Lancelot

When I come home to my townhouse I open the gate, park my bike, open the front door and I'm home. I don't have to look for a parking space (which can be far from the entrance in many condos) - walk to the entrance - wait for the lift - wait to get to my floor - walk along corridors to my front door and possibly have to acknowledge many people along the way. No privacy whatsoever.... and think about doing this with a big shopping load.

Welcome to not so friendly Thailand. Please be advised that some of your neighbors might dare to say hello

Give me a condo any day, less to care for and much more secure when I'm traveling

"I can only imagine the reaction if Cambodia was lobbing rockets into Thailand.

 

Or if Ireland was doing the same to the UK"

 

Of course the Irish did just that but I don't recall any British retaliatory airstrikes on civilians. The OP was about proportionality remember and Israel will never succeed with these tactics.

 

"Clearly the "Jewish vote" is not as critical as say the HIspanic vote".

 

When it comes to US foreign policy the "Jewish Vote" is way more influential, largely as a result of the huge amounts of money they can mobilize. Just check out the influence Sheldon Adelson has and he is only one man.

 

 

'They did not invade the country and they certainly have not enslaved a population"

 

Really? Been to the West Bank lately?

Please provide your information source documenting the Irish government firing rockets from their territory into the UK. 

The IRA bombed civilian targets in the UK; that is totally different from firing rockets from Ireland. The Irish would not have allowed it, but if they had, the British would have responded in kind. Any nation would.

The US often disagrees with Israel's policy decisions. If Israel was truly that influential in Washington, why would America try to broker peace between Israel and it's neighbors? Why not simply persuade the US to help it (Israel) to destroy Hamas?

Droping interest rates and fuel tax would be a good start

which in turn will devalue the baht - that keeps the export business alive including tourism farming and others - the downside is that Thais wishing to travel abroad have to pay more - so what

A devalued baht makes imported energy more expensive and increased energy prices puts pricing pressure on most products the locals buy- that's what

Most governments urge their citizens to abstain from alcohol and tobacco, which are legal products in many countries. But how would they replace the rich revenue streams earned by taxing those products?

Be careful what you ask for

Subjective, but I wonder if the Thais authorities are a bit more responsive when its citizens commit crimes against Chinese nationals?

I wonder if this young man will even goto jail, and for how long. We never ever get any follow-up to these stories. No doubt he will soon be back on the street and continue his criminal career.

Exactly. These guys get nabbed, but then what?

I favor restitution, let the criminals work during the day, then pay compensation to their victims.

Opps, sorry I was dreaming

How can violence happen here? Thais are tolerant and non aggressive

Back OT, it is good when societies question their conduct and look for sincere solutions for improvement.

Hopefully, they'll start clearing out all the vendors on lower Suk. What a mess...

+1 On Lower Sukumvit I usually walked on the street to avoid the single file side walk "gauntlet."

During the day the vendors sell tacky trinkets, ED drugs. mace and brass knuckles. At night the Nigerian drug dealers infest the area, also cluttered with after hour beer bars.

Decent Thais must surely shutter during early morning commutes to work as they observe drunken tourists/expats brawling with ladyboys...

Lancelot agree with you on this one - I also normally always walk on the road also - but I know the stalls are there when I spill dinner on my shirt, need shorts to wear when I swim, or have a craving for som tam (yes, it is something special to me and great for my body).

I would really love to see them put a "stall free" zone behind the stalls on the road (fenced off if necessary from traffic) where people can walk free of pickpockets, beggars and be able to flag down taxis after an blast of a night out. It is about compromise, don't you think?

I admire the street vendors for trying to make a living. I only wish they would respect my wish to walk unimpeded on the side walk.

In Thailand, I see that consideration for others is often lacking. But yeah, its their country and as long as I'm here I must abide by their rules.

Just sayin

I love Thailand, because I can be Thai, or I can be that stupid Farang, and as long as I am friendly, and kind and approachable I

Have you looked in a mirror lately?

Only people with Thai blood are Thai. That leaves out 99.999% of visitors/expats here.

Hopefully, they'll start clearing out all the vendors on lower Suk. What a mess...

+1 On Lower Sukumvit I usually walked on the street to avoid the single file side walk "gauntlet."

During the day the vendors sell tacky trinkets, ED drugs. mace and brass knuckles. At night the Nigerian drug dealers infest the area, also cluttered with after hour beer bars.

Decent Thais must surely shutter during early morning commutes to work as they observe drunken tourists/expats brawling with ladyboys...

Terrorists engage in reprehensible acts because they often succeed in furthering their goals.

Knock on wood but I wonder why they have never targeted foreigners in tourist areas, especially in Bangkok and Pattaya?

Tourists are the softest of targets. The nature of tourism is precisely to free oneself from the rigor of daily life.

Phuket, Pattaya, Samui...? Is not a matter of if, but, unfortunately, when.

Remember Bali. The quintessential peace and beauty island: the dawn of the world...

The current spate of Southern terrorism has been going on since about 2001, that's a long "when"...

Here is one explanation:

"We have no wish to attack outsiders," he says. "We could easily do so if we wished." An alternate possibility is that the game is rigged: Rebels are believed to use neighboring tourist-friendly provinces to hide from police, launder money, and run a variety of low-key, low-risk fundraising operations. As one Westerner involved in security put it, "You don't shoot where you eat."

might be my home but doesnt mean i have to "love" Thai people or culture.............just to put a downer on things

Many Westerners profess to "love" Thailand; however, I see little evidence of the Thais returning their affections

I don't have a problem with select uses of the Death Penalty- if the executed person actually committed the crime...

Terrorists engage in reprehensible acts because they often succeed in furthering their goals.

Knock on wood but I wonder why they have never targeted foreigners in tourist areas, especially in Bangkok and Pattaya?

So where's Pattaya then !

Not to be all technical, but isn't Pattaya an International Zoo instead of being a National Park?

*Sorry, couldn't resist

hey hey hey...i resemble that remark....

Your Honor, I denies the allegation and I resents the alligator!

* Comments were all in good fun

"This is a modified screwdriver.. Everyday when i walk the streets of Pattaya i hold it in the palm of my hand.. I squeeze it as i walk around.. It helps strengthen my wrists and forearms.. I walk a lot.. And as i walk Ladyboys like to grab and touch me with their filthy dirty hands.. So every time a Ladyboy lays its filthy fingers on me, i smack her in the forehead with the pointy end of my screwdriver.. It drops her like a sack of shit.. And the next time the Ladyboy sees me coming.. She always keeps her filthy dirty hands to herself.. Just another perfect day on the streets of Pattaya.. "

I always knew that I was lucky to be born ugly- the ladyboys ignore me

Did everyone forget the colorful bicyclist ?

"Glitterman" returned to blighty last year

G is more savvy than many

I doubt rapists are- more like a badge of courage.

Child abusers is a different kettle of fish. The Thais love kids and I can't imagine pervs having a nice stay in prison...

One Thaivisa member who visited Mukdahan Immigration Office for his retirement extension, reported that he was asked to sign the form confirming that he was aware of the new rules regarding overstay.

I don't have a problem of being made aware of Over Stay regulations. However, I suspect that some over stayers have not see the inside of an Immigration office in years. I make it my business to be in Thailand legally.


In addition to this, upon completing his retirement extension, he was also asked to mark where his house was on Google maps. The Immigration official then placed a marker on the Google map entry with the individual's name and case number.

Again, not a problem. It would be easy to use the data to high light areas of retiree/long term foreign residents. If TAT was on the ball, they might interview some expats, asking them why they liked/disliked Thailand.

I have always felt that my life in Thailand was temporary, subject to the whims of officials. I don't care if they deport me because I have blue eyes, or don't have blue eyes, its just the way it is. One of the reasons that I would never invest more in Thailand than I am prepared to lose. My biggest purchase here was a second handCBR250- and it was stolen soon after purchase

Many folks have found a new home and I'm happy for them. I find that I am merely tolerated and I'm OK with that

I wonder if TAT or the Junta has ever considered asking tourists why they do -or don't- visit Thailand?

The SRT is plagued with plenty of problems and challenges and a thorough review of the enterprise needs to be conducted. Banning the sale of alcoholic beverages only creates a larger burden for taxpayers as the SRT is a black hole of red ink.

I always bought a couple of bottles of beer, some ice and a coffee -later used it for my beer- at 7-11 before the journey.

I have long suspected that SRT employees sometimes buy beer at 7-11, then resell it to passengers at inflated prices. This past May I was quoted 150 baht for a Large Leo. Good work if you can get it