SmugFarangBore

Instead of trying to continually drive a wedge into it like Thaksin.

The wedge driving was done by the PAD, their influencial backers and to some extent the military and judiciary. Look at the damage they caused!

As a result Thailand is more divided than it has ever been!

Would you believe I have 6 different bills all from True?

1. True internet

2. True UBC visions

3. Land line (actually the bill is from TOT) but its a True number.

4. CAT long distance (phone and long distance are separate bills)

5. True move

6. CAT long distance bill for the true move cell phone number.

I tried paying all my bills in one office at central PK once but to no avail. I could only pay the true move at the true move store, the internet and telephone land line at the true shop. I couldn't find a place to pay the true visions or the CAT long distance. So I had to go to a counter service. One would be better off just going to 7-11. I just said heck with this and had all my bills directly paid via bank account. You wouldn't believe the trouble I had to go through. I had to fill out forms and have copies of everything for each bill like bank books, ID, etc. One for internet and another for the land line. I had to go to the Tisco building in Sathorn for the true visions for the forms and get all the forms sign by my bank branch and returned to them. I just cancelled the true move number and had the UBC just charge my credit card (I get a little discount if I do that).

Emancipating yourself from this hideous company would be far better.

Wow...you hit the nail on the head with this final sentence...what is it about other ex-pats that makes them so unfriendly to their fellows?

Most of the expats I know are friendly and look out for each other.

Maybe you are hanging out with the wrong crowd?

Wasn't Pojaman Shinawatra's handbag stolen in a similar fashion in somewhere like the Emporium?

I wonder if the thief knew who he was stealing from? Risking a bullet in the back of the head for sure!

The army actually did absolutely nothing when PAD took over the airports.

Not strictly true. They repeatedly called for the Government to resign while claiming they were not interfering in politics.

They also implicitly lent support to the illegal blockades of the airports by refusing to obey orders and by doing so undermined confidence in the elected administration.

On the impact of red rallies, from notthenation:

40 Red Shirts Seize Bus Stop

BANGKOK -- Bus services were delayed by about two minutes Wednesday as approximately 40 members of the anti-government UDD took over a covered bus bench at the corner of Sukhumvit and soi 43, demanding the resignation of the Democrat-led coalition...

http://notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=715

These guys know how to sum it up in a funny way.

It's satire, it doesn't "sum anything up".

If you avoid the dual pricing, I don't imagine you do too much in Thailand then...

No national parks, a few other dubious attractions and the unscrupulous and racist businesses.

I can live without them.

As soon as I saw this post I called the lady in question that operates this H&S company on behalf of UK tour operators. She was so angry and frustrated as this kind of thing is reported back to the hotels by her REGULARLY...and quite often nothing ever happens.

Then the UK tour operators have an obligation to recommend other countries as suitable destinations instead if Thai resorts and hotels don't show willingness to comply with safety regulations or to address concerns and complaints.

Thailand has no divine right to tourists.

One of the biggest stories in Hua Hin and absolutely nothing in the local press!

Astonishing!

I have not noticed a difference in attitudes recently and I live in Bangkok.

The indoctrinated, underlying mistrust and dislike of Westerners is still there but the Thais pretend to be as friendly as usual.

I have searched a few direct flights to Europe and the fares are the same or higher than usual. example 38,555-49,730 THB (before taxes etc) BKK to Milan direct and I paid the same 8 weeks ago. Other carriers are half the price to Europe.

Saveflights have Thai to Milan roundtrip for 33,400thb inclusive on their homepage.

And if the red brigade had their way Chalerm would be PM.

He's not even leader of the Pheu Thai so I fail to see how he would automatically become PM if they were to win an election.

Please don't make the mistake of thinking that the red-shirts want to force an unelectable government on the people as the PAD have done.

Kanpitak's parents indicated he has a mental condition and he cannot control himself when he is under a lot of stress.

-- The Nation 2009-01-30

This reminds me of another case some years back in Bangkok where a corrupt politician's son shot an undercover police officer and got away with it. The elite in Thailand have literally made real the old saying, "He could get away with murder."

Duangchalerm Yoobamrung. Son of the former Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.

A more odious and unpleasant family you'd struggle to find.

don't worry about it, these red shirt will be gone by tomorrow morning, that's how it work, they are only hire for the weekend only.

Yes, most of them are not Army trained or professional thugs and have families and jobs to go back to.

Mercedes-Benz will be gearing up for a busy year in Thailand.

Well, up until now it seems. It looks like the old deals are gone, police generals previously in power are being sidelined, and Abhisit's government has signalled an end to Thaksin's gift of immunity.

Brave new world perhaps?

Don't kid yourself. If Oxley or his wife had not allegedly ordered the hit on Mr. Whiting they would still be at large.

Thailand will remain a paradise for fugitives on the run for a good many years yet.

considering the checks , cross checks , 90 day reports , address reporting , computers , visa renewals , photocopies , photographs , duplicates and triplicates required by every immigration office and outpost in this kingdom on a regular basis for every "alien" , it seems inconceivable that his whereabouts is as unknown as they say they are.

I'm sure if he has fled the country then he did not do it on his own genuine British passport.

Most likely, however many of the 55 entry and exit points to Thailand are not computerised and he could have easily crossed on his own passport and not been caught at several.

Sometimes people seem forget how backward and disorganised the Thai authorities actually are.

Thailand being the major passport forgery hub in the region and he already being a criminal on the run it is not inconceivable that he would have had several forged passports. They are fairly easy to obtain and many foreign criminals caught in Thailand have them.

He was well connected in Hua Hin and it could have been the case he was assisted over the border by one of his connected friends.

Many possibilities, and as his wife was on her way to Cambodia all indications are he made his way there.

Wouldn't worry too much (if at all) about a wider civil conflict growing out of this. Beyond the initial budget, selling eggs to launch even at 3 for 20 baht and feet clappers isn't going to fund this. Thus, to go for the long-haul, Jakrapob would have to get back on the big red overseas phone and squarely face the main donor to request he downgrades to a Best Western motel.

I think you underestimate the resolve and the intelligence of the rural Thai people.

Civil conflict is inevitable IMO.

How bad it will get and which side will emerge as victors is still far from clear at this moment.

One thing is for sure, the continued political instability is going to signal a very bad year for Thailand, after the first estimates for Q4 GDP have the economy already shrinking by over 3%.

Hope they catch the drug peddling scumbag Oxley soon.

How does this place compare to Australian Outback (Discovery tower or were-ever they are located) for instance?

That place is one of the worst restaurants I have had the misfortune of giving my custom to in Bangkok.

You know it's bad when 'chips and cheese' is a bona fide menu item.

and Air Asia will keep growing and Thai Airways will probably keep losing money. Within about a year all of Thai Air Asia's fleet will be brand new A320's, all delivered in the past 2 to 3 years.

That is providing Air Asia don't go out of business this year. They are precariously close to doing so at the moment.

Air Asia announced their first ever operating losses last quarter due to having to buy out their fuel hedging contracts early which cost them, on top of losses already made, some $90m.

If they did go out of business, it is likely their Thai subsidiary would survive in another guise though.

I have been to Samet several times and really enjoy it. i will continue to go. but thanks for the suggestion

You are welcome, but remember in continuing to visit the island and other places and venues that operate dual pricing you are implicitly condoning and allowing for the continued implementation of this unfair policy.

anyone walking into the park carrying a big bag or suitcase will be stopped. if u look like u r not carrying much and walk confidently in you will not be stopped. I suggest paying, you only need to pay the 200 once for your entire stay.

as for foreigners being charged more than thai's, that's just the way it is in national parks and lots of thailand. yes its stupid and unfair but thats just the way it is.

I suggest not frequenting anywhere that implements a dual pricing policy.

I certainly wouldn't frequent any business; say a restaurant or a bar, that had a similar policy of charging 10 times more to a foreigner. I don't see this as being any different.

It's not as if many of the National Parks are worth visiting anyway, most are strewn with rubbish and unspectacular.

He already re-offended while he was out on bail after the initial arrest so he should never have been given even a chance of bail after sentence was passed and he was convicted IMO.