wensiensheng

Well, a couple of points: 1. at a high level, if you want people to bring money in, you’d better make sure that it is easy for them to get it out! Otherwise they won’t bring it in. 2. at a lower level, how about stopping the mis selling practiced by more than one major bank, where when applying for an atm card, a customer is forced to buy accident insurance, even if they can prove they already have adequate accident insurance. Without free movement of capital and adequate consumer protection regulations that are enforceable, Thailand isn’t going to be the hub of anything in the financial world.

You ain’t going to get any Chinese staying at the Grand Hyatt. THATS for sure. ghosts and all that.

Yesterday it was confirmed as cyanide poisoning. So why bring up this snake poison? I mean, either they did an autopsy and identified the cause of death, or they didn’t. Yesterday the doctor who did the autopsies confirmed cyanide poisoning. Why this wild goose chase?

…..until they change it back. Personally I wouldn’t rely on this. Take advantage of it while it lasts, but don’t rely on it would be my advice. FWIW

…and a river. With activities on the river ie tubing. Heavily promoted water activities. Hardly surprising people wander around in swimsuits.

How about a parallel crackdown on locals illegally selling alcohol to tourists?

Well, the article quoted that cyanide was found in a number of cups and two bottles and one blood sample. So, I assume blood samples would be taken from all bodies, no point to just test one. Therefore, how come cyanide was only found in one blood sample? Some assumptions of course. Is the information correct or just someone leaking incorrect facts. Was only one blood sample tested? I’ve no idea. But just the way that the article states that one blood sample was found to have cyanide in it, sounds weird. Surely you test all six and determine whether cyanide is present in all?

Exactly. Unless there was a camera in the room, how could they possibly know which one of the six poisoned the other five and then themselves? And that assumes that no other party was involved, which is not yet proven. It’s all speculation at this point and the cops are silly to allow details to be “released”. It just creates confusion where there is no clarity

A very forlorn hope I am afraid. The article clearly states they are just quoting from a police informant and the words they use are identical to other news outlets. There is no corroboration of any actual FACT at all.

Yeah, but it hasn’t been two days and seemingly they all died at the same time. Not even sure any autopsies have been done yet, but surely they would be done at the same time? This is Bangkok, not some one horse town. Question remains, why only cyanide in one blood sample?

If they all died, why wouldn’t cyanide be found in the blood system of all six? Otherwise how could they have died from cyanide poisoning?

We are talking about the grand Hyatt 5 star hotel in Bangkok. A different kettle of fish entirely

Surprised at that conclusion. six people go in, a 7th person outside,causes poison food/drink to be sent in which is ingested by the six in the room. Maybe not the MOST likely, but appears possible, given that most poisoners like to get away with their crime and live another day. Entry records of food and drink appears as important as records of people entering. no doubt all will be revealed. What am I saying! This is Thailand, nothing will be revealed

We need a bigger shrine. 😬

The New York Times is hardly corroboration. In any case they are just quoting from the same unofficial police sources that every other news outlet is quoting.

So is their theory that crowded beaches are more enticing for visitors and therefore it’s essential to deny that beaches are uncrowded. 🤷‍♂️ sounds like they are arguing against themselves to me.

Any substantive facts to back that up or just your opinion?

I hear what you say, but tbh, if that guy applied for a tourist visa, I’m pretty sure he would get one. And the educational visa requirement is full of holes, so I’m sure he would have that as an option as well. Point being, it’s easy to get a visa to visit Thailand so they aren’t a panacea to stopping criminals entering the country.

Depends if it is accumulated overseas income from the 1st January this year. There is no tax on the transfer of capital into Thailand. I doubt many people have that much income in just 6 months.

15 students to a class is impractical. The U.K. doesn’t have that few students to a class. Even international schools usually cap them at 20.

I’d probably take issue with that statement. Academically, you may be right. The whole Singapore system is geared to passing exams. And when Singapore sets out to design a system to achieve a specific result, it does it. Exceptionally well. But there are deficiencies in such a system, more than a couple of which are recognized by the government and they have taken or are taking steps to correct. First of all, the system is set in place to derive a specific answer to a specific question, in order to achieve test marks. That is rote learning and stifles innovation and abstract thinking. The government put in place a specific innovation program to try and change things. It pretty much hasn’t worked. secondly, the drive for high test marks makes for a brutal educational process where any child who isn’t academically minded, is branded a loser. To try and ensure no Singaporean is left behind (government words) a lot more emphasis has in recent years been placed on vocational colleges. Nevertheless the in built bias in the system for rote learning in order to achieve high exam results, is very hard to correct. Yup. I’m Singaporean.

Wasn’ t there a political party promising a tablet for every student a few years back? During election season of course. Bet there aren’t many of those tablets around now, if indeed there ever was. The issue with Thai schools is rote learning. Until they change that, students may or may not pass exams, but they won’t be intelligent, logical, science based, problem solvers who have a global perspective. How could they be with all the garbage and propaganda that they are fed on a daily basis.

I don’t think it’s a one off taxi driver. I bet this is the prevailing rip off price by all drivers. It’s a mafia, not just individual guys. In their own way, they are pretty organized.

He would have been forced to pay it if he didn’t have relatives in the area who could pick him up. Not every tourist has local contacts to help them avoid being fleeced.