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kwilco

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Everything posted by kwilco

  1. doesn't look as if Blue Dragon hasn't been around for some time. Probably closed about 9 years ago.
  2. Anyone know what happened to Trevor who ran the Blue Dragon bar on Soi 8?
  3. What has your racial prejudice got to do with the railway?
  4. Every SK I would do a road trip. In Bangsaen there was an even bigger SK than Pattaya. Places I used to go... Any national park. Laos....but unfortunately they seem to be adopting a mire abd more Thai style festival in bigger towns. Savannakhet was a nightmare just before Covid. Being on the road itself was quite interesting. Smaller towns had smaller, less manic events. On rural roads it was rather cute...families would gather by the road and if you slowed right down they would throw water and smear the car....then you drive off. They were particularly delighted to see a foreigner. I have done SK in Pattaya, Bangsaen, Udonthani, Koh Chang Savannakhet and Hua Hin and Samui. Mostly in and out as quickly as possible.... for most of 20 plus years I've avoided it by driving somewhere. It's worth noting that most of Bangkok it deserted over Songkhran.
  5. I know a lot of people - individuals and families who are moving out out, - Thai people may not have the option. However I think things will change as both local people are protesting and the tourist industry in Northern Thailand is now dead for several months of the year. THe idea that they don't declare a disaster zone because the tourist industry needs to survive will probably have exactly the opposite effect - who's gonna go on holiday to a place whose slogan is "not a disaster zone, yet"? Unfortunately there are other areas of Thailand that are equally blighted - the country needs to/will wake up as tourism is 20% of GDP and lord knows how much absences from work are costing the economy
  6. Aother side effet is it seems the expats living in the EEC (Chonburi Rayong and Chachoengsao) still have no idea how the world around them is set to change dramatically.
  7. both French and British had plans for railways in S.E.Asia lly but they couldn't get them through. China has succeeded where they failed. THose worried about the railway being substandard are totally wrong - it will be fantastic. What the west has missed out on is the INFLUENCE this railway gives to China. Worrying about Chinese military might is also wrong This railway will give China a hold over the whole S.E. Asian region - they don't need a war..... the west used to be the most powerful influence but now it is China and western politicians (especially isolationists like Trump and Brexiteers) have allowed this to happen. They have been too worried about looking good at home and suddenly they turn round and find the rest of the world has moved on with out them.
  8. complete rubbish - you don't seem to understand that it involves a totally new rail system.
  9. this is the third worst HSR distaster after Germany and Spain.
  10. I'm surprised at the numbers of fieignerswho are staying long term in Thailand on dodgy visas. They basically are getting themselves jobs serving the tourism or expat communities that are simply not available to foreigners Dive schools, gyms, tour guides transport services. Many of these people have highly dubious visas and work permits.
  11. I'm surprised at the numbers of fieignerswho are staying long term in Thailand on dodgy visas. They basically are getting themselves jobs serving the tourism or expat communities that are simply not available to foreigners Dive schools, gyms, tour guides transport services. Msny of these people have highly dubious visas and work permits.
  12. Well ...it is going to shorten your lifetime. Even short term exposure can do this. Read this article in WSJ. https://www.wsj.com/articles/air-quality-life-expectancy-1db62d94 Video. https://www.wsj.com/video/daily-feature-apps-to-check-air-quality/8DE0A54E-EDB5-40DA-8B15-F769D8CCDBC9.html
  13. It's far more subtle or insidious than that. Chinese goods are not substandard - however it is all prt of. mega program to spread Chinese influence over S.E.Asia and further. THey are making inroads into all aspects of their neighbours lives - industry, communication and even universities and academia. the averge Jo in the west or even Thailand just hasn't a clue to the extent of this infiltration. People who go on about "substandard goods" and the "collapsing" Chinese economy hve got entirely th erong end of the stick. THeir goods are as good as or better than the west's and the economy in the end will be so big it will completely ignore the west.
  14. You said " main obsession being with tourism rather than production, " Tourism has for years accounted for around 20% of GDP. but "production"?? - Thailand is making the shift from agriculture to industrial and service economy..... Agriculture accounts for just below 10% and industry in general is over 35% and is increasing - the Thai motor industry is in the world top ten and bigger than the UK motor industry. Electronics industry includes many world brands Western etc...
  15. Deniers of pollution in the North seem to spend a lot of time in deflection. They question the sources and try to blame outside countries. The thing is a combination of climate and topography makes it in evitable that pollution with accumulate is certain areas in the North - trying to say "your area" is OK thanks to less of one thing or another is not true - the causes and effects are not that simple. but one factor remains they are ALL the result of human activity. One major source of PM2.5 particles is biomass burning - blaming forest fires again is a red herring - although fire is part of the natural cycle in any forest it is man-made interference that exacerbates the situation Another is traffic and yet another industry. One of the problems in tackling the problem is the "ruling elite" themselves - for instance rice as a commodity is controlled by a small rich "family" who are also very close to government - this means enforcement of biomass burning in agriculture - already illegal - is seldom fully enforced as the pressure to grow more rice more quickly overrides this. Other agricultural products are also involved notable sugar and maize. In the forests most fire again are the result of mismanages human activity - either slash and burn or harvesting forest products like mushrooms. All this together with industrial waste and traffic pollution would not be so bad if it was for the geography of places like Chiang Mai which makes them a magnet for this modern-day smog. As a result of the big vested interests it would seem the government really has no teeth when it comes to dealing with this. It boils down to how many deaths amongst the Thai population have to occur for the government to finally take action.
  16. For decades the UK, and most of the west has not taken Thailand seriously. They have lost influence and valuable trade. They have failed to recognise and address the rising influence of China. With war in Europe and potentially serious conflict in Asia the UK and western allies will need Thailand to be on their side. At present it isn't. UK ignores Thailand at its peril
  17. It seems you don't know what critical thinking is. Here is a video to explain.
  18. You have no idea! You don't understand that common sense is a subject construct and critical thinking is exactly the opposite of what you say. THis is why discussions with some on this forum is impossible as they can't actually form a valid argument or opinion.
  19. You appear to be failing to differentiate between common sense and critical thinking. You understand you are opposites?
  20. Another observation on racists....they are unable to actually put forward any arguments so they resort to cliches..e.g. "woke". May I draw your attention to the comment by Kathy Burke - https://ifunny.co/picture/kath-kathyburke-i-love-being-woke-it-s-much-nicer-bqWU3B4h9?s=cl
  21. Interesting if a little disturbing to see a racist's POV. So still struggling to come to terms with UK beginning to recognise Thailand as an equal.
  22. That's an oxymoron. With or without whatever the "fabricated" means in this circumstance
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