AlexRich

Thailand always struck me as a “muddling through” country. Advancing slowly but never leading in anything. But I kind of like that. It’s like they have their priorities right … live life, enjoy, don’t strive too hard.

There is an actor called Dick in a starring role. I rest my case m’lud.

Almost too much nonsense to unpack. Your vacuous answers only dig you into a deeper hole. The torture and killed comment is just hyperbole. The Russians have been doing that since 2014. You’ve never heard of Bucha? That catastrophe was not a one off, people have been killed and tortured in every occupied village and town. That you don’t want to face up to that is telling. Like a keyboard Chamberlain, offering peace in our time, when in fact you are opening the door to wider war. The Belarus comment simply beggars belief. They are a dictatorship now completely under the thumb of Putin. Opposition are either dead, exiled or imprisoned. Is that the world that “realists” want us all to live in? Ukraine fight not to become Belarus. The ability of the US to project power around the world … that’s what it’s all about? Again, more nonsense. An anti-American rant. Would you prefer to live under the Russian and Chinese system? Or maybe under the Ayatollahs, who are interfering more and more in the world. Without US power more and more countries would find themselves invaded and subjugated. If that goes so will democracies. A NATO with a Donald Trump presidency is heading for break up. Europe can’t rely on the US under Trump. Because Trump is in the pro-Putin camp. The well propagandised “Russia hoax” is nothing of the sort. Trump and a core of GOP operators are part of the Russia team. So under Trump Europe is much more vulnerable to attack. And that’s where we are heading should Ukraine be abandoned. With support they can win. Setbacks we are seeing are down to the withdrawal of US support engineered by Trump and his cronies. Russia said they’d be in Kyiv in 3 days, they’ve proved themselves to be inept. But they have weaponry and a steady supply of conscripts. So weight of numbers against a force running out of ammunition condemns Ukraine to defeat. Time for Europe and the US to get behind 🇺🇦 or condemn us all to another European war. The 200,000 troops at the border believed that they could roll into Kiyv, kill the Government and their families in incinerators (that they brought with them) and take over the country. Putin thought it would be a walk in the park. He can be beaten in Ukraine, as long as the Ukrainians are given the tools to do the job. And that’s the only outcome that will put Russia back in their box for decades. Don’t be like Chamberlain … Russian success means more wars, not the end of them. Any agreement signed by Putin is meaningless.

Nonsense. The so-called "realists" would doom millions of Ukrainian's to a life under a dictatorship, many of them would be tortured and killed. Allowing Putin to win this conflict, which appears to be the aim of the Trump wing of the GOP, would not lead to the end of war. It will only embolden Putin to make a move on the Baltics and other countries in the region. A Trump presidency will lead to US withdrawal from NATO, and a war in Europe. Weakness by the US will also embolden their enemies around the world, so expect China to invade Taiwan and Iran to cause chaos in the Middle East. Appeasing dictators never works, they only exploit weakness, but fear strength. Europe needs to prepare for war, because if Putin gets his way in Ukraine, that will be the next step. History doesn't always repeat itself, but it often rhymes. This period feels like the early 1930's. It is time to build our militaries to deter threats, and support Ukraine to the hilt. If the "realists" get their way we are doomed.

Oh, now I understand your message? Thought you were talking about another topic. It is not homophobic to make a joke about ladyboys. You might call it transphobic but even then it’s debatable given that this particular group in Pattaya are known to be troublesome. My first time in Pattaya I had arrived from Europe and was jet lagged, wide awake at 3am. So I went out for a walk along the road side (as opposed to beach side) of Beach Road, in North Pattaya. I was stone cold sober. I heard a bike behind me and next thing I knew a lady boy tried to mug me, thinking I was a drunk farang. Her accomplice drove the getaway bike. She hightailed it once it dawned on her that I was fully aware. So their reputation precedes them. I’ve encountered very pleasant ones working in stores and cafes, but of all Thais they are the ones I’m most wary of. That wariness comes from my own experience, and the widely reported experience of others. If posters single them out it is normally for reasons unrelated to sexuality. Gay Thais are rarely commented on because like every other ordinary Thai they don’t bother anyone.

Gert lush?

The world is changing, and some people are failing to cope with it. I feel sorry for older people who are not up to date on smart phones because they are being digitally excluded. My mother kept buying smartphones and returning them because no one was around to show her what they could do and how she could use them. Now that she knows she uses them all the time, for booking gyms, checking what’s on TV and catching up on Facebook and reading emails. If no one teaches you then you are lost. As for the ops observations, I’m afraid the genie is out of the bottle, and won’t go back. We are responsible for our own actions, not anyone else’s. The survivors adapt to changes and improvise. You don’t want to end up like a Luddite, the workers in England in 1811 who destroyed machinery in cotton and woollen mills because they thought it was threatening their jobs. Better to embrace change, and adapt to it. As the philosopher Yoda said: ” Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering” Don’t be that angry old man.

The Chuckle Brothers?

I don't think Thailand is a safe place for high profile criminals on the wanted list. The Kinahan crime family have supposedly fled Dubai, so that might not be safe either. Cambodia might be a safer place to operate? Ronnie Biggs the great train robber fled to Brazil and got a woman pregnant, and he was allowed to stay. He came back when old age caught up with him and died in a care home after a spell in prison. A life on the run is no life at all.

I agree. All he has to do is head to Soi 6/1 every night and short change a ladyboy. He will get all the fight practice he needs.

When it said water dispenser I thought it was incredibly mean to deny anyone some water. On closer inspection it is a drinks dispenser and he is helping himself to Coca Cola. So I understand the issue now. Do Thaiger use AI journalists? They seem to have bizarre headlines.

How embarrassing. If it's being reported in the Daily Mail then the follow up report will include all of their names. A bit stupid to draw attention to themselves like that over a relatively small amount of money. They'll be forever known in Bristol as the Ladyboy Shagger Team.

I'd head for Nimman Road for some decent cafes and restaurants. I'm pretty sure you'll find health/massage places there too. Across the road is the Maya Mall, has some great shops, food areas and a cinema. My favourite haunt when in Chiang Mai.

It’s true that some people abuse the Trustpilot system but taking someone to Court defeats the purpose. They might save face but they also garner much wider publicity worldwide … as a place to avoid.

A big boy did it ... and ran away!

It doesn't cost £337 million pounds to understand that the annual burning of farm and related waste is not promoting better outcomes in the fields of healthy people, animals and plants, as well as the Earth in general. Stop doing that, and save £337 million wasted on a bunch of academic scientists selling hats to each other.

The story was confusing the first time round, but not much better this time. So she was separated from the brother? Where was he taken? And how did she contact him? Thip was sorry for what he did. What he means is that he is sorry he got caught. Bad enough what the vile creature tried to do, but worse he tried to burn his victim to death. Let’s hope he never sees the light of day.

The pic is hard to tell? It looks like two guys? So you think Anna is Thai?

How did they buy land and build a home, when they are both foreigners?

Don’t be stupid. The truth about Trump will come out eventually, let’s hope you live long enough to read about it. It will probably be after he dies, so hopefully soon.

Are you kidding me? You know nothing about Trump. He’s been involved in criminality his entire career, and his Russia ties go back to the 1980’s. That’s both Russian mafia and government ties, no surprise because they are different legs of the same Octopus. He has money and powerful contacts, very useful at keeping you out of jail. His mentor was a guy named Roy Cohn, a mafia lawyer and blackmailer. You might want to do a bit of reading Lou. Behind the “tell it like it is showman” is one nasty vile criminal and traitor. I hope you live long enough to find that truth for yourself.

We have a new candidate for the 2024 Darwin Award.

If Trump pointed out this poll to the crowds on his campaign tour, he’d tell them all it was another example of what a “winner” he is! And the worst thing is that the “We are Q” banner holding inbreds would lap it up. This is America.

I noticed that the number of storms hitting the UK this winter were noticeably higher. Every country is experiencing weird weather systems. If periods of intense heat become normal for Thailand it will reduce expat and tourism numbers. Coupled with the pollution the place will be unpleasant to live in.

I’ve read a few articles in recent years pointing to the rise in the number of middle aged men who have bought motorcycles to recapture their youth. They always have a mid life crisis angle. It turns out quite a few are dying and/or getting seriously injured because they don’t have the same eyesight and reflexes as their youth. Thailand expats are not exactly the same, but many do as the locals do and buy scooters and motorcycles. Many are new to these. Given their age it’s a recipe for disaster. You have a chance in a car, but it’s almost impossible to fall off or crash a motorcycle and escape without injury. Just take the baht bus.