Spock

There were many more Thais than foreigners as can be said in the video showing EVERYONE leaving.

Ahead of Pattaya Police, yes I would support support people who don't care about laws. The only reason Pattaya police care about laws is money.

I suspect all too many of the local farangs are ready to pounce on any foreigners bending the law while ignoring the fact that Thais are the ones who act most irresponsibly on the roads in their own country.

Lol. Plenty of bikes wherever you go are on the footpath or heading up the wrong way of the road. I doubt that many of the riders are ever apprehended.

Reeks of double standards in a country with the 2nd highest road toll in the world. Good on the guy. He paid his fine and that's the end of the story.

I also taught English in Japan, though to adults rather than high schoolers. My experience teaching in Japan was also in large classes, where students were fearful to speak, afraid they would make an error. For all the hours spent in school and in the workplace, Japanese spoke the language poorly. The same could be said for Thais. Every child spends 3 hours or so a week of classes studying English, but compared to Cambodians, have not made the kind of progress with oral English that their hours of classes would suggest they should have done.

<deleted> there are many foreigners living and teaching in Thailand who could be employed for translating official signs. It's not that difficult to get it right!

All very well for you to defend the inept English translation but let's not forget that this is a sign at a major bus station and there is no excuse for authorities getting this so very wrong. Thais like Japanese are notoriously poor learners of English, sharing the same belief that the culture and language are so unique that they should not have to learn other languages. I am sure that in a western country where other languages are required for official signs that the translations are accurate. There is also far less excuse for so badly misspelling place names.

I don't understand how these pro Russian posts get so much support. There are obviously more Russians and lovers of the country around than I would have thought likely. Don't know how any of you can defended the brutality of its soldiers. As for the comment that most country are neutral or support Russia, this would certainly not apply to European, British or American based countries. Perhaps some of the more desperate countries relying on Russian handouts might turn a blind eye, but any country with a decent moral outlook would surely not support such an unprincipled regime.

Deportation? He will be dead before he has a chance to 'go home'.

If you've seen one temple you've seen them all. If touring, a sensible tourist would visit the most notable and relatively accessible wat then assume that any temple after that would be an anti climax. Itinerary schedule solved.

There are 'so called international schools' and then there are the real ones with fees competitive with private schools in western countries. Having taught in one in Bangkok, I can assure you that the major international schools follow British or American curriculums or the international baccalaureate, have well remunerated and competent staff largely recruited overseas and largely expat students interested in learning. The so called international schools in SEA are a dime a dozen style institutions teaching local kids and generally have poorly qualified foreign teachers. Don't confuse the two school systems.

What you overlook is that corporal punishment is banned in nearly all western countries. That includes all schools, and of these, only the private schools and the best government schools would boast the equivalence in student types of Thai international schools. A large number of the government schools would have students very similar in background to the Thai schools you describe but teachers are no more allowed to strike them than teachers in the most exclusive of the elite schools. As an ex teacher, I certainly support the regulations regarding corporal punishment. I have also taught in Thai and Cambodian schools and have never been tempted to strike a student even back in the days when students were routinely strapped. As a student counsellor, I was also aware of the home backgrounds of the more difficult students - getting beatings at home then at school is not what I would recommend to get the best out of a student.