RayOday

I bought a Henson razor on Lazada as well as Feather and Personna blades. I cheap out on the excellent Arko stick, except it smells like Parrot Soap, also available on Lazada. Quite happy with the setup.

Meet her in a foursome with three other women.

This is the usual classic BS from esteemed elected officials and phone-watching bureaucrats. An electric power pole has been leaning over the road—probably at a 60° angle—on the way to Haad Sai Noi, just outside the back gate of the royal property. It has been in this condition for over a year. The PEA installed a new concrete pole with capacitors next to it, yet they have not transitioned the electric lines for over three months. Wait for it—someone is likely to be injured or killed. This is no exaggeration. I have notified the PEA numerous times. If someone dies as a result, it should be considered manslaughter. I am a university-trained professional engineer with over 30 years of experience. PEA, prove me wrong.

Exactly my experience. Schwab did it for me in China as well. I have found Schwab's customer service to be excellent. The service process is focused on owning and resolving the client's issue. No circular processes without the agent having the authority to do something, no hand offs. I used Skype as well and successfully ported my number to TossibleDigits. Set up was too easy and fast. Price is cheap. I use it for OTPs but the service app has additional functions. I get the code via email. I am sure there are alternatives.

I renewed my 5 year license for another 5 years in Chiang Mai 2 months ago. Less waste hence more efficient. I completed a self-paced online refresher course of the road laws with just a few simple quiz questions. Once completed the program generated a QR dense code to capture on my phone. Went to the land transport office, presented the code of completion, requested documents, and was asked to identify red, amber, green right at the counter then went to a 1 person queue had a license photo taken, received my new license in 5 minutes. While not completely digital it was a significant process improvement. Now what are they actually doing to improve road safety (road deaths per Capita)? Nothing. It appears that the Dept off Land Transport & the police are disconnected. No on road enforcement. I have a China drivers license & lived in China when people drove cars like bicycles (1995). Weaving in and out with no regard for lanes. Then it all changed with the upgrade in national road infrastructure and enforcement, which is key, Quantitative improvements are tracked by the WHO. I am aware of the veracity of China's data yet this concurs with my experience. What did they do? 1. Strictly Enforced Traffic Laws 2. Infrastructure Development 3. Vehicle Safety Standards 4. Public Awareness Campaigns 5. Emergency Response Improvements It can be done IF there is the will and leadership to achieve less carnage. P.S. I have driven from Shanghai to Yunnan and back several times stopping along the way. I also drove 4500 kms in Xinjiang prior to the current nastiness. I feel confident in my assessment of China's road safety improvements.

The key for the Thais is to let the Chinese build it with no Thai involvement. The Chinese build fast with many prefabricated components. They also do not tolerate corruption. I know it sounds like my head is up my ass. I lived in China for +15 years and watched and used the build out of China's incredible high speed rail network. Initially there was corruption under the railroad administration of Liu Zhijun resulting in a crash which killed 40 people. Liu was not directly responsible as railway minister yet was sentenced to a suspended death sentence for allowing corruption. In China a suspended death sentence usually means life in prison. I have taken the high speed railway including the Kunming line and it is excellent and on time. Now in Thailand you have corruption being blamed for the collapse of the new State Audit Office. Fingers point outwardly of course. That's right the government office that audits (integrity) is the office that collapses allegedly due to corruption. Keep the construction and it's components strictly under the Chinese and any failures under their legal system. Most likely impossible in Thailand. P.S. I am no shill for the Chinese. I am aware of the corruption issues. I have 35 years of experience in global supply chains and logistics. 15 of those years in China with a lot of government interface. I initially showed up in China to work on fraud and corruption for foreign companies undertaking Chinese M&A. In dealing with government officials I was never asked for a bribe even in difficult situations. They do have what may be considered ethical lapses with dinners and entertainment. The risk is too high with Xi. Corruption was rife at lower township levels. Then again, as they say in China, "Heaven is high and the emperor is far away"(天高皇帝远)

Thailand irony at it's finest. Thailand's State Audit Office (SAO) collapses due to corrupt practices that weren't audited.

Throw them out and don't let them return. Try that <deleted> in Chinese city. They wouldn't even if they could.

Here are a few locations that don't see too many folks excluding those in China. - Perhentian Islands, Malaysia - Da lat, VN (Don't stop in the Russian colony of Nha Trang. Too many scammers but some good restaurants) - Himchal, Pradesh - Manali, IN - Uttarakhand, IN - Kerala, IN - Pondicherry, IN (Puducherry) - So many beautifully remote. places in the Philippines. Do some homework. https://www.visitmyphilippines.com/destination.html - China travel is too big to cover here. I lived there for 15+ years as a westerner and have been to most provinces and have driven across the country 4x. Yunnan is beautiful as is Sichuan west of Chengdu. Xinjiang is a rough and beautiful area but is probably off limits now. I travelled ~4500 kms there about 15 years ago. Never travel to NChina on a national holiday. I admire the work of a Russian photographer based in Shanghai, Oleg Novikov. Peruse his photos to find the tranquil and beautiful in China. http://olegnovikov.com/index.shtml - Nepal is always cool

A 4 meter python in BKK? What's it been eating?

I love the cynicism of the responses. They are accurate and express the frustration, anger, and point directly to the incompetence of this Mafia state. What's next a photo op of Prawit and civil engineer Charnvirakul operating cranes? "Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) and the Institute for the Promotion of Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Working Conditions (POSHEC) to devise stringent safety protocols. These measures will target all construction sites nationwide, with a special focus on high-risk areas in Bangkok." This paragraph makes me choke with laughter and then vomit. It's a confession that they don't do the job up front and don't plan to inspect. Too busy with self congratulatory lunches and selfies and fighting over their share of the "commission". These are not public servants. They are more like "The Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight." At one point in my life I was an industrial engineer working closely with civil engineers bringing over 5 billion USD/yr in capital expansions (note: the company generated $95 billion/yr in revenue). I mention this because my perspective is that the Rama 2 issues are due to corruption, incompetence, a lack of concern over human lives, craven interests, and what I call "director mentally", meaning getting their flat asses out of their chairs for more than 1 meeting after a disaster and spending less time with bull<deleted> and more time on the site with engineers, project managers, suppliers, insurance and public safety experts. The mentality of "my level is too high to get involved in the detail", rather than just setting onerous penalties, is a prognostication for more fatal failures. "all things processed in their circle and thus the empire is complete" The Prince, Machiavelli

Corrupt incompetence can't keep the populace alive on Rama 2 so they fiddle around trying to have Formula 1? Ironic that a country that can't enforce road safety wants to host F1. Can the the failures of the public trust, with respect to road transport, be expected to execute an F1 race? If I was a F1 driver I would protest to keep it in a competent location like Singapore. Let them hold the race on Rama 2. Maybe that way they will do something to stop the carnage. (I know, Rama 2 was a failed plan even on paper but since the administration won't acknowledge their complicity then at least try to make it work without killing anymore people).

Groundhog Day

I prefer the trees in Khao Yai

"all things processed in their circle and thus the empire is complete" The Prince, Machiavelli