asiacafe

Just about every market I know of in the world has special pricing for locals at various establishments such as hotels, restaurants, museums, etc.  There are often ways for locals to participate in discounts and/or special offers that "foreigners" or out-of-state persons cannot access or are unaware of how to qualify. In Hawaii it's call kamaaina rates where locals (and sometimes those that know locals) get special 'local' rates at hotels and other places. In New York, locals "pay what they wish" (including $0) to enter various museums (including the MET) whereas non-New Yorkers must pay the list rates.  In Thailand they had Staycation rates during Covid which worked well for the hotels, filled some rooms and kept staff trained while earning some income for the hotels. Of course Thailand hotels might see the need to offer discounted rates to get locals to fill up the extra rooms that tourists aren't taking...rooms that locals probably don't really need as they live nearby or have friends to stay with or are saving up to spend on foreign vacations where they will be paying higher rates at those hotels than the locals are.

I'm confused - is it 18+3 countries excluded from VoA? They mentioned 18 countries (Bulgaria, Bhutan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and “China (including Taiwan) but in the previous paragraph they mentioned 3 more...Italy, SK and HK. 

How many is it? Are the last 3 not really excluded?

Of the few people I have spoken to, there seems strong belief that the red shirts faction carried this out.

What is omitted in the story is the date, the location, the timing, the intended target and secondary target, and the history of red shirts using bombs to intimidate people. The date is 1 day from the 2010 clash between red shirts and government troops, at the same location.

So what if the bomb was bigger than before? The point is its a bomb. its the same M.O.

There was a bombing of a market in Chachoengsao on April 19th last year and police found 1,900 ping pong bombs following the bombing. Ask yourselves this question. How many people can be killed with 1,900 ping pong bombs? I suggest more than 20.

As for the fact that a Thai person didn't do it, lets wait and see how that theory pans out.

Another factor is the timing in relation to the stripping of Thaksins rank.

Another factor omitted in the story is the obvious collateral damage, the Thai economy. Who else has a history of trying to destabilize the economy?

If they did it, why not admit it?, that's obvious too, its a terrific political blunder. I think this could be a final nail in the coffin of this movement if it can be proven.

While its important to remain even handed, its also important to consider all the facts.

"The expert said ..... been stuck on the bonnet ... and the victim's police badge on it."

So that's how you get one of those "badges" on the front of your car to get a better parking space and so people know better not to mess with you in traffic? I always wondered.

This is a "Hong Kong Lite" check-in service. In HK, one can check in for numerous airlines at the Central HK Airport Express train station, not just HK "flagship" airlines like Cathay Pacific, as Swampy is doing by only providing check-in for Thai and Bangkok Airways "initially". Let's see how long it takes them to establish check-in services for other airlines.

Still, better than what it is now. But if Thailand wants Swampy to be one of the world's top 10 airports.....hmmmmmmm....not quite ready for Prime Time just yet.

How late can you check in at HK? I think 3 hours is too early.

Three hours before check in is ridiculously early. My office is IN Makkasan area and I'll continue to take the smarter way which is drive myself or take a taxi and save at least a full hour of travel stress and travel time.