mfd101

(Yawn).

I have never been to Phuket and probably will never visit there. In any case, it is not Thailand ...

I accessed it all at 55. As you could in those days. Not any more now of course. Met my b/f (40 yrs younger than me) in BKK late 2011, having travelled the world including across China & Central Asia & Russia. Married (Buddhist village ceremony) in 2013, partnered (pre-gay marriage) in Canberra 2014, moved permanently to Surin late 2015, built a mansion a relatively safe 40km from the family farm and living here since 2017. A case of: opposites attract and stay together.

When in BKK I use the steps up to the BTS at Asoke as my fitness test. Sailed up no probs last month, and every time. My regular here at home is 2 or 3 times a week in my little gym - stretching exercises (which I do every day anyway, gym or no gym), a little weights to keep upper body shape, 30 situps (mostly a waste of time, I think), and 30 minutes walking fast slightly uphill on the walking machine, balance exercise (standing on one foot). Other than that, up and down the stairs two at a time 20 times a day ... Also important is a decent diet. Little or no alcohol, low low sugar, eat high-quality beef, espresso without sugar, lots & lots & lots of high-quality vegies & fruits (broccoli, avocados, apples, bananas, tomatoes, kale ... ).

20 years ago I was 5 months from retiring from the Oz Federal Public Service at age 55. SEAsia was somewhere you fly over on the way to Europe.

Oh no! So the conspiracy theorists are right yet again! And Thaksin will be voting for Trump.

They are not 'restrooms'. They are not even rooms for resting. If you were to call them 'toilets' you might have fewer problems.

2.5% is not exactly high, at least by current Western standards. But of course it's a pre-C21st economy ...

Someone should petition the Constitutional Court to dissolve this person.

But are we sure it won't actually CAUSE Covid 19?

"Netizens enraged"? I should have thought that anyone worthy of the name 'netizen' would be unenrageable.

"stipend"? Interesting usage.

True, but the young people - those with anything at all between their ears - are leaving for the cities.

Modernity creeping up on Thailand and they haven't a clue. Early signs of cultural change but no understanding of the causes or consequences. Result: suffer the pains without the gains.

Yes. The effect of modern technology & media is to divide and individualize people, everywhere in the world. That, combined with the gigantism of our worldwide modernity, has pretty negative effects on everyone's behaviours. And not just the young people. My b/f was commenting - and I have noticed it too just in my 15 years of visiting then living here - how life in his village is no longer pleasant. When I first arrived there were daily examples of mutual assistance between the villagers. Now many of the young people have left for the slave markets of the cities, and the people left behind are left behind in more ways than one, wracked with jealousy and backbiting.

Mostly only VUVs for VUPs.

Yes, but what follows as the current Senate departs? Noone ever talks about that. I'm unclear on what the process is ... already all sown up by the dinosaurs?

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Social democracy in Thailand is at least quarter of a century away, quite likely more.

Um, how did you reach that conclusion? UK? Sweden? Denmark? Norway? Holland? Belgium? ...

Constitutional monarchies don't have Presidents. They have Prime Ministers as Head of Government. Presidents are Heads of State, like Kings. Or, in the confused US of A, they combine the roles of Head of State and Head of Government. Either way there is no room for both a President and a King.

But in Thailand - by the usual authoritarian logic - to do the one is to do the other.

Courage? Yes. Wisdom? Mmmm. If you want to do certain things - like modernize Thailand - you have to get in to power democratically, have longterm handle on power, appoint - over time - new people to assorted statutory functions, then and only then strike hard & fast. In other words, act like the army but democratically. Not exactly easy to achieve.

You're probably right. Too many nutters on all sides of every equation ... But my basic point remains: that the conspiracy theorists here on AN presented the image of a slick corrupt all-powerful all-knowing Thaksin with every deal a done deal in advance, all sown up. But, apparently, not so.

Well, this development does rather call in to question the conspiracy theorists' hoohaa about everything having been organised and paid for in advance of his return to Thailand. People with a brain might want to reflect on that.

70 baht here in south Surin. Same as for locals. [My b/f always says never do 'Western' tipping, whether for the barber or brunch at PTT. It just drives up the price for the locals, which the locals can't afford.]