realfunster

35 minutes ago, Emdog said:

"Despite the current AQI reading at a moderate level of 28 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), it remains 1.12 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended level of 15 µg/m3." What hole do they pull these numbers from? Check right now for Bangkok is 153-184.

These morons worried about tourists, don't give a damn about the health impact on Thai people

Beat me to it ! Lord knows where/what they are talking about.....

51 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Need to read full article. First three paragraphs make it sound like the cop summarily executed the daughter's boyfriend, but there was an altercation immediately before the shooting, allegedly initiated by the boyfriend.

I have but I am still a bit confused.

The article seems to suggest Ann's father was there and his colleague shot the boyfriend when he charged with a knife.

The final paragraph then states that no connection was found between Ann and the man purporting to be her father.  Maybe the father sent some police minions to pick up his daughter ?

Anyway I suppose it will become clearer in due course...

2 hours ago, jonclark said:

Oddly though when exiting the UK (for UK nationals or foreigners) there is no immigration to go through - Airline counter Check-in, self scan boarding pass, security, done. 

Yep - that's the best way to remove the outbound issues...you could then move those IOs to working on the inbound queues as well....

On 1/23/2024 at 7:30 AM, webfact said:

Additionally, Torsak announced that the results of an investigation into the alleged misconduct of two police officers from the Aranyaprathet district police station have been forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The officers stand accused of coercing Panya Khongsaenkham into a false confession of the brutal murder of his mentally unstable wife, Buaphan Tansu, known locally as Pa Kob.

A secondary issue to the main story but don't let this gem slip by unnoticed.

They truly are a disgrace.

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Thanks. Looking into this. But I'd need a place that opens 8.30 in the morning. Guess, Starbucks won't open that early.

I think most Starbucks open at 6.30am.

2 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Big fans to blow it back ?

Is that you Plodprasop ?

Depression can give people irritability issues but this feels rather like it is another mental health condition.

Perhaps something lost in translation ?

It was a very pleasant drive to work today, I'd say about 20% of the usual traffic.

There's no need for everyone to rush back to Bangkok, please take a few extra days off with your family and come back to work next Monday 

I'd try following up a couple more times perhaps including a phone call as well as emails/letters (could possibly even engage a Lawyer to do this for you - with the implied threat that indicates) and explaining that you are considering going to the Labour Court unless the matter is resolved satisfactorily. Without knowing your specifics, the Labour Court is known to be fairly reasonable and generally supportive of employees.

However, the whole Labour Court process may well take some time (think months, possibly a year+) so a negotiated and relatively amicable agreement with your employers would be easier/quicker all round.

I had an interesting attempted scam in Mumbai, India, the cashier (small convenience store inside an international hotel) put my note on the counter and then attempted a quick switch of my note for a lower denomination when he thought I wasn't looking. Unfortunately for him, I did see the switch, got my full change and I reported him at hotel reception which was all of 20m away !

13 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

If you ever hand a cashier 1,000 baht note hold it up as you hand it to them and say clearly "One thousand baht" 

wait for them to confirm before letting go of it.

 Yep, good advice.

I take this as a further sign that the Thai economy is fundamentally struggling.

Srettha notes the unimpressive growth rate for the past 15 years, of course, not helped by all the political instability.

PT have tried the usual Plan A for the past 20 years of flogging the tourism horse, with limited success. Now the usual Plan B, some kind of cash injection into the economy.

I believe they are much wider systemic issues that need to be addressed if Thailand really wants to move forward from lower middle income levels.

But that would take some serious self-reflection and loosening of tight grips by vested interests.

I can’t say I am hopeful of either of those happening. 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

BANGKOK (NNT) - Airbus has set its sights on expanding its helicopter division in Thailand, expecting to tap into a growth potential of 20%. The anticipated increase in demand is largely due to the need for helicopters in disaster relief, search and rescue operations, and maritime security across Southeast Asia.

 

Rare indeed is the sound of choppers in Bangkok and when seen, they are usually military.

Kind of surprises me more wealthy people don't use them to commute in and around Bangkok.

There's certainly more than a few high-rise buildings around town with helipads that remain virtually unused.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

maritime security across Southeast Asia.

Don't go giving them ideas now...that's already covered with our top-of-the-range submarine. 

What a sad reflection of this group of "animal lovers"...money, money and money.

Formerly an industry of THB 1 billion = USD 30 million. Apparently, with "millions" working in the supply chain.

Pull the other one, it's got bells on 

18 hours ago, Dogmatix said:

Good point. Only 4% of Thailand's population pays income tax which starts at 25k per month after basic deductions. So Thailand has only a tiny middle class of probably around 1 or 2%.  You can't really be classified as middle class if you are too poor to pay income tax. Most of the population are poor and deeply indebted with household debt over 90% of GDP.  Then there is 1-2% who get by more or less OK. then there are about a million who well off and a fraction of those are mega wealthy.  I can't imagine that India has a better distribution of income.  So I would go for about 1-2% of them being middle class maybe earning US$5,000 a year plus.

Data on average earnings is always bit patchy but I found a source that indicated top 10% in India would be starting at THB 10k+ per month.

As is the way, I am sure there will be an exponential increase in wealth as you move up through this top 10 %.

India is a very low GDP per capita country, being around USD 2.5k, compared to Thailand/China USD 7-8k, Malaysia USD 13k, Vietnam USD 4k etc.

16 hours ago, El Matador said:

A bit surprised that Taiwan wasn't already on the list. They have a pretty good purchasing power.

On all normal criteria, you are correct.

I'm guessing they are aware of certain sensitivity around the Republic of China and didn't want to upset someone by offering the Taiwanese preferential visas....

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He cited the case of about 30,000 Thais working in Israel, saying that most of them don’t want to be repatriated, despite the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, because of the attractive pay and the fact that some Israeli employers have offered to double their wages.

FFS - he was saying 2 days ago that they were being coerced into staying there and started a spat with the Israeli ambassador or is it just that they have been offered pay hikes ?

Anyway - the overall tone of the article rings true, the Thai economy needs a re-invention if the country is going to progress.

Sad to see that the major brainwave from the new government so far (which has been repeated ad nauseam since 2000) is just to encourage more tourists.

Interesting that although tourism has grown rapidly from around 10m pax in 2000 to 40m pax in 2020, the overall average economic growth rate is only 1.8%.

Something needs to change  

Just now, keith101 said:

Most SME and laborer's dont and can't afford taking extra days off and is only favorable to office workers who get paid whether they are there or not 

Pretty sure vast majority of office workers won't get this extra day off either !

For those unfamiliar with such things, on a regular basis the Thai Government will make such announcements on "extra" public holidays.

Around 99% of the time this only applies to those entities under their direct control, being the public sector.