onni4me

I had withdrawal symptoms at first. My body was used to getting drink in the system and it took months before I actually started to see the benefits. These include better stamina, good sleep and no hangovers. My overall feeling is much better. Lost some weight also and can now fit to my old jeans...savings allover...LOL

Last time I had a night out I had 5 pints of lager and had a hangover next day! So much the same as the poster above. When I was at it 15 pints was quite the norm...

I recommend abstinence to all just to observe how it goes without the liqueur. Not just for alcoholics. Many don't even notice how much they actually drink before they have to stay away from it.

Anyway, hope the year will bring all the best whoever and whatever you are. Cheers!

I enjoy a drink, usually go out twice a week to meet up with good friends, and will carry on doing so.

While I respect your choice, I do not see why people should preach to others.

Most 'reformed drinkers' lost control of their drinking, I have not, and neither have my friends.

Enjoy your new choice of sobriety, but let others decide for themselves.

You and an alcoholic differ in the respect that you can control your substance use. An alcoholic can't. That said, it is not out of the question to become an alcoholic at some stage. It is a condition that develops slowly. Meaning that you have to drink years before suddenly you can't control it anymore. If you think you are safe and never will have problems, okay. I personally don't see any preaching if someone tells about his positive experience being sober.

I had one small brandy with coffee over New Year. We had nice dinner with family and since most of them don't drink at all, it was not on agenda to have booze in the house and we had fun in other ways.

I have been heavy drinker in the past and it finally caught up with my health and relationship couple of years ago. I stopped completely for awhile and since then been having 3-5 times a year a party or something that I drunk more than a couple. It was strange at first since been 20+ years of drunken weekends and not significant change at first but after a year or so I really feel much better and optimistic about life. It also has improved my relationship since the better half does not drink at all. So now we do more stuff together and have power to do it also.

I salute everyone who has better doing than being in drunken stupor all the time. Happy New Year!

I'm sorry to say that he has little chance of survival. If they haven't managed to kill the infection in a month and it has spread to his lungs...er...sounds very bad indeed...

One can hope but looking at it realistically I wouldn't bet on it.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria is becoming more and more common due to widespread use of antibiotic for every possible disease. I have been asking doctors something for my flue (a virus) and was offered antibiotics (for bacteria). I wouldn't go for a doctor simply because of a flue otherwise but I am asthmatic.

Sad to hear this story. Whatever way, I suppose his acting career is over.

As I see it:

1. Pay them decent salaries. Most people here live from hand to mouth. I see some people getting almost the same as they did 15 years ago when in the meanwhile prices have gone way up. Could you take care of a family of 5 with 300-550 baht income daily resulting maximum of 12000 a month? I could not.

2. Who benefits? Could it be the hi-sos on the top? I think so. Keep them poor buggers and take everything you can from them.

3. Culture itself is much concentrated in the concept of "luck" and fatalism so what can you expect? They see a chance to have something - even if not too long - and they take it in desperate act trying to better their lives.

4. Have you ever tried to get a loan from a Thai bank? Minimum 3 years on a payroll before you can even ask for a loan. And they like to see collateral to a quite high level. Very difficult to most save money, pay school/education debts, family allowances and work continuously for years. System is flawed since some people steal approximately 30% of budget money. Yep, that is how much they have been estimated of stealing.

Thailand is way late with an overhaul of it's wages, cultural ways of managing things and many other aspects.

What should be known is that Dengue mosquito bites during the day. It likes shadowy places and stays under stools and tables. One can protect oneself with proper clothing. Just think of the days of khaki... LOL

Crashing the numbers it seems Bangkok has 5.7 million inhabitants. A bit of an underestimate in my opinion...

The move came as the number of Bangkokians suffering from the disease rose to 25,282 - three of whom have died.

Its current prevalence ratio is 444 per 100,000 of the population

I see...you got your "knowledge" from youtube. Well, keep it for yourself. It's not worth even to mention....All B.S.

I might point out that the persons interview, where his point happens to be very much same as mine, is not the only interview where he has appeared. If you would look into the matter a bit more, you might find out that he has quite a history that speaks for him regarding knowing the Soviet system and socialism.

I, myself, have visited USSR during the days when that system was still "functioning". So, I speak also from my personal views.

Since you brought up the subject (that had nothing to do with my OPINION) about reputable sources, so you consider EVERYTHING in Youtube as not worthy of even looking at? Music performances, news stories, documentaries...all no good since they are uploaded to Youtube? Oh boy, what kind of a world you live in...

I also like to say that when someone comes up with a point, it shows bad taste to say its not worthy because who he is or what source the opinion or analysis comes from. If you have something to say about the matter itself to challenge someone's point of view, please do so.

Otherwise no respect from me.

Thai tourists or holiday makers?

I am not surprised. In most Western countries people are told to take responsibility.

I was once wondering that while visiting Laos I never saw such piles of garbage left behind than here in Thailand. It was remarkably clean as much I could notice. After any small or bigger festival - only Thais attending - the fields look like never ending plastic growing in them.

Wonder if it will ever be any different..?

She will be cursed in the future and already is among many. She was a socialist in the East Germany and has never really changed her views. Around 1984 - or thereabouts - the socialist unions and groups decided to make EU their new project. Before that they were very much against it. Putin had very close and accepting relations until few years ago when USA started planting soldiers in Estonia and other Baltic countries and rattling their war machine in front of Russia's face (I am not saying that Putin is a nice person but understand Russia's point of view).

The difference with the socialist project tried in the old USSR compared to EU is that in the Soviet they chose to try Bolshevic through revolution. After that failed they are trying the Menshevic approach meaning that they do the "revolution" through legislature.

Anyone interested comparing the systems might be interested watching this interview. Wladimir Bukowski is a former Soviet dissident and has many valid points to make. The interview is in English.

How things are developing I would avoid stock market next year totally.

That said, I don't deny that there are buying opportunities. I'm just not a gambling man.

In my estimate the slowdown could take more than a year and the best buys are still far ahead. Just my opinion, though.

Looking a bit closer to SSI there is some interesting reads:

Losses at the steel group more than doubled to 6.3 billion baht in the first six months of this year from the same period of 2014, the latest financial accounts show. It had 74.3 billion baht of liabilities as of June 30 and 140.5 million baht in cash. The company will also approach other creditors such as suppliers to participate in its rehabilitation plan, Chief Executive Officer Win Viriyaprapaikit said on Sept. 21.

“By forcing Sahaviriya Steel to restructure the debt with the banks, it will probably also drag more creditors down with it too,” said Maria Lapiz, an analyst at Maybank Kim Eng Securities (Thailand) Pcl. “There’ll be a lot of people who will be involving in the restructuring.”

74.3 in liabilities and 140.5 million in cash? I would call that bankrupt...

Also the article's statistical image about the overall NPLs of Thailand's companies makes one think of all kinds of thoughts....

"Thai ethical practices"

I have not heard of these...could someone tell me what they are?

My experience with Chinese is that they are very hard negotiators. They will take no bullshit from anyone. Normally they are looking a bit bigger profit margin than Thais but can also deliver.

If they smell a rat than it is goodbye. I can imagine Thais trying to sell them old rubber and some other old stock that is worth not a toss.

They are deluded but that we knew already.

Uneven or in decline?

"The stress test shows loans to some large companies may turn sour. But none will match the SSI scale,"

How comforting.

Personally, I would run with my money when Thai official predicts "some" losses and tells that only government can implement some macroeconomic measures to prevent possible "problems".

Thailand exports have declined in value as he said and if any of the numbers we talk about are true in excess of 45% and the trade in volume is down 11-12%. I read these in another article so I am not to be blamed if the numbers are incorrect but they paint a truly scary picture what is coming. So they make more cheap rubbish and less valuable goods and despite that have lost a huge market share.

Thailand is dependent on it's exports. What happened 1997 will replay itself if and when China finally comes up with the truth. And that time is not far from now.

Slave abusers praised admitting their actions...

To hell with Nestle and the like. I believe when they are faced with heavy jail sentences and fines...i won't hold my breath for obvious reasons.

1. They have been getting these soft loans every now and then from previous governments. Most seem to buy cars, iPhones and so on. I see a lady teacher almost every day and she has 3 cars. One for husband and two for her private use. No kids. I wonder if they think that these loans never have to be paid back since when they start complaining like in this case, they will be promised more?

2. Giving your kids a proper education (and "securing" them a better position) is expensive in Thailand. Just some degree can cost 500000 - 1 million Baht and your salary will start somewhere like 15000 Baht a month. One can just count how many years goes to pay back something like that and trying to survive. Thailand does not care about it's citizens. Education is below what one can get even in Vietnam or something like Burma where they at least learnt to speak English.

3. Some of the money is spent in "businesses" like motel or a food shop without much previous experience running something like that. Against many people's expectations, it is very hard to make money here loaning money for business. I have invested myself and return is sometimes below 7% on invested money. One can count whether or not a loan could be serviced on that sort of ROI. In my opinion, very hard.

4. Attitudes and face. I want, I need and I can't live without showing someone I can afford things even I can't. And then they blame the bank that loaned them money...

200 million sounds cheap to me since they quote 20+ million tourists every year. That makes not more than whopping 10 Baht per person. I bet they make more from tourism.

BTW, I have not witnessed a case where a foreigner got free hospital treatment even on a government hospital. You need a guarantor before they do anything that costs real money. Granted, government hospitals are cheaper but not necessarily any worse since most doctors do extra work in private hospitals partly owned by themselves.

Friends that have not been able to have private treatment have got fair service this way. For anything more serious like cancer I recommend returning to your respective countries for treatment.

Utter nonsense anyway.

I wonder why someone has to put money in these things in the first place? And then some foreigners do it?

Before they actually know anything it would be nice to admit it...and go ahead with investigation.

From a guy who originally posted it was good to compare, criticize, and complain, you sure changed your tune on your second post. Drinking a wee bit are we?

But of course if this doesn't fit you or your life style then by all means don't take good advice. I could care less.

Now I am an alcoholic too? No, sorry to disappoint you. I rarely drink. Perhaps 2-5 times a year. You should try it too...makes life seem so much better...and sober.

And you seem to care a lot...just to say that my point was that I engage my brains first in any situation to asses it. I don't have rules per se but like to keep an open mind and if things look bad, I just walk away. I don't stay and try to rectify an unsalvageable situation.

I did say it was good to try to see things what they really are. Just that. Maybe that is not what you try to achieve but for real understanding of things it's invaluable.

The 3 C's aren't about being positive all the time. They are about not being negative all the time, and what this post is all about.

How can one argue with a person who thinks comparing this country to his own, criticizes everything he sees, and complaining about everything he doesn't like, is a good thing? You wouldn't be my friend.

I have lived and worked Overseas most of my adult life, and it is people like you that I see burn out first by a long shot. So let's see how long you will last and keeping your friends and family here, by bitching and complaining all the time and telling everyone that back home we had this or that and not the crap they have here.

You didn't seem to catch my drift at all. And you truly seem to be happy in your holier-than-thou approach...

I don't dwell much here on ThaiVisa since it is full of people who judge other's character just by reading some reply to their posts. Sad and yet so predictable.

Burn out? Hmm...actually I am quite happy here in this country. Been here 15 years and had a family 10+ years...have to try real hard to complain and bitch since I was just asked to join for a nice cruise by some Thai friends and they will pay for the trip - or their company to be more precise. So hard to have friends like this...LOL They must enjoy my negativity.

Oh and btw, you are not the only one who has been overseas most of his life. So it does not make you an expert. Hope you have everything under control and when life throws some surprises at you, I must advice you at that moment:

1) Don't "Compare".

2) Don't "Criticize".

3) Don't "Complain".

4) Don't "Come Here!"

There were also some comments which, perhaps, the writer can help me with.

1. Where can I buy scones and pikelets from?

2. Is there any clotted cream in Pattaya?

3. How do you cope mentally with no insurance if you are over 70, like me?

4, If we left Pattaya and returned to Isaan and lived a quiet life in the country (which sounds divine), I still need to keep my brain turning, and not be one of the many old farangs who go to the beach here, drink their coffee and sleep for the rest of the day.

I already do loads of brain puzzles that help me stay alive.

1. Donno. Buy a small gas oven and start baking yourself. Ovens start from about 8000 Baht upwards. Makro sells cake and bread flour. This would be an activity. I bake most of my own bread mixing oat meal in it or various other things making it more tasty.

2. Donno. I started making my own yogurts starting with natural (and expensive) Greek and Turkish ones made with the live bacteria and no sugar added. Only you need clean palstic containers and mix some of the old one with fresh milk and/or cream and let them go sour in the room temperature under a plastic film and after place them in the fridge. As far as I understand clotted cream is heated in a pot placed in hot or boiling water and egg yolk is used to thicken it and butter. Constant stirring is required. Perhaps some potato starch to make the mix even. I never made it myself so don't really know but recipes are there to look at internet. Good hobby cooking. Makes one happy to enjoy good food.

3. Government hospitals provide pretty decent care. I had an old friend at a Srinakarin hospital Khon Kaen having a stroke and he was in over a month. The bill came to 44000 Baht. They like to tranfer people to private hospitals if they have an insurance. Doctors are mostly same doing the dayshift in government hospital to make more money they do evening/night shift in private one. Even with the smaller budget you can get good treatment. If you get cancer or something more serious I see no other choice but to accept it or go back for treatment. We all die at some point. I myself am lucky been through 2 serious car crashes here in LOS with no major injuries. One broken ankle.

4. I have a small 5 room resort, a pool room and rather big garden. Sometimes I have friends come over for a fry up and few beers. I drink very rarely nowadays but fun can be had without being pissed. To feel connected I need weekly talks with my friends so I drive to see them. I don't know about you but having someone to talk to is essential. Otherwise your thoughts go in circles. I also do one new thing every week. If there is a street that I haven't seen before I go and drive to look at it with my bike. I order books from Amazon or similar internet book stores. Make your way to the beach. Sit under an umbrella. Talk to people. Have a massage. Sip some tea or coffee. There must be a club that you join in like many nationalities have. Go have a look. Go sing karaoke with people. Explore the things that you can do for free. I just wonder, you have any friends? That is difficult part here but try to find a way to get some.

I add a bonus. If you can't afford it here with reasonable lifestyle, I just can't see you making it anywhere else. What are your expenses? In Isaan you can find relatively new 2 bedroom houses around 5000 Baht a month (in Khon Kaen not city center but 4-5 km away) or if you go into the sticks even cheaper. Does your wife have a family house somewhere? Install an air-con there if you prefer one and go live there awhile. It doesn't mean you have to be there all the time. For a change. Food for thought. I understand that in your age it is not easy but I have found out that our happiness is due to our own actions. To take the choices that we want, not others. I can't live your life, only you can.

Cheers.

There is 3 Golden Rules called the 3 C's which everyone should get to know when working and living Overseas.

They are:

1) Don't "Compare".

2) Don't "Criticize".

3) Don't "Complain".

I suppose you could add another "C" to this Golden Rule for people who can't follow the first 3 C Rules. It would be:

4) Don't "Come Here!"

There is 3 Golden Rules called the 3 C's which everyone should get to know when working and living Overseas.

They are:

1) Don't "Compare".

2) Don't "Criticize".

3) Don't "Complain".

I suppose you could add another "C" to this Golden Rule for people who can't follow the first 3 C Rules. It would be:

4) Don't "Come Here!"

Don't compare? How one can in his right mind come to some exotic place and not make comparisons? It also serves in making improvements...

Criticism is also a way to clear one's thoughts on any subject and perhaps find a way to comply with changes whether they are positive or negative.

Complaining sometimes lets out the excess steam...

I not see much value in your advice. A person without brains goes not very far. And in that process also processing negative things is very valuable. I've seen far too many empty headed people repeating the mantra of positive thinking and burn out at the same time.

Not sure that you can read much real Thai history in Thailand.

What is published here tends to be an outright lie, and the books published abroad, reflecting reality, tend to come with a 5 year jail sentence. If you are caught in Thailand with one in your possession.

Agreed.

Most books I've read are in English and banned here which deserves the question, can a country ever move forward when it has not made peace with it's past?

In my humble opinion the answer is: NO!

Reading a well known book from 1840's (content can't be discussed here) I noticed how little, if nothing, has changed in the Thai mentality...and those unchanged things keep dragging this country backwards.