aussienam

My subjective general observation based on my experience coming to Thailand over 20 years. I am a mere snippet of much broader opinions that could greatly vary from my own. I've mostly stayed in areas considered tourist zones. I have noticed a decline of perceived happiness amongst locals, yes what seems less happiness, less friendliness. I am throwing a guess that post-COVID people have been given a really hard reality check. Inflation, cost of living pressures occurring right now can't be helping. I observe a change in the younger generation of people if we are talking about interactions with them too. I make a guess that social media has had a lot to do with a generational change of attitude, an erosion of traditional culture. Most are engrossed in their mobile phones, necks craned over, absorbed in the social media platforms where they desperately seek endorphin rushes from people commenting on how beautiful, clever, wonderful (etc) they are, love hearts, emojis, taking selfies - vanity and narcissism has skyrocketed. I am sure a new condition needs to be added to the DSM manual of psychiatric disorders. And I see it especially the young Thai pretties. A huge amount of the time at the gym they are staring at themselves in the mirror, posing and taking photos. Completely in love with themselves. Even the out-of shape ones, as they get influxes of vanity fuelling comments on chat apps, Tik Tok etc. Delusional. The smiles from these women have turned into the familiar scowls and snarls I thought familiar in the West. I am not a perv and don't flirt with them either (plenty of dumb old blokes still try it on them though with their badly dyed hair rinses and ridiculous swagger 555). Social media access means online financial sponsors (dumb fools) easier and less need to interact personally with foreigners. Less need to put on a fake smile for a farang. I don't really care personally (except when they hog gym equipment and waste time on their phones), just my observation. Others obviously have different opinions and experiences. But then I also interact with some friendly folk, familiar street cart food sellers, and some other locals I know. But overall, a decline in smiles/happiness - it seems.

He walks daily, even now with dizzy spells and slightly unsteady gait (has no other mode of transport). Doesn't drink a drop of alcohol. He eats healthy. He cannot afford vitamin supplements. And quality vitamins here, the costs are too much. Think I'll focus on ascertaining best medical option for him. Thanks anyway.

Thanks. He has someone who has offered a ride and probably opt now for Red Cross in Sri Racha. Note taken regarding Banglamung. Thanks very much for detailed response.

Thanks. My friend has already done this (Will). Quality of life is the issue as he is suffering with side effects.

Thanks. Think I'll suggest this to start with. Other hospitals in Chonburi I'll explain if he needs further specialist care and if he'll accept the travel costs and distance to get there. Seems there are no private clinics around.

I am posting this on behalf of an elderly expat friend who has asked me to source him an affordable cardiologist. He is deteriorating with heart rate falling dangerously low and functioning getting worse. Previous heart problems. I fear he is going to not make it very soon. No health insurance, not sufficient self insurance funds. Only living month to month on a low income pension. Very little savings in account. Unable to return to his home country, no home or relations there and cannot afford airfare. I know, a really bad situation. He has asked if there are any local cardiologist clinics that he won't get charged farang prices. I know many specialists run after hour practices/clinics outside their hospital shift hours and charge reasonable consultation fees. I have searched Google but so far no luck. At this stage he just wants consultation and tests. He is concerned travelling too far. So looking in Pattaya area. Please no pointless posts on what this gentleman (he truly is) should have done. Have your digs, trolling and jibes somewhere else if that is what satisfies you. Just constructive advice please from the decent folk here thanks.

Lots of wealthy Indians showing off their bling these days in Thailand. And as other poster observed, plenty of Indian businesses here looking very light on trade. Then we have the large nightclubs added to the mix. Plenty of ways to set up legitimate business fronts to hide their illicit activities and launder funds. Just like many other foreigners here. With relative immunity from prosecution in India (international victims means local prosecution near impossible as need individual victim statements, corrupt and disinterested police in India, whole office blocks running call scam centres, cheap labor), I can only guess Indians in Thailand are doing it to mix their profitable criminal activities with a raunchy, debaucherous, cash-splashing lifestyle on Thai Hookers, gold, condos, clubs, shops, cars and bikes in Pattaya and other red light places. Targeting elderly, many who get confused easily, respect authority, are gullible and very vulnerable - anyone not feeling sorry for these poor souls, you wait till you get the onset of mild dementia, or general cognitive decline, natural with aging for most. Plus most were born in an era where they didn't gain tech savvy skills. I've helped a few elder expats here with text and other media scams after they've asked about messages they've received and stopped some getting fleeced. Easy for me to sit on the high horse and call them out as stupid and deserving of losing their life savings if being fleeced, and therefore almost condoning the scum criminals, but I am not a narcissist/sociopath, crook, or ex-con as I dare say some here are (and statistically there obviously will be a percentage).

Well, the dumb selfish b****, glad she will face a more robust criminal justice system in the US. Hoping she'll spend many years in prison if found guilty. Fleeing the scene, wonder if she learnt these bad habits from common Thai behaviour growing up. Fleeing from accidents is a national sport here.

After having a family member swindled by a ruthless Indian call centre scammer, I have witnessed the devastating emotional and financial trauma that these pieces of garbage inflict. Plenty of YouTube videos of tech savvy guys who hack into the scammers computers (even the call centre's internal CCTV and audio!) and it reveals how truly evil these people are. They especially target elderly, vulnerable people and clear out their accounts, blackmail others by downloading and deleting files off PCs. I wonder how many of these Indian 'tourists' are here off the back of their criminal exploits. Hoping this Thai/Indian duo get to spend lengthy prison sentences.

Weird article. Welcoming Russian refugees on the one hand but on the other agreeing to an extradition treaty with Russia. In other words, being able to facilitate extradition of potential Russian draft dodgers (criminal offence) back to Russia to be forced to fight in Ukraine. Also, any vocal dissenters of Russian government actions. So Thailand is not a safe haven for Russians. Refugee definition as written on UN website, "Refugees are persons who are outside their country of origin for reasons of feared persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order and, as a result, require international protection. The refugee definition can be found in the 1951 Convention and regional refugee instruments, as well as UNHCR’s Statute" It is possible IMO that the interpretation of refugee is accepted for those Russians fleeing to avoid involvement in what is deemed as an unjust war, with the conflict and violence that is involved. Russia is part of the UN as well. Not that this means much at all.

I say, "hang him". The AN lynch mob will be there with their placards ???? "Death Penalty for Overstayers".

Show Pony!

Can't "have your cake and eat it" too. Thai prostitutes have enjoyed tax free income above and beyond minimum wages, often well into high middle income earners for the younger prettier ladies. Then add sponsors on top of that (many with multiple sponsors). Add the suckers who buys them a house, car, jewelery, etc and then get dumped to rinse/repeat. Add on the Thai prostitute export business with ladies doing trips to places like Dubai, Korea, Japan where they make serious income and no tax. If there was some sort of new regulation and rights given, it's obvious real income would not be accurately declared and Thai women would rort the system so when "up the duff" or having a period they can top up with government subsidies.

Hopefully not sourced for a dirty bomb. Shows a definite security management concern with dangerous materials. If it was some opportunistic thief stealing scrap then it may just end up being a Darwin Award for the eventual deceased. Side note: Please get rid of that annoying new video ad pop-up. It blocks most of the text box on Android screens and makes it impossible to comment. I close it but it re-appears soon after. I see it isn't an issue on laptop screens. Is a bad tech design whoever implemented it.

Even if this guy had been fully insured, the fact no helmet for one likely voids any claim. Blood alcohol level over the legal threshold could be another and if he was handling phone whilst riding at time of collision (although article reads it was in his pocket but still connected to call), yet another one to void a claim. Truck driver's insurance (if he was found to be at fault/partial fault) may also argue rider no helmet, under influence, phone - voiding/limiting liability. In Pattaya I see foreigners from the young guys in their 20s screaming up and down on bikes taking stupid risks and no helmets. But I also see guys all the way to senior years doing the same (albeit less). One crack on the road with your head even at low-speed - it's like an eggshell. Ah ... won't happen to me.

I did not state it was a fact. I think you should re-read what I wrote and comprehend sentences better. I was generalizing on a trend of noted behaviour for many Thai women. She may be the exception and yes, be upset, etc.

Sad and horrific way to die. RIP to this troubled soul. I don't like to mention it but from watching, reading and listening to other accounts of farangs killing themselves over Thai 'girlfriends' here, many of those Thai women are that heartless and callous that they may well be back in a bar, on Thai Friendly within hours of their deaths. We are just their financial sources and love/affection is a ruse. Many many hoodwinked virtuous white knights here.

Article claiming the monkeys were to be slaughtered for traditional Chinese medicine. I wonder how they were going to be slaughtered? Skull piece lifted off and brains eaten alive by Chinese weirdos wanting better erections despite painfully torturing creatures alive? Chinese have a reputation for deliberately torturing animals as part of its traditional medicine out of their backwards beliefs.

Wonder if this dimwit, like thousands of others here in Thailand think that all us bystanders are so impressed? Is it their way to express their perceived 'Alpha male' status? An ego boost? Nobody is impressed, rather everyone just thinks you lot are complete w*****s and annoying as hell.

I think it's good Songkran is coming back. A sign of return to normality. Ok, it has deviated in tourist capital cities and towns from the traditional customs, more into water fight madness and there are critics of this, but nobody really cares. Yeah, it can get annoying at times, but it's great to see the local Thais loving the experience and the huge motorcades and parties that will occur. Instead of cursing and grumbling, I'll be embracing it (in small chunks) and then retreating back home to dry off. Make sure you've got the double zip lock bags to keep phones dry.

Building code certifications are not the same here as UK, etc. So suing for low balconies,.good luck with that one. But never read about a claim being voided over an unsafe balcony. I personally doubt it had anything to do with that. Article is lacking detail regarding insurance claim issues. Plenty of exclusions in clauses of policies to invalidate claims. Alcohol is a usual one, but there are specific conditions. A reasonable guess for voiding a claim in this case would be this. Repatriation cover may also be invalidated due to alcohol voiding claim from outset, or because it was not selected and paid for when cover initially taken out. I do feel sorry for the fellow. Potentially will ruin him financially for life.

Some of these security guards behave like 'wannabe cops'. Desperate for the power and for incidents where they can have any excuse to assault and manhandle people. I see guys with shirts emblazoned with 'Security' across them in Pattaya and even on the roads, some seem to think they are cops, or at least think they have more authority over others, racing their motorbikes, yelling at others to move over as if they are on urgent duty (probably on their way back to their bar with a bag of noodle soup or som tam from local vendor). There are good security as well, I am calling out the bad eggs only.

The guy could have said what many guys tell their wives when heading to Thailand, that he's going there on a golf trip! I am sure 99% of wives though know the real reason why. I reckon this lady has reached out to a UK TV talk show to basically publicly broadcast and shame her husband's infidelity under the guise of being clueless. Divorce is the only way out for this one for both. Guessing there is some Issan girl getting monthly sponsor money from the lovestruck old bloke to 'keep her out of the bar' and only love him LOL.

The news report mentions police examining CCTV, I am hoping (as it is basic global standard practice for crime scene evidence collection) that where the suspect was dining, that food utensils, table area, glasses, etc were all dusted for prints and seized for DNA analysis. Shell casings obviously would be other items of examination. Not sure about Thai fingerprint and DNA database setup. We cannot rely of course on a journalist being given/relaying a complete rundown of the police evidence gathering and police may have just been told they're checking CCTV, without going into everything.

Badly written article. It states fire gutted kitchen but last paragraph claims only minor damage. A gutted kitchen means major damage. So which is it??? And this paragraph makes me laugh, "One injured woman was found who was identified as Mrs. Svetlana Stashko, Russian national. She had sustained injuries from choking on some. She was taken to a nearby hospital". "Choking on some"! Choking on some what? (Obviously smoke inhalation) Who proofreads these articles? 555.