spermwhale

This is not news and there is nothing that we haven't seen before. Why even post this in a forum for expats in Thailand? Stupid.

I have to think that many Russians either those who have fled the country to avoid having to fight in the war or those who are still living there are all under a lot of stress. That stress piled on can make someone snap, especially if they already have some underlying mental illness. The fact that the guy was walking around in underwear is a clue to his mental state. Those are not swim trunks. He must be hell to live with.

Not sure what planet you're living on but I've seen no change in how I'm treated as a tourist. It's always tops. The Thais are always so friendly. Bangkok has had pollution for decades and everything is still extremely cheap compared to the West. Prices have not risen as dramatically in Thailand and you can still stay in a four star hotel for around $100. Try to find that in Europe or the US or Australia.

Really? Please do tell us about all the people the Muslims in TH kill? Give me a break .

It's great that the writer does the math for us. I was so confused by the big numbers: "each weighing 2 baht, for a total weight of 4 baht."

No. The article doesn't say they were going to Pattaya to work at a call center. It says they were tourists. Read the article again.

Mae Sot is a serious diversion from Pattaya. That's like a 12 hour trip by car at least. Were they held at gunpoint? I'm sure they had to make a few stops for refueling and toilet breaks. I'm sure they all knew that they weren't going to Pattaya and not sure why they didn't refuse to continue at some point during the journey.

Amazing that he survived and lucky nobody was walking below.

How does one "amass 50 million baht in damages?" They perhaps amassed 50 million baht in ill-gotten gains. Damages are for the court to decide how much to levy in penalties on a defendant. You don't amass damages unless yuou've been sued and lost time and time again. You guys seriously need professional editors that catch this butchering of the English language.

Lying peacefully in bed Worried sick. How does a dead person rest peacefully? Peacefully connotes being alive. and how does the writer know his friends were "worried sick?" Enough with the editorializing and drama. The writer didn't interview anybody. Shabby "reporting."

I have to say that a lot of the Cheap Charlies that end up living in Thailand long term get a distorted view of the world and the value of goods and services. I've seen grown men act like children, berating Thais in service jobs over the cost of something that may cost 50 cents or half a pound or whatever in their home country. They act like spoiled and entitled pieces of S***. And they take advantage of poor thais who are trying to scrape out a living. This article is a prime example of the losers that Thailand tends to attract. 130 baht. I had a friend beat over the head with a piece of construction lumber over a dispute over a drink on Sukhumvit Road. I've had friends who got into fist fights with cab drivers over 30 baht because the driver decided to take another way and was accused of running up the meter. 30 baht.. 130 baht. .. These types of farang need to get booted back to their own countries where, if they were to start crap over nonsense, would get their teeth kicked in. AND. they would never get laid again.

They won't treat an expat who can't pay. That's been shown time and time again. And as people age their need for expensive medical care increases dramatically. If one of these blokes has a stroke or another major condition, they are toast. NHS doesn't make anyone wait for 3 years if they've suffered a stroke. They are admitted to emergency immediately.

This has been a policy for decade s. Immigrants have nothing to do with it, but emigrants do.

Also, if you can't afford to retire abroad then you shouldn't. There is another thing these guys don't mention: At their age they cannot get health insurance in Thailand and the coverage from the NHS doesn't extend to Thailand. . If they go to the hospital for a major event, which is likely to happen once retired, they'll either drain their savings or not be able to pay. This should be a major consideration for any codger whose looking to come to Thailand to retire and fornicate their way to heaven in Pattaya

"After 40 gruelling years as an electronics buyer"... who writes this stuff? Also: This isn't true: But his dream retirement turned into a financial nightmare when he discovered his UK state pension had been frozen. He didn't have his pension frozen. He just doesn't get cost-of-living increases. Big difference. he still gets his money, so I'm not sure how that is a "financial nightmare."