ianf

I stay where I am registered. My wife and I won the house. But tomorrow we're off to Chiang Rai for one night? Will that cost me 4 grand?

21 hours ago, cms22 said:

This is the result of having an "administration" in this country that does not want the people to have rights. This is the result of having an "administration" in this country that is only interested to protect certain sections of society. I remember a couple of years ago so many right-wing TV members spouting on about how bad Thaksin is and how much better the army government will be. Where are they now, I ask.

Right wing? I am sure that I am not right wing - in fact far from it. I am totally opposed to  Thaksin because he is a right-wing autocrat so how can your statement stand up?

3 hours ago, DiscoDan said:

Great news, he could not back up his claims with evidence in court and that's why he lost simple.

Not his claims alone. A product of research. Why is this great news? I guess you support exploitation and the treatment of others in a hideous way. Shame on you. Go back to the right wing where you belong. Andy is a 100% defender of the human faith and all that stands for decency and common justice. You clearly don't like that.

21 hours ago, SOTIRIOS said:

...wanna guess who is behind all these shenanigans....???

I'll take a punt here: The USA???

On 8/23/2016 at 5:29 PM, Ace of Pop said:

As with Cycles and Jet Ski use its both abused by idiots but one is done of highways. Mountain Bikers only hit trees that dont swerve to avoid them putting vehicles off their line. As for Health, total rubbish, many other safer ways , more for ego ,like the young Jet Boys. I do ride a Bike too off road.Im with the Old School Bikers not Lycra Posers.

On 8/31/2016 at 0:56 AM, paulsingle said:

I'm arriving in Phuket in two weeks time and will be staying in Chalong for 7 months. I'm bringing my road bike. I've had 16 holiday visits to Phuket over the last 14 years and I know what the traffic is like. I have ridden a scooter around Chalong, Karon, Kata and Patong. Unlike my son, I ride slowly and defensively on the motorbike and plan to do the same on my road bike. I used to cycle all around the city centre in Brussels and have cycled in a number of cities in the UK, France, and Netherlands. Reading all the posts in this thread, the only thing that worries me is dogs. I'm rather wary of dogs at the best of times and trying to kick a dog that's trying to bite my leg and pedal and balance at the same time is a precarious situation to be in. I guess some kind of water pistol loaded with a solution of ammonia may be the best defense.

It seems I may well offend some of the contributors to this thread with my bib shorts and cycling jersey. I'm a classic MAMIL so apologies in advance for that.

Does anyone know of any cycling groups for relatively gentle rides? I'm talking about 30 to 40 km, not too hilly for a ride of a couple of hours or so.

Paul: Chiang Mai is far better than Phuket for road riding; Check out the Facebook Roadriderchiangmai group.  Secondly: A squirt from your water bottle should deter 99% of Soi Dogs.

On 8/22/2016 at 0:14 AM, robertthebruce said:

Cycling in Thailand is a big No No......

 

Too dangerous....

 

today was your warning....

 

 

Not too dangerous at all. I cycle out of Chiang Mai averaging 550-600 km a week. Yes, we have incidents but when I was visiting the UK this year I also had incidents there. By posting that cycling is too dangerous in Thailand you are dissuading people from trying cycling which is a wonderful, healthy and generally safe activity. Keep out of the cities and off the highways and you've got a tremendous choice of roads and experiences. Off road is great too. Robert the Bruce obviously posts with no knowledge but I'd invite him out with us some time. Perhaps he'd enjoy 100km through the back lanes of Chiang Mai. We'll lend him a bike and a helmet.

13 hours ago, BigBadGeordie said:

I can talk <deleted>, maybe I can help?

 

Oops, just re-read the OP, they are looking for a translator, they have a Judge and Prosecutor already.

Correction: They have a judge, prosecutor and a verdict already.

3 hours ago, robblok said:

IMHO the family has had access to far more information then anyone here on the forum and also has far more at stake.. so I kinda trust their judgement. The family has had information from the UK police and other info.

 

Anyway like you I have not followed this closely but I would certainly think that the family had a lot at stake here and would have had far more information and would know more then most .. if not all.. on this forum.

 

Just because we have not seen it does not mean its not there.

I wouldn't trust their judgement for one second. Besides only part of the family were duped into believing Justice was seen. There is a huge disparity between those tourists' views who spend small amount of time here and those of us who live here and see this SH** every day of the week. We know how they lie and manipulate. We know how much money talks and we know that behind that lovely smile, there's a dagger pointed at your heart. There is no doubt, 100%. that these poor kids are innocent. The powers that be know that also but in this country loss of face is far more important than people's lives. And how many times have we seen that over the years??? Not just my view here. My wife's, her family and many Thai friends. They all KNOW (I emphasize that word in caps) that the Burma 2 are innocent.

I live close to this quarry and the neighbouring one called Grand Canyon. The one reported above is just The Canyon. My wife, a very strong athlete and experienced swimmer, went to the Grand Canyon a couple of weeks ago. She used the slide into the water which swept her under one of the inflatable platforms. It took all her resources to survive and find her way out. During this trip people were jumping one after the other in a very dangerous manner. The lifeguards (or security?) turned a blind eye and my wife, being one of the most outspoken and forward Thais you are ever likely to meet, gave them a good talking too and explained the critical safety aspects. They ignored her. I go past these two facilities every day: I do not understand why they have been allowed to stay open: THEY ARE DANGEROUS. I warn all those tourists I meet and others to stay away. The one above charges 50 baht. The Grand Canyon with all the toys and inflatables cost 300 baht a pop. I have no other evidence but I know of two or three people who have used these places, swallowed water and were violently sick for a few days. It beggars belief that the owner of one is a village headman. I guarantee they would not get away with these amateur and dangerous facilities in any Western country.

13 hours ago, Dongkampo said:

A picture says a thousand words, just take a look at the typical red shirt supporters, poorly educated menacing and Jatuporn with one of the well known Thai smiles which is anything but friendly.
I don't normally agree with any kind of military rule but the coup was sadly needed to prevent more trouble,  deaths and a near civil war happening. We all know Jatuporn was/is in Thaksins pocket along with all UDD politicians and some of the money filtered down to locals in many Provinces mostly in Issan. Bottom line there hasn't been a truely Democratically elected government in Thailand for many years, well before Thaksin.  Hopefully there will be in the not too distant future. 

Great Post. Debate and the other Red Shirts here should read this and inwardly digest.

1 hour ago, debate101 said:

As far as the military-brokered deal to sponsor Abhisit, I have never seen the hard evidence, either, but this seems like a solid inference to make based on the military's long, documented history of overt and covert interference in civilian governance, the ostensible reasons for the 2006 coup (and why they keep talking about it "going to waste"), the leaked cables, and the number of high-ranking military power-players in his cabinet. Plus the fact that they came out on his orders to defend his government with the use of lethal force while having just refused to act on Somchai's orders to clear PAD from the airports.

 

 

Oh dear Debate! You really have swallowed the red line.

On 12/18/2015 at 1:45 PM, smokie36 said:

I nip along every once in a while to remind myself how much better areas are around.

It's fun for a couple of hours.

It's worth nipping into once every three months to remind yourself just how horrible it is. When you've recovered 3 months later, try it again - just to reinforce your opinion.

16 minutes ago, tbthailand said:

 

"No the military did not put Abisith in power."

 

No need to laugh. Shows the paucity of your thinking. Off course the military did not put Abhisit into power. Manipulating history is fun isn't it? But it's wrong.

1 hour ago, Shawn0000 said:

 

They rioted and caused deaths and mayhem, but they did not grab power, following all the trouble they were lawfully elected.  I do not condone what the Reds did in Bangkok but it is rather different, they were calling for an election after an unelected party were put into power by the military, they were fighting for democracy not against it like the other side.

Fighting for democracy, eh? Does any Thai know what democracy is? Does the average red shirt supporters have a clue about what democracy is? 'Thaksin thinks, Puea Thai does.' Is that a democratic statement from their exiled leader? Paying members of the Senate monthly stipends in order to support Thaksin's manipulation of the existing laws. Is that democracy? Unilaterally making decisions away from his cabinet and not letting any member of his cabinet make decisions. Is that democracy? Defacing every Democratic Party poster during the past two elections. Is that democracy? We could go on but some people here just jump onto the Thaksin bandwagon without any understanding of Thai politics, Thai culture or the Thai way of doing things. There is no democracy in Thailand now or in the past. What we have now is an attempt to try and curtail the excesses of politicians who use their power to sneak every single baht into their own pockets whilst denying funds for health care and education. I'm sorry to disillusion some of you folks out there but there was no mention of democracy in Thaksin's political history until his farang advisers realised that hijacking this concept from Abhisit would give his reds a cause - even though it was one they did not and do not understand. Thaksin democratic? Off course not. He's an autocrat of the worst kind.

4 hours ago, The stuttering parrot said:

Why wouldn't he be unfazed he speaks the truth about the yellows trying to seize power unlawfully opening up the opportunity for a military coup.

Unfortunatley Sutep and his cronies are unfazed to and hid away in a temple until  it was deemed safe that enough time had passed.

Some monks and pollies are Teflon coated and get a free pass to bring down a democratically elected government.

"The truth"? What truth? His truth? Your truth? Perhaps he's unfazed because he loves being the hero martyr. But is there a more ignorant nasty fellow in Thai politics? Probably, but he's certainly in the top ten.

Why would anyone want to use these ridiculous devices in the first place beats me.

5 hours ago, Prbkk said:

Crazy sentence. This should be a controlled substance: sold officially to those with an interest in it, an informed, personal choice . It would eliminate the criminal element, eradicate impurities and generate tax revenue.

Always crazy sentences here. 7 years or more ago a young Turkish boy was caught with a handful of the same pills. In his case no one would help him, not even the Turkish embassy. He was promised a reduced sentence of "less than 10 years" if he pleaded guilty, but off course they did not respect the agreement and gave him 20 years. Yes, he was a mule, a boy from a poor family excited by the thought of international travel and a 'free' holiday in Thailand. But what happened in this case (as far as we know) he was set up. Meanwhile the real dealers were on the same plane with large quantities of this drug and they got away because the border police were alterted to the boy. That's how it works. So disgraceful.

3 hours ago, Navalator said:

Covered in blood?  Give me  break.  The kid probably deserved it. Now watch the evangelical nut cases come out of the woodwork to scream  teacher abuse.

Deserved it????? Something wrong with you???

2 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Civil conflict appears to be on the brew now. I would think a Yingluck conviction for dereliction of duty will push many of her supporters in the NE over the edge. 

 

The BRN (Patani independence movement) who committed the bombing attacks are not getting recognition that they expect either. The bombings were to force this government to recognise them and to the negotiating table. By refusing to acknowledge this was committed by Southern Separatists the junta is merely inviting further attacks. 

 

As the Khao Sod article from yesterday said, the separatists have crossed the Rubicon by attacking tourists. They resisted until this junta came along. That will be Prayuth's ultimate legacy, that he has allowed the Southern conflict to widen. 

 

It would not surprise me if we see the North and South unite in a common goal.

 

Hang on to your hats folks, a long, long period of instability and danger ahead I fear. 

More fantasy from the Irish teller of fables. Good try though.

32 minutes ago, weecree said:

For years ive been reading (on this site) articles talking about the southern insurgents moving north and particularly into the tourist areas to both draw attention to their cause and force concessions. It amazes me that with the information thus far established we've completely forgot all this and assume its the red shirts. The logistics alone would be formidable. What we know of red-terrorism since the last surge is that its often very small scale, opportunist and lacks genuine planning (dumping a nail bomb behind some bins or lobbing a grenade over a wall). Of course this could be paramilitary which would be an incredibly worrying development. But its rather unlikely. The reds have stayed quiet for the past two years knowing full well that in a free vote they'll either romp home or wait until the army is back in its barracks and use protest as a vehicle for civil disobedience. 

 

What we know of the southern insurgency is that it has lost impact in the media, it is ideologically driven, it has no chance of representation through the ballot box, and it can mobilise in those regions. We also know, thanks to the statement on the type of devices used, that they mirror those used in the insurgency. It boggles the mind then that people think the lesser of two evils is to pin it on the reds. Not only would this likely lead to further state aggression by the military, it may end up in a self-fulfilling prophesy. It seems the Thai state desperately wants to not only disefranchise the north, but also humiliate them in the process by provoking a confrontation. Its so counter productive that i cant get my head around it. Meanwhile the people actually responsible will very likely be planning and coordinating a far more attention grabbing strike no doubt in the heart of the tourist trap. 

The reds have never 'romped' home. They got 35% of those eligible to vote, curiously the same as the winning total in the recent referendum.

2 hours ago, Winniedapu said:

 

 

Nice post. Tripe from start to finish, but a better class of tripe than most of the other junta trolls can aspire to.

 

I particularly liked the bit about Thais not being stupid and the bit about restoring peace and stability. 

 

Winnie

Unwarranted slur: "Junta Troll"? You obviously didn't read my post. Only scanned it Winnie. Naughty boy.