TechnikaIII

Wasn't it because some mate of a Thai official was miffed by the way he was treated Downunder? Or perhaps China is tugging on the buffalo's rope.

He doesn't include the Philippines because they are generally poorer. But they are good people, and everywhere I go now (yes, I'm here), people are respectfully wearing masks, and when entering shopping malls, a face shield in addition to the mask. Dining in at some places requires a vaccination card. Not entirely relevant, I guess, but foreigners are not reviled by the authorities. In fact the opposite. On my 30-day entry stamp, I am now some 18 months 'over stay'. "Never mind. Stay safe and get vaccinated." We can depart when able to without hassle. Could I be blacklisted from Thailand for mentioning this? ????

Singapore has Raffles and the history. Thailand has a buffalo with delusions of grandure. No.

They will need to officially ban dual pricing and start showing respect for foreigners. I don't see how this can happen under the current regime. For starters, if there is no respect, it's hard to show it, because they simply don't understand.

The Philippines, except that the food sucks and like the Thais, the elderly as well as unemployed middleaged men are constantly burning off, piles of leaves mixed with plastic bags. Who was it that said "They should never have sold guns and whisky to the Indians"? I wish the Filipinos had never got hold of amplifiers, which add a torturous dimension to their gawd-awful kareoke. However, if one can afford to live near a beach, it can be blissful. (I have been stuck here, living in urban villages since march last year.) The retirement visa does NOT need renewing and once granted, one can come and go from the country with freedom equal to that of Filipino citizens. To boot, no hassles buying land or a house and there is freedom to take employment. 90-Day reporting?? ???? That's a mug's game.

The level of intellect of those making the rules falls a long way short of what's needed for even the most rudementary of amenial tasks. That they are making decisions that affect the lives of 68.9 million people (2020) is a matter of grave concern. Unless of course one doesn't have the level of intellect to recognise it.

As I do with Pattaya, .... totally. Been there, never going back. ????

"... when banks prefer customers to do their transactions off-branch. .." I have a GSB account, but for 10 years have been denied an Internet facility because I don't have a work permit. Which banks are you referring to?

This needs to be publicised internationally. Then every time a Thai national, especially a high roller, ambassador for example, books a table a restaurant, wherever, add on a surcharge because it's good for the host country. Travel agents everywhere need to advise everyone considering Thailand for their vacation.

No, not quite, not on the wall behind reception. But as a 'feel good factor' inserted as an imaginary suppository. It induces smiles of confidence in the land of ... But yes, a pot plant or two may be provided in the deal. ????

The "Boutique" hotel is the one that has handed over sufficient cash to 'unmentionables' for the classification. (In a similar way that ordinary police win the vacancies for 'traffic' cops.)

"The land of Piles". ( ... Well, it does rhyme with "smiles". )

Should the Thai government, in a stroke of wisdom, pull its head out its rear end, and treat farang with respect, maybe other countries will modify their own rules. But no. They, the govt. and participating hotels are going to milk this scam for all it's worth.

Not only are we pushed around, and to say with "utter disrespect" is not an exhageration, we are now the enemy.

Well, I don't know what you want, but what you do need is an English teacher. Good luck with finding a competant Thai to help you with that. ????

I wonder how much of this is heard by the many thousands of Thais whose income was helped enormously by us "ordinary Farang", yes, we whose pensions were spent in our local Thai communities. If not much, then they should hear about it.

Vaccinated travelers arriving with Covid-19 Negative result should be allowed to go their way, without being subjected to the so-called Sandbox scam. Vaccinated travellers should not have to pay the full rate of insurance requested. In the civilised world, insurance premiums are calculated on the basis of risk. I see no mention of this anywhere in the Thai government's criteria.

Yep, and on the subject of the Nobel Committee, no Thai has even been nominated for anything, ever.

" ... certain criteria." ????

For a moment I read it as "poxymoron" ... and wondered which of those two you were referring to.

Pipat Ratchakitprakan. Is the turkey who said Thailand should be promoting high quality sex tours, to attract a better visitors, or words to the effect?

I still have to travel on Tourist visas, so kindly mind your manners.

????

But who is there to police the police who police the police, if you know what I mean. Ohh, never mind. I'm just wondering now if there's anything in this for the Guinness World Records. After all, no Thai has ever been nominated for a Nobel Prize.

But who is there to police the police who police the police, if you know what I mean.