Mr Meeseeks

They are now qualified to depute in a ministry in this government.

4 hours ago, curious297 said:

I've been riding a bike in Phuket and around Thailand for over 16 years and had only one accident. First days on the bike, I slipped on dirt at the side of the road while breaking. 

A few simple rules I follow to survive:

 

• Keep away from the dust and <deleted> in the left lane
• Drive with the traffic and not through traffic
• Mirror, signal and manoeuvre
• Stay behind at distance. Do not drive side by side to other vehicles
• Be vigilant of cars turning in and out of roads. They will pull out without warning
• Don't Jump traffic lights
• Don't drive in the rain. Car drivers rarely adjust their speed or breaking distance in rain.
• Don't drive with your whole family as passengers.
• Stop trying to impress yourself with your bike skills. No one cares
• Most important - Be safer than safe

 

 

Good advice but I will add some more:

• Try to avoid riding in the evening and at night if possible (Many drunk drivers on the road will increase the chances of an incident happening. Many Thai men drink and drive after work between 5pm and 10pm)
• Never ride angry
• Never ride under the influence
• Watch out for stray dogs they are a real menace to a biker
• Wear protective riding gear including proper jacket, boots and helmet at a minimum
• Keep away from larger vehicles such as buses and trucks (often they cannot see you or simply don't care if they run over you)

58 minutes ago, uhuh said:

That is the class thing. 

When I mentioned good character I meant not having a criminal record, warrant out for arrest, etc. lol.

2 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Meanwhile, everything seems to be done to shut out foreign creditors and prevent them from filing their claims.

Bit of a problem for an airline that relies on international co-operation, one would have thought.

It's a good idea in lieu of being able to travel internationally.

Better having a domestic holiday than a refund or flights from THAI that you probably will never see. 

On 5/30/2020 at 1:45 PM, uhuh said:

There is a very good thread,  very long,  about PR in the visa section of TV.

 

Process to get it takes years, and fees are not very cheap. 

You are normally supposed to have been legally working in Thailand and paid taxes, for 3 years. And you must show your contributions to Thai society. Taking care of an ex-prostitute doesn't count. 

 

The average Issarn pensioner will not get it. It's a class thing. 

Agree with most of that but it is nothing to do with class, IMHO.

It is about tax contributions, assimilating to the local culture (hence the interview and test in Thai) and whether you are of a good enough character.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The group also observed 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence - the period that Floyd was filmed pinned under a white officer's knee - to know "how it feels", Natalie added.

If they need someone to assist, I will gladly show them exactly how that feels. 

4 hours ago, zeamonkey said:

Australia advises against wearing masks. 7k cases and 100 death. Its not about a damm mask, but some people will never get that. 

I agree, it has far more to do with controlling the borders.

Keep them closed and everyone that arrives back home into 14 day mandatory, monitored quarantine.

Seems to be working for Thailand.

Excellent news yet again.

Too dangerous to reopen the borders at this early stage IMO, and if it is done, then only to countries that have contained the virus and with mandatory quarantine in place.

1 hour ago, fred110 said:

If you must pay a bar fine to take a girl out, the owner is a pimp.

If the owner is the man controlling the girls. Normally, a mamasan controls the girls, which is a Vietnamese term for a brothel madam, made popular during the American War in Vietnam.

A better term would be a procurer. Procuring or pandering is the facilitation or provision of a prostitute or other sex worker in the arrangement of a sex act with a customer. A procurer, colloquially called a pimp or a madam or a brothel keeper, is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings.

2 hours ago, George Aylesham said:

Why specify 'greedy Thai landlords'? Greedy British landlords are behaving in exactly the same way and sending their tenants to the wall by the thousand.

In Thailand? That's terrible.

Down with greedy British landlords in Thailand.

4 hours ago, Skallywag said:

180,000 foreigners still live in Pattaya and Chonburi province.  April 27, 2020

https://www.pattayamail.com/alltime/180000-foreigners-still-in-pattaya-chonburi-province-297240

Vast majority from Cambodia, Burma and Laos.

They don't go to bars mate.

1 hour ago, uhuh said:

Many countries will let in nationals and residents (Taiwan, Hong Kong, many countries in Europe).

(And for the smartasses saying only with PR are you a resident: most people on retirement extension got a "Certicate of residence" when they got there drivers license. :))

 

There are not many countries that even refuse entry to nationals (China, Panama). Thailand is one of them. 

Before Covid,  this would have been very unusual. 

The "certificate of residence" from Immigration is merely a proof of address. It certainly does not make you a resident. You can get the same thing from your country's embassy lol.

If you are on a non-immigrant visa your status is 'temporary visitor for purposes other than tourism.'

Hang on, I'll just get a fag packet out so I can calculate the real unemployment numbers on the back.

1 hour ago, pixelaoffy said:

Well that NEVER happens in Thailand! How many non thai CEOs in the land of deference and irrationality?

You have never heard of Bill Heinecke?

I am another, however much less well known.

3 minutes ago, MRToMRT said:

I thought I lived in Thailand. I worked there for many years and retired thinking they would put me in a wooden box there. I have 2 condos, cars, banking, long term associates and friends, a perfect visa history, never had to tangle with the authorities once in over 25 years.

 

I thought it was my home.

 

Now I know it means nothing. I am stuck in Newcastle, living with and relying on relatives. I am not allowed back into my "home".

 

Cant wait for the ban on foreigners to be lifted so I can come back and sell it all. And offer my middle finger to the "government".

 

How can I "live" in a country that does not even recognize my existence?

It's a harsh wake up call to the reality but we are all just here temporarily, unless we pay taxes on income, become PR, then become citizens.

Admittedly this is out of reach of most and many are too old or not able but that is what the Thais want and it is their country, so whom are we to argue? I'm sure a good few Brits and Aussies would want exactly the same policies in their own countries.

We always have the choice to take our spouses and family back home to our own countries where we enjoy more security and the family can become residents and citizens. 

5 hours ago, mighty said:

Shouldn't they be looking for an experienced veteran of the airline industry?

They should be looking for several, especially those that have helped airlines get out of serious financial difficulties before.

Unfortunately that is not the way Thai businesses operate and they must maintain control because it is a money maker and a popularity contest for them. 

This is the kind of role that demands a person that will make really harsh decisions that affect peoples' income and lives. The kind of person that will be deeply unpopular with the staff simply because he will not cowtow to cultural conformity or the whims of the middle management.

5 hours ago, colinneil said:

His first thought about being tipped to become President of Thai airways was probably...... Whats in it for me.

Shouldn't that be anyone's first thought?

It's a hard job running a business, let alone one that has been mismanaged for an extended period of time. He's not running a charity or doing it out of the kindness of his heart.

9 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

Pimp business going public?

Haters gonna hate.