Thais love to gamble

One of the most underrated benefits of growing old and infirm is the fact that in some places you will always meet others of your kind who suffer even more than you suffer.

For example, I recently entered the waiting room of the cardiology department at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. When I see this luxury I always get gloomy, because this all has to be on my account. Fortunately, I see an old acquaintance or to be more precise, an old and flawed acquaintance. This man tells me a heartbreaking story that makes me feel better. I tell it in my own words.

In general, Thais are friendly and hospitable. Only in Bangkok and Pattaya does the lust for money reign supreme. A nice example. Jar is one Thai boy about thirty years old. He has been living with my old and infirm friend for several years. On the one hand because the man needs care, on the other hand because the boy needs money.

My acquaintance is not rich, but can get by very well on his pension here. Only, Pot wants more and does not understand that not every foreigner is very rich. His parents must definitely have a new home. Cost six hundred thousand Baht, but it's just not there. Pot wants to work and wants to start a bar. Costs one million baht. It's not possible. Pot himself tries to earn money in every possible way. He lends out small amounts and often receives ten percent interest per month. He is a handy talker, so he helps friends and acquaintances who have run into trouble with the police, out of trouble, for a large fee.

Apparently all the fuses went through recently. According to my Dutch friend, Pot calls all kinds of people to borrow money, because he can make a big hit. Nobody steps in. It is clear to everyone that this is not pure coffee. What did he need it for, I ask curiously. For a gambling game and he thought that if he paid fifty thousand baht, he would be sure to win the grand prize of one million.

What happened then, I ask curiously. At two o'clock he went to the lottery and they gave him a glass of water with drugs. When he came back by taxi with an empty wallet, he could tell this, but then he sank. Pot was taken to the hospital by friends. After a few hours he came back and Pot was able to tell the whole story. A number of Chinese had visited. Apparently they could convince Pot that he would definitely win their lottery. Pot himself only had eight thousand baht, so he wanted to borrow the rest.

Handy lottery guys. They say that they sell fifteen hundred numbered lottery tickets worth one thousand baht. The grand prize is one million baht. At the moment they state that they have already sold fourteen hundred and fifty lottery tickets, but that the main prize has not yet been awarded. It must therefore be among the remaining fifty lots. So the chance of the main prize is high and if you buy all fifty lottery tickets, you are even sure of the main prize. You pay and you have lost your money, because of course there is no price. If you are a nuisance you get a glass of water. Going to the police is out of the question, because gambling is strictly forbidden. You are guaranteed to go to jail and to get out of there you need a bribe of at least fifty thousand baht. Very refined. At least for people who are blind with greed.

My boyfriend goes to his cardiologist and I enjoy the luxurious armchairs in the waiting room.