Purdey

I guess if customers want sugar in their drinks, the shop should pander to their demand. However, neither side is helping to reduce diabetes.

Many of the people high up in Thailand are descended from Chinese, so they have some affection for "the old country" through rose tinted glasses. Mind you, the American GIs promoted a thriving prostitution industry so fair's fair.

Their American masters have instructed then to allow Sands to take in more billions.

I understand why many are shocked but bowing has always been a form of greeting especially in Asia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing#:~:text=However%2C bowing is not reserved,and with the eyes down.

Good to see America still friendly with Thailand.

What is the point of encouraging tourists if the air is unbreathable? Why focus so much on tourism as an economic savior but not protect it? Why doesn't the government survey what locals and foreigners think about air pollution? There seems to be a lackadaisically ignorant attitude to cleaning up Thailand.

Every time someone praises a Thai film and I watch it I am aghast at how bad it is. Blissfully Yours impressed however many are poorly made and acted.

Peace with its communist neighbor should progress until the Thais give Laos high speed rail access to the sea.

Black President and Sorrow Tears and Blood. Black President is my favorite.

And the lottery winners are...

Amazingly, Pheu Thai appeared not to have been able to figure out how much the policy would cost and where the money would come from before they made the promise in the run up to the election they didn't win outright. Now they seem to be digging themselves deeper into a hole.

Gambling is a serious addiction for some Thais. I do hope they figure out a way to only allow those who can afford it to enter. On the other hand, having visited Las Vegas and Macau as a non-gambler, the professional entertainment was good and I understand why even families go. As most employment in Macau seems to come from the casinos and related businesses (restaurants etc.), I doubt they can afford to end gambling.

I read years ago that Bangkok is not on the established tour route for musicians. Most (not all maybe) of the people who come are has-beens.

I suppose copying other countries on opening times without asking their governments about accompanying negatives is... not a great idea.

Did a safari in Kenya. The Masai were so friendly, the countryside really beautiful. I still have a couple of Fela albums from uni here in Thailand. I don't fancy living in the countryside there having seen what lions do to their prey.

Why is there a bunch of BiB outside my office high-fiving?

My feeling has been that Thais look up to westerners and are shocked that they complain just like Thais. However, complain with a smile and they're fine.

So many contradicting legal opinions. Perhaps we should wait for the court case?

Thank god you don't work in industry; you don't understand that when there is a war the backlog contains countries not at war and the countries like Ukraine and Israel get prioritized. There won't be a backlog for Israel as there has not been for the Ukraine.. Grow up for god's sake. https://warontherocks.com/2023/01/the-real-reasons-for-taiwans-arms-backlog-and-how-to-help-fill-it/

So much for there being a backlog. In 1999, the US government signed a Memorandum of Understanding through which it committed to providing Israel with at least US$2.67 billion in military aid annually, for the following ten years; in 2009, the annual amount was raised to US$3 billion; and in 2019, the amount was raised again, now standing at a minimum of US$3.8 billion that the US is committed to providing Israel each year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel–United_States_relations#:~:text=In 1999%2C the US government,now standing at a minimum

And war increases that.

It's just lip service. "Stupid farangs always believe smart Thai governments."

I use an app called AmiGo. It lets me know when there are cameras ahead. Obviously, it needs to be updated now and then but it pretty good at making me slow down.

Death isn't something to fear. My grandfather died peacefully in his sleep. It was his passengers who screamed.

Talismans only work when you are a true Buddhist. His captors are therefore not true Buddhists. 🤪