Evil Penevil

I know this altercation (I won't call it a fight) lends itself to jokes, but does anyone have an idea of what really touched it off? Seemed to be a rather complicated situation. Evil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dSzoYaAyko Does anyone know what this was all about? Not a very serious fight- mostly arm flailing and pushing- but I'm surprised more Thai males didn't intervene when the most aggressive of the ME-looking guys started slapping the girls (or were they lady boys?). It doesn't seem like a resounding success for the Happy Zone policy. And I felt bit sorry for the elderly police volunteer at the beginning of the video. Nobody came to help him. Evil

According to the GASCO FB page, it is open 11.00 a.m. to midnight. Evil

I posted my Songkran photos here. Evil

Malt vinegar isn't used much with French fries in the U.S. and only a few U.S. companies brew it, so it's not surprising The Great American Sandwich Co doesn't offer it. However, considering the number of Brits and others in Pattaya who do sprinkle malt vinegar on fries, it would be good for business if it were part of the condiment basket. Evil

As others have said, jungle curry (kaeng or gaeng pa) is your best bet, at least in terms of availability in Pattaya. I've seen it on the menus of several farang restaurants. The Beefeater has both jungle curry and kaeng som ("sour curry") on its menu and the Robin's Nest has jungle curry. Kaeng som is a Northern Thai dish that is traditionally made with fish but often includes seafood these days. All the kaeng variations- and there are more than two- lack coconut and are watery, sour, salty and very spicy, way too spicy for me. I don't know how good the kaeng dishes are in Pattaya as I've never ordered them due to the extreme heat. However, the lack of coconut doesn't have so much to do with authenticity as with regional variations. The coconut palm didn't grow in the highlands of northern Thailand, so prior to the 20th century, it wasn't available in that area. Jungle curry was based on ingredients that were hunted or grew wild. The traditional meat was wild boar, but now domestic pork, chicken or beef is much more likely. In Chiang Mai, I tried a dish called "Burmese curry" which didn't have coconut and wasn't too spicy. It was made from a base of tomatoes, onions, garlic and ginger, with turmeric and chili the only spices. Very good, but I haven't seen it on a menu in Pattaya. Keep in mind that Thai curries without coconut have a much different taste than Indian curries. If they weren't called curries on the menu, most of us would think of them as hot and sour soups. Evil

Yup, he'll sure have a few tales to tell his friends back in Novosibirsk. He'll get a huge boost in face among the elementary school crowd. So far I haven't been splashed yet; the beer bars which I have to pass to/from my condo have given me free passage. This year, the girls who work in them only douse passers-by carrying squirt guns or who otherwise indicate they want to play Songkran. Non-combatants are allowed to remain dry. But on 2nd Road, Soi Buakhao, most subsois, etc, it's the usual mayhem. Evil

Some pics that show Songkran in a more innocent form. I took them across 2nd Road from the Wonderful Beer Bar. Evil

Songkran didn't go well for the older guy in this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFHtDiF8wHQ There's a better version on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welovepattaya58/videos/1902006740070788/ It's definitely a nasty incident. No version of the run-up to the confrontation makes much sense. Some reports say the puncher, the big guy, is a Russian gobnik; others say he is a U.K. chav or at least British. But whatever the nationalities and whatever happened before the video starts, it's clear the big guy was totally unjustified in punching an older man who posed no threat to him. As the older guy was falling to the pavement, the big guy gave him an extra shove. That's a very dangerous thing to do. In the U.S., that would add an extra five years to whatever sentence he got for assaulting the older man. It's a stupid idea, though, to confront a fit-looking guy twice your size and half your age and then slap his car. That's an invitation to disaster. When push comes to punch and shove, the consequences can be devastating for the physically weaker person. It's ALWAYS best to avoid fights, especially fights you have no chance of winning. Evil :

I'll join the chorus of those singing praise for Dave's Cantina: it serves the best Mexican-style food currently available in any restaurant in Pattaya. I said Mexican-style because it's difficult to pin an all-encompassing label on the items served at Dave's. The menu is a mix of modern Mexican, California Mexican and Tex Mex standards, sprinkled liberally with Dave's own ideas and recipes, then whipped to a peak by meticulous preparation. Dave knows contemporary Mexican cooking and has put a lot of thought into the Cantina's menu. But it doesn't really matter how you categorize the food at Dave's; it's the taste that counts. Dave's gets full marks on that score. Dave's Cantina has only been open a couple of months and the menu is still relatively limited. That's a good idea, as it's much better to offer 10 great dishes than 20 mediocre ones. So far he has tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos and chimichangas on offer, plus two kinds of soup (chile con carne y frijoles and tortilla) and dessert (apple chimichanga with ice cream and deep-fried ice cream). Pico de gallo (aka salsa fresca) and freshly dried tortilla chips are on the menu as a starter, while red rice, refried beans and pinto beans are the sides The tortilla soup is something of Dave's signature dish. Tortilla soup in it's original version is a clear chicken broth flavored with epazote, a Mexican herb, and topped with strips of fried tortilla. The soup served at Dave's is much thicker and filling, with a spicy kick. It has plenty of flavor and not just heat. It's better than a lot of the tortilla soup you find in North America. If you're going to taste one dish on Dave's menu, tortilla soup would be it. A cup is great as a starter and a full bowl would be meal in itself. I followed up with two soft corn tortillas filled with shredded pork, pico de gallo and cilantro. Again, there was plenty of flavor and just enough heat to keep it interesting. For those who want more burn, there are several types of chili sauce on the table. The sides were red (Mexican) rice and refried beans In and of themselves, they are pretty unassuming sides, available on combo plates in thousands of Mexican restaurants across the U.S. They function in part to function as belly-fillers, in part to balance the spiciness of the main dishes. They tend to be very bland, but not at Dave's. A lack of heat in the sides doesn't mean a lack of flavor and the rice and beans add real accents to the meal. This goes back to Dave's passion for finding the right flavor profile. then using the best ingredients available and preparing them properly. That's what elevates his food above the majority of Mexican-style restaurants you find outside Mexico. I rounded out my meal with a dessert that is as Mexican as an apple chimichanga. A rich apple filling, heavy on the cinnamon, was wrapped in a flour tortilla and deep-fried. It came with two scoops of ice cream. It was delicious and the flour tortilla is a great "container" for a fruit pie filling. The dessert is actually Dave's own invention and I say, "well done!" Total damage for the meal was about 500 baht, including a Coke Zero, which is a bargain for the quantity and quality of the food. I also ordered two burritos- one beef, one pork- for takeaway so I wouldn't have to brave the Songkran water-tossing for lunch the following day. I chose the 8" burritos for 150 baht because they warm up well in a microwave. Very tasty and strong on flavor but light on heat, exactly as I like them. I didn't take pics of the day-after burritos and have lifted the two pics above from Dave's Cantina's Facebook page. I like the decoration at Dave's, simplicity itself but colorful and attractive. I didn't have occasion to sample the bar, but it looked well stocked. I'm very pleased there weren't any sombreros, guitars or Day-of-the-Dead masks on the walls. The air conditioning works very well and there' are outdoor tables if that's your preference. This pic is from the Facebook page of Dave's Cantina. Dave's Cantina punches above its weight when comes to the food and in just two months has gone to the top of the list of Mexican-style restaurants in Pattaya. I just hope its location on Soi Regional Land won't prove too much of a hinder in attracting customers. The restaurant s not hard to find, but a pain in the butt to get to if you don't have your own wheels. Of course, it's just a short haul by moto from Tuk Com, but otherwise, customers face a long walk or taking a taxi to get to Dave's. Bottom line: Dave's is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys the type of Mexican food found in restaurants outside Mexico. It's hours are 1.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Evil Some more pics from Dave's FB page, just to give you a better idea of the types of dishes that are served.

I, too, have kept dry so far, but that is mainly because I've stayed inside, The only time I ventured farther afield than the 7/11 next door, I was in a taxi both ways. From my condo building, I can't walk more than a hundred meters in any direction before I pass a beer bar with water throwing. I can make a dash to a nearby supermarket before noon without getting wet after that, it is almost impossible. But it's no real problem. I stocked up on food before Songkran and can have meals delivered. I spend more time than usual playing bridge on line, reading and surfing the net. I'll venture out with my waterproof camera on the 18th and 19th to take some pics. Evil

Great pics and excellent report. That was one hell of a walk. Evil

As said. English is a very flexible language. And I hope the girls are, too! Evil

And then we have "chips" and "biscuits" with different meanings for the same words. English is a flexible language because there's no academy or equivalent body to rule on the spelling or definition of words. Evil

The definition of sandwich in U.S. English is broader than in British English and some of its offshoots. In the U.S., it's a sandwich if the filling rests between two pieces of bread or on top of one piece (open-faced sandwich). The bread component doesn't have to be sliced from a loaf. Evil

And yet on another board I read a comment that claimed GASCO is "doomed to fail." I think it has a better chance than most, but massive over-establishment has made it difficult for any new restaurant in Pattaya. Evil

Last night I dropped into the Great American Sandwich Company to sample their fare. One sandwich does not a review make, but I was certainly happy with with my pork rib sandwich (170 baht) and will be back to sample a few more of the 10 hoagie-style John Montagu's on their menu. Some preliminary observations before I get down to the meat of the matter. It's located on Soi Buakhao, a few "blocks" north of LK Metro and across the street from Jolly's. GASCO is clean, cheerful, comfortable and well-lit, all of which are positive factors in my eyes. It's a small restaurant with three booths for four on one side and three tables for three on the other in the enclosed area, plus two tables outside. The staff was friendly, efficient and full of smiles. The pretty girl who served me read back my order to me, always a good idea even when language comprehension is a potential issue. The gentleman who I took to be the farang manager welcomed me, asked if everything was OK after my food arrived and thanked me for coming as I departed. Those are all nice touches which encourage customers to return and are unfortunately absent from many restaurants in Pattaya. As the name would indicate, it's U.S. themed with movie posters and iconic photos decorating the walls. There's a giant wall-mounted TV that seemed to be showing music videos at a blissfully subtle volume. One of my all-time favorite photos was on prominent display. I ate there at 8 p.m. and all the booths and tables were taken at one point, although it was mostly single diners, about eight people in total. That's eight more than several larger and better-known restaurants in the LK Metro area had at that hour. The menu was also wall-mounted. The menu was limited to ten sandwiches of the hoagie, sub, grinder, hero variety. They all trace back to the sandwiches carried by Italian immigrants to factory jobs on the U.S east coast in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Meat and vegetables were piled into a small loaves of Italian bread, with numerous local variations (and names) developing over the years. While the origin of the word "hoagie" is obscure, several food historians believe they were originally called Hoggies after Philadelphia's Hog Island, which at one point boasted the world's largest shipyard and employed thousands of newly-arrived Italians. The creek that separated Hog Island from the mainland was filled in during the 1930's and the former Hog Island is now the site of Philadelphia International Airport. The sandwiches feature pork, chicken or beef as the main act. It's a fairly standard line-up with chicken parm, meatball. sausage, etc. as well as the love-it-or-hate-it Philly cheese steak. Three sides are are on offer: French fries; potato salad and coleslaw. You can have water. soft drinks or draft Chang along with your sandwich. Last night I went with the pork rib sandwich and a small side of coleslaw and wasn't disappointed. It consisted of 10 inches of pork ribs that had been smoked and slow-cooked, then de-boned, sauced and grilled. The ribs rested on a bed of lettuce and sliced onion in a fresh hoagie roll. The ribs tasted good and hadn't been drowned in sauce, which is exactly the way I like smoked ribs, especially in a sandwich. I was less impressed with the coleslaw. It was standard school-cafeteria coleslaw, but a bit too heavily dressed and watery for my* taste. Next time I'll try the potato salad. The meal set me back 250 baht (sandwich 170, coleslaw 45, Coke Zero 35). I am well aware there are places in Pattaya where you can get much bigger meals for 250 baht, but that's irrelevant to me. If I have a hankering for a pork rib or meatball sandwich, it doesn't matter that pad thai can be had for 100 baht or a daily special Hunter's Chicken for 150 baht. GASCO offers reasonably priced American-style sandwiches and that's what I want to eat some nights. And for the budget conscious, there are sandwiches on the menu for as little as 75 baht. We have to be realistic. GASCO is a small sandwich place that doesn't purport to be anything else. It's not the restaurant to visit if you want to stuff yourself on anything but sandwiches. I'd much rather choose from 10 well-prepared and tasty sandwiches than 20 mediocre ones. The only problem I can see with such a limited menu is that there's not much which would appeal to Thai females and that's sometimes a factor in choosing a place to eat. Was it the best rib sandwich I've ever had? No, it wasn't, but in Pattaya, we're half-way around the globe from the US of A. Will I be eating there three or four times a week? No, I won't, although I could be grabbing sandwiches for take-away on a regular basis. I see GASCO more of a place for a snack than a full meal. I hope in time GASCO will expand its menu to include a Reuben sandwich and my comfort food favorite, grilled cheese. But the Reuben is as much an American specialty sandwich as the Philly cheese steak and not easy or cheap to make abroad. Corned beef, rye bread, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese are expensive ingredients in Thailand and a Reuben without a kosher-style dill pickle isn't really a Reuben. Like the little girl with a curl in the middle of her forehead, when a Reuben is good, it's very, very good, but when it is bad, it is horrid. Many small restaurants in Pattaya have come a cropper by trying to overreach themselves. Bottom line: Try it! Evil

This doesn't have to do with early morning arrival, but last night (Thursday) at 11.15 p.m. the immigration area at Swampy was more crowded than I've seen it in a long time. The feeder "snake" to immigration control was jammed and spilled out past the usual area. There were huge queues as well as to the passport control for Thais. Even the Premium Lanes were busier than I've seen before- about 20 people ahead of me in each of the three lanes. But the officer in the lane I chose was stamping passports fast and I got through in about 15 minutes. I get "Priority" stickers on my suitcases and my two checked bags were already on the baggage carousel by the time I got there. So the breakdown was 11.00 p.m. Flight from Tokyo touches down. 11.05 p.m. At Gate 11.15 p.m. Had de-planed and walked to immigration control. 11.30 p.m. Picked up bags 11.45 p.m. Sitting in car on my way to Pattaya 1.05 a.m. Back in my condo. While immigration was very crowded, it didn't delay me much because I use the Premium Lane. The rest of my return home went as smoothly. From landing to unlocking my condo door in two hours and five minutes isn't bad at all. Evil

You are casting down a dry well with your question to Baht. He hasn't posted on the board for five years, at least not under the handle "Baht." The person behind Baht's posts was the mega troll Cennn3, one of the most aggressive and hostile posters ever to participate on the Pattaya boards. Once he'd been banned under Cennn3 from all the boards, he began using alternate handles. One of his tactics was to start a good or helpful thread that a lot of BMs appreciated, then revert to his disruptive attacks. He was one of the BMs who heavily abused the rep voting system and when outed as Cennn3 ( ), he stopped posting. But to answer your question- he lifted the photos from various Web sites. Photos of Thailand in past years aren't hard to find. Just do a search under Google images for "Siam history" or "Thailand history." Evil

In the history of the Pattaya go go scene, I believe there is no shortage of bars that were open only a few weeks, left alone a few months. But the above-named Shanghai was only open a day or two before it closed. Also, some bars were open, then closed, then re-opened but closed again quickly. If I remember right, Dream fell into that category. Evil

"Update: Tithiwat Anuruthikul, head of operations for the Central Road bypass tunnel project, said the tunnel might be opened for use on April 13." At least he didn't say April 1! Evil

A very becoming look! Evil

Yes, White Pines is very good and for some reason, a bit "underappreciated" by visitors to WS. More about it here, but probably time for an update. Evil

Same thing happened with me. I believe U.S. citizens who were approved for benefits through the Manila office while living abroad are required to confirm their current address yearly. It could be a relatively new requirement, like within the past three or four years. I used to handle all the SS stuff for my mom and she never had to fill in such a form, but she lived in the U.S. and passed away in 2006. I did have to submit such a form in 2014 and every year since, but I was approved for benefits through the Manila office in 2013. I never got the form sent in 2014 and my benefits were stopped as a result, but then re-started just as you describe. Evil