Burma Bill

With respect, the carriages shown in the photographs were introduced by SRT from November 2016 onwards. All the diesel locomotives and multiple units (diesel rail cars) currently used on most passenger services are post WW2.

When I lived in "country bumpkin land", I went to the local ATM, withdrew cash and visited the local PEA office where I presented the bill with the cash - simple (for me)!

With respect, cold beer was available on the train I recently travelled on from Don Mung Station to Chiang Mai. There was no restaurant car, however during the journey, vendors boarded the train at various stations selling food and drinks. Some vendors carried ice boxes containing chilled cans of beer and soft drinks - service at your seat! Had similar service with Burma Railways travelling from Mandalay to Hsipaw (pre latest coup).

Yes indeed, back in those days when there were no budget airlines, I used to travel from either Chiang Mai or Lampang to Bangkok. I always headed to the restaurant car to enjoy what you mentioned above. Food from woks washed down with chilled Changs watching the scenery on the mountain section between Lamphun and Uttaradit - happy memories!

This has hit the International news media - great!! "BANGKOK (AP) — The daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality on Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year's election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation................The next four years will be the years that our country will bounce back and regain our dignity and pride," she said. "To think big and act smart will help rebuild our country and improve the livelihood of Thai people – as if it’s a miracle." https://uk.yahoo.com/news/daughter-ex-thai-pm-thaksin-110200793.html

IMO ( as a country bumpkin):

I totally agree. No such bureaucratic BS here in hassle free Cambodia. As a retiree over 55 years, once you get your retirement visa that is it until the renewal date the following year - so easy!!

I was also fined 1,000 baht for not having an International Driving Permit/Licence when stopped at a checkpoint south of Chiang Rai but this was many years ago. It triggered me to get a Thai Driving Licence through contacts in the British Consulate in Chiang Mai (in those days). I eventually became a Tourist Police Volunteer based in Chiang Rai and a TP sticker on the windscreen worked wonders.

With the greatest respect, is that only on domestic routes with Air Asia in Thailand?? I recently flew with Air Asia on a return trip from Siem Reap to Bangkok. Masks worn to Bangkok, no masks from Bangkok. The return flight to Siem Reap was full, mainly tourists, and most without masks (including myself). Cambodian Immigration Officers were also "maskless".

Chiang Mai??????

Not carriages, flat bed container transporters.

Originally on its way to be pickled in formalin????

That is so but Khon Kaen is the North East Regional HQ for the Border Patrol Police with district offices in provinces that border the Mekong with Laos. For reference: (Google) The Border Patrol Police, as the name of the force suggests, are meant to operate in border areas. Indeed, except for a few hundred administrative staff at the Border Patrol Police General Headquarters on Phaya Thai Road in Bangkok, most active BPP forces are in the provinces.Nov 23, 2020

Thank you for the information and now I know I was right on a recent inter provincial night bus journey from Chiang Mai to Khon Kaen. I was travelling as a tourist from Cambodia to visit friends. This was the first time back in Thailand after 3 years. Having boarded the bus and took my seat, the stewardess shouted at me "mask, mask"!! I explained that as a tourist I had not seen any rules within or outside Thailand that stated I must wear a mask on a bus. She did not properly understand English and again insisted I wore a mask. Fortunately, I had an old one tucked away inside my travel bag. Having put on my grubby mask we began the journey. Within a few minutes, she was distributing snacks and drinks after which she disappeared into the cab compartment with the driver. Off came my mask whilst I slowly enjoyed my snack and drink, and it remained off whilst all the Thai passengers around me slept buried under a blanket! The stewardess alighted at Lomsak and I tried to explain to her that her attitude was not helping regenerate the Thai tourist industry but she did not care. A steward replaced her and there were no more "wear a mask" instructions. Thailand - the hub of Covid-19 paranoia??

Yes indeed. When I lived up north in "country bumpkin" land, I knew one of the farang villagers was on at least 20 years overstay!! He was a well respected character and nobody grassed on him.

Yum, yum - formalin instead of BBQ sauce!!!

Thanks - exactly what crossed my mind (the brown - or maybe orange) urine. If the harsh training was completed in full military kit, surely a water bottle is part of that kit. If in just PE kit then dehydration is possible if no water supplied. Whatever, those officers in charge should be reprimanded.

Any influence from Thailand's new pals - the Saudis????

Like Air Asia, VietJet fly A320 Airbuses

Yes, many times on short haul "Fly-thru" International flights from Thailand - an excellent budget airline for such flights to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma (prior to current Junta). The airline does fly Air-bus A 320's.

Thank you. Bangkok Airways and Thai Smile both fly from BKK to Luang Prabang as "code share" partners conveying passengers off International flights arriving at BKK. There does not appear to be any flights with Bangkok Airways direct from CNX to LPQ.

During my career, Cannabis provided me with well paid employment in the UK Police Forensic Service, analyzing samples and preparing reports for prosecutions in Criminal Courts!! I am now retired with a non-contributory, index linked pension based on final salary - thank you marijuana!!

For reference (pre- High Speed Rail); When I lived in Khon Kaen Province, I drove to Nong Khai and parked in a secure car park on the Thai side. I then crossed the bridge by bus and taxi to Vientiane Airport where I boarded a local flight for Luang Prabang. The flight time was 45 minutes and avoided the long notoriously poor road journey. To save time, I pre-arranged my Laos visa at the Laos Consulate in Khon Kaen. Thai Air Asia and Laos Airlines fly from Bangkok. There is also a flight with Laos Airlines from Chiang Mai. All these flights are direct to/from Luang Prabang. Also for reference: Vietnam has a Consulate in Khon Kaen as well as Laos.

Yes, I agree to a certain extent. From my days living in Thailand, I know of a Thai man who "bought" his licence with a brown envelope and he is still driving to this day, never having taken a driving test!

Interesting, but not throughout by rail. Will the Thai fruit have to be conveyed by lorry to Laos, or be containerised and transported on Thailand's narrow gauge system to Nong Khai for transfer to the Chinese standard gauge system??