flyingdoc

Might I suggest another possible contributing factor, and that is the soft light policy not only on Samui, but in Thailand generally?. It is patently unsafe, and must lead to hundreds of unnecessary accidents.

I agree that it is despicable.but I would never sit alone on a beach at 2 am, especially in Pattaya!

Travelling to one of the main provinces in Central Thailand - KK or King Kong!

So can anyone say what place Miss Thailand achieved?

Yes, high class Thais used to send their children to be educated in England many decades ago, but all that has changed now, in that the English schools have come to Thailand as extensions of their British counterparts, such as Harrow, Shrewsbury et al. Can we expect Eton soon?

Why not wait for the Medical Report?

In the U.K, they frequently have 'rumble strips' at the side of major roads and motorways, and large signs extolling one to pull into a service station and rest. I did just that, and must have slept for just over 2 hours on a long drive back from Scotland. A week later I received a 'fine' from the Service station of the equivalent of

4,000 baht for overstay. I went on the Internet, to find literally hundreds of other drivers in the same predicament, but interspersed with lawyers comments, urging no-one to pay up because it is not a public highway!

So, it did not take too much persuasion for me to follow the advice, and do nothing. More threatening letters have followed, and when I left the U.K for BKK a couple of weeks ago, the 'fine' had escalated to 12,500 baht and will be rising! Still plan do nothing ! Wonder if they will want to take the matter to court when it reaches

100,000 baht?!!

This is indeed yet another tragedy; one of many in this Province recently.

I agree, how do we know for certain that the driver dozed off?

Give them all some Beta Glucan, thus raising their immune levels, then they wont get the infections in the first place !

Problem solved ! Q.E.D.

Far too many foreigners are beguiled and rush in feet first. Sound advice indeed - live in Thailand first for at least 3 years, get the feel of the country and customs, and then decide - not before! Not taking the flower out of the garden may well be good advice in certain cases !

In the 27 years I have been coming to Thailand, I have noticed a considerable decline in spoken English.

Only today I went into a branch of a major Bank, and not only could they not exchange any foreign currency, but they did not speak a word of English!

A tourist hotel on Samui with 200 beds has one English speaking member of staff on until 1 pm only !

How did they get through x-ray security in the first place?

Incredible climb down!

Is it , though, what it seems?

Surely there must be other forces at play? It cannot be that easy to just drop all legislative plans, or was the threat of a coup looming, just too great to swallow?

I should would reiterate also that home ties should NEVER be severed under any circumstances/

Moving and living in another country can always be precarious, however enticing it might seem at the time, but even though I work full-time

in Anti-aging Medicine (AAM), the only certain thing about life, is that one day we will die! How and when we do is what matters! I would advise your friend to move back to the safety net of his home country. It seems that his Thai dream has passed its sell-by date ! A story which is alas, all too common!

Yes, it would be interesting to learn whether Starbucks pays much tax in LOS, unlike the U.K, where it has used every possible loophole to avoid 95% of what it should be paying !

I just wish that more announcement had been made of the increase in land visas to 30 days for members of G7 countries. The first I heard of it was through posts here on TVF, which eases visa runs considerably, where applicable.

If you are suffering from high b-p, what on earth are you getting so worked up about this issue, and certainly do NOT go to confront and argue with the two pharmacies who appear to be over charging you. The employees couldn't care less; you will appear to be confrontational, and their policy will not change one single iota. Your b-p will go up still further, you will

achieve absolutely nothing, and you don't even know whether one is selling the genuine article and the other a generic version, or whether one is a fake, copy or imitation! Do yourself a favour, and us, and let this one go, just for once. O.K?

Easy to feel discriminated against, but an offence is an offence, no matter of how many others do it. I was in a remotish area of India at a local airport, where my hand luggage was weighed, whilst locals were waved straight through with enormous bags, TV sets and all sorts. I observed for an hour and not a single other person was pulled over. I was the only European flying on that flight !

Secondhand items fetch very little here. Organise you own garage sale with as much local advertising as you can muster, but at least list your major items for sale if you are seeking advice on TVF ! How can we help if we don't have a clue what you are attempting to sell.? Your timeframe would also help!

I think this post originated about whether to stop at an accident or not in LOS? I asked Thai friends about his, and they were all unanimous that as a 'farang' one should just drive on and never under any circumstances get involved. From most of the responses here, I guess that except in the most pressing of circumstances, much the same would apply to inter-Thai domestics?

Like several other commentators, I had to smile at some of the responses, but on the whole agree with most, except that the change issue seems somewhat trivial, compared to living in a country where politeness and courtesy usually abound, good weather, cheap food and travel etc, etc ! Dislikes also include lack of privacy, barging in as a Thai thus ignoring any queue, and I agree with the faintness of the Tesco till displays - again somewhat trivial compared to all the good things about LOS !

By and large I have read all the replies, and most are very sensible. I am writing a book on the subject, 'Teardrops in Siam', and I have interviewed many girls who have looked me straight in the eye, and assured me that Buddha smiles on their efforts to send money back to their families in Isaan or elsewhere, and without it there would not be enough money to pay for medical treatment for one or other of their parents etc. With Lao, Burmese and Cambodian girls, the lure is usually money and far greater opportunity in LOS than in their own country. The domestic Thai market, I agree, far outstrips any far more widely publicized 'farang' clientele!

I feel that Boxclever is right in principle, but then we don't know all the surrounding facts. The children's interest is paramount, and they are a lot more resilient than they are often given credit for! I also agree that it is better to be self employed in LOS, and there are so many opportunities internationally that would work in Thailand. Don't hesitate to ask me for any openings if you are versatile?

Surely the photographs tell all?

How can it possibly be claimed that this is merely a deflated tyre?

Shredded might be a more accurate description!

Perhaps they were thinking of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors?!!

On the other hand, very unlikely !