Enzian

This seems to be a genuine problem in Cambodia, esp. those $5 massage places (which I avoid), but here we almost never hear of confirmed cases.

Buddhists are passive, they don't get angry, they disdain quotidian, mundane politics and keep their sights on higher things, they live and let live... I hope someday I am completely wrong.

Restaurants are one of the most imput-intensive and failure prone businesses, but everyone thinks they can do it. Whenever is see one I think, I'd never want to run it, the money is in being the landlord. re

It sounds more like he and his circle has something they want to do, whether it be developing certain resources or just boxing Cambodia further into a corner, but they're not saying what that something is or if it even exists. And this is a preliminary step. Cambodia is the weak sister in this situation; their military wouldn't last more than a couple of days against Thailand if things got serious.

Question of timeline: when did the 44 MPs do the thing that is now the subject of this news report? (Someone mentioned 2023 I think.) This question also leads to the question of why now does the matter arise, but if I understand correctly, that is made fairly clear.

I've been acting the exact same as that guard at the watch sellers around the Nana area who touch me to get my attention.

Is it me? I'm sensing a confusion between overall income repatriation and a dollar amount cap on movements per transaction (which could involve accounts receivable, etc.) The first is a big deal, the second is just what banks do everywhere to monitor money laundring per the relevant agencies.

First you have to get their attention, then the real bombs start to come; otherwise he'd remain in the shadows. Actually I think it's a great move, since Thai politics could use a sense of humor, being, as it is, a joke already.

If the funds were really used for demining it would be money well spent, but money well spent is an oxymoron in this part of the world.

On Dec. 23 fainting (without losing consciousness) standing in my bedroom, landing on my butt, resulting in a compression fracture (according to the x-ray) involving the collision of 2 of my lower vertebrae. (The x-ray was inconclusive whether the fracture was new or just an agravation of an earlier event.) The next 4 days were the worst pain I can remember, & I couldn't even make it to the bathroom at night without my gf (who is big) nearly carrying me, while I screamed. The next steps are complicated, and may take a couple of months or so.

It's hard to understand why Trump put it that way, unless he had bad intelligence, or was trying to give Cambodia a way to save face and continue diplomancy. The suggestion above that the area had been swept and that mine missed is interesting, and I'd like to see a source. In any case, imo everything needs to be done to keep the land mine issue front and center, because unless Cambodia confronts it, it's anyone's guess how this may go.

Or to put it another way, Does there even need to be an election? Since at best, the result will only be a suggestion to those who actually decide.

What exactly are the names of the 4 individuals from left to right? Wouldn't normal journalistic practice be to list them? I know of course which one is Anutin (I've even seen him in person). The one on the far left looks vaguely like Hun Manet, but I don't think it's him. Thanks.

I just landed Wednesday 12/3 on United planes from SFO to BKK through Hong Kong. The HK layover was supposed to be 2 1/2 hours, and when I got there the connection turned out to be 2 hours delayed. I wonder if this is just United or could happen to any airline; their rep is not great of course. But the nice bar lady in the lounge I got into said Everything free, all you can drink. I don't remember a lot after that, but I did get on the flight to BKK, and an honest taxi driver got me into the Asoke area for about the same price I paid 15 years ago.

But will they reinstitute the Duty Free on Arrival shops? For alcohol at least the prices used to be better than in town; my opinion on them closing the Arrival shops earlier this year would just be considered Thai-bashing, so I'll refrain.

Almost 100 years ago social scientists had started talking about meritocracy; time to catch up. I will say Thai Airways is not a bad consumer experience, but they could be as good as EVA with some effort.

The country pretty much runs itself whether there's anyone keeping the store or not, seems to me.

How do the remaining hostages (perhaps 48) fit into this picture?

I'm not surprised; after that conversation I didn't see how they could let her continue. You could say Hun Sen did it single handedly.

Bankruptcy rules in Thailand seem to differ from what we are familiar with in say the US, but are still there. Why no consideration of this option?

The mentality is that the left lost an election that they thought they owned, and after several months they are still having problems processing the event. To keep the topic on Thailand I will posit that any attempt to establish a moral equivalence between the US and Thailand regarding human rights, or suggest that the US is worse, will not stand up to honest scrutiny. But that's just like, my opinion, dudes and dudettes.

I try to skip articles about things that might happen, but this is of interest because I've become more intrigued by Eastern Europe lately. Had a great trip to Poland last fall flying Turkish Air (which I like) through Istanbul. I'd like to check out more of Poland and countries south and direct flights would be even better.

"Hun Sen's intellect comes from the teachings of the Cambodian people..." and his many years of working with the Khmer Rouge and their rump state.

With due respect, I think the comment above about Marxism is off the mark (pun intended) in the Thai context. Like their attitude to laws in general, Thais seem to do what they want, what feels good, whatever works. Like the Chinese attitude that rules are for fools. And what about the many of us who are in some kind of relationship with a former or current sex worker (aka massage lady in some cases)? Is infidelity even a category in such relations? If companionship is what matters, what does it matter?