aslimversgwm

2 hours ago, Rob13 said:

Trump's days are numbered. 

We live in hope 

1 hour ago, tompelli said:

So many important stories get pounded to death for a week & then forgotten. I'd like to thank the Nation for at least trying to keep this story in front of the public.

To my shame I was unaware of this incident. Thanks for bringing it back on the news again. Let's hope there is a serious enquiry begun by the authorities but I am, unfortunately, not optimistic. 

54 minutes ago, ozgolfguy said:

Would appreciate clarity on the combined method of income and money in the bank, is it a simple formula of meeting the 800K total?

Example would be 400K in the bank (for 3 months prior) and 35K monthly income (12 x 35K = 420K) or any combination thereof? Thanks

Yes any combo as long as it equates to 800k

Puts the little Englanders to shame. Well done France. I  am definitely warming to the French and that's saying something coming from a trur Brit!

3 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Too bad. The EU is a bastion of corruption. I guess it continues.

Evidence or just bombast? 

53 minutes ago, jamhar said:

I do not want to rush to judgement.

 

I should take a look at the evidence before deciding

Can someone supply the link? 

Quite so! It's so frustrating!!

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

More rail line studies...HS trains, double rail lines, monorails, light rail ..nothing ever gets completed ....and the build stage just fades off into the distant future.

Thailand will have the same rail system in 10 years time, maybe with the addition a few more Chinese carriages.

 

Afraid to say but I agree with you Chris. I'm a great rail enthusiast as I truly believe they are the best alternative to either air or road  being both environmentally and economically better and a much safer,  pleasurable way to travel. But dear Thailand just seems to get bogged down in red tape or  unnecessary bureaucracy. Very reminiscent of my home country, the UK, I hasten to add!

48 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

It seems to me there is a big difference in contentment between people who choose to live in Pattaya and people who live upcountry. It is easy to imagine a strain on relationships when you live in Pattaya... I understand the illusion of ownership that appeals until you want to sell, and the excitement that would surely wane with the years... 

 

Living upcountry you are more immersed in the gentleness of the culture. I knew when I built my home that it was a gift to my wife and never considered it otherwise. 

 

But when people voice complaints about living in Thailand, I often wonder where they are located, as in my opinion, Pattaya barely resembles Thailand and also their economic situation. Surely, I sympathize with those who feel trapped here, but wouldn't they be economically trapped anywhere? 

 

So, OP,  yes, I agree that most people are better off here, and often times, if they suffer mistakes, it is of their own doing. 

Spot on Ken re Pattaya and dare I say place like Phuket - not the real Thailand. They are primarily seaside resorts like everywhere else on the planet but unlike many have pretty good climates and 'other benefits' I don't need to elaborate on here! 

During October and into November last year my Thai partner (now my husband) and I spent nearly a month in Vietnam, necessitated in order to fulfill the UK's SSM rules as we were getting married in the British Embassy in Hanoi. We also stayed in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. I have to say as regards infrastructure (roads, wifi, post, banks, health), dining out, farang groceries and culturally we found Vietnam way behind Thailand.

In December we spent nearly 2 weeks in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and much like Vietnam found Cambodia had a way to go in matching Thailand for similar reasons.

This is just my personal observation for what it's worth!

2 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

It must also be noted that there was no 'panic' as the headline insinuates, and that the alleged offender was not in anyway distressed, angry or abusive towards the staff. He calmly left the plane when asked to as well.

 

Hardly the work of someone deserving 5 years in a tin-pot third-World jail cell I'm sure you will agree. Or maybe not, if you are a bar-stool occupying, mouth-breathing, singlet wearing loon that has lost all sense of perspective from living in the jungle too long. 

 

I am always hesitant to side with the airlines in cases like this as they are the most notorious for having their jack-boot on the throat of the little guy. They way they conduct themselves as a cartel is shameful and in any free and fair World would be illegal. 

 

Unfortunately we will never know exactly what happened. 

Quite so and a great put  down for a lot of the contributors on tv. Bless me father for I have sinned and intend to continue doing so for the forseable future. 

4 hours ago, mercman24 said:

as regards to licences etc, drivers are not checked out at all, look at the double rapist allowed to drive a taxi  and the abusive lady driver who did not even have a licence. i was driven downtown by a guy who had just served 7 years for murdering his girlfriend, wow he was spooky. giving us all the details

What a fascinating journey though! Only in Thailand perhaps!

3 hours ago, tonboy said:

That means an average of 150 km/h. Sorry, can't believe that. Or do you have an airplane ?

Or nearly 94mph for those not gone metric. Impossible - a straight lie in fact.

Even on a German autobahn you'd be hard pushed to average that speed over that distance let alone on Thai roads

1 hour ago, geriatrickid said:

Pathetic fail at sarcasm.

The laws in place  to protect civil rights and privacy in the USA and UK are strong and are enforced. Despite what you might think, a police agency can not access private data as easily as the manner proposed for Thailand.  The judiciary is independent and is not cowed or intimidated by the military. Neither the US, nor UK military interferes in domestic affairs and in both countries the military is subject to transparent civilian oversight. 

 

If  I am harmed by a police officer or the government, I have a right of recourse. I have far more confidence in the judicial system, the military  and the law enforcement of these two countries than I do in the shakedown boys who hang out under the  walkway in front of Market Village , Hua Hin at the end of every month collecting money.

 

 

are

Well said sir. Succinctly points up the difference between the UK & US v Thailand.

An independent judiciary is the keystone and the separation of powers generally, which do not appear to operate too well here and despite the current US administration is still clearly operative in the USA.

As a point of interest Thailand is a signatory to a UN treaty - I think it's part of the UN Convention on Human Rights-  which obliges a country to provide basic emergency medical assistance in  any life threatening situation so this local pronouncement appears to be simply complying with an international treaty obligation.

Way to go Uber! An unstoppable force regardless of what the  Song Thaeaw or tuk  tuk  mafias and unmetered taxis try to  do.

A great success here in Chiang Mai already but it does need to be properly licensed. A special licence as Uber have proposed and as operated in other SE Asian countries seems a sensible option for Thailand. 

Welcome news for the poorest Thais and let's hope these benefits will continue to be enhanced. 

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Sorry but what has the US elections got to do with labour in the UK????

Answer absolutely nothing.

And right up to the Brexit referendum the polls got it wrong.

People lie to pollsters so as not to appear weak or simply don't want to show their true feelings, even, dare I say, because of loss of face (yes it does exist outside of Thailand!)

25 minutes ago, evadgib said:

They'll get their own back in flight 

 

Brilliant! 

11 hours ago, wakeupplease said:

The majority of Brits want brexit, but you, because of the pound drop want non brexit because you need the pension. hey did you not leave here for a better so called life in the sun, that alone says up you Britain. Me myself and I attitude, But not here mate This is the UK where law is enforced and we have a right to vote, say what we think and do as our hearts tell us. You made you bed so lie in it. Sorry I do not want to be rude but you are not with us anymore paying taxes like even the retired have to as the country needs those taxes to function and enforce laws that we have to have to protect us in all ways. Enjoy your life in the sun but your comments are no longer required as you deserted your home country and fellow Brits.

wrong on several counts.

1. Like most retired expats we do pay normal UK taxes on our pensions.  It's deducted at source at the appropriate rate.

2. Again like most retired expats we have families still living and working in the UK. I have 2 sisters and 2 adult children who think Brexit stinks.

3. You seem to fail to realise that the UK imports over 50% of its food and an even larger % of its white goods and electrical goods which will now cost you and everyone else living in the UK 20% more as these are paid for in foreign currencies like the $ ¥ or €.

So this is not a purely selfish outlook by any means.

But please do come back  to  me an tell me your grocery bill has gone down since Brexit. I mean in 2 years time in particular! 

27 minutes ago, Patanawet said:

Cretin!

Agreed - he certainly is

16 hours ago, AGareth2 said:

How much sin sot did he pay?

 As my dear departed mum would say: 'what a nasty piece of work he is'

19 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

I think Kim has come up against a like minded individual in Donald Trump. If it comes to blows well Kim's dynasty will be spread to the 4 winds. I liked your post in its entirety but there will be a point of no return maybe soon. You have 2 like minded ego's jockeying for world attention as well. I think Kim should play Kenny Rogers song from The Gambler sit down and talk to Trump take the shiploads of food and oil that will be offered. Both sides will save face and after a year Kim can make another trip to the well of goodwill. 

Agreed - but worrying times for sure for the reasons stated by others on this topic

In an interview on ITV (UK's biggest commercial TV channel) last week a recently retired British ambassador to North Korea said it is quite wrong to categorise Kim Jong-un  as mad, despite appearances to the contrary. The ambassador had met the North Korean president a number of times and found him to surprisingly urbane, intelligent and sane, but also recognised how ruthless he could be in ensuring the continuation of his family dynasty, at all costs.  That is Kim's sole interest - nothing else really matters.

Not someone to be underestimated or treated as a simple madman.

Perhaps the US president and his advisors should realise this and guard against overreacting to the supposed threat emanating from North Korea. 

18 hours ago, dunroaming said:

I don't think anyone seriously expects a "swing" to labour.  The strategic voting would be best served towards the other parties.  I also think that the vast majority of people accept that Brexit must go ahead, it is what is negotiated that people want a voice in.  Labour are dead in the water but who will those labour voters turn to now?

The LIberal Democrats of course. The  only party + the SNP which have consistently been opposed to Brexit. And article 50 is not irreversible if a deal can't be made brexit will not happen - end of story.

3 hours ago, Grouse said:

I don't see it quite that way. 

 

If the Con Party get an increased majority, then a hard or crashout brexit is more likely. That would tend to push Scotland towards independence.

 

OTOH, if a Labour/Lib Dem/SNP coalition wins and either soft Brexit or no Brexit happens, that would make independence less likely

 

IMHO

I pray to God that such an alliance materialises but it does seem a tad unlikely right now. We can only hope.