Markaew

It is sometimes difficult to love this town.

I never go there. Gave up on it. Same as Phuket. If I want trouble that's where I go. I don't so I don't ever go to those two places.

I don't care too much about this OP but I'm getting aroused by the anime under the OP.

I don't care too much about this OP but I'm getting aroused by the anime under the OP.

What have YOU been browsing? I can't see what you're referring to.

It must randomly change the advertising. It isn't there any longer.

I don't care too much about this OP but I'm getting aroused by the anime under the OP.

Can't you people say anything positive once in awhile? Give credit where credit is due. I mean I for one and glad that they are here to try and protect us.

Crackdowns are not something that only the Pattaya police do and they are not part of an every day routine. Crackdowns are done in every country in the world. It is beyond their regular daily duties.

Who do you people call when you have been robbed or when your motorbike is stolen?

Experience leads people to say what they do in this forum and going by what you just said, I would you have little experience.

Thailand needs to improve their safety standards. I believe Thailand has the highest death rate of people falling from buildings.

Of course, we know she didn't fall.

I think the Japs are tired of flying to Thailand to visit Thermae so why not bring Thermae to Japan?

In case you are not aware, "Jap" is a racist term from the days of WWII propaganda.

It has been highly inappropriate in civilized discourse for more than 50 years.

In my opinion so is "Farang", but that doesn't stop anybody.

Are you suggesting that farang is historically used as a racist pejorative?

The word farang comes from French "Francai" meaning Frenchman. It has

been used for several hundred years in Thailand to refer to westerners.

It's very similar to the usage of "Angley" (Englishman) in India and Pakistan

to refer to foreigners.

I know where farang comes from. Frankly, I think everyone knows what it means. It's the way it's used in Thai society.

And yes it is used in a racist way. If you can't buy that explanation then we don't need to discuss this any further because you evidently have a point to prove and I'm not interested.

I think the Japs are tired of flying to Thailand to visit Thermae so why not bring Thermae to Japan?

In case you are not aware, "Jap" is a racist term from the days of WWII propaganda.

It has been highly inappropriate in civilized discourse for more than 50 years.

In my opinion so is "Farang", but that doesn't stop anybody.

I think the Japs are tired of flying to Thailand to visit Thermae so why not bring Thermae to Japan?

I still can't figure out what is so cheap about Bangkok. Most people complain about the British pub prices throughout.

There are some dam_n good restaurants, with good food and drinks for low prices. Of course not DIRECTLY on Nana or Patpong.

So eat out in a nice (mostly Thai- frequented) place and hopp on to few drinks at the "usual" places...good and not overly expensive fun.

Ok. I'm hooked. Where are they?

Frankly, every time I have heard that and tried the suggestion I paid a pretty good chunk from my wallet.

But, I would like to be proven wrong.

My favorite f.e. is the Sortrel on Soi Narathiwas.

Found the atmosphere to be nice, the food to be good, the prices to be reasonable...

Another one would Khao Ta, directly on Thewes Pier.

Thanks. I'll check those out.

I still can't figure out what is so cheap about Bangkok. Most people complain about the British pub prices throughout.

There are some dam_n good restaurants, with good food and drinks for low prices. Of course not DIRECTLY on Nana or Patpong.

So eat out in a nice (mostly Thai- frequented) place and hopp on to few drinks at the "usual" places...good and not overly expensive fun.

Ok. I'm hooked. Where are they?

Frankly, every time I have heard that and tried the suggestion I paid a pretty good chunk from my wallet.

But, I would like to be proven wrong.

Thailand will continue to fail because they believe they are in the same league as the rest of the countries of the world. They are reaching far beyond what they are capable. Thais don't get it, most other countries understand what they are.

To cede power to rebels! Mmmm Why not save time and money and just annex the deep south now and call it Malaysia. Perhaps someone could translate for the Thai's, 'you give someone an inch and they take a yard', you give rebels an inch and they will take everything. Islam demands world domination so do the Government think it stops in Yala? And IF this is nothing to do with religion then what do the rebels want? The rebels are happy with the money and power and position they have, do the Government think they want to give that away for some offer of peace? This is full time employment to these guys and the hours are easier than 7/11 or the local building site. This is a business, they don't want peace.

Perhaps the Government should remember how their own redshirt representatives (now ministers and politicians) negotiated with Abhisit. They demanded early elections and a date, and Abhisit, conceded to all their demands. Clearly not expecting this to happen the reds then walked out of the negotiations despite all their demands being met and continued their act of anarchy. Why do the Government think the rebels in the South are more honourable than they are themselves?

Good point.

They have done it before, why not again? This is what Thailand does best; when there is a dispute then give away land. This is reflected throughout Thai history. Maybe in 50 years Thailand will be as big as Rhode Island.

When have laws meant anything in Thailand? Laws are for non-Thais.

Forget "Amazing Thailand". The new motto is "We do What We Want". WdWWW.

Has a global connotation don't you think? Similar to WWW.

Just a wee bit defensive are we, considering your's is the first post on the thread. Cut back on coffee as it will help lower your blood pressure.

As for the OP, the report states that Bangkok will be the most visited city in Asia for tourism. It did not state that it was the BEST city as the topic headline denotes.

Don't really see how positively expressing my love for Thailand signifies defensiveness and high blood pressure. And, FWIW, I never drink coffee.

As to my prediction of inevitable Thai bashing ... it was done half-jokingly, but I hate emoticons ... esp. that corny laughing-man ... and so I guess my poor attempt at humor failed.

And as a follow-up to my last post. Why do you have 800+ posts and you lived here for 30+ years?

Your posts have a particular smell to them.

just because he only has 800 + post doesn't mean he hasn't been coming to thailand for 30 years,maybe he only posts the odd time. what a silly thing to say

What is silly is the gross overuse of the word "silly" in this forum. Increase your vocabulary if you need to comment.

That's what we need, weaker Baht is good. I don't know if it lasts though. Thailand is an attractive market so money will keep flowing in.

The US Fed hinting that QE is winding down will will weaken the baht as well.

Yes, no need to prop up Obama's false economy any longer. He's been reelected.

The US economy improvement is an illusion. The Fed has pumped enormous amounts into the banking system at 0% and the banks are investing in the stock market which pushes stock prices up, thus the "improved" economy. When the Fed draws that money out then everybody needs to run for their lives! The Fed chairman will retired before he has to do that. The next guy will truly suffer. So when the Fed chairman announces his retirement, you know it's coming.

Well at the moment, consensus is expecting QE-tapering to begin in the last quarter of this year (could begin earlier if things get really rosy in the states).

Bernankes term at the helm ends in January 2014, but he will still be a board member until 2020

I doubt he will hang around for the crash. I believe his retirement or "stepping down" will come first.

I don't really care about Will's note. So what?

Cared enough to read the article and write a needless reply, so you do care a little, don't you?

No, I don't. And I didn't read the complete OP.

I don't really care about Will's note. So what?

I wish I could find the way to insert a picture, but I found this hiding in my kid's "Culture" book the other day.

I haven't loaded a picture for so long, I can't find how to do it.

The text is as follows:

"When everyone conduct themselves in accordance with one's social status, knows one's role, performs one's duty, and exercises one's rights and freedoms correctly, the country will be a peaceful and prosperous place for everyone to live in".

My jaw dropped........

That really raises my blood presure.

What is happening now is the MOE is doubling down on the "process" of learning without really changing anything in the classroom. The schools are documenting and reinventing their reporting procedures as if that will help the students. I assume they figure if they report better then the students will be better.

Thais are really consumed with documentation and they believe good documentation signifies a good education system. They are creating a mountain of paperwork in response to all these reports of poor English speaking Thais that they have forgotten (or they are ignorant of) they actually need to improve their teaching methods. It's like the documentation somehow proves they are accomplishing their goals without actually do it.

Which all proves that their English will not improve.

I have two sons, Thai American. Their English is very good, but I only speak to them in English. They both go to Thai schools, not international schools. One son is in regular class and the other is in HM the Kings class at the same school. The quality of teaching is different. in the Kings class the English teacher is from the USA. In the regular class they are Philippine or Indian.

When I came here in 1966, I was in the US Army and worked with Thais. Some of them were very fluent in English, but they were trained by the Army.

The problem with the English language usage in Thailand is oral communication and comprehension. The majority listen to the English and than translate it to Thai in their head. Professor Brown at AUA taught the total immersion program, learn by listening.

I am curious about your children's ratio as far Thai English and foreign teacher exposure. I would guess there is a Thai English teacher that sees your children more than foreign teachers.

And finally commenting on the OP:

It appears the level of disinformation has gone from nation to international. If the international community is buying this OP then we are all in trouble.

And so, let the predictable Thai bashing begin.

Actually, even after thirty-plus years of travel and living in Thailand ... and being fully aware of it's many flaws and warts ... I still very much love Thailand, it's culture and it's people.

Just a wee bit defensive are we, considering your's is the first post on the thread. Cut back on coffee as it will help lower your blood pressure.

As for the OP, the report states that Bangkok will be the most visited city in Asia for tourism. It did not state that it was the BEST city as the topic headline denotes.

Don't really see how positively expressing my love for Thailand signifies defensiveness and high blood pressure. And, FWIW, I never drink coffee.

As to my prediction of inevitable Thai bashing ... it was done half-jokingly, but I hate emoticons ... esp. that corny laughing-man ... and so I guess my poor attempt at humor failed.

And as a follow-up to my last post. Why do you have 800+ posts and you lived here for 30+ years?

Your posts have a particular smell to them.