swissie

There is a chance that Russian troops will appear at the Ukrainian/Hungarian border within 3 to 5 years. It is THEN when Europeans will start to show true interest in something that happens less than 1000 km away.

Hard for you to understand, but for the Ukraine, "the game is up". Predictably. The Ukraine will be "carved-up" by Donald and Vladimir. Followed by a fragile "pseudo-peace", as nobody wants to send any troops into a "cordon sanitaire", similar to North/South Korea. The great "deal-maker" has only 1 option left to avoid a miserable peace deal for the Ukraine. Supply more weapons to the Ukraine. Something he won't do, as he and his voters want to pull out of the Ukraine. Vladimir knows that. What will it take for you to understand that the Ukraine has lost the war?

There is a war going on. The rich against the poor. We, the rich are winning. Warren Buffet.

It takes time and money. Both of them we don't have.

"Good Looking girls at BJ Bars". BJ Bars were the greatest invention since the invention of sliced bread. Just imagine: Sitting at the bar, sipping a beer, waching a soccer game on TV while enjoying a BJ. Ahhh, the good old days.

A Farang, Tourist or long-termer has to pay his way in Thailand. No welfare programs for Farangs. Immigrants (refugees) entering Europe can hop on welfare programs from day 1. It's the money that makes them come to Europe, not the pleasant winters. Besides, most have no marketable skills and hardly ever learn the language. The European voter is getting tired of this kind of "welcome culture". That's the little difference that makes all the difference.

My first "border-run" to Cambodia was April 1999. The few Cambodian border guys were thrilled as they could supply their families with food and shelter, as opposed to the rest of the Cambodians. Passport "irregularities" were ignored. At that time, I have seen Cambodian women crossing the border with their 3 children, without any Thai-Papers. They had to pay their way into Thailand by offering their charms to Thai Border Officials. That was in the early days, a long time ago, in 1999. After this ordeal, those women ending up in Pattaya, were better off in Pattaya than in their home country. As so many women originating from the "poorhouse of Thailand" , that we call "the Isan".

That was before the "Khmer Rouge" were defeated, after that no problem. Cambobia was closest, simply no burocracy from the Thai/Cambodian side. Everybody got their little "cut". Everybody happy for a small price to pay.

Just curious: When did you open this Bank Account? Recently or years ago? This is of importance, considering recent requirements for Farangs.

Never liked to give my original passport to any stranger. Besides, I liked the monthly "change of pace". Of course, today I would have other options.

Plus "extensions", I know. Still liked the monthly visa runs to Cambobia better. Immigraton guys at the border diden't speak any English, so they were not able to ask any questions. Days gone by. As I said, this was the equivalent of a "long term visa".

Recent Visitors/long term Expats may not know this. There was a time in Thailand where a "long-term" visa consisted of a monthly "border-run" to Cambodia. To be repeated endlessly, having fun on the monthly run, a change of pace. That was the "long-term-visa" for everybody. The only persons that asked you "where you come from and how long you stay" where the bar-ladies. Immigration was not interested in such trivial things. One could have rented a car with a drivers licence of eastern Timbuktu. The word "feminism" was known, but interpreted as "a female must look as female as possible". Hotel clerks mostly unfamiliar with the western ABC. Everyone welcome with some kind of stamp on some strange paper. That was a long time ago. And today? A strict visa concept. Farangs having to pay taxes. Tel-Phone SIM Cards readable by "authorities". Hurdles to even open a bank account? While at the same time "property -rights" for Farangs have not been "liberalised". For example. Boy, those were the days, when the only worrie a Farang had, was to miss the monthly mini-bus to the Cambodian border. Days gone by.

"Bob" is flaunting his Wealth in Thailand. Reducing his life expectancy greatly. Finally, he will make the headline of some Thai newspapers: "Farang robbed and killed on Beach Road last night. Witnesses claimed to have seen him before, wearing 7 heavy Gold chains around his neck". Thai police is investigating, having formed a Special Task Force. Thai Police claims the the true identity of this particular high-roller can not easily be found out, as there are only dubious posts on social media available. "Bob" and his future.

For me too, it became a "home away from home". I think I will be staying on soi post office again. In a new corner, it would probably take up half of my holiday time, just to find out "what is what".

I still had some e-mail adresses from ladies I used to know. So, I wrote them. Most of them replied. Agewise they are now "mama-san's". But they assured me, that they know "many young ladies" that would very much like to meet me. (within or below my financial parameters). It was mentioned, that they remember me as a very friendly "no problem" Farang. According to them, an increasing number of "problem Farangs" are making the industry more unstable and more problematic for free lancers. In short: A "friendly Farang, vouched for by a Thai mama-san, can expect a "discount". So, me the "friendly no problem Farang" is pleased. It just goes to prove, that keeping in contact with old aquaintances can come in very handy.

Must confess, due to health reasons, I wasen't able to travel much, so the last time I was in Pattaya was 7 years ago. Now Doctor says "you are healed and you can go everywhere you want to". How nice. Used to stay on Soi Post Office/Soi Yamato for years on holiday.It always felt like a home away from home. Following posts here, I realise that things have changed in Pattaya in many ways. So I wonder where I should stay, enjoying harmless babblings with bar ladies resulting in "close contact" later on. Limiting financial female favours to 1000 Bht per encounter or less, depending on time involved. Friend of mine, still living on Soi Post Office for many years claims that females on Beach Road are mostly "overweight and plain ugly", as is the rest of the female bar employees nearby. Same same. Cheaper on Beach Road. Use condoms in every situation his advice. Overall, he insists, that the quality of female services is not inceasing by the amount of financial compensastion. Therefore I venture to say, that I am likely to stay in my "guesthouse" on Soi Post Office again, as it is close to Beach Road. Unless some of you have better suggestions.

The PPP of Russia is not known to us. The "shadow-fleet" of Russian ships exporting their oil, and thus replenishing their "war chest" has only be discovered recently, (3 years going into the war). One must conclude, that all the western intelligence agencies were asleep during the last 3 years. If the EU increases the defense budget from 2% to 3%, according to your pocket calculator, how much more in monetary terms would that be? You will be amazed. Not to speak of Donalds request of 5%? We simply dont't have the money for this and the European "borrowing-power" has reached it's limits.

Remember the start of "Globalisation"? Worldwide price competition will benefit everyone. So the gospel. Ignoring the fact that "estabished economies" could never compete with southern "low cost" producers. With the result of job-losses north of the Equator with little gain for workers south of the Equator. Eventual gains found their way into the pockets of the 5% elite of those countries. A devastating example is Africa. Internationally operating large corporations as the sole "winners". Result: Realising that many segments of the US/European economy can simply not compete with "low cost producers". The imposition of import Tariffs is nothing else than an effort to gradually reverse "globalisation". Europe to follow, for sure. Globalisation was sold as "increased prosperity" for everyone. A party that would never end for everybody. North of the Equator the party has ended. North of the Equator, we are left with a post-globalised hangover. It will take more than 2 Alka-Seltzer tabletts to cure this sort of hangover.

Agree. I support a welfare state, giving shelter, food and heating. Very basic stuff. Dozends of welfare programs in Germany. Welfare overkill. AMAZINGLY: Still, most beneficiaries are hovering near the "financial existential minimum". I suppose a good part of the money finds it's way into the administrative djungle. Good salaried "social workers" and so many more that would be out of their jobs if it wasent for the growing army of "unemployable people".

European countries are "out of money". So again, who is going to be the "financier" of future European military capabilities? To look at the "balance-sheet" of most European countries will confirm that we simply don't have the money for something like that.

To secure peace, a strong deterrent is a good way to go. Even the old Romans knew this. "Si vis pacem, parabellum". For 30 years, Europe has abandoned this principle. To bring up our military capabilities up to par will cost astronomical amounts of money and can easily take up to 10 years. Problem: Some legislative "dept ceilings" are in place. Other European countries have "maxed-out" their credit cards already. Tax increases? No way! So, I would just like to know how the future peace in Europe can be financed. Of course, if the US should pull out of NATO (even a limited pull-out), we would not have to bother with our European military build up anymore. Rather should we start teaching our kids Russian as a second language, replacing English.

No, I am not happy at all the way things turned out. BUT: After the end of the Cold War, the Russians have never understood why NATO has expanded to the east. Who else is in the East exept Russia? Of course they started wondering why NATO started to get closer to their territory, in a time when officially the Cold War had ended. IMHO, the eastward expansion of NATO was the dumbest thing the "west" has fabricated since the end of WW2. Completely uncalled for. Imagine this: If the newborn Pancho Villa would gather Mexican military forces to re-conquer California, Arizona and New Mexico? As they have been there before? Even Donald and his Muskrat would claim to be "encirceled". Nobody likes to be "ganged-up". Not in your neighborhood and not if States (NATO) do the same thing. I remain, uncalled for eastward expansion of NATO will go down in history as one of the greates "blunders" that the West ever produced. NATO must close the door for potential "Newcomers". Georgia next? Unlike the Ukraine, Georgia could be occupied by Russian forces within 3 weeks.

I know. Few others seem to know. Whatever "more" the Russians will get, it will be a "windfall-profit" thanks to their military effort.

What is so hard to understand? If you are "outgunned" 3:1 (personell and hardware) from the very beginning, how can one expect to win a war? The Ukraine was only able to resist this long with the help of the US. European help was never enough, as they never had enough hardware to be given away without deploring their own modest hardware stocks. From now on: The Ukraine will give the Crimea and the Donbass to Russia (mostly Russian speaking anyway) with the guarantee that the Ukraine will never join NATO (same goes for Georgia). That would be the best of cases for the Ukraine. With the Exit of the US, the Ukraine has definitely lost the war, having practially no more "negociation power" left.

Another issue might be (on both sides of the Atlantic): Voters getting the impression the western Parlaments have detoriated into mere "debating clubs". Much talk without adressing the problems that concern the electorate. The "Ruling class" mainly occupied with defending their privileges. We had the same situation during the "Weimar Republic" in Germany with the result that on January 30 1933 the Germans voted for a guy that promessed "to make Germany great again". The similarities are freightening.