richard_smith237

International Schools here are the worst mockery of education. Yesterday visited Berkeley at Bang-Na to meet old friend: "wannabee asylum on steroids" I'm not sure what '=Berkley is like... But if you've never had a child at one of the international schools in Thailand, then you are not qualified to comment. My Son's International school is simply fantastic. That is surely an individual situation - there is no consistency that suggests in 'single parent situations the father is always better' - thats just rubbish, the mother may be the better parent, or neither. You will need healthcare one day - and if its something serious that can get very expensive (my bills have exceeded US$20,000 in the past 12 months alone) For the free healthcare option - Citizenship makes sense for anyone living here who is working here (for longer than 3 years) - it takes effort of course. And you get a yearly visa - with the life time Thai Elite, I get a life time of Visas, a lifetime of Airport transport and fast track, a life time of free Golf, Massages, yearly hospital checkups... 15 years in, Membership has already paid for itself and then there is the option to sell it on.... (and memberships are now worth more than they use to).

So you have only eaten the mouse there? You must have never stayed in a really nice hotel the Oriental is not even close to number one time for you to get out more. Au contraire... I've stayed there and it was fantastic - I've eaten there at both the Authors lounge and Lord Jims, both excellent. I've been to weddings there, the events and catering were excellent and right up there with the other top hotels in Thailand (such as Kempinski & St Regis) I've stayed a lots of excellent hotels: the Oriental is in the top three that I've stayed at. I've also stayed at the Ritz Carlton, which was outstanding. Best hotel I've stayed at is the Dharmawangsa in Jarkarta (upgraded and had two private butlers !!) If you don't know about hotels and just wanted to blabber on some some reverse snobbery because you don't like the price, then you've already done that......

I just completed this quiz. My Score 40/100 My Time 196 seconds  

Erm... have you tasted UK tap water ?? (Its like a swimming pool)... I'll still to bottled water. Then there is this.. (below).. from 'theoretically' civilised countries... https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1q1d51w27o https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1q1d51w27o And this...

If referring to the government schools, agreed. Otherwise, International Schools here are excellent... Nope... father isn't the most important, if having to chose, the better parent is the most important and thats not always the father and not always the mother. Not at all: Thai Citizenship gives you access to free healthcare. As I age, I expect insurance premiums to rise to such a level I have little choice but to self insure and hosptials dual charge here - SO.... If one can obtain Thai Citizenship - it has that huge advantage. Then there is the advantage of never having to do the 'visa stuff' again. Also, on the 'Elite-shmelite' comment.... My Thai Elite membership and accompanying Visa s are for life.

Do UK airports make the final decision? I think each Individual Airport makes its own decision - which initially was made after installing next-generation CT scanners. But, the scanners had a higher than anticipated 'rejection rate' flagging liquids, thus the 100ml rule was reinstated, this time as measure to limit queues caused by the higher rejection rates and requirements for further investigation. https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/airport-security-rules-liquids-laptops-xw8hk058f#:~:text=The rule was scrapped at,3D scanners were rolled out.

Nothing is free. It's included. Those credit cards charge fees. If they didn't, they couldn't pay the airlines to offer benefits. Last time I checked, the airlines make more money selling points than they do selling tickets and flying people around. I'm making a pedantic argument, for sure. But for the majority tuned in here, free water from the lounges isn't an option. And pointing out getting water from the lounges is bragging about access to the lounges. Everyone knows there's goodies in the lounges. That's not useful information for anyone. Its free lounge access with the Credit Card. And the flights we get from the Credit card points is also free (tax on top of course). I make far more from the Credits Card usage than they ever cost me - so yes, its free. Valid points though... one of the very good things about Bangkok Airport is that it doesn't fleece passengers. Water can be purchased for very reasonable prices at any of the cafes & shops for anyone wanting a top up (cheaper than most any other airport I've been to in the world). In contrast water probably costs about $10 at Istanbul Airport - I exaggerate, but that airport is an outrageous rip off.

Fair enough - they are massive, I don't think I've seen sofa's of that size at IKEA Mega.

They sell mouse? He has no idea... His only intent was to display his reverse snobbery and couldn't even spell room or mousse... The Authors Lounge there is rather a nice place for lunch. Lord Jim's is a great place for a buffet. Been to a few wedding parties there - events were excellent.

Not quite correct - there are credit cards which give free lounge access.

Where are you taking the dog ? (from where to where)

I'm not so sure about that... I recall stories a few years ago (around the year 2000) where people were checked and charged for having tint that was too strong. What surprised me most about such reports, is that such testing was not more frequent, the Police could make an absolute killing fining people with dark tint. Then there is this article from The Tiger (year 2000)... that discussing the 'tint law' - which was stated that tint blocking more than 40% light is illegal. https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/Crackdown-tinted-glass-cars T'was yet another announcment of a crackdown after which nothing happened !!!

He's perhaps better off getting medical advice from a Doctor than a gym owner...

You first need an MRI to find out whats wrong... i.e. Meniscus damage... Unless your knee is 'jamming' and extremely painful all the time then surgery is most likely unnecessary. Healing time takes anywhere from a month upwards with a lot of dependant factors. For me, sport was painful 6 months later following a meniscus repair (trimmed back a complex tear) and the knee still isn't 100% (I don't think it ever will be), and now the other knee starts to hurt... (its the legacy of way too much sport throughout my life).

Its called 'skiplagging' and not illegal from an immigration point of view, but airlines do what they can to stop people from doing this, even banning a passenger from the airline if they are caught doing this repeatedly. I believe its more common in the states. I don't think this is the reason for the boarding pass checks at Immigration though - Immigration do not care to do the bidding of airlines, especially if it involves any 'extra' processes or work etc.

Give me Thai Immigration and Suvarnabumi airport over any US Airport and US Immigration and security staff any day of the week !!!!

In a similar story to the Ops, arriving last month, the immigration officer asked for my boarding pass, I didn't have it... My Wife was a couple of rows across and had the boarding passes in her handbag, I was able to ask her. Then the Immigration office said it doesn't matter and that was that. So... I'm not sure what the reason is exactly - but they definately want to 'see a boarding pass' or at least be sure that you have one. I think it may be to stop people doing 'airside visa runs' (i.e. getting a cheap flight, passing through Immigration as if to exit, then turning round and coming straight back in again) but surely that would get picked up on the Immigration Database.

Which IKEA - the one at Mega Bang Na seems to have plenty of large Sofa's on show... (at least the L - shaped ones with 3x large seating cushions)

Top floors of MBK.... (a number of furniture shops up there). IKEA - (Mega Bang Na) contrary to what many state, there is decent quality furniture there Crystal Design Centre - (Map link) - loads of higher end furniture shops there Chic Republic - (near CDC or on Bang Na Trat, before Central Bang Na) SB Furniture Design (plenty around) Index (plenty around)

Not down Sukhumvit road Pattaya in a Black Toyota Vios with a 90% tint you can't !!!! But I think your point is you have plenty of riding / driving experience - which of course helps... ...But back to the tint point - it doesn't matter how well we can drive if we can't see a motorcycle in front of us because the tint is too much.

I can never recall the actual documentation - however, it is my understand that law exist limiting tint 'strengths'.... It a tint should not block more than 30% if the visible light spectrum. i.e. it allows at least 70% of visible light through the tint. Different 'tint' manufactures confuse the issue with their numbering - i.e. Manufacturer A will have a tint numbered at 30 (blocking 30% light), meanwhile another Manufacturer will have the same strength tint number at 70 (allowing 70% light through) so care is needed when chosing a tint. Tint has a significant impact on night time visibility, this is exacerbated by idiots riding motorcycles without lights etc... I have 30% Tint (i.e. block 30% of light) I would not go more extreme than that. Another facet - is that some tints have 'minerals' in them which have better UV and heat reflective properties while still allowing visible light through - So quality of tint also matters a lot, its not solely down to visible light.

I don't actually know why there may be a 'anti-cannabis crowd'... I think the stuff is brilliant - it helps with sleep, pain and relaxation - whats not to like. I don't like the smell and can find that quite pungent when someone is smoking nearby, but thats no worse than a cigarette - thats more down to a selfish, slobbish and inconsiderate nature of the individual than the 'cannabis' itself. I also agree that Alcohol and Methamphetamine cause issues in far greater numbers than cannabis. BUT... this is not a binary issue.... as in, just because Alcohol and Meth are known for causing problems, it does not mean that by contrast cannabis / weed / Marijuana (or whatever we want to call it) does not cause issues. Its very clear that the habitual consumption of cannabis and consumption in high concentrations can cause some serious issues. As with everything, balance and healthy moderation is necessary. Then there is the point about the widely perpetuated myth that Cannabis induces calm, and not violent or other abnormal behaviour.... ... This is again untrue... in moderate amounts sure, but the same can be said of many things, alcohol included - when considering 'moderate amounts'... However, comparing a moderate cannabis user with a violent alcoholic is an unfair comparison. Compare someone who has used cannabis in higher doses and we can start to see issues... (as I pointed out earlier) Higher dosages of Marijuana do have an impact: - auditory or visual illusions, pseudo-hallucinations, and ataxia from selective impairment of polysynaptic reflexes (i.e. poor and delayed muscle movement). In some cases, marijuana use can lead to acute psychosis and dissociative states such as depersonalisation and derealisation. In much the same manner, alcohol has strong negative effects when taken in greater quantities. As such - this dichotomy between Alcohol vs Marijuana seems non-sensical... and the fact that alcohol is famed for causing issues does not negate the fact that marijuana also causes issues, especially when consumed in high amounts - i.e. amounts high enough to induce psychosis and dissociative states such that one decides to drive a taxi !!!!!!

They have already 'worked out how to get funds from weed'... I thought it was fairly open knowledge that those in positions of decision making authority such as Anutin have very close ties (and partnerships) with many Marijuana projects (plantations) across the borders in Laos and Myanmar.... ... I have very little doubt that the personal gain / profitability of Marijuana for those in decision making power was the primary factor in Thailands sudden onset of such a loose and deregulated approach by a government normally known for its authoritarian and strictly unwavering governance.

I think the standard travelling rules still apply then: 1: Only <100ml in your hand-carry luggage. 2: *Take out liquids (if asked to do so) 3: *Take Electronics LapTops / iPads etc (if asked to do so) *Many aiports no longer ask for the 'show electronics & Liquids' though other may still ask.. The last airport I travelled from (Turkey and also the UK) after check-in and going through security neither security checkpoints (before immigration) required us to remove anything from our carry on (liquids, iPads, LapTops etc) remained our bag... (but we still had to remove watches, belts etc)

Yes. Swiss air over Alaska...but it was all hushed up. Hushed up indeed... There is no internet source for such an incident anywhere. Chat GPT cannot find such an incident. This indicates that there is no online information at all, anywhere about such an event occurring. I think it would be extremely difficult to keep such an incident 'hushed up'.... That said: I'm not claiming you to be lying [Will B]... as I'm already well aware of other circumstances where serious events have occurred and the incident was hushed up (those in power managed to hush the incident - not airline related - and get some online internet reports removed and MSM did not run with the information ether although I am aware of first hand accounts)