Sydebolle

I don't understand the problem. Get some truck, upload the bikes and wheel them over to a guarded parking next to a police station and release these bikes against proof of ownership and a fine of 500 Baht (or higher). Within a week the problem is solved and half a million Baht is in the piggy bank - as simple as that! I parked my car nicely and upon leaving the car, a motorbike drove into the space between the car in front of mine and my car; switched off the engine, left the key in the lock and walked away. When I asked him to move the bike elsewhere he returned to take the ignition key along. I did my business and returned to the car; the bike as still there. So I simply rolled out the bike into the road, got into the car and drove off - leaving a honking crowd of angry car drivers behind me who we getting excited over that selfish biker leaving his bike in the street. Thais tend to bend and break each and every law; the biggest problem in this country is its own people on all levels 😞

As far as extensions and/or new constructions are concerned; keep an eye on projects handled in the past and learn from them: Korat/Nakorn Ratchasima - new airport with zero flights; going back to the old Air Force base between the zoo and much closer to town Betong - two airports = zero flights Chiang Rai - an absolutely unnecessary new airport was built to replace the (meanwhile empty) old airport Phrae - no flights Pai - no flights and that's how the list goes on. Just keep in mind, that these airports costs billions of Baht and serve not only passengers. Maybe they should have a word with privately owned airlines; they - after all - will have to handle the traffic. A pristine example was Prayuth's push for a new airport in Betong (border to Malaysia) by arm-twisting Nok Air. They started to fly and once they realized that they could not even generate the ground handling fees with their revenues they ........ stopped silently again. Nobody ever complained as the 15 minutes of fame were over 😉 Same with Chatichai Choonhavan's Indochina aviation hub in Korat; what an absolute joke ......

It's not the packaging (box vs. bottle) but rather what you put into the packaging. It's called the science of "oenology" and a component in wines called sulfites, a preservation method known by the Romans already. Most cheaper wines here are poorest quality or then alcoholized fruit juice made of imported pulp etc. And, before the manure-storm starts, products like Mont Clair have absolutely nothing in common with what is called wine. The Thai government ensured in its eternal wisdom - once more again - that the wines are completely overpriced and hence the selection is prorated accordingly. The government-enforced closing of duty free shops on arrival put another nail into that coffin; the wine prices (as so announced earlier on) still have to drop a lot. Only once Thailand understands, that imported stuff can be better than the local fare and hence not to be slapped with "protective" duties and taxes. Thai wines are no match to anything grown in the old or the new (wine) world, same with cider and certain imported specialty beers. In closing, same applies with cheese or cured meats; try to imagine the revolution if the Western world would slap a 400% duty on Thai cheese, wines or Isan sausages ......... In closing, drink less of the cheaper stuff or have it "hand carried" from the Cambodian border at a fraction of the price 😉

a) beans are not staple food b) a kilogramme of fresh local tomatoes are priced at 85 - 100 Baht per kilogramme (staple food) c) a kilogramme of fresh chicken parts can cost less than a kilogramme of tomatoes d) Tilapia fish can cost less per kilogramme than tomatoes or local asparagus (250 Baht/kg) e) you can easily do the beans treat yourself; it requires an activity called cooking If this is the only problem of the couple then happy days are, indeed, here again 😉

What's the flip side of the story? I've been approached by those absolutely useless mascots who, rather resilient, kept insisting in taking its brochures or listened to what he had to say. If a product needs a mascot, then it is kindergarten-level. Irrespective of that, those mascots should be more background without "forcing" catalogues, brochures or even folders onto passing-by visitors of an exhibition. Equally irrespective of course it is a no-no to physically attack each other, but as said ....... there is a flip side.

Knives out!

Another happy farang - enjoy while it lasts. The wake-up will have a "hangover" character though and the remedy will be a ticket back to the home land.

Did King Power not pay up this time?

www.rutnin.com - the only dedicated eye hospital in the region, very professional and affordable. Get a proper eye check; see Dr. Roy Chumdermpadetsuk who was the only expert who diagnosed my AMD "age-related macula degeneration", treated it over 3+ years and now I'm OK again.

Well, the market is "sluggish" and performing below (who's?) expectations - it seems. Of course it could be interpreted as a conflict of interest but the counter reaction could be that all those unsold properties are taken up by the semi-divine. Another possibility could be, that the market faces an oversupply - maybe.

Get the knives out. I shall meanwhile get some more popcorn 😉

Excellent work, congratulations to the boys in brown for hunting down this criminal and even give his name in the media. Thanks to the path blazing endeavours by the authorities, acting on a tip-off, I might suggest to carry on the good work in relation to a very old skeleton in the closet - the grandson of the Red Bull empire, a certain Mr Vorayuth Yoovidhya. He allegedly killed police officer on duty, Mr Wichian Klanprasert on 3 September 2012, some twelve years ago. The statute of limitations, apparently, expires in less than three months from now. As the case seems to be pretty clear and helping officials got moved to "inactive posts by the bus load, the police officer is still dead and the last hurdle of not being able to find Mr Vorayuth Yoovidhya has also been solved. On Youtube there is a clip by AP (Associated Press?) where the culprit was asked in London in front of his residence, if and when he would return to Bangkok to face the music. The only thing by Mr Vorayuth Yoovidhya spoken into the intercom was to "open the door". So, given the efficiency of hunting down this Japanese wrong-doer it could possibly be, that the Red Bull story might arrive at court, with him in attendance to present his version of the story of the alleged murder. All the other charges like racing with anything between 170-180km/h in Bangkok, loaded with alcohol (post-stress drink, he claims), heroin in his blood (residue of a dental treatment) and lying straight through his teeth to the authorities ...... have meanwhile been wiped off the legal slate and filed away - for good - I hear. I am sure, that the untouchable adherence to law and order will be upkept in such a way, that this case can be closed as well - prior to the statute of limitations in September this year. The clip, should the police need my help, by AP monologuing with Mr Vorayuth Yoovidhya, can be found here:

Whoever tried to get an alien legally working in Thailand might be tempted to just forget dealing with this sheer endless avalanche of papers, photos, copies, certifications, translations et al - in light of the fact, that the officers dealing with the paperwork are certainly not qualified, cannot understand the nature of the anticipated position and work load of the alien but, in a inferiority complex on their part, make it very tedious to pass through the maze of funnies by the alien and his employer. The jackpot was, in the past at least, that you had to sign a form, that you confirm to employ yourself for yet another year - so happened to me many moons ago. Neanderthal moments at their very best!

I looked at the culprit's Facebook site; the average Joe does not go there for anything. He also trains Thai students in all those hair cuts which are known as "vintage" - never got the "vintage" part though. Oliver Ehrat seems to have survived the pandemic, unlike the uncle you were referring to. Yes, the Swiss broke the law by working in a "Thai only" profession but he certainly did not grab a single Baht from any other local Figaro - as far as I can see. The whole hype will cool down anytime soon - like everything else in this country!

Is it just yet another smoke screen for something much bigger happening behind the curtains? I - for one - never tried the stuff and have no intention to start now. Most of these weed shops are empty, the hype is over and will settle to what the market can absorb. The move was brilliant as it de-criminalized the trade (which takes place irrespective of legality) and I do not think that it would create more "customers". Maybe one or the other will try it once and conclude that it is not worth the (legal) money. Thepsuthin's statement would have to rechecked, the 100,000 people questions (I question the figure already) were from all walks of life, all over Thailand and all over gender/age range?

Noted with interest but his pricing for the services provided is not the issue. The issue is (most likely), that the local barbers hear that he gets 500 - 4,000 and the locals are jealous. Getting hair dyed costs X (I have no clue, never did it and shall not venture into this uncharted territory now); maybe he provided a service not available elsewhere. Maybe the local hair dressers serve ladies on dye requests but are not familiar/heard of gentlemen wanting the same service. I would assume that a Thai lady never forks out anything more than possible 1,000 Baht for a hair colouring job - and walking through Bangkok it is evident, that Thai ladies tend to dye their hair. If it is dyeing (hair colouring) then a legal wizard might take that particular paragraph of the alien business law apart. Cutting hair and dyeing hair is not the same. Irrespective of all I assume that the little brown one will solve the problem as the dirty farang from faraway Switzerland had a work permit. Misunderstanding of allowed scope of work or similar will be the back door out. A clip (https://www.facebook.com/OliverTwistHairdressing/videos/1035206179875291/) showing Oliver Ehrat at work also refers to the fact, that he is teaching a Thai lady the tricks of hair styling - does his work permit include teaching; does he have a Master's Degree in teaching? How embarrassing; do the clowns know that the internet can also be accessed outside Thailand - asking for a friend?

The bureaucratic madness continues. Running a restaurant in Vientiane/Laos by a non-Thai/non-Laotian, it requires shopping across the Mekong in Nong Khai and Udon Thani. Now, overland crossings are limited to two per calendar year so the goons at the interior ministry invented a multi-reentry visa for such people. It requires a bank guarantee of 200,000 Baht, is valid for six months and costs 5,000 Baht - direct payment to the consulate without any "helper's fees". Appointments to wheel in the paperwork (plenty of that, i.e. copies of passport, bank statement of a Lao bank, Lao work permit etc. etc.) must be done online. The earliest appointment - given on 24 June 2024 is end of August, i.e. two months from now. The fun continues as I drive with a Thai plated vehicle (fully paid, insured etc.) and had to do a temporary export declaration (nobody knows why that paper exists as the car and all taxes on the Thai side are paid). The temporary export permit allows the vehicle to be out of Thailand for not more than 30 days, after which a fine of 1,000 Baht/daily; max. 10,000 Baht will apply on re-importation of car. How can you stay within the legal limitations by the Thai customs of a month if the Thai consulate takes 2+ months for an appointment, after which it takes another few days for the holy sticker? They really should clean up their bureaucratic mess with a very very big broom, vacuum cleaner or huge leaf blower. So much to 21st century in the land of the semi-divine 😞

Got bounced off by the Yellows some sixteen years ago and, as it seems, nothing has changed since ........ Lets see, the fuse is getting shorter and shorter - let me get the popcorn

Thailand's biggest threat is her own people .......... and meanwhile Thailand's reputation of rip-offs, two- and more tiered pricing combined with a product which is no longer worth the money ...... all this is reflected in the tourism statistics (not the local ones though)

a) hair dressing/barber shop operation is indeed a "Thai only" profession as so stipulated in the "Alien Business Law" b) the average Khon Thai will never ever pay 500 - 4,000 Baht for a hair cut c) since the guy has been in business for that long, it can only be assumed that some zealous barbers in the +/- 100 Baht league went to alarm the authorities who, in turn, started the hunting of the dirty farang. d) instead of pissing around like cowards, the local figari thailandesi might want to study, why a farang gets that much more money for a hair cut than the usual "bowl on head and cut around" league I do not feel sorry for the Swiss guy, he knew exactly what he was in for. It is a special kind of stupidity to "provoke" the Figaro congregation on the island - serves him right! Unless he has an otherwise clean record he will be requested for the little brown manillas 😉

Let me get the popcorn, the show is going on

The difference between a drug user and a drug dealer/mule is to be noted. While I would cry to no end if one of my kids would deal with drugs and face the gallows I would eventually understand the society rules to apply for one and all. How about losing a child to drugs; would this change the mind of some? It would not change my mind as I am for protecting the civilized majority and spending taxpayer's money on more worthy stuff than keeping pedophiles, rapists and drug dealers/mules locked up for decades .......

Don't complain, the online price does not include the courier costs ....... simple as that!

I would have loved to contribute to the funds but I decided differently. So happened when we wanted to visit Phu Thap Boek in a National Park. The map refers to a public road number 2331. My Thai spouse would be charged with 20 Baht while I, as a 40-years resident with PR, should have forked over 500 Baht. Once the officer had taken the tickets of the block and invalidated them by tearing them apart I put my wallet back and said, that I changed my mind and come back once the racists have left the stage. To avoid being permanently banned on this platform I shall refrain from quoting the officer all the names he called me. Of course he had to pay these two tickets out of his own pocket as nobody would believe him. The CCTV cameras were installed by some loose wiring suggested no recording of the incident. He will hate the dirty farang for sure but over time might wonder, why tickets differentiate by skin colour ........

Well, quite obviously the US now acknowledges their wrong doings and wanted to keep the lid on that drum of manure. Assange's way out is the ever-so-important face saving for the official US with all their goons in Washington DC.