Bangkok Barry

Why?

The hotel acted responsibly by taking them to hospital and offering to pay their medical expenses. Of course, they'd want receipts as any business would. And of course the hospital wanted them there overnight as there was money to be made. The defamation laws in Thailand have actually worked against the hotel, as we don't know which hotel acted in such a responsible way. Many would simply deny there was a problem.

Where does it say they almost died, except their lawyer who can hardly be said to be impartial? They felt discomfort, numbness.

I know and agree with all you say. Which is why nothing will change, despite naive and wishful thinking by some posters here.

Thank you for confirming it has happened in only a small number of countries, and centuries ago. Now can you tell me how, in the modern world, people whose most serious protest so far has been to show their phone lights and wave rubber ducks, overcome tanks and guns?

Have you seen how little Russian troops have advanced in a war that Putrid thought would be over in days? I doubt they cover even 10% of Ukraine. So, why do you think Russia will take over the other 90%, and when?

People in a handful of countries made a difference at great personal cost. But the vast majority of the world even now lives on or below the breadline. Most of Africa, much of South America, some of Europe and a lot of Asia. And of all those countries, almost none have managed to overthrow a government and 'the system'. Certainly none in Third World countries.

I think it's an improvement. As for the those who don't like it, don't worry. With the usual lack of maintenance many of the lights will not be working within a few months,

They don't. But what do you suggest they do about it? Street riots have never had any effect in overturning such people it the past, and it would need a complete shutdown of businesses and the economy - a General Strike in Western terms - to achieve anything. And that is never going to happen, as the workers have no voice in Thailand and can't afford to give up their wage.

I forgot about that discount. On the subject of buses, at one time I went monthly to Bangkok from Somdet using the bus. It took 8-9 hours and ended up being more expensive than flying from KK on whichever airline had the best price on my dates, so I switched to flying instead.

I haven't used it since last October. Roi-Et is slightly closer for me, but I used KK before as the bus passes my house. Now, as it pretty much no longer runs my wife drives me to Roi-Et, and it's also easier that KK to shop there. What bothers me is that there used to be around 10-12 flights a day and now it's down to three, all by Air Asia. Having also heavily modernised the airport there, although nowhere near as much as KK, if AA pull out too they'll have a 'new' airport with no flights. My experience though is that, with no competition and few flights, the planes are close to full.

I have a nephew living with us after his mother dumped him on us to live overseas. He's been learning English for eight years and can't put a sentence together. Still, he was given his turn as top of the class in English one month. And he has today off of school as it's closed for lessons as the director is leaving and the teachers are having a party. Having the party after school obviously never occurred to them. At his previous school, the director was murdered by his wife as she thought he was having an affair. He wasn't. Thailand is ....... different.

Ah, and so you asked me if it was hundreds or thousands. Okay. Common sense would have told you that wasn't the case.

So they have no idea how much it will cost, but they've announced it anyway. No survey to see if it will be worth the cost (as they have no idea what the cost is). Not even a committee to examine the proposal. But they will do it because (you can fill in the blank of who will really benefit). And it isn't the kids.

Why the sarcastic comment? Around 10 or so. Out of 10 or so that have gone elsewhere for a more than a brief holiday and had their eyes opened.

Follows on from someone knifing a neighbour to death because he turned off the wi-fi they were sharing, and a father hammering his son to death for slamming a door. Interesting behaviour in a so-called Buddhist country. Fortunately for us, the savages mostly just kill each other and leave foreigners alone. Most of the time.

There are many words that Thais 'misunderstand'. Mansion = small single-rooms in an apartment block; resort = often small huts beside major roads available for short-time rental; mafia = small-time crooks; hotel suites = often a room like any other (a manager told me suite is just a name, not a description). I'm sure there are many more, all reflecting a false image if grandeur.

And wasn't the head of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand himself arrested on corruption charges?

It's all they've ever known. As for such things not bothering them, I find it interesting that every one of the Thai people I know who have gone overseas for any period of time have not wanted to return to Thailand, once they've seen how things are outside of their cesspit of a country. Not one.

I use Roi-Et airport to get to Bangkok now as I don't like the new KK airport. That airport was fine as it was, but I guess there were 'incentives' to re-build it.

Not only Bangkok. Someone I do business with has it. He said he thought his head was going to explode, and while in hospital he had to use a Zimmer frame to get to the toilet and his arms felt like he was carry heavy weights. Sounds like having the vaccine might not be a bad idea. Probably free at the local hospital.

The point is that the pink card and yellow book are not needed for a marriage extension, unless the IO is a bit short of cash in her purse. Then they are. It is irrelevant to the application whether they are hard to get or not.

Thanks. If you're looking for financial benefit over lifestyle, then go Third World. If lifestyle and eventual education benefits are more important, then look elsewhere. Many with money head to Dubai for a reason, rather than Laos. I can't comment on the Caribbean as I have no experience of that region.

And lifts/elevators. There was a report here a while ago of a daughter who had moved to Bangkok and lived in a condo building and her mother visited from up-country. The mother said she'd go out and bring back something for them to eat, but after she had not returned after a long period the daughter decided to see if she could find her. And there she was, standing by the lift waiting for it to stop at her floor.

Just accept Thailand for what is is - a corrupt nation rotten to the core from top to bottom, where the majority agree with the 'system' if they can benefit from it. And that it will never change, not in the foreseeable future anyway. It is what it is, and everyone knows and accepts that. Maybe, maybe, one day they'll wake up and realise that the most prosperous nations in the region are those which are least corrupt, such as Singapore and Japan.