cmsally

Maybe they are spending their parents' money.

One of the first lessons I learned in Thailand; if there is trouble and a person returns to their vehicle (even a motorbike, especially lifting the seat), you make a run for it or get behind something. This might be the time they go and retrieve their gun.

Thailand's tourism has more or less been taken over by corporations and investors. Many of these groups bought /leased property at high prices and are determined to make a profit. Marketing strategies and media promote conspicuous wealth because it brings them returns; they want you to spend more. In the past Thai tourism was mostly based on family/local providers and didn't need such a large return on investment , now (in the major destinations) it is driven by KPI etc. I have been involved in Thai tourism for many years and the quality of tourists has dropped dramatically. The Thai govt. is aiming for mass tourism even if they are not outwardly admitting it. A lot of people are falling into the trap of believing just because people spend more they are of a higher quality.

Toad

Personally I would not trust the callback, as the only thing you have is a screenshot and no verification of who asked for the call back. Whereas if you do the online form you get an email notification with your name, proof of date and submission reference number.

For anyone who wants to apply before the deadline, go to the gov.uk website and search for CF83 form. Click on Apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions when abroad (CF83) Find the green button (seen below) almost at the bottom of the page - (start now) Apply to pay Get all of your information together before you start. Start now It will load the online process - you will need a govt. gateway ID and password to enter (set one up if you don't have one) PS the form is a bit confusing at first because it is in sections and will be marked (can't start, not completed) You have to select one section at a time. Once you get going it becomes obvious. Once you have completed the 7 sections you will be able to submit it. You will then get a confirmation with a green box and a reference number. If you get this number before the deadline you can still pay for all the missing years. Hope this is fairly clear.

Do you have details of the phone number and what info. is needed?

Yes, I think you are right

It looks a bit like a Bearss Lime

We have the exact same thing in our garden. Tastes like lemon, skin a bit like kaffir lime and size of small grapefruit. It must be some kind of hybrid.

Letter in full - Stephanie Mander headteacher at Norwood Primary School: "Dear Parents and Carers, "As we approach the spring season, I would like to inform you about an important update regarding our school's traditional Easter celebrations. "After careful consideration and discussions with our school community, we have decided not to hold the Easter Bonnet Parade or the Easter Service this year. This decision has been made in the spirit of inclusivity and respect for the diverse religious beliefs, represented within our school community. "Our school is committed to fostering an environment where every child feels valued and respected, regardless of their religious background. By not holding specific religious celebrations, we aim to create a more inclusive atmosphere that honours and respects the beliefs of all our children and their families. "We understand that this change may be disappointing for some, especially those who have cherished these traditions over the years. However, we believe that this decision aligns with our values of inclusivity and respect for diversity. We are exploring alternative ways to celebrate the season in future years, that will be inclusive of all children and reflect the rich cultural diversity of our community. "One of the ways we will be celebrating inclusivity is by taking part in Refugee Week which occurs in June, as well as beginning our journey to become an accredited School of Sanctuary. Watch this space! In the meantime, we look forward to seeing many of you at the Music Festival in a couple of weeks. "We appreciate your understanding and support as we make this transition. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office. "Thank you for your continued support." It seems that the objective is to become a "School of Sanctuary" which involves subsidising refugees/migrants/ undocumented children. Basically filling the school system with people from overseas. What could possibly go wrong!

I think Israelis are probably just the tip of the iceberg; it is the behaviour in general of many people. I have had various tourist businesses here during the past 30 years. This is the first year I have had to proactively (multiple times) lecture people on how to not inconvenience others. I am having to tell them things which are basically common sense, it is insane. People with good manners stick out from the crowd because there are so few of them.

After scanning a few facebook pages, both Thai and English, it would seem there are a number of problems. Firstly from the picture it is the tubing which would attract most of the lager louts who bring the usual problems. Secondly you have the growing expat population who are a mixture. The combination of tourists and expats means the foreign population of Pai continues to grow and the native people feel outnumbered. A couple of Thai posts said the native population were being treated as "second class citizens" as the officials and some businessmen favoured the new arrivals whom they could make more money from. Thirdly you have the Israeli community who have apparently now established a religious centre with a resident rabbi. According to what I have read it is set up with armed guards and in the middle of a residential area. This has upset many people.

Spot on, this is the first year I have heard multiple people saying they will not visit Thailand or certain parts of Thailand again.

This is precisely the problem in many places. Many of the hotels and restaurants in Chiang Mai are owned by Thai or foreign investors and therefore they are only interested in mass tourism and growing bank balances. They have zero consideration for local people, local environment and culture.