fredwiggy

I live in Isaan and it's the most boring place I've ever been, and most can identify with this, although quiet is something some like, with farm life, rice fields and no traffic. I lived in New Jersey and Texas before this, and was about 2 hours max from the coasts. I loved the beach, fishing, seafood and the romantic part of it all, and I was close enough to go there anytime. Here, I'm 8 hours from the closest beach, good fishing and good views. People who live near the beaches like them for the reasons I mentioned. Yes, Isaan does have mountains, but most of them no one will ever walk or climb. Nice to look at maybe, but you can't just walk anywhere you want because much is private property, and snakes are a real concern, along with mines near where I live next to Cambodia. There are lakes and fishing in Isaan, but only the private ones and the huge ones will have good fishing, as the smaller ones are netted out from people who don't practice conservation. The ocean has many opportunities and does have regulations as far as what and how many fish you can keep. I never saw the hill tribes near Chiang Mai, and would like to, but that's only something you might do once. Thai food is available anywhere, and the best seafood is always near the beach areas. If you like swimming, there are always pools somewhere. Yes, the beaches might have jellyfish, and they are a concern, but the beach areas also have pools in some hotels. I don't enjoy living here for many reasons, and will leave asap, but I still like beach areas for there are a lot more things to do than sitting in bars or watching the rice grow, as most so here in Isaan. Like others have said, Samui is only one island, and there are hundreds of smaller islands where you can have a romabtic getaway and great seafood.

If you're renting a car and do not live there , you will get daily coverage for the car that's extra.

How they punish this degenerate, especially seeing she's a woman, will be observed by the world. Letting her off easy would be showing the rest of these scumbags that you can sell humans and they only give you a small fine. She knows exactly what she was doing, and most likely had help, and if she goes away for a long time it might do something to curtail this evil activity. A woman, or girl, that's been used in any way brings that into her future relationships. Used in this way it's a psychological pain that might never go away and will harm every relationship she will ever have., along with how she thinks of herself.

Not exactly a "poor' soul if his wife has been seen with a bruised face more than once at least. Like another said, it does sound like domestic violence, and maybe revenge because of it. Maybe blunt force trauma then attempting to light his head on fire to cover the injury, which wouldn't because the skull would show damage anyway. Yes, only an autopsy, if done, will show the evidence. If he's brought to the temple too quickly, they'll never know.

Another comment from someone who most likely has never been there, and only goes by what he sees in videos. When he's brought to trial, finally, he won't see the light of day for years, or never again, and if any of his charges are against minors, he will be beaten to a pulp with regularity. Living here, he would have gotten into the cult of human trafficking that runs rampant here and is protected by some officials.

Like many other things that are in reality illegal here, officials allow it to happen because of the amount of corruption here. Human trafficking is a byproduct of prostitution and in Thailand it's huge, with some officials allowing it to continue, as the amount of continuous arrests show. Bending the laws here because of Thailand being a poor country will continue until the people allowing it to happen are removed from office, those involved in trafficking are incarcerated or executed, and the people are allowed to have more of a say in what happens here instead of being encouraged to shut up.

https://thailawonline.com/prostitution-laws-in-thailand/

He is right that a clean air filter reduces the black smoke in a diesel. Also using a higher Cetane in the fuel., along with clean injectors as said. All fuel based motors emit pollutants, so they should be eliminated eventually, as long as there are better alternatives like electric, when they are perfected. Burning of chaff and cigarettes are the ones that hurt most people here, especially in country living.

I'm not sure where you get the idea that it's not Thailand that is causing the problem, but it is all of Thailand's problem. China has many cities in the top world polluters and Thailand has2 in ther top 5.This isn't pollution drifting in from surrounding countries but started here. There are laws against burning and they are not enforced, just like many other laws that are routinely broken here. I see burning almost daily, and not just in the fields but on roadsides and in people's yards. They think it's okay to burn anything because it's done so much here and nothing is done to enforce against it. I have to tell my girlfriend to stop burning trash and leaves, but instead use the leaves for fertilizer, but it usually falls on deaf ears for the same reasons. There are ways to use the chaff from sugar cane and rice that other countries use and they know about them here but again, nothing is done. Air quality here will continue to get worse until they enforce the existing laws, meaning now. .............https://www.iqair.com/th-en/world-air-quality-ranking

Looks like a centipede. A friend was hit by one and had to go to the hospital for treatment, meaning it either got infected or he was allergic to one. Hand swelled up almost twice it's size. Antibiotics stopped it. Ex wife's cousin also had one on her leg, and it swelled up big also. I was pinched on my forehead in bed by a little one but nothing but a bit of pain. Most times you can take care of it at home, unless there are more harsh symptoms as described below............https://www.medicinenet.com/what_happens_if_you_get_bitten_by_a_centipede/article.htm

By the amount of daily accidents and deaths involving drunken drivers, that this has been going on for decades, that nothing is really much done about it, as the laws are on the book but not enforced like they should be. In Texas alone, first offense can be a fine of up to $2000 USD, plus up to 180 days in jail. Of course most get less but always a fine. Second offense minimum of 4 days in jail , maximum one year in jail plus probation, third offense up to 10 years in jail, or a year if probation is given, and a fine of up to $10,000 USD, and it will be a felony conviction, and all types of varying degrees of punishment, but punishment is given all the time, and severe enough to stop some or keep them off the roads awhile.

If giving is the most gratifying thing to you, you aren't quite the narcissist you believe you are. All of us have slight narcissistic tendencies, but some have the personality, and they aren't givers but takers and users, not caring about anyone besides themselves.

News that the Thai police force allows sexual predators loose after paying a small fine doesn't do well for tourism or expats living here , especially with children. Do they not understand the world sees what goes on here more and more?

Traveling the world hunting and fishing and seeing all my children end up with good partners.

You don't brandish the gun, you wear it under your shirt, and this isn't a bad idea. They aren't illegal, and won't scare others thinking it's a real gun. Soi dogs can be bribed with food, although some are plain mean and will attack anything in their territory. I see this around my house in the country where dogs have killed any cats I bring here that stay outside. Having biscuits handy will make a few friends and dogs will remember you but again this won't always work. A baseball bat isn't illegal either , if you can get one. A cop isn't going to give you a hard time if you explain yourself. A dog that attacks anyone isn't supposed to be around anyway, unless it's on it's home property and you enter. One of the horns people use at sporting events also will deter them.

No, just tired of hearing people brag because something's missing in their lives. It's always best to be humble because showing off only impresses the sheep. I know a lot of people who do better than most and they aren't feeling the need to tell others.If it was a topic on how much a person spends on food monthly it's a little different. There are some here, and we all know who they are, who feel the need to tell others just how much they have, and this is bragging. How they came into the money might be an interesting story also. Many of them are probably lying anyway which is sadder yet. This is a world in which most people are just getting by, and any advice on how to help others is always a good thing. Do you think anyone in their right minds cares how much the Kardashians make, let alone how they make it?

Of course we are not equals, but it's still bragging showing off what you have. You think anyone cares to hear?

I really don't assume much, preferring facts and evidence, so I'm not sure what you mean.

A large portion of Americans don't spend that much on food every month, and that includes children. Cheese costs here, as does foreign beef, which is much better than Thai beef. Cooking two meals a day does cost more, but I still can't see paying that much if most of it is cooking at home. If I remember right, when I lived back in Texas I ate like you did, with fish, chicken and seafood, salads daily, for my daughter and I, and I spent around half of what you do now.

Some of the people who do have more and don't find a need to brag about it are called humble, modest, frugal and a quiet achiever.

Danger Will Robinson!!

There's a difference in relating good advice on how a person with limited means can be frugal and get by, and one bragging to others just to show off. Easy to decipher between the two

Some people, millions in fact, bust their asses for decades just to get by, while people who sit behind a desk and move money around get wealthy doing a job that isn't helping anyone besides themselves and other rich ones. Some might not be able to work after age 65 because of health problems. Living here, most cannot work anyway because of legal requirements. Back in the US, it's very hard for a retired person to get a decent job, most being taken by the younger set. Yes, there are quite a few who are criminals that have money to burn, who've had jobs that hurt the earth or others, but I'm talking about the normal everyday worker. Social Security is all many have to get by on for many reasons.

Thought I had it a few years ago while visiting Hua Hin with the ex and daughters. Went to a local doctor and told him my symptoms, telling him I thought it might be H Pylori. He agreed, gave me a prescription for antacids and antibiotics, cleared up in two days. I think I might have had it while living in Texas, and maybe again after this one episode, but without checking you can't tell. In hindsight, the doctor actually should have given me a breath test . Much of the world's population has it or had it, and kissing another is one way to catch it, along with other things mentioned. Many people carry it with no problems, or they might come later, as Sheryl posted. I've had some stomach issues since I moved here and since I've always eaten very healthy, I couldn't figure out what I had besides a guess at IBS, because of the symptoms. I started eating the Brat diet more, Bananas, rice, Applesauce and toast, without the applesauce, because I can't find it here. This helped and when I started on collagen, it got much better, although still have symptoms, but a lot less. Without a gastro doctor, all you can do is process of elimination.

Why would one brag about how much they spend? Does it impress anyone perhaps? Spending 3000 baht a month at 7-11 means a whole lot of junk food, unless you do much of your shopping for oil, bread, water, fish sauce and other sundries besides doing it at Lotus or Big-C. Anyone who lives here knows they can get good, healthy food for under 300 baht at most restaurants without getting extravagant for some reason besides to show off. I'm guessing you don't understand that when a foreigner shows off burning his money, it makes the Thais around him think unrealistically about all foreigners, we're all rich and have money to burn, which isn't true for over 90% of the expats.