droped from about 9 million in 2013 to only 6 million in 2015.
We don't know where the TAT sheltered their surplus of 4 million visitors.
Musicfestival
The Pattaya Music Festival 2016 is History
The Festival happened on Pattaya Beach Road from Soi 4 until Pattaya Klang (Central Road) on four stages. The popular Reggae stage had to be relocated from Soi 13/4 to Soi 4 because the area near Walking Street is still occupied by the (mostly invisible) 'Beach Nourishment People'.
Market Booths could be found near stage areas only and at Central Road and near the entrance to Amari Hotel in North Pattaya, but not on Beach Road itself.
Pattaya City Hall announced that Beach Road will be closed from 16:00 until about 01:00 for any kind of traffic. In reality the street was closed from Loma Roundabout until Soi 10 only, giving some Baht Bus drivers the opportunity to show the surprised pedestrians that they easily can replace Vettel, Hamilton, Rosberg & Co. during the next Formula One season.
The dramatically reduced supporting programs reflects the disastrous economic situation of this country as well as the related decline of Pattaya as a holiday destination.
Pattaya City Hall claims:
The Start of a new Jet Ski Saga?
A new Episode in Pattaya's never ending Jet Ski Soap Opera?
It seems that Pattaya City Hall introduced a few new Traffic Regulations on March 1st:
Don't turn left!
South Road/2nd Road Junction:
Coming from Beach Road (Walking Street), turn left into 2nd Road is prohibited now for all traffic, including Taxi Meters, Baht and Motorcycle Taxis.
But drivers ignore the sign
But almost all drivers ignore the new sign...
Loma lights shut down
Loma (Dolphin) Turnabout (North Pattaya):
The recently installed Pedestrian Light on North Pattaya Road shut down.
Taxpayer's money badly wasted by Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome and his City Hall.
Pedestrian Lights on Beach Road shut down
Pattaya Beach Road:
Most Pedestrian Lights on Beach Road shut down.
Millions of Baht wasted by Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome and his City Hall.
Green Lights for Pedestrians
3rd Road/Central Road Junction:
Green lights for Pedestrian installed - and working!
On Monday February 15th, 2016, Police Major General Ampon, the Provincial Police Commander, announced a big and so far unlimited crackdown on all kind of traffic violations, including parking vehicles in prohibited areas, ignoring traffic lights, driving in wrong directions and/or run over double or single yellow lines, but nothing changed so far...
Obviously nothing else than the usual BlaBla.
Update March 4th, 2016:
Pattaya Mail reports that Pattaya Authorities began carrying out their promised crackdown on traffic scofflaws, targeting tour buses parked under the Bali Hai Pier flyover.
All you can eat for 169, 195 or 199 Baht
All You Can Eat restaurants are popular all over Thailand. Since a few weeks residents and tourists in Jomtien do not have to travel to Pattaya or Naklua anymore to enjoy a barbecue. They can find two of them just 'in front of their door'.
Buffet Restaurants in Jomtien
Katha Thong
Katha Thong opened on January 18th, 2016. The venue is located on the back of Jmtien's famous Rompho Bar Complex and opens from 17:00 until 23:00 every day. It's a traditional BBQ restaurant providing some seafood but no steaks.
You can eat as much as you can for 195 Baht/person, not including drinks.
Buffet Restaurants in Jomtien
Ninja
Ninja opened during February 2016 and is located on Jomtien Second Road, about 100 meters from the 2nd Road/Chaiyapruek junction and is a traditional BBQ Restaurant. The venue provides an additional air conditioned room.
From their BBQ Buffet you can eat as much as you can for 165 Baht/person, not including drinks.
But if you prefer to eat shrimps and crabs you have to pay 199 Baht/person, again excluding drinks.
Both restaurants provide large parking areas for cars and motorcycles.
Unfinished Condo Project to sell in Jomtien
Unfinished Condo Project to sell in Jomtien
Pacific Bay Condominium stopped
The widely announced Pacific Bay Pattaya, located on Jomtien Second Road, has been stopped by its promoter, the well-known Nova Group.
The showroom, the land as well as the plans of the condominium are on the block.
We are warning the readers of this site since many years not to invest in unfinished projects.
Unfinished Condo Project to sell in Jomtien
Unfinished Condo Project to sell in Jomtien
Mike Baird's Cartoons
For more Cartoons please click into the Picture or here for his Original Cartoon.
Anwar Lebanese Restaurant
Lebanese replaces Russian Food
At the Beach Road entrance to Jomtien's Soi 5 Anwar, a lebanese restaurant, replaceses the former Oasis eatery, once known as a Russian food outlet.
Poised to continue
Kakadu closed
Kakadu closed
As announced last month, the Kakadu Restaurant on Soi 18, off Naklua Road, is closed since March 1st. It no longer pays off, its Boss told us.
Poised to continue
Muze
Endless Party (from 20:00 - 03:00 !)
In the refurbished building of the failed iDOL Club an all new Thai Nightclub named MUZE opened on March 1st.
The DJ's and live bands are playing house and EDM mainly. The club has a similar format as Differ and the also new BONE on Soi Phetrakun.
MUZE promises endless party time from 20:00 to 03:00. Obviously Thai people have a very different sense of time...
Taste by Cool House
Cool House reopens Taste
Last month we reported that Cool House closed its restaurant on the parking lot of the former Tops Super(market) on central road and opened a new outlet called TASTE across from the conspicuous TOT building on Central Road.
In the meantime Cool House reopened its Restaurant in the (slightly refurbished) Glasshouse under the name TASTE.
The well known breakfast costs now 75 Baht.
La Brasserie
Wine Bar closed
On March 9th, during our Tour de Pattaya, we saw that La Brasserie, Soi Buakhaow's one and only Wine Bar, was closed down again. If it should reopen during the next few days, you will read it here.
Between March 7th and 11th many small businesses closed for one or more days. In many parts of Thailand the school closed and the parents rushed home to pick up their children.
Update (March 29th):
During the last few days we saw that La Brasserie was open again. It would be nice if the management could fix a message on the door during the next closure...
Italian-Thai 414
Italian-Thai Corner
A Restaurant with the auspiciously name of 414 opened on Soi Bongkot, about 200 meters from Pattaya's 3rd Road. The venue prepares Italian as well as Thai food.
ThaiExpress
ThaiExpress
In the room of the former McDonald's outlet at Royal Garden Plaza not only Sizzler will open a restaurant but also ThaiExpress, a Thai food outlet.
Beerfest closed
The End of Beerfest
Beerfest, once a popular restaurant with tourists from Russia and located on Pattaya's 2nd Road in front of Alcazar's Show Case, closed. With missing tourists from Russia the business no longer paid off.
Poised to continue
White Room closed
White Room closed
On March 9th, during our Tour de Pattaya, White Room, a small Coyote Bar, was closed.
Update: On March 11th the venue was open.
PS.: A professional management would inform its customers with a small notice on the door about a temporary closure...
Update (March 29th):
During the last few days the venue was in the dark again. No notice could found on the door...
Poised to continue
New A Go-Go Club opened on March 18th
New A Go-Go Club opened on March 18th
In the rooms of the former Bombay Palace an all new Bliss A Go-Go Club opened its door on March 18th to enjoy the eyes of the (hopefully) never ending stream of Pattaya visitors.
Infinity Closed
A small step from Infinity to Finiteness
A few days ago Infinity A Go-Go, managed by the same team that runs Sweethearts A Go-Go, closed its door on Walking Street definitively.
Second Floor closed
On March 14th Upstairs A Go-Go, located on top of Soho Square's well-known Rock House, was closed.
Update: On March 16th the bar was open again. Obviously the closure was a temporary one only.
PS.: A professional management would inform its customers with a small notice at the entrance about a temporary closure...
Upstairs A Go-Go
New A Go-Go Club announced
3rd Goldmine?
After the successful launch of its Sugarbaby A Go-Go Club on Walking Street, the Management of the popular Windmill Club announced to establish a 3rd club named Annabelle's.
The management is currently looking for attractive dancers, showgirls and hostesses. We will keep you up-to-date.
Beach Club renamed as Spice Club
Spicy Beach
Pattaya's Happy Group renamed its Beach Club on Soi 15 as Spice Club.
Rumors will have it, that the Beach Club will celebrate its incarnation in front of the company's Happy A Go-Go on Soi Happy. Should it happen, we will be happy to publish it here.
New Beach Club
Champion closed
The End of a Champion
PattayaSweethearts reports that Champion A Go-Go, located across from The Pier Disco, closed during the last weekend of March.
New on Soho Square
New on Soho Square
To bring people into the still ailing Soho Square, the management launched an Eating Pool, some kind of Food Court, with a small Beer Garden on the back of the area and...
New on Soho Square
New on Soho Square
.. a new Nightclub called The Champion, located on the first floor in the rooms of the totally failed Cedar and Hangover clubs. The Champion is announced to be an A Go-Go Bar.
Poised to continue
Mike Baird's Cartoons
For more Cartoons please click into the Picture or here for his Original Cartoon.
Pattaya flooded again
193 Million Baht washed away into Pattaya's Streets?
On February 17th Pattaya News Flash reported that according to a Bangkok Post report Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome's new 193 Million Baht beachfront drainage system flopped and recommended to enjoy the pictures Pattaya Mail published from the incident.
Pattaya flooded again
On February 26th Pattaya Mail got one better and wrote that the new storm-drainage pipelines on Beach Road did little to improve the city's flooding problem.
Since Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome took over Pattaya City Hall he launched one large project after an other. They all flopped. A complete waste of taxpayer's money.
Colors of the East
Colors of the East happened from February 25th until February 28th and - according to Pattaya City Hall - should promote tourism in four eastern provinces with the presentation of their hotels, attractions and products. The 'festival' was supported by 3 million Baht from Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
In reality the show was little more than just another market place with booths selling products manufactured all over the world, but mainly in China.
In the forefront of the festival City Hall announced to close Pattaya Beach Road for traffic from 16:00 until 22:00 each day. It didn't happen.
Just another scam from our City Hall and its Officials.
Colors of the East
Toys from China
Colors of the East
Bags from China
Colors of the East
Ear Accessoires from China
Colors of the East
Shoes from China
Colors of the East
Phone Accessoires from China
Colors of the East
Chest Nuts from China
Colors of the East
Unused OTOP booth
Colors of the East
The Sheeps attracted a lot of people...
Colors of the East
but the handling and the transportation of the animals raised a lot of questions.
For more information about the event please read Pattaya Mail's 4 provinces paint Pattaya in Colors of the East as well as Street vendors overwhelm Beach Road festival.
You will learn that our lovely Authorities don't know to organize an event, but always know how to cash in... It seems they organize events only to cash in.
We love trash
We are trashing everything everywhere
It took a single weekend only to trash a charming Field in Lat Phrao (Bangkok), Khaosod English reports:
We love trash
Tourists from Thailand dispose dozens of food containers at Switzerland's Rhine Falls, Bangkok Post reports:
We love trash
Update (March 17th):
Thai, not Chinese, tourists under fire, Bangkok Post updates its report, and blames the wind for the littering. Switzerland shakes with laughter: Winds in Switzerland obviously are scattering Thai goods only...
Monkeys are attacking Military Base in Sattahip
We are proud of our skills
We are proud of our skills:
We are proud of our skills
We are proud of our skills
We are proud of our English skills
We are proud of our English skills:
Mc claims to be Thailand's #1 Jeans Brand
Pattaya after Rain
Police keep strict discipline in Pattaya
As long as they can cash in...
Pattaya in Love
Any resemblance to a living person is purely coincidental
Hit by Cartoon
This Month
Opened:
Ninja BBQ Restaurant
So Dom 3rd Road
Aux Agapes 3rd Road
Bone Night Club
Relocated:
Barbie Soi Chaiyapoon
Moved from one end of the street to the other end
Cool House also known as Cool Kitchen
Moved from former Tops Market to Central Road/3rd Road Junction
Closed:
Shenanigans Jomtien
Zero A Go-Go
Black Horse Beer Bar
Harem 2 A Go-Go
Super Baby A Go-Go
Temporarily closed:
Virgin's Russian Club
Deja Vu Russian Club
Mour a Mour Russian Club
Big Event:
and
For more information click February 2016 News.
More Information
No Alcohol Days
Thailand's National No Alcohol Days include Buddhist holidays and election days.
On all oher days alcohol can only be sold between 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-24:00.
Vendors caught breaking the ban are liable to a prison sentence of up to six months, a 10'000 Baht fine or both - but local Police use their own discretion to decide which venues need to be visited and fined...
Don't start laughing:
Do not try to buy non alcoholic beers (available from Clausthaler and Oettinger in this country).
The shops won't sell them during dry days.
Some not even sell Soda Water, because Thais and their Police associate it with (Thai) Whisky...
There's a sucker born every minute...
The Godfather's Story
The Kunplomes
Resolve the European Union immediately!
The European Union - and Mrs Merkel - are a Threat to every single Country in Europe.
Never forget:
It's not your Face and not your Body that makes you sexy.
It's your MONEY!
Electric Vehicles use batteries and batteries are not only a threat to our planet during manufacturing, the 'Recycling' of batteries is still an unsolved problem in most countries.
If the power for charging the batteries is generated by fossil or nuclear power plants than the LCA (life cycle assessment) turns completely to the worse.
Nature destroyed by solar cells
Nature destroyed by Solar Cells - Please click for a larger picture
Solar Cells are a threat to our planet:
The higher the efficiency of a Solar Cell the more Cadmium it contains.
Cadmium is banned from most products in almost all countries, but it can be used without restrictions in Solar Cells. Who controls the 'Recycling' of Solar Cells?
No Nuke Please!
Never forget Chernobyl, Hiroshima, Nagasaki & Fukushima!
Never use a technology you do not master 100%!
Unauthorized Windows 10 Updates
Thousands of Windows 7 users report that during the last few days Microsoft updated their Operating System without their consent to Windows 10.
Moreover, Windows 10 is spying on everything. If the newly installed OS finds some unauthorized games, software or hardware it blocks the software and/or the hardware.
Microsoft's new Windows 10 is keeping a watchful eye on the software and hardware you may or may not be using.
The best you can do: Say Good Bye to Microsoft by installing Linux!
Charge your Mobile from Sunlight
Sunpartner Technologies, a French company, developed WYSIPS, a range of photovoltaic surface products that transform any surface into a solar panel that can generate electricity from natural or artificial light.
WYSIPS Crystal, for instance, is a specific adaptation of the technology for use with emissive displays: Amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells are incorporated into the window offering an ultra-thin (< 0.58mm) and semi-transparent surface that can absorb light from both the sun and also the screen below. It can power a smart phone or a smart watch.
NightWalker's Technology News
Milking Foreigners!
Thailand's National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department ordered that admission fees for foreigners at national parks throughout the country have to be 400 Baht.
Entry charge for Thai nationals remains 40 Baht for adults and 20 Baht for children.
To cover the inequity the local's prices are printed in Thai script only.
Do not ride Jet Ski in Pattaya!
No progress on Jet Ski saga:
Pattaya City Hall still doesn't do anything to stop the scam!
All the announcements made during last year were City Hall Blah-Blah only...
As long as Jet Ski vendors - respectively their victims - fill up our officials' pockets nothing will happen!
Avoid Pattaya's Islands
The boats are overloaded, don't provide lifevests for all passengers, are badly maintained and aren't covered by adequate insurance policies.
Pattaya's lazy and allegedly corrupt Officials promised to check owners, personnel and boats regularly, but they don't.
Avoid mosquitoes, they spread the Dengue Fever
Date-rape drug warning
According to Pattaya Police, it is common in this resort that foreign tourists get drugged and robbed in their hotel rooms, apartments or houses by prostitutes or ladyboys.
Ladyboy Pick-Pocket Gangs on Pattaya's Beach Promenade
Ladyboy Pick-Pocket Gangs are working almost daily on Pattaya's Beach Promenade!
Necklace Snatch
Never wear Gold in Pattaya!
Between 30 to 50 snatching valuables cases are reported to Pattaya's Police every single month.
Men wear the pants,
but the women control the zipper
Newbies please read
Buttonized pictures and underlined words on this page usually indicate clickable links.
Double-Click:
A double-click in an empty space brings you back to the top of the page!
The Double-Click feature works with most browsers running on Windows and Linux, but not on Google's Android.