HeikoJT

TiT = This is Thailand. An extremely wonderful country with extremely wonderful people, but with authorities who really lack sensitivity sometimes. Here they commit the same mistake as they did with the fees for national parks. If they ask 6 to 10 times the money one would pay in Europe or the US it isn't reasonable at all anymore. And also wealthy farangs who could afford will be put off and will not submit to such outragous demands.

The normal rate in Thailand is 20 Baht per hour, right?

As the new airport is closer to Pattaya than the old one, it will definitely bring some more visitors to Pattaya which will become more of an alternative to Bangkok to spend a few days before heading to other destinations. I think so, even as it is not as centrally located. Good transportation will be a prerequisite.

Don't forget: There might be a chance , slim as it may be, that the new men in charge may address the secessionest problem in the Southeast in a more intelligent and sensitive way.

It's natural that , when you stay longer in a country, you see thing more realistically. And you tend to enjoy the positive sides but critzise the negative ones, or those you reckon to be negative. What you should do is accept the country as it is and stop compare it to your home country or others.

What I've seen is that many foreigners who live in Thailand sit together in the evening whining and complaining.

Many have never really arrived in their host country.

I do not know another country where the people accept you as much as the Thais do.

No chance.

Its all over since the King has given the military leaders his consentment for a provisional solution.

Why did he not step aside in time? He should have known the tables were more and more turned against him.

Because he had no sensitivity, because he could not listen, because he was an autocrat, and last but not least because he had no real friends.

Feel sorry for him? I could imagine better people or objectives to direct your sentiment to.

Thaksin was the first real efficient prime minister. This is why he had been admired by the people - in the beginning. He still is by the rural folks of the North because he has showered them with money. But educated people soon realized that his politics were very questionable in terms of democracy and economy as well. Protests became louder and louder. The yellow colour got the meaning of "Anti-Thaksin". The people thought that he was not a democrat but an autocrat

He was totally inept to quell the unrest in the Southestern provinces.

But what he was very much critizised for, the sale of his family's shares of Shinawatra without paying taxes, was totally legal.

Forget about those for 150 Baht.

But at the optometrists like CHAROEN (a chain) you get good quality glasses at much lower prices than at home. If those of the big name brands are fake, who knows? If you can't see the difference, does it make a difference?

It used to be good from Chiang Rai as well. If possible: Don´t go in a group. Get your own guide. Tell him what you expect. And take at least three days, better five. Then you have a chance to get into the right areas.

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Thanks for the info. Last mid October when I was in Pattaya, it was 50/50 sun and rain. I was surprised after checking the weather charts that Samui has lots of rain in October and November.

Weather in Pattaya and Koh Samui is quite different. The NE monsoon reaches up to Koh Samui. It may rain on the south side of the island, and not on the north side.

As the other contributers said: The weather patterns are changing. Predictions are unreliable.

My piece of advice: Don't bring a raincoat (too hot), but an umbrella. Or buy one there. Is very cheap.

HeikoJT

www.heiko-trurnit.de