Joules

I will reiterate: Citizens of a country are responsible for their leaders. Yeah some leaders may be tough, hardened killers, but ultimately it is the citizens who must rise up and depose such despots. Yes, I blame the common Russians, just as I blame the average German citizen of the early 1940's for Nazi atrocities and average American citizens for the unprovoked invasion if Iraq. So these Russians who have had their vacations ruined need to go home and do something about it.

And you've got to be kidding, too. You have to have a brain before you can enjoy a cultural event. Good thing you have a basement in which to shelter with your Internet.

You've got to be kidding me! Thailand has always been culturally starved.

555! Thailand's Faustian deal blowing up. Neutral, huh. Now you Thai's can take care of all your stranded rubleless Russian friends. No sympathy from me. And to all you apologists that say that Putin is not the fault of THESE Russians, I say that every citizen is responsible for its leaders.

Good heavens. With all the blatant corruption in this country, from top to bottom and back up again, the National Anti-Corruption Commission has to go after Yingluck? If there is one clear message in all this it is that there is NO INTEREST in actually doing anything about corruption in Thailand. There is no hope.

Well, I knew Brit expats got screwed on this, but did not know the reason. What Mike points out makes perfect sense. The reciprocity thing thing should be extended to EVERYTHING: Property ownership, permanent residency, 90 reports, etc.!

I advocate a full on nuclear response by the US against Russia in response to the Ukraine invasion. I do so from here in Thailand. ????

And ditto for all the schmucks who pay bribes and "tips" to corrupt immigration officers.

I suspect the phenomenon is connected to farangs who have had a conflict with the police. Then a visit by said police, and . . .

The problem with YOUR analysis is that "Bangkok" is NOT "Anglicised." It is a 100% "Thai" name. On the other hand, "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon" comes from a foreign Indian language that is mostly a dead one: Pali. There would be some irony there if the people who make these decisions were actually educated. But given their ignorance and probable belief that "Bangkok" is "Anglicised" and "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon" is actually Thai, the irony is probably not there. This sort of thing is the reason why Thailand so often ends up as the laughing stock of the world, while the Thais, themselves, don't even know . . . What can possibly be more blissful than ignorance? NOTE: Before the capital was moved to Bangkok, locals had been living there for ages and referred to the pre-capital area as ‘Bahng Gawk’ (บางกอก). ‘Bahng’ (บาง), means ‘a place’ in Thai. ‘Gawk’ (กอก), comes from มะ-กอก which means ‘olives’. You bet that the name Bangkok came from the fact that ‘Bahng Gawk’ was a place with lots of olive trees.

The problem with your analysis is that you speculate about what would happen if somebody "says" the name. And for that you are correct. But a Thai would "sing" the name. And, with that, every other Thai would understand immediately.

Okay, then, "The Big Dirty Mango."

The only real solution is for everybody to stop being pussies. That would be Yankee thinking.

I do not give a flying (so to speak) phuck about covid. But my advice is to take the train simply because nobody phucks with you. Get your ticket, get on and go. I went all the way from Central Plains to BKK, and as soon as I got on the train stripped off the stupid mask. Nobody said a word. I didn't get checked or searched. I brought a good supply of reading material and gin and made drinks all along the way. I had music on an MP3 player. You can buy food (cheap) or bring your own. You can go out to the stairs and smoke if you want to. I do not smoke, but saw lots of people doing that. Long? Yes. Boring? Yes. But very forgiving. I used to love flying. Now I hate it. I do not like being phucked with. If you are in a hurry and like to bend over with your pants down, take a plane. If you like to be left alone, take the train. Edit: Also in reply to people who worry about filters, the trains here are so leaky that riding in one is almost like being outside. I usually take the second class with no air conditioning and open all the windows around me as soon as I get on. Some people just love to worry. Edit no. 2: When I last took the train a month or two ago, I traveled during the day and all the cars were practically empty. Edit no. 3: I forgot to mention that trains are also so cheap that they are almost free. And note: The question about which is safest is inane. It is time for folks to man up and accept the fact that this virus will be with us forever and stop hiding in basements and shaking in fear. Man up.

I'll still call it "The Big Mango."

I am gratified that at least it wasn't a dirty farang this time!

Forget the pandemic for a minute. Ever since the last coup, those "in charge" of Thailand have taken a decidedly xenophobic turn. the truth is, the decline really got under way with the coup against Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 and has been going downhill ever since. Structurally, it is a decidedly less friendly place than it used to be. Individual Thai people are still friendly, but even many of them have been poisoned by the anti-foreigner rhetoric, including repeated government proclamations that only "rich tourists" are wanted. Many Thais do not want tourism resumed. They are enthralled by the idea that Thailand is for Thai people and they can travel freely (and cheaply) without competition from throngs of foreigners. It is far bigger than covid.

I used Southeast Insurance Company to insure our two cars, paid in full. Now I see they have filed for insolvency based on the covid claims they [didn't?] pay. So I haven't had a claim denied by them, but am apparently out the thousands I paid in premium. I wonder how much the tycoons that own the company got off with? Why is it that I have the feeling that they are trying to get out with their pockets filled with cash without paying the claims they already owe? Could it be because this is Thailand where the rich make a job of skinning the poor?

Vie Teaser change its name. Now it rhymes with Peon Bow.

"All women in bikinis are beautiful regardless of ethnicity or country of origin." Oh, come on, now. Some people do have standards.

Beautiful women? In this country, it pays to make a close inspection lest you end up with more than you bargained for. Sometimes a surprise is nice, but not when it is extra equipment.

<deleted>??? Okay WT and then another letter (6th letter in English alphabet) got blocked, so let me try again: What the <deleted>???

It's like the jet ski scam right out in the open -- apparently all legal -- HERE. But what it is, is nothing short of kidnapping and extortion.

Don't go!

What about dirty farangs?