StayinThailand2much

Exactly. The big allure of Thailand used to be that it was "cheap". Not anymore, esp. if one wants to consume imported goods, food, or wine.

That's sad for a country that wants to attract tens of millions of tourists a year.

Yes, even when I lived in Thailand, I found travelling here troublesome (double pricing, scams, ripp-offs, immigration, etc.), so that I didn't travel and spent as much as I would have liked to. Instead travelled extensively after the pandemic overseas, visiting national parks, and sightseeing there.

Lots of backpackers, yes, who don't spend much...

They really believe their own propaganda that 'Thailand is #1 in the world', and 'No country is as great a destination as Thailand'. At the same time, their core visitor targets (mainland Chinese) flock to Japan instead... 😆

Because they're greedy... Day 1: "Oh, no, the sky is falling... Not as many tourists as we were planning... Less money; all doom and gloom!!" Day 2: "What the somtam was written in the media yesterday? Oh no, we lost face... Let's come up with a new story, this time about Thailand, as usual, being 'the best of the best' (in fifth position)... Nothing at all to worry about!" A week later: "Bad news..." (repeat)

Spot on. I had a METV in late 2019, and the female IO was about to give me trouble upon my last entry, looked to the side to her supervisor, then stamped me in. Later I had problems at both Bangkok airports, and due to this and the pandemic went the agent route. Obviously, that is what they want...

Because of...? Did the travellers show them the money? (I will never understand how boldly IOs can, in writing, give 'no sufficient funds' as a reason, while the travellers have the required cash on them and ready to be counted... (Obviously, a supervisor appeal like in most countries is not possible, or ineffective in Thailand.)

Nice for some, but I don't like Chang, Leo, Archa and Co...

By now I'm almost used to this 'no' alcohol thing; in fact, staying in Thailand is nowadays often like a non-alcoholic spa retreat. Few beers that I like (and the imported ones I do being overpriced, same for wine), and always having to check what time it is, and whether I am allowed right now to buy alcohol. I drink way more alcohol when I'm not in Thailand, just to 'catch up'... 😆

Exactly. Always 'amazing' to see how different government departments pull into different directions, frequently shooting the others, or, even better, themselves repeatedly into the foot... 😆 Yes, foreign tour guides are illegal, but where are the Russian, Mandarin, Hindi, French, German, etc., speaking Thai tour guides?

Certainly true.

True. It was a nice place 25, or so years ago. Not anymore.

I'm surprised that so few live in Bangkok. I know many expats in the Big Mango... Or, perhaps they're not on ASEAN NOW?

Trump seems to be willing to reduce China customs duties to 80%... Dow, S&P, Nasdaq futures all up, and so is gold. Shouldn't they perform differently!

Yeah, a freelancer online told me, she regularly made 5,000 baht a pop. (Pun intended.) 😆

Who enjoyed her services for such a sum; Elon Musk??

Are they hot, and are they even Russian? Many of these 'Russian' working girls seem to come from Usbekistan...

But even they are rapidly losing market share in their main market, China... Trying to, partly, compensate in the U.S. market is only natural.

Yes, and getting older, what is BTS's justification to offer discounts only to Thai seniors?

Sorry, but my experience in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia has been completely different, so, yes, Thailand does stand out...

'Thailand always #1', so, what else is new? 😆

Haha... That's exactly what I thought, when I watched them sitting there. 😆

Never seen any cops actually on Soi Bangla when staying in Patong. They seem to keep to the two ends of the Soi.

And this despite a stronger baht, and, probably, cheaper imports...