honoluludave

First, its an island with too many cars already. It does not need the added cars. Second, not sure what the distance is, but who is going to take care of all the cars that break down, run out of gas or who have an accident on this bridge?

I think it has something to do with the size of the tank. Father in law took us to Hua Hin and he had to stop twice to fill up

15 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

Unfortunately you are correct.  To afford a vacation in Hawaii many are patronizing the B&Bs that are popping up all over Hawaii.  Spiraling land values have helped contribute to the high cost of living.  I deeded one of my homes to  my  youngest  son because I  know he loves Hawaii and its unique lifestyle.  Also my granddaughters just adore my Thai wife who works at a 5-star resort.  She just loves Hawaii and has adapted very well to local culture.

Yes, Hawaii is expensive, but we would not live anywhere else.

Not to side track this about Hawaii. I had lived in Hawaii for 22 years before moving to Thailand 14 years ago. Fortunately I have a job that allows me to live here but I still must go back to Hawaii or California to work. And I once said I would not live anywhere else also. If Thailand was ever to get their act together and really did start attracting high end tourist. There are many unintended consequence. Such as a higher cost of living and increasing land values the squeeze out the average home owner. There are many lessons to be learned about the long term effects. But I am afraid that in Thailand they are only worried about the short term gain. 

2 hours ago, quadperfect said:

Hawaii tourism is 99 percent usa citizens. 

Thai tourism is 99 percent foreign.

Thailand tourism has been mostly budget .

The only thing i see big spenders doing here is driving up hotel prices.

Food and easy sex is thailands best lure. Thai food is cheap.

If you have money why come to thailand?

Hawaii would be 100 times a better holiday for big spenders.,so would any european destination.

Thailand is 30 years away from being a high dollar tourism location.

 

About 15-20 years ago Hawaii changed the direction of their tourist industry and started going after the high end Japanese tourist. And now most middle class American simply can not afford a Hawaii vacation. Even many long term residents are leaving because of the cost of living. High end tourism is a two edge sword. Yes you are making more money from your tourist industry. But the cost of living will go up accordingly

Of course he does. He does not want the RTP and his government looking weak or fools for too long

You would think that they would be constantly training. And this would not really be news worth reporting. It must really be a big deal that the police are doing any kind of training

Then start arresting everybody for aiding and abetting a fugitive. And throw in some obstruction charges too.

No surprise here. Can not have a representative of the largest (mainly poor issan people) voting block having any say in the reconciliation process. Nothing is ever going to change

Wish I had a job that I did not have to show up for. Must be nice

Never going to happen.

I have been seeing Dr Pete at the Smile Sabuy Dental clinic. In Si Saket, Khu Khan, and Kantharalak. There on Facebook. Good english and very profesional

Prayuth would really not like what was reported if Thailand did not have the slander and libel laws. The media is there to try and keep those in charge at least a little honest. Can not really have too much whistle blowing here because of the lost of so called face.

Good for them and the best off luck. But this something that the people in charge want. And they are going to get it no matter what. Got to control those pesky journalist.

When my wife and I moved from Koh Samui to her home town. We just boxed everything up and mailed it. Even sent the motorbike that way. Was the easiest and cheapest move I ever did. Got everything in a week

Who writes these Headlines?

50 minutes ago, jerojero said:

And the PM keeps blabbing on about reconciliation, technology, and other unattainable b's. Education is the key to country's progress.

Yes but an educated and informed public is much harder to control.

Well that is going to be a 10x increase from what we are paying now. Wonder if the service will be more consistent? Plus that is a pretty steep penalty for unauthorized garbage collectors. Would have thought they would be happy with anybody picking up the trash

18 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

 

All l would suggest is if he does not want to be in the Thai army get him to go to army classes and keep him carrying on with education.

He is in some kind of ROTC at school. Did not know that these classes could be used to avoid the draft. Once again thanks for the info

18 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

 

 

Well getting away from trumpets l would say the OP has nothing to fear from a recruiter his step son l guess will have to be involved with the army from 21 on at some point, if he does nothing before hand in my experience.

 

My step son right up to and during uni had to attend army classes he did this from high school age and was able not to be drafted.

I couldn't find many real facts about about paying off the army l guess it's possible and the Thai rich can get away with pretty almost anything.

There are other ways out maybe that's why there's so many in Thailand. 

 

The following is from some info :-

Thailand’s armed forces search for healthy men aged between 21 and 30 years old.

The military always needs new recruits. Many of the places are filled by volunteers. The rest are drafted through a lottery that many hope to lose. By law all Thai men who do not volunteer for military service must attend the conscription lottery at least once after they turn 21.

Not everyone is eligible — recruits must be physically fit, at least 1.60 meters tall and with a chest size of 76 centimetres or more.

Also spared from serving their country are transgender ‘katoeys’, or ladyboys. Previously transsexuals were exempted on the grounds of a “psychological abnormality”, but that has now been replaced by a “misshapen chest”. 

The worst case scenario is a posting in Thailand’s deep south, where an insurgency waged by suspected Islamic militants has left many people dead over the past years.

Anybody caught trying to escape conscription faces three years in prison, followed by a stint in the army, probably down south.

 

From what l see from many young Thai men's behaviour in our village they should all have a stint in the army IMO.

Thanks for the information. I did not know about the age range. I had thought that it was 18. We really do have couple of years before we have to be concerned with this

It seems that my wife's father and his 2 brothers have solved our little drama last  night and have sent the cousin back to where ever he came from. So should have a couple more years before we have deal with army recruiters. Now to just get him to finish school.

He does have a trumpet. And I have been telling him most musician starve before they make it big

Just got a visit from a cousin of my wife I had never seen before who happens to be an army recruiter. He was trying to do the hard sell on my stepson. He  just got one more year of school. And we are trying our best to get him to finish. All of his friends are dropping out. Plus most of his family has never finished. Both my wife and I agree about him finishing HS before he does anything. Besides being lazy and a typical teenager he is a good kid. I really do not want this cousin involve in anything about my stepson and think this is a decision between him and his mother. The one thing he is good at is playing the trumpet. And my wife wants to send him to Bangkok to get better/learn how to earn a living playing the trumpet. Have been told there is a school. Which is not a problem. I told the cousin f/off that he was not doing anything until he finished school. Even his grandfather got involve tonight. Is there really anything I can do to get him to leave him alone?

Did anybody really think that they would do that?

9 minutes ago, jonclark said:

It has been aparent for some considerable time the the police and unable t9 police themselves. Perhaps a brave future government should remove the power of the police to physically collect fine money. If fined the offender pays the fine to a different legal entity. The police enforce the law but never collect the fine. 

Have always thought that their method of writing the ticket and collecting the fine was just an invitation for corruption. There is never a judge to hear evidence from both sides. The police are both judge and jury. And of course they are never wrong. What is needed is a traffic court system. But I really do not think Thailand is ready for that kind of system.