John Drake

5 hours ago, Tug said:

And why would you say that?

At least on the part of Hungary, there is this:  

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Hungarian military officials and lawyers are already working on trying to come up with a new concept that would differentiate the country from other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Orban said in a state radio interview on Friday. “Our lawyers and officers are hard at work to see how Hungary can maintain its NATO membership in a way that it wouldn’t have to take part in NATO actions outside of NATO territory,” Orban said.  https://www.yahoo.com/news/hungary-working-redefine-nato-membership-061134698.html

China calls these exercises "2024A," implying that there will be "B," "C," or more? And one of them will be the real thing, when the PRC sees its chance.

1 hour ago, VBF said:

And they say you cannot judge by appearances... Au contraire! 😂

The look on the girl's face said it all, IMO.

 

And IMO, even being dressed like that is just about acceptable on a beach road, Pattaya, Patong etc but in a city?  Pleeeaasssee!!!  

Lots of derelicts about.

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I think them guys in TAT should get out to the Caribbean and Jamaica and see how they do it and how the hotels are run, far superior to Thailand, take a walk along cable beach in the Bahamas 

Thailand may have some problems, but I would sure hate to see it become another Jamaica. 

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Reconsider travel to Jamaica due to crime and medical services. U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission (COM) security responsibility are prohibited from traveling to many areas due to increased risk. Please read the entire Travel Advisory. 

Country Summary: Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.   https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/jamaica-travel-advisory.html#:~:text=Jamaica - Level 3%3A Reconsider Travel&text=Reconsider travel to Jamaica due to crime and medical services.

29 minutes ago, BritScot said:

You are a brave man. China is the capital of fake and you would risk buying gold from there. Just watched a YouTube of a Chinese woman cutting her gold bar to find a silver core. When you buy gold you buy from reputable supply countries. Swiss, UK, Canada, USA etc Germany is also trusted as is Australia. China = fake: rice, eggs,  meat even noodles.  They have also saturated the pharmacy industry with fake medicines including life saving medicines which havedirectly caused peopleto die.  Good luck with China. 

For years fake gold bars filled with tungsten have been coming out of China. They've even faked themselves out.  

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The 83 tons of purportedly pure gold stored in creditors' coffers by Kingold as of June, backing the 16 billion yuan of loans, would be equivalent to 22 per cent of China's annual gold production and 4.2 per cent of the state gold reserve as of 2019. In short, more than 4 per cent of China's official gold reserves may be fake. And this assume that no other Chinese gold producers and jewelry makers are engaging in similar fraud, the report said.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/chinas-biggest-gold-fraud-4-of-its-reserves-may-be-fake-report/articleshow/76707339.cms?from=mdr

 

Sounds like a Christopher Moore Vincent Calvino novel.

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Rather dramatic Mr Chivas. But come on, all who flew this route this year, tell us all how lucky/grateful/happy you are that it arrived safely.

And all those since last week.

Not so dramatic. Just close enough to send a chill down your spine. And a passing comment made on an AsianNow topic that should allow people to feel free to make associations about the flight in a conversational manner.

I've had a Panasonic that is still working after 14 years. But downstairs I have a much older heater. I've repaired it once. It only cost 400 baht and that was about four or five years ago. Still going since then. I'd see if there is an easy repair, first. But I repair everything, including fans, light switches, a/c, or pump. I never go new, because new is usually worse.

Expensive. Soooo expensive! You not come, here. Okay?

True, for probably an increasing number. Just hope they don't come here. Stay in their same time zone. 

Srettha managed to get a news story where Thailand ("Thai") and G7 were in the same sentence. Success!

On 5/22/2024 at 3:38 AM, Social Media said:

TfL maintains that the congestion charge is a service fee, not a tax, and therefore not subject to diplomatic immunity.

What "service" are they providing to the embassy?

On 5/22/2024 at 10:54 AM, EVENKEEL said:

I prefer bank note larger than 20 baht.

Carry lots of 20s for the taxis.

How does Italy's role in the G7 affect visa waivers for Schengen (just three out of the seven G7 members)?

14 hours ago, Hummin said:

Cant say Us have used they power wisely either, so we have to wait and see how this develops, nothing is carved in stone yet, 

Oh, yes, I agree. The US has been utterly inept. One of the reasons China gets results in its diplomacy is that it doesn't hesitate to punish countries who act against its interests. The US doesn't do that. It just takes it on the chin, so to speak. Plus China would never allow its citizens to be treated badly without a major reaction. Remember about a year or so ago, when Chuwit was publicizing the growth of Chinese triads? The Chinese embassy responded with a public message instructing Thai media that they should not include criminals' nationality when reporting on them. Notice how few stories these days mentions Chinese organized crime? Chinese pressure worked. The US doesn't give a fig. So it looks like a weak and pitiful giant.

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

To be true, why should they choose Usa? China will give far more wealth if they join in, less conflicts, and for maybe centuries be the leading Empire, just by joining China peacefully. All wars will be every other place on earth, but Asia will be a safe heaven for most. 

Let them choose whomever they want. I'm not arguing the point. But Thailand should not expect the privileges of an American ally, if it's going to side with Russia and China. That's all.

3 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Do you want chineese to have free passage to Indian sea? With Thailands great infrastructure China wil have great access to the Indian sea with support lines through Laos and Thailand. Myanmar have poor infrastructure, and have not same position as Thailand. 

 

Thailand will be a great hub of economic interests to, so, I think Cia dissagree with your opinion. Usa can not loose Thailand and also working hard to establish long term relations with Vietnam, and keep Phillippines. 

The US has already "lost" Thailand. Or, rather, Thailand has already decided to side with Russia/China. No use trying to reverse it. The Thais have made their choice. That's okay. It's their sovereign right to do so. Just don't expect US investment or continued access to US markets. Vietnam, too, is a sham. I've posted recently about the slow moving coup in Vietnam, which has seen the installation of hardline generals who are pro China and have effectively ousted the economic "liberals" in an "anti-corruption" campaign just like the ones Xi runs. Vietnam will never go against China, who controls the tap on the Mekong. So Philippines it is. Japan and the Philippines are the only trustworthy American allies in Asia. I don't include S. Korea or Taiwan as trustworthy, because both of those countries are ready to cut and run. And Taiwan has a pro PRC party in the KMT that already controls its legislature.

4 hours ago, tandor said:

en garde

Touché