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I cannot remember where but I have seen emergency stop buttons on both escalators and walkways . Maybe it's dependent on a countries health & safety laws ?

Any details of make/model and discounts ? No logic business as they normally prefer finance as they get commission . Well done for your perseverance

Lending criteria here is without logic and will vary from one retailer to another . Not sure if there is a credit rating in Thailand . As an e.g. in the UK , big brother / credit agencies will have access to your finances and financial history and that info is openly available to lenders . However Thai lenders are keen to lend to government employees and the teaching profession , without doing a means test . My ladies sister is a teacher and her husband is a head teacher . They are mortgaged and c.c. debts to the hilt . They do not think about tomorrow . I suggest you approach another dealership because you appear to be financially secure and a safe lending risk .

Unprofessional for sure and maybe a clue here to why Tesco pulled out of Thailand ?

Tops can be a pain for online shopping . I.E. Checked online for availability of groceries because I am outside of their delivery area . Drove the 30 minutes to the store and none of the 6 Waitrose items were available - out of stock . Stock control is not a new invention . All done via the bar code , fed through the till and automatically to the supply depot . Hence no pain restocking . I do not think that happens in Thailand

Me too . My last Acer Chromebook lasted 12 years , still works but has passed its Chrome A.U.E. ( automatic update expiry ) which means no more updates or virus protection etc . Many people are not aware of the Chromebook update system that can last up to 8 years or maybe only 1 year , depending on the laptop model launch date . I only use my laptop for basic surfing and have just bought a new HP Chromebook with an A.U.E. till 2028 . It runs well and for only just under 8000 baht . Chromebook have a high security level and are not easily hacked .

Thanks for the link which basically puts you at the mercy of the insurance company and their interpretation of whether alcohol played a part in the event of the claim . E.G. say if sat in a restaurant having a meal and wine , over the drink / drive limit , when say your chair breaks causing injuries / hospital treatment .Your intoxication delays medical treatment and bigger bills are the result . Will the insurance wriggle ? Having alcohol in your system does not void the policy but you are giving the edge to the insurance company . Some western ins; companies will use agents in Asia / Thailand . As happened to me , they wanted me to go to Bangkok in their private ambulance , 400 km , report to a top hospital and stay in a 5 star hotel whilst I was being checked over . I explained that my food poisoning symptoms had all but disappeared after my local gov; hospital care but they kept pushing for me to go . I spoke to the UK ins; who paid me out in full for my local treatment and thanked me for my honesty . So beware of dodgy agents who are in collusion with hospitals/ hotels etc

Agree and also holes in the tiled walkways plus steep kerbs and then navigating the vendors wares that occupy most of the pavement . Thailand should take a leaf out of some European promenades that are spacious and well maintained .

You have the same approach as me . I take what I can afford to lose , then that is that but I do not back others only my lady and mil . Also get to eat in the buffet for free or complimentary but sure paid for it on the gambling losses . I used the casinos as entertainment and a few times have walked away with 4 or 5 thousand baht win but mostly lose . The mil took the jackpot a few years ago , 400,000 baht but she must have given it back by now . I would think that the only farangs that use the casinos now , have probably visited Cambodia and coming back to Thailand . I will not pay the 1500 baht that the Thai I.O. want . Before covid it was 800 baht . Talk about shooting yourself in the foot .

Me too , when it comes to beer o'clock but the peskie little xxxxxxs can penetrate clothes unless you wear loose baggy attire . Also the high pitched sound as they circle your ears . The collar up stems from the 60s / 70s or maybe earlier . Shows your age

Have you tried " Velveting " ? A method used by Chinese chefs to tenderise cheaper cuts of meat

Speaking from experience ?

A couple of days ago I had reason to get up early in the morning . I switched on the TV to BBC channel 4 . To my delight a documentary was just about to start . It is called " Thailand: Earth's Tropical Paradise . You can view it on BBC I Player . The first episode features Khao Yai National Park and its range of animals and the protection given . Then to Bangkok and surrounding districts , showing some of the Thai cultures etc . The filming is of high quality ( especially in Khao Yai ) . Next week features the north of Thailand . The programme is well worth a view .

"The one up the hill" is what I said and you get there in a free pickup mini bus . Sure is a hill or or incline . Been there many times pre covid but now the Thai immigration want 1500 baht to allow you to go to the casinos and not stamp your passport . Before covid it was 500 baht to Thai immigration and 300 to Cambodian . Cannot see many takers for that , unless you know otherwise ? Talk about greed and shoot yourself in the foot . BTW did you ever win ?

Both my sister and mother had terminal cancer and were treated with increased doses of morphine and as you say they were in a coma state and not suffering pain which is a concern for the poster . Also to take care of bodily functions of your mother must be a difficult task for both involved . A local nurse to " live in " may be the answer . My sympathies to Seajae

You are not totally correct , as follows . In my ladies restaurant I have sen Thai guys going out to the car park and trees etc to urinate , come back and carry on eating . All this despite the fact that we have a western standard customer toilet that is cleaned every day ( no cobwebs or filthy basins / toilet , plenty of tissues & kitchen roll to dry your hands ) , outside is another sink / basin for hand washing because some Thais are concerned about washing their hands inside the toilet and then having to touch the door handle to leave the toilet . So in summary some Thais have good hygiene habits and some do not

Salads are a favourite of mine but in Thailand you are taking a chance that there is good hygiene practised in the restaurant kitchen . At best the veg are cleaned with tap water which could be compounding the problem . Thai folk definitely have a stronger constitution than westerners and suffer a lot less .

Thanks Brit Tim . I was wondering if any of our readers still use the casinos at O-smach ? Also I think a levy is imposed by the Cambodian immigration if you do not stay in Cambodia for at least 1 day .

I used to take ice with my beer to keep it cool until I got a parasite infection that I still had on returning to the UK where the doctor took a stool sample . Back from the laboratory it showed a water borne parasite which survives in ice . I was using the toilet 12 times a day and stinking the house out . Finally after 1 month it was over after taking anti bio tics . I visited an ice factory in Thailand to pick up some ice but the ice chute was blocked . The worker took a piece of dirty , rusty metal rod and cleared it . Low hygiene and no unannounced health/hygiene inspections . Needless to say I no longer have ice in Thailand . However I used a hotel in Udon Thani where the ice was made in house . It was as clear as glass . Apparently the water is boiled twice to remove impurities before freezing . I would assume that ice to be safe . Also I do not drink beer from a glass , only straight from the bottle . Unclean glasses are another hazard .

Really ? Yet there are check points about 50 meters after the Thai immigration . Next to the Cambodian immigration offices . I thought that was the entry into Cambodia .

The casino up the hill offers slots with jackpots up to 4 million baht . Also there are table games such as poker , roulette etc and some weird Asian games . The one at the lower level has mostly slots , not sure if there are games rooms . Your unlikely to win money but I have on the odd occasion . MIL won 400,000 baht 5 years ago. Think she has given it all back by now . I use to go for the entertainment and never took more than I could afford to lose . Stopped going there because of the 1500 baht

Agents were Thai side , waiting like vultures . I reckon the casino bosses do not know the I.O. are trying to pocket 1500 baht from farangs iust to go to no mans land casino . Greedy xxxxxs

I have used this crossing many times when on a tourist visa and I seem to remember a cost of 1900 BAHT if in & out of Cambodia the same day . When approaching the Thai immigration there are often visa agents . They typically charge 100 BAHT + for their service which is well worth it . They will fill in the forms and also get you to the front of the queue . Making it an easy event . I also used to go to the casinos every couple of months but with the covid everything stopped . When all back to normal we went again to the casinos and my Thai family paid 50 BAHT each to cross into Cambodia . But for me 1500 BAHT . Never again will I go . Pre covid it cost me about 800 BAHT to go to the casino . Be prepared , your passport will be hit with a full page Cambodia visa ( not a small stamp )

Interesting . Could you expand on the "edibles" I.e. what you do and amounts per recipe etc?

Why do Thais and others wear masks ? under a misconception that they are getting protection from air borne pathogens , nonsense , why ? because the vast majority of masks being worn are medical masks with gaps all around the facial area . The masks are often old , grubby and pulled out of a trouser pocket . They are supposed to be changed every day . The starting point for pathogens or smoke is the N95 mask . This mask is not comfortable to wear for lengthy periods because breathing in through a valve requires effort . Any oil workers in this forum will tell you that for good protection you need a graded cartridge mask that have a short life span and are changed regularly . BTW I have often seen people pulling down their mask to sneeze or cough . Ask yourself this question , did all the people who caught covid wear a mask ? of course they did . Digressing but the Thai motor cyclists who wear a crash helmet , put on their helmets and rarely fasten the chin strap . Some wear a mask and no helmet . Amazing Thailand .