Scouse123
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Posts posted by Scouse123
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7 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:
"Sack them!"
Where have you been for the last four years while the corruption flourished?
Why are you speaking now?
Are you equally concerned when non-Chinese get forced to pay extra?
Breath-taking hypocrisy.
Of course,
It's do as I say not as I do.
Also, he wants to be seen, ridiculous as it sounds ( because he thinks we all believe him ), to be talking up anti-corruption rhetoric for the benefit of all, especially the Chinese; as he himself is jockeying for his position at the next election.
Another point, when they are comparing Chinese arrivals, why do they look at only last year and start screaming and panicking?
Don't they realize that figures like these need to be analyzed over a number of years to get an average, not just year on year?
They just expect the numbers to keep rising, how silly. Sometimes there could be economic problems or other reasons in their own country for not travelling as much or as often.
It certainly isn't because a security guard gave one loudmouth a slap!
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15 minutes ago, The manic said:
I had an excellent time there. Stayed in modest but small hotels with charming staff.
+1,
I also found a friendly moto taxi who took me all over Hanoi at decent rates.
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1 hour ago, atyclb said:
was in hoi an about 2 months ago. it is as the poster says.
Hi,
Interested, which poster? as you quoted two in your post, both with different views.
3 hours ago, blackhorse said:Funny that. When you ask people who recommended another country why they don't go there to live themselves there is ALWAYS an excuse.
Wife, GF, property, kids.. You name it. But the real truth is even though they have grown tired of thailand they have no intention to ever leaveI agree with what you say and I am one of them!
We are settled in Isaarn, lovely home, no stress, a bit boring but that is all I can complain about, so it's not bad! We are all paid up with no debt.
I suppose I will just have to make do with regular long trips to explore more of Vietnam.
Also, closer to mainland Thailand, I really enjoyed being a beach bum on Koh Chang so that will be on the agenda again next year.
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16 hours ago, jrjrjr said:
So clear ! this is the only thing to know and people keep telling you that vietnam is nice.
The only people whom I know who found Vietnam nice went to 5 stars and didn't do anything outside of what could be organized by their 5 stars hotel.
Anything else is ridiculous and posted my liars.
A very silly statement
Obviously, you have not been and to then brandish TV members who have, as liars, just because their experiences differ is plain dumb!.
We all have different experiences of where we go, what we see and what we do. They all differ based on our personalities and actions. That does not make any of us liars. You seem to have it in for anybody who has a good experience in Vietnam.
Well, you will be outnumbered here, as most people travelling there have had good experiences and about how Vietnam is changing and becoming so much more tourist friendly.
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Guys,
A Thai visa member earlier in this thread somewhere mentioned Sakon Nakhon and the giant sign about reporting the matter if you are asked for money/bribes etc with a hotline number. I do recall this sign, it was on the left as you enter the building on the wall.
They have since remodelled and the desks are now on the right side as opposed to the left or they were on my most recent visit.
If you are on an annual renewal for a retirement extension, you will be sent from ' pillar to post ' and back again until you yourself suggest, " oiling the wheels " to speed matters up.
I have seen people there as soon as the office opens and no sign of movement with their extension in the afternoon, when I have gone back after lunch to collect mine, ready and waiting. In the meantime, having dropped off my passport in the morning, I have been shopping, gone to Makro, had lunch etc.
I have been a victim before travelling some 1.5 hours to this office only to be sent away, (another 1.5 hours back home), and told to come back tomorrow! This leads to another 3-hour round trip.
I have been, in the past, sent away because it was ' nearly lunch ' ( 10.50 am), too busy, ( two in the office) paperwork not in order ( it was ) bank letter not up to date (bank letter was from previous day). and on and on it goes.
A couple of years ago, I decided enough was enough and succumbed to it, ' the system '
There will be the critics on here that say I am/have encouraged tea money. They are probably right, but I found it a battle I couldn't win. However, Big Joke is here now and I am sure he has the answers!
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Watch this space as Thai Visa and the newspapers are devoting a lot of coverage to our new resident superhero,....... Big Joke!
Let's wait for the new visa and immigration " Crackdown " on all corruption. Good guys in, bad guys......carry on regardless!
I am disappointed, I haven't heard the expression for days!
I really think they believe their own bullcrap!
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3 hours ago, wendyfromoz said:
So the headline is misleading. The didn't actually bust the scammers they arrested them on behalf of the Chinese who provided their details and locations.
Of course,
You didn't really expect the RTP to engage in police work, did you?
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7 hours ago, marcusarelus said:Police in Thailand have regular road blocks to stop motorcyclists for not wearing helmets. I see them at least once a month. Have you never been to Thailand?
BTW democracy's need ruling by the people. Totalitarian dictatorships need ruling with an iron hand because most people don't like having their money stolen by the ruling clique.
What are you talking about? I have lived in Thailand 25 years and still do!
I was referring to the fact a Thai policeman would not have smiled and waved you on, he would have expected a bribe or a fine from his book for not wearing a helmet, even though the crash helmets in Thailand are useless and do not conform to international safety standards.
Next, the random use of roadblocks has been stopped due to the amount of corruption and incorrect use of roadblocks by unscrupulous police officers to elicit bribes.
Lastly, many nations are just not geared, educated or ready for the Western ideas of what democracy is. This applies globally, not just in Asia and I hardly think you can hold up the USA or the EU as shining examples of democracy.
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1 hour ago, blackhorse said:They may not be visible but they rule with an iron fist and the human rights record is abysmal
https://www.hrw.org/asia/vietnam
Some countries need ruling with an iron fist, some countries that aren't wished they were!
When I see the out of control demonstrations in the name of free speech in the UK, it makes a person cringe.
The UK police are neither feared nor respected anymore. It is about time it reverted to a Police Force and nono of this LIBERAL terminology such as Police Service crap. We aren't ordering pizza off these guys, they are there to maintain law and order in a very uncertain world.
I know we can say Be careful what you wish for. However, look at how quickly Vietnam takes care of drug trafficking problems, open dissent, rioting, and such like.
Sometimes, I wish the U.K. could take a leaf out of some of the other police forces around the world as ours is now ruined due to Political Cowardice.
Anyway, back on the topic of Vietnam, we were stopped by police in Halong Bay for no safety helmets and advised to wear them in future and sent on our way with a smile. That would just NOT HAVE HAPPENED in Thailand.
I know that Vietnamese citizens don't enjoy the freedoms that tourists do and those areas need improving, but I am actually only speaking as a tourist.
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Obviously a deeply troubled young man.
A terrible shame and I feel very sorry for his family.
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It will be good if it comes to fruition.
There have been far too many of these orphanages running purely for the benefit of those in charge of them!
These scams have been running a long time, taking children away from their parents which amounts to the equivalent of renting the children by the week, whilst those doing this are earning a fortune from the generosity of tourists and the West, who think they are improving the lives of genuine orphans.
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59 minutes ago, thecyclist said:
Lived in Thailand for over 25 years, and have been living in Vietnam now for a year, and have to say that some of the posts here are ludicrous :Budget accommodation is definitely significantly cheaper in Vietnam, local food somewhat, and alcohol a lot cheaper.
No way are there more hookers in Vietnam.
Vietnamese show a genuine interest in farang, although there English language skills are way behind. By and large, Vietnamese are honest, although there are regional variations :Hoi An being the rip-off capital of Vietnam.
Because of the xenophobia in Thailand, and their often aggressive and violent preoccupation with money and face, I definitely prefer Vietnam.
Agree,
What area of Vietnam have you chosen?
Interested actually, as to where you settled on. I tend to go North but that is based o friends over there.
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I have been about ten times and I find:-
A big country and a lot cleaner beaches than Thailand. Cities are of course, just as chaotic but in a different way. They do not have the outright xenophobia that Thailand exhibits at times, which is strange after their bad experiences with the French colonization and USA war. It is referred to by them, if they can be bothered to talk about it, as the American war, not the Vietnam war.
A country of contrast from the mountain areas in the North and Sapa then to bustling cities of Hanoi and HCMC and THE BEAUTIFUL Halong Bay ( which now boasts an airport by the way, so no more 4-5 hours in a minibus). The people in tourist areas can be outgoing, but Vietnamese as a rule or more reserved. They tend when asked questions or assistance in hotels etc, to give you the information you request and move on. There isn't the Thai friendly banter or joking around that you get in Thailand.
They can come across as a bit ' severe ' in their mannerisms but I think this is just the way they are. I like them. I disagree that Thai women are better looking too, I think Vietnamese women can be very pretty but that is a matter of taste. They generally dress and act more conservatively, especially in the North. Loads to see in Hanoi regards sightseeing, museums and culture.
Hanoi and HCMC have plenty of hustle and bustle and a very busy, thriving backpacking. flashpacking scene with great bars and tour desks actually inside the hostels, manned and operated by Westerners. These are like all in one stop services.
Motorbikes and scooters are everywhere. Small scams and cheating take place as does petty theft but you don't seem to have the young hoodlums and motorbike gangs, or the amounts of violence that is prevalent in Thailand, in places like Pattaya and Phuket. I find it very safe to walk around but stay alert for the usual scams like you would in any big city.
Vietnamese ' Pho ' is a staple and famous dish, but it's just a soup broth which has been adapted to many different variations and tastes. It can contain fish, meats, and vegetables or various combinations of all.
Bread and coffees are widely sold, a remnant of French influence. There is plenty to see and do in Vietnam, and by and large, cleaner in tourist areas, such as Danang, Hue, etc than Thailand. I like Thai food better actually and found the food what I generally ate in Nam to be a bit bland.
The Police and military, although limited in English, treat tourists far better than their Thai counterparts. I know they have their scams, as I have friends working there, but it doesn't affect tourists and is aimed at actual venue owners.
Beer is cheap by the bucketload, especially draft. Hotels can be ' hit and miss ' Thai hotels are generally better. Top end hotels and medical facilities are better in Thailand. Internal travel in Vietnam by train or plane is cheap. Currency is Vietnamese Dong and all notes must be changed into it. With foreigners, it is about as popular as Laos Kip or Cambodian Riel and USD cannot buy anything unlike Cambodia and Laos and must be changed into Viet.Dong.
It is a different experience and I like both countries but I am back to Vietnam the end this month and intend to go for an extended stay next year. Try to visit some of the islands.
The same as Thailand, it can be as cheap or expensive as you make it. Great seafood at decent prices is available at Halong Bay and beach towns and cities.
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As soon as the Chinese arrive en masse as they are doing in Thailand and have already established a strong foothold in Cambodia, some say past the point of no return, you can look forward to all the behaviour much of them bring to other countries with their new found freedom to travel and a great deal of it is not good.
As usual, it is always the wrong elements that stay the longest and looking for the loopholes they don't have in mainland China.
OK, The Thai security guard should have shown more restraint but the guy was not badly injured and was in the wrong to start with. As other TV members have pointed out, he would not have got away with a fraction of this behaviour had he been properly held in detention or in any other immigration detention around the world.
Way too many of these type of Chinese finding their way out of China and haven't the first clue of how to behave in airports or hotels outside China. In fact, for many, I think it is their first time.
Below, a recent example of those rounded up in Cambodia at the request of Chinese authorities.
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2 hours ago, Jip99 said:
+1 .... if it is not too busy in high season.
+2...... I loved it and I am going back as I did not spend enough time on the lovely island.
I went in June. I took my son, who is in his mid-twenties and his mate came as well. Both had a great time. I went out of season and weather was up and down but I didn't care as I live in Isaarn and get plenty of sun year round.
It seems to tick all the boxes the OP wants and it's great value for money.
We stayed at Klong Prao beach and I would again.
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On 9/28/2018 at 2:22 PM, lopburi3 said:
If you have been in Thailand more than a day expect you realize most Thai take cleanliness much more seriously than many from the Western World.
You ever journeyed up to Isaan villages?
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It is not only corruption at the highest levels, but, as many long-term TV readers know, his father is also the notorious Kamnan Poh, the biggest mafia of the Eastern seaboard who has now, for some strange reason, absent to all common sense as well as the fair order of law, has been given a get out of jail free card, ( one of the fastest we have ever known! ).
This despite being guilty of ordering murders; and this was by no means his first rodeo!
The man has always been deeply involved in the most corrupt activities Thailand's Eastern seaboard has ever known, and it cannot be reasonably believed that his offspring had no knowledge of it.
It just goes to show how riddled and stinky the country is just below the surface. A lot to be said by those on TV who advocate just keeping yourself to yourself and investing the minimum in this country.
They are so hard faced that they can be all smiles for the camera and no questions asked that they are in the presence of one of the most corrupt families in Thailand.
Never expect justice or honesty in Thailand, they do not know the meaning of the word. Now, the famous junta that was going to clear out all corruption in the country, organizes or facilitates a release so that they can all get in bed together.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1379655/ailing-kamnan-poh-wins-early-release-from-prison
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6 hours ago, darksidedog said:
After arresting a few overstayers and a bunch of mostly black people, but no really serious villains that I can recall, I am not quite sure why his name is even in the picture. He does do a good press conference to show off his petty criminals, but as for real police work, I think he is, as his name says, just a big joke.
Whether the Koh Tao rape case is true or not, by denying it before investigating anything and threatening the alleged victim at the same time, he has shown he does not have the first clue about really being a copper, let alone a top one.
Yes,
Hasn't a clue..........so he will fit right in there at the top with the rest of the clueless!
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1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:
The don't really care about the e-cigarettes, they also don't care much if you break the law.
They do care, however, about how much money they can make off you when you do the above and they catch you.
in the words of Meat Loaf........????????
You took the words right outta my mouth!...
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1 hour ago, Bjarneb said:Yes she works. Has her own business actually. So she can pretty much afford to pay her own bills ????
Then tell her to pay her bloody own bills for God's sake!
If you actually are in any kind of relationship with a woman you describe here, then by the wording and tone of your posts you know already what she is up to and are just seeking others to confirm so that you can do the sensible thing and end it.
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1 hour ago, Bjarneb said:
I can afford it, the amount of money is actually not the problem. And she has never asked for money before, that started after I sold some stocks and suddenly got my account filled up. That's what made me a bit cautious ..So you are saying on here you are a smart guy who knows his stocks and shares, but not smart enough to prevent her from seeing how much you accumulated in wealth. Unless you thought to show her a bank book or statement would impress her?
I think it's a troll post but I will indulge.
If there was one spark of love, passion or caring in this relationship, she wouldn't give a damn what her friends' opinions were. You stay with her not her friends. You have not mentioned a hint of love in your posts, only materialistic stuff.
Nobody in their right head accepts this kind of ' trash ' from a woman/girl when she has plenty of cash herself, ALLEGEDLY! just so that she can ponce around and spout wealth to her friends. Talk about a ' shallow ' relationship.
Have you no ' oil in your can, that you cannot see you are being played for a fool? ' and if she hasn't asked for money before, have you never heard of playing the long game!
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1 hour ago, pattayahenry said:in thailand, everybody has the duty to support brothers, sisters, parents,even if they are unwilling to work, that is an unwritten law, and this rich couple have violated this law and got the death sentence, most thais will think, including police and judge, they deserved their death, therefore the punishment will be be very low.thailand is not europe, everything is totally different, you have to adjust to their mentality, or you die.
Change your medication!
One of the daftest posts I have ever read on here. This was a barbaric premeditated murder and will be treated as such. This has attracted worldwide attention. They will get a death sentence reduced to life for admitting the charge.
Also, your comment regarding a duty to support lazy parents and siblings is plain ignorance of real Thai people and shows your basic lack of understanding. And to say most Thais, police and the judge will think ' they deserved their death ' is completely off the wall and outrageous.
Thais get just as annoyed as westerners with laziness and shirkers they just show it in a different way and have different non-confrontational ways of dealing with it, as a usual rule of thumb.
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The neighbor has accepted responsibility and rightly so.
I thought the headline was unfair. It implied that she thought one million baht was too much for the child's life. This makes the person seem callous and uncaring and it is unfounded.
She did not say that. She said she didn't have that kind of money. There is a vast difference!
Let's be honest even in our home countries millions upon millions of ordinary working class people cannot lay their hands on one million baht just like that.
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Well,
That plot thickens and now we are getting nearer the true reason for the murders. It has been announced in a newspaper that Mr. Hogg, had bought a large number of land plots and put them in different family members names, including the brother responsible for the murders.
The brother had been pushing to sell some of these assets, as he felt ' entitled ' because they were in his name. Hence, a land dispute! It was also mentioned in the news article, that it was common practice amongst foreigners because they were not allowed to own land, as we all know.
Well, it wasn't really a land dispute at all, because it wasn't his money that purchased the plots of land. However, in the cock-eyed logic of an uneducated farmer, they were in his name, so he wanted to sell the plots and get money for them. This was probably some ' work of genius ' thought up drinking white whiskey with his mates
Unfortunately, involving the wife's family, even remotely in business dealings is one of the downsides of getting involved with the devil and expecting them to understand.
No doubt, as is usually the case, the foreigner gave him some money as compensation for his trouble, but then greed took over and he then decided it wasn't enough and concocted a hair brained scheme, with his drinking buddies.
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Vietnam
in Vietnam General Chat
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That is true about their dislike of the Chinese,
I remember that in breakfast at the hotel in Halong Bay they had tent cards on the table in English and Chinese but specifically aimed and mentioning the Chinese that was words to the effect of - If they didn't eat all breakfast food that they put on their plate there was a $20 surcharge/fine!
I was later told, the Vietnamese owners were fed up with the Chinese guests destroying the buffet, and leaving heaps of food left over on the tables, because it was considered free, and then there was nothing left for other guests. Reception told me they found Chinese abrasive, entitled and rude.
I don't know anything about the Casinos as they don't interest me so I don't look for them.