PingRoundTheWorld

You're not strong on history, are you? They didn't "abandon their lands" - they were exiled by enemies who took over the land. So-called "Palestinians" are mostly Jordanian/Egyptian/Syrians who've been there for less than 100 years. Jews have been in Israel - apart from periods when they were exiled - for thousands of years. When they bought the lands (yes - much of the land was bought fair and square) a century ago they were swamps and deserts, very little good land - they used Eucalyptus trees and other means to drain the swamps and make the land usable. The arabs have zero claim to those lands. Period.

What a mess. Lessons to be learned: don't do business in Thailand, and if you do - no partners, and pay your damn taxes! Also- kind of a given, but don't overstay your visa... 🤦‍♀️

What happened in recent days that hasn't been happening all along human history, at much larger scale at times?

Stop talking about it and just do it. And while you're at it, it should be 7am, not 4am. In tourist areas where there's no disturbance to locals there is zero reason against it, and it will aid in fighting corruption and fire hazard small venues open after hours because large established venues are not allowed to.

His first mistake was taking his wife to Thailand. Don't bring sand to the beach. She's probably a toxic control freak with insecurity issues and freaked out at the sheer amount of women hotter than her. On the upside (for him) - his next visit to Thailand should go much, much singler... (that is if he has half a brain - anyone who'd stay with a partner who deliberately strands you overseas is brain dead)

Occupiers of what? get your facts straight. All of the people killed were on Israeli soil, most of them didn't live in that area and came from all over the country to a music festival. None of them were "occupiers". Israel left Gaza in 2005, until last week there was zero Israeli presence in Gaza. The "occupation" Hamas is claiming is all of Israel, as their stated goal is to throw Israelis in the sea and claim the entire country. That's the kind of evil Israelis have had to deal with for generations.

It doesn't really matter if she was driving or was a passenger. Getting on a motorbike in rainy conditions - especially without a helmet - is a terrible choice either way. With motorbikes it's not a question of if you're going to get in an accident - it's a question of when, and how badly you're going to be hurt.

Every other week there is a violent incident involving the same ladyboy group on beach road - and those are just the ones reported, there are incidents on a regular basis that aren't. Given their aggressiveness and violent nature they shouldn't be allowed to ply their trade there and be a menace to innocent tourists walking near the beach. I have no problem with them doing whatever the hell they want in ladyboy bars and clubs, but being afraid to walk on street road because men in dresses are acting like thugs and attack at the slightest provocation really is hurting the image of Pattaya, lol.

They have not "been taken captive" during a war. They have been kidnapped from their homes and work accommodations. There is a huge difference. This wasn't an act of war - it was a terrorist attack on innocent civilians in brutality that has never seen before in Israel. These were murderous zealots the likes of ISIS, not soldiers in a war. Hamas is ISIS.

Clearly you have not been intoduced to the wonderful world of "daddy issues".

I think you're confused. Bar girls and prostitutes are exactly the type of women who would be glad to have a no commitment sugar situation. In fact many of them already have one or more "boyfriends" sponsoring their lifestyle from overseas with occasional visits to LOS. You could go on dating websites like Thai Friendly, or even Tinder - but the women there who would accept a sugar relationship are exactly the same - they're freelancers who use dating sites/apps to find customers instead of bars/clubs. It doesn't matter where you meet her and how you try to hamster it in your head that "she's different" - a prostitute is a prostitute. Normal non-prostitute Thai girls will not accept a sugar situation. Beginner prostitutes and semi-pros who hold a job but "moonlight" on the side could fit your description, however they tend to be a lot more jealous and needy than more experienced ones. Expect phone calls in the middle of the night and all those things you wish to avoid. You really should be looking for pros who won't pretend it's an actual relationship.

On the contrary. Sounds like she was "lending" (giving) him money on a regular basis. Basically a sugar mama who got sick of sponsoring his lifestyle and instead of accepting her loss and stupidy decided to cause some drama in the process of leaving him. He's not a good guy, sure, but she's not a good woman either from what it sounds like.

Sukhumvit bars and clubs close at 2-3am currently. Anything you see at 6am is completely unrelated to nightlife venues - mostly street workers who were there (the street) all night, and will be there regardless of when bars close. If anything extended opening hours will get some people OFF the street and into those venues. And who made you the arbiter of "quality"? Night owls are more intelligent, more creative, and more successful than morning folk. Just because I prefer to start my night at 1am in a classy venue doesn't make me any less "quality" than some dude in a wife beater drinking in a beer bar from noon till he passes out. The majority of problems and incidents happen with people who start drinking early, not late.

Just let all clubs everywhere open as late as they want, and let patrons decide how late they want to party. You want tourists? start acting like it. Bangkok's nightlife has been dying a slow agonizing death ever since the wet blanket 2am rules were introduced. It's a shadow of it's former self - in 2019 you could go out at 5am and there were still venues open and fun to be had - now at 3am almost everything is closed - it's ridiculous. I personally know dozens of people who used to come to Thailand a few times a year, who stopped coming to Bangkok because it's incredibly boring now. Some of them go to Pattaya or Phuket instead, but many just don't come to Thailand at all anymore. I'm actually about to move to Pattaya because Bangkok nightlife has become so bad. Lost all hope it will ever be back to normal.

Idiots in charge. They want tourists money but doing everything they can to deter tourism. This government is quickly revealing itself to be even worse than the outgoing military government - Robbing Hood style all the way.

Typical Patong tuk tuk scum. Getting nasty over 100 baht like animals. The whole drive from sansabai to Kalim and back to 200 takes maybe 5 minutes - 400 baht for that? what a joke. They should sterilize Patong with fire.

They're looking for terrorists, not drug dealers. ????

The side of humanity. Hamas has again reminded the world that they're monsters, butchering women, children, and elderly, and taking hostage innocent people including foreign nationals and including Thais who have nothing to do with the conflict.

Clickbait idiotic headline. El Al has 1-2 flights a day into Thailand, carrying about 300-400 passengers each. 3 days after the war started at most there are about a thousand "refugees" - 90% of them had tickets and planned travel long before this conflict started. As far as other stupidity on this thread goes: no - Israel did not shut down the airport. Foreign airlines have been canceling flights - but that's their decision - not imposed by Israel. El Al also codeshares with Thai airlines. And no- you're not going to see a massive refugee situation a la Russia/Ukraine - Israelis for the most part are safe and leading a semi-normal lifestyle aside from the military and reservists fighting.

Exacly. He wasn't a billionaire. He just claims he was one to exaggerate the "fraud" when in reality he was probably a millionaire and she didn't steal anything - she just asked and he gave her a lot of money, and the rest he probably spent himself.

Beyond your comprehension indeed.. She's been his girlfriend for 18 years, she's 45... As far as the "fraud" allegations go - complete and utter bs - that she's a terrible person for pesuading him and accepting his gifts over the years is for sure, but that makes him an idiot - it doesn't make her a thief or a fraudster. The only "fraud" here is that he finally realized that now that he's out of money she's going to move on to the next victim. (and of course she was two-timing him throughout the years, and even better- he's the one who paid for her boyfriends' drinking and gambling) A hooker is never going to take care of you when the money runs out - she'll be out the door as soon as the well dries up. It doesn't matter how much she "loves you" and even if she does genuinely have feelings for you they're secondary to her nature - which is grab as much money as possible, as soon as possible. They don't understand that by going slow and steady they'll be set for life, but by sucking you dry you'll eventually get sick of it and kick them to the curb.

Supposedly the money will come from "more equal taxation". In reality it won't come because no one will comply with their money grab. Thais will just find creative ways around it, expats will either leave or find ways around it. As for the second question- you answered yourself.

High tech is just as much a matter of attitude and motivation and drive as it is a matter of education. I'm sure there are exemptions and some Thais who are driven, but for the most part I haven't seen the kind of drive that will push forward a high tech industry, and startups specifically. A few here and there - sure - but not an entire industry. A startup needs many things: seed capital, talented and experienced workforce, motivated founders with innovative ideas, favorable business and tax environment, etc. Thailand has some of those, but not in sufficient quantities IMHO. Becareful what you wish for though - a small high tech sector dragging up salaries, cost of living, and inequality is not necessarily a good thing. It will benefit a minority but make life harder for the rest of Thais.

I stated it as a more likely possibility than her story. Could be right, could be wrong - the point is there is a doubt and we shouldn't immediately assume a woman is telling the truth just because she claims she was a victim. Many complaints are false and it's just increasing in recent years (thank you Pound Me Too).

Exactly what I was thinking - they literally have metal detectors at every entrance - how was he able to enter with a gun?!