KhunLA

If needed anywhere I would use the hotel.

Haven't you heard, HH, starting point of all the millions of tourists coming to see the new Riviera. The same down here PKK, new station is a huge, relative to need. I guess it's a not a bad thing planning for the future growth. Can't see it myself, as there's not much of a draw for tourists, between Krung Thep and Surat Thani. The Gulf isn't exactly beach holiday material. High speed line when done, is going to need to be very inexpensive to motivate people to take that instead of a 1 hour flight. Although I do like anything that competes with Bangkok Airways monopoly of Samui airport.

So... 14 mil over 4 yrs. Who cares ? And... "U.S. taxpayers spent nearly $16 million for President Obama and his family to travel to Hawaii and Africa last year, according to records obtained by watchdog organization Judicial Watch. The documents, obtained from the Air Force through a Freedom of Information Act request, show the president incurred $15.9 million in flight expenses alone for 2013 trips made to Africa and Christmas vacation in Hawaii. https://www.al.com/wire/2014/03/taxpayers_spent_16_million_for.html

So traffic will be like high peak season at rush hour, all day, everyday for the foreseeable future. That's why I don't live and stopped visiting Phuket, the past 12 ish years, except during covid & lovely it was.

Double walled insulated Q bloc or whatever named version of, is a bit redundant, IMHO. 2 houses using and I didn't bother and houses were fine. More important is shading your exposed walls; E - S - W. I'm assuming foil insulation is for the ceiling/roof space, then yes use, and they have 37/38 here, which we used. I would also recommend BluScope rolled steel roof, with thickest insulation available. Not that much more expensive, and all, insulation, will pay for itself vs cooling bills. We just got done a build, using said materials, and the house stay quite cool.

So TAT thinks folks concerned about their utility bill will be planning international holidays. IF from an area with snow, then need to leave the heat on anyway, so pipes don't freeze.

May have to rethink an upcoming O&A ... Phuket mid Nov ... ???? And I was worried about tourist numbers ... hmm Might give that a pass, hello Krabi, Trang, Satun

Simple mismanagement of all things by govts ... worldwide. More so in 3rd world countries, with the seemingly endless growing pains. Why they remain 3rd world. Simply accept or leave ... options abound.

Coming / going to beaches, to/from HKT, nobody needs that road: For others, oh well, just add another 30ish minutes to you commute to/from, if need to go there. Though if in more southern part of island, wouldn't use anyway.

Been around for ... ever, but now, masks are suggested as a precautionary measure. How long will it be, before every viral, bacterial infection re-hits the headlines, and masks will be recommended to prevent. To the point of mandatory mask wearing in the future, to prevent all respiratory diseases, and then some, when never in the past was it recommended, with exception of high risk patients, and simply awareness for 'their' protection. Control control control ... for all in the future. And yet in the past, the highest of risk groups were rarely if ever warned or advised to wear a mask. Along with personal hygiene highly suggested to the level of today. Guess we could have avoided a few million old folks dying of the common cold & flu over the past century. Now that billions of $$$ can be made ... nuff said.

Not necessarily, as if store policy, then so be it. Though yet to see any enforced of late. Our local Makro has removed the temp screening monitor. The local Lotus still has the mask detect turnstile installed, which I haven't seen anyone use in months, simply walking around it, and no mask requirement. Along with 7-11s locally. BluPort Mall / Hua Hin, and Hua Hin Imm. no mask required, as we were there Tuesday. Just lovely.

I'd be surprised if 70% leave the beach areas, and those that do, another 30 minute won't kill them, hopefully. Unlike the now impassable road, as more than a few deadly accidents on that every year. Besides, now the taxis can charge 2 or 3k baht instead of 1k ????

With that attitude, I wouldn't drive on Thai roads as they all my collapse underneath of you. Which of course never happens elsewhere outside of TH. You better walk ... just pray there isn't a sinkhole under the walkway ???? In your mind, no matter what Thais do, it will be inferior, and you won't trust it. Why do you live here ?

I could care less about 'assistant features' especially if they take control of the vehicle away from me. If so, I prefer not to have them installed. Give me ABS, anti sway features, but nothing that hinder my actual driving in an emergency. If I want to put the car in a ditch to avoid a head on, I don't want the car taking control, since it can't detect a road surface. Or if the vehicle on one side of me is getting too close, but in my mirror I see a semi about to pass me at speed, I don't the 'car' to move me over half a meter, away from a top on the one side by a car vs a top by a semi it doesn't see yet. Make them 'allowed' features in the settings, not default settings. I only care how the occupants will do in a collision.

If you mean road along the surf, patong to karon, I'd be real surprised, as I think that is built on mostly rock, unlike the one in OP news-blip, which every year needed repair, and hasn't been right since day 1. I believe it's called 'job security' ???? Looking at the photo, I think it's a bit beyond quick fix. They may decide to do it right once and for all. A concrete & steel bridge/elevated roadway, across or around the valley would make a lot more sense.

To the title ... when did it ever stop being the norm. We smoked it from early teens. My friends kids smoked it, from early teens, and their kids have smoked it from early teens. 3 generations in my peer group, and no noticed increase or decrease over the 5 ish decades of smoking that we've lived. People smoking publicly without fear of incarceration is the only difference.

Assume nothing, check the policy. It will be for 'named' drivers or all 'legal' drivers.

Except for PM's PR stunt, does anyone personally know anyone, the law was actually enforced against. PoPo saw me almost daily without, with an acknowledging head nod or wave, and apparently could care less. All during the mandatory 'outside of home' rule.

Death blow ... ???? Most tourist will never be on that stretch of road. A simple inconvenience to those living there, if they use it.

Yep, being a Yank, believed "USA USA USA" ... until stepped out a bit, then eyes open, but too late then. As 38 yrs old then and too vested at the time. Took 7 yrs to adapt & adjust to leave the USA behind after enlightenment. Mixed thoughts with that move, but overall better all around, I think. No real regrets staying in USA that long, as having a blast there, just things so much cheaper in the 3rd world. Less earnings given to wasteful govt and most necessities cheaper outside of USA. Though as 1st world countries go, USA still cheaper than most others, IF HEALTHY.

Because of idiots like him, we have regulations

My observations are different, as I always see Disabled spaces empty at the vendors that have them. Only strange thing, many have wheeled 'gates' that need to be moved, and only Makro and larger malls have attendants always available to do. Suggest OP actually go to get a disable registered tags. Not sure if the hanging on mirror tags will be very effective here. May get booted any way, especially if not noticed. I've seen many handicapped tags/plates, so they do exist, simply ask.

You can simply call PEA, give them your account info, and simply pay with a bank transfer after informed of the new bill. Simply too easy. If wanting, can set up account to auto pay PEA monthly, even easier if wanting. Did that when living in Udon Thani, as O&A, longer distances from house. Now trips aren't as long or as far, though if away, simply call, get info, transfer payment.

Myself & daughter have had scripts made from the chains, and they do fine job, our experiences anyway. Mine haven't changed from age 40ish to 67, and first pair, she got the script correct, without me telling her. Daughters due to age, changing and needing stronger, till recently, and have been good results for her as her eyes changed over the years. Just need to make sure they are as you want before leaving the shop, and easy enough. Prices will depend more on the frame than the lenses. Inexpensive, (relative) to expensive designer name frames.

Except for 20 ish years closer to my demise, can't really think of any real negatives, Thankfully. ... another divorce & marriage added to the count, now 3 vs 4. ... wife, then 23 years younger (1/2 my age), now 22 yrs younger (1/3 my age) ... 2 ish year old daughter, now grown Uni grad / business woman ... have more equity & liquid assets, then enough, now too much (if not frivolous) ... TV also much larger ???? ... more anti-social than ever ... less respect for mankind, big business (oil, pharma) ... less respect for western govt, if even possible ... need more tin foil than ever now ... censored more than ever ... can smoke a doobie (rare) without paranoia ... no longer have alcohol as a hobby, liver happier ... moved on to drones, RCs, & photography as hobbies ... 3rd & final (hopefully) house BUILD & move/LOCATION, happier w/BOTH ... complete independence of gov't, municipal utilities, if wanting (PEA/water/petrol) ... deeper appreciation of everything ... every year just keeps getting better & better