toho

I had the same experience with an English couple on a flight from Amsterdam to London. I had an aisle seat. I could not move, but he insisted that he wanted to get out of his window seat into the aisle, opening the luggage bin, his bag landing on my head. His wife could not get out because the aisle was full, so she hung half over me. Bloody ignorant pigs everywhere. They were out of the plane not even 1 minute earlier than me.

Times and opinions change. Agree that violence can lead to violence. Daily movies on tv or internet, full of violence, it surely has impact, but most people still know how to behave. But there is a difference between violence and a soft! physical correction, which works like a shock therapy. The risk of being punished, in case of crossing boundaries, can be enough warning. In Europe we have had a significant influx of people from other countries, bringing their own culture. Some of the 2nd and 3rd generation do not behave and show a lot of disrespect towards others. In the countries, where theiir parents came from, the police will use violence, so people behave. In Europe several youngsters swear at police officers, threaten people in the street. I would not object that this riff raff is confronted with real violence from the police. The ones who do not like to listen have to feel.

I condemn hard physical punishment like in this story. But I notice regular disrespect towards teachers. Especially in USA, Europe. Some ideas of dr. Spock, and parents who are not at home due to jobs, resulted in some spoilt children. A well deserved soft slap in the face at the right time can correct this behaviour very quickly and has more impact than 1.000 words. Children need to know their boundaries. In my youth, long time ago, my father used to tell me: if the teacher hits you then you will probably have deserved it. And do not come complaining, otherwise I will give you an extra punishment. But yeah: that was in the old times.

don't try to downplay the situation. there are situations that literally every second counts,

And consider Isuzu for a strong, reliable pick up truck.

Life is not getting easier here. I have a retirement visa, to be extended every year, pay fee for extension and pay fee for multiple re-entry permit. Then we have the papers: 90 days report, TM30 in and out report, sometimes having to show up at Immigration in person. Nong Khai Immigration where partner has to pay 200 THB without reason and without bill (you also think what I am thinking?). I have full European health and travel insurance, for which I already pay lots of money. Why should I pay extra for some idiots who "forget" to go abroad without some proper insurance? We travel to family in Laos regularly. So having to pay every time we come back to Thailand? Having to use some website or app to pay the 300 THB. I already use an Excel sheet to check how many days I stay in my European home country, in Thailand and Laos. Because I dont like to stay in Thailand more than 179 days, otherwise I automatically become a Thai tax resident. It is all becoming a bit too much for me. It is not funny any more. It all adds up. Little by little. I feel like a criminal, that is followed constantly. And every step takes time and money, Therefor, after 18 years of spending money in Thailand and owning my condominium here, finally reconsidering my position here in Thailand. Possibly going back to, or moving to, a country, that has a lot less time consuming bureaucracy.

Way back in time we got our salary in envelopes. 100% privacy. Now the banksters know all details. In my bank account they automatically update charts: how much I spend on different things like rent, food, insurance. They even sell this private information to other banks and third parties. Tax office has full power to ask for our private bank details and they share it with other authorities. On an international scale national tax offices exchange our private info with tax offices abroad. So big brothers are watching you everywhere. There is no privacy any more. Authorities and banks working together to eliminate cash. They say it is because of fighting criminality and black money. Not everybody is a criminal! Just an excuse to have full insight in our personal spending. People say: I have nothing to hide. Well, this is the beginning of a kind of China syndrome, where you are fully controlled by the state. And suppose their official servers are hacked? Russia, China, N. Korea (and others) can do it. In my country cash payment is limited to a few thousand EUR. Payments above that limit are illegal. Export of money above 10.000 EUR has to be declared at customs. Including proof of origin (withdrawals). We have become slaves of banks and governments: they can do with us what they want. No competition between banks, every year higher service fees (what service?, less offices, everything online or by phone enjoying long waiting times), interest rates on saving account even lower than inflation. Tax on saving money. Bottom line losing money and purchase power. Personally I withdraw cash from my bank account regularly. Every month, I divide the amount in 4 or 5 portions, that is the cash money that I can spend these weeks; easy and less danger to spend more than planned. And to prevent spoofing/hacking/losing money: the money that I dont need goes to a AAA savings account in a country that gives a better interest rate than the banks in my own country (without exchange risk and including guarantee of paying back if bank goes broke)

Such a nice, polite, peaceful Swiss. A real ambassador for his country. NO> If you see how he walks towards the women who are just sitting there, hear how he shouts, how he uses bad words, then these are signs that he did not slip, but attacked immediately and kicke the lady. Unfortunately the kick itself is not captured on video. This is an example of people who think they own the world and do not need to show any respect towards other creatures. He and his partner are really very, very lucky to hear this outcome from the judge. I doubt it, but hopefully this Swiss coconutty brain has learnt a lesson for life. Thanks to this sort of guy many Thai do not welcome more tourists. Understandably. And that is a pity. So Swissy, get out of Thailand a.s.a.p., thanks.

For normal tourists you may be right. But many tourists also make a tour through Asia, using Thailand as starting point and finish, they will be happy with 60 days. Also I know people who have relationships with persons from outside Thailand; if these people want to stay together for a longer period of time, then the visitors are forced to make visa runs every 30 days. In these cases a stay of 60 days would be a huge improvement, saving time, paperwork and money.

Well done, Casper! Hope that you are rewarded by good things on your life path. And that some selfish people may follow your generous example in the future.

The driver of this car shows incredible behaviour. He almost killed a person, but the first thing he does is checking the car. Shame on him. Even if the bike driver would have been speeding, then the car driver should have anticipated this situation. Unbelievable that some persons here suggest that the motorbike driver made a mistake.

The real cause is the Balfour Declaration and how England cheated the Palestinians. England received the mandate to prepare the Arab population of Palestine for independence. England had promised them their own land if Palestinians would actively support England during WW 2.

I gave him some credit. Because many poor people consider him to be a good man: fighting against drugs, offering some social welfare (hospital care). But this visit is really disgusting. Cambodia is still ruled by the red Khmer. First they stole, killed intellectuals (even wearing glasses was a sign), starved millions, killing fields all over the place, traded their rice for weapons from friend China. And now the same "communists" living in big mansions and driving huge cars. They should be trialed and shot. While the normal Cambodians keep quiet because they do not want fighting again. Such a shame. Unfortunately many countries look the other way.

Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn stated that the gang members tend to favor Thailand due to the lack of strict law enforcement and corrupt officials. So I would like to suggest him: start there and first clean up your own house. And the agents who offer "special services", working together with Immigration officials. At the same time you can do a background check on motorbike gang members. Check your computer systems at Thai entrance ports if there is a hit between passport and (inter)national search warrants. I think that almost all retirees are law abiding persons, who just want to enjoy their retirement. They do not ride noisy Harleys and dont show off their leather jackets. They do not chainsaw persons and put them in plastic bags. (by the way, RTP did a great job to find body and suspects so quickly). All foreign retirees spend money here. Many of them even support complete families, including father, mother, etc. As a thanksgiving foreign retirees are subject to a dual pricing system; these unequal rights make us feel welcome and appreciated. 800.000 (400.00) THB in a Thai bank is a considerable amount and poses a risk when the bank account is in a country that has proven to be unstable for decades. Thailand: don't push your luck, "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater".

When the fox is talking about peace, then the farmer should watch over his chicken. Look at Tibet, Hong Kong, Taiwan. The constant international pressure and tricks, used by China. Is that not enough to convince people that they should really be more than careful and prepare for a global future that does not look bright at all.