Burma Bill

Possibly - for reference: The Chinese Embassy has confirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Thai government on the inspection into the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok on Friday due to an earthquake. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with Chinese Ambassador Han Zhiqiang and Chinese disaster-management experts to discuss the incident on Sunday. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40048080

No doubt not many of AN subscribers will be interested, but I wonder if Simon43 is okay, having recently returned to Mandalay. His contributions from Burma, Mandalay in particular, were very interesting to read (IMO).

rather disconcerting - all HOSPITALS! Did the Chinese build these as well?

At the two land border crossings from Cambodia to Surin and Sisaket Provinces in Thailand, there is no such thing as TDAC. One still has to complete a paper TM6 Form to enter Thailand. Smartphones are of no use.

Thanks, yes I remember those days well. I still carry a ballpoint pen with my passport to complete Form TM6 at the land border crossings between Cambodia and Thailand. I can assure you pens are still scarce at Thai Immigration hence my own!

Oh, I shall be coming to Thailand, as I have done for over 25 years, still completing a paper FORM TM6 at land border crossings. I am certainly not getting bent out of shape and what I do is my choice. As far as I am concerned, you can stuff your smartphones up your ............!

Not actually write, but type emails on my personal computer. I also use Facebook to keep in touch. What is Whatsapp ? Sometimes I make calls on my 3G phone to family, friends and pension companies who are still on old landline numbers in the UK.

For reference:- (Google) According to the SAO, construction of the 30-storey building being built at a cost of 2.13 billion baht began in 2020. The construction was carried out by the ITD-CREC joint venture and supervised by the PKW joint venture. ITD-CREC consists of Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd.5 hours ago Please note ITD (Italian Thai Development) is the main contractor for the new elevated express highway, part of which recently collapsed onto Rama 2 Road in Bangkok, also killing people.

Absolute bull<deleted>!! I manage everyday without a smartphone here in Cambodia.. All my shopping - CASH IS KING. I also use my Bank Debit card for ATM and to pay my medical bills at my local private hospital. I have never been required to use a QR Code. When travelling by air from Siem Reap to Chiang Mai, boarding passes are issued by Air Asia for the 'Fly Thru' service and Thai Immigration in DMK (special desk for Air Asia transfer passengers) want to see passport and for me to undergo the biometrics formality. No QR codes or TM6 involved. Interestingly, my favourite restaurant in Siem Reap is now CASH ONLY. Evidently too many problems with smartphone transactions. It is still full everyday with worldwide customers visiting Angkor Wat. Several new banks have been constructed in Siem Reap and new ATM booths are springing up again - like pre-covid days!

Maybe - no earthquake in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

For reference. During my 20 years of retirement in Lanna (Phayao/Chiang Rai/Ching Mai), most of the modern rebuilding and improvements of major roads in Lanna were completed during Thaksin Sinawatra's terms as Thai PM. He brought money from Bangkok to invest in many Lanna infrastructure projects which brought agricultural, industrial and tourism wealth to the north of Thailand.

I just completed this quiz. My Score 40/100 My Time 177 seconds  

I live in Siem Reap in Cambodia and I try to avoid the crossing from Poipet as it can be horrendous. Cambodian Immigration is usually easy BUT Thai Immigration in Aranyaphratet is dreadful. I had to queue for almost 4 hours at my last visit. If travelling by car, I now use two convenient, easy and quick land border crossings in the north of Cambodia:- O Smach, Samraong Municipality, Cambodia to Chong Chom, Surin Province, Thailand. Choam, Anlong Veng District Cambodia to Chong Sa- Ngam, Sisaket Province, Thailand Please note, at both of these crossings you have to complete a Form T6 to enter Thailand and an Arrival/Departure card to enter Cambodia.

Just a pleasant memory these days. One Sunday a month at Steak Kev's in Chumphae, Khon Kaen, Province. Isaan. Roast beef, chicken or pork will all the trimmings including homemade Yorkshire Pudding, roast and mashed potatoes! https://scontent.fpnh1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/476831999_2005902606488691_999174563751541557_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s720x720_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=pwm-PwJxj48Q7kNvgFU0Xl8&_nc_oc=AdmaQnU4WZ6izsAAuBefsvyRbaNl772V9wkZR6g7Oop9KSBOW9NM43WrbLwVWYX2ZQE&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fpnh1-2.fna&_nc_gid=VX_oG_JvgPRCWN242hN3Sw&oh=00_AYEhnOzIvbrBR_Z4GqFSdzQLAZSgHaUCpv8W_5_qvf82oA&oe=67E9852B The bar/restaurant closed during Covid and the English Chef (above) sadly passed away recently.

Operating black market activities?

With all the anti news coming out of Pattaya these days, I wonder why so many flock to this ars....le of a resort! Certainly not quality tourists.

A Flying Dutchman!

Once up and flying, no doubt the budget airlines will have an impact on the new High Speed Train service to Bangkok (when completed!)

For reference; If Chinese yuan, 2,000 = 9360 Thai baht. If Japanese yen, 2,000 = 454 Thai baht. Exchange rate - 24/3/2025.

My thought as well when I read the time of the accident - 04.00am! (alcohol and/or drugs)

A happy ending!!

Thanks for your comment and with respect, I am not drunk now - I do not drink alcohol these days, being a Type 2 insulin dependent diabetic.

As a UK Citizen, sadly I have to agree, BUT the Brits are not the highest consumers of alcohol (reference Google) - Source: Eurostat. The EU country with the biggest share of its population drinking alcohol on a weekly basis is the Netherlands (47.3 per cent), Luxembourg (43.1 per cent), and Belgium (40.8 per cent).Jun 30, 2023

Yes, you are correct. Thai Lion Air and NOK Air fly from CNX to DMK (Don Mueang). Thai Viet Jet, Bangkok Airways and THAI Airways fly to BKK (Suvarnabhumi) There are a limited number of flights with Thai Air Asia to BKK, the majority terminating at DMK. https://www.trip.com/flights/airport-cnx-bkk/?locale=en_xx&curr=usd&allianceid=742331&sid=25228287&ppcid=ckid-37194349351_adid-679124870365_akid-kwd-2369073420469_adgid-153771948703&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2072509

Yes, you are correct. NOK Air, also Thai Lion Air, only fly to Don Mueang Airport (DMK). Thai Viet Jet, Thai Air Asia (limited flights), Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways fly to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). reference: https://www.trip.com/flights/chiang-mai-to-/tickets-cnx-bkk?dcity=cnx&acity=bkk&ddate=2025-03-21&rdate=2025-03-24&dairport=cnx&aairport=bkk&triptype=ow&class=y&lowpricesource=searchform&quantity=1&searchboxarg=t&nonstoponly=off&sort=price