JemJem

Yes. I agree. Probably, he didn't think he would get into trouble. I guess he probably got overconfident, being a well-known social media figure etc.

Once, I saw that an Immigration officer at the Chaeng Wattana place refused taking the visa extension application of a guy because he was wearing short shorts. She asked him to go and change. He was upset but he left and probably went downstairs to buy long shorts or trousers. He was lucky that there are many clothes shops in that building. I guess they are strict about the length of shorts there. Not sure if this was only for guys or for both genders. Anyway, I have been to the Laksi place too, and I think they are not that strict about clothing there.

Actually, it is not funny at all. And, he should do the right thing and RESIGN.

The tourist visa method for staying long term is not a good idea anymore, I am afraid. As far as I know, many posters in this forum have written that not only the requirements for getting a tourist visa in the neighboring countries are not that easy anymore, but also, and more importantly, I think it gets riskier to get it after 2 or 3 back to back tourist visas (plus extensions of one month each). Probably even riskier if you use the visa exempt method (back to back for several times). As for the Elite Card fees, yep, I agree with you. Now, they have become really way too high.

I am really HOPING the 90-day visa exempt thing becomes a reality, and hopefully by the start of the upcoming high season. But, sadly, I am GUESSING it won't happen, at least not this year. Anyway, I think we will find out by October for sure, if it will happen or not. My guess is they are likely to make it 45 days (or maybe even 60 days) this high season, just like the last high season. Anyway, time will tell. Hoping for the best.

Rapinoe is a legend. Among the great stuff she has done or said, standing up to the President (ie. Trump) is number one for me. How many sports players around the world have done (or can do in the future) such a thing ? Very very few, if any. Coming to this issue, what he did was totally unacceptable. But, if he had apologised shortly afterwards and in a clear, strong manner, the calls for his resignation would have been a lot fewer, and the whole thing would have been forgotten within a few days. But, I am among people who think he has to go. On a related, side issue, the fact that a sports federation head seems to be unsackable (and hence, the government is resorting to legal proceedings in order to pressure him into resigning) is so silly and unfair. Why is this position seen very very important? But, one last thing. Yesterday, I read somewhere that if he doesn't go, there is a chance Spanish football clubs will be axed from this season's European competitions. If that is true, that is way overdoing the reaction , and very silly and unfair. I am sure almost everyone would agree on this. But, anyway, he really has to go.

It seems like the pro-Thaksin folks here all look the other way when it comes to this issue. I am pretty sure that most, if not all, actually know that he should have been tried and found guilty on this issue.

Good points. Let me add this. Religiously devout people tend to make more babies, sometimes a lot more (of course, there are exceptions, both individiualwise and religionwise). That is the main reason why the birthrate is quite high in the Philippines (and also in many parts of the Middle East and Africa). The percentage of religious people is very high in those countries.

Your reasoning is sadly not much different from that of people who say stuff like 'I am not suggesting she deserved to be raped, but that woman should have known about the potential consequences of wearing skimpy clothing at night in that neighborhood'. Heartless thinking !

I don't know about his hatred of foreigners, but one policy that I really hated under his reign was the implementation of the 2 am curfew thing for nightlife venues. I think that happened either in 2000 or 2001. And, to this day, it sadly stands, with a few exceptions. Like many others here, I also think he will get a pardon in the near future.

Haha. That would have been so cool. A chance has been missed by Harry ????

The way things have happened in the recent few weeks, it seems like a pardon is highly likely.

Gosh. So much negativity in this thread ???? Personally, in Bangkok, I talk mostly in Thai. I am not fluent, but my Thai is sort of intermediate/upper intermediate, and when most Thais hear me speak Thai, they answer back in Thai and so it goes . But, there are some Thais who answer back in English, and if their Thai is at least at an understandable level, I don't make a fuss and revert to English. Initially (many many years ago, I mean), I also got a bit upset if a Thai answered back to me in English, but, I don't mind now. It is nice to know that they are happy practicing their English.

Somehow, I doubt very much that there will be an international backlash.

What is it with Kuwaitis and motorcycle racing and Pattaya ?? Is Pattaya advertised as a motorcycle racing spot in Kuwait ? ???? Strange stuff.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. Even a few weeks can be a long time in politics, so, it is really hard to make good guesses about what will happen 4 years later. There might be new strong players/parties by then. There might be new and/or surprising alliances. Also, I wonder what sort of political developments regarding Thaksin will occur in the future. And also, we cannot even rule out a new batch of senators being appointed within 1-2 years. Of course, what you wrote above could happen too.

The following weeks will surely be very interesting. Ultra interesting if Thaksin DOES indeed manage to go to Thailand. As of now, so many scenarios are possible. Very hard to guess what will happen.

I could be wrong, but I think that he will have to do time in Thailand for a number of years first, since the crime was committed in Thailand. Then, he will do the rest of his time in Germany. I have no idea how many years he will have to spend in jail in Thailand before being transferred to Germany. Anyone here knows that for sure ??

It is very sad that the US Democrats, one of the most well-established parties in the world, cannot come up with a well-known, strong and relatively-young (let us say, younger than 65) candidate to challenge 80-year-old Biden, who has clearly been struggling with old age mental issues.

My clubbing days are actually over but I sometimes miss the good old times of Bangkok nightlife. I mean, pre-2000. Most bars stayed open till 3 or even 4. And, most clubs till early morning, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. There was no such thing as zoning. Then, sadly , came the 2 am curfew rule. In 2000.

I agree with JingTing. Don't ya worry. No gay or bi will touch you, homophobe guys. It is just like a celebration. We just wish you fascists stayed away. It is just once a year. So, what the heck is your problem? And, as for being half naked, bla bla bla, you have no problem with girls being half naked at Cowboy etc (I sure dont), so let the trans and gay people be half naked, there too ???? Don't be hypocrites.

Well, I have just now tried to find a list of countries that have such a day off, via Google now. No success. But, I still think the majority doesn't have it. My country, Turkey, doesn't. Sometimes, the government does this : If one of the 2 mqjor religious holidays falls on, say, Tuesday - Wednesday-Thursday (because one of them is normally a 3-day holiday), then they declare Friday to be a holiday too, so that workers can have many days off, including the weekend. But, it is not the same thing as compensation day. We don't have like that.

Would you care to expand on it and say which part of what I wrote is nonsense?? Being ambiguous is not helpful at all.

So, you claim that no place, not even a dance club that stays open till 2, can sell drinks past midnight. Well, my guess was like that too. But I wasn't sure.

Just curious. About the alcohol ban. Does it strictly start at midnight today? I mean, are venues that have the licence to operate till 2 am able to sell alcoholic drinks till 2 ? 1 more thing. I think only very few countries have something called 'compensation day', right? And, so, workers in Thailand are lucky in that aspect. In most countries, if a holiday falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, tough luck. You don't get Monday as the compensation day off.