Burma Bill

Hi Simon, Well I never, the Japanese Sakura Shop. After hunting around Siem Reap for almost 2 hours with my tuk-tuk driver, this was THE only place where I was able to purchase a large, strong and metal framed magnifying glass to read small print! Excellent value - all Japanese products, no Chinese! Wishing you the best of luck. Cheers.

So do I, but not quite as much in recent years. Sadly, gone are the days when you could walk along the train to the old wooden bodied restaurant cars to enjoy a hot, Thai dinner, freshly prepared by chefs in the kitchen car using woks. Uniformed waiters served the food with chilled bottles of Beer Chang if that was your desire. None of the aircraft style packaged meals back then! (fortunately). Happy memories.

During my 20 years of retirement in Thailand. I regularly used SRT between Chiang Mai, Lampang, Bangkok and Sunghi Kolok. Back in those days I was always issued with a paper ticket. Smartphones and Apps were not invented! Never any problems with paper tickets which could be easily processed. For reference Google 6/3/2026 - Yes, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) issues paper tickets when purchased directly at station ticketing counters. However, they heavily promote using E-Tickets No further comment from me.

Sorry to read Simon. For me, was considering booking a flight later this summer on Cambodia and Malay Air Asia's new flag ship service from Siem Reap/Phnom Penh to Kuala Lumpur (avoiding Bangkok DMK) and then on to London Gatwick (LGW) but via Bahrain! Fortunately I have now saved 379$, (283 GBP) the one way promotion fare, including baggae in hold!

A very sad state of affairs when one has to consider self defence weapons when in "Safe and Trusted" Thailand!!

Hi Simon, best of luck with your zoom interview.

Junta genocidal maniacs!!

Yes, definitely!!

Welcome back Mister Thaksin! Enjoy your retirement up North with your family, friends and supporters. Ditch the establishment riff raff down South!

The continuing revenge of Vishnu and Buddha??

What a dumb reply! It was a Thai Police Armoury within Surin Province that caught fire and exploded. No Khmer involvement, so no ass kicking! Even the Thai Military have not mentioned Cambodia in its usual propaganda!

At least ammunition was destroyed that could have potentially been used against Cambodia!

including raw sewage (faeces), condoms, tampons and diapers??

Whether just one or several thosand, The Thai military is now admiting to the displacement of Khmer villagers!!

Well done Thailand - glad to see you are putting your own house in order!!

Great idea, but Prawit would probably fall asleep whilst guarding the border, and Prayut would be planning a coup to replace Anutin and the Thai political fiasco.

Were they going ape-<deleted>??

From my experience living in Thailand, I located my local post office and rented a PO Box which at that time cost 200 baht per annum. Once arranged, I was given my own numbered key to unlock my box on any visit to the post office. The PO boxes were built secularly into the outer wall of the distribution office, but with access, of course, from the inside so that postal workers could put mail into the respective boxes. Your name and address is registered to your personal box. Great service and never any problems at that time. For reference (Google) 20/2/2026. Yes, the Thailand Postal Service (Thailand Post) rents PO Boxes (known as "ตู้ ป.ณ.") at many of their branches, providing a secure, stable, and private mailing address. Renting is typically done in person, costs around ฿500 per year, and requires a passport or ID. They are commonly used by expats and business owners. Sadly, it costs more these days!

With respect, I know disgruntled ex-pats living in isaan Thailand who would be happy to live in Cambodia with its hassle-free visa arrangements

Yes indeed, and I often ask that myself "how can the Thai businesses survive" Like your Amazon in Phnom Penh. the same ghostly silence here in Siem Reap at the 4 PTT filling stations with their Amazon and 7-11 shops - all boycotted in favour of Caltex, Total, and the major Cambodian energy companies with their coffee shops and convenience stores. The MAKRO in Siem Reap is a shadow of its former self with all the restaurants and many of the assorted retail outlets all closed down, even 4 of the ATMs have been removed! Vast areas of empty space. As of 2025–2026, Cambodia imports almost all of its refined petroleum products, primarily from Vietnam, Singapore, China, and Malaysia.(Google) Yes, I appreciate the former trade with Cambodia is a drop in the ocean for Thaiand but when you see Thai flagship companies struggling to survive in Cambodia it indicates the Khmer nationalist support for their country. I now wonder if all those empty Thai shipping containers along the Thai border were originally destined to be filled with products for export to Cambodia!

With respect, not for me. a UK long term retiree. The land border closures and the ban and boycott of Thai products and produce has seen a boom in far more acceptable local and non-thai goods in our supermarkets. AIR ASIA will soon be starting new "Fly Thru"" flights from our new airports in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh to London Gatwick via Kuala Lumpur and Bahrain, avoiding Bangkok. Promotion Fare from 426$ (278 GBP) one way, including luggage in hold! Yes, there are issues with borders, but who wants to travel into Thailand thesedays - not me!

NO, I am not making excuses for poverty! IT IS WAY OF LIFE! Take a tour up north and see for your self, rather than making stupid unfounded comments! \No further comments from me.

With respect, I can assure you I am a very bright Forensic Expert but I was talking from experience living 20 years among the forests of Northern Thailand. Yes, I do know what toxic emissions and fires can sadly cause BUT before the rainy season arrives many thousands of mushroom hunters go into the forests to set light to them ready to gather mushrooms after the rains arrive. It is way of life for them and for the poor, mushrooms mean money. None will ever be arrested and jailed for decades, there are too many of them It is not only Thailand but also a custom in Burma and Laos. Stock photo of a typical Thai roadside stall selling wild mushrooms gathered after the rains arrived. I have bought many like these during my travels among the forests and mountains of Lanna.

Thai paranoia again? Nothing more harmless than forest fires ready for the mushroom season!

As this is an ASEAN NOW forum, I would like to inform those UK citizens living in Cambodia, this is not possible from my experience. Completing the on-line Gateway Application form - no problem until one has to give a mobile phone number for the OTP (one time password). I received a message to say the UK Government does not recognise a Cambodian mobile phone, so my application was rejected. I have to phone or mail (registered air mail) to inform HMRC of any changes.