razorramone

Fine spray? Potentially unclean water? Nice warm temperatures? Perfect for legionella bacteria!

Absolutely. This can be a dangerous practice in Thailand. The drinking water should be available - if that is used to 'fog' then maybe it's safer.

Unless you are bathing in 7/11 distilled water, worrying about catching something on songkran is dumb. It's all the same water.

I too hate to see a man beating a woman BUT, remember where you're at(Thailand) and remember who you are(a Farang). That is a real big factor here. It doesn't make any difference if you have lived here for 1 week or a 100 years you will always be a Farang and most Thais take a big offense if you try to get involved in their personal business. The only way I would get involved in a domestic dispute is if it is immediate family and then as a last resort.

If we continue to turn a blind eye the situation will never change. We must raise awareness through videos such as this and teach people that domestic violence is never acceptable, whoever you are. If we don't put this in the news, nothing will ever change.

If it is foreigners, then just think for a minute how culturally bigoted that is, and how it would play out in your home country.

Absolutely I would not intervene. Maybe report it to the police, if I thought they would do something.

But me as a foreigner to come between a Thai guy and his girlfriend or wife? It's just asking to get stabbed. How many times do you hear or someone taking a beating just for insulting a guy.

Surely it's not hard for a buyer to figure it out themselves?

They do , at least all along Phaholyothin

I put them in the same place I put the receipts shops give me. Not worth the time or effort even to collectable bag them, it's less than 1p.

I mean while in departures. Everything uses Thai currency, yet all the atms (from Thai banks) dispense just dollars, gbp, etc.

Can someone explain to me why is it that after you are past the departures security checkpoint, there is not a single ATM that gives Thai baht? There are lots of ATMs, and they all dispense only foreign currency.

Last time I went back to the UK I couldn't get anything to eat because there was nowhere in departures to get money.

For some reason, it appears that many people around the world do not understand the concept of cause and effect of their actions. I am sure he had no idea the girls were going to drown. He just thought it would be funny to see them in the water. This is the result of a growing trend in "education" around the world, where children are taught what to think and not how to think.

Actually the brain's frontal lobe, where "cause & effect" is processed, is not fully developed until around the age of 20 y.o. Thus, children are literally mentally insufficient when it comes to thinking about the consequences of their actions.

Stop talking sense people don't like that. It doesn't fit in with the anti Thai agenda on here.

I was going to give the boy the benefit of the doubt... he could have just been playing.

But that he then STAMPED on their hands when they were trying not to drown?!

He is clearly mentally ill and dangerous.

The conservatives calling these photos raunchy should take a look around sisaket town bars and clubs at 3am in the morning. Skirts higher than my belt buckle.

These traditionalists need realise they're on the losing end of a generational culture shift.

I have lived in Thailand for over 30 years but I would never ever want to live in the center of Bangkok. I would prefer the Bronx as it used to be i.e. lawless. Thailand has no control over crime and the criminals know it. They way it is going Thailand will be considered the same as the other trouble spots in the world and Thai's will not be welcomed in any country

Which is better to visit? I've spent a lot of time in Korat but never ventured further into isaan. Thinking of going to one of the two next week. Or Khon Khen?

Sounds like there is no clear procedure.

In Colinneal's case, he got the same probation sentence as me and he had no problem leaving. No overstay fine - although was your visa expired?

Yet BWPattaya's friend is found guilty and fined, and immediately immigration police swoop in to arrest, fine and deport for overstay.

Both are the same situation: An overstay while in the court system, found guilty and released, but then immigration react in 2 completely opposite ways.

My lawyer asked immigration today, and got told I am not on overstay as I am being held by the courts and required to complete community service. I shouldnt have a problem if/when I leave. And hee strongly advised me NOT to go to immigration and ask for a visa extension, as it may put me on their radar.

The student bars on the east-side of the road next to BTS ratchatewi are good. There is an arcade with 7 or 8 of them. Cheap, good atmosphere, not too crowded or dead, and no tourists/hippies like in other central areas. And it's so easy to get there.

200m further north towards BTS phayathai is another cluster of bars where you get a lot of live thai music. I've always had a good time going there, although i've always got really drunk which may cloud judgement.

In my opinion the best hidden gem is the night market bars. Rarely see foreigners there (JJ and Rot Fai Srinakarin). Very cheap, great atmosphere, and you get to be outdoors. Its just tough without air conditioning!

You can leave from an airport and pay the 20K baht fine and return after getting a tourist visa in a nearby country. The new overstay rules do not start until March 20th.

The only problem you might have is if you are on a list for those that cannot leave the country or have been blacklisted for your conviction.

Oh thats good, I thought the rules were in effect already.

Yes I heard I may be blacklisted, it would be odd if I wasnt allowed back into the country and therefore broke the probation terms.

I had some trouble with the police six months ago, arrested and released on bail with my passport held by the police, Last week I was luckily given a 1 year suspended sentence with community service, and got my passport back.

But during the court case, my visa expired. So I'm now on an overstay by three full months with the max 20k fine facing me.

I'm not sure how to get it fixed. I don't want to continue overstaying and risk being deported at any time, especially because technically it counts as a crime and could break my suspended sentence.

But if I just turn up to the immigration office, it sounds like I would get fined and deported? And if there is a blacklist then it will be impossible for me to meet the conditions of the sentence (complete community service and report to the probation office every 2 months).

I could leave and come back to get a fresh visa, but with the new crackdown on overstayers again, im not sure if im allowed back in.

Anyone know how the immigration police deal with this? It seems like it's impossible to both complete the terms of my sentence by the court, and stay legally in the country.

I asked my lawyer but he just deals with criminal law, no idea about the immigration law and police.

British council have doubled their prices over the last two years while cutting teacher wages, course funds, everything. I'd recommend wall street over them .

Looking North, Lopburi is also fun for a day trip, 3 hours in a van, full of monkeys. Korat is about the same distance also and has a few things to do.

You're right. I suppose there is the mrt line as well.

Whoever talked about the northeast being dead after 10pm, are you smoking crack? I stayed for a while in sisaket and buriram, both places were packed every night of the week. The bars and clubs were full until 4am. Mostly with underage looking kids wayyy more drunk than they should be.

It felt almost like being back in the UK.

Still see them around Asok bts. But not soi 11 area.

When are they being moved? I ate there this afternoon. Very soon all of Bangkok on the bts will just be malls and condos. Just like every other major city. Dubai ification.

Jj green (behind Chatuchak park) Friday to Sunday is very good.

As an Italian I don't see much similarity at all.

Maybe you are right about the cadence, both fully pronounce every syllable in a standard way from the letters, not like English where every word is mumbled and pronounced irregular.

But for character, god it was so hard when I arrived and Thai people seemed so cold and unfriendly, and unable to express themselves. I understand it is their culture, but where is the physical aspect when communicating? I still hate it when you say goodbye to someone and they just give a little wave. When I first arrived I had to restrain myself so I didnt touch people and freak them out. Now after three years... my italian friends think I am cold haha..

In terms of culture the only similarity I can think of, coming from Sicily, is that both places are totally ignorant/uninterested in English culture and pop references. Oh! I guess both also love to shop, or just walk around shopping malls.