Felt 35

I know! wouldn't it be a good idea if Thailand took care of its own. Just for a while till things pick up. Instead of relying on tourists at this time, let the fat cats of Bangkok put their hands on their pockets and fork out. They could keep their Mercedes for a few more months. Surely charity begins at home. Don't you agree?

Agree

I don`t understand why this subject are on a tred at all!

All of us regulary visitor on TV know who eventually are responsible if any are to blame for not have tried to s3end out a warning.

The last two years I have heard him at least twice, No SARS,No birdflue and soon it will be Tsunami, no no

This is such a difficult subject that there is no 'one' answer. Every individual is different and we all cope with death and disater in different ways. What is a 'respectable time' for mourning? Here in Greece, many women wear 'black' for the rest of their lives after loosing a husband. I think it is the same in some other countries also, as a sign of respect. In other countries, in certain circumstances, it is a time for rejoicing as the dead person is believed to be going to some kind of Heaven...

When my father died outside my bedroom I hardly batted an eyelid, although I loved him dearly. I knew he was dead and stepped over his body and went downstaris to phone police and ambulance. I do not remember the day, month or year that he died... It is the way I deal/dealt with it.

I tell my kids the same as my father told me. I don't want anybody to mourn for me or to be sad or upset when I die. I have had a good life, I have enjoyed my time here and death is a part of Life. It is what we do... we live and we die... it is just a part of the process of Life. In the 'big' picture, it does not matter when we die, or how we die, the end result is the same.

This is just my way of looking at Life. For me it is a healthy way to be and to think. For others it is not, some will see me as unfeeling, others as sensible, and yet others as sick.

As I said, a difficult subject, we all think differently and we all act differntly in different circumstances.

What we should respect above all, is other people's right to think and feel the way they do.

How do you think it was at the Beaches at Patong,Kamala,Phi Phi and Kao lak now if everyone was without "love of one`s neigbour" and only stepped over to "dry land"

Its not a part of life to die of a "Tidal wave"

How should the world proceed if it not matter how we die and when. Our children is the future!

I guess you like to provoke, fun for you, but it is in fact better things to do this days.

YOU can help by NOT CANCELING your visit to Thailand.

The Thai people rely on your visit to keep their jobs to survive!

True

Don't let shock-tactic reporters ruin peoples' lives, or peoples' holidays.

Sure that journalists and reporters often overdue, but still it remain a fact that the "tidal wave" which hit Thailand 26. December is one of the histories greatest disasters.

Is it healty to forget loved ones so fast ?

And as sbk and ProfessorFart pointed out... many of the local Thai poeple live from hand to mouth... day by day, week by week and month by month... Many of the survivors 'need' money and the 'only' way they will get it is through 'Tourism'. Only through tourism will they be able to resume life as normal.

Could it be that there is a connection between that people have to live from hand to mouth and and a selfish government which is said to not have warned about the tsunami because a possible loss of revenue?

Still so much to learn, specially to tolerate stupidity...

QUOTE

"Life Goes On"

Thanks for saying that at the moment farang62, please send your message to the survivors and victims of the tragedy. This is not about you or about other lucky to enjoy life today, but about peopel in dispair....have you seen the news?. Not sure whether you are ignorant or stupid, ot both.

QUOTE

"if i had survived that I would definitely be making sure I lived my life to the max"

snoophound if you would have survived but all your family have gone, not sure whether you would want that...life have many hard things to teach, in the meantime at least hide your ignorance...

QUOTE

Many girls now without a job and they need MONEY

tracer0 I assume you are not suggesting that they need your money in change for "something" else. They need HELP, and money is part of it. What farangs can do is also to show more respect. Can farangs think about how effectivelly help at the moment and in the future.... this time without expecting compensation for it?

This is a real tragedy for many, and if we do not contribute with material or other type of support, at least think that this moment is about them, those who are suffering and begin to suffer, and not about us.

BRAVO

The tourist, those who are not stupid and didn't run, are starting to go to the beach.

After one week helping crippled people who have lost children, brothers,sisters, parents and relatives which for "Normal" humans is a greater loss of value than life itself you tell us that its stupid to run away from dirty Patong.

Be aware of your words.

This is my eight Christmas in Thailand and even if I somehow should like to slow down on the Christmas tradition, its usually end up as below.

Starting early December, buying present and sending to Europe.

Full Clean of our home and set up the Christmas tree, 2-3 days before Christmas.

Christmas eve with pork ribs, sausages, rissoles and potato’s to dinner and rice pudding to dessert. Beer & snaps.

Later on we open presents from Europe and finish the evening with cakes from abroad, and coffee.

Today and tomorrow is days together with family and we usually eat buffet breakfast together today and lunch tomorrow at a local hotel.

Merry Christmas.

I don't know why they make announcements like this. They don't actually *want* foreigners working here in any capacity, and they don't make concessions to them.

Thay just want to have everything without givin anything

Happen to me a couple of times, but with Visa card from my home country.

4 years ago with Thai farmer`s Bank, Phang-nga Rd. (8K) Three months and many visits to the bank before the money was back on my account.

3 years ago with Bank of Asia. (30k) Got the money back after a short week.

Narai is a good hotel. I have used the place regularly from "97”

Good swimming pool, small but good enough gym. Relaxed amospfere. First class with charm, but without the First class price tag.

I Drove with own car, from Phuket to Rayong and return (2100Km), ten days ago, and was very sceptic before the trip because my experience with traffic in Thailand is limited to Phuket.

But friends have over the years told me that the traffic situation is much better as soon you are out of Phuket.

They were absolutely right and it was a pleasure to drive on roads, which in my opinion were as good as many places in Europe and generally people was very polite and correct in their behave on the roads. I did not see one accident on that trip.

Today, Wednesday 22. December, I have already observed two accidents here in Phuket before noon.

I don’t know why, but begin to think it must have something to with people’s general education!!

Most of the countries in Northern Europe celebrate Christmas 24. December with dinner and later in the evening will Santa Claus come with presents?

The Bible say that Jesus is born around September- October so why we celebrate 24/25. December is unknown.

But guess it have more to do with the season. I.e. celebrate after a long hard autumn with hard work and less enjoyment, and then

Daylight slowly turn and the days get longer and people can look forward to the spring and an easier life situation.

In fact a Persian/Roman God who are born on 25. December!

New 5 Years Visas For Long Term Residents

What`s in the cards!

If they can get more money in to the Country, well then it will come.

If less "daler", well forget it.

New 5 Years Visas For Long Term Residents

7 weeks before the general election

Smart, but in the light of the statement below,

Thailand to focus on top end of tourist market in 2005

would I wait to draw conclusions to after the election.

It will be very interesting to understand how they intend to attract strictly high end tourists. Lower end tourists are often the kind of people who can turn a blind eye to a few things here and there because they are getting a good deal. But the ones spending lots of money naturally have much higher expectations and will be pretty disenchanted when they learn Thailand is not like the post cards. I believe if Thailand were not cheap, tourists would stay clear. Let me explain that in detail.

I will preface this by saying I have visited other countries and islands that seem to support tourism gracefully. In Thailand I have been to many places big and small throughout the North, Central, Isaan & South over many years and have witnessed a basic problem in my sad, but honest observation. While there is a lot to like about Thailand, the basic rule is this: anywhere Thai's live is transformed into a cesspool. While tourism can redistribute where Thai’s live to a degree, it has nothing to do with this problem. The natural beauty of a place is the first thing to go in development, they'll then pollute and throw all their trash in the waterways & ocean, build the lowest quality & ugliest structures which are left to deteriorate into eyesores, pump loud noise everywhere using a variety of annoying methods, not bother with reeking stenches of trash and roaches building up, put everything you buy in 2 or 3 layers of plastic bags, string up in plain view endless rats nests of hack job wiring, mistreat elephants and wildlife you come across, ruin the best photo locations with distasteful advertisements placed strategically in front of them, and tell you what time bedtime is. Yes, welcome to Thailand. Thai’s will "mai pen rai" this process all the way to the bottom at which point they lay blame with the tourists themselves for all the problems, pay lip service to the press about what a shame it is, but then not do much about it.

It’s just really a sad state of affairs in such a wonderful country. Nowhere is perfect, but my gosh everything is just such a shame here. I hope every TAT member visits foreign places that draw high income tourists. When they return to Thailand, I think they will see for the first time how repulsive many aspects of their country have become and gain an appreciation that it doesn’t have to be that way. Otherwise, their whole notion of drawing high end tourists sounds like they are just holding a finger in the wind like the elite card. The one bright spot for high end tourists I have heard of so far are the detox clinics; that marries the good qualities of Thai people with high end recreation. But as far as I can see they are out of touch here but am willing to learn about their strategy if they have one.

BRAVO

At current rates, it usually takes years before a typical falang goes belly up... with legalized casinos, we could reduce that time period from years to weeks and days, Las Vegas style.

TAT Visit Thailand Year 2008 "Lose your shirt, lose your pants, lose it all!"

You are at least honest about you and your country`s intention.

Anyone wishing to know about Huahin, Cha-Am or the surrounding area. Please PM me. I will endeavour to help you out.

Well I had liked some general info, but after reading the post`s on this tread I think I prefer to find out myself.

Interesting tread for one more who want to make the move.

I just drive from Phuket to Rayong, last week. My first trip longer than to Phang-nga, with a car in eight years and I got so surprised over the good behave on the roads all the way and return. Did not see one accident.

Here in Phuket I see one almost every day and the driving...is ¤#&¤#

Can someone tell about the traffic situation in Hua Hin and Cha am.

I like outdoor life and for each day, week, month the possibilities for biking, running etc get squeezed in here in Phuket.

I stayed over one night in "Prachup Kiri Khan" on the way back and it was very nice and quit there.

Is Cha am or Hua Hin something like Prachup Kiri Khan?

Any info welcome.

Thanks & Regards

Look at the news and you will see that violence in Thailand is common.

India and Egypt,

Nice comparison

the 'privilege' of being Thai.

but the cynic in me just says take the money and run.

Run as you never have done and never turn back.

Let us suppose that the goal of getting the rich clients here succeeds.

No Way.

The rich want isolation, clean beaches, top services.

Just that.

focus on attracting quality, rather than quantity

Really look forward to this last "hub"

Will be nice when Patong is level with the ground and we can see the Beach again.

Will probably be a lot of tourist coming.... for Pad thai and...Golf