mittheimp

maybe if you didn't spy on her facebook she would act less strangely.

hope that helps!

If i had known posting was this entertaining and informative, id have started a long time ago!

For my next post, i think ill be targeting all the anal Politically Corret Crowd.......would that be ok DONNA?

yes if you can come up with better criticism than just parroting the 'politically correct' line.

To travel the world and be born English speaking and White skinned is, unfairly, a lucky and fortunate thing. It doesn't, alas, ensure intelligence, reason or empathy..

Many if not most Africans in BKK jails are there on drug smuggling charges. Typically they are from an incredibly poor background and are prepared to take the risk and become the drugs 'mule' as their lives are desperate and they want to help their family. Unlike Western prisoners they get no help from their embassies (if they have one) and often have no access to any worthwhile legal representation - put in prison, forgot about and rot away.

Some of the comments on this thread are moronic. You would think being a minority in another country would at least open peoples eyes to racial stereotyping - even if most on here have the 'fortune' to be white - and thus perceived to be economically appealing! i guess the ones making the more ridiculous generalisations are the first to post on here when they feel slighted by Thai ignorance.

So, i guess to summerise the thread. We don't want black men to live in Thailand in big numbers, because it means they are probably Nigerians and Nigerians are probably HIV positive and dangerous criminals - and this is almost certain coz some clever and intuitive fellow poster took photos of some black men, probably Africans, possibly even Nigerians - with big parcels in a different Asian countries airport. It is not known what was in these big parcels but it was probably something really bad like drugs or weapons, or lots of software for email scamming - maybe even thousands of test tubes contaminated with HIV to spike all non African drinks with on the otherwise completely law abiding sukhumwit - anyway it is almost certain to be something really bad coz the Black men were displaying some strange moves and were arguing with airport staff - which is highly highly unusual coz if it was just something legal like clothes for example, airport staff are often hugely helpful and courteous when dealing with a passenger with over 50 huge parcels!

My ex is Thai-Chinese, she never felt Chinese was something to celebrate as her great great grandfather effectively sold of his two twin daughers. They arrived here at age 13, got separated immediately upon arrival and never saw each other again. She believes they were from the island of Hainan - as was her fathers side coincidently. She has no interest in China, other than making disparaging remarks about the custom and culture and, despite loving travelling, has no desire to ever visit China.

Thai Chinese genrally have intergrated better than other SE Asian nations, with no serious conflict. Maybe that is why the interest is less.

90% ....!!! surely 98% is nearer the mark!

Struggle to believe any one could find thailand more expensive than a western country - unless they insist on eating western food all the time.

The only things i ever found more expensive in thailand were wine, cheese and internet.

Do you actually live in Thailand or only come as a tourist?

The items you mention are indeed outrageously expensive in LOS vs. Farangland. Throw in all electronics, cars, many types of media (cable TV, newspapers, magazines), many airfares ($ 200 for 40 minute flight to Samui), clothes (well made ones...even locally made/branded ones and don't even get started on imported brands...cotton khaki pants US$ 37 vs. better made heavier fabric Gap khakis for $ 25). I could go on and on.

Like I said, you can save on rentals and condos, utilities are cheaper, taxes less, restaurants, and also "entertainment." So in the end, you probably come out even or maybe slightly ahead.

Not anymore, but i did for 3 years. That was 5 years ago so maybe things have changed!!! Have domestic flights gone up a lot? They used to be very cheap - and international flights were certainly cheaper when bought from Thailand.

Struggle to believe any one could find thailand more expensive than a western country - unless they insist on eating western food all the time.

The only things i ever found more expensive in thailand were wine, cheese and internet.

so i guess its just the p1ssed up fat porn addicts that are struggling. Seem to be a lot of them though!

im desperately encouraged by that. i think all troubles in Thailand can considered over. Rejoice!

one of the reason Bali was chosen was because of the perceived hedonism of the tourists. It could easily have been Pattaya, Patong, or certain places in BKK. The best reason for optimism is that it hasnt been targetted yet - when it so easily could have been.

It seems to me that discussing Thai politics and especially this political crisis is futile when the underlying cause of the current mess and the reason Thailand may be sleep walking into a civil war can not be discussed. If that happens (admittedly the worst case scenario) it will be an absolute tragedy, but an avoidable one.

all they did was move the time table back, same sh*te will occur down the road again

this is why i am surprised the PAD are backing down! they must realize this?

I think the penny dropped that they were crippling the country. Decision allows a bit of briefing space and the opportunity for some sort of compromise. Don't hold u breath.

The Asian Human Rights Commission has issued this statement on the current Thai Political Problems - Not a Comfortaing Read. Asian Human Rights Commission Statement on Thai Political Problems

Also worth a read 'Philip Bowring' in yesterday's (1st December) International Herald Tribune.

The PAD are often described as far right politically - but apart from campaigning for the scaling down of democracy and supporting the monarchy (which all sides do) is there any other ideological thinking that is far right? - have they any other policies other than election reform?

Not sure how you go on holiday and then the SIL gets very ill just at the same time as the airport is closed. I can offer no direct advice but I am sceptical of a string of seemingly impossible co-incidences.

Thousands of people are effected by the airport closure - to describe one of these people getting very ill as an impossible coincidence i think wins idiotic post of the day.

sorry to the OP i have no advice.

so Thai Rak Thai (TRT), and the People's Power Party {Phak Palang Prachachon} (PPP) are defunct- lets think and guess of a new name. No prizes for the winner apart from immense pride in your intuition.

Im going for a cross between the two -

People Love Thai - so i guess shortened to PRT

The article does not mention the emperors new clothes syndrome - and thus does not answer its own question at all.

iraq

afghanistan

chechnya

south africa

jamaica

sudan

THAILAND

columbia

haiti

eritrea

dr congo

liberia

pakistan

burundi

nigeria

zimbabwe

india

mexico

palestine/isreal

lebanon

according to the Daily Telegraph anyway. Personally i'd prefer to take my chances in Bangkok than the apparantly safe Mogodishu. (yes yes - i know it says 'of the world')

After over 35 years of expat living and working and being exposed to vitually every reigion and belief on the face of this earth,,I am firmly in the belief that religion is a very personal thing.

A wise man once told me when I was a young traveller that politics and religion should never be discussed in public, I've yet to be dissuaded.

So why are you broadcasting this as a topic ?????

Ridiculous opinion. Whether you like it or not religion matters a great deal in the world, and should be discussed. You can't be the president of the most powerful nation on Earth unless you claim to be a church going christian. And to say politics should never be discussed in public!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! fancy living in North Korea? Think about what you've said please and, i hope, return and apologise for spouting such ludicrous nonsense!

no sympathy for those Man City fans (and there were many) who attempted to defend Thaksins human rights and corruption allegations just because they wanted their footy team to have a bit more money to spend. I think the fact that Thaksn is meglomaniac and does not have the best interests of Man City to heart were fairly obvious!

Ive lived in Thailand, Australia, Korea and im from england. From my own experience id put thailand at the bottom of those 4 countries when it comes to overall drinking - although there may be more people in thailand who have a serious drinking problem --but i also think there is a higher percentage of those who don't drink at all, than the three other countries.

Great so they legalise gampling under the guise of 'it happens anyhow so we might as well control/tax it etc etc' now how about taking the same attitude towards prostitution and drugs if legalising gambling is the way forward.... I wonder where the kickbacks are coming from that have instigated this 'initiative'

Not a bad idea!!!

If Thailand was serious about wanting to use casinos as a tourist attraction.. could just ban Thais from entering. Here in Korea most casinos only allow foreigners in. Creates jobs for the locals and money for the country.

No different in Korea - all Koreans think westerners cannot eat spicy food or Korean food in general. Gasps of amazemnet when they see you eating Kimchi! I explain that i lived in Thailand before and that food is much hotter (and better - particularly the rice!!!) and also English people love having Indian food anyway. Went to an Indian restaurant last week - 9 people, 6 brits 3 koreans - none of the koreans could finish their food as it was too hot (although they were girls!!). Koreans are also under the impression that it is foggy everyday in England, that every English person carries an umbrella (slightly ironic as almost every korean person does) and that all English people are gentlemen! (which has its advantages!)

So its not just the uneducated Thai folk then, but the ridiculiously over educated Koreans too!

Has anyone noticed Thai people walking about wearing a big swastika on their T-Shirt or a swastika patch on their jacket?

Today i was out and saw a motorbike parked with a flag pole on the back flying a swastika flag. Bike also had a German style army helmet for the crash helmet?

What is up with that? Did they just skip a few chapters in the history books. You'd think even someone with the most basic knowledge of WW2 (such as "there was a war, lots of people died") would avoiding having this symbol on their person?

Youd think someone with the most basic knowledge of Thailand would realise that the vast majority of these symbols have nothing what so ever to do with Germany and the Nazi party but related to hindu and buddhist religion!

Crime statistics are often better indicators of prevalence of law enforcement and willingness to report crime, than actual prevalence (as it said under the stats list!)

I think people worry most about Violent crime, and random violent crime in particular. Walking through british city centres at closing time always has a feeling of tension and possible stupid violence, something you dont get in other countries ive lived in (Australia, Thailand and South Korea). South Korea is no23 on the list but after living here for 1 year it feels virtually crime free - ive seen no evidence or heard about anyone effected by even the smallest crime since living here.

Yes, lets get rid of the guy who has brought in a continuous economic bonanza and record low unemploymnet.....replace him with someone who can do better...someone...anyone....

perhaps someone who doesnt play the xenophobic card and deliberately make up lies about asylum seekers and keeps his mouth shut concerning bowling actions of national heroes of developing countries.

But im not Australian, so what do I care!