Mr Meeseeks

All part of the bigger EEC plans of course.

All joking aside, it would probably be cheaper to have a Ferrari garaged in Europe and to fly over occasionally to drive it, than actually buying and owning one here in Thailand.

Chonburi and highway to 7 to BKK. Like I said I have few issues with the Benz but cannot take the Porsche out unless I know the roads. Even near my house there are a couple of roads it simply cannot go down without getting damaged, one has numerous potholes and a sharp on-ramp and the other has a number of poorly fitted drain covers that if hit cause the chassis to bottom out and scrape the road. Things are improving and roads are getting better but there's still too many shortcuts being taken with construction and too many heavy lorries and goods vehicles using roads that can't handle their weight.

My daily drive is a quick Benz which has low ground clearance and I have to be very careful about road conditions including potholes, sharp inclines, drain covers etc. I also own a Porsche Cayman which I only use on the odd occasion as the it can only be driven on certain highways due to the poor condition and nature of Thai roads. I have to ensure I do not end up somewhere that it cannot traverse or even get damaged! Both cars are stock no suspension mods, lowering or anything else. Thai roads are very harsh on sports cars and even moreso on supercars like Jock's Ferrari 458. Also, your comment that "driving a Ferrari no more risky than driving any other make on them" when referring to Thai roads is nonsense as a Ferrari 458 has much lower ground clearance and lower profile tyres and thus will be far more susceptible to the poor road construction and surface than other vehicles such a pick-up for example. Also, while we are on the subject Thailand uses a lot of un-surfaced pre-cast concrete slabs for roads which are extremely dangerous especially in the wet as they do not have the abrasive surface that tarmac or similar provides for vehicles.

Absolute and utter nonsense.

You will be replaced with Chinese and Indians as is already happening. The days of Pattaya as a sin city for Western sex-tourists and sexpats will draw to a close eventually and with the plans for the EEC it appears that will be sooner rather than later. Look at Bangkok, that was incredible back in the late 90's all the way up from Sukhumvit Soi Zero (Buckskin Joe Village) to Impressionists' Row on Soi 33. There wasn't an area along Sukhumvit that didn't have bars and women. What remains now is the sad shell of Nana plaza and Soi Cowboy. Patpong is almost totally destroyed and will probably be sold off to developers. It's all gone, end of an era. That's the future for Pattaya too.

The article clearly states why and that is because of the EEC.

Those are the two most common causes of accidents though Barry.

Tactical nuclear weapons fixes this.

Because they are greedy, desperate and making money for themselves is the only consideration?

It's like trying to tell children to stop picking their nose.

I think you missed his point. ????

Succinct.

They can maybe project their power to Taiwan but not any further, they simply won't win an extended conflict overseas because their power is concentrated within China itself. They are attempting to follow the US in terms of global projection but they are still years behind.

Is there not one of this infamous family that didn't need their father's legacy to achieve something in life?

And war will be the result.

"World class" ????????????

Cambodia has been the recycle bin for Thailand's unwanted for 20+ years now. Lovely place, but has it's limitations as you rightly state. I would probably have spent longer periods there, but have businesses in Thailand that still require my full attention so limit myself to the occasional trip over. I've been over 100 times in 21 years.

First they have to actually want foreigners here, which the majority don't and certainly not in any significant numbers.

Appears to be the case.

The transportation networks are being upgraded as part of the 20-year EEC plan, along with Utapao airport expansion, which aims to target 60 million passengers per annum eventually. It's not specifically for Chinese tourism, just part of the overall Eastern Economic Corridor project which involves cruise ship terminals, massive logistics bases, high speed rail network, and much more.

You have to recognise that Thais in positions of power tend to say one thing and do the opposite. The family that controls Pattaya and Chonburi is directly aligned with this current government, and has a family member in a cabinet position.

EASTERN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR. Again: multi-billion dollar investment, enshrined in constitution, 20-year plan, Utapao expansion, high speed rail line, cruise ship terminals, etc, etc, etc. There's billions at stake here, Pattaya is a blot on that copybook and will bend to their 'World class family resort' ambitions along with all the other plans.

They are a mafia, they do what they want, don't need public support.

They are desperate now due to COVID and the lack of tourism. Anything will now be considered. Money Number One.