StayinThailand2much

I wouldn't bother going to such a bar, but would have my beer at the hotel, watching girls online.

Some better-educated Thais know English grammar well. They can explain it (in Thai), but still cannot string a conversational phrase together.

Exactly. Not to mention that a majority of Thais study English from K1 to grade 12, i.e. 15 years (and more). Does the British curriculum offer similar (compulsory) Thai lessons?

Never mind English. Thailand wants to attract Chinese, Indian, and Russian tourists. - What are Thais' language skills in Mandarin, Hindi, and Russian?

Dam*, not #1 (from the bottom) yet! Curse Laos and Congo! ????

Seeing new places, like Ukraine...

Exactly! Tried years ago to buy a SIM card in China. Huge headache! Shop tried to register me like everyone else as required by law, but staff didn't manage, as foreign passports weren't accepted for SIM card registration. I worry, Thailand will go the same way, having to download a dozen apps that more or less work, and registration only with Thai ID.

There are reasons why the U.S. and UK don't hand out extended visas for Thais easily, i.e. possible illegal work. (That's why, for example, as a female Thai tourist under 70, you can expect to be interviewed by immigration every single time you enter Hong Kong, even for short visits.) As for foreign tourists, have you ever seen Yanks and Brits working illegally in Thailand as dishwashers or masseuses?

I was referring to going with 'a group of young men in a car' (to make some money). Not about being gay, but, IMHO an unwise decision.

What did he expect? Gang rape as a likely outcome, if he had been lucky...

As usual, no photo evidence...

Besides the mention of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, I think, it is spot on. But most of these reasons go way back, and were not 'fixed' in recent times. (Some, of course, like the deindustrialisation and being dependent on China are irreversible - creating problems not only for the UK, but even more so thanks to the reliance of the economy on London's financial industry.)

Arrived in Melbourne late in the evening on a two-day trip. My card was deeply buried somewhere in one of my bags. Could not take the airport bus, as they "don't take cash anymore". (No ticket counters open at that time.) Taxi cost me a fortune due to the chaotic road construction in the CBD, as the driver had to go three or four times around the block. Then couldn't give me change of 29 dollars on a hundred-dollar bill. Wanted to transfer it to my "MyKey" (my what??)... - He had to get change while I waited in the taxi. A lot of things in Melbourne only usable with 'MyKey' now, no cash. Hungry Jack's wouldn't accept cash either. Couldn't be bothered to buy this 'MyKey' thing for the 30 odd hours I was still in town, so spend much less than I had planned. Go for it, Thailand...

gour·mand /ˌɡo͝orˈmänd/ noun a person who enjoys eating and often eats too much.

He was lucky. Then again, usually no drama at Krungsri, and the staff calling the head office first is pretty much standard too.

Visa-free entry has been 10,000 baht for single travellers and 20,000 for families like 'forever', definitely for the past 25 years. Hardly ever asked for.

Thailand has the submarines (maybe)... Won't help against Laos, but Cambodia has a coast. ????

Probably all Thais will disagree...

Thai caviar?? ????

What a joke! Just got their email in my mailbox; I should use my funds till December as I couldn't have a PayPal Thailand account. After that I could just 'open a new account with PayPal Thailand'... ????

By the way, why is it called 'long black' (for black coffee)? What is 'long' about it?

I never liked his pizza. And now I have a good reason to avoid staying at his hotels...

How about charging those billionaires, who got rich in Thailand, higher income and other taxes for the benefit of Thailand?

As I said, 7-Eleven Nescafe, in the sticks, or maybe a place in Khaosan where the owner didn't follow price increases in recent years.

I drank long whites at roadhouses in Oz. Not sure they actually froth or pour it in a particular way. Maybe they do.