Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, a medical expert (?) at the Department of Medical Services said on June 30th 2009 'judging from the three local fatalities, children aged under five and seniors over 65 years as well as patients suffering from chronic diseases are at high risk and their flu symptoms tend to be more severe'. Thailand's first victim was a 40-year-old Thai woman. She died June 20 2009 at a Bangkok hospital. Thailand's second victim was a 42-year-old Thai man. He died June 27 2009 at a hospital in Chonburi province. The third victim was a 21-year-old navy cadet. He died on June 29 2009 at Sattahip's Queen Sirikit Hospital. A forth victim, a 47-year-old man, died on July 01 2009 at the Ratchavithee Hospital in Bangkok. A fifth victim is a 15-year-old girl, who died on July 01 2009 in Chonburi province. A pandemic study on flu cases in Mexico and the US tells that Obesity has been found to be a major risk factor among people who contracted A (H1N1) flu. According to reports from Sattahip the 21-year-old navy cadet was 170cm tall and weighed 105kg.

---

About 500 of a total of 4,200 conscripts at Sattahip's Naval Education Department had developed flu-like symptoms during the last week of June and had been put under surveillance for seven days. The 21-year-old navy cadet who died on June 29 developed a high fever on June 15 but, at least according to his commander, refused to go to hospital and continued to take part in training... Who has the saying in Thailand's army, the conscripts or the commander?

Soho Square organized a Biker Party on July 2nd, 3rd and 4th. You could met a lot of hot new & old bikes and their owners. Mityon, Pattaya's largest motorcycle dealer, converted the B-52 Night Club into a showcase for, what Yamaha beliefes, new hot motorcycles. In my eyes, the 'old' naked motorcycles are always the most attractive ones at meetings like this. The motorized plasticboxes usually can catch my eyes for a few seconds only, comparable to a beautiful woman eating with an open mouth... If Soho Square is full of people it remains Walking Street's nicest place.

Seen at Ling Bar, opposite Soho Square: Gazing at the many Harley's parking in front of his bar - sorry, but not everybody can ride one...

Joe Louis and his Traditional Thai Puppet Theater on Pattaya City Walk.

On Monday June 29 2009 the New Simon Bar Complex on Walking Street had its 'soft opening'. The bars opened without party and/or free food, but with a lot of new (and nice) faces. It seems that at least one bar owner knows to read the signs of the times: At Frog's Bar you can sit down on comfortable chairs with small tables and enjoy the (sometimes) funny life on Walking Street.

No other fastfood outlet in Pattaya has such a fabulous view over Pattaya's Beaches: A&W, 6th Floor, CentralFestival.

My bicycle was in need of new tires and tubes. I had a look at BigC, Carrefour and Tesco/Lotus. Tesco/Lotus had them in stock. Their mediocre quality Bikeline branded tires cost at least 359 Baht a piece, for a Bikeline branded tube Tesco/Lotus asks 229 Baht. Before buying, I decided to check the prices for tires and tubes at a specialist bicycle shop on Sukhumvit Road (Northern Pattaya). And that was the correct decision. I left the shop with two good quality 26“ tires and two matching tubes - altogether for a 'nothing' of 540 Baht. That's less than half of what I had to pay at an 'every day low price' shopping center. iFarang™ ©2009

At least once a month this crew of funny Farangs brings back some actions and smiles to Walking Street. The ladies like this entertainers.

Several reports tell that duty free shop employees slip some small item into your bag as you are paying. Later you get stopped. Your bag, your goods and your receipt(s) get inspected by security guards. If you don't pay the bribes asked by the guards for the 'stolen' goods Thailand's Tourist Police will detain you in cells at a nearby police station until you pay... It's up to you:
You can go to jail or you can just pay a fine and go home. We call it corruption, others call it a perfect teamwork between Thailand's Tourist Police and Thailand's Airport Mafia.

---

Thais tolerate corruption:
The latest survey by the Abac Poll Research Centre says that 51.2 per cent of Thailand's population (would) tolerate a corrupted government if it can improve the country and their well-being... iFarang™ ©2009

Indian Filmcrews like Pattaya and its Walking Street.
'Pattaya provides the perfect background for our songs and dance sequences' a member of a crew told me.

December 1985 was the first time I was eating at Nang Nual Restaurant on Walking Street. Until today I was a regular guest at this fine food outlet. Whenever I have some guest here in Pattaya we go to Nang Nual or Ruen Thai (Second Road) to take a dinner. A few weeks ago I had the visit of a long time Thai friend. It was her first visit in Pattaya, usually I met her in the Korat. For the dinner I invited her to Nang Nual. She opened the menu card, stared at it a few seconds and told me: 'I don't eat here - it's too expensive!'. My dear friend runs her own restaurant in the Korat. Her parents are farmers. They are also breeding cattle. Every morning at 04:00 they sell their vegetables to the local market(s). 7 days a week. Month after month. Year after year. Her father and her mother never had the opportunity to take some holidays during the whole of their life. I suppose my friend knew very well what she spoked about. These farmers are working up to 16 hours a day to make a (very) poor living. I think it is very frustrating for them to see that some middlemen make the big profit - and not the hard working food producers themself... iFarang™ ©2009

Bali Hai got a beautiful clocktower, but, as predicted a few months ago, the four watches usually do not indicate the correct time. After a power failure there is simply nobody responsible to restart the watches with the correct time. It's exactly the same as with Pattaya's CCTV system or Pattaya's streets - no matter how expensive it was, nobody takes care of anything. We recommend to replace the watches by pictures from our beloved Mayor. It doesn't matter if he stands on his head for a few hours, a few days or a few months. Pictured on June 28 2009 at 23:42:22.