dddave

Airlines lost all dignity years ago. I clearly remember a sick feeling in my stomach when my EVA flight pulled up to the gate, decked out like a "Hello Kitty" lunch box.

Sounds logical, then I think about the US School shooting in Uvalde, Tx last year that while a contingent of several highly (and VERY expensively) trained state and local SWAT teams stood around dithering outside, the killer was allowed to wander inside the school, systematically killing 19 children and 2 adults. All those cops who earned tens of thousands of bonus dollars doing SWAT and other crises training sitting around sayin "Nope, not worth the risk." Bystanders, both in the Thai incident yesterday and in Uvalde had long been cleared away, the perimeter had been secured so the "innocent bystander" excuse holds no water.

Not so fast Not so fast. There are a LOT of Russians about and while I have seen no chauvinistic displays (flags on T-shirts, etc.) on their part, there have been a number of reports of people in clubs wearing gear showing Ukrainian support that have been confronted by angry Russians. Like it or not, Pattaya is neutral ground. Why be provocative?

According to many press reports, Russians are taking over many businesses in Phuket. Also renting every villa available, many now at more than B100K/Mo. and sub-renting to other Russians.

Sadly, it's having a negative effect in the condo building where I've lived for 3 years, now packed with Russians. Previously, one could bring a large water bottle down and fill it in the lobby machine, then leave it there while you went out, picking it it up when you returned. Not any more. They disappear. I finally gave up after the third was stolen. Packages left by delivery companies were also safe to leave in the lobby, never a problem previously. Now, signs warn not to leave them there. The security guard says there have been many reports of packages stolen. I now do COD only so I am there when a package arrives.

I think one reality is huge online retail sites such as Lazada which have literally tens of thousands independent sellers have a huge internal problem with these sellers constantly trying to themselves, "game" the system, making collecting money from sales as quickl as possible while making it as difficult as possible for end users to cancel orders or claim refunds. I would not be surprised if the situation Crossy refers to is an example of this No doubt, there are many sellers who will use any subterfuge available to gain an advantage and get the money, even if they don't actually have the goods on hand. One thing I do not know. Does Lazada transfer the payment to a seller on supposed "proof of shipment" or does there have to be a "proof of delivery".

If it's not misbehaving and not burning an unusual amount of oil, your drive train/engine may well have another 100K+ ahead of it as long as you continue the maintenance. The well worn adage, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." really holds true. Totally removed from Thailand but when I owned a fleet of 24 vans, I never had an engine replacement that went perfectly. There were always a raft of issues after each: wiring/hoses/belts not properly connected or installed, gasket seals leaking, mounts rattling...you get the idea.

Took it last month, 1st class compartment. Departed and arrived on time. The ride was comfortable, fold out bed not bad. There was confusion about food, perhaps a bit scammy. A lady came around the compartments at departure with a menu saying we had to pre-order and pay her for dinner & breakfast. Some purchased from her, others, including myself deferred. When we got to the dining car (BTW, NO alcohol) we were able to order off the menu and pay at prices less than the lady had showed. Don't order the morning coffee. Dreadful instant in a paper cup with no sugar or creamer included. The new Bang Sue terminal is confusing and poorly marked. Getting a taxi involved a lot of walking. Many taxi touts around, I finally gave in and set a price with one I knew to be not far off.

Most fleet taxis have a phone number somewhere on the body or rear window. Note a few of them that you see frequently in your neighborhood and put them in your phone contacts.

Nice to read about the positive experience with the police rather than the usual rants. Also considerate of the OP to give the righteous among our membership a Sunday opportunity to sermonize.

A friend was able to sell an 18K gold chain to the gold shop at the corner of Sukhumvit 10 with no problem. He weighed it, calculated the actual gold content and gave her a very fair price. This was about 5 years ago.

last time I checked, the only shingles vaccine available in Thailand was the less effective version offering less than 80% protection. The more effective version, requiring 2 matched doses, six months apart is only available in the west, AFAIK.

Great information! I have never heard of anybody getting an on the spot refund of a paid COD from a carrier as the OP did, especially from an online seller. In my own experience, COD refunds have been difficult to receive. Next time I will know to notify the carrier immediately if discovering a fraudulent product.

Bangkok detective novelist, Christopher G Moore used that Nana Plaza "Mermaid Aquarium" as a plot setting for "The Big Weird", one of his always entertaining "Vincent Calvino" mystery series.

I've written before about my friend who was hit by a car in Pattaya. Sadly he later died from the injuries. His travel insurance company is still refusing to pay, constantly demanding arcane hospital documents, etc. Eventually, it will probably have to go to arbitration for his family to get reimbursed anything.

I have been seeing orthopedic Dr. Somchai Kuptniratsaikul at BCH for four years for arthritic knee treatment and have no complaints. He speaks excellent English.

Until you get your confidence back, use a cane or trekking pole to help with support. I have bad knees which makes descending stairs difficult, especially if there is no handrail. Handrails are surprisingly scarce in Thailand, even on the steep steps of some major banks. A cane or other support really helps. "Trekking Poles" look like ski poles. They are very lightweight and most fold into 3 sections for easy storage. Many available on Lazada.

"Don't mess with other guys wives" is probably engraved somewhere on a Sumerian tablet. Some advice is never out of date.

When I first came to Thailand 20 years ago, in the night time, vendors pushing carts carrying glass vats holding a truly dubious looking liquid were a familiar sight on Bangkok and Pattaya soi's. I soon learned the liquid was "Ya Dong", basically Thai moonshine and not long thereafter, to my deep regret, learned of it's ability to produce a world class hangover. I no longer see those carts, even on the far back soi's of Pattaya's "Dark Side". Was "Ya Dong" the victim of a crack-down on untaxed spirits? It sadly seems another piece of old Thailand's mosaic has faded away. I notice among Bangkok's fashionable, small cocktail bars serving "Ya Dong" cocktails are a new rage. That's some transition, from being ladled into a plastic bag from a glass vat to stemmed glasses in Hi-Style piano bars.

My friend went to the US Embassy yesterday with an appointment. At security, among the possessions in his bag was a battery power-pack, about 10,000 mah. Security confiscated the power-pack and locked it in some kind of hazard box. and refused to return it when he departed the Embassy. No explanation given. Has anybody else experienced this at the US Embassy?

My friend died last month after being hit by a car in Pattaya. Yesterday, his brother was in Bangkok, visiting the US Embassy to get death certificates and other documents then to a company that handled the funeral to collect his brother's ashes. He got into a taxi on Wireless Rd. after leaving the embassy and went to Sukhumvit 39 where the funeral agency was. He somehow left his bag, containing his passport and $2000 in the taxi. Panicked phone calls all around. Police station for a police report because you can not apply for a replacement passport without one. Obviously a very bad situation for a person already dealing with a tragedy. Later that day, I get a call from a representative of the Indigo Hotel on Wireless Road. The taxi driver had later found the bag in his cab. Because my friend had gotten into the taxi near the Indigo, he, on his own accord, brought the bag there and gave it to their care. She had somehow found my number on a paper in the bag and called me. Miraculously, because the taxi driver and the hotel employee went way out of their way, my friend was re-united with his bag, passport and money. Both refused any reward.

My Xiaomi's are 4 and 6 years old. never a problem, running 24/7

Passport or an "approved" copy. Problem is, they never fully defined what constituted an approved copy. I still don't know if they can be laminated, reduced, be in black & white, Also, from what I hear, passport main page is not enough, needs to include visa page.

Before considering the Philippines, do some study of the health care system. In Thailand, if you need it and you are financially prepared for it, excellent health care is available. In the Philippines, even in major cities, the best health care is not even close to that of Thailand. Sad but true. The best of the Philippines doctors and nurses work elsewhere.

The wife of a friend in the US has Alzheimer's disease though only in her early 60s. He is exploring care options outside the USA. He was told that there were some good Alzheimer's care centers in Chang Mai. Does anybody have any knowledge of such care centers in CM? Anywhere else in Thailand?