Katipo

3 things you can count on being in the news in Phuket every week. Minibus/Tourbus accidents injuring/killing tourists/expats, motorbike accidents injuring/killing tourists/expats, and tourist/expats falling/jumping to their deaths purposefully or by accident.

Sad, but yeah, true. The only solution.......... get rid of all the tourists and ex-pats.

I guess that's all 5 of the language savvy officers in the photo

Really haven't eliminated the racist bigotry on that fee structure, like to see what would happen if they did this in OZ/ NZ or in our western friends above the equator, countries

The parks and zoos etc are that overpriced now in OZ that they would not be game to charge visitors more.

Because it is so expensive here now, they are loosing customers. Aussies are overpaid that much, is why prices are so high.

They can afford to pay the price here, where the average Thai cant pay the TB400.

If the extra money was used to really take care of the National Parks and not just line pockets, I might not mind so much when taking foreign friends to visit them. While some National Parks are indeed lovely, I don't think a shrivelled up old waterfall is hardly worth 400 Baht.

Yes, it is good news and hopefully an inspiration to others

But ....'Try Arm' and Triumph.... no similarity there at all. There is that complete lack of originality (or should I say almost copying) again.

Very tragic. I would be very surprised if the necessary mental health support mechanisms are in place to support youth with these types of problems. Those with mental health problems are often shunned by society and the system. The negative stigma of such illnesses is still very much apparent in even developed countries.

Suvanabhumi was not so bad last time, but then they had just moved Air Asia's 99 flights per day (+Nok etc) to Don Muang.

Arriving back from Myanmar via. Don Muang was a total disgrace however. Over 50 minutes in the immigration queue! They haven't eliminated the problem, just shuffled it around.

Why don't they accept the loan and spend it on education in general.

School-material, school-furniture and Chinese teachers can be obtained in China.

This will last longer than a tablet.

Yes, that's a great idea.... or even better, why don't they use the money already allocated for education in the manner intended, instead of siphoning it off into corrupt officials pockets.

They do controls all the time on buses or trucks for years ...nothing has changed so far ...... and I dont think anything will ever change ... I am ready to bet .

no it had changed to the better. It was much worse 10 years ago....

Agreed. As a motorcycle rider in Bkk for 8 years I can confirm that the black smoke problem is much better now than 5+ years ago.

Over the last few years, especially since Kraft took over, there has been some controversy in the UK and Australia over change in the taste of Cadbury chocolate. Can any of the Cadbury fans taste any difference?

Cadbury in NZ/Aus lowered the cocoa content significantly and got into strife over how they sourced their palm oil, particularly in Indonesia. In NZ Whittakers (a local brand a with good price, min 33% Cocoa, and exquisite taste) took the top spot and have retained it even though Kraft/Cadbury backpedalled.

Whittakers is available in Villa and Tops/Central Foodhall, but only the small bars and slabs, not the big blocks. Better than nothing, and better than Cadburies still.

The OP must be from the East coast of the USA.

Been to the Duty free shops many times, never had a problem or been scammed.

Agreed. Prices are definitely not the best though. Changi airport for example is much better.

e.g. Biotherme Men's Face Care Set: Central = 2,500B, King Power = 2,100, Changi = 1,700 Baht.

Glenmorangie Quinta Rubin Scotch Whisky: Villa = 2,100 (700ml), King Power (1l) = 1,600, Changi = 1,300 (1l)

For more exclusive products such as single malt whisky, champagne etc, you can still make great savings compared with downtown shops. For cheaper alcohol and health/beauty products the savings are barely noticeable.

KP is a nasty corrupt organisation that many would avoid if it were not a monopoly. Unfortunately it is a monopoly, so we sadly don't always have a choice.

A heavily intoxicated Russian in Pattaya.... you don't see that everyday, oh wait.....

The Angels have long since flown, and the only thing that glitters are the piles of gold collected by the corrupt administration centres.

I hope the Canadian authorities can provide answers that those in Thailand could not. The fact that there is some progress will hopefully be providing some comfort to the families of the deceased during a time of unimaginable pain.

The case seems to be closed for the Canadian authorities with these answers they have given (from the OP):

...Canadian Pathologists have confirmed, in a coroner’s report, that the levels of Deet, a pesticide,, found in the bodies of two dead sisters was NOT the cause of their death...

Secondary autopsies were conducted in Montreal, but the results haven’t been released.

My understanding of the last paragraph above is that whilst they have not yet released their findings, they will in the future. There would seem no logical reason not to, Canada isn't Thailand after all.

Will this mean a stop to his visits from government and senior police officials?

I hope the Canadian authorities can provide answers that those in Thailand could not. The fact that there is some progress will hopefully be providing some comfort to the families of the deceased during a time of unimaginable pain.

And 3 cops sentenced to death a couple of months ago were released on bail awaiting appeal

Sure we are equal in the eyes of the law !

Exactly what I thought... guilty out on bail while the acquitted have to stay in jail....

How about a reforestation program, not just in Phuket, but anywhere in Thailand that has been raped of it's beauty and left baron?

Is there anyplace that colud replace the open air music scene at Suan Lum with dining and drinking in Bangkok?

I really miss Suan Lum, and had high hopes for Siam Paradise. I am so disappointed in the way it turned out.

I lived in Centric Scene next door and could see Siam Paradise was going to be a disaster right from the outset. It was a cheap and quickly thrown together version of Suan Lum, and had absolutely none of it's charm. Very disappointing.

No long term good can come from this scheme.The only way to survive moving forward is to increase efficiency and productivity from the farms. Ultimately, farms might have to be merged into larger production units. It can only get more difficult to maintain 100 year old agrarian methods.

Just sort the #@&!^#ing flood issue out like any competent government could and there wouldn't be a need for rice that can swim or whatever it is!

I'm trying to think of one long term benefit Myanmar as a whole could gain from Thailand's meddling.

She has no clue whatsoever.