Burma Bill

I totally agree, along with the "no durian" signs:- (not forgetting "no smoking")

I made many interprovincial bus journeys throughout Thailand during my 20 years in residence (never on overstay), and only on one occasion was my passport checked at a checkpoint south of Phayao. It was on a night bus and a regular procedure in those days, looking for illegal migrants from neighboring Burma and Laos heading south. I am sure you will not be stopped to/from Korat. Good luck.

For reference: I am a UK Citizen who lived in Thailand. My Thai Driving Licence is still valid. I now live in Cambodia and my Thai DL is legal, even though driving is on the right side of the road!

IMO, it should have been packed off to Vietnam as a culinary delight!!

All wearing orange T-shirts rather than anoraks with notebooks in hand?

I cannot remember costs but pre-pandemic and military coup in Burma, I tried to take advantage of booking a "special offer" return ticket with Bangkok Airways from Chiang Mai to Rangoon. The fare looked very attractive but when I went to confirm the booking and payment, I was hit with a list of additional charges including fuel surcharge, admin costs and airport taxes etc. etc. The final price was more than double the "special offer" so I cancelled the booking before final payment. I eventually travelled with Air Asia Fly Thru from CNX via DMK to Rangoon at an attractive inexpensive fare but longer travelling time.

In the UK - His Majesty's Revenue and Customs. (google) If you have applied to HMRC for a tax refund outside of the Self Assessment system, for example, because you are due some tax relief on your employment expenses, then HMRC will issue your tax refund, by cheque, once they have processed your form. In Cambodia - many businesses. Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Saturday charged a couple who allegedly issued bad cheques worth about $650,000 to repay a loan from three property-businessmen friends............ https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50636858/couple-nabbed-over-650000-bad-cheque/

Did they make a "right pig's ear" of the capture??

Moderators, please delete my post if not considered relevant. I thought it might be of interest in general comment about boosting income from tourism. The actions of TAT to boost domestic tourism for Thai folks must be commended. Across the border here in Cambodia, the Royal Government has stated that to boost income from tourism, Chinese tourists can now use the Renbi (Yuan) along with the US$ and Cambodian Riel in bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, sight-seeing etc. etc. I hope I do not get offered Yuan in change! I wonder if Thailand would ever accept the Yuan along with the Baht at tourism businesses? "The Minister of Tourism has stated that Cambodia will allow the use of Chinese RMB – instead of Cambodian Riel or US Dollars – in all tourism services in order to attract more Chinese tourists" https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501235141/video-chinese-tourists-can-pay-in-chinese-currency-for-all-tourism-services-throughout-cambodia/

With the greatest respect, the airport did need expansion IMHO. Like your good-self, pre-pandemic, I also used the airport many times flying with Air Asia Fly-Thru to international destinations in Burma (pre Junta), Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (all via DMK). I was a Volunteer with the local Tourist Police and often manned the TP information Desk in the arrival hall. In those days there were only 2 covered walkways linking aircraft with the Terminal Building, and in many instances during busy periods, passengers had to alight/board aircraft via steps from the apron. So, the addition of a third walkway (with a third baggage carousel?) and new terminal building is welcome. In the early days of planning and construction of the new building, plans were already being made for direct International flights from KKC to Laos and China which, unfortunately, were scuppered by Covid-19. Maybe one day these flights become a reality, perhaps with others direct to Vietnam (there is a Consulate in Khon Kaen for visas), Malaysia and Singapore. On the downside would be the increased aircraft noise for local residents.

All paid for in Yuan back in China???

So, a diamond studded tiara worn by a wife/girlfriend is okay?? (value is 1.3 million US$)

Measly?? Currently converts to 19,746 GBP!! That is a lot of money for many ex-pats in Thailand and to keep it in a Thai bank for six months by law is outrageous IMO - keeping the Thai banks afloat are you??? Fortunately I now live across the border in Cambodia where bureaucratic financial restrictions do not exist and hassle free when renewing/extending an annual retirement visa. As for "cheap Charlie's" there are those affluent ex-pats who are reluctant to put their hands in their pockets!!

Very much so, and whenever "sing a song" microphones appear, it is my cue to leave!!

Personally, I fid it very alarming and sad that so many young children (including babies) are transported on motorbikes, positioned between 2 adults - usually Mum and Dad - with no protection. RIP young father.

From the photo, I wonder if Anutin's family business will offer to pay the young Burmese man's funeral expenses??

With respect, perhaps he was playing Stravinsky's Firebird Suite?

An alarming reference, especially if I was Russian:- "Earlier, the head of Rosavia, Oleksandr Neradko, said that Western-made airliners, which are currently not undergoing maintenance due to sanctions, can be used until 2030. "I am sure that it has not become more dangerous to fly - and this [lack of original spare parts] does not mean anything," he said. The official demanded to stop calling the fact that planes in Russia fly using spare parts from other planes as "cannibalization". https://www.txtreport.com/news/2023-02-05-a-russian-plane-caught-fire-during-takeoff-in-thailand--more-than-300-passengers-were-on-board-(video).BJOGHrThi.html

Good old Russian name??? Should it have been Mikel Mikel??

And maybe smoke detectors?? The hotel I regularly used in Chiang Mai had both smoke detectors and sprinkler systems in all rooms. It was a "No Smoking" establishment . I appreciate in this incident, it was a condo block and smoke detectors would have been a nightmare for the management, having to respond to smoke alarms every time a resident lights up a cigarette.

Unfortunately, highly unlikely. Reference: "Myanmar's junta extended the country's state of emergency by another six months" https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-elections-junta-granted-six-month-state-emergency-extension-3247076

The prawn farmers will be getting bumper orders???

At least the children had more space in an 18-wheeler compared to this:

Whatever - from this afternoon's AN (1st February 2023) RTP Chief apologizes to Taiwanese actress: \"Good cops will be rewarded - bad ones punished\" Guides\' group say Pattaya cop extorted 30K in E-cig case Thai media investigate floating market tourist rip-off Thailand Elite Card embroiled in scandal over suspicious Chinese businesses Thailand - the hub for tourist scams, extortion and corruption???

Further information from the link:- "They called us on a mobile phone for help. We checked their location and realised they were on an old trail to the top of the mountain.....................................They were Mr. Prasannatma Das Bhatt, 30, Ms. Stagey Anne Pedder, 35, both British nationals, and Ms. Sandra Helena, 44, Netherlands national"