Jonathan Swift

I don't know anything about Thai law enforcement, but if they don't want to invent charges like prostitution because of the exchange of drugs and money I think there will be no other prosecutions other than for drugs. Silly really. I think they will all get off easy. I think the cops might think they're setting an example and also posing for the press to show everyone how successful they are at their jobs. Just a press photo op and showcase, really

he's looking at the guy in front. Looks like a special deal in the works

Nahhh, why would he, right? Looking for something new? Seriously, why does it matter? There are a million sites with millions of Thai and Asian content. Well, a friend told me that, 5555

Good to see a happy story for a change. I wish him health and a speedy recovery. Not everyone is fortunate when it comes to go fund me. I started one for a Thai lady whose leg was shattered in a motorbike accident and I got all of $60 US. I sent her $500 US. I guess it matters how many western friends you have and if your big on Tiktok and/or youtube.

Regard your million baht as a nest egg that you can build on for 14 years, not as a fixed amount that you'll have to slowly drain. Once you settle here you will know how much you will need on a yearly basis. based on your budget You should take part of it and invest it where you will get a return on it, and can easily liquidate it in an emergency. I keep my nest egg in the Vanguard High Yield Index mutual fund where it pays me a dividend, but even a money market fund would be better than letting it just sit doing nothing. It won't take more than 2 years or so to evaluate your trajectory and make the necessary plans and changes. You should have more confidence by then.

While your estimate may be true by way of your experience, you're dead wrong to declare "no way". There are many much less expensive options.

The kind of story one wishes one didn't read.

It seems to me that would be the easy way out, compared to life in a Thai prison. Such a sad shame when someone gets involved with someone without seeing the red flags that are always visible in such people. A violent temper is npot something that just appears. Very heartbreaking to see this happen to a doctor who no doubt helped so many people in their lives.

Some people are addicts. Others are just stupid and careless and will always learn things the hard way. Hopefully most of us won't have to wait for advice from a twice convicted 55 year old drug user.

If you don't have anything helpful to say then zip it. What he said is quite credible. I've been here 11 years. I know what it takes and what you can do if you proceed slowly but surely.

That's about $30,650 US dollars. You don't say where you're from as to your pension, I assume it's not the US. 14 years is a long time to be making such predictions. Some of it depends on what kind of visa you get. Obviously you're too young for a retirement visa, so you may have to do the visa runs every month or so, although I never did and I'm not sure how that fits into today's new visa rules. A lot also depends on your anticipated lifestyle and ability to live simply and frugally. I live nicely on about 57,000 baht per month. For visa purposes I add about 10,000 baht to my incoming income transfer to show total income above the 65,000 baht per month retirement visa income requirements. This money goes back around each time. Strictly based on cost of living, if you live frugally, you can live on as little as 1500 dollars/50,000 baht per month. There are people who live on much less. I have a nice large furnished one room apartment in a high rise in Makkasan Ratchatewi Mid town Bangkok which is about 8500 baht per month. Housing can be quite inexpensive depending on where you are. Much of the advice here is based on a higher standard of living than you probably need. Also, once you're here, you may be able to do some kind of work such as teaching. Teaching will give you a long term visa, but you need a basic degree. You can also go to Thai language school and get a student visa. Once here, you can probably improve your situation a little at a time as the years go by. Start by living on the bare minimum you can and work your way up. Don't listen to the naysayers, I've been here 11 years and personally have known people who lived here on very little. Based on what I know personally and people I know personally, you've got it covered, where there's a will there's a way.

Obviously makes a good footrest. Imagine someone's smelly feet in your face all night.

You're not missing anything. There isn't anything you can experience on Hard stuff that isn't better straight. Good for you for listening to your common sense

Stock photo, not the one he's talking about

Your'e comment is disgusting in its bigotry and racist hatred. You don't belong here, so please self deport. Meanwhile, when your comment gets deleted because it is offensive, I am the one who reported it. Yup, point the finger at me, I am proud to stand for the values I was raised on, and which the Thai people embrace. Don't go away mad, just go away.

Depends on how you define woke. They don't have to be "woke" because they have always been largely free of hate and bigotry against which woke came into being into other countries. Thais are inherently cautious and reluctant to rock the boat. In other words, they have nothing to be woke from, besides the fact that western terms don't even translate here. You can't superimpose western thinking onto Thailand. It's sad that in the west the term is used as an insult and treated as a dirty word just because a demographic of people are trying to move forward in ways that another demographic group objects to. And on the "woke" side, obviously there is extremism that undermines otherwise well intentioned attempts at change. But that's the nature of change - the pendulum always swings and overshoots its mark before reversing into the other direction where it also overshoots. I find it sad and disturbing to see this western cultural civil war in which nobody wins raging on, with the casualties being peace and harmony. Thai society has largely achieved those two things, pre-empting those derogatory divisive terms. Peace to you brother, and to everyone.

I know there are a lot of complaints about this, as to me, I have always accepted it as a built in part of this culture. I think the Thais are entitled to make their living, there are enough wonderful and enjoyable things here that those prices don't affect or bother me in the least. I've been here 11 years and there are so many cheap or free things to do that I don't even encounter any of the farang prices. I'm not going to give anyone advice because at 67 years I know better. But I think you can choose whether to get your underwear in a bunch or just accept the status quo and enjoy life. At some point when the tourism minister decides that this hurts tourism something might be done, but it's more likely that they would consider this a valuable revenue stream

I think it's fundamentally a self esteem, confidence, and body image problem, and those are emotional issues beneath all else. Counseling would be helpful to explore that thoroughly before any decision is made, but I know little or nothing about that kind of therapy in Thailand. On the one hand big boobs might make her feel good with no other complications. But There's a chance that if this doesn't cure the self esteem issues then she may remain confused after spending a nice chunk of change. People can become addicted to cosmetic surgery. I think you are quite insightful about this being more complicated than it might appear on the surface, and you are to be commended for having the right kind of sensible concerns for her and the outcome. If this were in the US and it were me I would go with her to couples' counseling to tease out whether this is the right move as far as her self esteem and happiness go. I wish you both well. BTW, not all surgeons are created equal, if you go that route put due diligence into finding one whose work is outstanding.

Absolutely. These dogs are miserable, full of parasites, malnourished. Thailand could, if it really wanted to, address the problem, implement a neutering problem, because no matter how many you kill the remainder will still breed. I think only culling AND neutering will make a dent in it.

You obviously have no clue about Buddhist teachings. People don't reincarnate as anything but people. And you live here?

The usual narrow minded armchair critics. Rest assured he will try again and again and again because he has nothing constructive to offer.

Well, you certainly won't be among any volunteers will you? Nah, too much effort required to actually help, easier to be an armchair quarterback and just complain

Don't you remember doing stupid things when you were that age? Yes, it's a degrading way to behave in public, but I think the mode of transportation shows that the locals still afford them some respect and practicality in safely bringing them home. I wouldn't hold them in contempt unless they acted contemptuously. It all depends on the behavior. Falling down repeatedly as relatively innocent. And yes, it's more likely they might earn disrespect with drunken behavior, so I agree wholeheartedly about the risks involved. These risks can literally be fatal. I absolutely agree they should have had designated babysitters. I tell people new to Thailand - two rules: 1. Don't be stupid (this being a foreign country which they are not acclimated to) and 2. don't get falling down drunk [unless you have the aforementioned babysitter] which also comes uunder #1. Cheers.

In case you'd like to improve your language skills, silicon is the hard element that computer chips and glass (silicon dioxide/silica) are made out of. Silicone is hydrocarbon chain molecule comprising a class of rubbers, gels, and lubricants, including WD40, window caulking, and flexible kitchen utensils. Although i've seen a few botched surgeries where you really can't tell the difference between the boobs and sandbags.

The new Thailand free tourist taxi. Now they'll have this news story and video to remind them of how much fun they had being wheeled like rubbish back to their hostel, otherwise they might never know, Unlikely they would otherwise remember. On a serious note, here is the opportunity of a lifetime for young people to shape their future around an adventure of a lifetime with all of the beauty and inspirational fun experiences one could hope to find only to anesthetize themselves into total numbness and go through it deaf dumb and blind. On top of which comes all of the not inconsiderable risk involved in putting yourself into that state. I find it sad. In my drinking days this only happened to me a few times, and that was more than enough. I think it was because I paid attention to what others looked like when they did this and said, ehhhh, no thanks. Also, I preferred hallucinogens (in the 60s-70s) which tended to steer me in the opposite direction from mental numbness. haha