sambum

"TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said today (Wednesday) that it may take about a week to get a clearer picture of how many foreign tourists cancel or postpone their planned visits to Thailand following the shooting." Wot? No committee?

Here we go! A good idea is to always ask for a card at the reception desk when you check in, and stick it in your wallet. Actually, I am surprised that this kind of thing doesn't happen more often - and not just to Brits!!!

"There is something for everybody plus its still cheap ????" Obviously not a cheese and wine person!

What are the monthly payments on a new pick up or a Honda Click?

Well said! I have just gone through the annual "nightmare" of annual visa extension, and when the Chief of Immigration said last year he was going to make it easier for expats to extend their visas HE WAS TELLING PORKIES!!! Every year, the rules change to make it just that little bit more awkward or difficult - extensions by reason of marriage to a Thai national being a prime example. Last year 2 Immigration Officers visited my house to have photographs taken of themselves with my wife and I. This year there were 3 of them, and we had to get someone else to be included in the photos - someone Thai to presumably confirm that they knew us and that we were who we said we were!!! And my friend who has a visa by way of Retirement says that he has been told that the next time he applies for an extension, he will have to have photos taken of himself inside and outside of the house. So how is that is "making things easier" - they haven't stopped any ridiculous requirements - just added to them. And to further complicate things, the "Rules and Regulations" differ from office to office, and in my case even from Officer to Officer - I was given a "new" form to fill in and sign by an IO, (Acknowledgement of fines and "punishments" for overstay) which was thrown in the bin by the next IO that I saw (because she didn't personally give me the form!) and when we saw the interviewing IO, I was given the same form to fill in and sign again!!! Making things easier? I think not!!!

That's maybe why his restaurant isn't in Bangkok? - at least where he is he can choose who he serves and who he doesn't without fear of reprisals!

In the UK, a bar owner can refuse to serve someone and ask them to leave for any reason whatsoever - even for such a trivial reason as not liking the look of them!

"The incident came to light as “Ari” Facebooked lived from his car" Obviously the proof reader does not have English as his native language!

".........not impartial and really think that all other 50K prisoners needing medical care get the same treatments Thaksin get......." I get your drift, but I think the words "do not" should be inserted between "care" and "get"! Just sayin'!

"Pets must be safely contained within a bag or a trolley. Pet parents are responsible for providing an appropriate bag or cart for their furry companions." Seeing some of the actions of some of Thailand's pet Pit Bulls, I think a tank might be more appropriate!

"Yes, almost forgot about it." How very dare you! That quote should be on every travel guide about Thailand to illustrate how eloquent with words Thai politicians are!

"The tourist police led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Sukhun Prommayon launched a crime-deterrence operation on Wednesday evening, September 27th, to establish trust among tourists" Why don't they do what I've just done - copied and pasted this suggestion, which I am sure I have read a few times before - or something very similar ???? Reminds me of a song:- "It's only words and words are all I have..........." (The Bee Gees)

This has been going on for YEARS despite the Government's empty promises that they are going to clamp down on such rip offs. It's all just empty words, and until these rogue drivers lose their licences for at least a year for refusing to use their meters nothing will change. I believe that they are given a licence to drive a METER taxi on the understanding that they use the METER, so if they don't use it - take it away from them! Suggested solution:- "Sorry, meter not work". "OK, sunshine, until it does work, you are grounded!" But that would mean someone enforcing the law, so that ain't gonna happen!

Link?

"The prison authorities and police officers monitored the 74 year old PM at the hospital at all times." Typo? Or all part of "The Plan"?

When I first came to Thailand I had a good laugh at a sign in a travel agents shop window - it read:- "Welcome - We spek your language"! ????

Oh no! Not ANOTHER committee!

They could also look at charging Thai tourists 2 or 3 times the amount that locals pay for visiting tourist attractions?

Surely you should realise that after 21 years of your lifetime paying 25% of your income in child maintenance, paying your ex wife 50% of the value of your house in a divorce agreement and also having to find the money to pay for the outstanding mortgage, house and contents insurance, gas bills, electric bills, water rates, Council Tax, TV licence, telephone bills, keeping the house in a reasonable condition by decorating, purchasing carpets and furniture etc, the cost of buying, taxing and insuring a car to travel to work - and of course buying enough food so that you are physically capable of holding down a job in order to be able to be paying for all of the above, if your occupation is that of a "office clerk", THERE IS NOT A LOT LEFT to put aside as savings to dip into for your 800,000 baht!!!!

I've been with RBS for over 60 years, and they refused me a small loan to do some repairs to my UK house because I am not a UK resident! Must be just coincidence that out of a list of about 15 UK banks in a fairly recent survey they came BOTTOM as regards on line and in branch Customer Services? :- Ranking Starling Bank 81% Monzo 81% First direct 78% Metro bank 72% Nationwide 68% Halifax 64% Barclays 64% Lloyds bank 61% Bank of Scotland 60% Santander 56% Natwest 56% HSBC UK 54% The co-operative bank 53% TSB 50% Virgin Money 49% Royal bank of Scotland 49%

But somebody might have a gun! I presume that there were a few Police involved in the gambling set up as BJ was involved?

"Anutin himself was pretty clear when he removed it from the narcotic list that recreational use remained illegal." I am afraid that anything Anutin says should be taken with a pinch of salt - it's usually subject to a U turn a few days later, so the shop owners were probably expecting him to run true to form! ???? However, I do agree with your point about if something isn't selling they put the price up - I call it Thai "Auntie Logic"!

".....they can choose to close......" Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the legalisation of cannabis, these people are not choosing to close - they are being forced to close. It's like having a TV shop and being told you can't sell TV's any more, so you "choose" to close?

"The police told us that these attacks were caused by the perpetrators being high on home produced cannabis" That would be the same police who were told at training that everybody who smokes cannabis ends up being a drug addict? That's what a friend of mine was told when she graduated from the "Specials" (Part time Volunteers) to the full time Police Cadet School! And that was from a fully qualified Instructor lecturing on the "dangers of drugs"!!!

We should all know by now where the outgoing Health Minister's interests lay!