richard_smith237

Some of the comments on this thread are dripping with self-righteous sanctimony, along with the predictable Brit-bashing. This was a mere 1cm tear. I've experienced a similar issue with a 0.5cm tear and thought nothing of it. Neither immigration nor check-in staff noticed the damage, and the passport was used without issue. I only noticed the tear when renewing the passport, so it's unclear how long it had been there. Anyone preventing travel over such a trivial matter is being a pedantic jobsworth. Those defending this decision instead of questioning its absurdity are doing so from a place of vulgar superiority. I travel frequently, and despite keeping my passport in a wallet, it inevitably shows wear and tear. Who routinely inspects their passport for minor damage? The only times I scrutinise my passport are during check-in and at immigration. I doubt many would notice a small tear until it's too late—except, of course, for the lying, sanctimonious individuals who claim this could never happen to them.

I completely agree... A lot of the issues and incidents we see here are from a combination of many factors from poor (no) driver education, very poor road engineering (poor signage, poor layout, poor lighting), and utlimately, poor (no) law enforcement. This and similar accidents are wholly preventable... - Clear Signage - Clear lighting - Traffic calming measures (in this case - *speed humps at the intersection which as to give way) - Unwavering Police enforcement (i.e. not the apathetic lazy plod we see). - Enforcement of Helmet Laws* *while speed humps are not usually part of a junction, with cars speeding across the junction in such locations as this incident, there needs to be something physical to slow cars down. *In Bangkok along the major roads I see about 80% of motorcyclists wearing a helmet, away from the major roads (Sukhumvit / Petchaburi rds) that number drops to less than about 40%.

The motorcyclist also was not wearing a helmet - the incident may otherwise have been survivable with recoverable injuries. IMO - not wearing helmet also makes the motorcyclist complicit in his own demise (as sad as that is).

If not your fault don’t accept the findings of a lowly police-man at the scene - they are not adequately trained & will make their decision based on emotion & bias - the path of least resistance. You gave in too easily in accepting fault - especially if you have cam footage which shows you were stationary in a legal u-turn lane.

This explains a lot - thx Looks like the cam-car failed to yield when he should have then, in which case the headline is wrong.

Neither yielded at the cross-roads… Neither showed any intention to yield. I wonder who had right of way… Regardless of right of way, the deceased showed no regard whatsoever for his own welfare with the obvious consequences. Was the dash-cam car going too quickly for the visibility ? Or is that just a result of the camera field of view ?

If you need a wheelchair you have a couple of options. 1) Use your own wheel-chair and travel with it - you can 'gate-check' it and then collect it at the 'Air-bridge' upon arrival at your destination. or 2) Contact the Airline and request wheel-chair assistance on both departure and arrival. ( I recently had and injury and was on crutches - but didn't fancy going through an airport like that, wheel chair on arrival and departure made things easier ). As far as lounge access is concerned - that may not been needed as you are already in a 'chair' and could just park up at a restaurant. OR, if you do want lounge access of a couple of hours anyway, you could go to the Miracle Lounge. https://suvarnabhumi.airportthai.co.th/service/facility/detail/0/54

So in your 'version' of local.. someone has to be born in the area (or living in the area from birth) to be considered local? Or, could there be a 'cut off age'... say 10 years old ? after which they are not considered local ?.. What about their parents if they moved somewhere where the child may be considered local because they were born there, but the parents moved there in adulthood ??? This 'rabbit hole' is getting deeper, when the big question is 'does it really matter' ?... as long as we are happy in our area then is there any issue at all ?

Agreed... should weed be banned for everyone because some people are irresponsible ayholes and drive while high ? If so, should booze be banned be banned for everyone because some people are irresponsible ayholes and drive while Drunk ? Or.. should people who brake the law be targeted and fined heavily ??... Weed and alchohol are not the problems, people who drive while under the influence area.... But, whats that got to do with being on an island ??... is someone more inclined to smoke and drive on an island than they are in Pai or Khon Kaen ? (for example).

Thats not a tragic accident - its the consequence of extreme negligence while driving. A Tragic loss - but how is it possible for so many drivers here to so frequently ignore signals and not check such crossings ?... (it happens a lot elsewhere too...)... ... Is it just normal human behavior and complacency ?? - they make that crossing so regularly not looking becomes second nature as they hardly ever encounter a train so don't expect to so such a degree they don't even think to look... ... But to ignore the signals adds an extra layer of negligence (unless the signals were not working).

'Local' to me means living life here as a I would in the UK. Do we have Thai friends we can call to pick up our son from school if we are too busy ? Do we go on holiday with other Thai families / friends ? Do we regularly visit the houses of other Thai families / friends and they ours ? Are we recognised in the local (community) shops etc and area's we frequently visit ? There's much more to it than above - but some of the above points highlight that we live life here as locals... Does the word local actually matter ???..... ... It has no legal, cultural or social consequences - people judge us and treat us on an individual basis unless we are in an area of significantly high tourist footfall in which case we are perhaps more anonymous and treated under generalised consideration rather than individual merit - in much the same way Thai's would treat each other in busier areas.

Binary thinking... I visit my home town a couple of times per year... Its been so long since I was 'actually a part of the community' that I am probably not considered a local anymore... even though thats where I was born and grew-up... So many new families have moved in - if I were to return I would be the new-guy and it would take me a while to become local.... ... in this context 'local' is associated with familiarity amongst those others in the community and local area. In Thailand it is possible for a foreigner to be a familiar face amongst the community and local area and be treated as part of the community and live a perfectly 'normal' lift. - if this is not considered being a 'local' then the 'self-set' guidelines of some are concentring on aspects of 'being Thai' to draw their opinion while rigidly avoiding the realities that non-Thai's can and do fit in with their community, are respected and considered 'part of the landscape'..

Please tell me which 'traffic lights and colour dependent warning lights' only exist in your periphery vision ??? Also please tell me, if this is such an important test, why don't they carry out such tests in any of the countries in the EU ? (countries where the driving standards are considered far higher and the road safety records far better).

Bangkok is a big place... Much of the answer depends on how you are getting there, what you plan on doing, area's you'll be going to etc. Some area's are far busier than others.... other area's you can breeze around relatively easily without congestion. 5-7pm on the Sky-train is crowded, before that is fine. 5-8pm in traffic is gridlock, before that is 'mostly fine' depending on area. Saturday is busier in the shopping malls (all day) / Traffic in the centre is also very busy on Saturday.

That depends... Do you have any temple plans tomorrow ???

Regulations came in around 2019 I think... I used to see a Smoking room near the Miracle Lounges on the mezzanine concourse level (departures), but I think that has gone now. I'm a non-smoker - and am happy that bars etc now ban smoking inside etc, but, I find it wrong and unfair that those travelling are not given a space to have a cigarette before their flight. - This seems to have been a knee-jerk sweeping regulation made by an official (or group of) without any consideration for the comfort of those the regulation impacts. Targeting smokers is targeting the low-hanging fruit - as long as their actions do not impact others, then they should be permitted their freedoms.

There will always be those who have only ever experienced 'being the ATM' and thus lack the experience, critical thought or vision to do anything other than project that everyone else's encounters and experiences mirror their own... I read this time and time again... Where there is some sort of sarcastic comment along the lines of "everyone on this forum claims they are married to a hi-so Sino-Thai"... This seems to be born of some sort of jealousy or level of disbelief as they were only ever exposed to the poorer more financially challenged strata of society and ended up with limited dating options... The reality, particularly in Bangkok is that the relationships the cynical mongers post about on this forum are everyday occurrences of normal relationships here, but those being cynical won't see that in the area's they hang out.

The Op is looking for some form of validation to his comments on a previous thread where is suggested that foreigners / non-Thai's will only ever be considered Tourists. He's changed the 'key' word in this thread from 'Tourists' to 'Local' with a simplified and somewhat binary argument which ignores the realities of the range of existences and how Thai's consider non-Thai's in Thailand. Firstly, even with a Thai citizenship, a Westerner will never be considered Thai - thats just too much to compute, Thailands immigration policy is just not yet multicultural enough for Westerners who have secured Thai nationality to be considered 'normal'... As far as being considered a local - Yes, Westerners can be considered local by Thai's - but always with a couple of attached 'caveats'... and much of that depends on a number of factors for the Thai's around you and those with whom you interact... ... These factors rely on location, behavior, dress, degree of interaction and how well you mix, who you are with etc (your partner and friends etc)... It all impacts how you are 'considered'... and there isn't a binary answer of Local vs non a Local... there will be a spectrum of opinions on this which vary from Thai to Thai, from area to area when considering each and every one of us. For example, you maybe considered 'a local foreigner'... or everyone may already know you as 'Rick' etc.. You may be that familiar 'foreign' face that Thai's see around regularly and thus identify you as someone who lives in the area.... (thus not a passing tourist etc)... So.. there are elements and degrees to which your localness may be considered.

Considered as a ‘local Thai’.. Never. But as a local within the community you live, very possible if you integrate & don’t act like a d!ck.

Were you clothed ??? They saw you coming & hid ?

That may have little to do with Australia being a large island surrounded by sea & everything to do with being surrounded by Aussies !! 🫣

Outstanding summary of information - thanks.

Can't be bob... He's not wearing a Rolex...

Morpheus (AKA RSD1) has seemed to have lost his marbles... he thinks he's tying from the Nebuchadnezzar i

Nope.. I disagree... In such a situation, you are not an infidel (again you use triggering language incorrectly), and no, I don't beleive you would be ostracised.. in such a situation you are expected to respond as any other member of the community would... And most, if at fault would be expected to pay for the accident - thats just the way it is here, whether you are foreigner or not. It is the same in car accidents with motorcycles - some foreigners think they are being victimised when they are expected to pay for the motorcycle in an accident (even when not at fault), but thats just the social norm here in a lot of cases, the path of least resistance is the wealthier party pays for the damages.... (its why the poor can get away with riding the way they do).... that is starting to change a little, nevertheless, the practice of 'feeling sorry for the victim' (usually the party who appears poorer) is the norm.