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Thailand of course stays neutral officially. Yet do you know deep down which side the Thailand PM and Thai government is leaning ? As to strategic locations in this region, Vietnam is at least as crucial as Thailand while Vietnam border the sea close to Taiwan Formosa island. Vietnam officials are stating Vietnam is neutral too and NOT bother picking USA or China either. But two days ago Vietnam Communist Party First Secretary is having tea party and State Dinner in Beijing. So can USA prevent and stop Vietnam slipping away ? ASEAN view about this geopolitics issue can be broadly summarized as USA keeps talking ; China keeps doing ( and improving too ) As a joke, if USA Biden wants Thailand so badly, Biden should have ordered his grandchildren to plan the wedding in Koh Samui, Thailand rather than in the White House so Biden can attend both APEC 2022 and the wedding on same day.

Xi is soon to come to Bangkok and give speech during APEC Thailand 2022. But is that a big deal ? Well may be a good gesture to Thailand, I don't think USA and western world would have much concerned about what Xi would do in Thailand. If Xi is to accept an invitation and visit Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, then USA would be very curious on what is to happen when Xi meets the Crown Prince. BTW Saudi is getting very friendly with Thai now as Thailand Prime Minister was the first in picking up the signal and trend that Saudi is going to turn East and say "NO" to USA Biden who fails to catch up to what is happening. To USA, Saudi is far more important than Thailand who is not a major player.

World Cup Football every 4 year is all I care. Sports is Sports and Football is Football. whether the footy game is played in South Pole or the Moon does not bother me and does not lessen the enjoyment a bit.

All make sense to me other than the last paragraph that I don't mind elaborate. China is doing business in over 180 countries in the globe, and the bloodline factor that you pointed out is essentially irrelevant. In all foreign trade and business dealing as well as foreign affair, China does not bother or concerned about the race, religion, ideology, political system, reputation etc of other countries. The Chinese work with and adapt to the local business and government and the local ways in running things. In other words, don't rock the boat and just do it as the locals. The Chinese surely know where and when to "grease" it up in highly corruptive society such as the Kingdom, while the Chinese practice differently while dealing with countries without corruption ( Let's say Singapore ). But even adding on Tea Money extra, the Chinese still compete favorably in the bidding. The immediate example is Japanese and Chinese were the bidders on Indonesia First High Speed Rail project in 2018, and the Chinese pricing was 30% lower the Japanese and also had promised a much shorter construction period. ( soon to open in Dec 2022 ) No corruption in Indonesia ? No kidding please !!! Another point on this subject is the locals always have an edge and had the upper hand. It is especially obvious such as the case of Japan Toyota Vs Thai authorities ; Hong Kong Hopewell Vs Thai authorities as the cases involve foreign private enterprise taking on local governments and legislatives. It is all too obvious which side will be on the short end. Not Thailand alone, every country is the same. Tourism deal does not involve the Authority. The private groups on the two sides can settle on their own. The Thai including ladyboys doing Tiffany cabarets show and street food mama papa fruit vendors all benefit from the tourist arrival.

Well done Thailand

Liz Truss : " Given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate .............." What Situation and what had been the change ????? Because no Queen to help you now, Liz ???

"I'll lead Tories into next election" says embattled Liz Truss

Just common sense that come May 2023 it will be bye-bye to Prayut.

I saw plenty of Thai looking through and searching abandoned cardboards or bottles in garage holders Months ago, a year ago, two years ago here in Pattaya-Jomtien tourist town. Thank Buddha that I did not see much of that happening here in July, August or Sept 2022. Tourism is very clearly on the uptrend in this country now.

" So what’s next for PM Prayut and the future of Thai politics? " Is that complicated as if we need someone struggle for answers in 50-minute video talk ? Prayut is back in PM office on Oct, 1 2022 and continue the PM work in the next 7 months, including chairing APEC Thailand in November 2022. Come May 2023 Thailand Election and Bye Bye to Prayut.

Indonesia expected Joe Biden, Putin and Xi to attend G-20 Indonesia in Bali on Nov 15-16, 2022. Indonesia President Widodo had already invited Zelensky, no word yet whether Zelensky is to show up or not. Then Xi will come to Bangkok for APEC Thailand on Nov 18-19. Joe Biden then fly back to Washington DC for a wedding. Russia is NOT APEC member. No Putin here. Indeed Harris is to fly a long way to here. Thai people may like to see Harris more than Biden

As a whole the Thai are not good or keen doing very long-term, difficult project to ultimately resolve infrastructure or society or whatever issue. This is in Thai trait and actually quite different from many other Asians ( Japanese/Koreans/ Chinese etc ) . Instead the Thai tolerate and endure rather than demand ultimately tackling the long-term problems. An example to infrastructure issue, Bangkok terrible traffic had been known worldwide even as far as late 1960's, and how is it now ? This sampling result does not surprise me. Many long-stay foreigners/expats do not understand Thai mentality well. This include the writer of this article noting the last sentence : ' They always seem to find the "right" people to ask. ' About survey, 1105 is a fine sample size. Anything over 500 is a fairly good size showing data convergence if not mistakenly ( intended or unintended ) in the draw.

Today Pattaya Mail News reported with photo about Pattaya-Jomtien to Cambodia same-day border run had re-started with usual minivan transport, early morning departure, mid-late afternoon return and quoted 5500 B per person. Frequency is pending on demand at this stage. This one should be genuine, I had no experience, and let others to comment on the pricing etc. I like bus rather than minivan too, but I doubt.

10 Billion Baht .. that is roughly 290 million USD. Then the negotiation and adjustment follow and change to X amount. Big deal for Toyota ? I don't think so. The locals whether public or private sectors always enjoy certain advantage. Toyota is not so novice thinking other places are different.

Like many others, I plan to leave Thailand and re-enter just days later to abandon O-A Visa and return using Visa Exempt and subsequently get the O-Visa within Thailand. Not yet decide to do land trip or flight in-out. But I will go through this process in a month or two. My question is currently I have document from a Thai hospital having had Covid-related injection 3 times, do I need to get Covid Passport/Covid Certificate before leaving Thailand ?

Both Pattaya and Jomtien are fine.

Hotel pool for non-resident is not that cheap. Paid 200 B in a 3.5* Hotel for using a long and narrow roof top ( very cold water ) great for lap swimming in Soi 4 area few years back. Also had swam in 4* Siam-By-Design/Siam-At-Siam roof top photo-perfect pool years ago, the deal there was buying 500 B food/drink voucher. In the condo pool, swam in View-Talay Six ( just beside Central-Hilton ) as a condo-rental guest almost 10 years ago. It is of course a very old building and pool maintenance may be iffy. The pool in View Talay Six is not too good or too bad for lap swim. However, you may be able to wander in as security is very lax in that building. The pool is on ground level next to the high-rise. Best pool I have swam in Pattaya is The Base Condo ( soi 12 ). Very big and exceptional view roof top pool. Stayed there for few nights 4 years ago. Recalled that one needs key card to use the elevator to get up. On Soi two Sabai Lodge, stayed and swam there too. Pool is a bit small for lap swim. ;

Well done Thailand

The title " Who would Thailand have to deal with if Putin falls ill ? " It mentioned Thailand... Putin.... falls ill. Simply who the ---- wrote such title and article ? Mikhail Gorbachev had fallen ill and subsequently passed away in late Aug 2022. The writer of this article might be so outdated and confused about Gorbachev and Putin.