sabai-dee-man

Sorry, I have to disagree. He may well have deserved a damn good slap (who knows, I wasn't there either), but no-one deserves having their head stomped on (or being senselessly kicked while down, which I've seen happen a number of times in Thailand). Thai's have zero self-control once the cork pops, and for some it takes very little to pop it!

Yes, I am, although I've not personally had a kicking. (Sometimes more luck than judgement, in my younger years.) I've seen plenty though, both Thai on Thai and Thai on foreigner. It's not just limited to Thais kicking off on tourists.

I hope you never need to care, too. I've travelled and lived on-and-off in Thailand for the last 25 years, and I've seen extreme reactions from Thai males to the most minor of situations. Whether the American started the trouble or not, stomping on someone's head (or using a weapon, be it improvised or carried, which is very common with Thais) is way out of order. It's the result of the mai bpen rai/face-saving BS and the pent up tension that goes with it, that goes on all over SE Asia. Maybe one day you'll stand up for yourself or make a minor off-the-cuff comment someone takes offence to, and get an absolute kicking. You'll care then!

I stayed for almost 6 months, and spent about £15k. Travelled to Krabi, Khao Lak, Trat, Khao Yai, Korat, Udon and more. Saying that, saving up for 3 years (through Covid) certainly assisted with that spend, but 45 day visas made life simpler. I only had to do 2 border runs in those 6 months.

You're not wrong. I just did 175 days with the 45+30 visas/extensions. Border runs are always a ballache, but when they're 75 days apart it's not so bad.... and easier than the farcical hoops they were asking me to jump through last September for a 60 day tourist visa.

???????????? Many here don't even have a driving license, and you're asking about a fork lift license?!

He doesn't realise how lucky he is... 6-8 Thai guys just waiting to give him a kicking there! I bet the place was virtually empty before he appeared!

I can agree with some of that. My issue is the reported incidents on another popular channel/forum of Russians aggressively taunting Ukranians in Phuket. Sure, I can believe a number are here because they want a break after best part of 3 years of Covid, and that some don't want conflict with Ukranians. But I'd put ฿50 on most of them here not giving a sh*t about Ukraine, and can simply afford not to end up on the frontline... if it was legal to gamble here, of course!

Nothing like a bit of selective editing... there are plenty of middle-aged (read, of fighting/conscription age) Russian men here right now. Your photo showing women and children means nothing.

Draft dodgers... but the more here, the less there are in Ukraine. I don't personally like them; my overriding, albeit limited experiences with them have been largely negative, but they're relatively easy to avoid. I try to remain positive and think that they are "conscientious objectors" rather than supporters of Russia's policies and just cowards! ????‍♂️

Thais have low expectations.

I visited the military museum at Overloon a couple of years ago, and had a "discount for your next visit (in the same year)" included (I'm British -- there was no special "Dutch" ticket). Same happens at the Bovinton Tank Museum in Dorset, UK, which everyone gets too, regardless of nationality. It's the same with many places in the UK like zoos and parks. Took the missus to London when she first relocated 20 years ago, and she was suprised how everyone pays the same (but with concessions for kids and OAPs, and sometimes disabled). There's no excuse for hidden dual pricing.

The difference is, they don't hide it. I'm a Brit, who worked in Florida for a while back in my early 20s, and I was easily able to get a Florida ID card (based on my passport details -- yes, I understand other states/now might be different) that I could then use for "touristy places" and even many night clubs, and they would give me local pricing. Previously, when just holidaying there, it was clear that locals could buy passes to most of the attractions like Disney/Wet'n'Wild/Universal etc., for discounted entry. The irony is that back then, locals were even selling discount "tickets" to tourists to use to get into many places cheaper, that were basically just unused tabs torn from full-price tickets they'd snapped up (or possibly obtained from someone working at the attractions). And don't give me "yeah, but in America it's all in English and and you're a native English speaker", because other than hidden entry fees, when do you EVER see Thai prices written with Thai characters rather than Arabic numerals?! Even in deepest Issan where English menus often don't exist, prices are shown as "฿40/50" etc.

And then take some photos pointing at some taxis!

Can't understand for the life of me why anyone would support dual pricing. Fair enough if you're a foreign family with kids on a "once in a lifetime" trip to Thailand, and know no better (and can't see/read the Thai prices often displayed in plain sight), but anyone who's had even the remotest experience of this kind of thing needs their head testing paying hundreds of baht on top. Same goes for all the water parks and other so-called attractions. More often that not, there's just as nice an alternative elsewhere. If people voted with their feet more, rather than just spout the usual "awww... if you can't afford a few $$/££/euros/whatever...." then maybe, just maybe, things might change. It's not the price, it's the principle.

Highly unlikely (if you're talking about "alpine skiing"), unless you paid extra for "extreme sports" cover.

Strange! isn't that what all threads seeking advice are? What's your problem? ????

No, I didn't. I've arrange to meet friends. They bought the ticket, and 24th or 8th were the only available dates. I didn't realise the 45 day thing doesn't start until Oct 1st. It was all genuine. Sorry if you feel aggrieved. The advice about OnwardTicket was perfect. Not wasted at all! Feel free to block me, so you don't have to waste your time reading any of my posts again. No biggie!

Where did I say I'm working? It's a perk. Take a break from your high horse, eh?! Not all of us are tied to a desk working the grind! I'm not on huge money, but I get a great amount of free time, which after previous rather traumatic life experience, is worth more that money can buy.

Cattle class! ???????????? Flying EVA business, and I'm not wasting £2k by downgrading!

In an ideal world I would, but there are no seats available until 8th unfortunately, unless I downgrade. Also, I'm meeting friends before the 1st.

Where there's no sense, there's no feeling! ????????????

Thank you. I just saw this. I'll "book" it next Saturday morning before heading to LHR.

That's pretty handy, thank you. Do I make the "reservation" just before I check in, or can I do it now?* (Check in date is 24th, 8 days time.) *Not being lazy; I'm reading the site now, but you may know off the top of your head. ????

Yeah, it's what I'm going to do. My only concern is the duration shown on the ticket and no visa to cover the dates... but I doubt the Eva check-in staff will care. Might be more of a problem if I was flying Thai though.