Maha Sarakham

He's dead, Jim.

I did one of the smaller rice barge Chao Phraya cruises that are slightly more upscale, without the music/dancing. Nice for a date, 5-6 course meal, but unfortunately by the time you eat its lukewarm. Drinks are very expensive. Views are great obviously, I'd take first timers to Thailand or Bangkok for a 'wow' impression but outside of that, don't think I'd go again. The food, as everyone mentions, isn't that memorable on any of the boats.

Really comes down to the individual and their education, life experiences and awareness of the world that exists outside of Thailand (yes, there is one).

Just a tip for anyone coming into Pattaya for this, try to stay in a hotel that is walkable and don't leave the same night as the festival ends. The roads are a nightmare trying to get in or out of the city, it once took us about 4 hours to try to get out of Pattaya from the Central Festival parking garage en route to a Bangkok hotel, we didn't arrive until 2-3 AM. Traffic literally stops, its gridlock, don't underestimate it.

APEC will amount to little other than lip service...

Maybe a bit of both.

One of our favorite festivals of the year, we'll be there!

Every time I see Xi he looks more and more like Winnie the Pooh.

The rain this year is relentless.

Hotel Moco would work for your purposes.

Covid really helped expedite the downfall of cinemas. I don't think they will ever come back to their previous popularity.

I think that is why it lost its appeal.

I used to think I wanted to when I first started coming to Thailand, but I almost feel like less is more these days. No longer have a desire to fully assimilate, I will strike a balance between the two cultures as I see most appropriate. Neither is perfect.

That's one thing I could do without is the tip culture. Had some Chinese waiter literally yell at us and demand a tip when his service and attitude was absolute rubbish. The entitlement of some restaurant workers in the US never ceases to amaze me.

Keep in mind the first two weekends of December are long Thai weekends that many Thais will be traveling. Many hotels are expensive those weekends already. Hua Hin tends to attract a lot of Bangkokians for the weekend, so book early in the place you want to stay if you intend to be there during those two weekends.

As I get older, this seems to be the way I'm leaning more and more. It requires a bit more financially but it really entails the best of both worlds.

Nightlife is no where near 2019 levels, it is still fairly quiet in Hua Hin at those venues. Pattaya has made a huge recovery though if you want it.

I feel that way also. Thailand is an excellent vacation destination (value for money) and can also be a great retirement destination for affordability, though I often prefer the calm of our life in the US. Thailand has a unique attraction to it, but it can also wear on your nerves if you let all the small things get to you.

Both very true statements. The US gets so much negativity online, but if you have a good income here the quality of life is very good. If you have a lower income, yeah I imagine its not that great. I don't do politics so I ignore that entirely, probably helps. Thailand's food, warmth and infrastructure is what makes it a good option for us. The affordability of Thailand's housing also what makes it an attractive option. Outside of that, we love our home in the US too.

Looks just like it did in 2019... but with probably 1/4 of the open immigration lanes & officers as the root cause.

Buriram doesn't really have a lot going on other than the sports and racing events to be honest.

Pattaya has the highest concentration of P4P with foreigners in Thailand, that's why you're experiencing that. On Samui, most girls are working in resorts, restaurants, random businesses, or are locals. The nightlife scene on Samui pretty much died in the Lamai beer bars since covid, it was ailing even before that. That said, it's not nearly as easy to find a companion or girlfriend on Samui as it is in Pattaya or Bangkok, there are a lot of farang women around though.

Yes.

https://thesunrisedreamers.com/plant-based-travel/vegan-restaurants-in-koh-samui/

It's rainy season in Samui, very normal this time of year.