newnative

Prayut--conscripted soldiers can benefit from opportunities .. . .galore for graft and corruption.

In 2019, Chinese visitors spent over 500 billion baht in Thailand. Not exactly 'no money' and likely why Thailand gets 'hot and bothered'.

There are plenty. But, as others have said, they are likely not always--or ever--in the places where you are hanging out.

Yes, I understand why they took it, too. A bird in the hand. . . At least it's still a big black eye for Fox.

Pity they settled--and for such a piddly amount--the equivalent of loose change in Murdoch's sofa cushions. I was looking forward to the lying jerks having to testify under oath.

Buh bye bye

I'm wondering why they even bothered as there's so little in the way of consequences.

Likely safer than about anywhere in the US at that hour--I know as an American I feel safer here.

Boo hoo

Pity no jail time--they need to be punished with far more than just a monetary slap on the wrist.

Let's all get a grip and relax. Phuket's governor says the bad air is perfectly natural and safe to breathe and he urges everyone to go out, enjoy it, and breathe deep. Ahhh.

And then left him there.

Breathing a sigh of relief. Now if the Bangkok governor could just do the same. . .

Make them pay hugely and throw in some jail time for all of them.

Ditto!

There can be a price difference--but not for every project. The price difference mostly comes into play in areas with high concentrations of expats--like Pattaya. I remember, as a Pattayan, buying a condo in Bangkok for the first time and the first thing my partner and I asked was if there was foreign quota still available. Yes, indeed. Plenty. The sales person had a big laugh. There is no such thing as 'Thai quota'. A project can have 100% Thai owners. If you are buying in an area with a high concentration of expats, in your shoes I would buy in your name in foreign quota and then leave the condos to your daughter in your Will. This keeps control with you and gives you more options should you outlive your daughter.

Totally agree. He lost the popular vote in 2016--so the majority of the voters rejected him then. Loser. Saved by the cursed Electoral College. After seeing 4 years of his failed presidency, voters turned hands down and he lost the popular vote even more badly in 2020--by over 7 million votes. Rejected yet again. Loser. He'll always have his core fanatics no matter what he does and a percentage of die-hard Republicans who will vote for whomever is the party's nominee. But, I like the Democrat chances with Trump as the Republican nominee because I think large numbers of independents and undecideds, and some Republicans, will choose the Democrat nominee over loser Trump with all his negative baggage--and possibly criminal convictions. And, always good to have an opponent who's dumb as a rock--hopefully, he will once again strongly urge his supporters to wait until Election Day to vote.

That's rich. He lost the popular vote badly in 2016 and did much worse--and, as the incumbent President--in 2020, losing by over 7 million votes. So much for a 'landslide'. The majority of voting Americans have never wanted Trump.

Pattaya's been plenty hot lately. I think lots of retirees gravitate to beach towns, and not just in Thailand. The Carolinas and Florida, as well as other states, have plenty of retirees who have retired by the sea. Pattaya has been popular--and continues to grow--because it checks a lot of retiree expat boxes: good year-round weather; good health care choices; good shopping and services; good housing choices, both in the variety of housing types and pricing; good proximity to an international airport; good proximity to a major city; good international mix of expats; and good recreation and entertainment choices.

Happy in Thailand.

I hate all birthdays ending in '0' but 70 is by far the worst of them, with 50 in second place.

Singing and dancing--all he's accomplished since 2014.

I'm 71--70 was a very hard birthday. I don't have a bucket list but I definitely want to do some more traveling with my spouse while I still can--there are many places I haven't seen yet. When we are not traveling I like to keep busy--we are building a new house that should be done by the Fall. The process has been interesting and also challenging. Enjoying life in Thailand, now in my 13th year.

I'm with personal responsibility. The guy's 55. He should know by now that steps can be slippery--with or without moss. It was dark, there apparently was no handrail; he should have gone slowly and taken extra care with each step--likely he will next time.

Promoting 'wellness' with the horrible and dangerous to 'wellness' air quality. That's rich.