isaanistical

a warm front..........

mate, I did 30+ years in journalism and I know what smells. Pull the other one.

ah yes, the internationally renowned go-to for Asian affairs. Kid reporter on vacation or fam-trip more likely.

I was recommended by heart doctor not to use Voltaren or Celebrex on a regular basis as it can be harmful, as others have said. He recommended Naproxen, of which numerous local brands are easily available - Soproxen as in one photo above, or Synogin which I use daily. It works for me - keeping arthritis and muscle pain at bay - without any apparent stomach disorder. I pay 37 baht for 10 tabs.

OP: thanks for the lecture. Do you have any credentials - any at all - to pontificate to us on road safety? Your spelling suggests US, which kind of makes it even worse, US being one of the countries with most varying and least clued-up legislation.

SP is NOT a "suburb of BKK", it is a separate, neighbouring province. The BangPli office is not new either, as OP claims, it has been there about 18 months or more. And while I agree it's a real PITA to get to compared to the old one on the Pak Nam waterfront, I have had no more problems once at the "new" one than I did before. Any immigration issues and visa applicatins are a nuisance in any country you care to name, but I take my wife, ensure the paperwork is tidy and get no hassles. OP chose to call IO "cow", hand in wrong paperwork and - I suspect - hardly impressed with attitude. Thanks for making it easy for the rest of us. Not.

hear hear - same for me. I'm shocked.

There: travel broadens the mind, they say. WT&? A globe blows and it's suddenly rife throughout Asia? Such excitement - in 30 years here I have never had such fun...........

not sure if that's the joke, but this is Benny Hill, right?

don't forget Chuwit has already done his porridge. One of several things makes him so dfficult to nail, along with he knows much nastier people than Prayut/Prawit/Anutin. I have met and discussed politics etc with Chuwit. He's a very nice guy, speaks fantastic English and very reserved - until he hits a husting.

tee-hee. I did something with Ublock and now the Maps page gives me a black space instead of the white space. To be honest, I know you're trying to help, but that doesn't!

so it is or is not easy to revert? Not sure I want to. I mean I never want the new sidebar back.

I have Ublock on Firefox (I should mention the dumb google box appears on Opera and even Chrome too). But how do I go from there? Amd are you saying I can stop this but only on FF? (which would still be better than nowt)?

these being tourists who defy the filthy air pollution but will suddenly get scared by the heat? Not..........

... and probably means the UN or some such will pay out for climate change. Its nonsense. The Thai scientist probably thinks it sounds more spectacular - although I just passed the Department of Meteorology on Sukhumvit and their counter on the front of the buldling said 37.1. But this week I have seen 39 on my (in shade) thermometer and that equals the top I have seen here; locals are moaning a lot more than usual. Yes, this one is hot for a change.

seems to be some new google trick, according to a quick internet search, and no-one knows how to dump it. See screenshot: this new panel on the left can't be stopped although I don't want it or want to "save searches". Anyone else seen this or can solve it?

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.