rott

Folk Guitar I find your last 2 sentences interesting, having heard variations on the theme before.

The adherents of the organisation you mention tend to deny it however.

(some others say the statues were just renamed). 

Any source you can mention or recommend.? 

3 hours ago, Walker88 said:

I'm not so sure there isn't a worldwide banking crisis at the moment, and Thailand certainly has one of its own. (The EU also does....a matter for another article, but suffice it to say a banking system 3 times GDP, and a Sword of Damocles resulting from the way Draghi 'solved' the debt crisis gives me the willies).

 

That number "31.5%" related to folks who have defaulted on payments is astonishing. The ease of getting credit is also why about 1 in 15 cars on the road are Mercs.

 

I've looked over the numbers, and while this article is about households, the corporate sector in Thailand added debt well in excess of GDP growth since 2010, which says the 'Boom' in Thailand was just a debt-fueled bubble.

 

Then along came Covid. There are long periods of 'debt moratorium', so banks did not have to note NPLs. Banks also were given the option of recording 'imputed interest', which means they could run debt payments through the income statement even if borrowers didn't actually pay. Thus, bank profits are likely bogus.

 

I read an article sometime ago that a new law allows banks to buy asset management and debt restructuring companies, which is really just a way for banks to move bad debt off the parent's books on to these new entities, which likely will not have to be consolidated.

 

All of this should give one pause. It also suggests why suddenly the authorities are so anxious to restart tourism, Covid be damned. There is likely not sufficient domestic demand capability to create the growth needed to service existing debt, so the only alternative is to attract capital from outside. Tourism is one source, so now the powers that be are anxious to get that back on track.

 

As I noted at the start, Thailand is not along in facing a looming debt crisis, as easy credit and Covid have hit just about every country. putin's war of aggression isn't going to help matters.

 

Batten down the hatches.

 

Remind me how did Draghi "solve* the debt problem.? 

On 4/29/2022 at 7:09 PM, billd766 said:

Now if you can produce you medical training certificates in immunology and airborne diseases I might believe you.

 

Tell that to my 17 year old son and my 14 year old neighbours daughter then. They have just come out of 12 days self isolation after getting Covid.

 

They are not the only ones up here in rural Thailand who have caught it recently and most of those people are also self isolating.

 

So for your information, Covid is not finished yet.

 

 

And my FIL, the 4 people in the house at the back and the one who couldn't go for a drink the other night cause he's copped for it.

I like to think that we've seen the worst of it, but I've thought that before. 

No help to you bill but for 4 days I can receive or send nothing on messenger.

Moderate pain only. 

On 3/14/2022 at 4:54 PM, Guderian said:

I finally found a booze wholesaler selling SM Zero by the case. Not cheap at 960 Baht a box, in fact more pricy than either of the "premium" beers, San Mig Light or Heineken. That works out a 40 Baht a bottle, so it's still cheaper buying it at the 7-eleven (38 Baht), but they don't usually sell it by the case. I saw it in Big C at 41 Baht a bottle, and also in a mom & pop shop in Jomtien at 42 Baht. Hopefully, as it becomes a bit more mainstream, it might be sold a bit more cheaply by the wholesalers.

 

 

If it is of interest I understand there are a number of BKK bars stocking SMZ, Chequers Soi 4, Sportsman Soi 13 and the Robin Hood by Phrom Pong BTS.

What prices they will be charging is another matter, I should find out late in May. 

The Memorial were doing Pfizer a few weeks ago. 

20 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

Silly question but is it a good time to transfer money into thailand

 

If you're transferring 268 USD like another poster, does it really make a difference.? 

On 4/18/2022 at 10:10 AM, Gottfrid said:

What´s with the silly last info? I have been drinking over a 1 000 beer in 2 years. Still don´t kill people. 

1,000 beers in 2 years.? 10 a week.?

10 small bottles a week should not turn anyone into a killer, nor 10 large ones come to that. 

1 hour ago, Andrew65 said:

Actual temperature 36C, "Real Feel" 43C????

4 or 5 years ago the actual  temperature was 43, what was the real feel then.? 

But the 43 then didn't bother me as much as the 37 or whatever does now.

Possibly I ve crossed the line from old git to......... Whatever. 

I had some the other day and it was very nice.

But I keep reading that it is bad for you. Or it can be. 

49 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Its a renting short term issue.Even 200 bht nite= 6000 month++, Tons of good condos around for less but leases required.

Not splitting hairs, but in the interests of uplifting  conversation I would query there are "tons of good condos" for less than 6,000 a month in Pattaya. In the depths of the Covid days you could get someone down to that but I doubt that "good" and "tons of them" apply much. Would also depend on your definition of room and condo

200 a night would be pretty much the bottom of the pile,I wonder if the monthly, discounted rate would apply.

I see scuba has already made a liar of me, ???? but Unixx is a bit out of town and that rate at the base won't last too long. 

On 4/22/2022 at 5:18 AM, bangkok19 said:

Thanks...   I rang that number and a lady (in well spoken English) told me NONE of the original P.P. staff were working there.

Half a dozen of the staff that were working at the original Patpong premises had been working there for over 20 years...  and one of them (Eet), for over 30 years.

Because I was seeing mostly the same staff every time I visited, I took the joint for granted.. never bothering to get any of their LINE I.D.'s.  I'd sometimes ring them of an evening 10 minutes out to pre order my Pizza.

Back in the 80's, when Patpong was THE most popular "entertainment" strip in BKK the Madrid was buzzing. The shelves were overflowing with half bottles of Mekhong Whiskey with the (owners) customer's name on it. Standing room only. Several of the regulars from the Texxan (Washington Sq) who were known CIA identities (to the regulars) told their stories to a select few. "Standing Pat" aka Pat Landry never used to sit down (hence the nickname)..  was high up in the CIA intelligencia and has featured in a couple of books that are Vietnam/Laos conflict related.

 

To think that the Madrid, with so much history had survived so many changes to that famous road would end 'just like that'. It witnessed most of the single shophouses being gutted and extended, the closure to vehicular traffic and the settling-in of the Patpong Markets.

Hopefully some of the displaced staff are working nearby so I can catch up and share some memories.

Methinks that the Crown Royale in PP2 would be the perfect fit..  I must check it out next visit!    

I have been in the Crown Royal a number of times, but not for a few months now. Still a lovely old bar, but lacking customers. Don't know how they survive. The Crystal Palace and a couple of others opposite are still going as is The Old Other Office in the next Soi.

Not many customers in any of them. 

Yes, desperately sad about the Madrid, with that and Jools gone, Bangers ain't the same.

I know you said Lumpini and Silom but Suk Soi 22 might be worth a try.

A bit calmer could be Soi 33/1 behind the Robin Hood.

On 4/22/2022 at 5:14 AM, Fairynuff said:

Vietnam is a country I love to visit, but a couple of weeks and I’m ready to leave. I know I could never live there. Nha Trang, pre Covid was an absolute nightmare with 3 major tourist groups, Chinese, Russian and Korean. The noise  levels were off the scale and the general standard of behaviour was appalling. It didn’t stop me going because I have a favourite hotel and some good food.

Thailand has been getting more difficult as long as I’ve visiting and mow living, but for me it’s still home for the foreseeable future.

How many years since you were there F.?

I think it is 8 years for me and I don't remember any of that, obviously I was there before the foreigner invasion. 

12 hours ago, Nkpjed said:

As I stated in my post, it is pronounced that way by many Thais. But that doesn’t change the fact that the word has an “r” sound and not an “l” (the Thai word is “ฝรั่ง” not “ฝลั่ง”). So if you’re going to transliterate it, you should do it correctly.

No I will pronounce it the same way I heard everybody pronounce it 25 years ago. (here, Pattaya and Bangkok) 

However I will make a point of advising all non-conforming Thais that they'd better start shaping up or else.

Even more annoying than your pronunciation is "ferrang". 

15 minutes ago, Nkpjed said:

I’m offended that you can’t transliterate the word properly. It’s farang (ฝรั่ง) with an “r” sound not an “l”. Do some Thais pronounce it that way. Yes. Mainly in Isaan where you have a mixture of Thai and Laos languages (Laos dropped the “r” sound from their alphabet about 50 years ago so many times they substitute “l” for “r”). I’m assuming you were not born and raised in isaan, so why do you insist on this wrong transliteration? You even have it wrong in your username. If you’re going to use the word then at the very least use it correctly.

We must find other ways to offend him.

I wonder if he's a 

13 minutes ago, Nkpjed said:

I’m offended that you can’t transliterate the word properly. It’s farang (ฝรั่ง) with an “r” sound not an “l”. Do some Thais pronounce it that way. Yes. Mainly in Isaan where you have a mixture of Thai and Laos languages (Laos dropped the “r” sound from their alphabet about 50 years ago so many times they substitute “l” for “r”). I’m assuming you were not born and raised in isaan, so why do you insist on this wrong transliteration? You even have it wrong in your username. If you’re going to use the word then at the very least use it correctly.

In my part of the central plain it is pronounced falang. 

41 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Of course it is offensive. 

 

Weegie isn't. 

Warlocks

9 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Or sh-t hole to give it its proper name.

Really.? All of it.?

Including all the hotels and restaurants, the good properties, all the dark side.?

I never realised, but you obviously know all about it. 

1 minute ago, Neeranam said:

Cockney rhyhming slang is offensive? Are you a  Dental flosser or a merchant banker? 

You are the one who said sweaty sock is offensive.

Now answer re weegee. 

2 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

The Thai word for guava is "farang". I'm afraid you have been misinformed.

Some places pronounce it as an R, others as an L. 

10 hours ago, Neeranam said:

When using 'farang', Thais use  'mun'(it).  They never say 'khon farang' but do with Asians, ie khon Jeen or Khon Yeepun

Nero (hope you excuse the familiarity) is that pronounced man or mun.? 

Or other.? 

10 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Now that's offensive. 

No it's just rhyming slang.

What about weegee. Never seen it written down hope that's correct. 

48 minutes ago, lungbing said:

It would make me smile if he pronounced it "ferlung"

Many of the know-nothings do, the ones who speak of PatTAYa  or PattEYEa.