Sydebolle

Just realized that I really understand absolutely nothing. Three years ago Thai Airways had a loss burden in its accounting of THB 323 billion (give and take a few billion). That is BILLION not million. End of last year, i.e. 2023, they absorbed Thai Smile (WE) into Thai Airways (TG) officially. TG had shown a profit of THB 10 billion while WE closed with a loss of THB 20 billion. Now they went shopping for new aircraft while 50% can be seen permanently parked at Suvannaphoum and plenty of other planes are standing around in U-Tapao. Empty airframes (other airlines are still flying with those) are seen all over Thailand on Sukapibal 3 Road, Chic Chic Nong Khai and at an aircraft boneyard between Khao Mai Kaew and Rayong on highway 7 (left side just before Sattahip). Question now is, does TG buy aircraft and just park them - more or less - straight all over boneyards and future restaurant sites? Second question is, where do all those billions come from? But, as said in the first line ....... maybe I really don't understand a thing 😉

Well, well, what do I know! Give this complete idiot a solid gold medal for his findings as well as his advice on incense sticks et al. If this exemplary representative of the present government, Karom Phonphonklang, would have an IQ above his American shoe size, then he would simply shut up. But, if for whatever reason, he needs to get his 15 minutes of fame, why not name the real culprits of this terrible haze and smog - meanwhile all over the country and rising tendency? All those (few) processors running feed mills for their pork and chicken business keep srecwing those hundreds of thousands of farmers, latter with their back to the financial wall so adequately put there by loan sharks and the ministry of education. Latter ensures that those farmers have zero education and hence are all slaves of the oligarch elite - still. They need to grow crop like corn or sugarcane soonest possible to (at least try to) keep up with the exorbitant interest payments on loans threatening the ownership of their land. So, Mr Karom Phonphonklang, get real and factual or - just keep your shirt on!

No and that's the reason the Thai officials are not moving their backsides ....... unless, of course, Rolex was invented in Thailand as well 😉

All those who would run around at home with a sarong around their waist or featuring cotton boxers only. This kind of leg wear would be nice along the beach or on a leisurely trip - provided you do not look like a walking commercial for a design so important that the Thais believe that they invented it 😉

While I certainly disagree with the behavior of most cabbies these days, it remains a fact that their fares have not been reflecting inflationary adjustments. Flag fall is still at THB 35, which is a joke. Start with looking at that and that might rid quite a few problems to begin with.

Enraged over an international couple? Well, they upgraded from dirty farang and alien - it seems. Interesting is also that the officials go apes"*%t over something, which is on show against payment somewhere else in this beautiful country. Unless, of course, those pingpong and other shows underline purely educational purposes, that is!

15 minutes of fame in the wake of medieval days - or - game of thrones Thai version?

Well, if "conversion wonders" like i.e. the miraculous "baking flour into illegal substance" has no impact on politicability in Thailand .......

Well, luck has it, that there are plenty of alternatives and no, by principle, I would not go back!

Present senators were not voted in but placed there by Prawit, Prayuth and all the other army cronies. Let's see what happens during this year's election of the senate .....

"amulets are believed to offer protection" Explains, why some Thais have not inched into the 21st century yet!

Well, well, after a 25+ years absence, the tag line "the driver fled the scene" is back ...........

Their direct line at the head office of DLT is 02-272-3615‬, call and ask for advice. Good luck!

Use "Bolt"

Had the very same problem with Bangkok Bank when moving from Bangkok to Nong Khai: - I have a Bangkok Bank account with an ATM card in Bangkok for 30+ years - moved to Nong Khai, opened a new bank account with ATM - with Bangkok Bank in Nong Khai - added this Nong Khai account to my existing Bualuang Ibanking (which I used and still use to run my Bangkok account) I manage both accounts from my screen at home or my smartphone, without fees, i.e. electronic funds transfers between any domestic bank accounts of any banks are free of charge. Hence I avoid cash withdrawal fees when using my Bangkok ATM in Nong Khai (or vice versa). Logic? No, of course not! Does it make sense? No, of course not! And, if you are at it and they start trying to talk you into a "mandatory" insurance, then just tell them to either accept you as a customer or walk into the next bank. Just follow the flow of incompetence and idiocy and Bob's your uncle 😉

The "copyright infringement" of a unproven Thai design - which makes everyone laughing - comes from the same sources not caring a bit about the tons of Rolex copies and the likes sold to tourists by the truckload. I would have bought such legwear long time ago, if it would be available in neutral pastel colour, i.e. without design. Maybe I am not the only one; many people around me think the same.

Questions: - why did Grannie film the rape rather than going over-the-moon like any other decent grandparent would have done? - when does Thailand implement and execute capital punishment for paedophiles, rapists and drug dealers? - is the officer in charge, who did not move his backside, facing a paid vacation in jail prior to get fired immediately for good? - is the head of police station getting demoted for not having his shop under control? - the PM, apparently in direct control of the police force (not under the interior ministry) should appoint external help to clean up the police force, once and for good; when is this going to happen? - are the men of the cloth being properly screened prior to entering monkhood; too many criminals and run-aways hide behind the semi-divine walls of all those temples these days and give the cleric the "tainted" image - to put it mildly

How interesting ...... Is someone (who?) driving the message home prior to Thaksin's imminent parole expectation (expecting 22 February or shortly after that). It certainly makes it crystal clear, that he is not to rock the (political dinosaur) boat and that some drummers are keeping a very, very close eye. As said, how interesting, this arena of circus politics ......

Taking "quality tourism" to new heights on the infamous "full moon island" ........

Don't think so, but your Embassy or Consulate can clarify this point. Based on what would the UK immigration NOT let a British subject return to the motherland?

The very same happened to me in Nong Khai. Able barber but, post-pandemic, changed his "list of services" and increased marginally (THB 10) for "small child", "child" and "grown-up" - all in Thai language (which I can read). The only English reference was "Farang" with an increase from THB 100 to THB 200. I had to wait for previous customer to finish when I saw the sign. Stood up, told the owner (who knows me for many years) to reconsider his pricing as I would go elsewhere. The other customers waiting were surprised to hear me talking in a composed normal way. Bumped into the barber months later at a local supermarket; he approached me and said, that I - of course - would be categorized into the Thai pricing. Vote with your feet; no big stink or show, just walk away - but make sure they know why you're doing the walk 😉

One way to keep the Missus out of the house and busy ...... interesting!

It comes with the price. I've written off refunds and - hell, no - never ever managed to TALK to someone. The nasty part of the story is, that all other carriers are the same. With Thai Lion you can, if it is your once-in-a-lifetime-lucky-day, speak to someone but the outcome = same, same.

Way to go Sir; we had visitors who spent almost two hours in the "queue of immigration bureaucracy" which - I, for one - would add to the list of attractions in Bangkok. The immigration needs a MAJOR revamp to reach this anticipated goal. In Singapore, after Paya Lebar closed and Changi Airport was closed, they managed then already some 30+ years ago to be in a hotel room one hour after touch down. As said "way to go" and maybe - for once - go and look how others handle their immigration. Much worse is crossing in and out - overland. Traveling by your own car from i.e. Nong Khai to Vientiane ....... total nonsense, honestly. Apart from a "information of conveyance" (called TM2) - in duplicate, a "passenger list" (called TM3) and a "crew list" called TM4 is required. All with engine and chassis number (Thai car registration number is not sufficient - for whatever reason), no carbon copy paper and, since it is overland, a "departure/arrival card" (TM6) needs to be completed also with only black or blue inked ball pen in capital letters. This, in addition, also requires a re-entry permit. The customs for the car is another issue, but does not belong here. Mr Prime Minister, shake up your underling Anutin - in charge of interior Thai bureaucracy - and inch Thailand's internationalism towards the 21st century - thank you!

Immigration and Department of Labour will be out in forces to hunt down the dirty farang, a.k.a. alien, for begging without work permit. Needless to say, that such news is terrible as it taints the "farang ruae" (foreigners are rich) message hammered into the semi-divine Khon Thai which results in getting overcharged due to white skin - on all levels, governmental (national parks and sightseeing sights) as well as private (hotels, taxis etc.). And then they wonder, why the very group with fed the tourism industry billions of dollars in the past, went elsewhere and, what is left behind is either a poor fellow begging or a crook taking Thais for a ride.