AC_Eddie

My wife's Mae is 84 years old with a failing kidney. We live in the USA and have nobody in Thailand capable and responsible enough to care of her. She lives on the farm in Issan. I'm reaching out in this post for intelligent suggestions short of my wife moving back to Thailand. Kaap khun krub.

Not a suicide? Who wrote that absurd detail? Sex, drugs , money love or espionage...Take your pick. These always seem to be the cause of such gruesome acts. As an American following the Thai culture, it seems apparent that most of the killing and atrocities involving farang take place in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. Figure it out!!!

There are many tiers of airfares with different restrictions and advanced purchase requirements. They may be basing their cuts on the full fare economy class and do nothing with the lowest fares. Airlines do this kind of reduction to make it seem that they have slashed airfares. I suggest www.sidestep.com as the best travel search engine to find the lowest fares. I also suggest checking on a daily basis because fares change daily. Alos if you are not ready to buy when you logon, don't waste your time. You may go back the next day and the fares have changed drastically.

As a travel agent married to a Thai and having visited many times, here are a few thoughts. 1) Airlines pricing will always be predicated like everything else on "Supply and Demand". If there are many empty seats on TG flights they will have to lower their prices to fill them. 2) The government should subsidize some educational efforts by employing English speaking travel savvy Thais to visit those western countries ( i.e. USA and Canada)where they don't have a clue about why to travel to Thailand and what to do there? 3) Consider some restricted forms of gaming (i.e. casino games, simulcast horseracing and sports wagering) in the tourist areas like Phuket, Samui, Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Currently Cambodia has casinos on its Thai borders to entice the Thais to gamble their money away in Cambodia, while it is illegal for Cambodians to gamble. I believe thiese steps could help the tourist industry and perhaps even more importantly to put people to work in Thailand. Are you listening Mr Minister? Use the state generated taxes from these enterprises to fund better education, which is really the only way out for developing countries to compete.

Good Luck!

As a former travel agent , I recommend that the next insurrection happen during the off-season when its raining like crazy. But seriously, the financial impact of the decreased tourism will impact most of the middle class and certainly will filter down to the poor. Of course , the rich in any country can always withstand oil prices and economic turn downs as "They already have theirs!" My wife and I will however travel to Thailand in Nov/Dec but probably stay away from BKK. Are there any politicians in Thailand who aren't corrupt. Perhaps a monk should lead the country. Mahatma Gandhi was a monk of sorts in his thoughts , his integrity and his compassion for the poor.

Its a worldwide problem. There is not enough energy of whatever kind. The solution is not to drill for more. The solution is for people to exercise the green alternatives which are: 1) Ride your bicycle. 2) Carpool with friends and co-workers. 3) Use public transportation and mass transit. 4) Walk. 5) Arrange telecommuting with your employer. The earth is fighting back with severe weather and high oil prices . In the end it may be a bad thing for humans but a better thing for the environment. Earth abides!!

I am married to a Thai national and we live in California now. My plan to retire to Yasothon and help there in the schools may be in jeopardy. As an outsider looking in, I can only add my perspective of some 62 years living under a "democracy" in the USA. I believe the problems always come down to one thing and that is the inadequate distribution of wealth. The problems are complex and require complex and often difficult solutions. As an economist of moderate knowledge, it is the poor who are most greatly affected by what I see as a worldwide inflationary period ahead. The cost of oil has skyrocketed and has impacted food supplies and basic services. Greed and fear are our greatest enemies. We must remain calm but loyal to our beliefs. Violence will not resolve the conflicts that are inherent in our world today. I pray for Thailand and the poor in this country. My advice is get back to your roots and "Grow your own". Be self-dependent and interdependent with those you love and trust. Stay local and stay strong. May Buddha or whatever G-d you believe bless you and keep you safe.

As a travel agent in the US for over 15 years, I have some thoughts about this episode. "Caveat Emptor"...Let the buyer beware. If a deal sounds too good then it probably is. Before purchasing any tickets, the purchaser should check the reliability of the vendor, call the airlines directly and verify. I am living in the US with my Thai wife and have plans to retire to Phuket and set up an internet shop where I can book tickets online for consumers who come to the shop. Incidents like this give farangs a bad reputation with the Thai. "One bad apple can spoil the whole barrel". This is not a world where one can trust blindly and we must always verify before we make a critical mistake like this. 50,00 Bt does seem a small bail to me also.