Silencer

As the boxing saying goes, "everyone has a plan until punched in the face." So it is with Thailand and the endless new tourist plans and schemes. Once China opens up again and TAT wants bookings from millions of Chinese tourists (whatever quality), everything will change again.

Exactly. I have daughter that lives in NYC. She would never think to be in a subway station, traveling alone, late night/early morning. Big cities have lots of crime, especially at those hours. Common sense.

On the positive side of the Newbie's post (rant), he likely has one of the highest "+" ratings, currently (+33) to # of posts (1) of any poster. FWIW: Black, White (or Caucasian), Asian, Western/European, or nationality naming conventions are what gets me by IF I have to distinguish between individuals/racial groups.

Just oversaw the construction of a 5x12m pool (depths .8 to 1.6) with associated pump room built and shower wall for 1M baht at the villa I'm renting in Samui. Finish was with PebbleTec. Prices on Samui may be a bit more than the mainland or way up north. Btw the initial quotes received to build this pool were 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.8, and 2.2M. Both companies at the lower end were willing to do for 1M. Will be able to use the pool in two days. Just giving you another price point.

So this is one, apparently (as I have not tracked the 17 year old case), new data point. A suicide note was never discussed over the past 17 years until last week? Such a note would have been front and center news at the time (even without the details) if it had existed, followed up with the autopsy findings that would point to a likely suicide.

Secret ingredients and special production specifications? YES! Apparently you know little about how the pharmaceutical formulation development and production processes work. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2021-pfizer-secret-to-whats-in-the-covid-vaccine/

Is that why corruption is widely practiced...because it is rooted in Thai culture?

It will be easy enough to decipher the ingredients and some companies (with or without government knowledge) will offer a generic based on the Pfizer formula. Quality control standards might be less but the formula should be near exact. Pfizer will be busy suing these companies.

I have no idea what has happened in this case but so far the only two banks I recall reading about here were KK and BBK. Although Banks usually have good security, as we have read, the internal alerting system was maybe less than ideal in some cases (hopefully improved now). Would not surprise me if the banks ATM password files(s) were hacked as the entry point for the theft, less likely but possible the files were sold on the hackers market. Thousands of credit card/ATM numbers, owners details, and passwords are available for sale online obtained from many different sources. Minimize your exposure.

There may be big shots in Pattaya but they don't hold a candle to the boys in Bangkok. Many places flaunting the rules openly as the OP states.

Amazing menu....calorie reducing in fact!

This is an important point. If you already have established 'living in the US at least 5 years as a married couple', then make sure she has that documentation to prove it so she does not have to go searching for proof after you die. Talk with the office in the Philippines that can tell you what documentation you could use for that proof (tax returns, green cards, W-2's etc).

I think I knew I wanted someone more down to earth, wanted to take care of me in every way, easy-going, low maintenance socially, not worried about what society expects, the hi-so girl could not deliver all of that. What she could deliver was a slice of Thailand's social scene maybe unseen to some of us (a bit boring), a very comfortable home, cars, pretty much a worry free future. So, I'm very glad for the experience but happily went in the other direction for a Thai wife. Getting a hot younger wife, who loves to take care of the home and man, down to earth and level-headed, likes to have a wild night out and many quiet nights at home was definitely the right choice for me.

Haha...I resemble this post! Live on the islands, bought a used Chery car (has automatic or manual option button and other quirks. Build quality poor. Safety...who knows, likely in last place. Ran great on flat ground...struggled uphill. Why buy? It was 50K baht and beat a motorbike in the rain and overall safety. After 4 months, swapped out the engine for a used Honda engine (40K). So, for less than 100K I have a reliable, ugly (some say island cute in lime green) car I and the wife can take anywhere....now up steep hills too! I'm not driving for style points, don't plan long distance journeys in it, and hope to have this car for at least 5 years on the island (in year two now). At that point I will likely upgrade to a proper vehicle and will have completed my house build so won't need to be stingy in other areas.

I had 10-15 "one/two week millionaire" trips to LOS before deciding to find the "right" one. I won't count 2 day to one week "flings" as consideration (but did help with personality trait observations). First serious Thai was in the US, upper middle class background, well educated (law degree) and a beauty queen. Family has good money, houses, all high-end cars and designer everything. On some levels ticked off what many might say would be hard for your average visitor to find and develop a connection with. Anyway, dated several years, but while dating, still made trips to Thailand to sample other options. During sampling, fell in love with another Thai girl in US (who was soon returning to Thailand), and dated her concurrently for 2 years, almost married. Had two very close Thai friends in Thailand that were interested to go to the next level, but I ever reached that stage. In the end married the long-term girl knowing I would be moving to Thailand in the near future. I would have had a very comfortable life. However, after one year of marriage, I decided I married for the wrong reasons and separated. Living in Thailand now I met the "right one" and we have been together 3 years and I expect to be with her til the end. So, maybe 3 serious Thai girls before finding the right one. By the way, I went from a near Hi-so, to the opposite end of the social economic spectrum but money was never really the issue...for me.

In Thailand, yes. If high ticket items or service required, I would want additional data points (usually references or examples). Having said that, it is always a treat to find an informative and up-to-date webpage with more information.

Because he can act with impunity. He fancies himself a mini Xi authoritarian but with a strong 'no adult fun' mentality. He's drunk on control and wants people to worship him on the same level as the 'Dear Leader' in NK but does not have that level of control....yet. COVID has little to do with his thinking. Political survival has everything to do with his decisions.

Google "best health care in the world", CEO World is the high water mark for Thailand, many other lists have it quite a bit lower. Top tier countries also much different than CEO World rankings. I will say that many private hospitals offer excellent care.

TAT love numbers and calculations. Using 2019 tourist figures lets say 2,000,000 (of 39,000,000) were party visitors (sex, clubs, other nightlife) each year on a two week holiday. Spending 10,000/day on hotel, food, drinks, girls, shopping, incidentals that comes to 280,000,000,000 baht of lost revenue a year. Not counting all the expats that also frequent these places (and some own them). I'm sure that figure employed a lot of people and took care of many families. Under a no/low nightlife plan, most of that money is gone.

Exactly. Lets take a trip to Thailand, who cares if we are "penniless"? Makes no sense.

Likely he would drop everything if he is really is getting 200M to appear. Almost any artist in the world would. If he has a free day...that's a years income for him in one day. Who needs rest? ????

Meanwhile, as an example, my daughter booked Ariana Grande for a corporate event in 2020 for $350,000 (11.5M baht) for a 60-90 minute performance. Most top tier performers are $1-2M (33-66M) maximum to perform. Yeah, 200M seems reasonable....if you are a crown prince in the middle east, or TAT.

I have always been curious whether each province, or each government department, has massive warehouses to host all this paperwork over the decades? Ooops...same comment as above.

OK...sod it is then. Thanks.

While I do believe there was the "Thonglor" outbreak, bars are hardly the main cause of outbreaks. Factories, migrants and migrant work camps, had significantly larger outbreaks. Travel home for Songkran probably the biggest catalyst for this years spread. You can sit in a restaurant indoors with many others but not a bar? Massive markets and shopping malls open with hundreds but 5-10 people in a bar are the threat? How about only outside tables for bars, beach bars, etc. No, its not bars, but rather the government believes alcohol fuels and intensifies all negative activity in the Kingdom. So, they either accept that outcome or ban alcohol forever.