mfd101

I'm looking forward to visiting it one day, but I do find that - apart from Bangers & Chiang Mai - every town in Thailand large or small looks much the same as the next one. And the countryside also ... This is of course a superficial reaction based on my ignorance after 9 years of living permanently in Surin province.

We are living the reunification of the human species. A 1000-year project. Nothing can stop it - for cultural, economic, technological and above all demographic reasons. Hang in there. Get used to it. Enjoy it while you can.

The solution to life's problems is obvious: Increase my wages and reduce costs. Any guvamint that can't do that should be overthrown by the masses.

So, an end to poverty in Thailand!

1000 'generals' down to a mere 500? How will they manage? Surely having a 'general' in charge of each platoon of conscripts is how every modern armed force operates. Just ask the Russians.

You always take this line, but fail to consider the rationale - as the OP states - for staying with OA, namely the insurance requirement is fine & accepted. In my case, at age 75 I need decent health insurance anyway so there's no advantage in changing to another visa type.

Always ask for a receipt BEFORE handing over money. 9 times out of 10 he'll make a rude noise then wave you on without the fine ...

So 59 & 62 is elderly? Not amongst Khmer peasants, I shouldn't think. As to the money stored, fairly typical levels of ignorance involved. My PILs - 78 & c81 - don't have bank accounts. Never been inside a bank in their life. One of their sons (still virginal at 38) has never been inside a shop of any kind in his life. Waits outside in the carpark when we venture in ...

Poland moving up the economic ladder ... Good to see (I guess).

Yet another Falang comes to Thailand for drugs (yawn). Public whipping would be good.

I must say that the British interviewer appears arrogant, condescending & fairly stupid.

He has the appearance (in the interview) of being intelligent & civilized. Given the horrors of the last regime - over 50 years of it - the notion that all will be just fine after 3 months is ridiculous. Syria is hugely complex as to ethnic groups & religions. And deep history going back 3000 years. We can only sit back and watch the new people as they struggle to revive a terrorized nation. And wish them all the best. Foreign interference - Russian, Iranian, Israeli, US - will complicate things, though the first 2 look to be greatly weakened, possibly terminally.

We visit Bangers 2 or 3 times a year, for a few days only. Always Sukhumvit - restaurants & shopping, Lumphini & Benjakiti parks. We love the crowds, particularly the Skytrain. We've done most of the touristy things; no need to repeat. Visited Pattaya twice over the years, a few days each time. OK, but the beaches are nothing to write home about. No need ever to repeat. Life here in south Surin is quiet & sweet.

Um, isn't that what Thai politics is about? And vice versa too ... securing power & privilege to increase wealth.

Interesting how people find it hard to cope with population statistics & economic realities. The French are outraged that anyone could suggest raising the retirement age to 64! Meantime in countries where people are better educated (by politicians) about these things - I'm thinking Oz, for example - the retirement age is already at 68 and heading to 70.

Thaksin doesn't seem to have it in him to maintain a low profile. Constantly announcing government policies or proposed policies, and not even pretending that his daughter is really in charge ... All of which is pretty stupid and will lead to collapse of the government in quick time. Thais prefer appearances to reality.

Certainly Thailand needs the death penalty for leaders of military coups or attempted coups. I'll believe the pollies are serious when they have that on the statute books and actually carry it out.

Part of the growing process, transitioning from 3rd World agriculture & 2nd World vehicle assembly to more sophisticated economic models. Every country goes through it but it's not obvious that either the Thai ruling class or The People as a whole are prepared - or educated - for radical change.

The internet world of our modernity loves lists. Most of them b/s.

Nasty & stupid. Combines the virtues of Megan & Harry.

This is not going to end well ...

The human brain is being improved & transferred to computers & AI. The future does not belong to members of H. sapiens.

She should be a model for Trump but the difference in intellectual capability may be difficult to bridge ...

First step is to cut the Defence budget by at least 40%, then remove 980 of the starred officers from the starred list & pay or pension. Then offer to restore those who can demonstrate publicly that their career achievements were such that they deserve starred rank & pension. Simultaneously remove all military bases and tanks & armoured vehicles to at least 500km from BKK. Then ... oh, I feel exhausted already!

Well, despite the usual smartarse know-nothing comments, this is actually serious stuff. The whole idea of a multiverse infinite in time and space is slowly gaining ground in cosmology. Too many surprises as our observations get closer & closer to the Big Bang (too many well-developed large galaxies too early for current established theory to manage). Which suggests there's no beginning (no God?) and no end. All fascinating stuff but we may not know much more before most of us on this site will have met our own end (at least on this teensy-weensy planet).