BarryM

Pumping money into ther service sector is guaranteed to give it a jump start.

Surely if he downloaded them for free he's not added any incentive to the purveyors of this filth? Does looking at Youtube video of a Taleban exucution make the viewer criminally responsible for the murder too?

On the bright side the Sukhothai on sathorn is offering rooms this weekend at 5500++ including breakfast and wifi.

^ also add the populist promise of 300b daily wage without any serious attempt to increase workers productivity (in particular Thailand's education system) and Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia will look increasingly attractive.

I know of one major manufacturer from Taiwan that invested in a large assembly plant in Thailand. The word was "never again". They seriously underestimated the tea money and red tape involved in set up and ongoing production. This from a company already heavily invested in China and well aware of the likely local problems.

I imagine many other CEOs will now be evaluating their continued investments in Thailand now the exit costs are mitigated by the cost of making good on flood damage and lost production.

I suspect the main priority is to protect the airport. Nail in the tourist and business confidence not to mention the vindication of all those critics who didnt have a place at the trough and cautioned against building on a swamp when her brother made it his flagship project.

From Sukhumvit about half way down on the left. There's a 7/11 on the right, best shop for service IME is about 60metres further down on left.

There's a couple of decent bike shops on Theprasit. They have stock but mostly alloy frames 10-30k baht. If you want carbon frames better in Bangkok.

There's only one problem with this forum: the other side isn't present so it's just preaching to the converted - unfortunately.

The other side are fully aware of the "problem", but do not see it as a problem. Their kids are at Eaton/ Charterhouse/ Imperial Coolege/ Harvard / MIT etc.

The only problem is the interference of liberal western commentators who don't understand "Thai culture" and the necessity to perpetuate blind obedience, under the guise of education, to maintain the status quo.

I've met Thai nationality English teachers here who would struggle to order a coffee in English, far less teach the language.

The progency of the rich and well connected don't attend these schools. So there's no problem. In the absence of any meaningful public pressure to change this, nothing will change.

Best thai food I had was in Sydney. The meat and poultry in thai food in Thailand is invariably poor.

Thailand's kids are already taught everything they need at primary school.

- Lining up in neat rows

-Singing "Songs of Praise"

- knowing which color to shirt to wear for the appropriate day of the week

What else is to know krab?

Perhaps 450000 of them are "inactive posts"?

Yes, the op should read "Thai Culture Obliges Our Young Talent to Die on the Vine".

Still, suits me. At least it keeps the "entertainment" cheap, not to mention the cost of the maid.

The idea of promotion and success in life based on merit and achievement is a dangerous concept to introduce into a country where nepotism and cronyism dictate advancement in life.

If thai people started to believe anything to the contrary you'll see a lot of very disappointed and angry people.

Giving them education will be as revelatory to the masses as Neo popping that pill in "the Matrix".

The last thing the current status quo needs in Thailand is an educated population capable of critical thought and analysis. Until that changes, educating the masses will end in tears and bloodshed.

Possibly unique insofar as although (to untrained observers of local culture) they may resemble boots worn by fishermen the world over for the last 300 years, these are manufactured using a special "process" that whilst costing more money, nevertheless delivers all sorts off 'benefits", not necessarily to the comprehension of the wearer.

Ikeas usp is possibly the fact that you buy from stock. Most contemporary furniture in thailand as sb etc is to order "2 week delibelly". Given most Thais concept of urgency I doubt immediate delivery will make much difference.

The Malaysians seem to love it. But they have a substantial, aspirational middle class that doesn't exist to anywhere near the same degree in Thailand.

Ikea in Kl offers a delivery and an assembly service. The store was incredibly busy when I bought a couple of pieces of furniture 18 mOnths ago. I thought alot of it looked like cheap rubbish, especially bedroom furniture and dining tables. Only managed to find a sideboard and a few chairs plus lamps when furnishing a 220 sq m apartment.

Hi folks

I need two very large teak or hardwood doors for a housebuild in Pattaya as double temple style doors. They will need to be custom size and from a company that can fit them too as well as make and fit the transom.

Happy to look at metal doors with a teak cladding. Simple plank design without any fancy carvings etc. They need to be exceptionally strong with deab bolts on inside and a sturdy locking mechanism on one panel.

Any suggestions? Thanks...

I've had a TG G for 10+ years and never had an upgrade. All of my London - BKK trips are in first but I usually book economy for Asian hops, even to Delhi. All I want is a bed for the night on long flights. As for dressing "smartly", on overnight F flights I wear shorts, T shirt and my second best pair of flip flops.

They gave me a platinum card which has no major benefits and none at all on inbound flights. Extra luggage? Who needs 80 kg on a flight (except the Thai VVIPs travelling with other people's money)? I get the F lounge at BKK instead of the usual ROP lounge on economy asian flights plus faster immigration at Swampy. Inbound to BKK no difference.

Pass the sick bag.

A gilded turd is still a turd whatever the ad men say.

- they didn't show their passenger planes being used as military transports into war zones either - check out BA149. If Iran or the njext "bad guy" ever shoots a passenger BA flight down they'll legitimately be able to claim that BA is a quasi military airline.

I was 131 days as a hostage in Iraq thanks to BA. Compensation - 200 pounds.

have you really travelled all over thailand.... really?

well.... i have also travelled all over thailand MANY MANY TIMES OVER AND OVER....

most local people that i come across have benn polite and civil....

most places are friendly and post no major problem....

i guess it all depends on WHERE you choose to visit....

and WHOM you choose to visit with.... LOL

if you really still have anxiety and problem, try the following places:

ma-hong-sorn, udon, trang, hatyai.... and the list goes on (for me, anyway)....

with the exception of phuket, pattaya, two major tourist attraction centers.... almost all other pleasureable centers are farang friendly....

perhaps, you can tell us exactly--what cities aggravate you so very much?

You get what you pay for. Thailand is cheap and attracts cheap tourists because the service is horrendous here. If Thailand truly wants higher class people with more money, then they need to eliminate the following: incompetency, complacency, language misunderstandings, dangerous travel, unenforced or non-existent safety laws, fear of telling the truth when there is a problem, unwillingness to admit to problems, being hounded by vendors and touts at places like Patong, blah, blah, blah...ad nauseum.

i've traveled all over Thailand and I'm sick of constant problems. Traveling here is just too dam_n aggravating.

In a nutshell! If you want to meet 'friendly locals' or experience a 5 star holiday in Thailand avoid anywhere tourists normally go. Also avoid any locations where they have any facilities whatsoever that might even possibly lay claim to catering to tourists looking for luxury.