outsider

Frequent travellers will notice this is a pub at Suvarnabhumi airport, near gate 'F'. To those who don't understand the issue, perhaps this video may shed some light on why mainland Chinese are so disliked, not just in Thailand, but in almost everywhere else.

Please continue the work you are doing. But please stop telling us the work you are doing.

No normal PM goes on T.V. every week to tell their fellow countrymen and women what work they are doing.

All you are doing is opening yourself up for ridicule. Also you look like you are in need of a shit 24/7. You really don't have a face for T.V.

Constipated... now that's really funny Quite on the mark too, I must add!

I'm quite surprised that this information is 'shared' before action is being taken. Shouldn't the 'targetted countries' act on this info i.e. go in and take out/neutralise the cells, instead of 'broadcasting' the info this way, alerting these cells and push them deeper underground? An honest question based on curiosity - I'm no military expert nor do I know anything about 'operations' beyond what I see in Hollywood films which I believe are grossly exaggerated and dramatised so I'm on the edge of my seat for 90 - 120 minutes of my life.

Err... do they know what democracy is, to begin with.

Thai don't listen to any one, why would they heed the advice of celebrities?

Actually, it's the contrary, me thinks. They don't listen to any one unless that person is a celebrity. Better if that person is a 'superstar'!

I've understood "Thainess" for years. All of it is in one way or another based on everything being done for show. External appearance is all that matters. The inner workings of anything are ignored.

"Thainess" ... A big glittering gold wrapped box with diamond encrusted ribbons... yet when you open the box....it's empty.

Quite true that. They are quite superficial and taking your point further, you will see it goes back to one thing - the 'face' thing.

Check out this survey done a few years ago: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Asia/Story/A1Story20120424-341661.html

1,800 respondents is but a drop in the ocean but I guess it's relevant where our conversation is concerned.

"... and ‘the wai’ or the Thai greeting - a show of respect, as well as the friendly nature of the Thai people ..."

I had to think long and hard, the last time I was "wai'd" by any Thai was more than 12 months ago.

Don't know where you live, but either you don't go out or you are a very bad man :-)

Get them everyday up here in Issan.

It could well be both the things you mention ... but actually (I'm in Bangkok), I think it's more a reflection on how much Thai people change when they live and work in Bangkok. There's a very big difference in how foreigners are treated in the "tourist" areas and the more rural areas. This has been most noticeable in the past 5 years, prior to that it was very different.

Agreed. Live in BKK too and during the same period of about five years or so, I've noticed a marked reduction in tolerance towards foreigners. The locals now seem less 'amused' and have less patience when dealing with foreigners. I've tried my best to stay out of people's way and to 'do as the Thais do' as much as I could. Would be interesting to have some insights into this change.

One of the dangers in this approach is that more will stay at home and contemplate the small cell activities like in Paris...there are thousands and thousands of 'soft targets' on home soil and in other places with easier access.

Good point, ditto previous posters who said to let them go on a one-way ticket. This worry about the wannabe militants staying home and contemplating small-cell activities is quite real, I think. That's because Malaysian Muslims practices a branch of Islam that is not 'aligned' to what IS preaches (do correct me on this point if I'm wrong). And we know IS just murders anyone who doesn't agree with them. Muslims or not.

Err... didn't a few Rohingyas died 'in transit' in Nakhon Si Thammarat recently, while 'others' in the convoy have already reached the border?

Military profession has become most popular, while electronic devices such as iPads, smart phones and computer tablets are the most-wanted gifts. If this poll is accurate, then Thailand will be full of anti-social servicemen who do nothing but bury their faces in the screens of their electronic devices. Just saying...

This article from the TAT is warning of a slowdown in their industry........then later in the morning they post an article projecting 28 million tourists this year!.......

Obviously different bosses making personal predictions, and the problem they all have with keeping their gobs shut!

They all go to different fortunetellers.

Actually it's the same - Ittirit Kinglek, President of TCT. Must be smoking or drinking something. Maybe both.

The TCT President I mean. Not you blokes

What sort of development do you expect to get if most parents jam their kids' faces onto smartphones and tablet screens?

Can't send them for some attitude adjustment, can we?

Wait, but the dear leader promised to make this a good year for business. He said that in a four-hour meeting with business representatives, including those from the tourism sector. So... nothing to worry about. Everybody happyeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

It really irks me, and I find it really difficult to understand, why perfectly-able-bodied people can't park a little further away, instead of taking up a space meant for the disabled. Does it really hurt to walk that little further? How much time will it actually save? What is the problem with motorists here? Complete disregard for road signs and regulations (zebra crossings and running red lights come to mind) and not moving over (and sometimes even jostling for position) for emergency services vehicles (and I'm talking about proper ambulances and fire trucks, not the body-snatcher pickup trucks). Really inconsiderate and selfish |3astards, the lot of them. And this is not reserved for the well-heeled high-so brats and prats in their Euro sportscars, but includes the 'low-sos' and their 10-subwoofer street-sweeping pickup trucks as well. And every other variety in between.

Democracy, diplomacy and freedom of expression.

RIght...

First they inconvenient travellers and tourists at DM for hours. Just to show off some military hardware to kids. Now they will literally paralyse the heart of BKK by holding a parade in some of the busiest streets in the city - at rush hour, no less, and when people just want to go home or unwind after a long day. I'm sure people will be very HAPPY. Thainess indeed.

"... but did not know the performance would also feature so-called "Coyote dancers ..."

It's called checking for suitability, especially where children are concerned.

Comes as standard in a caring society.

Comes as standard if one uses THE brain, more like :-)

... "how that may compromise editorial integrity'... "professional independence"... hmm... let's see... ok, never mind.

Thai Researchers in Community Happiness Association... ok, right.

He can start counting his lucky stars already, that at least he is not in a prison or in a system where 'accidental deaths' and 'suicides' are the norm.

Sickeningly stupid. Can't believe these cancerous idiots can go around patting themselves on the back when the fact remains that more than 300 people died. Never mind that this number is less than last year. Sheesh... What do these people have for brains???

Rumor has it they will be targeting an increase in the price of bar fines next month.

Yeah, those on the streets can't compete, so they made a complain and it's decided that bars should increase their bar fines.

<deleted>... oh never mind

Personally, I don't mind negotiating a fare beforehand. Was always so here before the arrival of the meters. A fare to downtown Sukhumvhit is about £8 or $13. Just spent $100 (Bt3000) for a taxi ride to the airport back home, over a similar distance, to catch a flight to Swampy. About 7 times the price. Some of you guys on TV really are kineaw's

Base your comments - and your calculations - in the context of expenditure in Thailand, will you please? Stop all this 'it is like this back home' nonsense. This is Thailand. Not many people here will give two hoots about how much you paid to go to the airport 'where you came from'. People here will be more concerned about how much they pay HERE, and that is going up because of tunnel-visioned and selfish people like you who only see things from your own perspective and have no regards for the bigger picture. As I said before, feel free to remain in the 'dumb farang' category and enjoy being ripped off, scammed and cheated. But don't expect the rest of the world to join you in redefining the word 'clueless'.

Are you Thai! Do you earn the average wage of Bt 6000 a month. Thats about what the Taxi driver earns if he's lucky. Always tip the poor buggers if they are friendly. And you have the hide to call me selfish. LOL ! Get a life.

My nationality, how much I earn and how I choose to spend is really way beyond your concern. I tip MOST taxi drivers - the nice ones just get a bigger tip. I hope that encourages them, and hope the idea 'honest work pays' spreads. I also have no issues paying the driver off-the-meter if he asks nicely for a fair price, and then a little more. My issue is with buggers who blatantly overcharge. And those who oblige to being overcharged. Because this encourages the cabbies to do the same to others and soon it becomes hard for the rest of us to get an honest ride. But you go right ahead... enjoy being a walking public ATM if that's what floats your raft.