Must be the mainland Chinese... can't be the Thais.

I agree that the Mainland Chinese can be quite an uncouth lot - I have had runs-in with this kind on more than one occasion but, to be fair, the Thais aren't exactly angels either. Keeping places clean and adopting sustainable practices is the responsibility of all - authorities, local businesses, visitors/tourists. The directive to keep things clean and undamaged shouldn't be aimed at one nationality alone.

"Thai agencies have failed to locate her even though they have asked the international police agency, Interpol, to help."

I guess that's because the international agencies - police, interpol, whatever - don't give a damn about requests from military governments installed by coups? What an immense loss of face. Also, I think the Thai government shoots itself in the foot with a huge cannon every time it talks about the siblings. Why don't they just avoid the embarrassment , move on and fix the country properly, instead of harping about them? Not to say I'm a supported of either side, but the horses have already bolted, so stop harping already.

I am really interested to know the reason for this ban although I suspect it will be something seriously and properly stupid and brainless.

I'm just wondering where is the 'worried-about-foreigners'-perception-of-Thailand' brigade, and what is their take on this.

“Now, foreigners perceive Thailand as brothels."

I wonder if foreigners perceive Netherlands and Japan as brothels too, since Netherlands has a world-renowned red-light area, while Tokyo has its own vibrant nightlife complete with sex-toy shops and x-rated bookshops.

These netizen-cyber warrior-types really love riding on their high horses, don't they. Unless these girls are underaged, or are being forced to work without clothes on, or unless the cafe is breaking some laws, I honestly don't see a real problem here. Why can't the holier-than-thou brigade just leave people alone and get a life?

Firstly, I guess we all need to agree to disagree. This bloke may feel very entitled and have a high opinion of everything else and was probably benchmarking Thailand against some unrealistic standards - but that is his right and those are his opinions. Some of the things he said aren't exactly untrue, if I'm honest. To us, it is an adventure, to him it is unacceptable. For every person who loves Thailand, there will be someone who hates it, I guess. So be it. We can't please everyone. If he sticks to his words and don't come back, I think that's good too - less man more share. 

4 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

That was 1 lucky dog..... 

Big bleddy snake, hope they did release it to the wild ??

As opposed to ending up in a huge pot of boiling, soupy broth, you mean? Unfortunately, in this part of the world, snake soup isn't as rare as we would like to think. Anyway, yeah, I hope they do the right thing too and release it back into the wild.

And yes, a very lucky dog there too!

Lucky the dog didn't try to protect its master by attacking the snake.

Oh this is beyond pathetic - almost all massage parlours breach laws... for having "... more service rooms than permitted,... at least five of them pumped groundwater for use without permission..." Seriously??? 

By the way, I thnk the headline should read 'Almost All Massage Parlours Registered to Wirathepsuporn... "

Because it seems the authorities are on a witch hunt for him/her/them.

3 hours ago, stevenl said:

My guess would be from this sentence " Thailand was Ford’s best-selling Ranger market globally. "

 

So yes, I agree, the headline of the article seems pure marketing and totally nonsense.

Yeah, I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the headline. No way can anyone outgun Isuzu or Toyota, especially coming from nowhere. I mean, Ford wasn't even close to the top two. I guess the headline should have read something like  "Thailand No. 1 Market for Ford Ranger Globally", although I have to say it doesn't have that sensational hook to it.

Maybe the writer didn't know how to phrase it properly, or perhaps the Nation preferred a click-bait headline to an accurate and credible one? It did make me go to their website to read and that is one more view, visitor - one more click - on their website visitor records, or click-rate records - however they record these things.

One-on-on... nice change from a 10-on-1 with sticks, machetes and (horrors!) a gun(s).

36 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

WooooW.

Thank you for that information.

I really was not aware of that.

 

From now on I will keep all my receipts from 7 11, Makro, restaurants, etc, and claim a VAT refund when I make a trip to Europe.

 

 

 

Wooow... you're welcome.

25 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

Every foreigner in Thailand pays tax.

It is called VAT.

How many locals pay income tax?

 

 

Last I checked, VAT is refundable when one leaves Thailand, no? If yes, then the tax that was 'paid' wasn't really 'paid', was it?

As for whether locals pay income tax or not, I'm afraid that wasn't the point of my post/comment.

On 18/01/2018 at 11:07 AM, kurtmartens said:

But Thailand isnt the only country that does this .... I don't know why us expats get so upset about paying an extra dollar or 2.  Are folks that broke or is this just some silly farang pride thing?  (not poking at you, just asking)

Hmm... good point/question. Let me see... ok firstly, I can't speak for other foreigners in this forum, or in Thailand, so  I can't say if the folks are really that broke, or if it's a farang pride thing. On the latter, may I just say, any such pride is sorely misplaced, to start with. Anyway, back to the topic. You're right, Thailand isn't the only country. However, since I have not travelled to many, I can't comment on how it is in other countries. In Thailand, I guess it's how they implement it that gets to me. It's just so blatant and is overly discriminating. It's based on how you look, and your skin tone, not based on who you really are. Also the prices - THB40 vs THB400? That's a difference of almost 1,000 percent. I can agree with tourists not paying local taxes and therefore have to pay a bit more to the upkeep of a particular attraction, but 1,000 percent? Plus, we are supposed to get a relief if we show we're working (and paying taxes!) here, but most park and temple ticketing just ignore this rule. Some are even rude about it!

On this note, I would like to single out the ticketing girl at Ancient City in Samut Prakan. She actually asked if I was working in Thailand and when I said yes, she asked for a copy of my work permit. She made a record of it, and charged me a local entrance fee. As for my visiting family, she thought about it a bit, then she qualified that since I was paying, they will all get the local ticket. In fact, she was the one who taught me that there is this rule in Thailand - tax-paying expatriates pay local fees.

5 minutes ago, tryasimight said:

That's original. 

It is, isn't it? Thanks!

Regardless of who owns what, I still believe this whole operation started because someone didn't get his fat brown-envelope paycheck.

"Yesterday, the Ministry of Commerce responded that it would investigate the matter. If the vendor is found guilty..." 

Idiots. There is NOTHING to investigate. Not when you idiots practice dual-pricing OFFICIALLY and openly at places like national parks and temples, complete with a properly printed price list and tickets to boot. Just admit you guys are fleecing and scamming tourists. No amount of face-saving exercises is going to save any faces here. She's just following a (bad) example set by you gits.

There are many, many establishments like 'Victoria’s: The Secret Forever' in that vicinity/area. This particular joint was perhaps late on some 'payments' and this was a 'friendly reminder' visit, or perhaps Khun Kob ruffled the feathers of someone higher up the tea money chain. Or perhaps the authorities figured it was a nice cool day outside and worth a walk and them some, threw a dart on the city map, and decided to go where the dart landed.

7 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

 They had heard her cries for help as an argument ensued but no one dared intervene.

 

That says all that needs to be said. Shameful, cowardly but expected in a country where the abuse of women is accepted and encouraged by far too many men.

Can't even get off their useless <deleted> to at least steal a peek and alert the boss, cops - anyone. It can be done anonymously if there is fear of retribution. But just do something. The apathy in this society is just appalling.

The General has not received official report on YL's whereabouts. But Boris Johnson has already informed them that YL was in London - in September. Ok, the matter will be dealt in accordance with relevant legal process. Right...

What a a bunch of bumbling, idiotic muppets.

19 hours ago, milys said:

I wouldn't worry too much if I was Yingluck. Obviously she doesn't when she appears on pictures with Thai tourists. They couldn't keep her in Thailand too face the courts verdict so how do they think that they will manage to get her extradited. It's just a show for the gallery that "we are working hard on the case". What about the Red Bull heritage who also managed to escape..? One thing that I've learned is that when you have money anything is possible.

Yup, they said they are working hard on that one too (the Red Bull fiasco), with an arrest warrant to show too!

For the sake of everything that is holy, give it up already. Leave the lady alone - that's the best chance for you bozos in terms of saving whatever face you have left. The British government - if YL is indeed in the UK - will not repatriate someone to be tried by an unlelected junta government. Sheesh... stop trying to make a cat bark. On a separate note, you girls are really funny - bumbling and tripping over each other. What a circus.