StayinThailand2much

Is there currently a scheme to buy a number of trips (like the one for the BTS card years ago), etc., for regular use of the MRT?

They should make it easier for foreign workers, not harder, or the labour shortage might stifle the economic recovery.

Went swimming last Saturday. Saw an Asian guy floating in the sea, head down. Looked strange. Tipped him on the shoulder after 30 seconds. His body turned over, exposing puffy, bloodshot eyes. Pulled him out of the water. Ambulance arrived after 20 minutes. Read later online that he was Thai and was resuscitated at the hospital.

Aren’t they needed here, considering all the staff shortages?

Then they can sing along with Sir Mix-a-Lot: “I like big butts...”

That explains it! Considering that whole aisles in supermarkets and convenience stores are dedicated to vegetable oil...

Yeah, right... Went to one of the big supermarkets today. Saw a jelly donut in a single pack; 20 baht... Not long ago one could buy 4 or 5 of those for 30 baht (2022), or 6 for 25 or 30 baht (2020ish). Same for other items; package sizes shrinking by a third or so, while prices are up by 50% and more on top of that. You see some rice dishes with chicken or eggs; 120 baht. Don't seem to be very popular though, cause lots of them still for sale in the evening.

And yet a large number are these days, unlike ten (not to mention 20) years ago.

About half of the 600,000 are already there, it seems...

Not only hotels. On my recent trip to Pattaya I noticed that at a good number of convenience stores there not only seemed to be a lack of staff, but particularly of female staff, who, possibly, rather went for more lucrative income sources. (Contrary to other places in Thailand, the staff of some stores was exclusively male, while usually it is the other way round.)

GoAir - Go First - No go... Wonder, why the crew is 'stuck' in Thailand. At least the pilots should be able to afford a flight ticket to India.

Funny, back home 'organ harvesting in China' (from Falun Gong, Uighurs...) has been talked about on and off in the media.

I guess prostitution is different, as you can't "unknowingly" (wording in the article) use such services...

Just before the pandemic I was pulled aside, first at DMK, later at Suvarnabhumi. While questioning at DMK was courteous and friendly, the same cannot be said about the IO who quizzed me at Suvarnabhumi.

Just heard in the news yesterday that China's economic recovery is sputtering...

Glad to hear that things are back to 'normal' in Pattaya...

But no need to send many more Chinese the other way... Just saw recently a sign in Pattaya: "No spitting in this place. Fine: 2,000 baht". Reminded me of many such signs in Hong Kong, reminding visitors from the mainland to control their saliva flow...

What is BOLT "booking fee" for taxi cabs? Do I have to add it to the 'advertised' price?

Interesting that they don't announce the average length of tourists' vacation anymore. With a high percentage of day-trippers, e.g. from Malaysia, what is it now, less than 1 week on average?

It sometimes reminds one of an auction. If an optimistic figure is dropped, one can be sure that only days later that prediction is topped by 5 or 10 million more tourists...

I somehow gained 15kg during the pandemic, despite changing my diet away from too much meat. Haven't been able to shed much weight since then, despite lots of exercise.

And not paying/not having staff, music, etc. Several beer bars for sale in Pattaya, even in places that are hailed as 'the new popular areas'. Not all beer bars have a lot of customers, but some have a good number of staff. Good luck selling enough beer and lady drinks to cover costs, not to mention making a meaningful profit...

Or TikTok...

Wanted: Metrosexual, 'beautiful', white-skinned Thai in his early 20s, who is willing to wai and kiss a** all the time, selling TAT's agenda and self-image...

Where and how?