I know this topic has been debated too many times all ready but what I saw today is really sad.

 

While eating at Continental by Soi Bokow (Goggie's has closed again for new staff...my favorite) I watched as this Farang walked about 20 steps and was so out of breathe he had to sit down and had a smoke. Another 20 steps and the same thing. The girl by his side kept wiping his brow as he tried each time to catch his breath. She would say, "you still too tired?" Finally another girl showed up with his suitcase on a motor taxi. Both girls helped this man of maybe 50 up a few steps at a time to his room.

 

Now I am making some assumptions here but it seemed to me that the farang has a breathing problem which smoking is not helping. I thought that many of his friends must have tried to get him to quit, but this addiction must be so hard to beat.

 

I am overweight and have had to have stints inserted to keep my arteries open. Maybe food is an addiction, maybe it is hereditary. So not being perfect it is a little hard to preach to the smoking crowd....but being reminded of all those we have lost here in Pattaya as a result of smoking...........I hope they find the strength and desire to quit so they don't become like the farang I saw today.

Another sad case was an acquaintance of mine, a lifetime smoker who developed emphysema and had to use a portable oxygen supply to breath. One day he just had to have one last cigarette, shut off the oxygen; lit up, enjoyed it and died.