Rick1

I understand your overly PC approach to editing when 'we' make defamatory comments about out host nation/als

But do you need to hug trees over these obviously dubious individuals from outside Thailand.

A spade is a spade.

I got 3 emails this month. I'm gonna be RICH!!!! LOL.

they ARE scammers.

Some posts deleted. Lets stay on topic, not consider every Nigerian a drugs dealer, etc, etc, etc.

Are YOU aware of the ancient Chinese symbol for good luck and longevity? The Nazi's stole the symbol and reversed it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika

I see that every day. Swastikas on their t-shirts, Third Reich helmets and even swastikas tattooed on their arms or hands. When I ask them whether they know what it represents, they answer "fashion!"

They are not aware, not the children nor the parents. How can they be made aware? Very difficult IMO. It does need to be included in their curriculums, at school, but so do many other things.

Did any one note how much she charges for these 'courses'? 8 -10 MILLION Baht!!! , "because I believe my knowledge is valuable". LOL what a joke!

She then says that she has selected only 4 people from all applicants. STUPID RICH PEOPLE Amazing Thailand!

Bring on the cancer.....

There has been a group of 'police' visiting some of the local bars in my area, and demanding that they produce an 'entertainment license' for playing music.

Many of my Thai friends told them to go away, however a number of Farang owners were pressured (not knowing about this alleged license) and threatened into paying 'fines' for not having the required license.

My question is a simple one. does a small local bar need this type of license/ does it even exist?

One farang bar owner I know was forced to pay 50,000 under threat.

When some of the other bar owners went to the local police station, they were brushed off and no answers given.

I read an article in the Gazette a few weeks ago about how tailors in Kata were paying money to police. As if this were an unusual event.

The fact is, that all bars have to pay police a few thousand Baht every month for 'protection'. This extortion is wide spread over the whole of the island.

But the 'music license' is a new one to me.

Can the anyone tell me about the 'music license'. Is it really a requirement?

Also, who should my friend address his complaint to, about the apparent extortion by the local Bangtao BIB?

Will the Governor of Phuket defend such robbery?

Any info/ help would be very appreciated as the local cops here are the root problem.

hmmm, i dont agree with you and certainly don't appreciate being called scum.

I came here 4 years ago with only 2000 quid and a plan.

It costs me 100,000 Baht every year to pay for company fees, work permit, Non B visa (+flights to KL) and the social contributions of 4 Thais plus boarder runs every 90 days, etc etc.

My point is I pay... you don't.

So you can take your ed visa and stic..................

All you people who are cheering this are absolute scum, you know that? At least people who use ED visa's are trying to do something to stay here legitimately.

Some of you lot forget that we are essentially all here for similar reasons, it's just that not all of us are lucky enough to have a job or be over a certain age so that we can get the visa we need...

You might laugh now while you have your comfortable retirement visa or whatever it is, but one day they'll clamp down on those as well - then perhaps you'll wish you weren't quite so gleeful about the struggles of the rest of us to stay here. Morons. Shameful

I don't disagree with you Wanderlust, however there are often other contributing factors to a crash other than human error, such as vehicles that are not fit for purpose. IE the blame should also be directed to the owner of the bus if it is found to have worn parts such as breaks etc. So often in Thailand people are not held accountable for their greed and blatant lack of due care. Will court proceedings be issued? I doubt it. A large payoff to the BIB is more likely. This means that the STANDARD never improves and vehicles with bald tyre / bad brakes continue to be used, unchecked.

This is the real problem Thailand faces...... corruption and face.

[i think some people are jumping the gun on this one a bit; of course condolences to those directly affected, but to immediately assume the accident is a result of poor driving standards is unfair - for all we know it could have been caused by some other reason like brake failure or swerving to avoid a dog. The driving standards are not good in Thailand, but that doesn't mean that every accident is down to them. Accidents happen unfortunately, and they happen everywhere.

This is to "cut costs and 'improve' the service" I was told in KL last year when they stopped producing passports.

All of the machines (in Asia) have been moved to Hong Kong.

Fell sorry for you UK citizen.

How do you accepts this.

First Hong Kong, now UK.

Next year....

Can't you get decent consular service in Thailand?

DJ Norman Jay MBE was pulled off the decks and threatened with arrest last week in Stereo Lab, Phuket.

Its all about 'tea money'.... always

In the name of Buddha! We spend all our money here so please give us our music with the least amount of complications possible......pleazzze!!!! Same rule applies to D-Jays who might only be playing 1 night. I know it's not just Thailand as you can't work in most countries without a work permit but bars with good ferrang music pull in crowds of Thais and Tourists who spend, spend, spend so the pros outweigh the cons. They'll be banning alcohol next! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. It's just a few greedy officials and police with no interest in Thailand's economy, only what they can make out of a minor infringement today.

Shouldn't the head line read, "Yingluck needs time to learn the script sent by Taksin"?