Purdey

This is not an isolated incident in Thailand. The RTP reported 2,535 cases in 2017 with 53% of victims assaulted by family members or friends. When we look at other countries this seems rather excessive, for example 135,666 assaults in the US in the same year. I couldn't believe that in conservative Britain there were 70,330 assaults in 2021. So, while Thailand has a problem, Britain has a pandemic of assaults. This is no laughing matter. Women do need to lock doors but more than that, men need to keep it in their pants.

I don’t draw a line because it is not my body and people have to right to do what they want with their bodies. Tattoos are a tradition in Thailand and no man went into battle without neck to knee tattoos. If women think it looks good then it’s up to them, not me. Would I go out with a colorfully tattooed woman? Yes.

I once stayed in Mustang Blu, near Hualumpong, and as an amateur photographer found it rather unique. Wish there was a list of these places in Bangkok

Disregarding the dual nationality issue for a moment, I have come to doubt that Thailand has ever really understood why tourists come here. The original epitome of a US R&R resort, Thailand has let beaches get dirtier and ripoffs become like a government policy (e.g. dual pricing). Not sure anyone remembers when they tried to stop long-haired hippies entering. The impression Thailand sometimes gives is "we don't have a clue how to ensure foreigners want to come here but we need your money." Shooting themselves in the foot is their speciality. France is a major economy and makes it easy to enjoy their culture with well organized tourist venues. Is there dual pricing on entry to the Eiffel Tower? The Louvre? Better still, tourism is only 8.5% (2019) of France's economy. France doesn't just rely on tourism. I am not sure, but if they want to improve their turnover of tourists perhaps asking for professional advice from successful tourist destination experts is one route. Clean the beaches and roads. Put signs in English as well as Thai in museums outside Bangkok. Charge Thais and foreigners the same entry fees. While you cannot determine the quality of tourists (there are disgusting but rich tourists everywhere) changing the government's attitude will build the image that attracts tourists, things like "clean beaches, honest people, rich cultural attractions" would be a start. The usual excuse is the country is poor. But try saying Thailand is a third world country and government officers are offended and defensive. I can understand Iran, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (just examples, there are more) using this excuse but surely Thailand has more to offer if it could just get its house in order and understand what tourists want?

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

Reminds me of that old racist Enoch Powell forecasting "rivers of blood" if blacks were allowed into Britain. Never happened. How do you suppose there are Chinese Thais here? Yes, Chinese came to Thailand in the thousands. For hundreds of years. If people are poor and decide to sell land it's their choice, not yours.

Family is Chinese Thai. How about you?

My goodness. The rampant racism on show here is amazing.

Try cycling on the narrow bicycle lane at the Railway Park at weekends. The number of people cycling with one hand on the bar and one taking selfies or chatting on a video call. I just yell, “Oh my god!” Or something that invokes a shock. They brake and say “Sorry” in English as if that makes everything forgivable. It could be a good place to teach kids road sense but parents don’t think this will make a bad habit that their kids will never unlearn.

On an island, I assume that if you walk downhill in a straight line you will reach a beach.

Was talking with a doctor at the Red Cross several years ago . He said it isn’t that easy to get HIV. Usually it involved cuts where blood was intermingled. Anal sex usually causes small breaks in the membrane. Oral sex with someone who has small cuts in the mouth to pass it on (saliva won’t do it). While free ART would be great in Thailand for foreigners as well as Thais, the cost in the USA is anywhere from 400 to 1,700 dollars a month. Better to stay here.

Not to put a cat among the pigeons but over that last few weeks I have been to Central Bangna and Mega Bangna and they were jam packed. Hard to find parking. It could be Had Yai has too many stores for the population size but different areas are... ah not all reacting the same. Thai just like walking and eating in air-conditioned malls.

My understanding is foreigners can only hold 49% of a Thai business unless the BOI helps but I suspect Chat Taopoon will have big a stake. His casinos have made him rich enough to go legit.

Lam Morrison is an iconic figure in a country that has too few guitar heroes. Once had an album (cassette tape) of his where the recording was truly atrocious but you could tell he could play. Live he was much more interesting. A pity original Thai music is mostly pop and nothing like rock as we know it, so mostly he did cover versions of western songs.

So many doctors online these days. You just can't make this stuff up.

I believe it is common for all governments to pay a PR agency to raise positive awareness of their activities. In 2020/21 the United Kingdom government spent around 203 million pounds on "communication". I don't doubt that other nations spend more than $10m (363 million Baht). As the total Thai government budget for 2022-2023 is 3.19 trillion baht it is rather minute. Whether it is successful or not is a different matter and many would say this government has wasted its money.

I never answer calls that aren’t in my contact list. Block everything I don’t recognize. Operators are not interested because the get revenue if you answer.

A lot of BOFs (Boring Old F*rts) telling girls not to wear bikinis today. She could have taken it off but didn't. I will go back to admiring the temple architecture.

That must be the reason temples are packed to the gills with tourists taking pics of statues I guess. Take a look at the tourists in Majorca packing out the churches and cathedrals and emptying the bars. The UK has some brilliant churches and historic buildings that tourists visit in droves. Mind you, there are also loads of museums and art galleries to keep them amused. Now, if only Thailand had anything like that art and culture that wasn't priced double for tourists maybe more would be interested. It's like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

And neither did I.

Common sense says wear a mask. Young kids maybe impervious to disease but passing it on to older people is simply unthinking.

Too much reliance on tourism leads to chopping and changing to attract people and then push them away. Spending money on human development then easing rules for business would garner a much better return for the country.

What Thais call "len share" has been around forever. It isn't simply greed but Thais have so few opportunities to make decent money the returns look attractive and if friends invest, they feel more secure. Using a famous person means, to investors, that it must be trustworthy. There are many stories of successful investors circulating and in the first round many will be happy. They just can't imagine how it will end. |e|

He was an idol for many in Thailand. RIP

While it hasn't happened to me, I would be concerned if a stamp were missing as, I think, they will certainly get you on the way out and say you overstayed. Immigration don't have an onerous job, checking the passport details, the visa and stamping you in. Immediately checking the passport before leaving the area is the best advice, but don't show anger.