Burma Bill

Last month (February) I flew from Siem Reap to meet up with a UK friend who was visiting Chiang Mai. This was prior to him continuing a two week holiday in Laos. I have since received much comment from him regarding Laos, a country he will never return to. Everywhere he went in Vientianne and Luang Prabang, there were masses of arrogant and rude Chinese with bad habits. Worst were his experiences on the HST to Luang Prabang - massed crowds with no manners. Just imagine when the HST is completed to Bangkok with thousands of ill mannered Chinese masses alighting along the way at Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Korat and Bangkok (many trying to set up small businesses?). When I visited Luang Prabang, pre-covid, it was such a beautiful UNESCO ancient capital city on the Mekong with no Chinese HST. My friend's final comment - Laos has been ruined by the Chinese!

Maybe this will be the new section of HST from Vientianne to Nong Khai over a new Mekong Bridge? Linking up with the HST at Korat will be many, many years away.

Sad, and IMO there should be no place in society for such people. Reference - report March 23rd 2020: A new investigation by Amnesty International published today exposes how the Thai military routinely subject new conscripts to a barrage of beating, humiliation and sexual abuse that often amounts to torture. The organization’s new report, “We were just toys to them”, documents a widespread and long-standing pattern of abuse of new conscripts, including several incidents of rape. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/03/thailand-military-conscripts-face-rampant-harassment-beatings-sexual-abuse/

I wonder who is monitoring this experiment?

Yes indeed.

Will this set the fashion world ablaze? Maybe this would be more appropriate!

For reference (Google) Thailand's top five foreign ice cream markets are Malaysia with a 29.5% share, South Korea (11.3%), Vietnam (9.5%), Singapore (6.5%), and Cambodia (6.3%).

Real cool man!!

Well I never!

I wonder if they will end up in a "monk-ey house" ?

Yes I do, very much so! When I lived in North Thailand (Lanna) I used to buy Cheddar and Edam (both my favourites) in Tops or Rimping - as stated in another post. Whilst visiting Thailand from Cambodia recently, I discovered in Ubon MAKRO a very nice and acceptable 1kg block of Cheddar cheese produced in Thailand!

Thanks. Not only Isaan but also Lanna. That is why he is still popular across Northern Thailand

And cooperation between two of ASEAN"s powerful families - the Shinawatras and the Huns. (Hun is surname in Cambodia).

Well I never!!

Great to see the progress of this SRT metre gauge double track to the Mekong at Chaing Khong. It will certainly improve travel in this region, also providing a link with Bangkok. I see SRT have got their priorities right and are delaying the Chinese HST from Vientiane to Bangkok via Udon, Khon Kaen and Korat.

Sorry for the houseowner, I hope it was insured. However, the fire destroyed a load of garbage preventing it piling up and festering for rats and soi dogs!

NEVER!

Very sad IMO. Trying to escape persecution and genocide being dished out by a terrible Junta run terrorist organisation - the Tatmadaw!! At least they were given refreshments and, I hope, advice on how to remain in Thailand legally and not be thrown back across the border.

Correct. I, and many other Northern folk, do not regard them as crooks, as can be seen by the reception he is currently getting in Chiang Mai. If you want crooks, look at the yellow business magnates, military, parliamentarians (excluding MFP) and the so-called "establishment" - the people who stitched up the Shinawatras! I now live in Cambodia so maybe I will be able to see them during another cross-border visit.

With respect and IMO, it is the yellow establishment in Bangkok that is scamming Thailand to this very day! I refer to him as "sir" because I lived in the North of Thailand (Lanna) and benefitted from all the improvement projects he introduced throughout his 2 terms as a truly democratically elected PM, also the one term with his sister as a truly democratically elected PM. Basically, prosperity was brought to the north in tourism, agriculture, infrastructure and business investment. I witnesed these and that is why I do not give a damn about the hatred that eminates from down south. I bet many of you moaners were not even around during Thaksin and Yingluk's terms as PM.

Welcome home, Sir, and ignore all the BS being aimed at you - especially from AN! Very disappointing I could not be in the welcoming crowd - enjoy your stay.

Maybe British mafia from the Costa Del Sol?

Thank you. Here is a recent observation on a Thai Air Asia flight. I was one of two passengers needing a wheelchair. Mine was supplied when I checked in and I was wheeled to the cabin door where I alighted and was able to take my seat near the front of the cabin. The second passenger, being severely disabled, had his own specially adapted wheelchair which he operated himself (no carer), with additional help at check-in, security check and boarding the aircraft. His seat was right at the front of the cabin. His own wheelchair was folded and securely stored near him at the bulk head. He was the first to board, then myself, and we were the last to leave the aircraft.

With respect, not strictly true. As a retiree on a 1 year retirement visa, I was invited to join the Thai Tourist Police as a volunteer, a job I did for 9 years. I did not need a work pemit as this was waived by the relevent government employment agency. Eventually I received a small wage which was agreed by TP HQ in Bangkok - 100 baht per call out. This was pre-covid and before I moved to Cambodia.

Sorry you had to pay for a wheelchair. I recently made 2 international "Fly-Thru" flights with Thai Air Asia from Siem Reap to Chiang Mai via DMK. I did not have to pay for a wheelchair - one was provided free for each leg of my journey. You cannot book a wheelchair with Thai Air Asia, you have to tick the "unable to walk long distance" box when booking on-line. When checking in, then you will be asked if a wheelchair is needed. An excellent sevice with caring ground crew who pushed the wheelchair. Thanks Thai Air Asia.