On 1/17/2017 at 5:07 PM, impulse said:

One of the first lessons I learned is to never ask until I have looked as hard as I can.  Because once I've asked, and they've said "finished", there's face involved and it's too late to look for myself.  And there's been way too many times when they were wrong.

Indeed, I check where possible (and ask in Thai for those silly few in dire need of a humour implant -- not every minuscule mick take should be taken as degrading, chaps ) as there's a chance they don't know so will do the 'mai mii' rather than lose face over not knowing... but will ask nonetheless as I have this macabre lust for being cringed by the infamous MAI MEEEE. 

Assuming you have an account here, Swift is generally best. Always transfer in Sterling (ie, have the exchange done onshore - here). No method would, of course, negate the utterly crap GBP-THB rate at the moment. 

How to screw your country 101: join the EU and kowtow to Merkel.

Must be a typo or some other reason to expedite this, because even unintentional over-stayers that voluntarily go to immigration even after a week (or forgetting to report) would get more of a fine!!! 

It was partly this very article that helped fill CM up with aged expats to ridiculous levels and forever spoiled the place IMO. Folk who weren't there before this time, or in the 90s (or before), have no idea how fine a place it was (even with the smog). I wish this female lots of bad luck. 

Wow, seems there's a real snowflake problem in the US right now. Although I think he would fair better if he were back in his eloquent 40s again (and stayed off Twitter!), people would be better off just accepting the vote or blame the system if they don't like it.

1 hour ago, teatree said:

Compare and contrast with Thailand:

How Germans React to Ambulance Siren

Exactly same in UK. On the main bridge through town, every single vehicle will pull up over the pavement and the central reservation to let them pass. It is a combination of education, manners, empathy, respect, nous and not wanting get a huge fine and/or look a complete prat for not doing so. If an ambulance scraped a car, the ambulance would just carry on and get the person to hospital with any insurance issues sorted out later - common sense. If a car refused to move because of a scrape or whatever, aside from being manhandled and moved by a member of public or the ambulance driver, the cops would be on them in a heartbeat. If a person died because of this act, they would likely end up in court on a manslaughter charge and be taken apart in the media.

Verbally attacked on some site and his life is ruined? Why not just avoid time wasting social media and/or ignore petty comments and carry on? Salute him for having the stones to do what he's doing, but don't get it.

Do you feel better now? 

The only constructive thing I could add is, get used to it. 

Yes, a bit dumb. Meanwhile, numerous Thai Buddhists that have committed a crime spend bogus time in Thai temples to absolve themselves. 

17 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The Baht is relatively high because, unlike most Western countries, it has huge cash reserves instead of running trillions in debt.

Many factors at play such as nice looking currency for investor confidence, but they need to look at it to save their tourism or people will go elsewhere for better value. People came to Thailand before because it was cheap. That's it. It no longer is and it's only really the thrifty Chinese that are keeping the figures up. A 'strong' currency is good face value in these parts and those ThaiLites with their finger on the pulse get more bang for their buck when they amble around the world. The C word goes right the way up remember.

Minivans must follow 20 point checklist in new "get tough" regulations

Check 21: incarcerate all previous drivers.

4 hours ago, nottocus said:

Bla bla bla

Thanks for that. Almost a spits-coffee-over-screen moment. 

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Thailand Wants Rich Chinese Tourists

Well ya ain't gonna get them with alright attractions, indifferent service and crazy roads. I'm afraid. Thailand has always been a 'budget' destination and is currently an overpriced one. 

Laptop checks are pre-flight (on the way out), checking it's not a bomb. Only reason I could think of that they'd power it on on the way back in is if they've been flagged for something else and are in the office being searched. What's that, 1000:1, 10,000:1? Or indeed that one is being watched for anti-junta behvaiour. But, yes, always a good idea to clear browsing data before entry: (CTRL, H) - browsing history/download history/cookies/cached images files + run through and delete any dodgy movies. 

On 10/17/2016 at 9:12 AM, DUS said:

Investor Jim Rogers says there are "serious problems facing the UK" and that the pound's value will "certainly go under one dollar" if Scotland leaves the UK.

He told the BBC's Mark Mardell, "You've got a lot of debt, you've got a serious balance of trade problem which shows no signs of being corrected. I don't see anything to make sterling go up."

Jim who? If Scotland ever left the UK, suggesting that the pound would nosedive is laughable --  what, because of the vast amounts of wealth that Scotland brings to the union would be lost? lol. If anything there would be a surge while the UK gets the monkey of its back.

On 10/13/2016 at 1:39 PM, partington said:

I'm not sure why everyone from the UK thinks UK politicians are better, wiser and more able than  say, German ones.

 

I think a case could be made that over the last 50 years Germany has become richer, more influential, more socially egalitarian, has a better health and education system than the UK, and has coped with a huge financial problem (re-unification) that the UK never had to cope with, and still come out ahead.

I dunno, the East is generally still down at heel so I hear. They had a clean slate to rebuild after being flattened in WWII and vast amounts of money/man power from the Allied countries to essentially counter a burgeoning Russia/cold war. They are industrious, yes, but didn't do it all themselves. Deregulation and open free trade made a massive difference, while Britain remained over-regulated and rationed carried on from the war partly under the French bloke that drew up the EEC. Yuck!

In hardware store looking for very common part: MAI MEEEEE!!

Although this could be achieved legally by living in EU countries anyway prior to hitting Britain, I don't blame them. If the UK government didn't make it so hard for British nationals to bring in their spouses (all the while letting in ANYONE from the EU - out of their hands I guess), this would be a non-issue.

Listen up, TaT; it's not just about the weather. We've had bad weather before which didn't stop the tourists. People are going next door. Your country is just getting too expensive vs quality received. People don't want to be deceived and are bored with fake products; the novelty's worn off. Suggest running with the times and at least sorting your currency out and some of the silly rules. 

The condo. Band together with others who it is affecting and approach management. If they don't sort it, suggest submitting notice and look for another place. Can't believe you paid maintenance to unblock a drain!

With all that's go on in Thailand of late, you ask that. You would be arrested and quite rightly so.

Cars, houses and recognition like every other woman in the world probably.

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Not assigning blame, after all people consciously choose to not live in a nanny state, but it is important to realize that indeed the nanny is NOT in, and you and other parents are on your own! 

 

Wot he says. One would have to be a somebody (Thai) to raise the issue and expect something done, and then you have the other billion things to contend with. Best to just keep a very good eye on your kids and hope that progression eventually irons the place out for everyone else.

35 minutes ago, kannot said:

The  real problem here is there are "way too many"  vehicles with flashing lights and  sirens on...

That's an issue but the real problem is complete lack of respect for others (un-Buddhist) and bog-awful driving. Try that on in the UK (where there are also really really bad drivers I may add, sometimes worse than here for tailgating etc) or another ordered country and the pickup driver would be brought in and made to look a complete tit all over the news whether he were a billionaire somebody or a poor nobody.