sambum

A few years ago, when I was "green", my girlfriend at the time wanted to go to a local park, and wanted to bring 3 of her friends along. "It'll be fun" she said. Naturally, they expected me to pay for them all - 200 baht each, to which I reluctantly agreed, after hearing whispers of "Cheap Charlie" and something that sounded like "Keen Yow", I set off to the entry desk to pay the 1000 baht only to be told that it was 400 baht for me, making it 1200 baht. After trying to "negotiate' a price for all 5 of us, I gave up, turned around and we went for some noodles instead! So, the Thai logic applied here meant that the park lost 1000 baht through pure greed and trying to fleece the farang, but the point is - they didn't seem to care! (I suppose they were just the paid staff on a pittance - so why should they?)

Maybe topless, but not the "Full Monty"! That is probaly reserved for "Nudist Beaches" only!

"Home?" Would you care to go back to this?

I presume you are referring to Russians - not Ukrainians? To be a deserter you have to have been conscripted in the first place - so I agree with previous posters who call them draft dodgers. I also agree with a previous poster who described the Russians' behaviour here pre Covid quite succinctly - the current situation has changed their attitudes and behaviour quite a lot, but in case you think that I am only quoting "previous posters" because I have nothing of my own to say, my opinion is that once they have been entrenched here for a while, I suspect that they will revert back to form. I still cannot forget the video of the Russian "lady" who physically attacked the Thai who was asking her to pay 50 baht "entry fee" to take photos of a tourist attraction. As it turned out, they were both in the wrong, but it was the Russian who came out of it looking like a "troublemaker"! (For lack of an expression that I can not use on here!)

Correct in what you say, but would you want to go back to try to make a new home in a war torn country, or to be forced to fight in a war that you disagree with?

I would not be surprised if quite a few of them were homeless due to the invasion - bombs and shells don't just kill people!

Is there any other country in the world where foreigners have to report every 90 days to Immigration to let them know that nothing has changed since their last visit?

"Siam Rath reported that the Pattaya police chief Pol Col Thanapong Photi along with the provincial police and an international crime section arrested two foreigners...." A lot of heavyweight authority there for a simple crime? Oh, sorry, there is a 3rd under investigation - that's one each!

The director of Suvarnabhumi Airport along with airport and tourist police have announced the arrest of three members of a Mongolian gang preying on foreign and Thai tourists at the airport. So that's the Director of the airport got one, the airport police got one, and the tourist police got one? Not bad going! ????

"A search warrant was obtained and his bedroom above the bar - itself decorated in shooting and gun related pictures - was opened up by another lady." I can't see anything in the post about any ladies? I am not a frequent visitor to Bangkok, but when I first came to Thailand about 20 years ago, a pal of mine took me round "the sights" and Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy were high on the agenda! Even on my first visit, I learned that Soi 4 (Nana Plaza) and even numbered Sois are on one side of Sukhumvit, and Soi 23 (Soi Cowboy) are on the other side. Also I was under the impression that Soi Cowboy is merely a name for a group of (in)famous bars, and is situated ON Soi 23, and from memory, had a sign on an arch at the opening that stated quite clearly - "Soi Cowboy".

Sober enough to drive a keyboard! How about you? ????

Yes, expect daily headlines about drunken Brits, Australians, Germans, Americans etc. causing mayhem through refusing to pay what they believe to be extortionate bills, but none about drunken Thais. They'll probably take up the headlines for shooting people dead in disagreements about music being too loud or parking spaces!!!

"......it is a matter of personal choice." Well said! Myself, I prefer a "half way house" that isn't "busting at the seams" where taxi drivers, girlie bars and restaurants are ripping you off, but somewhere you can have a quiet drink at a bar, and a decent meal at a fair price. For that, for the most part, you need to be away from places like Pattaya, Phuket, and Bangkok - maybe one of the smaller tourist resorts?

".......those who venture to this off-the-beaten-path region of Thailand teeming with rice fields are rewarded with national parks, temple ruins, and Michelin-recommended restaurants." In my wife's region in Isan you are hard pressed to find a restaurant of ANY kind!!! Mind, it is teeming with rice fields - they got that part right!

"She said the Transport Ministry convened a meeting today ..." They do like their meetings and "committees" don't they?

Try saying that to Cassius Clay! ????

I don't read Chinese (Or Thai for that matter) but I do get the picture!

There are other parts of Thailand apart from Pattaya where many elderly retired gents (and ladies) are happily spending the autumn of their years without having to worry about extortionate utility bills (making the likes of BP vast profits) or wondering if they can afford fish 'n chips on a Friday!!!

One for the Mods:- Why am I being called a "Rookie Member" when I have 7105 posts to my credit?

I think they need to overhaul the staff they've got! "The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is the national police force of Thailand. The RTP employs between 210,700 and 230,000 officers" Compared to the UK, a country(ies) with a similar size of population:- "In 2022 there were approximately 164,000 police officers in the United Kingdom"

Of course these lowlifes actually bring a pot of cash INTO Thailand e.g:- "Ma had been part of a gang running a car rental and purchase business. After advertising online he simply disappeared with 100 million baht's worth of money and sought refuge in Thailand." And no Oscars for guessing if he brought some of it with him!

How do you define minor? You have to set an age limit somewhere - whether it be 16 or 15 and a half! And obvious typo but what is "French laugh"? Laughing at you for getting caught?

"There is a different age for having sex between people of the same age,....." You should be writing constitutions!!!

Have you got it framed above your mantlepiece?

"He had a swig of water then fell to his death, said the management." Not being insensitive, but maybe he should have stuck with the alcohol! Seriously, as another poster has pointed out, there's something missing here.