Scouse123

No it doesn't and you are putting western values on it. Over here you are forgotten as soon as you walk out the door. Tipping was not an expected thing and WAS brought here by the Americans. Let's not go down the American values system about ' they are working their way through college and blah blah ' this is not the USA. Nor is tipping common in Vietnam or Cambodia and certainly not in Singapore and it's insulting in Japan. If it makes you feel better, then do it, however it is not the norm. You also now, because of these ' imported traits ' may have noticed all of a sudden, the not so subtle boxes, in the back of taxis announcing ' tips ' and appearing at reception areas in hotels and even bars. We have moved from ' gratuitous to expected ' They've jumped on to something and the natural state of progression is then to pull faces at the person behind their back when they don't give or live up to expected tipping practices for what can be at times, poor service.

He means Leave Americans at home, not just Americanisms. BTW don't shoot the messenger.

Majority if not all expats relocating to Cambodia from Thailand is due to Thailand's visa changes and extension of stay requirements.It's very easy once you've got your yearly visa, no checks, no money in the bank, etc as you can imagine with the ease of visas....................., it attracts plenty of dregs. I am in Cambodia very regularly. Once you've done the temples that's it for Siem Reap unless your teaching down there or similar ' survival job ' A lot of do gooders, NGOs and those that have fallen off the planet. Healthcare extremely limited, any Cambodian I know with any funds seeks medical attention in Thailand. Cheap beers and cigarettes and all night bars, if that's your thing. Women better in PP than SR, but I give that entire scene a wide berth. Boring after 3 days unless on road trips or there for business. There are always cheap apartments available in Cambodian cities by looking around. I find Cambodia has a lot more action and more going for it than Laos and I live an hour from Laos. So, the comments that Laos is action packed compared to Siem Reap is absolute garbage. Food is up and down in Cambodia but they do have a very wide choice of different cultures and cuisine. Vegetables and fruits, you will find a great many imported from Thailand.

I've got the ' front ' to tell any of them, it isn't that. I'm just never satisfied with a few beers, it has to be a lot of beers or no beers. And I can go months and months when I stop, but when I start again, it's months before I stop.

I'd be surprised if Qatar was moving away from Avios as they have only just got going with them. I had the downstairs front cabin before, which is smaller, and found it OK. spacious enough and seats were adequate for comfort. I was upstairs before but it was years ago. I'll give it another go and I've got the meet and greet at Doha, so it should all be bearable.

A lot talk about Thais and their poor English skills but a lot of Thais understand far more than they let on or in actual fact speak openly!! They have a mental block and fear of making a grammatical error, that's all It's better than many of the foreigners with their YouTube Thailand channels, be them out and about in Thailand or cooking on the high street food, with over exaggerating Thai syllables and their thick, heavy pronunciations..............They think they sound great, I think they sound like ' they are a few sandwiches short of a picnic ' and so do the Thai kids!

And there was you just ready to announce yourself on the forum as a ' fluent Thai speaker ' and the Shell station kids stole your thunder! ????????

FWIW, I found him a pleasant, interesting, chatty little kid. Hell, I'd have bought him an ice cream, little bugger looked warm. Good on him wanting to practice his English. I love Thai kids with a bit of personality of their own and he had bags of it telling him about the expansion plans for his college etc Cheer up on here some miserable buggers today.

@richard_smith237 Gold with Qatar. I am on the A380 beginning September (6th) both legs BKK-DOH and DOH-BKK (20th) I have chosen front cabin exit row seat downstairs outbound and upper deck cabin exit row seat for return. Both free on Gold card. In the ECO on A380, Would you go downstairs smaller front cabin or upper deck cabin? I've upgraded to business on DOH-MAN with Qcredits, so another good run and I am trying to upgrade the MAN-DOH return in business on my AVIOS. Website can't help at moment and advises to check with staff at airport or DO i wait for my app to offer something for the return flight once in the UK?

If at first you don't succeed, blame the English??????? Attacking an entire nation based on a forum comment by a guy whose nationality you don't know but ' presume ' he is English? Not very grown up

I have a great idea, let's win the lottery and give a load of cash to a son with a major drug problem! What could possibly go wrong?

Silly pillocks can't even get it right when they win the lottery!

This was on the cards going by recent news and events

Probably sons of politicians or high ranking policemen that think they are invincible.

The fathers comments explain the problem! It's called ' parenting ' which they don't seem to have got the hang of.

You must create your own life and safe haven and be happy in it. I have done. Ignore and avoid the idiots on the other side of my house walls. Never let them know your plans, your thinking or your opinions as they simply twist them, reverse them, and try to use them against you. It definitely appears to happen more in upcountry or rural areas than the major cities

An all too common occurrence these days and they do it in gory detail at road accidents too.

Your post hits the mark bang on! There are two Thailands and it's not rich and poor, it's the face for tourism and the real Thailand. The underbelly, just below the surface, that explodes at any time without rhyme nor reason.

This is UK I am referring to not Thailand. Of course I can say No, but I can't sit hours in a bar on coffee or lime and soda, it ain't me.

It's not about drinking in Thailand, that is sorted already .

Ill check it out today, Sober curious and thanks!

Not in Qatar business class, it isn't! Top wines and champagnes. But I have been bright eyed, clearheaded, down in weight, heavier in pocket, whilst off the drink.

I don't think in my heart I have any sort of problem with drink. I drink Champagne in free lounges and cider, beers and Red wines when I have to pay. No health issues, no diabetes, overweight yes, but obese no. Clean bill of health late July with in depth annual medical at Bangkok hospital Khonkaen. I think I would struggle more if I was in Bangkok, Pattaya, Samui or Phuket where there is far more action going on. I don't get aggressive, I don't get drunk or incoherent or rude, I just get tired and head off home. Quite a pleasant person in drink as I don't annoy anybody. Living in Isaarn probably kept me sane and drinking a lot less!

Wow, But I just grew up in a culture where everybody drank and pubs were everything from socializing to doing business to meeting others, watching the football, meeting for the football, after the football, and of course that is where you started dating, well it was where I am from!

I am now well into 60 days off the drink again, and I will continue this until I fly on September 6th to the UK. I take a bit of getting going but after the first two days I can just totally forget about anything alcohol related. We have beers in the fridge untouched and I leave spirits alone. This is not the first time I have stopped, I have done it for far longer periods in Thailand and for various reasons, usually weight and health. As usual, I haven't missed it, I have lost weight, look better, healthier skin, not bloated and in Isaarn I get bored of drinking for the sake of it, and saved money which I never thought much about, but having plenty in the wallet because I am not spending on anything. Food and fuel as with household expenses I do by card or online depending on what it is. The problem starts on September 6th when I have access to all the fancy lounges both in Bangkok and Doha with champagne and wines galore all for nothing. When I get to the other end, I will have in any pub my favorite drinks ' on tap ' and be with people I like socializing with. I am not alcoholic nor do I have a problem with it, Also, on family and friends occasions I like drinking. But then I come back to Thailand and drink regularly again.( daily) I think it will be hard doing a UK trip and my sisters 60th if I say I am not drinking. My way is to stay in and out of everyone's way and then I feel no outside pressure to drink. I could say I am on medication, because they sure as hell wont believe Ive converted to Islam ( Staunch Atheist). It's a tough one because I am seriously leaning towards calling it a day with the drink. Is there many of you that have quit?