Bangkok Barry

My local IO has a receptionist who doesn't speak a word of English. Just what you need in an office that deals exclusively with foreigners, almost all of whom speak little to no Thai. Reminds me of when the new Bangkok airport opened and the passenger information desk had no-one who spoke English - in an international airport. Thailand does not acknowledge the real world. Even the outgoing PM told students they needn't bother learning English as one day all the world will speak Thai.

No, it's made the national news. Brilliant PR. Unless the business is closed down by the police, in which case it will reopen next week with a new name and apparent new owners.

Royal pardons are given out on the King's birthday every year. Or were under the late King. I don't know what percentage are/were granted each year.

Maybe close. I remember some years ago a VIP, probably a politician but I forget now, was jailed and after just one day he was declared sick and transferred to a luxury hospital suite. Then, as usual in the news here, nothing was ever heard of the matter again.

So, it's also normal for someone who has an arrest warrant waiting for him as well, then, is it? Well, I'll be ............! I expect so, yes. What is the point of your post?

This reminds me of a pickup that landed in a ditch outside my house at 10.30 one night, and the driver claimed he had swerved to avoid a pedestrian. I live in the countryside where I doubt more than five or six people walk past all day, and no-one ever walks at night. But you've got ta save face haven't you, and blame your poor driving on someone else - even if it's a ghost.

Done. Don't just read the headline A judge earlier this week ordered Shry jailed.

He isn't rich because he couldn't make the payments. He just liked to pretend that he is.

Didn't some immigration officers just get "reassigned" for doing the same for a foreign celebrity? Such procedures are normal for private jets. I once flew on one from Montreal to San Diego, and we parked in a separate area and were visited by immigration officials and processed onboard.

The saddest part of this story is that you and some others here really believe what you are saying about Trump because you believe he is a despicable person and he may or may not be... yet you are the same ones who constantly rave against jailing murderers and rapists because it is cruel... 5555555 You accuse me of 'raving' against jailing murders and rapists, which is a downright lie. I challenge you to find any post of mine in which I've done that. Continue and you'll be reported for lying about a fellow member. But I'd expect nothing less from a blinkered Trump supporter, trying to deflect what he is alleged to have done by trying to blame others for something that is entirely unrelated.

What do his alleged crimes have to do with politics? None at all. They are criminal and federal charges. Nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the law and constitution.

It reflects the cheap, low-class attitude of the business to me, and any company that isn't professional enough to have a proper website gets no business from me.

Corruption at every possible level in this $hit****, even down to simple motorcycle taxis. What a wonderful culture.

Yes. See my post above.

Yes. Lock any valuables in your suitcase. Staff have the ability and know-how to open room safes in case you forget your code, and there have been plenty of tales of staff 'raiding' the hotel safe with the aid of an illicit extra key. A popular tactic is not to take everything moneywise, in the hope that you won't notice a few bills missing. Happened to me in KL, two $100 bills were taken while leaving another three or four there. I got the police in and they said no local would take $100 bills as they'd raise suspicion.

The world doesn't care about Thailand.

I once, in a quiet moment, decided to check the price of an Emirates upgrade to Business Dubai to Bangkok. It was 200 baht. WHAT? I'll take that. Lounge access. pickup from the airport in Bangkok (didn't need it to the airport in Dubai), the works. I have no idea why that offer was made. Lived in hope, in vain, of repeating it ever since. But the chance of that happening is about the same as Thais getting the government they voted for - next to zero. Another time spouse and I flew THAI to London and back on economy tickets bought with miles, and we were upgraded on the return leg. On free tickets. Sometimes the stars line up right and wonderful things happen.

Many do these days, anywhere. In my native UK the divorce rate is approaching 50%. It seems there is a lack of tolerance and many can no longer compromise if need be in a relationship. I and many people I know are in their 60s to 70s and nearly all of our marriages have lasted 30-50 years. And kids growing up without a father figure has consequences. Also, split families means that two homes are needed instead of one, putting an enormous strain on both the housing market and single parents. Most of those struggling and using food banks in the UK are single parents. Bringing the subject back to Thailand, it is common for kids not to be brought up by their father, rather grandparents are roped in as the parents are too busy to be parents. So in this case, not having a father around is far from unusual.

I'm sure we all read before any of us came to Thailand how close Thai families are. We certainly didn't read of family members raping the young girl in the house, or husbands beating their wife to death, or parents not raising their own kids. And so on. The Thai smile is often there all right, but all too often it hides ill-intent. In certain tourist areas, especially Phuket, they smile because they know they're ripping you off and you are too stupid to know it. I write what I do to try and balance the nonsense that the Thais are a peaceful, smiling bunch, when in reality violence is just below the surface. There are deep cultural reasons for that, based largely on everyone having to know their place in society and having to bow to their 'superiors' - and to those who believe that wearing a uniform gives them the right to bully and belittle others as a revenge for own lowly position on the ladder. Certainly there is violence everywhere, but it is most certainly very present in the Land of Smiles, despite what TAT would tell us.

Just the usual Thai male sense of entitlement. 'I can do whatever I want, and then post about it on social media and challenge the police to arrest me'. Seems he thought he was invincible. Probably not, but we'll never read how the case ends up will we, because there are too many other assaults and murders in Thailand to write about each day.

Maybe he thought the yellow lines along the sides are there for decoration, and not to warn people not to stand there.

Today's report of a jealous ex on the kill. There was one yesterday and there'll be another tomorrow and another the day after that. Maybe two.

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There is huge anger, resentment and violence just below the surface in this country. A lack of discipline and self control combined with low intelligence can be a lethal mix, especially when it is combined with the ready availability of guns. But you have to live here to be aware of it, Tourists come for two weeks and love the place, most of the time. They rarely if ever see the darkness underneath. In one newsletter alone today: Kindergarten Boy’s Barbaric Murder Shocks Chiang Mai Gang violence escalates in Samut Prakan Brutal assault on Udon schoolgirl triggers national outrage Cutting ties: Hunt ongoing for Thai man accused of murdering ex-girlfriend at beauty salon Man arrested for brutally assaulting victim, leading to blindness and skull injury Neighbour murdered in Phetchaburi over claims of infidelity

As long as one country can veto what every other country agrees on then the UN is a totally worthless organisation and not fit for purpose. Unless that purpose is to provide many of those who work for it with a cushy life.