TIT

Hang on a minute. Aren't the IMF directly responsible for huge scale suffering in multiple countries around the World by pushing their US backed fiscal agenda on countries whose populations never wanted them and then once they have them on their knees they enforce severe loan deals on these countries and force them to sell of their National assets all in the name of capitalism??

As for this woman's comments on the Greeks a month or so ago. Yeah some points were fair but considering she doesn't pay a cent in tax herself and gets all sorts of amazing tax free perks it sounded a bit rich to me.

Am I correct in assuming this is still the Miracle Year of Amazing Thailand?

Thanks for your advice on this guys. We have decided to marry but she will keep her name. I'm really not bothered about her taking my name or being on her title deeds etc. I know we could get into the UK without even marrying but as we have already pretty much been married for 5 or 6 years its no biggy to make it legal for our kids. Thanks again

I'm surprised they haven't promised to do it within 99 days.

I wonder if it was the Son of a person with ultra-average-net worth whether this would even be reported 'news'. Rubbish

Hello,

I am a UK national living in Thailand and have been with my Thai girlfriend for the last 6 years and we are about to have our second child. We are considering possibly moving back to the UK in a year or so, so I have mentioned to her about it being better if we were married legally in that case as it will make it easy for her to get into the UK. She has quite a bit of land and property here in Thailand and is worried about the whole minefield of having to change all the papers/deeds/id's etc etc if she takes my name. Neither of us are too bothered about the whole name thing but we just want to know if anyone from the UK knows whether if we were to get legally married but she was to keep her Thai surname would she still be ok to get into the UK being married to me but without my family name?

If anyone has an light they can cast on this it would be most appreciatted.

Thanks

Yes, a resounding success. Well done to all concerned in the 'Zero Songkran Holiday Death' Campaign.

Amazing! Those marketing guys at TAT have really cracked the code with this one. With a slogan as good as this the tourists won't be able to resist coming to Thailand. Surely? Its a marketing miracle

Window dressing as usual. Even if there are good intentions behind this there is no way it will work as intended. As already stated it will just be another revenue stream for the boys in brown. Take the belching black smoke trucks, buses and pick ups that ply the roads of Thailand everywhere; they will be allowed to continue belching of course but may now find themselves having to pay a policeman for the luxury of not having to get their vehicle fixed and poisoning the air around them for everyone to enjoy. As for big business, they will just drop the police an extra bung and that'll do nicely. Obviously I have been here too long but I really think the chance of this working even a little bit is zero.

Usual poorly thought out and archaic approach taken by the people in power here. I have a 3 year old Son who I have looked after everyday of his life and neither me or his Thai Mum have ever felt the need to marry with all the nonsense that comes with it (many people think this way now days and Thai's often don't get legally married) as we have been happily together for 6 years now. Like other people have pointed out there is no regard to multiple possible scenarios that could occur that would leave a once married father now seen as no longer eligible for the visa (death of Mother, Divorce, etc.)

There will be a lot of suffering Thai kids because of this nonsense but then as they are Look Kruengs maybe that's their aim. They are scared of them becoming too many in this country. Why would they want a Thai kid here who is at least encouraged to think for themselves and to question authority (especially in this country). That is exactly what they do not want. It's such a shame that such a great country just goes backwards instead of forwards. The day is coming for me and my family when the negatives will out weight the once many positives of choosing to invest and stay in Thailand.

The Pearl of the Andaman.

This is Thailand and the present government won a fair election. What is being done is being decided by Thais and those of you who do not like it and/or the decisions being made should go back and put your own country to right. Obviously the Thai system is no good for you so why live in a country that you do not like when your country is obviously a paradise which was so good you had to get out and move elsewhere. As for me I accept that I am a guest here and happy with the system because it is the Thai way. When I become uncomfortable for whatever reason I will move on, maybe back to my own country. I respectfully suggest many of the posters have now reached this stage and should leave!

Most of us choose to live in Thailand because we love the country and like living here. That does not mean that we should not be allowed to comment on the crazy things that go on here. For you to say that if I don't like the corrupt puppet government I should leave is quite frankly stupid. These are only observations and opinions that are made as pretty much everyone on this forum have no political voting rights however if you were to have your way we would all say nothing and just comment about how nice the Thai system is and how sunny it is today.

The decree should read - "convicts who are male, at least 60 years old, have stolen no more than 100 Billion baht, been responsible for the deaths of no more than 10000 people, have crippled the country no more than twice and are sentenced to under three years in jail"

Hilarious and disgraceful. This is so Thai it's no surprise at all. Thailand is addicted to disasters and the over 60 year old person this is set up for is a disaster waiting to re-happen.

I'be been here a long time and heard some amazing things but this is defo up there in the top 10. Classic

Let me guess.......Government to 'crackdown' on foreigners yet again?

If only they used figures that were somewhere nearer reality then people wouldn't laugh at reports like this as much.

Many years ago some astute civil servant realized the British Royal Navy had more admirals than ships. I think at that point they decided to prune the tree.

At least 30 years too late in my opinion. I left in 1961 and there was a plethora of passed over Lieutenant Commanders then, the majority knowing that they would never get a sea going appointment again. Many were sheer dross, hanging on for their pension and doing Charles Laughton impersonations.

After I was discharged the RN started to modernise and on small ships Leading Seaman were posted as 2nd Officer of the Watch when at sea and men of the watch on deck no longer detailed off as being the seaboat's crew. The seaboat was a whaler propelled by muscle i.e. oars. Not all changes have been for the better. Officers and ratings drink together ashore now I understand. Unthinkable in my day. The notion of women going to sea would have caused a mutiny.

I left the RN in 1994 and one of the reasons was woman being allowed on ships. Total waste of time especially being as at times of War they were taken off the ships to be replaced by men. It was horrible seeing once tough Senior rates being reduced to numpties in front of these girls saying they couldn't do store ship as they had a headache or it was their time of the month. All it meant was more work for us.

There was no drinking ashore with ratings and officers in those days either but I believe according to a few lads I know who are still in, it's all gone to pot now. You can't shout at a junior rating for fear he will report you for abusing him!! They're also allowed to wear footwear of their choosing when going on cross country runs in basic training. Madness. They'll probably be allowed to choose if they want to fight or not when the time comes.............Not like it used to be! I must be knockin' on I guess

This proposed purchase is sorely needed in order to see off the clear and present threats posed by Cambodia and it's superbly equipped armed forces and of course not forgetting the Laotian Navy who's fleet of adapted fishing boats are now seen as a threat which can only be met by aircraft carriers and multiple submarines. I think its high time that the Thai Army also created a few more Generals to add to the thousands there are currently dealing with all the Wars they are involved in.

As said above, the timing just prior to parliament dissolving, means that it's probably just a way for the Army / Navy to sell it's votes to the current government.

Also if this government declines, and is ousted in the election, then they can submit the same proposal again to a new government, so they've got 2 opportunities to line their pockets.

Just another reason not to visit Phuket.

Been there once and refuse to go back the whole place is a rip off from the mafia tuk tuk drivers to the jet ski cons.

Phuket is becoming the joke of Thailand the sooner someone does something about it the better.

Don't worry TAT and the 'Government' will sort it.....................................................................................................................................................................

Phuket is probably the worst advertisement for Thai tourism followed closely by Pattaya. The tourist is seen as 'fair game' to be ripped off from the moment they land until the moment they get fleeced on their way back to the airport. I advise anyone I come into contact with holidaying here in Thailand to avoid it and go to places where the locals haven't largely become cynical and money hungry. As for these tuk tuk and taxi drivers they are little more than an organized crime network and it's funny that the other network in brown is brokering a deal for them. Why? because they make on the deal regardless.

Phuket the Pearl of the Andaman my arse

Land of the Free

I thought America would be encouraging violence. With their track record who are they to advise on anything like this.

I say dump LSD in the water bottling plants BKK.. then give it to all the REDS..

Now, that would be fun to watch on Thai TV...

Interesting idea. Sadly I think slightly more explosive items will end up being dumped on the red shirts in the near future.

I reckon we're heading for the inevitable nasty crackdown(s) followed by a Military Government yet again. It seems that this country isn't really ready for Democracy yet.

Sounds like all the evidence you need for a 'Crackdown'. I'd love to know how these guys go about their probing activities. Does anyone know the Thai word for 'Crackdown'?

This is one of the best 'Crackdowns' Ive ever heard about. Hilarious.

Same old same old. That airport is full of semi official looking con men who wear suits and have official looking badges. They are obviously permitted to be there by the AOT and yet they rip off tousits every day with extortionate 'limosiune' services and a whole host of other scams. A tourist arriving in Bangkok by air needs to be aware of the fact that they are targets. The Bristish embassy are as usual a disgrace. Useless in all aspects when deciding their priorities here in Thailand. As always they don't put their own citizens welfare very high on the list.

Thailand almost never has any good news coming out of it with regards to Tourism. It's a wonder they have any industry left at all. Whether it's scamming, murders (often called suicides), increased charges, worsening visa regulations, and other bad news beyond the fault of Thai people, it's almost never good.

In some ways it's a real shame as normal people here no doubt suffer as tourists go elsewhere and in other ways it's just the way it is. There should be no complaints from Thai people when these same tousists choose other less risky places to go and enjoy themelves.

"The term spirulina refers to a large number of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae". That wet your appetite?

Actually it is very nutrition rich but can hold heavy metals and with no checks being made I would be very hesitant to use any local produced product.

I agree, the Spirulina from Thailand is grown on a farm (in Lampang) thats quite close to major roads and as Spirulina is very absorbant to all things good and bad, I personally choose to avoid the product from there. You could be doing yourself more harm than good.

Its sad that the govrnment here choose to make it so costly to import superfoods into Thailand as they have no harmful affects and boost health (if grown properly). Instead they allow people to import very poor and often dangerous 'beauty' products that claim to help lose weight without exercising etc. These are the things that should be targeted and not the likes of Spirulina, wheatgrass etc.

Perhaps some of you have tried before, what I'm planning to try...

Across from where I live there's an 'electric scooter wholesaler' who, because of proximity of my living quarters, would sell me one. As i live fairly close to work, this is a very reasonable option. A (Thai) friend of mine claims that it's impossible to register these things with the authorities, making them illegal on Thai public roads...

Is my Thai friend right or wrong? What are - if any - the options of getting an electric scooter onto Thai roads?

On my way to work I have to pass one junction that is permanently occupied by police, so I won't risk it - it's cheaper to take a taxi, if you get my drift.

Hi,

Im looking to get a stand up electric scooter that I can take up to my room when Im not using it (as Iv already had a bike stolen in BKK before) and was wondering if you know if the wholesaler sells them or if not do you know of anywhere alse that does?

Ive seen the LA bicycle ones but there's just one stand up one from them, the rest are more like little motorbikes and I dont reckon it'd be long before it got nicked.

Any info is appreciated

Cheers T