Lancelot

I'm not surprised that the Cambodians are fleeing, considering their recent history...

I had a house in the US with soffit vents for air to enter and a ridge vent along the entire peak of the roof, for the hot air to escape. Worked well and reduced the attic temperatures, which in turn reduced the load on the air conditioner

The old timers knew about passive air ventilation in traditional Thai houses

Most likely just an over zealous Immigration official wanting to show his/her authority. If the lady is a first time visitor and this is the second entry in to Thailand, she is hardly abusing the 30 day on arrival visa exemption.

Unfortunately, thinking critically is not an attribute many locals are known for

Drug trafficking as we all know carries a heavy penalty in most if not all Asian countries. regardless of the amount, the crime is the same. Armed robbery of THB 1,000 or THB 1,000,000,000 is still armed robbery.

So by your analogy a defendant A slaps another persons face and is convicted of assault. Defendant A should receive the same sentence as defendant B, a person who viciously assaults another resulting in the permanent disability of the victim?

I disagree. Those crimes are not the same and that is the reason there is a judge, first to officiate over the hearing, then second, to sentence the convicted person. The sentence must fit the crime...

I could care less what happens to my body after I've finished with it. Whatever costs someone the least amount of money is fine with me.

I agree. Funerals/cremations are for the living. Funeral Directors never receive complaints from the deceased

We have them in the US too. Stop at a red light and some scruffy dude wipes your windshield with a filthy rag- then demands $10

Most Thais away from the tourist ghettos are pretty decent and are non aggressive. The security guard is most likely a thug, itching for an excuse to beat up a foreigner. And they just as often beat their fellow Thais too.

For the first or second offense of assult, make the perp wear prison stripped overalls, sweep streets and pick up trash, wearing a sign saying "I am a coward, I assaulted another person for no reason" Photograph them with their families and have them apologize for bringing shame on them and their country.

When foreigners assault another person, deport them and permanently bar them from returning to Thailand.

Yeah, it would be easy for corrupt police to abuse, but then the cops are being reformed, right?

A firm hand would greatly reduce this nonsense but its not going to happen. Thailand already has harsh laws about drugs and dim wits continue to smuggle drugs.

tent to slightly disagree with your first line, I cannot speak from experience luckily since I don't look for fights but according to the news reports which I read are most beatings, stabbings and murders away from 'farang ghetto's' or non farang related.

I can remember quite some isaan temple fairs in the news, the construction worker in jomtien etc etc etc

Objective disagreement is healthy- no problema from my side

However, in my defense, I did say the "They just as often beat up their fellow Thais..."

Put differently, wave a magic wand and no foreigners exist in Thailand. The locals would happily continue beating each others brains out

I have cancelled Chase cards before and they did not confiscate my miles, including the sign up bonus

For crime coverage, the local rags provide info on local crimes. The Pattaya papers are very good at running photos of the accused and of the victims.

Not to be picky, but when my motorcycle was stolen in Pattaya, the local English rags wouldn't touch it (They only run stories that make the police look good)

Khaosod English ran the story and published the photos of the theft. +1 for Khaosod English!

Bring back Paul Hogan- A.K.A. Crocodile Dundee

these guys are on fire today ...................bottom line lets see what happens to tourist arrivals from July (Euro Familys) and then Nov high season start

My buddy Spike is predicting 35 million visitors for 2014- and he's never been wrong yet

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha’s affirmation to hold politicians responsible for what they have done...

Man, that would be a lot of offenders

I agree with the opinion, but good luck with that... People love subsidies and most countries have them.

But I am skeptical that lifting the diesel subsidy would suddenly convince truck drivers from "over taking"

According to Wiki, Thailand hosted 11.6 million visitors in 2004. That number has skyrocketed to 26.7 million for the year ending in 2013.

(Don't shoot the messenger guys...)

A cool 35 million is probably doable for 2015

All joking aside, Thailand really has become over visited, IMHO. It no wonder about the jet ski and tuk tuk non sense, tourists seem to lap it up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Thailand

i have notice in pattaya ,some nights at about 3 or 4 am a strong foul odour,i am thinkning it is possible a factory near by releases some gas..with all the factories and refinning plants nearby,who knows,and with the slack regulations in thailand,who knows....

It will be you farting in your sleep

You do know Maptuphut is nearly 40km away from Pattaya so highly unlikely what you smelt was from this

The "gas" odor in Pattaya is most likely from the (clogged?) open sewers.

I've always been puzzled/amused about the locals seemingly indifference to the stinking sewers.

Yeah, I'll never understand Thainess

They fell back on the usual shoot-the-messenger defense: Someone is being mean.

This one is rich

Very surprised the 2 Israeli's took a beating.

Israeli's will normally give a lot more than they get.

Doesn't matter how tough a guy is, if its 10 to one, you're going down.

There is a video on another thread...

At the first sign of soldiers/police, I leave the area. Its not my country or concern and I'm determined not to become involved, even by accident

Yeah it looks like they cuffed (arrested?) one of the Israelis (No shirt) His buddy (shirt) tried to help him but kept getting pushed away.

Where are you from, Africa? A bog standard haircut in the UK costs at least 1000 baht.

Whereas in Bangkok 1000 baht will get you very nice treatment at a salon.

Naa, you can always pay more for goods and services- maybe that gives you bragging rights

Regular babrer shops - away from malls and tourists ghettos- can be had for under 100 baht.

- good diet is a luxury these days with food prices absurdly high but anyone can exercise- it should be a priority in all schools.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I agree about exercise but beg to differ about thee affordability of food- its a bargain! Especially basic food stuffs like fresh vegetables, fruit, rice, meat, potatoes, salt, pepper, flour... In terms of income, we spend less on food than ever.

Prepackaged food is relatively expensive, not to mention unhealthy