Burma Bill

Oh dear - the prospect of more street fights? Let us hope that no innocent tourists get involved whilst trying to organise transport!

Going to a Thai Food Festival? Never leave home without these:

As a type 2 insulin dependent diabetic, no problem for me - I just do not buy sugar, only sweetner! Fortunately here in Cambodia we can buy many imported products that are "sugar free" and "reduced sugar" - an extensive range on the supermarket shelves. This is my alternative to sugar:

As a former soccer referee with International experience, I can assure you this sort of racist behaviour was totally unacceptable. Maybe this Thai referee should be shown one of these resulting in a permanent ban (if proven). It would be interesting to know if this referee (like the one in the picture below) was "wired up" and in contact with his other officials who might have heard his comments.

Well I never!

Yes indeed - amazing! Always on show and for sale in the local weekly walking street market where I lived in Isaan - all at 100 baht each!! (Stock photo)

Very much so - as here in Cambodia, a former French Colony. Many coffee shops and local family bakeries offering a wide selection of fresh products. Same for the wines, beers and cheeses.

Yes indeed, but also the residents to the north of the airport in the densely populated areas, including many tourist hotels, under the flight take-off path - engines at full throttle!

That must have been something for the firemen to get their teeth into!!

A fine wine??? Oh really - Chateaux Plonk!!

Yes indeed. It will be interesting to see if Thais will be allowed to enter to gamble, or just foreigners (as here in Cambodia). Cambodians are not allowed to gamble.

With respect, why should you know as a member of the public. As a retired UK Police Forensic Scientist, I can say that such information is "confidential" and "kept on file". The relevent authorities will know what method he chose.

With respect, how do you know this? Are you associated with the Acadamy?

For reference:- " was not known to mental health services and it is not known why he took the actions he did, which could not have been foreseen or prevented." "As a college, the health, wellbeing and welfare of our students is our absolute priority." “We have robust safeguarding systems in place which enable us to provide appropriate support for students when needed, and we keep these systems under constant review so that we can do everything possible to provide the necessary support to every child" https://harboroughfm.co.uk/inquest-rules-talented-young-footballer-took-his-own-life/

Evidence please! That was one of the reasons he was attending the Football Acadamy in Leicestershire (UK) - a sad and bad choice of words for his family to read!

including men????

For reference should you be flying into Siem Reap. A new larger airport (now SAI) opened on the 16th October 2023. This airport was built, funded and now operated by the Chinese on behalf of the Royal Cambodian Government. It is 50kms from the city, compared to 5kms from the old one (REP), and the expensive taxi/minibus service is operated by the airport authorities. From posts on Facebook, on arrival there may be issues and intimidation trying to book your own transport via an APP (Grab etc.). If you have a hotel booked it will advise you. Enjoy your visit wherever you decide to go.

Very similar to my first bank account in Thailand over 20 years ago. During a visit to my cousin's hotel in Patong, I won 30,000 baht on the "local" mafia lottery. For safety reasons, we went to his local friendly bank manager at Thai Farmers Bank (now Kasikorn). All I had to show was my passport with the valid "30 day" Thai Immigration stamp. The address was my cousin's hotel. On opening the account, I got a passbook - nothing else. When I retired to live in Thailand (Lanna) this original account was easily transferred to another Kasikorn branch in Chiang Mai Province having shown proof of new address. From my experience, it is who you know that matters - a policy I have adopted ever since!

Was the elderly gent wearing a crash helmet???

Laukkaing is a town in the North East of Burma near the Chinese border. It is situated in the Kokang Self-Administered Zone. It has been the target of the Burmese Military terrorist organisation, the Tatmadaw, on several occasions.

Insurance cover???

For reference, an older Thai police patrol boat near the Golden Triangle. No doubt these new boats will be faster.

I wonder how it was constructed!

The new Vientiane Railway Terminus. There will be no HST service onwards to Bangkok for many years. Note: no English language, just Laotian and Chinese.

With respect, they do. Rice is grown to feed families, with surplus being sold to provide a small income. Sugar cultivation in Isaan is very important for the local economy with MitrPhol's Mills processing the cane and providing employment for many local Thai people. Over in Lanna, another very important crop that is widely grown is maize, in particular sweet corn, on the hills and mountain sides, also in the valleys, of the Northern Provinces. Once the kernels have been harvested they go to processing factories for canning or freezing in packs. The remaining acres of dry stalks/leaves are then burnt, not cut and collected or ploughed in. Yes, there was air pollution during the harvests, but it was not only the Thai farmers. We experienced smoke from the farmers in neighboring Burma and Laos. No doubt down south you may experience smoke/haze from Cambodia, Malaysia and South Burma when the wind is blowing from their direction! I lived in an agricultural environment during my 20 years "up North" so I am well aware of the farming culture which will never change. To say "the law should be enforced" from your bar stool in Pattaya or office chair in Bangkok, may I inform you that many of the law enforcement officers up North own farms or support family members in farming. Photo of sweetcorn being grown on hillsides in Lanna (sadly, much deforestation)