Banana7

The real issue in siding with China is that China will want Thailand to adopt Chinese values. Thailand is halfway already adopting Chinese philosophy, values and strategy. Thailand is already slowly taking away freedom of speech, criticism of government and other entities. In China, the CCP members control the majority of wealth in China, and if you ask the party members to disclose their assets, you end up in jail for asking, as a lawyer did recently. Here in Thailand, the politicians become wealthy as soon as they are elected, and wealth doesn't come from their salary. We see many Thai government employees accumulate massive amounts of wealth, far beyond what their salary supports. Thailand is a dying democracy. Young Thai people seem to recognize the slow erosion of democracy and hopefully will change the current course of the country. Here in Thailand, as in China, there are Ministers in Ministries that have zero experience in the subject field, as in the Health Ministry here in Thailand. The ministers get the appointment not because of academic, professional or experience qualifications, they get it other reasons resulting in disastrous outcomes. Does Thailand want to become more like China or more like USA?

China employs people to actually, discredit all criticism of China and glorify all Chinese political statements, strategy, values, etc. on the internet.

I too know of people who have done exactly what I described. A Policeman handling or escorting bags gives the visual impression that everything is legal and important. Why would a Policeman be involved in illegal activities? After all the Police are there to uphold the law, in most cases.

Let's not be fooled by this seemingly innocent incident. The Police are there to protect the bags and their contents and to reduce the possibility that other authorities do not intervene or potentially want to examine the contents of the luggage. The lawyer's bags may have contained content which is questionable or illegal. Lots of times lawyers transport large sums of cash and valuables between countries for clients. Authorities who have the right to examine the bags, may want to avoid confrontation with a lawyer and other Police. There have been other reports of Police assisting travelers with their bags to evade searches by customs and other authorities. Clearly, the Chief suspects something improper occurred.

At least 500 handsome, young, physically fit, rich American US Navy sailors arrived in Pattaya today. Lots are strolling along beach road, second road looking for Thai delights, rest, relaxation, entertainment and unspeakable pleasures. They have been at sea for many weeks and now looking to unload some cash. About 6,000 sailors will visit this week.

Cigarista, cigar store in Tip Plaza on second road, Pattaya. In Bangkok, try Davidoff in Gaysorn Village mall, Phloen Chit Road. Also Cigarista Peninsula Plaza on Rajdumri Rd.

Wow! Those prices look ridiculous. 5,000 baht is the going rate in Pattaya, to buy a condo. I used a lawyer I found in the land office doing another property transfer. Another friend bought a villa, pre-construction, created a company, put the villa into the company, all for 5,000 baht using a lawyer.

(a)... the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal, manipulation or implantation of organs; (b) The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth in sub-paragraph (a) of this article shall be irrelevant where any of the means set forth in subparagraph (a) have been used; (c) The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation shall be considered "trafficking in persons" even if this does not involve any of the means set forth in sub-paragraph (a) of this article; (d) "Child" shall mean any person under eighteen years of a

Do they actually attend classes? Most Russians in Pattaya on ED visas only attend same day as the inspector comes from immigration. There is scam going on where immigration notifies the school and the school notifies the students to come in on inspection day.

What happened to Bronx Pizza on Soi Buakhao, near LK Metro? It was closed with rolling shutter and dark inside, tonight from 6-8PM.

I have purchased a garmin drivesmart 65 GPS and obtained current maps from Lazada. The map sd card cost 1290 baht and has much better maps than Toyota. We also use google maps and a smart phone but many places don't have data service and consequently the map freezes and becomes unsearchable. Sometimes garmin toyota and google all show different routing. Usually at least 2 have the same routing. In USA and Canada, Toyota uses Garmin maps.

On a 2020 Toyota Hilux Revo navigation system. the Thailand maps don't have numerous highways/roads and modifications built in the past 5 years. Does anyone know how to get up-to-date maps at a reasonable price? A new sd card from the dealer costs over 20,000 baht and may not have modern maps.

When is Big Joke going clean-out Pattaya/Jomtien of foreigners on non-o visas/extensions (on retirement or marriage) who don't have the necessary funds in the bank or monthly income to qualify and use agents? Lots of agents in town send the passports to Northeastern Thailand to get visas/extensions.

The plate should change to the province of your residence and each province has their own plate numbering system.

It seems the Police didn't charge him adequately and let him off with just a 1500 baht fine. Surely he could have charged with multiple offenses like: reckless driving; not sharing the road, excessive noise; excessive pollution; danger action, etc.; then applying the maximum penalty in each charge, or jail until a court appearance to answer the charges.

The common facilities like the gym and spa are part of the common facilities, as are the elevators, hallways, common space lighting, swimming pool etc., when the condo was built and this is common for many condos. You knew that the common fees and services were there when you moved in. If you don't like those common services, move to another condo that doesn't have those services or facilities. Security is very important and is obviously a common benefit. Electricity use varies, widely by individual units/persons and that's why it is metered and billed separately to each condo owner for their unit. EV users should be billed for charging because they get use that energy for their exclusive use, no one else gets to use it. My car needs energy, which is produced from fuel, and I have to pay for it. It doesn't make sense to make others pay for energy that is used for your vehicle. It's silly to have EV users get a free ride or have others pay for their energy. Pay up EV users!

I think that EV charging should not be free. It is not a common benefit and it should not be paid by the common fees.

Very bad air pollution in Pattaya today, 2 March 2023 at about 3pm. Reading taken in condo, located in central Pattaya, after the door was opened for 5 minutes. US AQI over 200.

The initial flight delayed takeoff was clearly beyond the airline's control. The airport is at fault, for not providing adequate lighting for a safe takeoff. Since the first flight arrived late in BKK, it's the BKK to Europe flight was missed by the passengers. Why should the airline provide compensation when the cause is clearly beyond their control?

More fincial problems for Russians. On February 24, the US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Russia’s Primorye, Saint-Petersburg, Uralsib, Zenit, and Levoberezhny banks, as well as Lanta Bank, Metallinvestbank, Credit Bank of Moscow, MTS Bank, SDM-Bank, and the Ural Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Uralsib also reported that Union Pay cards of clients staying in other countries have been suspended by the payment system. Also, Russia Central Bank international reserves amounted to $582.1 bln as of February 17, down by $6.9 bln, or by 1.2%, in one week as a result of negative revaluation, as well as transactions under the fiscal rule as at Feb. 27.

TASS, the Official Russian news agency reports today Feb. 28, 2023 Bank of Russia increases key rate by 10.5 pp to 20% External conditions for the Russian economy have drastically changed, the regulator noted Sounds like there is lots of issues with the Ruble to move interest rates to 20%. I would dump all Rubles immediately. They could become near worthless if Russia collapses. Google "putin russia collapse"

Lots of problems in Russia: Bank of Russia increases key rate by 10.5 pp to 20%. External conditions for the Russian economy have drastically changed, the regulator noted. This is a direct quote from TASS, the Russian news agency, posted Feb. 28, 2023.

I dare say, China may get a new province or 2.

Russia may actually collapse as a result of the Russia Ukraine war. Russia is in a very bad position and may not survive as a nation. Putin, has acknowledged that Russia may breakup in the future, as reported by TASS on Feb. 26. Putin's interview with Rossiya 1 TV is the first time that Putin has publicly commented on the potential disintegration of Russia. I can provide a link to the article, but I am not sure it is legal to post it here. You can google "putin russia collapse" and find lots of articles.

There may not be a Russia to go back to, as we know Russia today. Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged the possibility of Russia facing a breakup in the future, with its population to be divided into separate nations, the country's news agency TASS reported on Feb. 26. Putin's interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel marks the first time that the Russian dictator has publicly commented on the potential disintegration of Russia.