isaanistical

rabies? Anyway, who mentioned tourists?

from outside the solar system then, obviously? Only kidding... can't recall anywhere fitting this description.

"Tourists" - real tourists - dont stay 45 days.

Surprising how many posters suggest Immigration should be the arbiters of who should be charged this fee on arrival. You seriously want IOs deciding who should pay them 300 baht? (and what happens when I tell IO I won't pay?) Don't forget there is already an iniquitous 700 baht "passenger service" charge (from memory, only for air arrivals) that has clearly not been spent on anything remotely like passenger services. Globally, more and more places are imposing these sh**ty extra charges where they can, just BECAUSE they can. TH certain not to want to be left behind.

True, it's no longer war -torn. The rest, we can argue. 16 million tourists over Songkran? Can we have some sources?

Assume you are speaking from experience? (Yes, I have been in a few stoushes over the years here).

I guess it's really been said, but why not just change the OP headline to "Farang attacks DJ in club, gets hurt"? Otherwise, nah. Who cares.

Agree, but doubtful even then as it does usually stop being cold about February. But thanks, AN, for the warning; I shall bin the thermals and lay out the silk sarongs just in case. Serious story idea: how about reporting instead that even by Thai standards, Thai people round my neighbourhood are moaning that this is way hotter than usual?

to be paid for by...............? This isn't Melbourne, you know.

So there is no corruption driving the cannabis marketing? Yeah, right......

Not sure of your credentials to suggest this. Or are you just a (recreational, of course) smoker? Chuwit's main target is (are we even allowed to mention?) An@tin, the (now ex-) health minister, far more than cannabis itself. An@tin's popularity is such that in the latest NIDA poll (which AN has covered) asking who voters want as PM, the “no-one” answer at 6.1 percent got nearly three times as much as his 2.5 percent. Chuwit has so far won the battles to try to stop him publicising what is wrong (most of which we are not allowed to mention here). He is not campaigning as a politician. In any case, the Thai “free cannabis” marketing has been a sick joke, a million shops springing up selling g0d knows what rubbish. There is no reason why it should not continue to be illegal and prosecuted.

there's a blxxdy big lake in Benjakitti, but it has never been open for swimming, fortunately as the water quality is so bad it kills most of the fish. I can remember when there was a restaurant/bar on the west bank, and we got very told off for taking a dip - that must have been about 2001.

Decades since KL issued any useful Non-Imms. Last time I looked it was only 3-month SEs. Trying to recall just when I last stood in the sun in that particular courtyard on Jln Ampang. If there is a problem with the website, report it to the embassy – AN can't fix it.

Still not disagreeing, but what have these 'administrators' ruined that Chavalit's lot didn't? Or Thaksin? Etc. In many ways TH is like Italy, functioning somehow despite the constant interruptions of alleged] government. Yes, bricks and mortar have changed a bit, but "ruined"? Not that I have any sort of sympathy with the current dumbos, of course (just to make that clear!).

no need, I am sure we all agree, but your list of grievances hasn't changed in the nearly 30 years I have been here, so why do they only now cause people to up and away?

That was for Malaysia too, so maybe two-thirds that figure for TH. I meant CP lost, which has definitely shot itself in the foot. They had 'plans' to merge and rationalise with CP's other retail brands but it seems the panic delayed that and now they don't know what to do.

They have them in Villa too, and BigC (eg Rama 4). Worse than useless and don't actually know anything about their products. Nice to know no-one has even mentioned (Tesco) Lotututut, probably the biggest loser of the last few years and deservedly so. I don't know anyone who goes in there, locals included.

Some FLs - eg Srinakarin - you'll hardly ever see farangs, even before the panic. A lot of middle-class Thais like(d) it because it was a cut above the Big Cs.

Agree about Fooodland's downward spiral, and it's a shame. Can't be specific about soi 5 because I always used to avoid it as it was often full of people who would not buy pork, shall we say. But elsewhere, Took Lae Dee simplified their menus during the panic and have not reverted. No fish 'n' chips, for example, while even the Thai food selection has halved. And food prices jumped around 6-8 months ago, since when I have stopped using Foodland altogether. Their deli sections were good - and very good value, but prices of [locally-produced, don't forget] hams, etc just doubled overnight. They stopped selling bread too. So all the reasons for using FL just evaporated. I joined Makro, which is not a like-for-like, but it fills some of the holes.

Problem is they turn up in court wearing a kilt and no-one knows what to think......

What about Thai parents? Generally they never correct, scold or discipline their little brats. Saw disgraceful scenes yesterday on BTS; if it were mine, it would have a very thick ear by now.

if you mean kennedy, he paid for it eventually!

No I don't have, never seen the point (maybe this is it!). To explain, just in case someone wants to repeat useful advice about Italy, I couldn't give a 4x for the tourist attractions which are all and only temples and I have no interest in them. My wife mentioned we might go to the Ancient City again - we went a million years ago and I didn't like it then - and I immediately looked for an excuse, like 'it's too expensive'. agree entirely, although on one or two occasions with the family it was necessary to compromise. Not any more though. And even then, we usually just refused to pay the extra; I can't recall that ever failing, given my wife's acerbic tongue! Now I only go to overpriced Italian attractions...........

Not precisely what I was asking but thanks anyway. Question refers to attractionS.

I've been here 20-odd years and I still hate dual-pricing. However, I have just discovered that numerous attractions in LoS appear to be bookable through online services such as Klook and Tiqet, which charge much less than the standard entry fee at attractions. Eg: Ancient City, Samut Prakan. Official website: farang B750 (unless with WP). Tiqets (via link on google maps): AUD15.04, or approx B350. The site acknowledges you are an international visitor. This is not the usual moan about rights/wrongs of dual pricing. I may be the last to know about this, but my question is whether or not tickets booked online with these operators would actually get you into attractions, or whether you'd be told to go away, or pay the difference. Anyone any experience?