Thaiberius

I think most of the drugs are made in Myanmar and smuggled into Thailand. Isn't it time for Myanmar to make a serious effort to shut down the places which makes these drugs and arrest those responsible ? Until the flow has stopped little will change in Thailand.

The situation will never change whilst those in charge still partake. That will never happen.

To be honest I'd never buy anything in Thailand where a brand name and the technology behind it is required due to the number of copies.

All of them. Add to that the fact it is the most relaxing place I've ever found.

New Zealander who has a bar on Sukhumvit Soi 6. It's the second or the third on the right as you come from Soi 4. He's lived in Bangkok for years and has (or had) some type of ducting and air conditioning business. He can be a bit of a dick sometimes but he may be able to help you.

3 som tams in Bangkok with 9 baht change.

you talk about wearing a helmet,,

yet you can go and get a driving license in less then a day, surely this isnt right,

some people jump off the iron buffalow strait into a pick up truck havnt got a clue of how to use the road, take roundabouts, they just dont understand them, again because they can get a license in a day, no road education, no lessons, nothing

im saying this and i havnt got a clue how to make things better, but as the old saying goes,, this is thailand,

Yes this is Thailand.

But that doesn't seem to register with some people. They want every thing like they had back home.

Enforce the law like the states do. They have more people per capata in prison than any other country in the world. Their court systems are so jammed up it takes for ever to get through one and yet they still have an on going problem with crime.

Perhaps if some one trained in the field with an open mind would try to work out an education system that would fit in with the Thai culture we would see a difference.

Just standing on the side lines and saying why isn't going to do it. It basically shows you have no knowledge of the Thai culture or are just Thai bashing.

my freind

if you look at my posting history over the last 8 or so years ive been a member on here, you will see ive never thai bashed !!!!

i was simply pointing out that being able to go and get a license over the counter without proper training, education on road safety, things will never change,

every other day there is something on the news in the papers showing people dead or very badly hurt through accidents, does this stop people driving without helmets,,,,,,, NO,,

people must have to do proper training and get education on road safety this would be the only way forward, i would say that 90% or the people driving on the roads in thailand wouldnt pass a driving test in the uk,

and by the way i understand thai culture very very well,,so please dont be having a go at me,,,

Not having a go at you but anytime I see any farang who claims to "understand" Thai culture I know there is BS. Farangs understand as much of Thai culture as they can as long as it agrees with farang sensibilities and morals. Once outside this framework we haven't a clue. To pretend otherwise is absurd.

I could murder a kao phad kai now with some Maggi sauce, chilli and chopped garlic. Don't care if it's an hour or two old.

There are hundreds if not thousands of farangs who work in Thailand doing internet based jobs whether that be to earn or supplement an income - affiliate marketing, programming, youtube etc. All relatively simple to do. I'd advise removing your avatar though.

My favourite place is Hua Hin, still quaint in places, beach, clean, nightlife if you want it, good recreational facilities and infrastructure (internet), rail station and only 3 hours or so from Bangkok depending upon traffic. Relatively cheap aswell. Great selection of seafood restaurant, shopping centre selling western food/goods along with Thai markets.

Bullshit vaccination as you are exposed to it on a daily basis in LoS. As for dengue and malaria in Thailand the chances of contracting either is incredibly small. I think the recommendations for hep are wise as who knows? No real need for anything else unless you are ultra-cautious.

Serves me right for wearing sandals I suppose but walking along Soi 5 in Bangkok carrying my shopping from Foodland I inadvertently stepped into some dog cack that oozed through the straps. It was still soft and warm and ruined my week.

Maybe a bit off topic, but I was just wondering whether anyone else had played this one:

Back in the day when Don Muang domestic was quieter and flights were cheaper, I used to play something called 'airport roulette'. This is when you take a friend, go to the airport, walk in the door and then look at the departing flights monitor. You then select the first flight that is scheduled depart after one hour from the current time, buy a ticket, get on the plane and go there.

Anyone else played this one?

Yeah, right.

It isn't a course to make whisky it is a course that teaches people to make the flavours that go into the whiskys and other spirits you see commonly sold in old lipo bottles out of large glass containers for 20 baht a pop.

It's an urban myth that tickets are cheaper just prior to the flight. Internet everytime for tickets.

Sometimes the footpaths are more dangerous than the roads with the number of motorbike taxis and other motor vehicles who think it is a legitimate form of highway.

The LAW in Thailand as in most countries states that if walking on the road you must walk against the Oncoming Traffic. Any person who doesn't do this is an idiot.

Safe practice but not the "LAW".

I know a Thai family in the UK who fill their Facebook pages with pictures of designer handbags, designer colognes, household goods etc etc etc and are up to their eyes in debt. As in Thailand they are superficially nice and pleasant people but scratch the surface and a whole sorry mess is exposed. Up to them.

RIP, could happen to anyone anywhere in Thailand.

I'll get me coat.

Why cant you find an attractive girl who makes her own money? Are you guys that old, fat and sweaty? I will never understand the concept of having a partner, spouse whatever that expects payment and "being taken care of" or some such.

My gf earns 100-200bht a day, not really a useful amount (working 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week).

The majority of Thai women earn less than 14kbht/month, hardly worth their time getting out of bed.

(compared to our incomes)

I guess if you are a TEFL teacher, then having a gf earning 14kbht a month is worthwhile, but most retired foreigners living in Thailand have well in excess of 70kbht/month income. So we prefer a woman with free time rather than a woman who is always at work.

Ok, I can understand that. But I still question the "quality" of a woman who´s main or only concern is money and extracting it from you.

Isn't that what the vast majority of women strive for? Ask yourself the age old question, "would she still be here if the money ran out?". A clue, the number one reason for divorce is financial issues.

Have you not worked out which mom and pop booze sellers and wholesalers never stop selling yet ?

What on earth have you been doing with your time here ?

I thought mom and pop shops never refused anyone ever.

The obvious question, in most cases it isn't possible to tell whether you are paying Thai or farang price. How do you know? Of course if it is spelled out for you at a place such as an amusement park, a cafe or a clothes shop but on a day to day basis going about your business nobody really has a clue unless you are constantly accompanied by a Thai partner who is able to compare prices. As most dual pricing is only a few baht how do you know? For example, I stop for a chicken fried rice, a bottle of water, a beer and maybe a few prawns at my favourite streetside stall in Hua Hin. I'm charged x baht at what I presume is a farang price, a Thai comes along and pays x - 10 baht compared to what I paid. How do I know what the Thai paid? Brandishing my driving or marriage licence isn't going to have any special privileges granted to me. Above all, will my panties get in a bunch over 10 baht either way when I've had a lovely meal? I think not.

...I think the people are not properly represented by the ex KGB officer.

I think you'll find Russian people will disagree with you.