Seagull Sam

Obviously. Only a light hearted comment to shed light on dependency of other nations on US economic might. Why Nutjob Trump wants to kick everyone in the balls does nobody any good.

If I were producing heroin on an industrial scale I wouldn't be entrusting these two muppets to look after it for 5 minutes.

Dear Mr Trump, We have bought a lot of very expensive unnecessy military equipment even though our educational standards suggest we will have problems operating them. Please can we have our import duties reduced now? Love, Thailand PS also included stick of our world famous Thai weed for your mental health and well being

So there we have the nub of the issue - colonialism. The French draw an arbitrary border in 1907 and the nations are fighting still. The British drew an arbitrary line through Punjab in 1948 and we have two nuclear armed nations snarling at each other. The Balfour Declaration of 1918 didn't actually draw any lines and now we have mass starvation and bombing of already long oppressed people. All stand for your relevant national anthems please.

It's always the same. The arms industry produces bombs and guns. They need to get the battled tested rosette. Thailand has more and newer ones so will want to show them off to the world. Toys for the boys.

Around 50% of articles here concern violence and rip-offs in Pattaya

The public must remain vigilant. Are these articles written by AI?

Appreciated and understood. I'm not in a big hurry to return so to have both passports before departure would make make me feel more comfortable. Otherwise new passport from UK would likely be fine. The Thai government are constantly moving the goalposts and there's always the possibilty of a jobsworth on my return to LOS. hotandsticky's Plans A&B suggests both approaches might work.

Thanks to all and in and in answer to Dr Jack, there's nothing to be lost by seeing what they say at VFS. If it can be done reasonably quickly they will remember me and gf at immigration. Phetchabun BTW, relatively new office and very few farangs in this part of the world.

Briefly - I left UK mid-March with 90 day visa. Subsequently extended to one year multi-entry but my UK passport expires 1st June 2026. I need to return 'home' in the not too distant and think it unlikely I will be able to return this year. 6 months unexpired passport is required to enter LOS. For what it's worth I booked an appointment with VFS in BKK to explore the possibility of getting a new passport, then local immigtation office (small town and reasonably chilled) to move visa to new passport. Smart, stupid, other suggestions?

Keep away from Pattaya and you might just avoid this kind of stereotyping

The 227 rules of the pātimokkha monks are allowed alms bowls and robes only. Money an eating are midday are clear no-nos. Each temple's clergy should recite these on full moon and half moon days I understand. Fancy ordaining anyone? Stick with the Cathlolics or Anglicans and you will get moved to another parish if you stick your hand up the altar boys cassocks.

None were outlined. A nationwide crackdown on thousands upon thousands of establishments? Will the local Plod inspect every premises? Is each shop producing it's own gummies or are there manufacturers? Citizens should remain vigilant

So where can we contribute to this worthy organisation? Women do the work through poverty in an attempt to help their families. For those on this board who will scoff in the words of the good book - let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.

On the assumption he flew in with it, he would have saved money and aggravation by purchasing his 'medicine' at his destination. He is obviously in need of medical attention

The wonderful family destination is sullied by this kind of activity around the beach

It was and still is still a terrible, if endearing, old school dump of a ground. Tiny pitch with the players and fans within touching distance

Thailand needs therapy. It suggests prostitution is illegal and yet the country is a magnet for sex tourists. Now it's suggesting it is going back on the relatively harmless, if slightly stinky, recreational and peaceful ganja. If alcohol and cigarettes were invented tomorrow they would be banned. Another shot in the foot.

Convenient that all 10 bombs were found and defused. Were the not-yet-criminal perpetrators all apprehended? Either an exceptionally inept operation on behalf of the insurgents or an attempt on behalf of the military to create the fear of the enemy within. All useful ammunition for the next coup. (Pun intended).

Or destroy cannabis sales altogether and immediately. Not my cup of tea but the youngsters seem to love it and they're back in droves. Never mind, Vietnam is a great spot I hear and Cambodia is very cheap. Another example of foot shooting by the manignificently inept Thai government. They have obviously been taking lessons from Starmer and his cronies.

Fantastic, just as the youngsters are turning up to spend their hard currency on weed the business is brought to an upbrupt halt. Thousands of shops and untold acres of unsold crops out of business at a stroke. Another shot in the foot for the Thais and another good reason to take your holidays elsewhere. And no, I don't much like the smell either.

It's not difficult to grasp. In a prime ministerial system you vote for a party. The party chooses it's leader and the cabinet is chosen from parliamentarians to propose laws which are put to parliament. No majority effectively means no government as the parliament can likely get a no confidence vote. In a Presedential system you vote for a person who chooses his own people outside parliament to put forward laws to parliament (or rule by decree on the margins of constitutionality in the current US situation). A president who can't get laws approved can't be voted out of office by the parliament. He is the head of state for the allotted length of time. A military government rules with no democratic principles at all. Please pay attention at the back of the class.

The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democracy. Whatever your views in a Prime Ministerial system the vote is essentially for a party. A cabinet then makes policy based on whatever party or parties can command a majority. A Presedential system is an altogether different concept. It's not particularly difficult to grasp.

What an utterly ridiculous waste of police time. Did they also check the jars on the counter to make sure they conformed to the legal limit? Will this exercise be repeated across the many thousands of shops (sorry medical dispensaries) in the country? Kratom is already legal isn't it? How the f**k did rohypnol get mixed up in this daft statement? I've never heard it mentioned it in connection with Thailand before. Semi-comotose women are available for less than the cost of this noxious substance.

6ft is quite tall enough, how tall does she want to grow? Daft story. Does the UK still have beauty pageants? I thought they had long since ceased since the advent of feminism.