Lacessit

Certainly, the police presence in Vietnam is a lot less obtrusive than Thailand. Fresh bread rolls and coffee for breakfast were very welcome; however, eating pho bo and spring rolls, however well made, for the other two meals of the day palled quite quickly. It's not infrastructure, but I also got the sense Vietnam is far more puritanical when it comes to relations between foreigners and Vietnamese. The days of Saigon as Sin City appear to be long gone. If I had to pick a highlight of our trip there, it would be the water puppetry show in Hanoi.

I really hate it when I am at a supermarket lane with my purchases, and some person with the attention span of a goldfish is fumbling with their phone to do whatever voodoo is necessary. I hand over cash, gone in 20 seconds. It's a paradox, smartphones are purchased by some very dumb people.

The neighboring countries do not have the infrastructure of Thailand in terms of hospitals, dental clinics, communications, roads, and choice of what one can buy in a supermarket. I've been to Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Nice for a couple of weeks, living in any long term is a different matter.

Not the way you used the word.

Why do you think Kissinger is sinister? Realpolitik, yes. Highly pragmatic, yes.

Plenty of good-looking women in their forties and fifties crying out for someone to "take care", and quite happy with what's coming in by way of a Western pension. As for hooking up with a 20 yo stunner, I am not suicidal, or interested in wearing horns.

I am posting facts, if you don't like them I have others. Such as the most expensive medical and dental system in the world. I have visited America many times, and there are a lot of things America does very well, others not so well. Labeling me as an American hater is as shallow as a mud puddle.

I don't tolerate posters who call my honesty into question. You are on ignore now, goodbye.

Example: The Pentagon has bought up most of the rare earth production of Mt. Weld in Australia, to quit dependence on Chinese supply. Yeah, I might buy a Chinese car, if I was dumb enough to believe the reliability would match that of established Japanese and Korean brands, and the servicing would not throw a customer under a bus. They are cheap for a reason.

You probably would have said the same thing about Hitler. Are you Chamberlain's love child? Ukraine is not going to lose. Whether it has to cede the Donbas is moot; however, Russia has already lost. An economy without the ability to import spare parts, a banking system cut off from the world, and a demoralized military running out of tanks to burn. A population with a standard of living returned to the days of the USSR. The butcher's bill in Ukraine is already more than Russia had casualties in Afghanistan over 9 years. First time I have seen a dozen senior military commanders killed in battle, not to mention the purge of espionage personnel and generals back at the Kremlin. Russia has nobody by the balls, except apologists and defeatists. The pivot away from dependence on Russian oil and gas is already happening, just as countries have started pivoting away from dependence on Chinese supply chains.

Russia's own Putin-approved economists are saying Russian GDP will shrink by 10% in the coming year, and that forecast is probably gilding the lily. That fact makes your statement Russia is not paying complete BS. You would rather see Ukraine subjugated so you can keep warm? That's the spirit.

I would have thought my use of the word "may" would be comprehensible to most people.

I suppose that explains why I have never lost money buying and selling gold. The US dollar is the world's reserve currency. That is based on belief, AFAIK a government debt of $30 trillion is not solid fundamentals. Switzerland and Sweden lead the world in terms of innovation, America comes in third. South Korea is climbing up the rankings fast, because it employs more scientists per million people than any other country.

Never been to Manchester, I understand due to the foibles of the English language a native of the city is called a Mancunian. Please don't put evil thoughts in my head, I have enough already.

It would be more accurate to describe the food as snacks. I usually spend between 80 and 150 baht on a takeaway, more if I am ordering fish or beef steak in a restaurant.

Far left agenda? As far as Australians are concerned, Americans do not know what the terms left and socialist mean. We would consider Biden moderate, slightly right of centre. Although it is ironic most Americans don't realize their military has some very socialist characteristics. You are not going to get to separate Trump from being a candidate in 2024, unless he is in prison. He has hijacked the Republican Party, Fox News, and social media so completely every GOP candidate for office has to kiss his butt, and I can't think of any moderate Republican ( if there is such a thing left ) that would waste their time and money standing against him in the primaries. Personally, I don't think it is woke to be trying to prevent more Sandy Hooks and Uvaldes.

IMO Biden and the White House are making measured responses to a series of crises not of their making. You may be right, and Trump may get re-elected in 2024. Say goodbye to integrity, decency and common sense. In fact, America and the rest of the world can collectively BOHICA.

You bought a copy Rolex, some of them actually do work quite well. Permit me to doubt you bought the real thing for that money.

A couple of your whinges were in the trivial class. Nobody wants a defamation suit here, the truth is not an acceptable defense in this country. I have no doubt what you are saying is true.

Posted one hour ago by you, quote: " Actually I have both." Short term memory loss? Or semantics?

I stayed in 4 and 5 star hotels, flew business and first class when I was traveling on the company account for many years. I don't see any necessity to do the same on my own money. If you are claiming you are sensible, I am wondering why you made the OP, because any person with sense would have known it was bound to attract derision. Presumably you are not so wealthy as to afford a defamation suit if you named the hotel.

The OP buys a watch for 100 baht, and expects it to be waterproof? I'd be surprised if it even kept time.

Nothing so dramatic, he attended a Boris Johnson COVID party.

You forgot the temples.

I have not needed my air purifiers this year in Chiang Rai, the rainy season started early. Dare I whisper the words climate change? Be that as it may, I just crank up the air purifiers when the meter hits 100, the air I breathe is back down to 25 in 20 minutes.