samjaidee

Russian owned businesses in both Vietnam and Cambodia are famous for being used to launder money. Why should it be any different in Thailand?

If you want to watch UK TV then download the program from http://www.uk-tv.asia/

It gives you free access to BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, ITV3, Film 4 and Sky News. You can watch live or record for up to 5 days.

I use it every day and it doesn't cost a penny.

Hope that helps.

Another VPN option is Expat Shield.

I see its you who is confused because your saying its Thai when in fact its the Hindi symbol .And sawasdee originates from that as well .

Yes the first Buddha came from India so yes its origin is Hindi. Buddhism progressed from India. How else is it over 2500 years old with a little education? I was stating why Farang confuse it here in Thailand. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most Thais practice Buddhism and display the symbol because of the relationship and parallels between the two religions? Some farang in Thailand have no idea that the first Buddha was from India and continue to be critical of the symbol and ignorantly start speaking of its use by the Nazi Party. This topic was applicable to discussions heard in Thailand? So thank you but I am far from being confused.

Most Thais don't practice Buddhism. They do however claim to be Buddhist.

Practicing and claiming to be are two quite different things.

Resurfacing a main road in the Rainy Season. Who's the bright spark who thought that one up?

One wonders about all the previous test takers who passed.

Thats the problem with corruption. The good gets lumped with the bad.

Its a long way to credibility, but a single step to lose it all.

Even a longer way back once your lost it.

And the kids are the ones to suffer.

This time was all new tests, so those who passed before took different tests. I saw the new tests personally and was disappointed. Asking questions that had no relation to the profession of teaching and no where in the world were taught by anyone.

Could you give some examples of the questions, since you've seen them. It would help us get a better perspective on the story.

Thanks, Gosompoi.

"BANGKOK, June 26 – Thai household debt rose to a record five year high at 64 per cent – a 12 per cent increase from last year, according to an academic survey."

64% of what? Anyone know?

I think the writer should do the right thing and not bother to attend such utterly hypocritical meetings.

Would you care to elaborate as to why you think a meeting such as this is hypocritical?

Do you really believe that all the people attending this meeting are pretending to have moral standards or opinions that they to not actually have?

Living in Asia has made me more cynical but that cynicism is based on the experience of living here. Your apparently cynical view of this meeting is based on what?

Here in Vietnam, where I now live, the best nannies are without doubt from the Philippines. I don't know what the availability of Philippine nannies is like in Thailand but if you can find one it's got to be worth trying. A Philippina nanny will probably be more expensive but it's very much a case of "you get what you pay for".

I really hope this video goes viral in Russia and that the Russians stop coming to places like phuket and pattaya for a while. Maybe go else where ( hua hin, samui?) just to hurt thailands tourism for a bit.

Living in Vietnam, I get the feeling that most of them are here, already, especially in Mui Ne and Nha Trang.

FYI... Buddhism officially is not classed as a religion it is an education system and in fact its possible to be a christian Buddhist, but not an Islamic Buddhist because Islam forbids it.

According to the Webster's Dictionary, the definition of religion is as follows, "An organized system of beliefs, rites, and celebrations centered on a supernatural being power; belief pursued with devotion." Buddhism is not a religion because: First, the Buddha is not a 'supernatural being power'. The Buddha is simply a person who has reached Complete Understanding of the reality of life and the universe. Life refers to ourselves, and universe refers to our living environment. The Buddha taught that all beings possess the same ability within to reach Complete Understanding of themselves and their environment, and free themselves from all sufferings to attain utmost happiness. All beings can become Buddhas, and all beings and the Buddha are equal by nature. The Buddha is not a God, but a teacher, who teaches us the way to restore Wisdom and Understanding by conquering the greed, hatred, and ignorance which blind us at the present moment. The word 'Buddha' is a Sanskrit word, when translated it means, "Wisdom, Awareness/Understanding". We call the founder of Buddhism Shakyamuni 'Buddha' because He has attained Complete Understanding and Wisdom of life and the universe. Buddhism is His education to us, it is His teaching which shines the way to Buddhahood.

Which power decides whether a Buddhist reaches Nirvana?

Whichever enitity does this is supernatural.

The actions of the individual determine whether they reach Nirvana.

100 million baht; wow, that is crazy. Especially for a 37 year old farmers daughter. Oh well up to him

Unless you know the couple concerned how can you make an informed opinion as to whether it's crazy or not?

What about the man made disasters and I mean those made by one man ?

Why don't you go over to the Thai-food section and make a Thaksin -comment there as well.

About as sensible, as doing it here!

Did not see Bellweather using the T -word....

It's implied. Who did you think he was referring to?

What about the man made disasters and I mean those made by one man ?

Why don't you go over to the Thai-food section and make a Thaksin -comment there as well.

About as sensible, as doing it here!

Wow that's deep.

Deep or not; he's quite right.

A little over US$1 for an baht bus. Outrageous, NOT.

Start calling the Thai gold shops in Chinatown.

True, some of the gold shops are over a 100 years old - but Vietnam is a better market for 24K gold, better prices as well, they don't stick with the International Rates and gold is still almost #2000 an ounce.

I live in Vietnam and hold gold there. The current selling price (that is you selling) for a 1 luong bar (37.5g), which is 999.9 Fine Gold, is 40,880,000 dong.

Today's exchange rate is US$1 = 21,000 dong, therefore 37.5g is worth US$1947.

One troy ounce is equal to 31.1g, therefore the current value of gold in Vietnam is US$1615/troy ounce

The gold price is taken form this Vietnamese website: http://sjc.com.vn/?n=1 They are far and away the largest bullion dealers in Vietnam.

It reached peak on 1st October 2012 of 47,670,000 dong/luong. Stupidly, I held onto it.

I hope that clarifies it for you.

Saigon Sam

EDIT: "he largest" to "the largest"

Man I have a friend doing 23 months and he is an Ausie worth millions. His GF planted some ice in his car and then tipped police. He tried to pay them off and they took his money but would not let him go free. He even married a Thai national before he was sentenced but to no avail.

Besides that, any one knows 53 year old men don't use ice.

I can't believe this article. It makes no sense. This is a no f'in around country. I heard that guns used during a crime was capital. <deleted>?

Interesting that you should make the comment about your friend's age. I'm studying at the moment and one of my fellow trainees is 57 years old and takes meth 2-3 times a week. What's age got to do with drug use?

Tourist are myopic.

When they come to find bargirls and prostitutes, they see all Thai women as being BGs and pros!

Should You know what assuming does.we all assume they all have fat, disgusting, greedy, piggish wives waiting for them to return home after their sex-tourist vacation in LOS?

No we shouldn't. We know what assuming does, don't we?

@Pacificperson: I think the point you have raised is a very good point and a very serious one at that !

It baffles me to see that many people write-in very silly responses and/or comments; this surely proves the general 'shallowness" which is obviously prevalent within a large group of TV readers/posters.

Personally; I love the English language since it enables one to express oneself utterly accurately. Combine that with the fact that "connotation is everything", speaking/reading between the lines is as important as being grammatically correct.

I have lived/worked in Thailand for a little over 21 years and I too find myself searching for the right word, at times.

The only things that will "keep-up" a language is: (1) Reading Books and (2) Keeping-up the practice with reasonably educated people who speak the language correctly.

Languages do evolve (read: change) over time, and I recently had the pleasure of re-reading a piece by Sir Winston Churchill, which was written over 100 years ago and the language really blew me away . . . . not only that; I had to look-up half a dozen words: a thoroughly enjoyable experience !

Have a read of this and enjoy the English:

Subject: WINSTON CHURCHILL ON ISLAM

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its

votaries!

Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as

hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.

The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly

systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of

property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of

its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman

must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or

a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam

has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities - but the influence of the religion paralyses the social

development of those who follow it.

No stronger retrograde force exists in the world.

Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith.

It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is

sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the

civilisation of ancient Rome."

-Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition, Vol. II,

pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).

Interesting speech Sir Winston. I understood every word.

Shrunk NOT shrank

His English vocabulary shrank over the years.

His English vocabulary has shrunk over the years.