Adumbration

I thought it would be China's move on Taiwan that would initiate the collapse of the Australian dollar. Turn's out it is actually the Ukraine conflict and China's role in it. Very shortly America will impose additional and severe economic sanctions on China. The bulk of most of Australia's exports are to China. The collapse of the Australian dollar is now well on track.

This headline should be dominating world news: https://www.voanews.com/a/cambodia-confirms-first-h5n1-bird-flu-death-since-2014-/6976464.html#:~:text=An 11-year-old girl,said Feb. 22%2C 2023.&text=Health officials in Prey Veng,bird flu” infection since 2014. CFN is 50-60%

Yes. It is very depressing that he will be the next Prime Minister of this country.

It might prove useful in the discussion at this point to also point out that the photo in the OP is not even from a Phuket beach. It is a royalty free stock image and can be downloaded here: https://wallpapers.com/wallpapers/shirley-temple-tropical-drink-qrf7l9h3s6zhsav2.html Sums up Phuket entirely I would argue.

Massive explosion of stray dog populations during covid. No way all of the dogs have been recorded let alone screened. Who would you trust, Thai authorities, or your common sense? Here is a litmus test for you: If you were in Phuket and bitten by a stray dog, would you go and have rabies shots? Or would you just relax and carry on with your holiday safe in the knowledge that Phuket has been declared rabies free?

You don't have to go all the way to Phuket to photograph cellulite.

I have a number of older friends who still reside in Phuket. Nearly all of them now have limited mobility and spend most days in their back gardens pottering around in a drunken haze and hoping for an occassional visit from a bird or butterfly. They rely on their Thai partners entirely (many of whom work, or did work, in massage shops or bars) to interface with the outside world in Phuket and handle all the day to day logistics of running their homes. These expats have become what I like to refer to as boiled frogs. The quality of life in Phuket has steadily deteriorated significantly over the last decade, and this year it now hosts droves of Russian refugees and in a few months the return of the Chinese tour buses once more clogging the roads of Phuket. But these guys have little grasp of the realities of life in Phuket and how bad it has now become. Their individual partners are the ones bearing the brunt of all the additional stresses that have emerged.

Pointless legalising dolls for Thai men unless bulletproof models are available.

I believe the exact opposite. The longer these refugees remain in places like Phuket the more significant the financial burden and losses will be. I am sure the Hospitals already have a huge list of outstanding debts for treatment. In the months ahead lots of Russian tenants will be defaulting on their rent as meagre savings run dry. Same applies to other rental contracts for cars and motorbikes. Crime will increase and specfically atm skimming and credit card fraud.

10 great reasons why not to retire in Phuket: 1. Road deaths 2. No public transport 3. Dishonest and violent taxis drivers 4. North Africans riding 300cc scooters in gangs 5. Russians so drunk they attempt to drive a car along Rawai pier 6. No proper lifeguards because the experienced (and often trained in Australia) ones were all fired due to corruption and theft of the allocated budget 7. All coral gardens of the island are now dead and dying due to siltation from over development. Nai Thon is just one relevant example 8. Fecal coliforms counts far above any acceptable levels at Patong and many other west coast beaches 9. The seafood Restaurants (especially the ones displaying the seafood out the front of their premise) have little, if any actual local seafood. The prawns are farmed, the crayfish are farmed, and the bulk of the fish are farmed. If you are considering eating oysters or other shellfish please refer to point 8 above. 10. Blood bank is bone dry in Phuket due to the amount of road accidents every day and the fact none of the farangs ever donate. If you have an emergency that requires blood you are done for. I wish I could provide more than 10 reasons....I am just getting warmed up.

There are a few decent families among them. But money is running out fast and so is the validity of their visas. But there are plenty of Gopniks among them as well. I was in my local branch of KBank today and two young Russian men covered in tatts were trying to exchange a single $10 US note. The bank refused and the Igor and his mate left in a huff.

I know two seperate families (Farang with Thai wife) in Rawai who are now moving to Isaan. Both families for the same reason...Phuket is no longer liveable while the Russians are there. One of these guys...and old friend of mine from back home is off to Nakon Nowhere next week.

I bet the Red Cross Blood Bank is absolutely bone dry.

I gathered that the OP was an elderly gentleman seeking to retire. Why would schools be an issue for him? Where kids mentioned by him and I failed to notice? Regarding Golf courses there is a beachside one on the Naval base at Thap Lamu which is just a few minutes drive south from Khao lak. There might be others close by also, I don't know as I am not a golfer.

Theppkrasatri Road, that runs down the centre of Phuket, is, statistically, the most dangerous road in the world.

Things are definitely back to normal now in Phuket. The true accident figure is actually much higher. I drove down to Phuket a few weeks back and was down there for less than six hours. I personally witnessed 4 seperate accidents. One of which I must assume was fatal. And another would of been if I had not been able to swerve around the 80 year old woman that was sprawled on the tarmac in front of me.

Very very true. Not a single conflict in Russia's long history has ever been concluded before at least a half million russian troops have died. Russia has always just "thrown bodies at the problem". To date, this time around, Russia is only in for a couple of hundred thousand body bags so far. This war is only just getting started and has a very long way to go.

Khoa Lak is a better option for you. Much better beaches close enough to head down to Phuket if you want more complex nightlife. The price of rentals is now increasing as vacant properties are being leased by Russian refugees and the Chinese are now on their way here as well.

No it doesn't.

At least one out of every two pickup trucks that pass the Sarasin checkpoint heading into Phuket during work hours has people in the back of it.

What a go getter. An international digital child porn king pin at 23. When I was his age I had only recently lost my virginity.

Putin already controls Belarus. If he takes Ukraine his next target will be Moldova.

No winners here....none... ....the fruits of victory would be ashes in our mouth... As I predicted months ago in my posts, all of the off ramps toward a non nuclear resolution have now been removed by Nato and the US. Turning point will be in May. If the Ukraine forces, with help from the west, seek to retake Crimea or push past the Donbass region and into Russian territory nuclear exchange is a given.

And the Patterson-Gimlin award for 2023 goes to.......

I am cheering for you on the sidelines. I look forward to hearing about your swift and successful recovery.