richard_smith237

Of course, they have to allow time for the sample to get lost, and then secure a new blood sample that is clear of booze.

I've just logged in with NatWest OLB (UK) using a browser (Brave), without issue.

As pointed out by other.... The rules and regulations that are already in place are already good enough... New rules on top of the old ones will make no difference. ... The issue already the apathy shown towards the enforcement of existing rules in this 'sector'.... With little effort, these issues 'could' be resolved, however, there is an underlying belief amongst those of this socio-educational-economic tier that authorities will always side with the Thai, this hubris often comes with a lesson hard learned, by the Thai who are caught cheating etc... but there is never enough consistent enforcement of those in such positions (Thai Taxi / TukTuk drivers et ) to have any concern for being caught cheating / scamming or just refusing the meter....

Factually correct - but you seem to have slipped back into that binary world of yours where everything is either factually correct if it can be proven, otherwise is incorrect. In this case we have experience of being in Thailand for a while, some of us for many years, many of us with exposure to such circumstances, some of us with multiple examples of exposure to such circumstances - given this experience it is a very fair assumption to suggest that 'nothing ever came from an individual report made against drivers'..... I believe, but cannot prove that this statement is more likely to be correct than it is incorrect, in your binary world you want proof which brings a degree of absurdity when given how complaint are more commonly handled here in Thailand. .... Your suggestion that 'for all he knows every complaint he made resulted in action against the driver' would be more of a stretch of the imagination than 'nothing ever came from individual complaints'... In Thailand, it seems the nothing ever comes from a complaint unless it it is either made through connections (i.e. to the Top and filters down to those responsible), OR, it generates embarrassing media attention... Of course, you can argue that I couldn't possibly know that for all complaints ever made in Thailand, but your counter comment brings absurdity into the mix - we can discuss with a degree of likelihood based on our experiences here.

Slightly different but wife reported a bus driver (caught on our dash cam) of jumping lights & nearly killing us. The response from the DLT complaint line was… “so what, they didn’t hit you do it’s ok”…. I think that’s a fair evaluation of how complaints are dealt with here.

100% agree…. I ignore any driver who shows dishonesty… i.e. those who pull up & open the window, I just know that’s the start of a negotiation rather than the attitude of a driver who’s going to use the meter. That said, depending what on the area & time my resolve usually lasts about 15 mins before I admit defeat & take the non-meter fare because they’re all in on it & I’d never get anywhere otherwise. (I.e from Suk Soi 11 at midnight).

A bit nit-pickey LL and overly defensive of a system everyone knows is broken. IF such complaints were taken seriously & acted upon we’d all see the improvements.

Why do you doubt it? Given the extent and depth of corruption in Thailand 'skimming' off the top seems to be the norm rather than the exception. I too would be cynical about the money getting through to exactly where its needed and am more than cynical that once donated there would be a 'few lunches' about how this money is distributed. So... Why would I (or Thonburi-tales) 'doubt it' ??... the answer is quite obvious I think, cynicism is quite normal in this circumstance. That doesn't take away from anything the running has accomplished, props to him.

I think he meant the Thai Policemen's Retirement / tea Fund ?? (after a certain person in a certain Ferarri killed a certain policeman).

Is it ??.... Its not like he can change his mind?... if he says the sponsorship from xx activity goes to xx charity, surely he is obligated to send it there ??? I'm not suggesting or implying he won't, but I am pointing out that once he's made his 'statement' of where the sponsorship money will go, he is then pretty much obligated to that unless any alternative decision comes with a good explanation. I do get your point though, a lot of posters are 'shoe horning' something negative out of a good deed being done. Well done to the chap, nationality is irrelevant...

It all seems a bit hypocritical when the state sanctions dual charging of non-Thai's.... Sp Police wont need to step out of their AC boxes - no change there then !!! Seal of trust... hmm... How long before these 'badges' are sold by the very officials tasked with stamping out the the tourist scams ? ... erm.. only if it reaches social media and becomes an issue. And then ??... do nothing, because when has anything been done anyway ? (yes, I'm too skeptical) hmm... because all helplines and complaint lines worked in the past, right ??

And yet you make the statement of that failing with some sense of pride or achievement...

With the little experience I have of it, I've found Kratom to be different from coffee and tea... the Kratom I have tried (only once source on my Soi) gives a decent degree of pain relief and a mild 'buzz' like being mildly drunk... Neither coffee nor tea give off the same effect. Wife purchased another bottle today and spoke with the family in the shop who make it. They said they shred up the leaves and boil it down, and then squeeze the pulp too before filtering it into the plastic bottles they sell. They guy in the shop warned my Wife to warn me not to take too much or too often as it can be addictive (Wife had already told them its for pain relief). I can see scope for Kratom Gummies... kind of like Kratom based gummies to eat instead of having to consume the awful bitter mixture. I see that Kratom Gummies are are thing in the US, but surprisingly they are not a thing here in Thailand.

100% agree..... its about attitude and meeting people at face value... That said, I can be quite judgement of people based on their behavior etc... I think many of us can - there are plenty I see and immediately know I'd prefer to avoid them than have any interaction and their signifiant other is usually giving off the same impression. I've met guys who's wives are so very 'ho-ish' its a bit 'cringey'..... But we're not bringing these people into our homes, so there's no reason to be rude or for complete ignorance so if the paths cross, then ignoring or excluding anyone would be impolite.

This is an activity which occurs on beaches in tourist areas all over the world ... while there is of course risk, this is not an activity I'd consider dangerous... Its not like Parachuting, or Paragliding. That said: OK, there was an accident and accidents happen, especially if there was no negligence of the operators to blame. But - the 2 hours wait for an Ambulance due to traffic is horrific and unacceptable. As is having to wait 6 hours be transfered to another hospital because the first didn't have the equipment to deal with a broken leg. Thats an 8 hour delay in receiving emergency treatment which is atrocious. The Operator is reportedly blaming the wind for changing..... In which case, surely the operator is to blame for 'not reading' the weather conditions ???

How 'ready' do you need to be for this activity ? - you are towed behind a boat with a parachute (sail) - any participant is a mere passenger.... So, what 'readiness' did she need ???? - or is your only interest in victim blaming without knowing the activity ?

I kind of get his point that 'some guys' are cut from a certain cloth that others prefer not to mix with, those characters often end up with a less than charming companion. Of course, its very difficult to express that on a forum such as this especially when its a generalisation with many flaws. So, while his initial sentiment may hold some water in some situations... his doubling down on bigotry certainly highlights that he [Fredy42OZ] is not a character worthy interaction.

For Scouse123 it was a simple battle and he won.... retaruius seems to just accept defeat like a door mat.

Reading between the lines... Your Child is not Thai but you'd wish to place them in an International School and piggy back your visa on their visa as a parent. IF so... I think there is scope for you to apply for a Immigrant Type O visa based on Guardianship of a non-Thai child minor who holds an Education Visa in Thailand.

17 yrs to get that sorted then… …. Progress …

I get em from Biff behind the bike sheds !!! I got some from one of the weeds cafes on Sukhumvit- I think most of them sell the gummies.

Since when is somebody racist because they call somebody obnoxious shut up!! Since you called the YouTuber obnoxious simply because he is Korean..... and then cast another broad brush stroke with further racism against the Chinese.... Its racism - but then bigots and racists are usually insufficiently educated to identify their own prejudice, so it may not be expected that you understand.

Cheers... I'll give that ago... Any advice on 'which leaves to buy' (given the 750 strains comment made by Hummin) ?? I have been conscious that extra stuff may be in the mix... But the lady my Wife spoke with said it was just Kratom only. Also, for 50 baht or whatever it is, I don't suppose its economically viable to add extra stuff - but we never know. I tried the local mix... but certainly over did it and threw up.... quite entertaining... Mother in Law who visiting found it hilarious !!!.... then admitted to trying some Marijuana gummies at a dinner party the other night, much to the shock of my Wife !!!... Got to love it when more moderate attitudes to these things surface.... Yep, I'm quite conscious of that that.. so will be careful... But, I also have loads of 'sleep tablets' Xanax and Clonazepam, which both work really well for sleep, but also habitually addictive, so I'm already careful with those too which is why I'm interested in the alternatives such as 'gummies' and Kratom... and then once I'm physically able to again, just knackering myself out with exercise. Usually, for me my only vice is beer / wine / whisky.... but after recent surgery I'm happy to cut back on the booze and take alternative measures - I'm confident in the knowledge that I have the mental discipline to dabble without going down a rabbit hole (I suppose every junkie said that at the beginning too - but I'm open with my Wife about what I'm taking too, so she can also point out if she thinks I'm doing too much).... This makes me wonder... I'm not really into 'experimenting for the best hit'.... I'm more interested in something that acts as a decent pain relief... and I don't care if it gives me a high or not. As far as doing 'home work'.... I wouldn't know where to start, what resources to even look at for which strain to take.... But - I'm happy to take advice on here from those with greater experience... i.e. List of vendors with specific types that are considered best for pain relief etc.

I have heard that,but i cant handle pot . I am no angel i have smocked in my youth, but I had not smocked for decades and found my self in a car with a couple of friends who were smocking, and said what the heck let me have some. I am not sure if the stuff you guys smoke now days is a lot stronger than back then, or I am a lightweight, but I did not enjoy the experience at all! and that was the last time i tried it about 10 years ago. I winder if there is a superman in a pill or extract form that would help. That might be something to look into. I really don't like smoking pot... I dislike the smell of it too.... I also like the way Thailand has shown its moderate side and legalised Marijuana so that we can all legally enjoy its benefits. One of those benefits for me is 'the Gummy'... laced with Marijuana... Half of one of these before bed time and I have a great nights sleep.... the only issue of course is that I don't want to make a habit of this, so I have to be careful. If I've had one great nights sleep, I'm not so bothered about it for the next few nights, so that kind of removes what I call 'sleep paranoia' whereby falling to sleep is more difficult because we are stressing about sleep.... i.e. if we know we have a fall back, or can have a great nights sleep tomorrow night, we can be more relaxed about the approaching evenings sleep (if its becoming an issue). Just this week, as pain relief I 'dabbled' with Kratom, apparently its supposed to make you a little hyper, but it made me quite chilled... I quite enjoyed the feeling (initial very mild euphoria, followed by chundering as I'd had too much, and then just taking a couple of small glasses in the evening) - I slept quite well without anything else... (ah.. a glass of 15 Year Macallan - but thats not enough to send me into a slumber). So... OP... if you're open minded - Marijuana Gummies - they seem to work quite nicely for me.

I'm not so sure about that... the only obnoxiousness I see here is your racism..