daveAustin

😋 As I say, each to their own. Do what you wanna do dude. I just don’t buy the ‘life is for experiencing’ line or I haven’t the time etc. If people are genuinely very busy with work, art, music, travel etc etc… but even then, find a great book trumps mos things. Also understand it’s easy to fall out of it, not be in the mood and not read for extended periods. Perhaps choose your favourite topic, download a well reviewed book on it and dive in; a chapter a day or whatever. You might surprise yourself.

People not showering before getting into pools is the bane of the pool engineer/commercial pool owners. Selfish, lazy so 'n sos. They have no idea how much it taxes the filtration and then costs etc on chemicals, such that if they ever owned a pool and properly maintained it, they wouldn't think twice about pre-showering. Sweaty bodies, women with oodles of make-up and perfume, and idiots wearing street clothing can eventually overburden a normal system leading to bacteria build up and sick people. Rarely get into a pool here anymore (certainly not somewhere like Pattaya) unless can see it's a proper setup and it's not loaded with stinkies. 🙂

If 'she' was a nice person, you could have still met up and had a laugh without any funny business.

No experience with them but posit it would be much like the majority of relationships with women here (both for Thai and farang men) in that it is first and foremost a business deal, whether you're paying for it or not. I do, however, hear that the former do a 'proper' BJ.

The oncoming vehicle into your lane is annoying, but reckon the most infuriating move is being overtaken only for the driver or rider to then slow and turn off, cutting you off in the process. It is probably the dumbest move here (not being able to preempt their move and slow down instead of the passing the vehicle), but also happens ALL the time. That said, still prefer to drive here than in the over-regulated boring West. Hopefully that will assuage the ‘if you don’t like it go home’ numpties.

You first! I’m sure you’ll say the same after you’ve been hedged by a numpty. Back to sleep.

Haven’t done it yet but realise he’s a brilliant author. Another JFK must is Mary’s Mosaic. Very eye opening and meticulously researched.

This is more an older gen thing. While I also like physical books, it’s all about the content for me so doesn’t matter. Have read dozens on my phone even. I can read when and wherever I want.

Tat, both of you. ‘Experiencing life’…? what’s that; sitting on a barstool getting pissed everyday and boring everyone to tears? 😂 You don’t know what you’re missing. What about Great Expectations, Gamma, or some of Crichton’s stuff?For me, a good book will smash a good movie into Smithereens, and I’m a moviegoer. Fiction, non-fiction, whatever. Each to their own of course, books are not for everyone (some really struggle to open up that world inside), but I do pity those that cannot handle Lord of the Rings for example. Have done it and Hobbit many times. All of A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones works) etc, other series multiple times. Not a bookworm; probably get through on average one a month, sometimes one a week or a captivating novel in one sitting. But will go through long periods of not picking up a book, and feel all the dumber for it. Stephen King reads at least one a week, sometimes two. If you’re a Shining buff btw, and haven’t read Dr Sleep, please do so.

Also bought in one of the top estates in Chiang Mai at the time. Most owners, Thai and farang, were great and luckily dogs weren’t a problem. Only issue was the renting of the house out next door. Each successive tenant was an ass. You never know when someone will rent out their house.

Wow, that sucks. Didn’t know he was a headbanger like that. Strange ruling though: 2y, 12m, 20 days. Why not just say 3y, 20d? Or perhaps 1y, 24m, 20d, or 36 and a bit months, or 1115 days even?

As a country, certainly #1 in big-headedness. The arts, culture, history, science & innovation, class, manners… not so much.

Same the world over as a people tend to get more affluent > ergo lazier. People have more money and spend more time eating & drinking and loading up with 7-11 stuff. Agree above also; it’s not all on sugar and western food, Thai food can be very unhealthy and obese-inducing.

It’s a PR thing. The second place clearly regards smooching with F1 bosses about the prospect of a city race in Thailand, however daft that may sound. Why the PM? Why not? There are also tourism departments in other countries, but having leaders, royalty, public figures etc wave the flag and push cultural agendas can make a difference.

I won’t be taxed, I am an alien 👽

lol yesterday tourism was in dire straits. Eagerly await tomorrow’s news… ‘Thailand welcomes one million visitors in one day’, or ‘Thailand has its worst day with just one flight arrival’.

Beyond the obvious, it also doesn’t help with visitor confidence when the erratic government constantly changes entry requirements—the silly online arrival card (why change an easy system?)—and harps on about taxing foreigners.

If you want go make the nation ‘healthier’, reduce salt in foodstuffs at source by mandate. Stop putting MORE tax on people to force them into change!

First reply. Perfect! 😂 Hope the op picked up on this.

Good one. But even better would be to gift it to Germany. 😂

About time the Germans started putting more into their military again. France should also be spending more. Not too hard and gung-ho though; can’t have any of this reich business.

No no no no! Forget the reaming of extra value tourists; upgrade your existing attractions, facilities and infrastructure. Flights are also getting silly and perhaps look at the currency. Essentially people are getting less and less year on year, while prices continue to burgeon. Alright inflation (and the security thing has put people off), but it is over and above that... food and drink in a half decent restaurant/bar in any of the tourist hangouts is a rip and totally out of whack with standard fare outside these areas. Enough of the 200 baht fried rice and more expensive beer than Europe bs.

I agree, but don’t blame the UK, blame one bloke… Starmer is not the UK. He put the palace in a tricky position too.

Today. My son. 😋 While I get the apprehension of bumping into foreigners here—let’s face it, Thailand really attracts some weirdos and many have a story—generally those I’ve met have been cool bar one or two utter pricks. Live in a non-touristy place, albeit which has many generally working farangs. Pattaya would likely be different, though not to denigrate the sound folk on here. 🙂 Have many Thai friends and prefer to be around the locals in general than my home town people even. Kinda get folk that do avoid farang, maybe they had a bad experience, but also smacks of being a hermit. Perhaps merge that other dodgy thread with this un.

Totally get the sentiment—the military and war is waste etc—but d’you really think all those good deeds would be an option? As with India where a huge swathe of its populace really struggles and Britain continues to pile in the cash, yet it has nukes and a space programs. Wtf?! It’s the broke monetary system vs human nature for greed, power, face etc. We’re centuries away from awareness, doing the right thing by the people and foregoing conflict and weapons.