spidermike007

22 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

Yes Nieto does not look to happy. Trump is just being Trump inflate their ego's give them a false hope and then produce a big needle. True Trump at his very best. Trump the business man is shining through again. Trump the politician does not exist. its the "Art of the Deal" all over again.  He has Shylarked so many people in the past and his bag of tricks and lies is never empty. 

You gotta love his hair in that photo. It is kind of a bit like a magic carpet, or a silk rug. It just glows and sweeps with an aerodynamic quality. I wonder if any candidate has ever had such fascinating hair? Do you think he uses a high powered fan to prep his hair? His hair is truly a thing of beauty. 

The hispanic leaders now, feel like most Trump supporters will feel in 12 months or so, if he is elected. Nearly every promise he made will be broken. If you think Obama is and was insincere with his promises, Trump will elevate broken promises to another level altogether. That is his M.O. He has been doing this his entire career. This is who he is. He is NOT a man of his word. His word is used to connive, convince, cajole, and compete. Not to follow through with the kind of behavior one would associate with a man of honor, or someone possessing any sort of integrity. His devotees appear to me, to be drinking a powerful blend of Kool-aid. You cannot convert a lizard into a butterfly. 

1 hour ago, pattayadude said:

Interesting view and you are right.

while I understand why Chinese tourist are interested in pattaya because of it's proximity and the fact that it is relatively inexpensive if traveled the way they do, i just don't understand the reason why Westerners STILL insist on this part of the world especially after it got so dirty, overcrowded, lack of beach and rats on it, angry Thais who look for any opportunity to scam tourists or beat them up to bloody pulp for minuscule reasons etc etc.

I mean, They have every right to do what they want but why complain so much in these forums and still insist on this city??

Frankly, the only appeal I see in the place, is the availability of a large selection of women for hire. Other than that, the place does not offer much from my point of view. Therefore I consider it to be a very one dimensional sort of town. I realize there are nicer beaches to the south, go kart tracks, good golf courses, etc. If someone is passionate about karting or golf, it has more to offer. But, for many of us, especially those of us who are not big drinkers, nor big supporters of the bar girls, there is simply little appeal to the place. 

Once you get out of town, to the east, there are some very scenic areas. But the town itself is quite ugly and the beaches are substandard, by almost any measurement. 

4 hours ago, siam2007 said:

 

 

please write a friendly letter to "the General" and tell him exactly that

From everything I read and hear about the little man, he is not particularly open minded, nor open to suggestions. At this point, a mere suggestion might result in a jail sentence for treason, or worse. Let us not bring up the Lese word. Power is intoxicating, it would appear. 

Bangkok to Hua Hin is a great start. It is a very popular destination with Thai tourists, and would mean less cars on the road within Bangkok, and on the highway. And it would be a start of a major north-south line, eventually going down to Surat, and further. This train is long overdue. The Yingbat did not spend any money on infrastructure, due to her harebrained pledging schemes, which nearly broke the country, in a pathological desire for relatively illegitimate votes. 

Many of us hope the little man follows through with this plan. He is not exactly known as Mr. Follow Up. 

7 hours ago, iReason said:

Melania Trump was a hooker?

A Gold Digger?

Who, was allegedly working illegally in the U.S. on a Tourist Visa without a work permit?

 

And now the third wife of a Presidential candidate who has been well documented as cheating on the first two?

 

This is Shocking. Truly disturbing.

 

What has happened to family values?

 

This certainly should be investigated and exposed.

 

It's just plain Un a 'murican.

 

And likely an Illegal Alien no less. Despicable.

 

Any reasonable person surely would want to get to the bottom of this.

 

Justice should be served.

 

How can we, as a country survive, if this tawdry behavior is tolerated?

 

What will be left to our children?

 

Who will be their role models?

 

We must stand up to this vulger immorality.

While she may not have been a former escort, or hooker, she is a con woman, who lied about her education and background. That is for certain. 

The Huffington Post points to the book Melania Trump—The Inside Story: From a Slovenian Communist Village to the White House, by authors Bojan Pozar and Igor Omerza, which indicates the FLOTUS contender dropped out of college after her freshman year. The two Slovenian journalists write that Melania "became - and remained- a college dropout" just one year into her time at the University of Ljubljana. Huffington Post quotes relevant sections from the book: 

In her freshman year, the 19-year old Melanija Knavs attended lectures on the following subjects: elements of architecture, fine arts, fundamentals of technical mechanics, architectural construction, descriptive geometry, mathematics, and an ideological (read “communist”) elective credit called “General Partisan Resistance and Social Self-protection.” Melanija would have made it to her sophomore year, even having failed two exams, but she was supposed to have gotten and held a one-month internship and kept a journal about it.
******
Later, in America, after meeting Donald Trump and officially becoming his partner, Melania Knauss told the media that she got her degree in architecture and design. This was almost certainly done in consultation with Trump and his advisers, as they were desperate to give off the impression that the Slovenian model was not just beautiful, but also smart and well-educated.

according to Trump:

“I saw Melania and I said, ‘Who is that?’ She was a very successful model. She was terrific. I tried to get her number, and she wouldn’t give it to me.” Melania continued the story: “He came to the party with a date! I had heard he was a ladies’ man, and so I said, ‘I’m not one of the ladies.’ He said later that he sent her to the ladies’ room so he could get my number. I was like, ‘Oh, what a sneaky way!’” Melania told People magazine she liked Trump’s “sparkle” and took his number.

 

Has anyone heard any news about Don Singkon? They have been talking about opening that border to foreigners for years now. The Thais completed a very good road to the border, but I hear the Burmese have yet to complete the highway, and there is virtually nothing over there. My understanding is that the Thais are enthusiastic about that border opening, but the Burmese are not. 

19 hours ago, dick dasterdly said:

Yes - definitely an advertisement for some reason.

 

The comment "the older you are, and the younger you like them, the more this applies" regarding the Philippines - was the nail in the coffin for me.

And that is perfectly fine. The place is not for everybody, and younger women are not preferable for all men. But it can be a wonderful, and valid choice for some. I do not make a value judgment based on the age of a couple. I know some who have younger women and they are very content. I know some who have women their age and they are very unhappy. It goes both ways. To each his own. I let people make their own choices, with my opinions unclouded by Western dogma. Personally, I prefer younger women. Women my age tend to be dull, listless, not adventurous, less open minded, less attractive, fat, and uninterested in sex, for the most part. 

All I was trying to say, is that for men who prefer younger women, the PI is a paradise. There is little concern about age there. Older guys are considered more serious, and more stable financially, hence more desirable. In the end, for 90% of the world's women, it is all about financial security. No matter what nation they are from. And I cannot blame them for that. If I were in their position I would attempt to choose a guy who was financially stable too. 

In conclusion, for a man who is single, and is looking for romance, or a serious relationship, the PI offers far more options than Thailand. The women there are simply less jaded, more open minded, and a far higher percentage seem to like foreigners even more than many of the women here.

26 minutes ago, MissAndry said:

 

1st morning in Baloy Beach, found a better full English breakfast than anything I have managed to find during 2 months in CM (240 peso and more than I could eat).

2nd evening a little street restaurant outside 7/11 on Baloy Beach road corner, a great local dish pork adobo, chunks of lean pork and potato in gravy served with rice (65 peso).

4th day, British fish and chip restaurant, Cornish pasties, meat pies, nothing like it in CM, meat pies here are 95% gravy (pastie and chips 180 peso).

6th evening, Mexican restaurant, really good meal for two with carafe of house red wine 750 pesos. More than we could finish. Tried 3 Mex places in CM, all total s*&%.

 

My only 'food' complaint, not one decent coffee bar, coffee was total c$%#.

 

Don't know where your pals are eating, maybe they don't look around all that much. If I'd been there longer, I'm confident I would have found many more good places to eat.

 

Why is fruit in Thailand so overpriced? Bananas and Strawberries are about half the price in central London.

Certainly there is good food to be found. I think it also has alot to do with dietary preferences. I eat very little meat, so Thailand suits me much better, and it is far harder in the PI to find food without meat. I found some great coffee shops, but they tend to be in towns with alot of ex-pats.

As fas as the fruit thing goes, Thailand has some amazing fruits, but only the local fruits are reasonable. And the prices of fruit have skyrocketed here in the past few years. Imported fruits can be stunningly expensive. Did a little tour of Siam Paragon recently, and they had some gorgeous fruits from all over the world. But, the prices were staggering. 

Right now, there is less local fruit than anytime in the past ten years. I think it has alot to do with the sustained drought. There are a lot of fruit growers that are really hurting right about now, unfortunately. 

14 minutes ago, MissAndry said:

 

So you are accusing 3 of us of having an agenda to advertise the Philippines? (myself, Mr. Roc and Mr.Spider). You're sounding a bit paranoid. I guess next you will be accusing us of being the same person using 3 different identities.

 

Agree with you. Not sure why he has such an ax to grind. I am always suspicious of people with such thin skin. Usually there is something rather deep seated that is at the heart of the matter. Anyway, we all like the PI. What on earth is wrong with that? No room for competition?

1 hour ago, Scotwight said:

How many would constitute an accurate sample in your new topic, "Thai vs Philippine women?"

 About 80%. 

Just now, MissAndry said:

 

I don't give two hoots about Philippine women, but the booze is way cheaper over there, and if drinking is an important part of your lifestyle, Philippines beats Thailand hands down. And the food, Philippines beats Thailand hands down AGAIN.

 

Carafe of house red wine = 140 pesos in a restaurant (just over 110bht). 

Fascinating reply. I have never in my life heard anyone say they prefer the food in the Philippines over Thailand. A bit like saying the food is better in Havana than Hong Kong, or Paris. Even all of my friends who live there, say they cannot stand the food. Fat, greasy, nasty food. And the Philippine people do not have the culinary gene the Thai people were blessed with. In some ways they are more like the Cubans, who would not know a good meal if it hit them up the side of the head. Of course you can find good food there, if you look hard, or know where to go. And there is essentially no street food you would want to eat. Thailand blows away the PI when it comes to food, food handling, the freshness of the fruits and vegetables, and just about anything related to food. Even the beer is better here. And that is saying alot!

31 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

The topic is leaving Thailand.  You are the one who has made it an advertising pitch for the Philippines.    

Wow. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? Yes, the topic is leaving Thailand. And a big part of that topic for most of us, is where to go next. Pardon my offense for making a suggestion, and providing some information to support that suggestion. Damn. Hope you day improves, and may you live long and prosper. 

17 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

So, the new topic is how much we all love the Philippines and women from a particular country are all the same? 

Of course I am generalizing here. But, I have experienced it myself, and have heard it from dozens of men over the years, including friends who used to live here, and in Cambodia too, and compare those spots to the PI. On so many levels they prefer Philippine women. I am married to a Thai woman who I adore, and know alot of really lovely Thai women. But, this is just for the sake of comparison. And I would say the general rule of thumb is the older you are, and the younger you like them, the more this applies. Much more so in the PI, than here in the LOS.

1 minute ago, dick dasterdly said:

Never under-estimate the capacity of ex-pats in any particular country to exaggerate the advantages of their chosen country - to validate their decision!

 

I came away with a negative impression of Filipinos after a 5 week holiday in a tourist area (about 15 years ago), but perhaps I was unlucky.

First of all the place has changed alot in 15 years. It has grown, and it has gotten more developed. The infrastructure is better now, than it was back then. Also, you really need to see different parts of the country, to get a feel for the place. Manila is one of the least interesting, and most congested capital cities in Asia. So, you have to travel around. The culture is incredibly diverse, so people are different wherever you go. Many dialects, and many different ways of life there. In the few trips I have had there I came away with a very positive impression of the people. Also, the Philippine people I know in the US, and here are impressive people. Hard working, straight forward, smart, quick witted, educated, and they speak great english! Need I say more?

1 hour ago, dcnx said:

 

They all left the PI to work.  There are no jobs there.  That's the only reason Filipinos willingly leave. 

This is very true. They are the largest remitters of foreign currency on the planet. The PI is still very poor. Which is good for an ex-pat who chooses to live there. There is alot of potential upside for us. They have real ghettos, and very poor people. Not so here. 

37 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I'm in my 10th year here in Thailand, still enjoying it although not as much as when I first came here. Have a house in Isaan, a condo in Jomtien where I go chill and eat by the beach, living in Bangkok most of the year and thinking of having a place up North in CM / CR for the winter months.

 

Things I dislike, particularly about Bangkok is the horrendous traffic, idiotic drivers, the oppressive heat, difficulty in communicating (I speak passable Thai), nonsensical rules and regulations (from immigration to traffic issues) and corrupt policemen. Apart from that, I still love the food (though not as much as street side food in countries like Malaysia), the good quality of life that I enjoy and the reasonable prices.

 

However, as time goes by, I believe that the cons will outgrow the pros and that will be the time to start thinking about moving. HK and S'pore are out because of the high cost of living. Met some lovely Vietnamese ladies in HCM although I personally don't think I would enjoy living there (not sure about other parts of Vietnam). PI sounds a good alternative - have friends who rave about life there. Laos might be a bit too backwater. Wasn't impressed by Phnom Penh or the cuisine.

 

At any rate, will wait for the big event and take it from there.

Good points. I happen to love Bangkok, but I do not live there, and only visit as often as I can. I do not think I would enjoy more than two weeks at a time there. 

Of all of those spots, the only one that would appeal to me for living is the PI. It really has alot going for it. The nature there is spectacular. Far more unspoiled than in Thailand. And far more rain. So very lush, with super clean air, outside of the cities, and amazing water, that is as good as, or better than the Andaman. Now, if Thailand has some more options for living on the Andaman, besides the tired, worn out, and grossly overpriced Phuket, it might be a whole different story. Though there are some nice beaches on the Gulf, the water is really inferior, and too polluted. Also too shallow, so not much circulation. The waters in the PI, the diving, and the adventure and travel options with over 7,000 islands, are endless. 

Another plus is the visa policy. Far less cumbersome than Thailand. 

Though there are alot of ex-pats living in Thailand, it seems to me that the ex-pat community is far larger in the PI. I do not know the exact numbers. But in certain spots, there are thousands of ex-pats. A lot more Americans than in Thailand, probably because of the long relationship between the PI and the US. And the fact that it is so much more Westernized. So, the place does not feel like another planet, as Thailand often does. The people here really have no concept of the outside world, nor do they seem particularly interested. And that brings up my final point. There seems to be something about the educational system here that discourages curiosity, and interest in the world at large. Not so in the PI. People are far more fluent in geography, seem much better educated, more curious, more alive on some levels, and most definitely more interested in foreigners, and learning, and expanding their horizons. That would be very, very refreshing, to be around people like that. Plus the average Philippine speaks very good english, can read and write english, and it makes communicating so much easier. And the signs are in an alphabet we can recognize! I get so tired sometimes of the extreme lack of english. Even on major Thai websites. Astonishing, really, how behind the curve they are here when it comes to english. 

Having said all that, there are some real downsides to living there. The infrastructure is far inferior to Thailand, and so is the food. The place is not as secure as here, and there is alot more crime. Vehicles seem to be even costlier than here. However, the PI has a far more intelligent and visionary import and duty system, which makes it far easier to enjoy imported goods, or have things sent over from overseas. Many foreign products are cheaper. The place in general is cheaper than Thailand.

If you are willing to deal with the downside, you can enjoy a very good life there, especially as a single man, where the place ranks very close to paradise, according to several men I know that live there. PI women can be exquisite, and are far, far, far less cunning, and infinitely less jaded than the majority of Thai women, and as a result of that, their requirements, desires and expectations seem to be a fraction of what the average Thai woman wants, or needs. 

16 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

I have Philippine friends who had to go back this week.  Crying at the airport and everyone upset.  They have lived in Thailand for 10 years.  Had children here.  Educated here.  All say no comparison between Thailand and Philippines.    

 

If thousands of Philippine people come to Thailand to work and live and feel going back is like a death sentence that has to tell you something.  No?  

 

That and I've a couple of friends who ran afoul of the church there.  It is easy to have church problems there and almost impossible to have church problems here.  If you had lived there you would know what I was talking about.  Nutty place.  But go try.  Better if you avoid any personal relationships and are a hermit then everything might turn out OK.   

Like everything in life, there are pros and cons. From a relationship point of view, the PI has Thailand beat by miles, and miles and miles. The PI women are superior on countless levels. And I am married to an exceptional Thai woman. But, if I were single, I know where I would move in a nanosecond. The overall quality of life is definitely better in Thailand. But, it is more expensive, and the people are a bit more jaded. That is especially true of most of the women. One other advantage with the PI, is that the men are infinitely more interesting, intellectually. Most Thai men do not seem to want to be bothered with developing friendships with foreigners. Not so in the PI. Again, an example of how much more open minded the people are there, and how interested they are in the world around them. 

No question the church there holds alot of sway. That may be slowly changing. But, they are hanging on for dear life, till their last gasping breath. They do influence alot. Especially the inability to get divorced. That is quite heinous. But, most people I know who marry PI women refuse to marry in the PI. They do it elsewhere. Smart. One must resist stupid and ignorant policy, with all the power in one's being. 

No idea what you are referring to about you avoidance of personal relationships. I have alot of wonderful relationships all over the world. Best if you stay on topic. 

On August 31, 2016 at 5:25 AM, Jools said:

Since they're so concerned about our wellbeing, they might consider breaking some heads at the Jomtien songtheaw mafia. These scum poke and prod passengers in an effort to pack the seats as full as they can. They are abusive and will make you get out of the songtheaw if you protest about being touched. They need to find several of their number washed up on Pattaya Beach. The lowest form of life imaginable.

Many of us consider the songtheaw guys to be difficult, but sort of ok, and tuk tuk guys to be quite obnoxious, and by far the worst. I avoid them like the bubonic plague, and spanish influenza. I am ok with most taxi drivers in Bangkok, but on the southern islands, they have been allowed to fester for a generation with little to no regulation by a fabulously indifferent series of governments. I am definitely ok with most moto bike taxi drivers. They have a hard job, and most perform it quite well. But, those other guys? In Pattaya, Phuket, and on Samui they seem to be the worst. Really low lifes. Really abusive. 

4 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

So, did you enjoy your weekend with the Philippine travel brochures?  When are you planning to visit?

I have visited a few times already. Plan to go back soon. Have a dear friend who just moved there from Thailand. So, will be traveling there often. I really like the people there. 

Your cynicism knows no bounds. I suggest you get out more. 

One has to wonder if there is any sincerity behind these proposals. They are so long overdue, and the country is so deficient when it comes to traffic safety. Thailand remains #2 in the world in traffic fatalities, and is fast catching up with Libya. Maybe the TAT can brag about that too. I have never seen a speeding ticket being issued here. I have heard stories, but of all the days I have spent on the highways, have never seen one. On many occasions I am traveling at 120kph, which I consider the maximum safe speed on a Thai highway, and people shoot past me doing 150-180 kph. With all of the obstacles, outlets, U-turn lanes, slow trucks and out of control drivers, reasonable speeds are required if one is concerned about survival, and the preservation of ones limbs, and one's family. 

There is so much to be done, one does not even know where to start. I suppose adding another 2,500 highway patrol cars would be a good place to start, and taking the existing highway patrolmen to the wood shed for hanging out in the office, and playing cards, pokeman and watching you tube would also be a good start. Get those guys out onto the highways. They only seem to show up after an accident. Another good place to start would be to start writing 10,000 baht reckless driving tickets. My guess is the word would travel around the nation in a few days, and people would start to consider that, when driving like banshees from hell. 

11 hours ago, AlexRich said:

 

Where is the safest place to stay in the Philippines? The one thing that comes up time and again is how dangerous it can be, compared to Thailand. I just wondered if there was an area that is generally regarded as being safe?

In general the PI is safe to visit and spend time. You just have to be more careful than you would normally be in Thailand. The place is alot poorer, so there are occasional crimes of desperation. You have to be discreet, and keep your eyes open. Most Philippine people are really lovely. Far friendlier, and far, far more open than most Thais. They are more aware of the world, and are far more Westernized than the Thai people. They do not seem xenophobic at all, and the nationalism bug has not bitten them, like it has here. One thing to be aware of is that alot of PI men are skilled fighters. Much, much more so than the average Thai man. So, you do not want to get in a scuffle with them. It usually does not end well. But having said that, most are far friendlier than most Thai men. In general, they are much more open minded people.

13 hours ago, bannork said:

all in the name of investigative journalism of course.

Definitely not something to be proud of. Just consider what he will be thinking, when he looks at this photo in ten years.

16 hours ago, phycokiller said:

I could be wrong but I seem to remember this particular vendor being in the news before for similar behavior, but considering the jetski boys got away with their violence daily for a decade or two and bar bouncers still regularly beat their customers in the streets I dont think abuse of tourists is the biggest concern Thais have

That is a fairly astute observation. The little man talks about how important tourism is, and the midget mind heading the Tourism Ministry always goes on and on about what a great job everyone is doing, and how tourism is booming. But, how much time and energy and resources are devoted to the safety and welfare of the much coveted tourists, once they arrive here? What kinds of resources are available for tourists? How strongly do the police advocate for the safety of tourists? 

There is dreadfully little energy put into this on the part of the authorities. Public safety, traffic safety, and the welfare of the people has never been high on the agenda of this non-visionary administration. 

1 hour ago, rott said:

Can you even lie straight in bed? I think the violence the OP had in mind is the habit of every Thai in sight joining in when there is a dispute between a Thai and a farang, and all putting the boot in together.

 

I think it was the unnecessary and pathetic "whinging pom" comment in your first post that initially put me off you. Nothing the junta has done has had any effect on my daily life either, or on anyone else's that I know of. Pity nothing has happened about the petty corruption after we were told it was going to be eliminated, but perhaps they will do it before the election. There is possibly still time.

 

What did you do before TV? You have done almost as many posts in 10 months as I have done in nearly 10 years.

 

Anyway, have a good day now.

The corruption that he promised to eliminate, was corruption amongst those without much money, power, connections, family name, political or military office, or influence. Those people are seeing some resistance, and some are getting arrested or jailed. Absolutely NOBODY in a position of power or influence is seeing any difference in their lifestyle. The term above the law has always been applicable here, and the Little man has done everything in his power to protect the elite, powerful and wealthy. Everything. And nothing to disrupt the flow.