SoilSpoil

Bangkok's pollution is a multi layered one. The severe pm2.5 problems we see in December and January (now even in March) started about 8 years ago and sugarcane subsidies and consequent crop burning are the primary cause. When you study the pollution maps, you will find out that the areas to the west of Bangkok (farm lands all the way to Kanchanaburi) are often more polluted than the inner city.

Note to myself: ''don't eat dodgy looking a@#$ beads you find at markets. ".

These fishermen know every square inch of the ocean, so a misunderstanding is unlikely.

In other words: the air in CM is horrible and best to be avoided, if you can, between December and May.

Problem is that I see a lot of locals who see 'breaking laws' as an Olympic discipline. Will they also get red and yellow cards?

In my opinion, the air quality has detoriated significantly over the last 20 years due to subsidized rice, corn and sugar farming. And plastic fumes are all over, every day.

Did he visit Chinatown between his numerous power naps?

Prauth is very quiet this year, elections coming?

So how this ended up in that canal is still a mystery then.

30th best place in the world?

You are right, it's profit over health. The price of sugar, rice, meat and corn in the supermarkets is simply too low, and profit margins too high. Capitalism in a nutshell. With 30,000 premature deaths, and hundred thousands of children in hospital during the burn season in Thailand alone, burning fields for profit should be seen as a criminal offence and any company dealing with criminal farmers should have its license pulled. The laws are in place.

Since when is tipping mandatory? Bad service, no tip.

Same problem as Kamala, Patong southend and Nai Harn. Wastewater treatment is expensive and dumping it in the sea a lot cheaper obviously. Shouldnt be too hard to find out which resort or resto is responsible.

Hasnt the price to see a mediocre waterfall on Phuket (Bang Pae) increased from 200 to 400 Baht per foreign visitor? Talking about price gauging.

Very 'old skool' the way you reason. Life is not fair, so motivation and success do not always walk hand in hand. Hence, the large number of depressed young people.

Nothing but excuses? So there are good schools, nice sport clubs, job opportunities for all? Society gives children equal chances to education, employment, income? Either you're ignorant or an ostrich.

Still you arrest their children for having a 21st century opinion, you son of the NE.

Seen the global ranking of Thai education, the universities, or in school math, science or English, it will be quite challenging to lower the quality.

Lot of rusty old boats moored at Tap Lamu. Insurance issue?

My expetience with my own children is that Thailand doesnt offer them much: no safe playgrounds, no affordable sport clubs, no good schools that wont cost you an arm or leg, no great job opportunities because of the patronage (corrupt) system, and so on. Its tough to be a child in a society that lacks moral fibre.

How about the air quality in the north? Lovely

What do you mean by restricted? Krabi, Trang, Surat Thani and Phang Nga, just to name a few places (with hundreds of beaches), are nearby.

1 very good reason to live in Phuket is the air quality.

Care to explain how you travel through the province, Phuket being an island?

Finally some good news.