Expat Tom

The stupid person who made the decision to waste money is not unique here. It was probably the same person who installed traffic signs in Pattaya along the sidewalks at the perfect height to gash one's head. Maybe this is just a form of job security. The traffic signs had to be reinstalled and something will have to be done about the SS benched. BTW, if stainless steel cause fires then the planet would have been burnt to a crisp long ago.

AH! My morning coffee and the "Russian Crime Report" . What a way to start my day. . Do you know why so many Russian come to Thailand? BECAUSE NO OTHER COUNTRY WANTS THEM....DUH! The power brokers in Bangkok are so money hungry that they don't care what befalls the citizens of Thailand....The Bangkok Big Wigs don't even care if the money is real. What a joke!

People who come from "nanny nations" like USA, Canada, and most of Europe need to develop situational awareness to survive. This is not unique to Thailand but applies to the majority of nations around the world. You can't rely on "Big Brother" to take care of you. For example, the concept of a designated cross walk where cars will stop for you doesn't exists in many places. You actually have to have your head on a swivel, as opposed to up your butt, to survive. As a former soldier, I have the benefit somewhat well developed situational awareness skills. The lessons I learned decades ago still serve me well.

I think that ASEAN NOW should create a special section call , "The Daily Russian Crime Report". I sometimes wonder if the decision makers in BBK do any basic research before coming up with wonderful ideas like throwing the door wide open and rolling out the RED carpet for thousands of people from one of the most corrupt countries in the planet ( transparency.org World corruption Index) .. Russia ranks 141st in the world in corruption out of 180 countries. The term "Russian Mafia" is not just a metaphor. It is a reality. There is ample open source information available to anyone wanting to do basic due diligence before making decisions. You don't have to consult MI 6 or the CIA. Of course, there are many fine people from Russia but if you invite a mangy old dog into your house don't complain about the fleas.

Maybe Thailand needs a substantial wall on its boarder with its southern neighbor just like America does. Who knows the whole story? It could be Thai on Thai but southern Thailand is a no go area for many. This is far from the first incident there. So much for globalism

Since common sense and critical thinking skills are lacking why not try artificial intelligence? I am bemused that the police visited Walking Street recently and found no indication of illegal activity. What about the bars that advertise in glowing neon signs, "Russian Strippers" "Russian Ladies" and have Russian ladies in the street inviting customers inside? etc. Is this legal? What kind of visa do these Russian ladies have? What kind of work documents? I have never been in one of these establishments but obviously the Russian ladies must have skill sets that Thai ladies don't have. These photos were taken on Walking Street right after ASEAN NOW ran a story claiming that Pattaya police and authorities found no illegal activities in Pattaya entertainment venues. Could some sort of corruption be involved? I have no evidence to claim that anyone is being paid off or bribed. However these photos speak for themselves. As a long time farang who is a legal resident in Thailand, I don't really care but if I were a Thai I would be offended by the rampant and obvious illegal activities easily seen in bright neon lights

I have empathy for the Indians sometimes.. I was waiting to enter one of my favorite "Clubs" on Walking Street a few months ago. There were three Indians waiting in front of me. The security/doorman told the three Indians that this was a private membership club and they couldn't enter. They left and he opened to door for me without mentioning "membership".

Are you serious???? Tourists are fleeced by other farang and the Thai's as well. Don't be naive.

Exactly what do you expect when you build your tourism industry on three of the most corrupt countries on the planet. Russia, China and India. It is just this simple, "when you sleep with dogs you will get fleas". Why would you openly court visitors from lawless countries. OBVIOULY troublemakers and bad actors come from all countries....even European and North American. I'm talking about countries known to be rife with criminality and corruption. World Corruption Index of 180 countries( transparency.org): China #89 India #93 Russia 141 Surely the "Bangkok Brain Trust" has computers connected to the internet. One would think that someone would do some due diligence before setting policies. Thailand, like many other countries, suffers from bad leadership. By the way, where does Thailand rank on the World Corruption Index? Would you believe 108th!!!!!!

I am interested in opening a bar on Walking Street just like those pictured here. I am thinking of a African Lady Bar or Latin Ladies Bar. What kind of business license do I have to have. Should I have a Thai nominee company or can I own it in my own name? What kind of work permit to my African Ladies or Latin Ladies have to have to work there? Since the police must have passed by these places on Walking Street and saw nothing illegal then it must be ok?

If you are a man it is not a problem. Just go outside to the rear of the store or a quiet soi and pee. That is what most Thai men do. I live is an up scale condo and the smell of stale urine is obvious as soon as I leave my condo complex. As to the statement in the article that "Thailand offers numerous free public restrooms." ; laughable at best.

Always be careful what you wish for. The "Bangkok Brain Trust" (BBT) saw $$$ signs in their eyes when Russians fled the Ukraine war so they rolled out the red carpet to get them here. They might have done some basic research first but making decisions after doing due diligence doesn't seem to translate into Thai. You don't need to consult MI6 or the CIA to confirm that out of 180 countries, Russia ranks 141 on the world corruption index (transparency.org). BTW, visit Transparenct.org and see when your country and Thailand ranks on the "World Corruption Index". Criminality is the norm in Russia. Sure, there are lots of very normal Russian families trying to flee their dictator's arbitrary invasion of their neighbor. However, one might conclude that there would be lots of Russian Mafia too boot. I have some news for the BBT ( Bangkok Brain Trust). If you sleep with dogs, you will get fleas. Here is another suggestion for ASEAN NOW. Why don't you make a special heading for your news missives called "The Russian Crime Report". I file all of the news like this in my "RFL File". ....."Reasons For Leaving". I have lived here for 15 years. I am not going to abandon a country that I love completely but starting this year, I will spend about 50% of my time outside of the Land of Smiles.

Singapore would know exactly what to do. Public canning and thrown out of the country with not return possible.

If there were ever a war I would not want Thailand as an ally. They would either accidently shoot themselves on the foot and become a liability or accidently shoot you in the back. For a while, I was a corporate recruiter , aka "headhunter". Other than an increase in pay, it is necessary to build a RFL file (Reason For Leaving) to persuade the candidate to relocate. My RFL fille just grew after this taxation joke. Thailand is a wonderful place to live. I have been here for longer than 15 years. Most people have some loyalty to their native country but many Thai's believe that Thailand is the center of the universe.....it is not.. I am not wealthy but have the funds to live where I chose, within reason. I will not pay tax in Thailand. I dump a fair amount of money into this country every money. I will dump that money into another country for 180 days a year. I am not to only one who feels the same. Easy day for me but the Thai brain(less) trust in BKK might like to rethink it latest stupidity.

Any change would be good for Thailand. I know that it is a novel idea but shouldn't the person who gets the most votes be the elected leader? I guest that is something that the USA and Thailand have in common. Visit 'Transparency.org' to see where Thailand and your country ranks on the World Corruption Index.

THE RUSSIAN ARE COMING< THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING> THE RUSSINS ARE COMING! When you sleep with dogs you will get fleas. Russia in one of the most corrupt countries on the planet. According to 'Transparencty.org' Russian ranks 141st on the world corruption index. Please! Don't take my word for it. Check it out for yourself. One who possesses any critical thinking skills might have concluded that when you open the doors wide for people from an internationally acknowledged corrupt country you might get more than a few criminals is the process. However, this is nothing new. Walking Street in Pattaya has quite a few bars/ clubs that advertise in glowing neon lights, Russian Girls! Russian Dancers! ! Long legged blond Russian "ladies" stand in the street and beckon folks inside. Exactly what sort of Visa or Working permit to these Russian "ladies of the night" have that allows them to work in Thailand in jobs that Thai nationals are qualified to do. How many brown envelopes are passed out to allow these businesses to operate? The last time I wrote a post about this I was threatened in the comments, presumably by Russian criminals or by Thai officials who receive the monthly brown envelops. THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING> THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING> BTW, do you know why the Russians are in Thailand? BECAUSE THAILAND IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW COUNTRIES WHO ALLOW ....EVEN ENCOURAGE....THEM TO COME. Every crime that is committed in Thailand by a Russian can be laid at the feet of the monied people in Bangkok who make these stupid decisions. Don't blame the criminal when you leave your doors unlocked.

Crime without victims. Pot has been used in Thailand for centuries by much wiser men than those currently holding the reigns of power in BKK. Don't worry. If you want to enjoy pot, post re-criminalization, just take a weekend trip to Isan.

Transparency.org. Where does Thailand rank on the World Corruption Index? Where does your country rank on this index? Do you think that "transparency.org" and like research groups have any validity? Where does Russia, India, China, South AFRICA and Brazil rank (BRICS Nations) rank? I AM NOT claiming that there is corruption in Thailand. I am simply pointing that there are matrixes out there easily found online that purport to measure such things, right or wrong.

There is good reason that the USA is not a member of the ICC. There are many good reasons why the US should pull out of the UN. Clearly, that won't happen but many Americans would like like to see the USA to pay no more than its fair share of the funding of the UN based on its GDP.

A drunk Russian? Who would have thought such a thing. Well, the Thai government rolled out the red carpet for the Russians. Do you think that they might be having buyers remorse now?

Several year ago I contemplated moving from Thailand to Colombia. I had visited Colombia several times and found much to like. I decided to remain in Thailand in part, because I thought Thailand was much safer. As of late, I am not sure that Thailand is safer. One more small item for my RFL File ( Reason For Leaving).

Clever, Since I order my vitamins from the states I will be forced to pay 3 times as much here because the mechanism for paying the VAT will be a nightmare and delivery times protracted. . This is just one more item to put in my RFL (Reason For Leaving) file. Soon the Bangkok Brain Trust will completely kill the goose that lays the golden egg. There are estimated to be over 80,000 farang living in Thailand. How many will leave before the Clown Show in BBK feels the pain. Let's harass the farang, tax them, charge them more to enter public parks and go to the hospital and make the visa process stupid. There are 9 other countries on the International Living list of best places for Expats to live abroad and two of them are other ASEAN countries; the PI and Vietnam. No place is perfect but the shin is wearing off Thailand for me.

Did you expect any less? Ship of Fools!

From the "Wizard of Oz"; you are not in Kansas any more Dorthey ! Thai's are very thin skinned and their definition of freedom of speech might differ from your country. I have lived here for many years and here are a few pointers for expats if you want to survive and flourish in the Land of Smiles: 1) You do not have to adopt the culture but you do have to adapt to it. 2) Do not criticize anyone even if you are right, ESPECIALLY in writing. Did you ever notice that there are very few negative comments on Trip Advisor about Thailand? You never know who the person you are commenting about is connected with. Even criticizing a tailor shop might land you in hot water if that tailor happens to be the tailor of choice for some highly connected person or, god forbid, the Royal Family. 3) Stay out of Thai politics .....very far out. 4) If you want to prowl the many night life districts leave your Rolex and gold chain locked in the hotel safe. Don't get drunk and don't carry large amounts of cash. Carry your ATM card. You can always get more cash if you need it. If you are too drunk to use the ATM it might be time to call it a night. 5) Never get in a physical altercation with a Thai. Even if you are 185 cm, weight 110 kg and are trained in Muay Thai, you can't take on 20 Thais at once. The police will side with the Thais 90% of the time. NEVER touch a Thai woman unless invited to do so. 6) Remember, this in not your country and the Thais DO NOT care how you do things back home. Above all else, you probably came here by airplane and the last I checked, planes fly in both directions. If you can't follow a few simple common sense rules then you might want to consider flying back to where ever you came from.

Can someone explain to me why elected officials who were NEVER associated with the military dress like a 30 year general officer bedecked in full military regalia including rows of ribbons? It reminds me a the old days of the "Banana Republics" and South American Tin Pot officials.. For those who never served in the military, each of those colorful ribbons are supposed to represent an award or metal. Which of those ribbons represent Songkran 2005 or the seminar attended in 2011? What ever, they love their military dress. For those of us who actually served in real militaries, it is quite amusing.