JensenZ

There's plenty of corruption in the US, it's just a lot more expensive.

It's a bit late in the day to refortify the Philippines now, after, on Obama's watch, the Chinese have built fortified military bases on 7 islands right on the Philippines' doorstep. Now it's a huge problem.

Thailand-bashing alert... Why would Thailand specifically need protection from China? The whole world needs protection from China, hence the benefits of strong military alliances. Your comment is absurd. It takes more than military expertise to fight a war. It cost mountains of money and huge production capacity. NATO is already running low on stocks of just about everything, just helping Ukraine. Also, which countries, besides the US are not "inept" and able to sustain a war with China on their own?

Yes, good point. If you buy Thai gold (96.5%) jewelry and wear it around your neck or wrist, it's like having cash on open display, and even easier to steal. Your point brings up an interesting question. If the OP is so afraid to take cash to a gold shop, what does he intend to do with the gold? Surely he or his partner don't intend to wear it... and if you're buying it as an investment, you should be buying the gold bars all gold shops sell. Same 96.5%, but no jewelry manufacture cost and lower commission.

Yes, the risk of losing it is about equal.

I don't think any gold shops will allow payment by plastic. it's a cash business. You hand over cash, they hand you gold, which is equal to cash and both are anonymous, unrecorded transactions. If you go to sell your gold, they pay you with cash. No ID is required to buy or sell gold. If you're very concerned about carrying wads of cash, then choose a gold shop in a major shopping mall. Make your withdrawal at the ATM or over the counter at a mall bank, and minutes later, buy your gold. All malls have gold shops and banks. The price of gold is fixed at all shops and updated frequently so you'll get the same deal.

Of course Thailand wants tourists. The problem is that the immigration offices and the tourism promotional offices work against each other. Bureaucrats don't normally know or care how to promote business, as they get their salaries no matter what.

Really? Do you think traffic is moving at a reasonable pace if you're not stuck for hours? That's a low bar. I'd hate to drive a car down 2nd Road most of the day or night. It's like a parking lot for many hours a day. It's even a challenge moving fast on a motorcycle. It really amazes me how many people will drive a car down these roads. I suppose they have a lot of spare time to waste.

None of the major brands taste like powdered milk. Where is your evidence? I hear people saying this, but I don't believe it. There is plenty of real milk available in Thailand. I used to buy 5 litres of raw milk a week.

It's not an old American saying, and the standard English is: "A fool and his money are soon parted". It originates from the Book of Proverbs, 700 BC, so it is a bit older than modern America.

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Having consumed Thai milk since 2005, I've forgotten what Aussie milk tastes like. I find the Thai milk pleasant enough and if you add Milo, you won't notice any difference. There is a difference between the different brands.

Banks don't do anything for free. If they don't charge you a fee, they make their money on the exchange rate. The banks always give you a lower exchange rate than most money changers, and probably lower than the MC or VISA rate.

Just a quick update. At some point over the last month Friendship dropped their milk prices back down to recommended retail prices. (112 baht back down to 95 baht for the standard 2 litre size). Someone must have complained - it wasn't me as I bought my milk elsewhere.

I don't know why this is being called a new rule. I already had a problem registering my vehicle due to an unpaid ticket, about 3 years ago. I had to go down the local police station to pay it before they released my new tax sticker.

There's absolutely no purpose of a "year-on-year growth" statistic as the world is slowly recovering from a long covid-related tourism winter. I'd like to see year-on-year2019 statistics to get an idea of the real pre-covid numbers.

I never criticise any cuisine in any country. Obviously all local food is enjoyed by local people in any country. The problem is when some people develop what they consider is a "sophisticated palete", who think they have the final word on what is good or bad. These people can sod off. I don't need anyone telling me if I should enjoy a particular food or not. Food critics, art critics, movie citics, music critics - all telling us what is good and bad when all people already know what they like and don't like. These "sophisticated" people are insufferable snobs. If YOU like something, it's good. If YOU don't like something, it's bad - quite simple.

I did mention that he might be living in the wrong place. I'm sure the OP is interested in visiting places where foreign tourists go, and not wearing a mask will be quite ok, and his chidlren will see most other tourists are mask free.

You're probably a bit paranoid, thinking you get an evil eye for not wearing a mask, or you're in the wrong part of Thailand. I've been maskless since July 1 in Pattaya. I was at the immigration office on Thursday - it was packed. Only the Thai staff and a few foreigners who worry too much were wearing face masks. In this neck of the woods there's no problems to go about your business maskless. In general, Thais wear masks, foreigners don't. There are no evil eyes. The Thai people are protecting themselves from us and protecting us from them. It's win-win.

I should ask you, why not? Where do you suggest he should live? With a bit of money tucked away, you can have a great life in Pattaya and the money will go a lot further than in your home country. Each to their own. Maybe his girlfriend is actually the Tiktok star and he supports her career.

Yes, that's what they are doing, on 31st January.

I'm not complaining about it. I'm just stating what happens as a result of their focusing on it. I'm complaining about people that start bashing entire populations based on a report of one person engaged in aberrant behaviour. For sure, there's plenty of Thai-bashing on this forum, but because we are in Thailand, they don't need the help of news reports to start the ball rolling.

It's actually your sanctimonious attitude towards an entire nationality that I find unpleasant. The actual nationality that you're bashinig is irrelevant. In this case you're bashing 143 million people.

True, but it's way you toot. They have a toot-code you have to learn. The long, abusive toot is not a good one to use and often met with rebuke. You can speak with a horn.

In this case the reporter seemed intent on tarnishing Russians only, so if you're not Russian, rest easy. I think Thais are more mature and tollerant, and take each person on their individual merits.