Mason45

I know first hand how Thai's in general move kids on but keep on having more. My wife was one of those kids, she was one of 10 and her father never had a paid job in his entire life. It's a regular occurrence up north but it rarely happens with Thai Chinese who are better educated and have money to support their families, especially when it comes to the kids education.

Even if this guy is apprehended will the evidence stand up in court?

Every time I cross the train line there it goes through my mind what if the train comes. The roads either side of the crossing are the major cause of traffic problems there. Maybe traffic lights on both sides would solve this problem. At the moment it's total chaos as the law of the jungle takes over the rules of the road.

Are you sure you didn't rear end the Bolt lady. 555 just trying to be funny.

I got hit last week going for my daily walk in Soi 16/2 Naklua. A car came speeding behind me, there was a tour bus coming the other way. Of course the car driver didn't slow down. I was fortunate as the mirror got me and I felt it give way. If it had have been the actual car that got me I would've been in real trouble as there was a concrete light pole one meter away. A guy who goes cycling every morning stopped and asked me if I was ok. He told me he's been knocked off his bike 4 times this year in the same area.

What's racist about what I said? It's certainly not a cure but if people kept their eyes on the road, it would help in reducing the road toll. As for changing the Thai mindset, that needs to start within families and that's simply not going to happen. In most countries there is always police presence, so where do the BIB's get to every day. Last Saturday I drove from Pattaya to Korat and I returned on Sunday, I never seen a police car or a road block all the way there or on my return.

Over the years one thing I've noticed is when Thais are driving and they start talking to the passenger opposite them they take their eyes off the road. That's dangerous in itself but when doing so they never reduce their speed. Another thing people here must know is Thais have a mindset of the own. Policing, road signs even road trauma commercials on all forms of media won't change the way they think.

I spend time between my house in Bangkok and my condo in Pattaya. When I leave either property for an extended period I shut down the power and water before I leave.

My wife said she was happy with her Thai husband but he died in a motor bike accident when he was 30 yo. She has 2 daughters in their late 40's so thankfully there's never been any kids involved.

Firstly there's 2 types of Thai ladies that work in bars. There's the younger ones who are out for sex, drugs and party's and of course money. Then there's the ones 35 yo plus such as my wife who are looking for a long term relationship and a future they never had in previous relationships with Thai men. To some Thai women a bar is the best chance to meet a farang. Of course it doesn't always workout but most do. I've been married to my wife for 24 years and we're still together. My wife has 2 sisters, one married to an English guy and the other sister married to an Austrian. These two marriages are a few years less than mine. May I add they come from a very poor Isaan area, their father had 10 kids and never had a job in his entire life.

I stopped paying health insurance several years ago. Now as I'm 80 yo I gave my wife special instructions. The main thing is should I be diagnosed with a life threatening disease tell the doctor to hit me with pain killers and let me die in peace. Why pay exorbitant fees to get treated and die several months later. I still walk 90 minutes daily at a brisk pace and I'm careful what I eat, to me that is my health insurance.

The first thing they should do is to totally replace the Pattaya pavers with concrete and make the footpaths stable. Pavers aren't suited in Pattaya given the unstable soil.

Of course these proposed holidays will add to the carnage on Thai roads.

I used to visit a friend there, the houses were very cheap but after visiting him several times I thought who in their right mind would want to live there. It was like a bit of an up market shanty town surrounded by marshes and wetlands caused by tides and rain. His soi was always flooded and the mosquitoes were rife at night.Thankfully he moved to Bangkapi and visiting him now is far more pleasant.

When I'm back in my Minburi home I drive past there regularly along Suwithawong Road to do my shopping. It appears to be a very peaceful place and one wouldn't know it's a prison except for signage on the main gates. I had refurbishing done by a father and son several years ago. The son told my wife he had spent time there and he always feared the gang related violence there. It's same old story of Thai " hard men " needing 6 armed guys to fix up one.