mfd101

In the broad, the interests of residents (including Westerners) are different from those of tourists. The latter want 'quaint' and 'picturesque' and CHEAP - all of which goes with an antique economy of under-educated people struggling to make ends meet in living conditions no modern Westerner would tolerate.

But those of us who live here dream of a modern, prosperous, democratic country, well-governed, non-corrupt, with its young people climbing the education ladders and building a better life for everyone, with safe roads and a decent welfare system as well as rewards for hard work.

Well, in the broad, you can't have both (unless the tourists are willing to accept the plastic imitation replacing the old ways & products). As usual in life, we have to make choices and, being adults, we have to accept the consequences of our choices.

8 minutes ago, HAKAPALITA said:

Is there a Club Ferangs one can join to search out these bumpy roads. I go up n down Thailand, yet never find many even in the N.E. Must be vexing having bought a Hi Rider 4x4 only to find a Lotus car park speed bump its greatest challenge these days.

You're probably travelling on main roads (though even there the holes are opening up with the rains), but I travel mostly on the smaller country roads ... Our own Moo, here in Prasat, is disgraceful: more holes than paving, and it keeps getting worse. Is anyone doing anything about it? No, for the last 2 years. None of the locals has the guts to protest.

Fair criticism, though I doubt that ANY ASEAN country could escape well-earned criticism for longterm human rights abuses & lack of genuine democracy.

18 hours ago, colinneil said:

Yes maybe correct, but when customers complain Mazda sue them.

I bought a new Mazda 3 sporty model just over 2 years ago here in Surin. Beautiful little car (not necessarily suited to the bumpy roads of rural Isaan however, but that's another matter). Excellent continuing service from Mazda since then, including quick response to any minor complaints from me or my partner.

I wonder if we will ever see the Mazda 6 here?

7 hours ago, TPI said:

Oz, the greatest "nanny" state on Earth!

You've obviously never lived in France!

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

No. He's reminding Iran of the consequences should they illegally try to block an international sea way. Something they have previously threatened.

Perhaps Israel could fix the South China Sea problem?

I should have thought the regularity and the amount of your pay might rate higher in your order of priorities?

My [fading] recollection of life in Oz is that people said that chooks were helpful in reducing or eliminating ticks. Not sure whether it was eating the ticks or maybe the tick's eggs ...

7 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

So the car sales boom was not the outcome of Yingluck's first car policy. 

No doubt it helped it along but it obviously doesn't account for the current performance.

People on this site used to rabbit on about how all those cars ended up in second-hand car sales yards ie off the road. Which, on the whole, didn't seem to account for the ever-increasing traffic on the roads - particularly noticeable here in remote rural parts.

Despite the usual cynical & unhelpful comments, it seems to me that overall this is a sign of increasing prosperity across Thailand in what is mostly (but unevenly) a booming economy (with growth rates and debt levels that even Australia would envy). Fairly typical in a developing country - much Third World conditions, and some remaining Fourth World poverty, but some and increasing Second World capabilities. And, as everywhere - and not just in developing countries - wide differential between poverty & wealth.

Which is why much of the increased registrations are motorcycles. The day before yesterday, their owners were on foot or in the back of a dilapidated old pickup. Many of the people making cynical comments on this site are old enough to remember what conditions were like in their home countries in the 1950s & 60s ...

Lots of rain (I think) here in south Surin. But my family says: No, not enough. Very light monsoon. Rice not doing well ...

2 hours ago, Mad mick said:

Australian air force consists of about 5 fighter jet, that are 30 years and well old out of date 555

That's based on your certain knowledge, I take it.

No Brits, I notice. I guess too busy parachuting out over La Manche.

Try suggesting that to the politicians! Or the welfare industry!

16 minutes ago, aircooledflat4 said:

Not sure supermarket shelves should ever be viewed as wholly representative of the bigger picture.

 

Australian exports to Thailand 2017:

 

	Value	Year
Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins	$749.58M	2017
Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products	$489.07M	2017
Aluminum	$279.17M	2017
Cereals	$123.10M	2017
Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers	$118.29M	2017
Copper	$116.14M	2017
Iron and steel	$104.00M	2017
Lead	$80.22M	2017
Cotton	$79.98M	2017
Dairy products, eggs, honey, edible products	$68.86M	2017

 

Source:

https://tradingeconomics.com/australia/exports/thailand

An interesting list. Many people on TV talk about Oz and its economy as if it were stuck in 1960 or 1970. I guess it's they who are stuck in the past.

Like just about every advanced economy, the Australian economy is mostly (61% by value) made up of the 'service sector' - which includes most notably in Australia's case financial services, health services, tourism and education. Together they and several other types of services constitute 79% of the workforce. And, while they contribute hugely to Australia's exports - particularly of course education - you don't expect to see them on supermarket shelves in Thailand!

For what (little) it's worth, here in Surin I regularly buy Oz margarine, butter, peanut butter & vegemite at Tesco and wine & cheeses at Tops. I don't buy red meat at all except when I'm in an expensive restaurant in BKK and I have either Oz or Kiwi steak.

1 hour ago, Just1Voice said:

This photo is somewhat distorted, but in the original, which was in BK Post, the American is very damn tall.  Gen P's head barely came to the American's shoulder when they were standing close together.  I think it's a picture Gen P doesn't really like. lol

 

Very funny photo. Lots of symbolism of various kinds ...

I guess they're not maths teachers ...

18 minutes ago, Ulic said:

It's not that Thais don't have helmets, they have them, they just don't want to wear them. 

Compare how many people are wearing helmets now with how many, say, 3 years ago. A BIG improvement - consistent with (1) greater police enforcement, with road blocks just about everywhere just about every day (here in Isaan at least) & (2) the example that people pick up as they see others wearing helmets & (3) steady economic movement up the ladder that enables them to purchase things they saw as dispensable and anyway too expensive only 3 years ago.

I see this latter effect in my own family here in Surin: young fellas who wouldn't have even thought of wearing a helmet a few years ago are now decked out & looking pleased with themselves in the sexiest helmet they could find to accompany their shiny new sexy motorbike (bought with my money but carefully paid off gradually over the next 6 months). Example leads to fashion leads to change ....

38 minutes ago, Get Real said:

Perfect! So, now even foreigners that comes to Thailand praise the cops for giving away helmets. And you do not se the fact that a cop have to give away helmets to reduce the deaths in traffic pathetic?

Yes, it's sad that it should be thus. But improvement has to start somewhere.

If people wait for 'governments' or the 'élites' to start the processes of reform in this country, our great-grandchildren will be dead before it happens. Only local initiatives - bottom up - and slowly spreading as ideas catch on will make a difference.

Endless negativism means that everyone's defeated without even trying. How pathetic.

11 hours ago, scorecard said:

Seen this before in my old condo in Bkk, loud intimidating navy officer's Thai wife had 3 young guys (from conscription) as cleaners, helpers, drivers, laborers, shopping trolley pushers etc., (read servants). 

 

They were terrified of her, and she had no hesitation to abuse them, slap them, kick them and more.

 

The twist is that her navy high ranking husband was also terrified of her, was also regularly slapped, etc.

 

 

 

They should have slapped her back. What disgusting behaviour!

My b/f was (supposedly) in something called the Army as a conscript in BKK in 2011-12 when I first met him. He used to climb over the barracks walls at midnight to go in search of food ... His duties included guarding royal palaces and minding the colonel's dog. He was a slim good-looking young man so his main duty seems to have been standing around looking lovely.

Some appropriate tea offerings had him released from all of his onerous duties ...

The three-option suggested new referendum makes sense as a way of breaking an insurmountable deadlock in the Tories, the Parliament and the nation (or perhaps that should be 'nations').

But I guess that's just too rational for at least one side of the deadlock to swallow. And even then, one swallow doesn't make a spring forward ...

1 hour ago, Redline said:

the education system is getting worse

You may be right for ought I know, but how do you know? on what measurements or measurable criteria?