jingjai9

Thank you for your responses

I will be going to Hua Hin on a Friday. I will land at Don Muang Airport at 8:35 in the morning. What is the best way to get to Hua Hin from Don Muang? There will be 2 adults and a young child. What is the fastest way do get there? What is the cheapest way to get there? What is the most comfortable way to get there? I will weight the information and choose the most suitable. Thanks

Thanks I will be down in March and wanted some books to read.

In 2023, are there any book exchanges or used books stores in Hua Hin? Thanks

I think this is a helpful article based on my time spent in Thailand and personal experiences. This article is trying to tell you the best way to get out of the situation. Of course it is up to you to judge the attitude of the police when you are stopped and conduct yourself in a manner that is in tune with Thai culture. On the bottom line the article proposes a logical, realistic plan if you are stopped. Everyone has a idea about police corruption in Thailand. You must remember if you chose to live here or stay her long term, you signed up for this possible situation.

How about connecting with Universities who award degrees in tourism and business English? In the 2nd term of the senior year, students go on an externship or work/study program. In the past many students did their fourth year training at hotels. Having students do a work/study program at a hotel gives the hotel "audition time" where they can see how well the trainee is doing and if they are interested in hiring, make offers for those they want to keep.

The vans to Nong Khai are available for 85 baht. You will see a very small shelter-like structure in the front parking lot at Central. I took this van on December 24th. Although they have a scheduled departure time, if the van is not near capacity the driver will wait for more passengers.

Here are the victims of the "warm war between the Russia and US "Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, the US military estimates that at least 100,000 Russian and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured, along with some 40,000 civilian deaths. The UN has recorded 7.8 million people as refugees from Ukraine across Europe, including Russia" Add to this the US taxpayers who fund the endless wars that subsidize the military-industrial complex. I wish the US and Russia could be as clever negotiating a peace treaty as they are at composing rhetoric to ensure the conflict continues, for example the endless volley of "severe consequences" both sides bark out. Ukraine is a pawn in the US - Russian "warm" war. Both Russia and the US share the blame in prolonging the destruction Ukrainian citizens have suffered daily over the last 10 months. Here are the questions that need to be answered by The US and Russia: In the early 1990s, didn't the west agree not to extend NATO membership toward Russia after the USSR fell? Was invading Ukraine Putin's only choice of action in challenging western influence that threatens Russian security or the well being of Russians living in Ukraine or Moldova? Putin got Crimea wasn't that enough?

I think the RTP don't call him Big Joke. I would guess they refer to him as No Joke. From my read of the article, Big Joke is not doing anything wrong; he's doing things too darn right. This is why he gets marginalized on important cases when it seems like he is on the brink of a major revelation.

Can anyone give me information on how to book tickets for the highspeed in rail in Laos from Vientiane to Luang Prabang? What is the best way to book a ticket from Thailand? Anyone have any experience to share about hiring a driver from Vientiane to Luang Prabang? One advert I read says the trip is 5 hours and 10 minutes. From what I heard the road from Vang Viemg to Luang Prabang is not well paved, hilly with many turns and dusty as well.

Why can't they set up a plan so bars are zoned within an area for each city so it is easier for the police to patrol? This way bars, pubs and night clubs could stay open. The extension of opening hours could be codified, published and distributed on license applications, renewals, etc. for establishments that sell alcohol. Once the new laws are passed, all owners would be required to update their licenses by a particular date or be subjected to fines or other penalties. Bars that operate without a license are in violation of the law. If bribery is a factor, that is the problem of corrupt officials, not law abiding entertainment venues. It would be wrong to restrict people's business opportunities because some officials are corrupt and greedy. On the other hand, business owners need to respect the laws. The problem however is that corruption seems to be the rule rather than the exception. This results in no respect for the law which probably renders this post as another example of intellectual masturbation. However, I persist. Another possibility could be having foreigners agree to be deported if they are convicted of crimes related to intoxication (exhibitionism, disorderly conduct, urinating in public, etc.). This type of form would be signed and printed when people arrive for visas on arrival or extension of visas at immigration. This could be done in the same manner as when foreigners sign the agreement to be deported if they overstay. *Immigration has a chart stating the penalties for varying periods of overstay. There is a middle ground that would help keep both sides happy. * note - I am not suggesting that the period of time people are barred from entering Thailand should be based on the percent of alcohol in their system from the result of a blood alcohol content test, but rather based on a conviction.

There is evidence that marijuana does affect a driver's reaction time and perhaps judgement of distance. Here is a link: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/does-marijuana-use-affect-drivi

Is it really a free market system when lobbies are so powerful and the market in almost every sector is monopolized? Do large corporations pay their fair of taxes? Is the charity-industrial complex truly to help the poor or is it a way to manipulate the tax system? Yes, the large corporations give away money, but is it an act of charity or a means to avoid taxes and reap other benefits? You can appreciate Marx' critique of capitalism without necessarily subscribing to his solutions for improving societies. You can be a critic of the current system without being anti-capitalist. If we are striving for a capitalist economy, then let's have it. Currently we are certainly not experiencing capitalism the way Adam Smith envisioned it. We are living in a time when global capitalism is evolving into a plutocracy. Many social critics see the international trade agreements as a symptom of this world-wide transition.

What about USA banks? Does the USA have laws that prohibit quick international transfers?

This article certainly lets us know that the dog days of COVID lockdowns are over. First, the Thai government was worrying about the tourist industry and hard-working honest people losing money due to lack of visitors and now they are once again sounding off about foreigners. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. This is the big broadcast of xenophobia. They even have a cast of characters - Big Joke, the hero vs. those evil foreign criminals. It is unfortunate that these crimes are being committed by Non-Thais. Personally, I do not want to see one Thai person robbed, assaulted or cheated out of money. To wit, my country, the USA has never compiled a list of Thai immigrants operating businesses in the US who hire Thai students or tourists who cannot legally work in the US and those business owners who hire them off the books and do not pay their fair share of taxes. I understand there are now organizations online that connect Thai business owners with Thai or Lao nationals who will work in their US restaurants. I have never seen a non- Asian person serving at a Thai restaurant in the USA. I am not sure about other western countries, but would be interested to know. According to this source there are 5000 Thai restaurants in the USA. I would suspect the taxes evaded would amount to a sizeable piece of change. https://www.themanual.com › Food & Drink Thai restaurants.Nov 18, 2021 Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Is it my imagination or is Udon making the news more frequently in the last couple of months. Today this story and the one about the Chinese tourists who got student visas.

Does anyone on the forum know what is needed to marry a Thai citizen in Thailand. I am a US citizen. I want to know: --- What documents are needed --- Does the US consulate charge a fee? I know they charge for notarizations. --- Do I need to make an appointment? I assume so because it is a citizen service. Thanks

I grew up in New York when the drinking age was 18 and bars closed at 4:00 throughout the state. It was easy to find 15 and 16 year old girls in the bars. There were also complaints about loud music in the wee hours of the morning. I recall one place in particular near in a residential neighborhood outside of the village limits received complaints from local residents for loud music and cars going fast up and down the roads by rowdy drivers. The police responded to the complaints by doing what they called ABC (alcohol beverage commission) checks. That weeded out underage drinkers. Also, at4:00 a.m. the police would position themselves on the roads near the bar and check patrons for sobriety. The police did this frequently over a period of time. This discouraged people from going to the bar and staying until closing time. It was effective but of course depended upon a police force that was minimally corrupt (outside of NYC). In NYC back in the day the police force may have rivaled the Thai police for corruption, remember Serpico and the Knapp Commission? My point, perhaps in a long-winded manner, is that 4am closings can be managed. The key is zoning. If the bar scene is in an entertainment Zone, it can be managed and protect people who need their sleep at night. This would be good for Thailand. I wonder how many young children of tourists while walking in Pattaya have said, "Daddy, was isn't that women wearing clothes?" Finally, you got to remember that 2:00 am closing really means 4:00 closing in Thailand so by having earlier closing are you really preventing anything? You are in fact creating profits for police and lawyers? Also 4am closings are a breath of fresh air in this era of endless crackdowns. I will be anxious to see the results of 4am closing for bars from any reliable polling.

In Thailand and Asia has a handjob traditionally been a part of the massage and not thought of as sex like other "Special services a massage parlor might offer.

Have any of you in the forum noticed banks in the west seemed to be tightening their policies in the last 2-3 months. For example, I have had an account with my US bank for over ten years. I use a Thai primary address and now they are telling me if I cannot provide a US address, I need to close my account. On the user agreement the bank cites as a policy change that online services are for people from the US living in the US. Also I have read on this forum about people having more difficulties making international money transfers to Thailand. Are the banks tightening up and if so what is prompting these changes? Has it anything to do with the war in Ukraine?

I think one measure for loving someone and committing longer term is seeing your partner when they are very angry. I think that speaks volumes. Unfortunately for me I find someone woman sexy when they are a bit angry (not violent or throwing things or hurting anyone or anything). Also, the lie barometer. - In what instances will they lie, to keep from hurting someone's feelings? For financial gain? Or simply because it is convenient. It seems Thai society has a different criteria for what constitutes a lie.

It is obvious that corruption is at the bottom of the majority of problems in Thailand. Be it the police, elected officials or even teachers in education. There has been a pattern created long ago where public officials privatize their jobs, charging people for services that should be free or pocketing money earmarked for supplies needed to maintain a government agency. We see this in education as well, where an administrator or department head allows candidates who fail the admission test to enroll in the school in exchange for a fee passed under the table. Officials can make getting a driver's license or other public services difficult by requesting more forms, making people wait for service by requiring them to make multiple visits to an agency in order to complete their business. This compels people to offer a tip or envelope to expedite the service. Or officials will drop government regulations to provide a service or license if the price is right. There is little or no merit to the system. Public services are bought and sold like any other commodity. I have even learned this is true for police investigations in some cases. Part of this corruption includes unqualified people entering positions of authority. If this be the case, what kind of outcome can you expect? This is more likely to happen at the higher levels of bureaucracy where decisions are made and people hold more power. Was corruption at hand when the October 6th shooter was able to become a member of the police despite having issues with drug abuse? How are we supposed to feel when the immigration office has a tip jar? Is it any surprise that we have such a mess. The real disaster is that none of this is shocking. I would be surprised if I am saying anything new, but see how ugly it looks when cataloged. This practice does not seem to be unusual, but has been accepted as something we have to live with day to day year to year. How many countries have a system where people pay a fine for a traffic violation to a policeman sitting at a table by the side of the road at the site of the infraction? If there are other countries that operate this way, I would be amazed if they didn't have the same kind of corrupt system as Thailand. I have heard many Thai citizens say," The police are out today checking for motorcycle helmets. It's the end of the month and they need money." The fault lies on both sides. Why are police so commonly corrupt? How does the salary of the Thai police compare with other countries? I understand police in Thailand pay for uniforms, guns and many use their own motorbike while on duty. The whole system is fueled by greed, but unfortunately corruption is the way of life in Thailand. Many people are against corruption, but turn a blind eye when the corruption works in their favor, for example, paying off a policeman when you have just failed a sobriety test or buying your driver's license. No one is totally innocent. If you track the causes of some of the most serious crimes such as selling drugs or trafficking people for sex or work, it seems more often than not, a public official turns up when you follow the money. How much longer can we endure these wolves in sheep's clothing? This will go on and on. I predict in the not too distant future if Thai society becomes more violent with more shootings or there is a copy cat of the mass shooting of October 6th, the public may begin to form their own vigilante groups because they will lose faith in the government's ability to protect them. How high can you go working in politics or public service without committing an act of corruption?

I thought you couldn't work in Thailand with a tourist visa. If journalists are an exception to this rule, I would expect they would be given something other than tourist status.

Can you pay with Thai baht if you renew at the embassy? My daughter has to go in person because she is applying as a first time adult.

Once positive thing could come out of this. Perhaps a crime this tragic and so highly publicized is enough to affect change in the RTP. It seems as though this shooting can be traced to police mismanagement, or better yet corruption because they wanted to keep the perpetrator's name out of the news when he caused trouble while a member of the RTP. One thing that would help is if the media did not continuously publish pictures of the shooter. It makes bad people famous. This I think invites copy cat actions. In America some shooters make videos before they commit their acts so they can be shown on social media. The media in the US constantly flashes pictures of the shooters again and again on the 24 hour news cycle. They even seem to keep a tally of who has shot the most people. To me this just entices other unstable people to shoot for the record (no pun intended this is very serious). These shootings are quite often committed by people with suicidal tendencies who want to take other innocent people with them when they die. For want of a better term, a suicide party of sorts. Check how many times this pattern has occurred in the US in recent years.