grantbkk

Rain in the tropics? unbelievable! What a headline. Perhaps the governor of Bangkok can use some of the sewer cleaning equipment sitting idle to clean out the sewer drains. He has been surprised at least twice before in the past couple of weeks and has done absolutely nothing, relying on luck as usual to get by.

Loved the rain from my home. Nice and cool here now.

I lived on Sukhumvit Soi 5 back in 2007. This is not new. Every 5 to 6 weeks the police would sweep up dozens for drugs, forgery, pumping, counterfeiting, overstay, etc. around Soi 3/1.

Anyone who has not witnessed these folks in action really have no standing for their indignation. It doesn't matter the color of the skin. Law abiding visitors and citizens need protection from these criminals.

I did it an hour ago. Works great! What a load of my mind. The 90 day report hassle has finally died a proper death! Well done Government. The first successful act under Section 44.

I agree with some of the posters that after a short honeymoon period invariably you're going to start reassessing everything Thai. If you go at it with a western perspective the only outcome will be negative. Then one day you begin to look at it from your host county's eyes. If not you become a TV poster where most exhibit a kind of manic depression. Not only is the glass half empty, it is empty. So much negativity begins to poor out the posters don't ever realize that they are pouring their guts out, giving clues to the root cause of clinical depression.

Anyway...... Polling TV members in this case is like asking terminally ill people how happy they are.

Yesterday started planning a trip to Los Angeles and looked at a variety of business class airfares. Same distance and similar itinerary China $2,727, Korean Air about $970 more. Thai allows you to fly at their lowest fare of $4,619. Of course at that price you get service staff with at least 20 years more experience that may or may not drop dead before you get to your destination. It makes the Thai flight more interesting than their contemporaries. One more plus for buying the Thai flight would be new guy announcing last week that the Los Angeles route may me discontinued, marking Thai's triumphant exit from the United States.

No one knows how much serious crime occurs in Thailand. There is no uniform crime reporting which is expected in a developing country. Serious crime obviously is under reported on orders of the government as constant mayhem and homicide reports will have a negative effect on tourism and cast the Kingdom on a bad light.

Since 2004 the raging civil war in the deep south usually only receives cursory attention. In a developed country it would be on the front burner. It is wildly reported that only 6,000 men, women and children have been shot, beheaded, burned alive and blown up over the past eleven years. I would bet money it is probably double that number but the country must save face. It is officially referred to not as a civil war for independence but an small insurgency by factions with different religious views. These 6,000 to 12,000 deaths are not even considered in the country's crime statistics and almost never make world headlines.

The harsh reality is that Thailand has a very high crime rate, especially violent crime. It takes some effort but the blogs, Thai language newspapers and websites, Twitter, Facebook paints a much darker picture of what goes on especially in Bangkok. Corruption is off the hook here as well and the number of have nots. Tourists are prime targets because they are never armed, don't pay attention to there surroundings, are unfamiliar with tactics to prevent crime, display money and jewelry and basically have there heads in the sand, thinking it won't happen to them.

In the cities and tourist areas there are the usual have and have nots. Traditionally many of the have nots want what they see others enjoy. That combined with rampant drug use by younger men leads to high rates of crime. Blame the parents, western television, Thai soaps or greed it doesn't really matter. The fact is there is crime and it is here to stay. The trick is to not become a victim.

There are tens of millions of good honest Thais but a large the large number of criminals here can turn a holiday into your worst nightmare.

The OP has a point. I've been occupying Thailand for a dozen years are so. I hope he didn't miss the Super Bowl it was a great game.

Does he know the flute is an American designed musical instrument? Not really but someone please, please tell him it was.

DPM: Trace found for Siam Paragon bomber

BANGKOK, 2 February 2015 (NNT) — Security measures are heightened nationwide, as authorities have found evidence that may reveal suspect behind the explosion at Siam Paragon shopping center, said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan revealed that authorities are on the lead to an evidence that may reveal the suspects behind the explosion outside Siam Paragon shopping center in Bangkok on Sunday evening.

Officials are now tracing to prosecute the suspect, while security protection is now tightened in all monitoring spots nationwide. Authorities will also heed to notification of suspicious activity by the public.

The Deputy PM said that differing ideas are welcome as long as they do not cause violence that will affect the lives and belongings of the public and the nation's image.

He said that the government has been continuously working to solve economic issues and to reduce poverty and inequality.

The Deputy PM has added that the security protection at the government's house and the Prime Minister's office will remain at the same level as it is already strict.

-- NNT 2015-02-02

Unless this guy is an uneducated eight year old he could not have approved such an unorganized, barely coherent, press release. The translation could be the culprit and the translator may be called for an attitude adjustment.

What a joke! Corruption in the dictionary has a picture of Thailand next to it. IMHO the evidence is in. NO ONE cares about the poor people in The Land is Smiles.

These people are sick. Wasn't Dr. Josef Mengele Dutch. I've had to be around the dead and dying in all states of decomposition. The sights, sounds and smells are different and memorable but nothing anyone but the deranged or sadistic would want to sample at their leisure.

Why can't we just give it a chance? Half the whiners probably have never been to Bangkok. This will not apply to the people living in the jungle on 1K Pounds Sterling a month.

Put the numbers in your mobile phone and you MAY have a chance to call on the RTP in the event of an incident. Don't and you will definitely not. The numbers can't hurt you.

A mobile patrol will be officers responding to your call for help in a police radio car or on motorcycles here in the capital.

We live in a developing country and all that goes with it. Nowhere is perfect just more efficient. A slim chance in better than none if you need help.

Let the flaming begin. The classic TV showdown.

Even the Doctor of Idiotic Proposals is beginning to dial it back. Makes no sense and creates a chaotic situation for businesses and tourist. Perhaps make a law that allows sales to any customer who brings a beach umbrella. Maybe this is just bad translation. With all due respect, could anyone be this stupid?

I always enjoy these Thailand Elite card threads.

I think Thailand Elite is a misnomer. Thailand Morons would be more appropriate.

Yes Mr. Lock many of us see dumb people too. At lest their shadow. Kindred spirits probably.

That's what I remember about it, though. Which card was the scammy card, then?

I am a relatively new member to Thailand Elite. I paid for and received my five year, Multiple Entry "PE" visa valid until 2019. Even if Thailand Elite goes down the visa issued by the Thai Government remains in play. For more than a decade it has been predicted that Thailand Elite is dead by detractors and by the various ministers who felt the need to pop off to a reporter. I do not know why people can't comprehend the likes of Gerry and other long term users very clear positive experience with The Card.

I personally know a few that got their Thailand Elite Card as the program began 12 years ago. They are on their third 5 year entry visa. Each enjoys the privileges of the card and are 99 to 100% satisfied with their purchase and would all do it again. Not one person has lost $1 that I know of, no ones been cheated and at least for the early adopters the worst that could happen is that their money would be refunded. This is based on the fact that Thailand would not want to lose face or become involved in a couple of thousand lawsuits if the program was cancelled.

Haters got to hate but should choose a quest others can get behind. The arguments against The Card are not well thought out, born of negativity and jealousy I would guess. Not one person is forced to buy but it is an option for visiting or living in Thailand.

Of course it can't be true but the wording of the official statements and news articles sound like the government is pandering to the taxi mafia. Probably just facts lost in translation.

Have these "Officials" try to get a taxi and they will see that Uber is necessary and needed.

The OP sounds intelligent but didn't do the research and proves that common sense is not that common.

Knuckle dragging cretin or not this guy doesn't deserve to have his stuff stolen by the police. Something which I believe is 100% possible.

A 'hookah' device isn't illegal. They may have been banned / restricted but if you have one sitting at home and it was purchased when they were fully legal then I don't think it should be an issue.

The cover up will most likely see him deported / visa revoked and that will be the end of the matter.

Arguably the stuff was never his in the first place.

Ill gotten gains by his own admission.

If and when the police find any of Mr. Sharky's assets then they are subject to forfeiture as proceeds of a criminal enterprise.