MickGC

Personally, I don't mind negotiating a fare beforehand. Was always so here before the arrival of the meters. A fare to downtown Sukhumvhit is about £8 or $13. Just spent $100 (Bt3000) for a taxi ride to the airport back home, over a similar distance, to catch a flight to Swampy. About 7 times the price. Some of you guys on TV really are kineaw's

Base your comments - and your calculations - in the context of expenditure in Thailand, will you please? Stop all this 'it is like this back home' nonsense. This is Thailand. Not many people here will give two hoots about how much you paid to go to the airport 'where you came from'. People here will be more concerned about how much they pay HERE, and that is going up because of tunnel-visioned and selfish people like you who only see things from your own perspective and have no regards for the bigger picture. As I said before, feel free to remain in the 'dumb farang' category and enjoy being ripped off, scammed and cheated. But don't expect the rest of the world to join you in redefining the word 'clueless'.

Are you Thai! Do you earn the average wage of Bt 6000 a month. Thats about what the Taxi driver earns if he's lucky. Always tip the poor buggers if they are friendly. And you have the hide to call me selfish. LOL ! Get a life.

Personally, I don't mind negotiating a fare beforehand. Was always so here before the arrival of the meters. A fare to downtown Sukhumvhit is about £8 or $13. Just spent $100 (Bt3000) for a taxi ride to the airport back home, over a similar distance, to catch a flight to Swampy. About 7 times the price. Some of you guys on TV really are kineaw's

Personally I don't mind if when you arrived at the airport it was mandatory to have "TOURIST" stamped right on your forehead so all the taxi drivers knew it was ok to break the law and rip you off.

Me - living here - with all my thai friends - well, we'll just enjoy laughing at you all the more.

Get a life. I hope next time you land at wherever you live they charge you 1000usd for your taxi ride.

FYI I've been living here for 25 years. Went back home for a 2 week holiday. Not a "Tourist" as you quote. Grow up son. The truth hurts sometimes.

Perhaps Thaksin's strategy is to give the Junta 'sufficient rope to hang themselves'.

Definition ". to allow someone to accomplish their own downfall by their own foolish acts"

I have been saying this almost since the coup occured. It is true of most governments, and will be inevitable with the Junta. Thaksin and the red shirts just need to bide their time, Fair elections will see their party re elected, without any doubt.

But Thaksin is not involved in politics, he has said so many times!

He has stated that he's not interested in being PM again and wants to spend time with his family. Don't you believe him?

Insert present leaders name into the second word of your post. Same, same. Different day. Open both your eyes.

Hey rubl. You do realise it's a one sided argument here at the moment. You can say anything you like to protest the activities of the previous administration. Not so for those that disagree with you. That's about as much as I want to say as I live here. Social media is being constantly being monitored by the new regime but don't you worry. You are in the good books.

To quote JFK before he was assassinated “Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed and no republic can survive.”

go to DDproperty listings http://www.ddproperty.com/en/ and type in Chaiyaphum. A great site that usually gives you some idea of the local property prices.

Pop into our village in Surin (Amphur Sangkha) and see what the locals ( (90% of whom are farmers) think of Thaksin and his mates, indeed that little Thaksin clique is about as popular as a pork butchers shop would be in Mecca at Ramadan.

Thaksin has two problems, megalomania and breathing.

I was up country during protests in Bangkok and saw with my own eyes, Thai men being paid to board a bus to Bangkok and protest. Its amazing how a few hundred baht can change people's mind when it comes to politics.

Thaksin knows Thailand is going to have a rough year, both economically and politically so this sounds to me like a snide remark saying let's just sit back and watch Rome burn.

Which protest are you talking about? The most recent one or the one before that etc. etc? Is a fact both sides of politics pay for protesters to assemble in BKK. One sides stooges come from the south, the other sides stooges come from the north. Is how it is here. You would have to be completely one eyed to believe otherwise. Is the same with elections. Both sides pay for votes but the voters always choose who the want at the ballot box. Has been discussed and pulled to pieces on this forum numerous times over the years. Many links to articles are available with a quick internet search, most concluding both sides of politics are just as guilty as each other.

That's true to an extent BUT I know on the last bit of chaos a lot of the yellow/ anti Thaksin supporters were from middle class homes in and around BKK. The money being given was real, from real people who are just pissed off with it all!

That's true. But they are in their home town and can go back every night to a good meal and a comfortable bed. Most of the protesters from outside Bangkok don't have that option. They are mostly from a lower social economic level and generally depend on handouts from the political party they are supporting. This goes for both sides of politics be it red or yellow.

Personally, I don't mind negotiating a fare beforehand. Was always so here before the arrival of the meters. A fare to downtown Sukhumvhit is about £8 or $13. Just spent $100 (Bt3000) for a taxi ride to the airport back home, over a similar distance, to catch a flight to Swampy. About 7 times the price. Some of you guys on TV really are kineaw's

Pop into our village in Surin (Amphur Sangkha) and see what the locals ( (90% of whom are farmers) think of Thaksin and his mates, indeed that little Thaksin clique is about as popular as a pork butchers shop would be in Mecca at Ramadan.

Thaksin has two problems, megalomania and breathing.

I was up country during protests in Bangkok and saw with my own eyes, Thai men being paid to board a bus to Bangkok and protest. Its amazing how a few hundred baht can change people's mind when it comes to politics.

Thaksin knows Thailand is going to have a rough year, both economically and politically so this sounds to me like a snide remark saying let's just sit back and watch Rome burn.

Which protest are you talking about? The most recent one or the one before that etc. etc? Is a fact both sides of politics pay for protesters to assemble in BKK. One sides stooges come from the south, the other sides stooges come from the north. Is how it is here. You would have to be completely one eyed to believe otherwise. Is the same with elections. Both sides pay for votes but the voters always choose who the want at the ballot box. Has been discussed and pulled to pieces on this forum numerous times over the years. Many links to articles are available with a quick internet search, most concluding both sides of politics are just as guilty as each other.

Amazing how the very well informed , but low count posters suddenly appear when there is an opportunity to attack in the manner of a pack of sharks,,

Welcome back FAB4, Moonao, richteacher et al.

I don't see any of the above mentioned members in any of the reply's. Maybe you were referring to another topic?

That works out to 461 complaints being solved each day if you were to include weekends and public holidays. Remove those and you would be up around the 530 figure. Pretty good going for a newly created government department.

I have always driven bare footed both here and back home. I'm talking about longer trips and not the short daily commute to work. Gives you a much greater sense of feel/control through the pedals. Guessing most of the negative comments are coming from the guys on here who come from the cooler parts of the planet.

What a pack of fools these anti-everything's are they don't have the faintest idea what they are writing about.

They don't even seem to know that China is now Thailands top export destination :

Top 5 Export destinations of Thailand China (14%), Japan (10%), United States (9.7%), Indonesia (5.2%), andMalaysia (5.0%)

http://atlas.media.mit.edu/profile/country/tha/

This can only grow with new rice and rubber deals and a rail network that can get perishable agricultural produce quickly to a huge population.

It will mean that farmers in Issan can actually grow specific products that are in demand and fetch high prices in China.

There will be other benefits such as SME's setting up businesses along the route to target export markets in China as well as having easy access to markets farther south.

This line will also pass through Lao to Vietnam which is No 8 export destination and will eventually connect through to Malaysia, No 4 on the export list and Singapore No 5.

Consider that all this has been set up by the present Govt , how many weeks has it been in place ?

Tell us what was done by the previous administration....yackity yak bring Thaksin back.

I think you will find most of the planning was done by the previous government. A preferred route had been chosen and funding was coming online. You may recall they had other things to worry about for the last 12 months or so of their administration not the least beening a hostile senate (no funding approval) and riots on the streets.

The Abhisit government also did some work on the train routes from Nong Khai to Bangkok, Bangkok to Rayong and Bangkok to Pedang Besar. The PTP government shifted the focus to a Bangkok to Chiang Mai line as the first in the queue.

I would not dispute that. Those routes were further developed by the following governments and would assume they are being further developed now. Lets just hope it finally gets up and running ASAP as it will be a great asset for Thailand. Have a good map of the Nong Khai route. Have tried uploading here without success. Tried 3 different browsers, pdf and jpg. Both files less than 80mb.

What a pack of fools these anti-everything's are they don't have the faintest idea what they are writing about.

They don't even seem to know that China is now Thailands top export destination :

Top 5 Export destinations of Thailand China (14%), Japan (10%), United States (9.7%), Indonesia (5.2%), andMalaysia (5.0%)

http://atlas.media.mit.edu/profile/country/tha/

This can only grow with new rice and rubber deals and a rail network that can get perishable agricultural produce quickly to a huge population.

It will mean that farmers in Issan can actually grow specific products that are in demand and fetch high prices in China.

There will be other benefits such as SME's setting up businesses along the route to target export markets in China as well as having easy access to markets farther south.

This line will also pass through Lao to Vietnam which is No 8 export destination and will eventually connect through to Malaysia, No 4 on the export list and Singapore No 5.

Consider that all this has been set up by the present Govt , how many weeks has it been in place ?

Tell us what was done by the previous administration....yackity yak bring Thaksin back.

I think you will find most of the planning was done by the previous government. A preferred route had been chosen and funding was coming online. You may recall they had other things to worry about for the last 12 months or so of their administration not the least beening a hostile senate (no funding approval) and riots on the streets.

We are flying to Australia , and Thai came in the cheapest .For 2 of us we got a return ticket for 52000 baht. This was cheaper than Jet star and Qantas. With Jet star you have to think about all the extra's they put on .Qantas only flies to Sydney then you have to get a domestic flight to Melbourne

A very one off price, Do you or wifey work for Thai. I think you are one of two posters that are happy---fine stick with them.

Make that 3. Me and the missus just flew to Brisbane return. Bt56000 all up. Was the only direct flight available and was cheaper than all the other airlines. Plane half empty so plenty of room to stretch the legs. Good friendly service with reasonably good food and plenty of refreshments. Will stick with them.

Don't worry too much about using local currency. They prefer Thai Baht but give change in Kip. There is a good duty free shop 200m away on the right hand side as you exit Laos immigration. Is a scramble to get on the bus so don't be shy to push your way on. Otherwise you will get left behind. Enjoy.

Jesus who would want to live in Australia? NZ is cheaper and the people far nicer. My sister lived in Bundaberg, visited once never again, horrible, expensive and as dull as ditch water. Worked with a bloke in the UK in 1970 who had just come back from OZ. They did the 10 quid assisted passage I think, anyway on the way from the dock to where they were staying his mrs decided she did not like it so they came straight back, probably right.

They were called 10 Pound Poms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Pound_Poms 25% went back home. 75% stayed. Many could not put up with the heat, insects, snakes, food, culture etc. Sound like Thailand? Probably more return from here when you factor in all the broken hearts and loss of retirement funds caused by their Thai lady loves. At least in Australia the government and other agencies will supply the necessary assistance to get you back on your feet to have another go. If you are willing of course. By the way, most of my mates are Poms

I see there's still the cheerleading Farang group who actually think Thais give a frak about what their opinions are but feel the need to denounce everything and play the fools game thinking their in with the In crowd and Junta!!

There's not a chance there will be elections next October and the suppression of peoples speach isn't going to last forever either but keep the heads buried in the sand at your own peril!!

Its not about us its what we think we like in the country, and i prefer the Junta over the PTP. The Thais don't care much about us so what does not have anything to do with this topic.

If there are no free elections so be it.. that means no PTP so that is a good thing for most of the foreigners here.

I get my amusement watching the red cheerleaders get real red from excitement and pent up anger, the whole coup was worth it for sure. Its great to see this its like live amusement.

You really do come across as a right wing redneck sometimes. "If there are no free elections so be it" So you are happy to disregard all the battles your forefathers fought back home to achieve democracy etc. Is why you can live comfortably in this country on your pension.

A great asset for Thailand and the N/E in particular, despite the predictable negative comments on here. Is also designed to accommodate the Moto GP. A job well done by all involved. http://www.bric.co.th/home/default.aspx

I think everyone, excluding myself of course, is missing the point which is that farmers, and only farmers, provide food and no politicians/monks/naysayers can deny that so : The primary function of an Agriculture Ministry is to help the farmers produce needed edibles more effectively and competitively. The most efficient way to do this, considering the rice/sugar glut is to rotate crops and the easiest to grow, requiring 1/10 the water that rice does is POTATOES !

They are less fattening/more nutritional/require little tending and after 2 or 3 seasons actually, ( fact), improve the soil. They have multiple menu uses, baked/boiled/fried/browned, can be stored indefinitely and bugs don't like them. Rice is ... well, just rice !

Not too many potato based dishes up here in my neck of the woods. Don't think the locals will be substituting spuds for rice anytime soon. How much rice do you see in an Irish stew? Appreciate your input though.

A bit of a dreamer that chap. Maybe he should start with raising the salary levels of the lower ranks, sack a few more top level government bureaucrats and select one out of every 100 middle level bureaucrats and shoot them just to encourage the others.

Apart from that I'm not sure how to improve either effectiveness or perception of Thai bureaucracy and bureaucrats.

The selection committee should look at F/book accounts. Anybody displaying a photo of themselves with Thaksin's arm around their shoulder should go on the list immediately.

You just can't help yourself can you. Blame Mr T for all Thailand's problems you do. Was here before he was democratically elected as PM and the civil service was no better then than it is now.

For science and mathmatics the rest of the universe outside of the USA uses the metric system. Everything divided or multiplied by 10. Future use of imperial units are a 1000/1 losing bet. Maybe last another 1 or 2 generations.

http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/metric/si-familiar.cfm