Ulic

I can't imagine any country but China making investments. 

Has it been tested? Is it real?

Not really sure what the difference is. After all, they are all corrupt.

11 hours ago, wombat said:

Pissing into a hurricane. Nothing that Farang Expats/Tourists can do without Thais/Chinese doing a 180-degree about-face in attitudes toward littering and garbage disposal. Let it pile up, tourism drops, then maybe Thais will have a come to Jesus moment. Tourists picking up garbage while on vacation does not help. Vacationing somewhere else and spending your hard earned vacation money elsewhere eventually will.

Where is a MOAB when you need one. 

Watch check. 

Why not 7-11, that is where I pay my electric. Extremely efficient. 

I understood that she was willing to testify if the testimony was public but unwilling if it was secret testimony. Not sure if this is accurate.

I am in complete disagreement with most people. The cement truck made the turn while the road was not clear. The motorcycle had 100% the right of way. But as usual, the big truck takes the right of way. The cement truck should not have made the turn until the way was clear or all traffic had stopped allowing it to safely proceed. 

14 hours ago, Paul Henry said:

10,000 tourist a day must be TAT figures. Two family members have business there and are battling to make a living. There are seven ferries a day across to the island at 300 persons per trip( assuming they are all full) thats 2100 leaving 7900 to go across by speed boat. Sorry we are not supposed to rationalize Government figures. Why doesn't the ferry make more trips with so many passenger waiting to cross?

I was there the week before Songkran and the place was packed. I would have guessed easily 10,000 with no trouble. But that was some weeks ago. 

4-5 baht a liter profit per liter. A hard way to make an easy living as far as I am concerned. 

My name is mispronounced around the world or many don't want to even attempt to pronounce it so I just use Max. Simple easy and different enough that when it is called out by restaurant hostess or the like I know that they are paging me. 

I think most people are missing the point. China has not lived up to their commitments from 40+ years ago to open its markets to foreign companies. The theft of intellectual property and forced technology transfer and subsidies of Chinese industry has been going on for almost as long. These are more than irritants and they are not complaints of just the USA. The EU, Canada, and Australia also share these issue concerns. China falls back on the "these things take time" excuse but with 40+ years having passed the only sensible thing to do is hold China's feet to the flame and dictate the solution. Also, leave the increased tariffs in place until after the implementation and enforcement of the new laws. This will hopefully create a sense of urgency in China. After all with 40+ years having passed the "these things take time" excuse has worn thin.

Who cares about the wind and waves, celebrate the rain and the waterpipes functioning as intended. 

As I understand it, the burning stops when the rains come.  

Interesting, before complaintslike this would have fallen on deaf ears.  A clear shot across the bow that services have to have proactive planning or you will be replaced. Maybe a sign of improvement to come. We shall see. 

53 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

I completely fail to see how getting stabbed by a teenager falls under "middle age behavior" ??

One part of the story says he's a teenager, the victims"girlfriend" identified him as a 35 year old. I guess youngish middle age.

5000 baht a month is not unreasonable, but for that workers would have to register and contribute to a government investment plan. How many workers are willing to be involved in such a system for 30-40 years.

As the saying goes. To make a small fortune in the Go-Go business, start with a large one. I am left scratching my head as a circle through the bars and Go-Gos. a few busy nights but many more quiet nights.

I got mine last September while on a tourist visa. My only recommendation is to review thoroughly the test questions that are available on YouTube. I cannot imagine anyone passing the test without a review. Poor English translation, and poorly written questions, as well as some funny traffic laws. Really difficult if English is a second language. Most Farangs failed in my class. (most Thais as well)

The TM 30 rules are clear and simple. You must report your place of residence must within 24 hours of arrival at that address. Whether it be a condo, house or hotel.

Fact 1/ The TM30 reporting rules are interpreted differently from immigration office to immigration office. Fact 2/ The TM3o rules are enforced differently from immigration office to immigration office. Fact 3/ If you never have to have any interaction with an immigration ie. No extensions of stay, no residence certificate, etc... the TM 30 is like speeding. No issues as long as you are not caught. In short, if you will have an interaction with your local immigration office, report within 24 hours and get clear instructions from them on how they interpret and enforce the requirements. But understand, these may change without notice at any time.

Just in the nick of time.