ronnie50

Not sure I get the part about South Korea. In the report it talks about South Korea's visa free scheme, but in the article it only refers to 1 million South Koreans going to Vietnam. I know Thais like going to South Korea on tours (like they go to Japan). Not sure other foreigners other than Chinese and Japanese would consider more than a couple of days in Seoul (compared to Thailand, which would still be the international favorite I think - over travel to South Korea. Maybe via a Korean airline in transit, but that's about it I think).

Good post with first-hand knowledge of mines/demining. Who planted them in the first place (decades ago)? The Thais fearful of the Khmer Rouge or vice versa or both? Or the Americans as part of their Indochina war against communism? (also the US had air bases in that region at the time).

I think there's truth, in principle, to that. But it's not the government doing this IMO, although it's playing along with its enemies that are behind this. Bear in mind the nationalists are not friends of the governing party - the nationalists are pawns (and/or sometimes part of) the establishment that want a right-wing, anti-progressive authoritarian government installed. That's why the progressive young People's Party (former MFP) are calling for a snap election. They know if an election doesn't happen soon, there will be a coup (of some kind, judicial, army, whatever) and the average Thai person's democratic aspirations will be exiled to the political wilderness for another 5+ years. I agree though, Thaksin is holding this back (no election) - he thinks he's Thailand's Trump - the deal maker with the shady establishment parties. My own sense, is that he's fooling himself. IMO, The establishment hidden hands are planning to ditch Thaksin now that the previous deal with him isn't working for them any longer. The legal case against his daughter - as naive as she appears - is ridiculous. The legal case against Thaksin, perhaps less so. So all part of the grand plan. But I think the straw that broke the camel's back, and started all this sabre rattling along the border is the actual distraction - and was triggered by taking back the Interior Ministry from Anutin (one of the Establishment coalition's main partners). That post is probably a money maker and (could be) very powerful from a strategic security perspective.

That's what I do. Never had to pay a deposit. Showed them the card, they rang the insurer (overseas). If unconcsious it's in my wallet. However a big private hospital in Khon Kaen (not Q Sirikit), wasn't able to phone overseas to my insurer when a family member was taken ill and admitted there (can you imagine, the billing dept. of a private hospital can't make an overseas call)? So I had to do a cash transfer.

I guess he had chest pains? They usually avoid a CT angiogram or CT with contrast on older folk (contrast is bad for the kidneys and can lead to serious side effects). Assuming he was checked for chest pains, and no further interventions, did they give him an angina prescription?

I seriously doubt Cambodia started this. There's another agenda at work - still in play. Otherwise all would be quiet by now - and the nonsense in the Thai media would have subsided. But it's being fed daily - on purpose.

Of course.

I was just looking for JW Black and a bottle of Australian Shiraz - nothing special. They didn't have it, nor any Australian wine or JW. Says something about US supermarkets...

Glenfarclas 12 years. I used to like 10 year version but don't think they make it anymore

Yep, gotta keep this in the news every day until the establishment gets their authoritarian right-wing administration into place. What will tomorrow's fake news be? Two more landmines? A bomb that 'must be friom Cambodian forces'? The Thai media will just report whatever they are told without question. It's so easy to make people believe nonsense here.

This whole suspension and proceding is banana republic stuff of course, engineered by the usual suspects that want rid of a democratically elected parliament and imposition of an establishment-friendly right-wing authoritarian administration. We all know how this will eventually end up. They will get exactly what they want - they always do.

See, here's what I don't get about this, and it's not really discussed. What would make some 14 or 15 year old 'white' girl in Bradford or some other crap hole in northern England want to head over to some Pakistani guy's house for drugs and drink, get shagged by the guy, when she could just go to some other 'white' guy's house her age and do the same? Do Pakistani guys have some magical spell they cast on vulnerable white girls? Or are you saying the Pakistanis outnumber the white guys by such an amount that it's the normal place to go and hang out?

Ah... another day, another contradictory and meaningless rise/fall in tourist numbers that doesn't jive with yesterday (or tomorrow's) figure.

According to BBC, the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, in 1995 on a visit to Scotland, once asked a driving instructor: "How do you keep the locals off the booze long enough to pass the test?"

Maybe it was just where I looked (a Safeway and Walgreens in Wa state), but I couldn't find JW Black (or red) in either. I couldn't find Australian or European wine either (there was some from Spain) - it was disappointing. So I guess most Americans are content with bourbon and California wine. Couldn't find many restaurants open after 9:30 either for that matter, but I was in a smaller city (not Seattle). I find it funny that a pharmacy like Walgreens has rows of booze and dozens of brands of cigarettes for sale.. Takes me back about 20 years to see that kind of thing.

Dewar's is pretty good for a standard scotch. At least it's real scotch - not the Thai stuff. Have you tried Grants? It's also imported, and around the same price point but I like the taste a bit better..

Another of the head-shaking things about this, is how prices for imported foods continue to rise. Since they are exchanging strong THB to buy those goods in weaker USD, why would those foods be getting more expensive each month? Shouldn't they be getting cheaper? Even with an increase globally, it doesn't seem right.

Maybe for older people that boozed it up through much of their lives (including me) and smoked a lot when younger. Not sure anyone can predict life expectency would be falling for those in their 20s that don't drink or smoke - unless they have really bad diets, obese, etc.

Sounds like a degenerative bone/cartilage issue - arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis maybe. Pretty common among older folks, particularly those overweight, though not necessarily. An X-ray will confirm or rule it out.

I like American rum. Though rarely drink it.

I've read that too. I drink less these days too. TBH, I never liked (most) American booze. The beer is week and tasteless (to me) and so-called whiskey/whisky (really it's 'bourbon') tastes like the smell of stinky socks. JW Black for me. And European beer. Even American (California) wine is a non-starter for me. Australian, Argentinian and French for me. Everyone has their own tastes of course.

A polling company that reports U.S. alcohol consuption has hit a nearly 100 year low - among the previous lowest was 1958 - and so this is lower. Health reasons among those given. From The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/american-alcohol-consumption-poll-b2807194.html

Apparently the wealthy establishment Thais with assets abroad (and here) profit from the stronger baht against other currencies like the USD and euro, some posters have written. Since they run everything in this country, for themselves, through their compliant proxies at every level I guess it is no surprise that includes the rate of exchange. Otherwise, as you say, it defies logic to keep the baht trading at a 15-20% premium for everything and everyone else.

The Chinese built EV cars seem to be the cheapest new vehicles at the moment (as far as I can see advertised - but I'm not looking to buy so could be wrong). Price for Chinese EVs range starting around 399k I've seen. Goes up to around 1 million for a BYD SUV clone. Decent petrol cars still start around 800k and go up (and many way up) from there. Junkier, cheaper ones can also be found as was posted above.

A few years ago in Bangkok, they were arresting youth for eating sandwiches (as a protest against the coup government).