Expat Tom

Because the man was going into a pot shop he had not yet used pot? Who ever wrote that piece of brilliant logic was probably smoking something. Years ago I smoked pot for fun. After I became a licensed sea captain I was subject to random drug testing. I stopped smoking with not withdrawal symptoms. Everyone is different might, therefore, react differently but in my 70+ years I have seen lots of alcohol rage and steroid rage but I have never seen pot rage. Pot usually mellows people out unless mixed with something else like speed or coke. Usually the worst effect of pot is the desired to eat every cookie and potato chip in the house and then go to the store for more. (Biscuits and crisps for those bound by tradition and who shun progress) : ) !

"International Living Magazine" and "Live and Invest Overseas" both produce a yearly top 10 list of countries to live and retire in for expats. Thailand is on the list. However, Thailand is not ranked as number one and there are 9 other countries on the list as well. Many of those other 9 countries offer expats with retirement or long term stay visas DISCOUNTS on a variety of goods and services rather then charge them more. In Thailand a farang can not own a house with land without going through some quasi-legal corporate structure. Many other countries grant long term visas to those who BUY real estate and make their homes there. If you chose some of those other countries on the top 10 list of countries to live and retire in you are allowed to participate in that countries national health care program at a very very low cost. In Thailand you are on your own and have to buy expensive expat insurance. If you visit the website, "Transparency.org" and view the yearly , "World Corruption Index" and cross reference it with the "Top 10 Places to Live and Retire" you will notice that our beloved Thailand is ranked as MORE corrupt than the other 9 countries on the list. It be VERY clear, I have lived as an expat (legally) in Thailand for over 15 years. I love much about Thailand notwithstanding the morons who run the Thai government. I have traveled to over 70 countries and lived for months in 11 different countries. My advise to all expats, "We came here by airplane (at least 99% of us) and the last time I checked, airplanes fly in both directions". We are all individuals and have our own likes, dislikes, tolerance levels and resources. There is NOT one size fits all in the expat community. We all have choices. I will be very sad to leave the land of smiles but I do have an exit strategy and so should you in case the stupidity out of BBK becomes unbearable. The Thai government needs to fully appreciate the economic impact of the expats living here. They further need to realize that tourism dollars will decline if the government levies too many stupid regulations on expat residents. I have had many friends come from abroad as tourists to visit me over the years. They can just as easily come for a visit to my new country of residence. Let me sum this up by repeating that there are 9 other countries on the list of the beat places to live and retire . The Thai government needs to wake up and get competitive unless they want to be the worlds capital of Russian, Chinese and Indian tourism.

I am not Thai. The country, presumably, belongs to the Thai people. I am just a guest here and don't have a horse in this race or any axe to grind. But, as a casual observer, it seems to me the the Taskin family and their minions have near absolute control. There will be some eye candy accompanying Khun Yingluck's return just as with her father. He will be given a luxury suite somewhere under police supervision while the family patriarch dispenses money and political favors to smooth her transition back into the power circles of Bangkok. As for me, I could care less. Who holds the reins of political power in BBK has no affect on my life. I hope for the best for Thailand and my man Thai friends.

Taksin completed a successful silent coup and seized control of the country he was exiled from. Maybe its a good thing and maybe not but the fact remains that the Taksin family and their minions run Thailand. Anyone who actually believes that his daughter does ANYTHING with out his council and direction is just naive. As an grateful and happy expat living in this fascinating "land off Smiles", I don't have a horse in the Thai political race. I am just an bemused observer and hope for the best for all. Obviously, Thailand belongs to the Thai people and any farang living here is a guest. I am sure that 99% of the farang living here arrived by airplane and if Thailand no longer suits their needs the planes fly in both directions.

Every time I read crap like this or a story about some other foreigner behaving like like a jerk I say a small prayer that he/she/it isn't an American.

Noting good EVER comes from excessive drinking. I wonder if some of the people who get drunk and behave badly in Thailand do the same in their own country?

People travel to learn new cultures and have new experiences. Maybe he should have spent the night with her/him. He might have enjoyed it. Who knows? Maybe he knew he was taking a ladyboy to his hotel and sobered up or lost his yearning for adventure when he got to the room. : )

Every time I hear crap like this I pray that he isn't an American.

Much of my career was spent as a transportation safety consultant. My specialty was high way safety analysis and accident analysis. Thailand may not have the most dangerous traffic situation in the world but it is certainly one of the worse. Basically there are three root causes for traffic accidents: 1) Poor engineering, design and construction to include signage. 2) Poor driver education and licensing 3) Poor law enforcement. In 99% of accidents one or a combination of these causes are involved. You are in danger just crossing the street in a designated cross walk and there are very very few stop or yield signs. If there were stop signs the Thais would just ignore them. If you live here, look around and form your own opinion.

Part of the local color? At least it isn't a drunken farang trying to sucker punch another farang.

REALLY!!!! Wow! I have live here for 15 years , I thought that it was always legal! Can I ask for a refund for 15 years of bar fines and money given to ladies because of their sick buffalo in Isan?

This country is run by inept stupid people. I have live here a long time it is nearing my time to go. I am 90% sure that I will be here for New Years 2025 and 99% sure that will be my last New Years in Thailand.

If there is ever a war I would not want Thailand as an ally. They would either accidently shoot themselves in the foot an become a liability or even worse, shoot you accidently in the back. I have owned two condos there in the past. I would never buy property here again. The country is inherently too unstable and run by a cabal of people in BBK with questionable intelligence.

Open and shut case to me. It would be interesting to know how the enveloper was....Thai?....Chinese? ....Where did he money come from. Anyone want to make a small wager that if the Chinese were the principals they were likely the funders... AH! How the Bangkok Buffoons love the Chinese.

The nationality of the foreigner was not given but with the HUGE percentage of Russian there the odds are....??? I lived in Phuket 10 years ago. I will not visit Russia, Ukraine or Phuket today. (Interesting side note; Check out transparency.org / world corruption index. Ukraine ranks 104th, Russia ranks 141st and Thailand ranks 108th out of 180 countries.) don't kill the messenger. https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023