Bangkok Barry

The phrase 'Boys will be boys' doesn't always apply in Thailand. Tourists beware.

Not directly connected with this thread, but I've noticed that since January 1st Wise no longer show the year on the transaction date. It was useful for specifying exactly when I receive my monthly payments, and now I have to keep a screen shot of my BKK Bank statement to marry up the date of the transfer. No big deal, but why the heck would they do that, I wonder. Trying to email them to ask just sent me round in circles.

That might be because in the real world all government offices follow the same rules and don't make them up on the hoof as they do in Thailand. Takes some getting used to, officers making up their own rules. As @Liquorice wrote, show the OP the 'rule'.

If someone did this in his home country, which is unlikely, I doubt that he would be set upon by a bunch of people acting like rabid dogs. So we have one of the many examples of human trash that Thailand attracts, together with locals who over-react and take delight in attacking a foreigner. Both sets are not people I'd want to be around.

The screenshot I took was from the bus company's own website. So, I guess, Thai-style reliability for accuracy. But as I'm staying in a hotel right next to the bus terminal I'll ask them when I arrive what time the buses actually return. Thanks.

You recommend a van? The last time I used one I seriously considered asking to be let out after he was tailgating three or four metres behind other vehicles while going at 120kph.

I'm off to Pattaya next week and looked up the bus times. They are frequent enough for it not to matter that much, but I noticed a curiosity. Fifteen buses go there but only 11 return. They are hourly from Bangkok but two-hourly from Pattaya. Bizarre. Anyone have any idea why that is/how that can work? The Case Of the Disappearing Buses... BTW, nice that you can pre-book on-line these days. Haven't used the service for years so don't know how long that has been in operation.

I get money sent over every month, transferred from HSBC in the UK to my Bangkok Bank account. I can't see any way that the new rules will change that. It appears that they mainly affect those sending money out of Thailand or who keep money in a Wise account (something I don't do).

I have no doubt at all that the human race will destroy itself. Again. There is plenty of evidence of civilisations in the past that disappeared, leaving signs that that they had existed. Why we willingly invent things (now, AI among other things) to assist in our destruction is baffling.

The leader of Reform UK is as reliable as a wet paper bag, but one of his policies is that if someone is convicted of a crime three times then they receive an all-life sentence, having proved by then that they are unable to live in civilised society. I'm all for that. Prompted by, among other things, a young woman being murdered near where I used to live by someone with 38 previous offences who was still allowed to walk the streets. This piece of human garbage should never be allowed out of jail again.

Sproutcall. Used it to call the UK and it was perfect.

Any verification? Quotes from outraged members of the public? No, I thought not. If those who the article says are disturbed by seeing such things on sale in plain sight then the police can see them too, but they clearly have no interest in reacting to the imaginary public outcry. Same in Sukhumvit in Bangkok. No-one cares.

I wonder how many will think that the suspension/ban applies to tourist visas, as opposed to those seeking to emigrate to the US. Many might see 'USA suspends visa processing for Thailand' and think everyone is banned. That's how a Thai family member here read it at first.

Were we warned about this? Or was it just thrust upon us?

cancelled

My wife's cousin was working in that building doing electrics, but he and his crew left because as well as not getting paid he said that they'd be drilling the walls to install stuff and the concrete would crumble. If not for the earthquake, probably someone slamming a door would have brought it down. Corruption from all angles, top to bottom, including Chinese involvement. In Thailand, who would expect anything else? Certainly not the Thais.

Three thoughts on this. 1 - A former PM told students that they need not learn English as one day all the world would speak Thai. 2 - My wife studied to teach English. She showed me an A4 sheet of questions which contained in the region of a dozen inaccuracies. I highlighted and corrected them, she gave it to the professor - who threw it in the bin. 3 - When she got a job teaching English in Bangkok, I couldn't understand most of what she was teaching them - and I've been a journalist for over 40 years writing for news agencies and newspapers such as The Times. It was highly technical, what I imagine is taught in the UK at university level, rather than basic beginner needs. I cannot imagine that the kids had any understanding or interest in what she had been taught to teach.

Why not read the article?

This is Thailand where, as so often, different rules apply. My Thai wife tells me it is perfectly normal for others than a doctor to declare someone is dead, especially in rural areas. Looking and seeming to be dead is enough. This case isn't the first and it won't be the last.

And don't also forget that the concept of asking for ID to check age has yet to occur to Thais, as it has in other countries. On the 800 metres thing, my nearest shopping centre is Kalasin. Makro has been refused a licence to sell alcohol as it is close to a university, and that has only - after years - been lifted in recent weeks. Meanwhile, a 7-Eleven directly opposite the uni has been allowed to sell.

The one man still in custody is British and was yelling about not letting the devil win. So that negates every one of the ignorant, uninformed, conspiracy comments above. And such ignorant, uninformed conspiracy comments that have happened in the UK in the past - most notably about the British-born murderer in Southport which led to riots - is why the authorities now make a point of describing the attacker. To shut up and make look stupid the ignorant, uninformed conspiracy commentators.

Illegal immigrants do not stay in 4 star hotels. I've seen a couple that are typical, and they are very basic. Maybe you have evidence to back up your claim?

Thanks. I'll take a look, but sites I've looked at so are are mostly US-oriented and for practical reasons (shipping) I really need to try and sell in Thailand - a long shot, I know.

Some years ago I sold mine to a shop in Fortune Town. And that's why I'm going to look around there when I am in Bangkok next month. It's a long shot as vinyls are not dvds and time has passed, but I'll take a look. As for the price offered to you for your records, I once sold a lot to a shop in London. Most of the stuff was ordinary but there were a few gems in there so they kind of subsidised buying the average to get the gems. Nice of them, really.

Thanks. I'll check the sites.