GarryP

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Ridiculous answer.

There are hardly any "retirees" with a good pension coming to UK ?.

So your example with Thailand is just laughable.

Could you answer at least what you would do with all the migrants in UK if you would be in power?

To rephrase @James105 's answer: Should an illegal immigrant be able to claim free money and housing from Thailand to fund their stay here?  If they arrived illegally should Thailand fund their legal battle to stay?  If they commit a crime should Thailand provide legal aid to defend them and pay again for this to fight their deportation?   If your answer to one or more of those questions is no, then why do you think that western countries like the UK should have to provide these services to those who rock up on its shores illegally?

Obviously, they aren't going to come here though because they won't be given these benefits. That is why they are going to Western countries - the benefits. While I do have sympathy for genuine asylum seekers, the vast majority are economic refugees aka illegal immigrants looking to line their pockets without giving anything in return aka scoungers.   

49 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Screenshot and upload the image

In that case if anyone clicks the play icon the embedded video would not play. How do you post so that you can click on the play icon and the video in the Twitter post will play?

How do I post X (Twitter) posts in Assean Now? I've tried several times but only the link appears, yet I've noticed that other members are able to post the full X post. Any suggestions appreciated. FYI, I'm using a PC but tips in regard to smartphones would also be appreciated. 

This is an interesting thread on X. https://x.com/MaralSalmassi/status/1904202066945257527

Gives some perspective as to Islam. 

3 minutes ago, hotsun said:

Im pretty convinced that even if thailand chose to stop burning, the neighboring countries burning will still leave a permanent haze over thailand

Exactly. While a lot of burning is still taking place in the NE of Thailand, it is much less than it used to be. However, across the border in Laos, burning continues at crazy levels and the wind is bringing it over to Thailand. Things won't improve much until Thailand and surrounding countries get together to take serious action against burning, which isn't going to happen in my lifetime.    

50 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Lots of victim/parent blaming here again.

Do AN readers live in a parallel universe?

It's not as if this poor lad's parents are ultra rich and the bike was a Christmas present (eg 'Boss' of Red Bull fame).

Motorbikes are a vital necessity for many here in Thailand.

It is often the only was for the ultra poor to get around, make a living and so on.

A motorbike is the only transport that the majority of the population can afford.

That is the real world.

And no or very limited public transport in the sticks. Motorbikes are essential for the majoirty of upcountry families. Having said that, there does seem to be a problem with parental control or lack thereof. 

If they put novels on TikTok or Instagram then more people would read them. 

I got the refund direct to my Thai bank account. 

Interesting question. I only have Thai bank accounts, but 5 more years to investigate this.  

Just found this on the Gov.uk website:

Bank accounts your pension can be paid into

Your State Pension can be paid into:

• a bank in the country you’re living in
• a bank or building society in the UK

You can use:

• an account in your name
• a joint account
• someone else’s account - if you have their permission and keep to the terms and conditions of the account

If you have an overseas account, you’ll need the:

• international bank account number (IBAN) 
• Business Identifier Code (BIC), previously Bank Identifier Code

You’ll be paid in local currency - the amount you get may change due to exchange rates.

12 minutes ago, madone said:

| I do an 80km loop at least once a month that takes me from Lower Sukhumvit out rama 3 and rama 2 to Bankhuntianchaitalay (yes its a thing). It hits three provinces. Bangkok proper, samut sakorn and samut prakan ending up in Bankrachao.  

I've done a similar loop a couple of times. Loved it. Now I live upcountry, I do more hilly rides. Doing a 54 km loop tomorrow (weather permitting, i.e. not too hot).  

On 3/10/2025 at 3:26 PM, Harrisfan said:

Also fascist. Farage is more popular than both.

And even Farage is going down the drain now with his latest screwup. 

6 hours ago, madone said:

wow. even i take pause at the thought of the recumbent, probably because I'm not familiar with riding one, but they seem very low! 

I am in bagkrachao several time per week, but i only return via klong toei. i head out there on Rama 3/Ratuburana. it is a good 40km loop, and easy to double it once you are on the "island."

I used to cycle there regularly. My favorite place in the suburbs followed by Samut Prakan. 

6 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

The last thing I want to be doing in Thailand is riding a bicycle in traffic, I barely feel safe in my car.

I loved cycling in Bangkok. 

38 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

To be clear, "suspect" wasn't a good choice of words.  I meant to say that I'm open to the possibility that the statistics may say something different than the tired old "most dangerous roads in the world".  Anyone who believes that hasn't been to a lot of much worse places.

 

Totally agree. 

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

Do you have a statistic for deaths per km driven?  Either in a car, on a bicycle, or on a scooter?  Because I've never seen one published from Thailand.   And without that, any contention that Thai traffic and Thai bicycling is more dangerous is just a guess based on extremely limited experiences and a few stories cautionary tales in the media. 

 

Is it as comfortable as driving back home?  Absolutely not.  But Thai drivers are 10x as defensive as we are back in the nanny states, where we assume that right of way and rules (and zebra crossings) mean something.

 

I'm still waiting for someone to produce the deaths per million km driven to prove that it's more dangerous to drive in Thailand.  I suspect it may just be because so many Thais ride scooters which are 20-40x as dangerous as a 4 wheeler.

 

Maybe be a bit off topic, but here goes. I remember reading a road death comparison between Thailand and the US, and it was found that driving a car in the US was proportionately more dangerous than in Thailand.  For 2021, Thailand had a road traffic death rate of 25.4 per 100,000 population.  As motorcyclists account for 83.8% of all road deaths here, that would mean that the death rate would be 21.3 per 100,000. Leaving 4.1 per 100,000 for cars, trucks, buses, pedestrians, cyclists etc. In the US for the same year, the death rate was 13.4 per 100,000 for all vehicles (unfortunately no percentage for motorcycle deaths was provided). However, there are only 8.6 million motorcycles used in the US with a population of 340.1 million (2024) (one in every 39.5 people has a motorcycle), while for Thailand there are 21.6 million motorcycles and the population is 71.6 million (one in every 3.3 people has a motorcycle). So it is very likely that the proportion of car, truck, bus etc. deaths is actually higher than Thailand, whereas Thailand takes the biscuit for motorcycle deaths). The problem with all this though is there are so many different factors involved.  

In Thailand we also have the issue of a very poorly planned road system which was not developed with driver/rider safety in mind.  

15 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Not much damage to the bike, apart from the saddle.  Does that suggest the chap's body took most of the impact?  Poor guy.

Interesting point. When I was in an accident, there was much more damage to my bike. Perhaps he was taken out by the door on the back of the pickup. But in any case, a terrible thing to happen. With the size of the road shoulder you would think it would be safe for cycling.  

4 hours ago, Zenwind said:

I had Rezum treatment two months ago at a private hospital here.  It did not work.  I'm still wearing a urinary catheter around like a ball and chain.  I had to borrow money for it, and now  I'm very disappointed. 

Hopefully, things will improve for you. Most of the promotional material sort of indicates that you will be back to normal in a matter of days, when in fact that is not always the case. It all depends on how many points were steamed, the size of the prostate and natural healing rate, which varies from person to person. I was on a catheter for two or three weeks (not 7 days as indicated prior treatment), and as was noted by othrs who have had the treatment, you often get worse before you get better. My condition initially was quite a bit worse than pre-treatment and it took about 3 to 4 months before I saw any real improvement.    

19 minutes ago, SMIAI said:

 

Just call him on his normal telephone via Localphone or similar. Nothing for him to set up other than picking up the phone.

We prefer to share screens. I can then let him see what changes are happening in the garden, etc. It also makes us feel much closer. He'd also be able to see my new beard next time I call. 

8 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

According to Gemini AI turp is still the gold standard

My dad had Turp in his late 80's and wished he'd done it many years before that as the BPH meds caused all kinds of problems.  However, I personally know one person who became, and still is, incontinent as a direct result of Turp. I have also read about others that wished they had not taken the Turp route due to incontinence, retrograde ejacualtion and even full on ED. 

15 hours ago, swissie said:

REZUM again?

Had it done in August 2022. Now prostate problems arise again only after 2 1/2 years. Do it again after only 2 1/2 years? According to my statistical life expectancy I would have to do it 4 more times. Ridiculus! What to do?

 

I had Rezum treatment in October 2021 and am still doing fine (despite being in the first lot that got that treatment in Thailand). Not the great result I expected, but still much better than pre-treatment and I would have the treatment again if necessary. However, I'd do as suggested by Sheryl and consult a specialist.