Loquito

We all like free will and choices but there are times when one's choices are limited, for whatever reasons, so just make do like the rest of us. And if one NEEDS alcohol to be able to socialise then one should take a closer look at one's self rather than the ban.

sighhh another poster who is offering psychological advice... nothing to do with the MAJOR point of this thread but what the hay with advice like that how could I not take a closer look at myself. loquito tens of thousands of people come to Thailand because they are UNABLE to socialise in there own country, they are to ugly, shy , fat, old etc etc etc or just don't have a clue about current affairs like your self. Alcohol has its place and many unwind after a long hard week of actually work. "there are times when one's choices are limited, for whatever reasons, so just make do like the rest of us" wrong loquito the rest of us are here questioning our rights. stick your head in the sand if you want but dont do it here please

The rest of us, as in the Thais. Why should there be exceptions just for expats or tourists? I lived in England for 12 years and and never once did they open a pub past the closing time of 11 pm because me, an expat, wanted to drink past 11 pm.

The MAJOR point of this thread is alcohol won't be served on those days. Tough. Live with it!

There are some constructive criticisms of the ban, but there are also a lot of the "Holier Than Thou" attitude regarding the decision to have the ban, i.e. the Thais can't think things through. It's sickening to still see that kind of attitude in these days and age. I suppose the various countries represented on this forum that are going to the dogs are run my Thai politicians as well then?

The effect ban this has on tourists is minimal, IMHO. When you're on holidays you don't think about what day it is, so they can drink during the week since they are on holiday anyway. And the ban probably won't effects bigger hotels anyway (in fact, I'm going to a wedding at the Grand Hyatt Erawan on election day and have been assured that the alcohol ban won't affect the after party)

And the clarify a little confusion cause by the ban this weekend (the 15th and the 16th), these two days are also mini-election days so that the people who know that they won't be in their electoral district on the 23rd can vote if they are in the area this weekend (also called pre-election by previous posters, which may have caused confusion) hence the ban on these 2 days.

For as far as I can remember, there have always been alcohol ban on election days so most bar owners used to just grin and bear it and perhaps moan and grumble about it in private. Not much else they could do, was there?

We all like free will and choices but there are times when one's choices are limited, for whatever reasons, so just make do like the rest of us. And if one NEEDS alcohol to be able to socialise then one should take a closer look at one's self rather than the ban.

I think something perhaps is lost in translation, I've never heard of the perception that southern Thais are unfriendly. Among Thai people from the rest of the country,southern Thais in fact have a reputation to be rather "fierce" (or "doo" in Thai "ดุ"). Sometimes they don't react well to losing face. And maybe the fact that the region was perhaps the last region of the country to be "tamed". There used to be a lot of bandits in the area and the southern region was also a stronghold of the communist guerrillas until relatively recently (as recently as about 20 years ago). I find the reputation of southern Thai being fierce, blunt and un compromising to be somewhat deserved but unfriendly...? I guess it's something rather subjective really, like, one person's friendly might be another's lecherous! I think the ladies know what I mean!

I find people in Nakhon (the city) no more particular friendly or unfriendly than any other people living in any other cities in Thailand. Although people who don't live in cities and live in more rural area are friendlier.

I can't believe that so many members of this forum live in Nakhon!

Asking how much fun X-mas will be this year in Nakhon is like asking how much fun Loy Kratong or Songkrant will be in ,say, Glasgow. It's just neither here nor there. It's not like you're going to have the day off because it's X-mas anyway! (and if you do then good luck to you!)

I would love to spend the the new year long weekend in Nakhon but alas the air fare is just beyond my mean and so I guess I will be stuck in BKK

Maybe I'm one of those rare breed of people who want to return to live in Nakhon.

A note on the friendliness of people in the south: Alot of people from the rest of the country think souther folks are less friendly and , as an entension of this hypothesis, may be are more prone to get violent. This only stems from the Thai infatuation with being lighter in skin tone (even for a Thai) is more beautiful. With southern Thai folks have darker skin, relative to other folks they are seen as uglier and epitomises all things bad (e.g. friendliness, or lack thereof) This is not a recent phenomenon and an example of this can be seen from the epic Ramakian (Ramayana)where the bad guys are from the southern island of Lanka and are ugly and do bad things. This is not a uniquely Thai phenomenon, the same misconception also exists in the India subcontinent, where interestingly the epic Ramayana originated.

Just thought I'd throw in my two cents.

12 years in London and I believe I could count the number of smiling faces on the Tube (well, those that smile at me anyway) with just my fingers....

PS: I'm not trying to pick a fight with anyone. just got back from lunch and have time to spare! lol

I'm new on this forum and am amazed at how many foreigners there are in Nakhon these days, well at least the number of people on this forum who live in Nakhon anyway.

Do you guys ever arrange to meet or something like that? (I read about Gisele's murder mystery evening on this forum so I guess you guys do meet)

As to what to do at weekends, we used to go to the beaches of Sichon and Khanom or the waterfalls in Promkiri or Lansaka, sometimes just day trips or sometimes staying overnight.

I don't think Nakhon has ever been known for its nightlife, like ever! So I'm not surprised to hear that some of you grumble about the lack thereof. I went to Venice just over a month or so ago when I was in Nakhon and it was just way way too loud to my taste. I do miss the smoky cosy British pubs sometimes ( hang on, come to think of it, since this past July British pubs are not smoky anymore!)

After Venice we went to ร้านนายหนัง (Raan Nai Nang: Puppet Master restaurant) and I was amazed that they continued to serve alcohol well into the wee hours in the morning! I think it's a good place to go to after Venice if you don't fancy going to Fusion. Just to hang out with friends, some food and a little night cap!

PS: That was my first time back in Nakhon after 7 years away and I was only there for a week. I'm sure I didn't even scratch the surface of what Nakhon has to offer. Or maybe I did? Answers on a postcard please!

What is so important with these 3 provinces?? why does Thailand want to keep them?? For the Thai goverment they are a pain in the backside that only cause embarrassment in the international media!! i would cut the electricity and water and let them have their own State!! ungrateful bunch of..............

The question concerning the 3 provinces is very complex. Historically,at one time or another, they were independent states/kingdoms (as Kingdom of Patani), states under the protection of the Thai crown,an outright part of the Kingdom of Siam (or vassal states), and a part of Hindu-Buddhist kingdom of Srivijaya (which, at its peak, extended an area covering almost all of the Malay Archipelago and the Malay Ismuth, including most if not all of southern Thailand). So I'm surprised Indonesia hasn't made a claim on these 3 provinces yet as the centre of Srivijaya Kingdom was on Sumatra. hahaha

I'll skip the religious question, which frankly I'm not qualified to discuss.

And why doesn't Thailand want to get rid of thee 3 pesky provinces? There is this small matter of the two large gas fields offshore from the provinces which will become fully operational next year.(In fact, one of the

m is already operational.) If the 3 provinces go, new maritime borders will have to be mapped. Sounds familar? Well, think Timor l'Este! nuff said!

peace, out!