Silencer

He couldn't be bothered to take any of the many land transport options from Samui? Maybe he scored a great airfare discount or had an expiring ticket.... ????

Many of us have done the late night partying in Thailand, getting home near sunrise (when often the girl or I wanted to sleep more than romp), then wake up in the mid-afternoon and start it all over again the next night. Lots of drinking, girls, good and bad times. Although I rarely go out to party now, I have no issue with those that want to experience all that and although its available today, you need to search it out or be in the know. Most of Pattaya should be open late for clubs and people so inclined, that is what Pattaya is (some other areas too). Whilst I will be blissfully sleeping amongst the coconut groves, others can continue the tradition of partying til they drop, with all the fun and dangers that may follow.

After rain, so many dangerous curves on the roads of Samui (and the other islands) with dirt and sand deposits that last several days. Couple that with many inexperienced drivers and I see tourist crashes every week, sometimes every day. The standard motorbike rental helmets are a joke, colorful ornaments that barely reach the top of the ears. I hope she makes a full recovery.

I'm given a lot of different types of documents and presentations to review from my Japanese client. Some speak/write near perfect English, some don't. How I approach these reviews is providing "alternative wording" or "suggested edits", allowing them to pick and choose the ones they like. This way, they can take some of my suggestions, all of them, or edit my suggestions a bit, and everyone is happy and saves face. By the way, I was lost in Tokyo once near my clients office one morning and I could find not find one person (young students, university ages, or businessman) that could speak English and direct me to the right place. Some had a look of horror that I was about to approach them and speak English. So, it's not just Thailand with low proficiency and we can't call the Japanese lazy.

In a secret meeting of the illuminati, just after the US Revolutionary War, it was decided that the new nation of the United States should not become a world football superpower. Instead, it was to be gifted the sports of American football, Basketball, and Baseball, which would attract its best athletes thereby ensuring they could not compete at the international level. Along with the insistence that the US should use the term soccer when referring to world football, to further distanced itself, this decision has worked out well for the football world, despite a small hiccup in 1950. I thought this was well understood.

Split the money, one moves out. I would have never guessed an amicable solution would be forthcoming. Now, he just needs to grow a pair.

So 'Mountain B' club was ordered closed for 5 years, yet a club with a different name can open up in its place? While maybe meeting the the letter of the law certainly this seems to violate the spirit of the law.

China wants these operations shut down. They are mostly going after Chinese nationals, causing headaches for the government, and citizens there. Many operate from multiple countries. Big problem for the Chinese.

Meanwhile my wife got dragged into a local problem when her 19 y.o. nephew back in her village, who she was sort of a surrogate mother for, was seen going into the house of a 13 year old girl, after the kid called him to say she was alone. Although no sex had occurred apparently, both families are upset, the village chief involved, and then called my wife to get her to explain to him if something like this happens again, the police will get involved. My only comment was I'm not bailing anyone out. Wondering if her nephew was a rich man whether this would be such an issue....

Exactly. The Thai government LOVES for rich Chinese to come live here but many come with serious vices as well, or their children do. Do they continue this push for wealthy Chinese residents and hand out token fines from time to time, deporting/blacklisting, or jailing them?