morpho

All I can say is that if the shooter gets off because of some "mental defect", then it will be another Travesty in Thailand! Yeah he was intoxicated but he clearly knew what he was doing and that it was wrong...IMHO.

There's been a large influx of Chinese tourists in Chiang Mai in the past 12 months or so since the movie "Lost in Thailand" was either partly or completely filmed here and released in China.

Except for being poor motorbike drivers and being seemingly clueless about their surroundings sometimes (esp, on their rented bicycles), they don't really bother me. But I haven't heard a single Thai say a good thing about them....to the contrary, I've heard a lot of complaints and grumblings about their rude, boorish behavior (according to the Thais).

BTW I'm not being racist...just stating the facts.

I live in Chiang Mai and I've never taken the train from or to BKK....and I never will! I'd rather take my chances flying.

Hope everyone recovers well.

A monk amasses 300 mBht and I don't know how many cars and no one thinks something is fishy? The police and justice system in Thailand continues to amaze...and disgust...me.

They better hurry, there may be nothing but malls if they don't.

I was thinking the exact same thing when I read this article! You beat me to the punch.

The only things most Thai students know anything (and actually care) about are their mobile phones and laptops...of course Apple is preferred so they look rich and important, even if they're not.

Sounds like he's formed a cult to me.

Good grief...only 70,000 baht!

Thailand's not the only place where someone can hire a cheap assassin....apparently there's no shortage of them also available for hire in the Philippines.

Well, it's been an interesting array of comments/responses up to this point. Everything from meaningful and insightful to funny to the snide and uninformative. No need for me to identify which comments are which...the commenter and others who responded know which are which. I appreciate all of them.

First, I want to clarify that I don't go around staring at or looking directly in the eyes of others. But I do consider myself friendly and I'm not hesitant/reluctant to give a glance or make eye contact with someone I don't know and give a nod of the head to say hello or outright say "hi". If that's strange or weird, so be it. Like I said in my original post (and some commenters also noted here), when I travel in other Southeast Asia countries people seem to have no problems with making "eye contact". And in actually, they often initiate similar behavior. So I still see something unique or different in Thais IMO.

Second, for those curious about if I am American, yes I am American...I admit it...and I am well-aware of the opinions (mostly negative) of many non-Americans about Americans. And on many points, I would probably agree with you but I also do not consider myself a "typical American". I've traveled extensively around the world and seen many cultures and religions so I'm not some hick from Mississippi who has never been past the county line. Even my European, South American, Asian friends will tell you I'm not your typical American cat. So I really don't think I'm carrying some American cultural baggage or biases.

I could say more but no need for me to be snide on my part so I'll leave it at that for now. Thanks again for the responses.

I have lived in Chiang Mai for 2 years now and prior to moving here in 2011, I had traveled extensively around the country for 10 years. I also have traveled extensively in Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.

One thing that I have noticed during my time living here is how so many Thai people, men and women, seem unable to look me in the eye when they see me. Just walking down the street and people either look away or look down. There are exceptions, mostly from young children and older people, but the majority of people in the middle seem to act in this way.

Now I know I'm not the most handsome guy in the world but I'm also not the ugliest. Plus Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Filipino people act totally different, especially in Vietnam where most of the people have no hesitation to look right at me and to even strike up a conversation.

In Thailand, I am assuming this has something to do with "maintaining face" but I really don't know for sure and am curious to know if others ever notice this and have an opinion.

After you get her to pay for the damages, I would find another condo building to live in. The management and security of my building here in Chiang Mai would have notified me pronto if anything happened to my motorbike.

Been to Koh Pha Ngan years ago but never had a desire to go to a full moon party or half moon party or no moon party there...and never will.

<p>I moved to Chiang Mai in August 2011 after retiring in the USA. I'd been coming here since 2002 and planning to retire here for years. Many things I like here and some things I don't. I live relatively cheap here, esp. compared to Bangkok, Phuket, Samui, and Pattaya. I like the size of the place...relatively big city but not too big...and it's still easy to get out to the surrounding countryside.  There's good food here, both farang and Thai.  The nightlife is pretty limited and geared mostly for tourists IMO.  The air quality is horrendous March and April and seems to be getting worse, but I just Leave for Vietnam and/or the Philippines at that time. The Thais here are a mixed bag IMO...some really nice people and some not so nice (esp. high-so Thais who think they are better than most Thais and all farang).  But the city is changing in a big way and fairly quickly in ways that I don't like and I think it's only a matter of months before I pull up and move to another location.  I think one problem for me is that I remember too well the Chiang Mai of 2002-2004 when I was first coming here...and that's the Chiang Mai I was wanting to live in.</p>

Not that I need a lot of medical care/attention but just another reason to leave Thailand for greener pastures, along with the strong baht, bad attitudes among many Thais these days, too many cars on the road (with bad drivers), misbehaved dogs whose owners don't seem to care, etc. Next stop either Cambodia, Vietnam, or the Philippines. PS. By the way, I do care about the poor of this country who will find it even more difficult to get adequate health care.

When I see the smug look on this guy's face, I see someone who feels confident that he is going to get away with killing someone else and he doesn't give a dam_n!

Next thing you know, they'll be raising bar fines!

Cambodia here I come!

Very tragic...but not surprising. It's the excessive alcohol and the "I can do anything I want in Thailand" attitude. I've seen it more times than I can remember...but never to this extreme.

Last year I received a one-year retirement visa AND a multiple entry permit.

Next month I plan to leave Thailand for the first time since I got the visa and permit. As I understand it, the entry permit allows me to leave the country as many times as I want during the one-year retirement visa/entry permit period. I also understand that I do not have to submit any other forms or make any other notifications when I leave and return to Thailand? In other words, Immigration at the airport will simply stamp my passport when I leave and return?

I just need to verify if my understanding of this is correct as I have read some conflicting posts/information online (that other forms/notifications have to be made in this regard). Thanks.

I have a retirement visa that will expire in late October 2012. I used a legal service last year to obtain my original retirement visa but am hoping to forgo the costs of using them again to renew my visa and to do it on my own.

My financial situation is that I have a monthly income that is almost twice the 65,000 THB monthly requirement. This is direct deposited monthly into a Thai bank here in Chiang Mai. My current balance is less than half the 800,000 THB bank account requirement, but I am assuming that my monthly income amount will be sufficient to meet the financial requirements for a retirement visa renewal? Of course, I will obtain an affidavit from the USA Consulate General here in Chiang Mai to verify my monthly income amount.

I have already reserved an appointment time at the Immigration Office for one week prior to the expiration of my current retirement visa.

I would appreciate advice or information on what other forms I need to provide at Immigration and any tips on the process. Thanks.

I'm American and Mr. MeMeMe is not welcome! Stay away!

This is a real tragedy but I am not surprised. I am more surprised that it doesn't happen a lot more often. Many Thais teach their dogs to be aggressive guard dogs but the dogs have to be under direct command all the time. I go for walks on the roads and streets near my apartment in Chiang Mai and dogs are constantly threatening me even though I stay on the roads/streets. And what I really hate is that they get behind me and just continue to follow me some times growling and barking until I chase them. And many times their owners are out and they don't do or say anything to call them off. I'm sure if I hit or hurt one of the dogs, I'd have my visa revoked and I'd be deported.