RMK54

Wait a minute. I have traveled around the world and have gone on many excursions where I've paid to watch artisans carve wood, create pottery, and show their abilities to create various items for sale. What I see here is something very similar, except, I can sit and have some coffee. If the individuals on the other side of the glass are getting paid for their efforts, how is this any different from these other locations I've visited? Anyone upset about this is truly virtue signaling. Go ask if those individuals if they care ... probably not!

We have always held hands throughout our marriage. As we've gotten older, although still a sign of endearment for each other, it has also become a method of joint stability, literally! We won't consume the walkways, and break apart when needed, but we're together most any other time. People will just have to sneer at us!

We cruised with Holland America on the Westerdam, we docked at the shipping port Laem Chabang. It is close to Pattaya City; however, if many of the other excursions go north to areas around Bangkok. We did two going north and the bus rides were VERY LONG. A good portion of the routes from that area are not highway. The portion that is highway was bumper to bumper. The ride to and from the sites consumed a good portion of the day. The reason we went north instead of south was that there seemed to be more tourist related things associated to Thailand than a beach with bars would offer. I'm not disparaging that area, I'm just stating my observations as a cruiser being in port for a short time. Stating this, I am applying for a LTR Visa to move to Thailand because we saw there was opportunity for another chapter in life!

So, I did a little language research and the word Farang comes from the word "Frank" used to refer to "Europeans" vis-à-vis "Westerner"(stems from Persian and Greek). Okay, so what! I am a Westerner, born and raised; therefore, I am a Farang. I was in the Navy for a long time, called many things by my friends and those not my friends, it didn't stop me in anything I did in life. So, this guy should get over it and be thankful the Thai people have invited them to THEIR country and they haven't called him anything worse. If he doesn't like it ... Go Home! This Farang will not call anyone anything but friend and offer them a smile.

We're coming (pun) to Thailand, this not on our bucket list!

The food better be very good to make this an issue.

My wife and I are “Westerners”, we are actually coming to Thailand to escape the “Opinion Police”. We live in an area of North Carolina where retirees from the NE USA and W USA left and brought the issues they were escaping from. We loved it when we came here years ago because it was so laid back. I hope we’re not moving from one problem to another. We have lived many places and have learned “While in Rome, do as the Romans do”, we plan to acclimate and let others live their life.

I’m a believer that most dogs are as good as they are treated. However, Pit Bulls have too many strikes against them that eliminates this premise. My wife and I have had an encounter with two loose Pit Bulls that attacked our leashed dog. I don’t have animosity towards the breed, but believe the risks of ownership overshadows the rewards.