Bangkok Barry

A new rooftop bar opened in Bangkok last month, 61 floors up in Bangkok's tallest office building. Of course, I can't name it because I could end up in a cell. I saw a YouTube video of the place and it looks great, Thai-themed. I thought I might visit when I'm in Bangkok next week, but they do not accept cash. Cash has worked all over the world for hundreds of years, but progress means it is no longer good enough in an increasing number of places. So I was curious what would happen if a foreign credit card (mine) was refused (as I haven't used it except for on-line bookings since it was renewed). I'm certain I am not the only one who could be embarrassed, and it could be especially damaging if someone was hosting business colleagues. I wrote to the contact address on their website and it was returned as not found. That website also shows the place open from 6AM to 2am. On the second time of calling them they answered the phone and couldn't answer my question. They said they would ask the manager and call me back. They didn't. This classes itself as a top-class, five-star business, and they have absolutely no clue how to respond to customers. Or are too arrogant to care. Another time, I went for lunch with my wife and her brother. He and I both ordered the same dish. One arrived. I let him go first, and he finished his before mine arrived. When my wife asked why they had been delivered so far apart the waitress burst into tears like a five-year-old. There have been many other instances, such as my ordering roast chicken and it was delivered stone-cold, straight out of the fridge. In this case, it was a western-run pub - Scruffy Murphy's - and the farang manager replaced it, didn't charge for it and gave my sister and I a free Irish coffee. In a Thai-run place I'd have probably got a shrug of the shoulders and maybe a 'sorry, sir'.

The report can't make up its mind if it's assault or attempted rape. HEADLINE: Thai Man Arrested for Attempted Sexual Assault at BTS Station OPENING SENTENCE: Authorities in Thailand have arrested a local man, Suthat Chuayrod, 27, for an alleged attempted rape and theft It must have been written by one of Thaiger's red-hot journalists. But now they hide that fact from us.

Maybe. I very much doubt though that he attempted to force sex upon her in daylight at a busy station. You know, with people around and likely to pass by at any moment.

Attempted rape? Assault yes.

The leading headline in the AN Newsletter tells a different tale, of mid-air panic in a plane that didn't leave the ground.

If Nok was the only airline flying to a destination I wanted to go to, I probably wouldn't go. I've had several issues with them over the years and now avoid them. Just for amusement, when I'm at Don Mueang airport I like to look at the departure board and count how many of their flights are cancelled. There are always several. Always.

You were lucky. You had a shoebox. And a cloth. We had to lick dew off plants.

It isn't a popularity contest. It's about law enforcement. I do acknowledge that that offends some people, primarily those that break it.

I've told you TEN times - don't do it again, or else. Meanwhile, he continues to ignore and make a mockery of the law and the court.

See my comment above.

I don't think, in this case, brown envelopes are involved as farmers don't have a ready supply. The authorities simply don't care and are too lazy to do the job they're paid for. Pretty common here.

Sometimes planes are held, sometimes not. One time I was flying Austrian London-Vienna-Bangkok and we were late leaving London. Arrived in Vienna shortly before the Bangkok flight departure time and they refused us boarding even though the plane was at the very next gate, That meant an overnight stay at the airport. I had a gold card and was given a hotel connected to the airport, but the unfortunate Thais who had no Austrian visa had to sleep on the floor. Ironically, next morning I was put on a flight back to London and a place on the midday THAI flight.

I think that's the place where I first experienced 'face' (it's not just a Thai thing). I ordered chicken wings from the waitress, and waited, And waited, And waited. Eventually, I called a waiter over as I couldn't see her, he went to investigate where my order was, and the waitress was in the kitchen afraid to show her face (pun) as they'd sold out of wings.

This is Thailand and it's a Thai forum. Nothing at all to do with India. Well, you referred to English pints. Kettle, black. This is Thailand and it's a Thai forum. Nothing at all to do with England.

Farmers don't have to own a tractor for what is seasonal work. Where I am, in Kalasin Province, there are those who have tractors for hire on a day-by-day basis. Same as machines for threshing the rice. When someone needs a tractor, they make a call. These tractors are also useful for pulling cars and lorries out of ditches when the 'brakes have failed'. The bottom line is that the farmers don't care, and nor do the authorities. Thailand - Land Of Apathy.

It IS illegal. But whether something is illegal or not has absolutely no relevance in Thailand. Somehow, the authorities can't detect where the smoke is coming from, can't see any fires, because they've been blinded by indifference.

You clearly have adopted the losing face concept - it isn't exclusively Asian - as I cannot imagine anyone on this site or anywhere else insisting - insisting as you do - that a fine of four billion baht should be imposed. That is what you said, and you can't/won't back down and admit you didn't intend it to be four billion. A mature person would admit they hadn't thought it through before posting but, instead, you dig in and lock down on it. I know it, and so do you. If you truly believe someone should be fined four billion baht for filming an erotic video which no-one reported seeing happen, then you're an idiot. But I'm guessing you aren't. You're just being obstinate about this and only making yourself look like an idiot, rather than admit you made a mistake. Not a great idea. Childish, actually. Just like an Asian insisting Sunday is Saturday. Exactly the same.

It's actually quite interesting to see a foreigner - I assume you aren't Thai - adopting the Thai way of trying to defend the indefensible - insisting no matter what it's Sunday when it's Saturday, in order to not lose face. While by doing so even more face is lost as it makes you look stupid.

Okay. I suppose you'd lose face by not knowing you were asking for a four billion baht fine, so now you have to say it's justified. Deeper and deeper....

It doesn't matter if no one saw it being filmed the point is anyone could have including children. Making a big example of this might make others think twice before filming sexually explicit videos in public places So you stand by your statement that they should be fined four billion baht. Okay. That IS what you wrote, even if not in those actual words. Maybe you didn't understand the part of the report saying that the video was viewed over two million times. Maybe you were unable to work out that 2000 times two million is four billion. Even though it isn't that difficult. Keep digging your hole....

And how many saw it being filmed? How do you know it wasn't done discretely in a quiet area? After all, no-one saw it and complained then, did they. But for you, they should be fined 2000 baht for each of the two million views. That marks you as an idiot, in my book. Other opinions may vary. Such as yours, of course. You think it is perfectly rational to fine someone four billion - billion - baht. Maybe you didn't bother checking the math before making such a stupid statement.

...now they can say they really understand how the criminal mind works Got it. They were doing undercover research.

Long straight road, daylight, dry - and still too difficult for some to handle.

Okay. Why?

A portrait of Thailand in just one sentence.