geisha

Nobody reads the full story do they ? The weighing of passengers is to be carried out until October 31 st. by many airline compagnies. So why the hullabaloo? This is to have complete data on how heavy a plane really is and safety issues. They will take everything into account, food trays, baggage, staff, passengers etc. This is very important for small planes and has been done regularly on short island flights. I experienced this in the Philippines, from Manila to the islands . At first seems strange , but then quite logical when you see the amount of baggage people take and in carry on. Common sense should tell you they wouldn’t be weighing A380-800 or 747s Passenger by passenger.

Quite agree. The minimum wage in Thailand is barely enough to keep a family in food and shelter. Their health and education gets neglected, how can this help them or the country ? Another reason why Thailand is stuck in the dark ages.

Flying his staff, teachers, Nannie’s , cook etc around the world , does that seem normal “wealthy” to you ?? I live in the South of France, and only UAE people do these things. Read all his posts. I don’t care about his wealth and have nothing against it at all, I’m surrounded by wealth where I live. I just find that asking such advice on any forum is very strange. I don’t believe it. Nuff said !

I’ve seen the havoc they caused in Sihanoukville! Drove all decent foreigners and Cambodians out, and only kept the poorest to work in construction etc. The Cambodians lost their businesses and homes. From a sleepy beach village with some lovely beaches and the main road fresh seafood restaurants, it turned into a casino/ Chinese mess. Don’t know what it looks like now but I’ve heard it’s deserted. im happy when they’re not around me. They should learn how to behave in public.

Jenkins9039, sorry , I’m sure you don’t care a fig what I say/ believe, I still don’t buy your story. Who would think Cambodia or Laos is better for “babies” than Caymans or Bahamas is probably missing something. My mother in law lived half her life in the Bahamas , she was Swiss, and there were no problems with private health care. In an emergency, where on earth would you go in Cam or Laos ? lots of countries way better if you have the choice. Of course , up to you as they say in Thailand . I personally like parts of Cambodia and even Laos , but not to live for these very reasons., if I had small children I would definitely go elsewhere. IMO only.

I really believe that if the OP was as rich as he sounds, he definitely wouldn’t be asking questions like this online. He would have a financial advisor and private bank that takes care of investments etc with no need to bring in millions to a different country such as Singapore for example. Why would anyone with so much money want to live in a poverty rife country ? If I , like the OP , wanted to live in a south Asian country my only choice would be Singapore. Great education possibilities, every sort of staff you’d need, health and hygiene, beautiful homes , law abiding , great shopping and restaurants. Best airlines, plenty to holiday or visit nearby. Not Cambodia or even less Laos.

Some people would prefer to be less well off in Thailand than less well off in their own country. Loads of people have around 1500€ pension. Nothing wrong in that if they can afford health insurance. Everyone can live on 45000 Baht if they wish, all included except insurance.

It’s the super content you don’t need. If it’s to drink at home, take bottled water with a dash of lime juice. Very refreshing. I Ve got a flask that I carry every time I go on a longer walk etc. I put water . Or you can make your own ice tea and add a small spoon of honey. Hot or cold. Takes 2 mins. I’m no health freak but avoid sugar and too much salt. Nearly all Thai food has too much sugar added, including stir fry’s and also msg which is salt.

Quite true, butchers in France are not allowed to sell ready minced meat to restaurants. Restaurants must mince it themselves. The mince meat sold in supermarkets, butchers shops on the spot, is done as you ask for it with a piece of meat in a refrigerated mince machine. The butchers usually wear gloves for this. Any business selling meat, fish, food, should abide by the laws , and risk a huge fine or closure if caught out. Especially today in the world of hundreds of allergens , where we constantly hear of people dying from this and that. Like the young girl and the sandwich from a famous sandwich / snack take away in Heathrow and died on the flight. Bad news . I only have to see the seafood « boats » outside all the Thai restaurants, and it makes my stomach turn. After a hot day in the sun, put back in ice ! The group of cleaning ladies in my condo get frequently sick, eating from the vendors passing by on their moto shop. Health advice never crosses their minds unfortunately.

I can hardly believe it ! Anutin and now Chada , who is possibly one of the most dangerous to ever be in Thai Politics ! Chada’s background and inheritance speaks volumes . He is up there on the list of most corrupt politicians in the world . To complete the picture , how about Thammanat as chief of Police ?

“ low oxygen levels in his fingertips” ?? Did a Thai Dr say this ?

So how does the Thai government know that the Chinese built engine is no good/ faulty ?? I’m missing something. Maybe it’s not a good idea to flood the fertilizer market with Chinese poison and kill us all , as if the thai fertilizer wasn’t bad enough ? Crazy. Many food products from China are now banned in EU because of this fertilizer and food preservatives.

He is not broke, has money he doesn’t want to spend on an Elite . Read the post before judging. Why do you assume the girl cant work ? A few idiots on this thread methinks !

Sorry but it’s true. I’ve spent a long time in India. The poverty of Delhi and Bombay is horrifying. The cast discrimination still exists, even though many Indians deny it. I lived in Goa, which is relatively prosperous due to the large tourist trade, but which also attracts a lot of unsavory characters. I rented a lovely villa from a friend who left to join the Osho Rajneesh in Poona .Getting up very early in the morning, I often saw the lines of workers in the fields doing their “ daily business “. Also the trenches with pigs under some of the poorer shacks makeshift toilets with no water !! It’s a very poor country , and I feel bad for the downtrodden Indians who somehow manage to eat.

The girls that fall for a scam like this are usually uneducated girls from poor families. Don’t be harsh.

Bangkok has some great opportunities for tourists, especially families, The river boats for a start to get to the Grand Palace, flower market , Wat Arun, I paid a local taxi to drive my nephew and friend around for the day, I made a list, no shopping stops etc, lunch with the boys. They had a great day and cheap too. Free boats to Iconsiam side, free to Asiatique etc. Pattaya and phuket could learn a bit from Bangkok about attracting tourists. Starting with decent taxi prices.

No, it’s been a problem for a good few years before Covid. Taking Kata Phuket as an example, Thais burnt down the awnings of Russian run/ owned businesses. Spent 3 months in 2022 in Kata where I lived for many years and have lots of Thai friends with business and normal working people. The Russians have bought up all the cheaper condos ! They have their own taxi service , hairdressers, restaurants, and even massage shops are Thai run, but Russian owned. Add to that the internet /bitcoin , workers / nomads. Sure, maybe the Thais didn’t complain much during /after Covid, as they were broke and bankrupt. I saw a few of my elderly neighbours forced to beg for money for food, there was a queue outside the Club Med with their bowls every morning. The authorities did bugger all, most food etc was provided by expats / foreigners who organized themselves through supermarket donations mostly stationed in Rawai and then handed out where needed. It was dire, so any foreigners arriving after Covid were welcome. Nowadays it’s ridiculous, Russians here Russians there ….. The beaches are crowded with their picnicking, the restaurants over run with their families , you go to a supermarket you’re pushed out the way. They are sullen and unfriendly, mostly downright ignorant and impolite. Not that Pattaya doesn’t have the same problems, especially Jomtien. They work openly around Jomtien nightmarket, and that huge condo complex with restaurants/ laundries/ agencies ground floor. I cut through there from second road often after going to the German delicatessen to eat or shop. Ive seen Russians waiting on tables etc. As for the gogo bars with extras, the Russian girls have been there for over 15 years if I remember right. One of my Phuket neighbors was a regular client, and what about walking street Pattaya ?? All this brings Thailand down another notch again.

The problem is, how do you tell the difference between normal tourists, and criminals ? You see all sorts in the airport who look like respectable tourists. Tattoos are very common these days, lots of men wear bermudas and tshirts, not like years ago when everyone dressed for travel. Ive seen some awful scruffs at immigration, doubt they all all criminals . So how can airport staff or immigration ? I have noticed over 35 years that the criminal population of Thailand has soared lately. Maybe they are more savvy and shrewd with all the options open to them/ technology etc.

Gosh, I thought those particular districts were famous all over the world!,

The 2 girls in my condo office were slim and lovely about 4 years back, now they’re Rolly Polly’s. Such a shame, their prettiness has gone.

You can enter and leave anywhere any how. I’ve left by boat , and the border crossing into Cambodia. at Ha Tien .,PS visit the Central Post Office in Saigon, it’s beautiful and built in the 1980s. The city cathedral is opposite * Notre Dame*.

As said , best to take a car and driver , really reasonable prices. More comfortable than the bus.

Hi, best IMO , fly into Hanoi. Lovely city with old Vietnamese character. From there, take a one night trip to Halong Bay and a boat trip, wonderful scenery. From there travel to Hue, visit imperial citadel etc and Perfume river trip. From there you can visit Hoi A for a few nights, beautiful old village, historically a Japanese trading center, try and visit a Japanese house, there is the covered bridge , so special. What is so great about all these suggestions, is that you get to see the real Vietnam with its people who still wear their au dai . From there to Dalat if you fancy a few cooler days rest and repos before heading to Saigon. It’s a more modern city these days with a strong French influence. Have some cocktails on the Rex Hotel roof top, fab view’s, get the feel of all the ambiance of the end of the Vietnam war as the north Vietnamese Army approached Saigon. It was from there that the American news filmed. Very sad times. A must is the War Remnants Museum, don’t leave Vietnam without going . From Saigon , by bus , a must trip is the Mekong Delta and one of its floating markets which are the most interesting and colorful in all of Asia. Surrounded by orchards, farms, fresh noodle factories, all their produce is fresh and you can eat on your hired boat with oarman from other kitchen boats. A fantastic experience which was one of the highlights of my long trip. The best are Cai Be and Cai Rang. I stayed overnight to have a whole day and sunset . From there I came back by river boat direct to Phnom Penh Cambodia, but you can also return to Saigon and fly home. It’s a wonderful country that still has the exotic feeling of south east Asia, and fantastic food, please read up on each destination as I can’t name all there is to see in each. I have Vietnamese family so have good experience of this country. Happy travels.

I’ve had these and you can’t get better . I once had even heavier drapes in Phuket and it was hard to open them they were so heavy. In my French home I also have roll down alu blinds which stops the initial heat before it hits the windows. Helps a lot , I’m in the south , 30c ++ and sun morning to night.,A problem in Thai condos is all the climes are on the terrace which heats up the air like hell.

Ah, I was waiting for your hate of Surachat to pop up ! Makes me wonder what he’s done so wrong, except that you don’t like him being what you call a « poster boy » IMO he’s straight enough, does his job and there hasn’t been a single better police man in Thailand so far . Enough for me, if most of Thailands police force had his integrity, then it would be a much safer place.