TroubleandGrumpy

That is true all over Thailand and great advice for those who are retired here and are wanting to meet other Expats (and take the risk they are not a nutter). Those who are at Makro with their Thai wife, tend to be long stayers and living long term - as opposed to the 2 week millionaires and sexpats by themselves at the beach, mall, or in 7/11 etc. In my experience there are a lot more of the 'OK' type of Expat in CM and Isan and Hua Hin than any other parts of Thailand - by a mile. My best tip for the nutters - look at how they dress and talk, and how their wife looks (ex bar girl?) and how 'happy' she is. If you do get phone Line etc. details - later ask your Thai wife what she thinks of the guy's Thai wife (they know straight away). Learned that the hard way early on back in the early days - nutters are too much trouble and hard to 'get rid of'.

The best thing about CM is that it does not have lots of the type of Expat as Pattaya seems to get a lot - you know what I mean - especially the younger testosterone full ones (and some older mungers/manthers). Everything on your list is in CM - and getting around is easy if you have your own vehicle - taxis etc are a ripoff and baht buses only run a few routes. Weather is far better - cool at night and not as humid and sticky as Pattaya. Much quieter and easier - better restaurants which are a bit more 'up market' than most of the high sugar high fat western diet in Pattaya (although there are some great restaurants there too). But - the smoke in CM can be awful from Jan/Feb through to April/May on certain days - some days it is OK. Take an air purifier with you or get one while there - helps sleeping a lot on those bad nights - depending on your accommodation (no issue in 4/5 star hotels). The Thai Govt says they are going to 'fix' the smoke season, almost as much as they say they are going to stop the flooding in Pattaya, but they never do - despite TAT complaining that the smoke has reduced Chinese tourism a lot. Have not been there for some years - could be better - unlikely.

No wonder you are on a blocked list. You are the winner of my weirdest person I have never met and never want to.

FOR BALANCE https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/28/russias-syzran-oil-refinery-targeted-in-overnight-ukrainian-drone-strike-reports-a91566 https://militarnyi.com/en/news/ukraine-s-drones-kill-and-wound-more-than-120-russian-gru-troops-in-donetsk-region/ https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/ukraine-hits-russian-radar-and-naval-drone-facilities-in-occupied-crimea-50571695.html https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/29/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1404

Up to the Military leaders on both sides - Thailand is reported to be waiting to see how things go this time. Last time a few Cambodian troops/activists did not obey the order and it all escalated again. Cambodia military is not as 'disciplined' as the Thais - not by a long way - command and control from HQ in Cambodia is very limited/slow.

When a person gets 1000 years for stealing money, but the owners of the illegal unsafe Mountain B nightclub where 30 people died from a fire because they could not get out, are only sentenced to a few years in jail - you can understand the 'systemic issues' Thailand has with its laws and courts and policing.

I wonder if this dose of reality will stop the media social justice warriors all around the world telling Thailand that what they did was an act of a barbarous regime like the Taliban. Unlikely - they are full steam ahead with their woke indignation and liberal hate - and they so often need to vent. But as always it will all blow away and they will forget, as they move on to their next social justice target somewhere around the world.

Yeh - but mate, the Emus had a distinct advantage. They could run very fast across sandy deserts and in 1932 we had nothing. Plus whenever we did surround them, they just stuck their heads in the sand and disappeared. Never seen anything like it mate - and we never mess with Emus to this day.

Indeed mate - and if that happens, then I agree with you - worked in Japan.

The big point all the enviro believers and doomsayers are missing, is that the IPCC 'scientific reports' are being challenged by other scientists as being too extreme. As evidenced by the recent 'about face' by Bill Gates, the predictions of doom and gloom and massively over-exaggerated by zealots like Greta Thunberg, are being more and more challenged. The 'scientific agenda' associated with climate change is a massive ship, but it is slowly turning. According to Google AI - Emissions Scenarios: Some researchers argue that certain high-end emissions scenarios (like SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5 in the AR6 report), used by many models, are now unlikely to occur based on current trends and thus project warming that is unrealistically high. Model Sensitivity: A fraction of climate models have shown a higher "climate sensitivity" (projecting more than 4.5°C of warming if CO2 levels double), which some experts consider implausible when compared with other lines of evidence, such as historical climate data. Focus on Outliers: Critics suggest that the IPCC's process can inadvertently give too much weight to outlier, worst-case scenarios or non-peer-reviewed "grey literature" (reports from campaign groups or governments), leading to more alarming-than-warranted conclusions in specific instances (e.g., the since-corrected error about Himalayan glaciers melting by 2035). Others say the IPCC reports are too conservative - but IMO they have an 'agenda' like Greta. Besides - when it all comes down to it, crushing the western economies by forcing climate change BS upon everyone and everything, will not make any difference while China keeps pumping CO2 into the air anyway. What is the point when the 2-4 billion tonnes reduced in the west get destroyed by the 10 billion coming out of China and India - and Russia is not even in the stats - nor is all the fires in SEAsia and Sth America. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/annual-co2-emissions-per-country All those nutter activists should go to Beijing and Shanghai and New Delhi and Mumbai and block the traffic there - they are absolute delusional idiots. Trump is going to change policies to stop the economy being crushed, while also encouraging more 'clean' production of electricity for the modern world - IMO nuclear. And the answer is obvious - modern nuclear power plants - clean and safe. 3rd generation nuclear plants are proven safe power production (people and environment), and the currently being developed 4th generation are even more safer and efficient. The delusional greenies will scream blue murder and say they are too expensive - but if the planet is really dying, then why do they care about the cost. They will even call out Chernobyl and Fukushima as examples - but they were 1st generation reactors and the causes were attributed to human error. Chernobyl was directly attributed to absolutely unforgivable human error by the Ukrainians running the plant, and the 1 reactor out of 7 that failed at Fukushima was supposed to have been decommissioned, and the backup power generator for that reactor was supposed to have been moved above the water line like all the other reactors back up power in the plant. The climate nutters are emotionally controlled delusional people who think nuclear is bad - no matter the clear and undeniable evidence that Nuclear is by far the best solution to a problem that is nowhere near as bad as they say it is anyway.

All good as long as they dont make the mistake of Iraq and Afghanistan - dont send in troops on the ground. Use drones and air force assets and naval missiles - plus the occasional specialist hit and run on-ground jobs for specific high value targets.

Exactly. Cash is King and the majority of People always choose to keep cash when asked - because they dont want the Government, especially the currupt incompetent Thai one, to know all of their purchases, medical history and other personal issues they wish to keep private - and have the right to do so (still).

I am still always amazed that some people believe whatever spin the media puts out on a story about Trump. Trump and his team are acting in the role of third party negotiators - Russia and Uklraine have refused to meet and negotiate directly again. The Trump Team gets Russia to give a 'peace plan' and they talk about what they are demanding. Now they are getting Ukraine to give their 'peace plan' and they will talk about what they are demanding. They then meet separately with each side and give them the other side's 'plans' as an intermediator. There is still a lot of back and forth to go before Ukraine/EU and Russia will (if ever) agree on a peace plan. Russia is in a far stronger position than Ukraine and is slowly gaining territory every day/week. Europe is running out of support and money for Ukraine - as is USA - and I am sure Trump's will be telling Zelensky he should back off on his over the top demands - like Crimea and Donbas staying with Ukraine. But in the end, Trump can only try to find common ground between them and suggest Zelensky backs down - it is up to Zelensky. One thing I think Trump might raise is that if Zelensky does not hold an election soon, then the USA will withdraw financial support because the People of Ukraine seem not to support the war continuing. Ukrainian Support for War Effort Collapses https://news.gallup.com/poll/693203/ukrainian-support-war-effort-collapses.aspx Most Ukrainians now favor ending the war with Russia through negotiations, as support for fighting until victory has dropped sharply since the early days of the conflict. https://responsiblestatecraft.org/ukrainians-ready-to-end-war/ A new Gallup study indicates that most Ukrainians want the war with Russia to end. After more than two years of fighting, 52% of those polled indicated that they would prefer a negotiated peace rather than continuing to fight. Of the majority who supported a negotiated end, 52% agreed that “Ukraine should be open to making some territorial concessions as a part of a peace deal to end the war.” The hardliners in Ukraine (call them what you will) want the war to continue until all lands, including Crimea, are returned to Ukraine. That will never change as they are strongly vested in the status quo having bet their country's future on EU and NATO supporting them to victory. While support inside Ukraine was strong for the hard line approach when the war started, the majority are now accepting the reality of what the war has done to the country, and the current state of the conflict which is getting worse for them, and the decreasing EU/NATO support. Winter is here in Europe and the time has come for Zelensky to do what is right for his People, before things get much worse. Russia is getting stronger and as shown by the recent backflip by EU after announcing they were going to take all the interest earned from the ceased Russian Assets in Europe (after Russia said if they did that, they would seize all European assets in Russia), the EU support is dwindling and they are running out of money. If the end game peace plan was acceptable to Russia, then they would probably be OK with the ceased interest being used to rebuild Western Ukraine.

YES YES Within Reason - like killing Islamic Terrorists that have been killing Christians for years in Nigeria, and which the UN etc have done nothing about - nor can they do anything anyway. IMO when a majority of the new UN (current G20) - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, UK and USA - agree on a course of action, then that is it and that is what happens. USA, China, Russia, India, Japan and Germany being permanent members and having Veto powers - UK and France no longer having Veto. Illegals have been arriving in civilised western countries in the millions (especially Europe) for decades - and claiming to be 'refugees' in order to gain social welfare benefits under UN rules/laws. For a lot of them they plan over time build up their numbers and create an enclave of their own religion/culture - with their ultimate end game being to take over the whole country if possible - city by city. They have been using all the legal means under the various UN Conventions and Treaties, and the legal systems in those civilised western countries, to achieve those short and long goals. There is no viable solution to that and all the wrongs being committed, except by using force like in Nigeria, and withdrawing from the UN thereby cancelling all Refugee legal obligations under Treaties and Conventions. Slowly but surely, the People of the western civilised countries are rebelling against what has been happening and against the woke left wing politicians who have been doing SFA about it and encouraging it - because when granted ID/residency they will vote left wing. But first the People needed to see and accept that there is a problem - and In Australia the 'switch' has been hit big time ever since the Bondi massacre by Islamic Terrorists. Trump is leading the way in politics - Americans first and screw the rest of the World - exactly as you said. All western countries are moving in that direction - the pendulum has been turning since Brexit and Trump being elected in 2016. The 'rebounds' that have occurred (Biden, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ etc) have only proven to the People that woke liberal left wing Governments are a disaster and must be thrown out forever. Right wing nationalism and patriotism is making a comeback big time - because the alternative (we all become 3rd world) is unacceptable to civilised people who want to keep their cultures intact and their societies stable. Over time left wing politicians will reset and become more middle ground - but only after they dump their radical fanatical nutters and socialists.

Actually I prefer Vance and McClain - and then Lisa McClain becomes the first women POTUS - that would drive the woke liberals even more insane than they already are about Trump beating two of their women. Lets face it - given that the Dems could not win with a woman twice, and with all the illegals removed and no more coming, and the crack-downs happening with the corrupted voting systems, the chances of Dems winning for many years is remote.

And 3 woke liberals think that comment is funny? Delusional or deranged or both?

WTF are you doing?? Got a computer with your own data network or a phone with data? Do you have a Thai bank account - then get one - not Bangkok Bank. Then get a Wise or OFX account and they transfer the money from your home bank account into your Thai bank account - done in under 15 minutes with Kasikorn or Krungsri. Then go to an ATM and withdraw the money - ONLY use one in a Mall or Makro - never one that is outside (like a 7/11).

Trump doing something about what the rest of the World ignores - Muslims murdering Christians. Thank God.

Government announces 19 new West Bank settlements and legalized outposts | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-announces-19-new-west-bank-settlements-and-legalized-outposts/ Read above link if you want to hear Israel's side of the 'argument' - I figure most here will just carry on the way they are after being 'stirred' up by an Israel hit-piece article from that bastian of left wing liberalism - The Guardian. 11 new settlements to be built, 8 outposts and neighborhoods recognized as settlements, including two evacuated in 2005; Smotrich says move aims to thwart Palestinian state Following the Gaza War and the continued refusal by the Palestinians to renounce their stated aim to destroy Israel and kill/remove all Jews, Israel has taken these measures to protect themselves. 8 of the settlements were previously in place for decades - they were a part of the Treaty Israel signed when withdrawing from Gaza and The West Bank in 2006. That Treaty has been officially rescinded by Israel following the declaration of War against Hamas and the Gaza Invasion. Israel will never again accept any Treaty or Agreement with Palestinians or any other terrorist organisation that places themselves or their People at any greater risk of future terrorists attacks by Palestinian Terrorists. They cannot stop them all, but they can keep the 'dogs at bay' by re-enforcing their defensive situation.

With a bit of luck the UN will proceed with all their legal 'remedy' against USA and that will result in Trump withdrawing the USA from the UN - the best thing that could happen to the world. The UN will collapse without US funding and that would be the best thing for us all. The UN can then be replaced with a cooperative of the top 20 Nations, as a means of keeping the diplomatic channels open to try and reduce conflicts, and for trade and other matters to be negotiated and discussed. The UN has become it own 'regulatory authority' and is imposing its rules and laws upon member States on a far greater level than was agreed when the UN was formed after WW2 to replace the League of Nations. Same Same for EU and NATO. The USA is not obliged to 'save' the World from itself using USA Taxpayers money via unelected and unaccountable organisations - it all needs to stop. The UN has not stopped any wars since WW2 - they have not fulfilled their purpose as an independent arbitrator to negotiate and remediate any conflicts - the Ukraine War proves that. What has stopped any large scale wars is MAD - Mutually Assured Destruction - not the UN. They are as useless as the Vatican who are also a self-serving organisation that preaches BS and practices exactly the opposite. The Pope has called for 'walls to be removed' and yet the Vatican is surrounded by a heavily guarded wall. They are all BS and a waste of people's money - the sooner they are all removed the better.

False analogy. In 1980s the Baht was pegged to the value of the USD. The big thing right now has been the Baht increase since 2015 when the Junta took over, has badly affected the economy - particularly exports and tourism. Many factors, but the most recent one (last 3-4 years) has been the massive increase in the value of gold (Thailand is one of the world's biggest gold traders) and the fact that the BOT/Govt continued to allow the trade to be made in Baht (not USD) and a large amount of the gold trade is unreported (encouraging money laundering?).

Hate Trump much? On 31 December 2003 the USD was 0.883383 Euro. As of today the USD - EURO is 0.886368. The Euro is the second most traded currency - after the USD. The USD goes up and down over the decades - it is a natural thing resulting from many causes. The USD was too high under Biden which badly affected exports and the costs of expensive imports like Oil and Gas/LPG. Historical exchange rates - OFX

Yep - seen those myself. It reminded me of India where there is an Indian cricketer on nearly every poster - and they have a lot in that country. Good luck to her - the looks will only last so long - make hay while the sun shines.

I met one recently at a medical place in KK - walked in with his obviously 'ex-professional' wife. When she went inside for treatment, he tried to talk to me with the mask on - I said I could not hear him - probably due to the mask. He would not take it off, so the conversation finished - thank you God.

Yes - unless he is assassinated by one of the violent woke liberal nutters.