BrianCR

Breathalyser's and helmets may save lives?

So might having to sit a controlled driving test and passing it, rather than just paying a bribe!

Any of you remember this true and interesting little snippet? - About twenty years ago a middle aged lady went into a Sukhumvit car showroom and paying cash brought a new car. Two days later, the car being ready for collection, the dear lady returned to take delivery. The staff offered to drive the car from the showroom onto the road but the lady insisted that she was more than capable so they walked off and left her to it. A few seconds later there was a God Almighty crash as the car sped off and crashed straight through the showroom window, across the road, finally stopping in the doorway of a shop opposite the car showroom. Frantically the showroom staff and others ran to her assistance and to ask what had happened? To their disbelief the dear lady replied that she had never driven a car before but thought that it would be easy!! This was actually reported in both the Nation and Bangkok Post newspapers.

http://www.facebook....377551765618807

Malaysia Airlines will soon join the league of A380 operators, when its first A380 takes to the skies on 1 July 2012. Although the national carrier of Malaysia is the eighth operator of this aircraft, it strives to register several firsts when the A380 becomes its new flagship carrier.

Malaysia Airlines is the first to introduce the A380 in a new livery, different from that of its existing fleet. Another first being planned is to showcase the economy class zone in the main deck, enhanced and designated as a family and children friendly inflight zone.

We would like to introduce this concept in our flagship aircraft to make it a memorable travel experience for this group of travelers, whilst at the same time offering our in First and Business an enhanced travel experience as well.

From the perspective of customers travelling with their families, the economy class family-friendly convenience would be a warm welcome. The main deck has more facilities such as toilets (8 for economy configuration of 350 seats) and the dual aerobridge airport facility supporting this deck will also mean a speedier/faster embarkation and disembarkation for this group of passengers

Nevertheless, where there is overwhelming demand for seats in economy class from families with children and infants, resulting in full load in the main deck, we will still accommodate such demand in the 70-seat upper deck economy class zone of our A380.

http://sky-today.com...conomy-section/

Back in June 2011, Malaysian Airlines banned infants in first class of its Boeing 747-400 jets, with plans to do the same in its new Airbus A380s. Now, the airline is stepping up the ban by not allowing kids to sit in the upstairs economy section of those A380s.

Children younger than 12 will not be permitted to sit in the upstairs economy section of Malaysia’s superjumbo, reports Australian Business Traveller.

According to News.com.au, an airline memo sent to a South Korean news agency explained that a new booking system will black out upper deck seats for customers whose reservations include children.

The impetus behind the move is to provide a more restful trip for business travelers who have to fly in economy, writes Australian Business Traveller.

It’s no secret that children can be disruptive on flights. Just last month it was reported that a family was thrown off a JetBlue flight when a toddler threw a temper tantrum. Also in March, ”unruly” kids on an Alaska flight prompted the crew to ask for police back up.

Early last year it was reported that a number of airlines, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates were being urged to consider child-free zones and even child-free flights.

http://www.dailymail...dren-class.html

The ban, which will affect flights from Kuala Kumpur to London, Amsterdam and Sydney, is thought to be the first such imposed by an airline.

In February, airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also said they were considering creating children-free flights, but now announcement has since been made.

Personally I agree with it. Babes in arms and toddlers I quite understand having "ear" problems taking off and landing etc but passengers that allow their children to run riot in an aircraft are my worst possible nightmare lol.

I think that we should all support these airlines by making them passenger free flights

Not just Bangkok the same symptoms are doing the rounds all over ChiangRai. Most people are putting it down to the smoke polluted air that we are breathing from the slash and burn farming methods - don't know if this is affecting you people down there but it certainly is here!!

This is not surprising, but the real story is that the SRTET essentially has no money. Obviously the line itself is subsidized and runs at a loss, but the SRTET is effectively not given any resources by the SRT in terms of small but important things. One example I can relate from personal experience is that in a meeting with a high-ranking SRTET official, I learned that they have a marketing budget that is effectively zero. While the infrastructure itself is hard to miss up close, you would be surprised how many people still don't know it exists / where it stops / how to access stations via car, bus, etc.

Wow - somebody that understands!! get with it folks!

all these farlangs thinking they know better, it is for the thai people to decide the outcome of there own country, not just a hand full of farlangs that know nothing.

Good comment!

The British are essentially their own worst enemies ......

@ cmsally

good post!

Your talking through your a'Hole

Being British can be a bonus sometimes. However our embassies are some of the worst in the world for what they offer ex-pats or people on holiday abroad. They basically do absolutely nothing for you. If your having issues, medical, law e.t.c. it pays to be a U.S. Aussie, citizen or almost any other nationality!

Wrong on almost every count.With over 600,000 British visitors every year to Thailand it's simply impossible for the embassy to minister to every tourist's minor problems.The rather good current Ambassador - I'm sorry he's going - has made it very clear and humanely what the Embassy can do and what it can't do.More critically the culture of looking to the state to remedy every need is a peculiarly British one, especially among the benefits oriented underclass which is increasingly dominant in the Thailand tourist market and for that matter in the "expatriate community", whatever that absurd concept is meant to mean.Any doubters should take a look at Lower Sukhumvit or Pattaya.I suspect the first reaction of most Australians or Americans is to try to sort their problems out for themselves, rather than running to their Embassy.

The British (nanny) state seeks to regulate, control and oversee every aspect of its citizens life while they are in the UK.

I can understand how some citizens would expect this status to be maintained while they are overseas.

After all, what you have been trained to expect and obey all your life can hardly be changed by a 10 hour plane journey.

Bull shit they expect you to pay but then they don't deliver!

He is stating what they can do and what they cannot do according to the UK guide lines, at best its a point of contact and information, should we expect more?

I think you have to take each case as it comes but it also only fair that individuals take some responsibility themselves especially in the healthcare department coming here with no Health Insurance or parts of it are open to interpretation is not the responsibility of the UK Embassy.

In times of distress I would expect them to do as much as they possibly can and if neccessary arrange a loan, not a gift, to sort out finances.

Should we expect more? Yes! Many of us have been paying social security payments and taxes all our working lives. Then, when we retire (and honestly tell them we are living overseas) they offer us a basic pension with no increases EVER! All the extra payments our counterparts, still living in the UK, receive are denied us and why? Because we chose to live overseas (the fact is that we also chose to pay tax and social security but that doesn't matter to the powers that be). My National Health payments were paid to be able to obtain medical treatment and yet, if I were on deaths door with no funds my wonderful government will sit back and do what they are good at doing - nothing! What about some far play for the thousands of pounds we have paid? Fair Play? Come on old chap, we've got half of bloody Europe to keep!!!!

If you want NHS care and an inflation-linked state pension, then stay in the UK.

Or perhaps I should have let you make my payments for me?. I have been in Thailand for 31 years and still made all my contributions so, if they were gracious enough to take my money from overseas why shouldn't i expect the same payments as other retires? As for the stay in the UK crap - how did you manage to get them to let you out?

Being British can be a bonus sometimes. However our embassies are some of the worst in the world for what they offer ex-pats or people on holiday abroad. They basically do absolutely nothing for you. If your having issues, medical, law e.t.c. it pays to be a U.S. Aussie, citizen or almost any other nationality!

Wrong on almost every count.With over 600,000 British visitors every year to Thailand it's simply impossible for the embassy to minister to every tourist's minor problems.The rather good current Ambassador - I'm sorry he's going - has made it very clear and humanely what the Embassy can do and what it can't do.More critically the culture of looking to the state to remedy every need is a peculiarly British one, especially among the benefits oriented underclass which is increasingly dominant in the Thailand tourist market and for that matter in the "expatriate community", whatever that absurd concept is meant to mean.Any doubters should take a look at Lower Sukhumvit or Pattaya.I suspect the first reaction of most Australians or Americans is to try to sort their problems out for themselves, rather than running to their Embassy.

The British (nanny) state seeks to regulate, control and oversee every aspect of its citizens life while they are in the UK.

I can understand how some citizens would expect this status to be maintained while they are overseas.

After all, what you have been trained to expect and obey all your life can hardly be changed by a 10 hour plane journey.

Perhaps they should stay at home then, or have their passports confiscated.

LOL, What should happen is a tit for tat system where as foreigners (including Thai) should not be offered health treatment in the UK unless a reciprocal agreement exists with their country of origin. Not as what happens now where anyone can get free treatment (II wouldn't be surprised if half of Americans with gunshot wounds fly there for treatment - their flight would be cheaper than paying for US treatment). The same should also apply to buying land and houses.

He is stating what they can do and what they cannot do according to the UK guide lines, at best its a point of contact and information, should we expect more?

I think you have to take each case as it comes but it also only fair that individuals take some responsibility themselves especially in the healthcare department coming here with no Health Insurance or parts of it are open to interpretation is not the responsibility of the UK Embassy.

In times of distress I would expect them to do as much as they possibly can and if neccessary arrange a loan, not a gift, to sort out finances.

Agree. Why should UK taxpayers, incl. myself, pay for some idiot who has failed to insure himself, or has no savings, and gets maimed whilst fighting in a Pattaya Bar?

Perhaps his own National Health payments and taxes could be used to pay for him? Then you could keep yours for yourself?

It is really a bunch of nonsense. I know scores of husband (farang) and wife (Thai) owned small businesses where nobody has ever been "done" by the cops.

No one cares and the average Thai does not even know a farang has to have a WP and this includes many officials. The problems comes into play when you are running a large company with your wife or in a tourist area. The the alarm is sounded....and even then it is few and far between.

As I said, I was running a shop in a very small village with no farangs apart fro me at the time and they pounced on me, why?

True the average Thai may not know about WP's but they don't like seeing farangs doing better than themselves. So they call the BIB, and generally all they think about is tax as they very rarely know the WP law themselves in the villages.

In tourist areas they DO know and get a large envelope from the farang 'owner'.

Completely disagree with your comments - i have lived and worked here for 31 years and have held a WP all that time. I have had businesses in Pattaya (not a bar business) and never been asked for one baht more than the cost of the document. I have also had businesses up-country (I still have one) and never had any trouble from Thai people or authorities. The whole point is that in 31 years (and apart from opening a bank account or registering a car) NO one has ever asked to see my WP or visa and That includes Thai authorities using my business and getting pulled over in my car for speeding.

He is stating what they can do and what they cannot do according to the UK guide lines, at best its a point of contact and information, should we expect more?

I think you have to take each case as it comes but it also only fair that individuals take some responsibility themselves especially in the healthcare department coming here with no Health Insurance or parts of it are open to interpretation is not the responsibility of the UK Embassy.

In times of distress I would expect them to do as much as they possibly can and if neccessary arrange a loan, not a gift, to sort out finances.

Should we expect more? Yes! Many of us have been paying social security payments and taxes all our working lives. Then, when we retire (and honestly tell them we are living overseas) they offer us a basic pension with no increases EVER! All the extra payments our counterparts, still living in the UK, receive are denied us and why? Because we chose to live overseas (the fact is that we also chose to pay tax and social security but that doesn't matter to the powers that be). My National Health payments were paid to be able to obtain medical treatment and yet, if I were on deaths door with no funds my wonderful government will sit back and do what they are good at doing - nothing! What about some far play for the thousands of pounds we have paid? Fair Play? Come on old chap, we've got half of bloody Europe to keep!!!!

refused to show ID?

question 1

What sort of business

question 2

Any "nearby competitor" (Chinese or Viet?)

NK had a case of foreigner.......famous bar and food.......came in sight of the most powerful chinese entrapeneurs family.

long story short...............he had to leave!

To make a clear case of immigration involvement ...go to your immigration office and repy/complain.

Complain about what, that he was breaking the law? He didn't have his work permit with him and the wrong address - now HE has to make a complaint? Takes a foreigner to do that!

Lets hope the pilot has some idea and is not too busy selling somtam during the journey!

You don't have a suit? wear your shorts you'll fit in well in Pattaya and maybe no one will notice at the wedding?

Who writes this stuff? I rather fancy most Thais, even those who are now on a massive 300 baht minimum will be more concerned with paying the ever increasing cost of living than partying.

Since when have Thai's shown any concern over anything other than what is happening right now! Have a drink on me and cool off.

1538 baht for every man, woman, and child. Some more, and some, like me and my famiy less.

Then they say 900 Bt. per person for "alcoholic beverages"

I won't be spending any of that and I hope none of the children I know will either.

that is just over 600 baht (150 Bt) per day for everything else ?

Relax, I'll drink your share oh, and I'll drink for the rest of your family and the children you know as well!

Some posters here seem to hate the poor since they will defend any in-action by Thaksin to pay, by any arguments they can find. Even if they pretend to care about the poor in some posts...

Especially when most of them have never been truly poor.

(please don't add the four Yorkshire men sketch to this, I'm practically word perfect in that, and the one about the dead parrot)

First bit of sense I've read today!

"Sansern Samalapha, the so-called shadow finance minister of the Democrat Party, said Wednesday that he had filed the complaint against Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong, Deputy Finance Minister Thanusak Lek-uthai and Revenue Department Director-General Sathit Rangkhasiri on Tuesday"

Here we go again. The Opposition running to the judges. In this case the National Anti-Corruption Commission, instead of using normal Parliamentary procedures. Is it any wonder the PTP is seeking to alter the following elements of the coup-based constitution:

Und

er the constitution, procedures to create independent organizations and select their members lack public participation and go against the principle of democracy.

Independent organizations and the judiciary are allowed to operate without a system of checks and balances, which adversely affects the justice system and results in double standards.

Under normal circumstances, an Opposition would seek to 'tar and feather' a ruling Party in Parliamentary Question Period. And if the public agreed, they would conduct themselves accordingly next election. But they know the Public does not share their anti-Thaksin agenda and are in effect put-off by it, so it is perhaps understandable.

How dare the Democrats follow the rule of law, they should employ a mob of thugs to terrorise the center of Bangkok and burn it down, like more popular political parties. Or question the PM in Parliamentary Question Period if she ever attands parliment again.

They did - they were known as yellow shirts!

What's need is a bullet with 'Best Wishes' written on it.

What's need is a bullet with 'Best Wishes' written on it.

I am surprise that Thai Visa does not turn you in for your terrible comment.

Also you should repent for your sins in Church this weekend

Or the terrible use of the English language!!

Q The coordinator of the red-shirt group in Uttaradit Province, Pannawat Nakmoon, revealed that the local red shirts are collecting nine famous souvenirs form the province's nine districts such as durian and banana stick from Lablae District, preserved tamarind from Fakta District, and pineapple from Huai Moon District to welcome Thaksin.Q

For mr t (l.c. so no importance is placed upon it)

I hope the pineapple will be suitably placed where the moon doesn't shine

Is that your personal wish? Bend down and touch your toes....... O'ops!!!

Are you going to give them the benefits of your moral upstanding ways as well? Or is it just red shirts that upset you?

The only thing that worries me is sheep..

Then why do you read this web-site? Baa-baa

Could these red shirt leaders please tell me who they were elected by? After all, they believe 100% in democracy, or that's what they say.

If they do, why don't thet have an elected leadership, voting on whether a village is red or not, etc?

No chance. "Democracy is a tool, not my aim"

Remember who said that?

They have had (and won) many elections since an unlawful coop!! since when has this country been a "Democracy"?

One of the most hideous crimes, high treason by a top military, should be forgotten and forgiven? I don't think so.

Only the truth will set us free.

Sonthi has showed one more time, how little respect he has for Thai people. His arrogance is only topped by his shamelessness.

Do you really think Sonthi could have carried off such a bloodless coup without the tacit support from Thais in all echelons of society?

Personally I would be happy to see Thailand return to the peaceful, shirtless place it once was. Yingluck can be PM as the chosen leader of the most popular party, the PTP, and Thaksin stays away for the good of the country he loves unless he is prepared to do the time for his crime.

The crime being a political frame up? Wake up man, hev did more for Thai's than any politician in Thai history - his crime was that he didn't pay the others off!!!

Oh, and don't tell me the law is the law - that quote is non-existent in the west never mind here