StayinThailand2much

That's an insult to 6-year-olds!

China, the CCP, and the country where our overlords reside... Yes, three!

Well, they could: A. Use their huge foreign currency reserves to buy up large quantities of their own currency, or B. Complain to the U.S. President. Anyhow, I wish them good luck for both endeavours. ????

Yes, you're 'Mr. Know It All'! Good for you...

Probably, and officials swear that rainfall has never been that heavy, and that in the past no-one would have imagined wide-spread flooding as a possibility... What a surprise!

Next he'll announce that there isn't, and never has been prostitution in Thailand...

1. Trying to get more money, driving by a few times, waiting till person is so desperate, that he/she will pay moon prices while meter is off. 2. 'Too far', 'too much traffic', cannot use "highway". 3. Short tours bring in more (10× 35 baht short-distance base-fare, say, total of 1.5hrs.) than 2 long-distance tours a 45min. (dunno, let's say 2× 130 baht). - In the first example, much less driving (incl. return trip), and no 'having to guess where places are', and 90 baht more (not incl. multiple tips). And, of course, they get away with it!

Or, you say: "Ae-port", then he's happy, as he only needs to find out which one. But tell him, 'Soi #%^*÷×', and oftentimes he'll expect you to guide him through in Thai...

No kidding! Thailand's got to have the weirdest cabbies. Not easy to get a taxi if you're with luggage, and need one. Usually, 3 or 4 'free' ones will pass you by, till you, finally, manage to get one taking you from A to B. - But just stand at a corner, or leisurely walk somewhere (not carrying anything), and they are keen to get your attention. (And it's not like they would even lift a finger, helping you with your bags!)

Maybe not, but buying the latest smartphone will be easier. And the rest will be invested into lottery tickets...

I heard there are a couple of crises in China now, so not much dosh to expect from there anytime soon...

This is unacceptable. They should return to the good ol' Thai ways, and double the rental fee to make good for the loss in income...

Canada would be overwhelmed by, among others, large numbers of Thais arriving to work illegally (rather than holidaying), and "forgetting" to fly home after these 45 days. Australia has had a similar experience with certain Asian nationalities (e.g. Malaysians).

Phew, not a minute too early...

He shouldn't use TAT calculators...

Actually more like 3,400 baht. Probably day-trips to Cha-am and Hua Hin, with a lot of seafood over the day...

You mentioned coups, floods, and tsunamis being responsible for Thailand's ills. (Kids dropping out of school, unemployment, poverty, homelessness...) I guess, we'll have to agree to disagree...

I see that you adopted the 'Thai way' of blaming everything and everyone, except oneself, the country's corrupt politicians, common sense, good management of the economy, etc. - Thais who struggle like to blame 'spirits' or other people for not having enough money... Did the coups fall from the sky, don't other countries have floods, and, seriously, many live 'hand to mouth' because of one west-coast tsunami 18 years ago??

'Teflon economy' because no development would stick? - Yes, (some) Thais live better than a hundred years ago. If they sell their kidneys, they can even afford a smartphone... But I wouldn't compare Thailand with itself a long time ago, but rather countries that did better thanks to less corrupt politicians, inequality of wealth, and better opportunities for many, not just a rich elite.

Well, which takes us back to 'mismanagement'... A ruling class that runs a country as a feudal society in the 20th and 21st centuries, while enriching themselves, mismananages the economy and robs its citizens of a better future.

Google is your friend, but, yes, you'd have to go back about two-and-a-half more decades from 1990. Also, who forced Thailand to rely on "low skilled Tourism industry and brothels fronting as bars throughout the country"? Why didn't Thailand invest in education, infrastructure, and promote investment like other countries in the region (Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.)? But instead they emphasised on old class hierarchies, low-skill and low-paid jobs, and agriculture, esp. rice export...

Spot on. Mismanagement has cost Thais dearly. Thailand and Malaysia had about the same GDP/capita a few decades ago, and look what the latter's economic standing is, and what Thailand's is, despite of huge income from mass tourism...

If it worked, it certainly won't for long.

I agree. However, they fool themselves with their fake/incorrect numbers, counting every expat who enters 6x a year as 'half a dozen tourists', not to mention the foreign labourers and people who come here for business (I met 2 the last few days who came for a few days on business, but arriving on tourist visas). And then they wonder why daily spending by tourists is lower than in other countries...

My favourite is the Thai custom of running the aircon full-power, while, at the same time, (knowingly) having the windows open.