Bangkok Barry

From the linked article: The latest figures point to the central bank intervening in the market as international reserves have gone down to $229.9 billion in May from $245.9 billion in December 2021.

Where do you come from that is so perfect compared to Thailand? Where I come from, the UK, no-one I ever met felt the need to carry a weapon in their vehicle in case they were attacked by someone because, for example, they honked their horn at them. You and I know there are almost daily reports on this site of senseless violence over the most trivial of things, sometimes leading to murder. https://aseannow.com/topic/1265064-mob-attack-leads-man-needing-nearly-100-stitches/

Don't forget, too, that Thailand was the only ASEAN nation not to condemn the atrocities in Myanmar. The strongest comment made was that 'Thailand expressed concern'. But then, a military-dominated government is never going to condemn another military government.

No mandate is needed as there is almost zero serious risk to health. Sure, there are rising cases, but the consequences are very, very different to what we saw in the past. You cannot compare the situation in July 2020 with July 2022. If people want to wear a mask, fine. If they don't and want to risk the microscopic chance of catching a mild form of Covid, also fine. Personal choice, which does not and should not be dictated by the government.

This is just another step in the government's plan to destroy the kind of tourism that drew tens of millions to Thailand every year. That previous image doesn't sit well with the puritanical government and so it is being systematically obliterated. They have now told the world that cheap deals and discounts are discouraged, so people will simply go where those deals are still available and all visitors are welcome. Especially in these economic hard times. He could not have made his comments at a worse time - but he's so rich it would not have occurred to him that others are looking for and need the deals that he is discouraging. And if the government thinks the masses will be replaced by the rich, then he's delusional. What Thailand has to offer compared to luxury resorts around the world is like comparing non-league to Premier League football.

Why do the Thais always have to complicate things. The authorities are considering charging companies to use the underground ducts. so the companies will just say 'No thanks, we'll put them up in the street for free as we do now' and nothing will change.

Already, I was unable to use a Bangkok Bank card in a KrungThai ATM (the Bangkok Bank machine, subject of this thread, had been removed). Fortunately, a Kasikorn ATM nearby wasn't so fussy. Imagine you're a tourist and when you arrive you discover that to use an ATM you need a Thai ID card. Of course, that would never occur to Thais as they never think of the consequences of what they do. So, eventually, expect a typically Thai U-turn.

Did your wife ask what we do when the app is down, as happened at the end of last month with all three main banks?

If you have a Bangkok Bank ATM card you can use it in most Thai bank machines. I assume there were other bank ATMs somewhere in the airport, so the problems you had were unnecessary.

I have no idea how Thai food got its reputation. A lot of it is deep fried, and much of it is based on Chinese or Indian cuisine. One time in a restaurant the food I was given was so filled with chilies that it completely killed the taste of anything on the plate.

I thought the same thing. Perhaps someone with him did. I don't think the police just happened to be passing, so you?

My wife carries a baseball bat in her pickup as a precaution in case of attack. Wouldn't be much use against a gun, though. Nice country, Thailand, where anything can set anyone off into a deadly rage at any time.

Not really. High prices put off many from flying at all. Airlines are not going to price themselves out of the market, same as any other business. Couple that with many country's economies struggling and people battling previously unheard of increases in fuel costs of every kind. They don't operate the Thai Economic 1.0 system of the fewer customers there are the more you raise prices to make up for it.

I bow to your greater knowledge. Or different opinion.

There was a story on here a month or two ago about someone being shot dead for parking outside someone's shop. As far as I recall, the owner had told a member of staff to deal with it and that person did the Thai nut-with-a-sledgehammer thing. And it can work the other way around too. Many, many years ago I read of a soldier who double-parked on Rama 4, a security guard told him he couldn't do that and the soldier shot him dead. Dangerous place, Thailand. Exactly the same as the Wild West 100+ years ago. Challenge anyone and you risk death over the smallest thing.

I happened to be in Spain when the prize was 115 million Euro, so I splashed out 5 on having a go as that kind of money could come in useful on a rainy day. I only won 8 Euro and when I went back to the shop to collect it I complained to the girl that she'd given me the wrong numbers ???? As for here, my wife and her family win small amounts from time to time, with a sister once winning, I think, 40,000. But most of the prizes are so small it's hardly worth bothering with. Some of the sellers are still charging over the odds, of course, despite what the law says, but no-one seems to care.

That usually just means that the machine is out of cash, nothing to do with "IT reliability". If it's out of cash it doesn't tell you to check with your bank. It says the machine is out of service.

The heavy tint is illegal. But well, you know.........

???????????? Thais obeying a highway code. Funny.

No they don't.

Said who? You're not a doctor for sure. Otherwise you would not post such nonsense ???? Said everyone who has commented on the most recent strains. Perhaps you don't read or listen to the news. If you did you wouldn't post such nonsense. You obviously also haven't noticed that, while in the past ICU wards were filled to overflowing and many thousands around the world were dying every day, there are very few fatalities now.

The one thing that has boomed in the past couple of years is entertainment access providers. To see such a well established company as this collapsing its business should be sounding economy alarm bells. I know Netflix has lost subscribers, but that was after a period of huge growth during the pandemic when people stayed home. It is natural that now people can go out more they have less need of home entertainment. I doubt that that that applies to Thailand to the extent that it does to Netflix.

We used a Bangkok Bank card in a Bangkok Bank ATM a few days ago. It told us to check with the bank. There was another Bangkok Bank ATM next to it so my wife tried that one and it worked. Last week we used the card in a KrungThai ATM and received the message that the card couldn't be used in that machine. Another time a Bangkok Bank ATM didn't produce the money. Seems as if the bank's IT system is as reliable as the governments.

and your point is....? ???? I think his point is that the current covid strain is no worse than having the flu.

As you say, wearing masks in Thailand and other Asian nations has long been common. And yet it didn't stop the pandemic spreading, did it. Probably had no effect at all. People still caught it in their tens of thousands. The overwhelming majority have been wearing cheap masks during the pandemic, and there has been much discussion around them having little to no effect against Covid.