spidermike007

Many of us moved here a long time ago, when Thailand was a different place. Before it started going downhill rapidly, with no end on the horizon. At this time, there appears to be little hope for positive change, and a brighter future for the nation. Many of us have good lives here, regardless of the clowns. We enjoy good food, nice people, some of us are fortunate to have a very good Thai woman, and the quality of life is good for those of us with a limited income. And picking up and leaving requires a huge amount of time, resources and effort. So, most of us will stay and ignore the spectacularly toxic leadership and the ignorant immigration xenophobia. If I were wealthy enough, I would only be here 2 or 3 months of the year. There is just way too much nonsense here, these days. But, for someone thinking of a place to retire now, there are far better options. Especially for wealthy people, which Thailand has little to no chance of attracting, no matter how much they wish upon a star. There are far too many choices, that offer more freedoms, better culture, better infrastructure, easier visa policy, more vision toward the future, more concern for the environment, law and order, actual traffic laws that are enforced, less racism, less fear of the outside world, etc., and many of the things ThailandRyan quotes above. Thailand would have to be very low on the list, unless one was single and looking for action, then they might even resort to something really desperate like the PI.

So, other than spreading Covid, what does the army actually do for the nation and it's people? I saw the signs at the bases. Something like protect the people, religions and +++. But, where is the evidence of that? Where were they when we needed them on the border? Where were they when we needed roadblocks, to prevent infected people from leaving Bangkok? Where are they? 550,000 of them? What on earth are they doing to justify their existence and their bloated budget?

I was in Bangkok and was wandering around during the infamous Red shirt protests. It was one big party. The people could not possibly have been kinder, or more welcoming. So, I seriously doubt your rather silly presumption of violence.

Not to mention lower luxury taxes, which rich people prefer, so they do not feel abused and stupid when they buy a new car, watch or toy, which is 100 to 200% higher here, than in most other civilized nations.

Absolutely not. There are a dozen valid reasons why very, very few wealthy ex-pats or tourists come here. The majority who come here are seeking value. If I were wealthy, I would not spend more than 2 months of the year here. Many feel the same way. The rest is sheer delusion, brought on by decades of nationalist ranting, without any foundation in reality. Thailand is NOT the center of the known universe. If anything, Thailand now is a pale shadow of it's former self. There is very little about the place that is improving or moving forward, under the blind and toxic dinosaur leadership.

Though the reasons for his dismissal are warped and twisted, it is always a good thing when a convicted heroin dealer is removed as a cabinet appointee. Can't say it was done out of a sense of morality or ethics, which is absent from this entire group, but at least it was done. Thailand will now be 1% less of a laughing stock of the planet.

Yeah. I am surprised at the number of guys on this forum who live overseas. They miss Thailand too much? They dream of a life here? Who knows? Frustrating for Cha Cha. Out of the reach of their sweaty palms.

Simple solution. Legalize most drugs. Eliminates both the gangs and the police franchises. Likely not something the fake puritan leaders would support.

Sex worker seems so much gentler a reference. Many of the really hot ones are still making money online with Tinder and other sites. For the larger gals with kids, that is a tougher task.

2,200 of them. Perhaps only North Korea has more, relative to the population?

There were a multitude of surveys which showed the vast majority of the 39 million who came in 2019, were Malaysians, Chinese and Indian. That is not in doubt. The people in the tourism industry that I talk with, all testify that most were lower income. Some were middle income. Barely. They spent little. The rest are theories. No question there is some sabotage. You cannot destroy tourism more here, if you tried. I have some theories. I assume you have some? You are most welcome to share them, without fear of persecution.

As much as I would like to lend a hand to the Thai protestors, permanent deportation would put a kink into my future plans. I would imagine that holds true for alot of guys on this forum. However, power to the youth and down with the toxic dinosaurs! Change is needed.

The army and the police train in different centers. Supposedly, the army trains to defend the nation. LOL. They certainly do not get any training with regard to protecting the borders, as we have seen lately. The police train in the personal franchisee program. They are likely taught that their creativity is the only limit to how lucrative the enterprise will be.

This heinous and toxic government will do anything within it's reach, to maintain power, to continue to enrich itself on countless levels, and to oppress, repress and suppress it's people, and any form of dissent. It shows how scared they are, and how paranoid they are. And it also shows that they know the end is near, they are desperate, and they do not care one iota for the masses. If Covid were not being used as a cover, there would be millions of Thais in the streets right now. Dissent is about all the people have. And Prayuth has an approval rating that is likely no more than 1%.

Health officials reported cases from the following clusters: Hua Hin – Royal Thai Army Sergeant Major School Yothin Suksa Mahamongkut Camp (+33 cases) Hua Hin – Hotel cluster (+12 cases) Prachuap Khiri Khan – Prachuap prison (+28 cases) So, the army is finally reporting cases? Never seen that before. They have always mysteriously remained absent from the counts.

Eliminate the two tiered pricing for entrance into many of these attractions, and attract more people. Am I making too much sense? Personally, I have always found the consumables to be the best part of Thailand. The food of course, and when I was single, the lovely women. Now, that is the kind of cultural heritage worth revering.

Well, you have to admit Tebow was a major disappointment. Alot was hoped for, and expected of him, and a three year career was not one of them! Neither were a total of 2,422 yards, and a mere 17 touchdowns in his career. LOL. But, there was that one playoff game!

Customs here is well known to be one of the most corrupt of the ministries in Thailand. I have a very wealthy friend who keeps a senior customs officer on retainer. When he flies in with five or ten cases of wine, he is personally escorted right through. And do you really think the funds changed on imported goods, by the customs department, makes it all the way to the treasury?

Not true at all. During Covid maybe. Pre 2019, the prices were almost identical for the top hotels. There were alot of wanna be five stars like the Holiday Inn, and the Marriott, which were more reasonable. And the four stars have always represented a great value here. But, the top hotels like Kampinski, Banyon Tree, Four Seasons, the Peninsula, Anantara, and luxury properties like the Amanpuri, Six Senses, Keemala Phuket, Kata Rocks, Soneva Kiri, and others, have always been in the $300-2,000 a night range, comparable to hotels in Paris, London, Moscow, Dubai, Hong Kong, Miami or elsewhere.

Just another draconian and awful law, to give the undeserving military control of the skies. And just another reason why the super rich cannot be attracted to this place, amongst a dozen others.

Since the vast majority (perhaps 85%?) of tourists coming just prior to Covid, were low to middle income Indians, Chinese and Malaysians, they might as well stick to that segment of the market. Western interest in Thailand has been falling off, and Thailand cannot and will not attract the wealthy tourists they keep ranting about, for a dozen different reasons. So, stick with what you have. Tourism is going to be down anyway, no matter what they do. Likely only one million in 2022, with no restrictions, and only up to 5 million by 2026. It is a sabotaged industry, and it appears that might be what they leaders wanted, in order to kill the nightlife here. It will devastate millions in the industry, but the leaders just do not care, one iota.

Nope. Not gonna happen. As I have stated many times, there are a dozen very good reasons why wealthy people do not visit Thailand anymore. And the few who come, never return. The wife cannot buy her cherished, latest model handbag, because it is so over priced due to onerous luxury taxes. We cannot get a great bottle of wine at dinner, at the hotel, without spending 20,000 baht. We cannot hire a helicopter in Bangkok, to get to Phuket easily. All other countries offer this. Why not Thailand? At the fanciest restaurants, we are disappointed with the level of sommelier service, and expertise about the latest truffle arrival. I cannot call the police when something bad happens. People tell me instead, to avoid the police here, as they are toxic, ineffective, crazy corrupt, and not helpful. I could go on, and on all day. I have some very wealthy friends. They are discerning, they want the best, and they are not willing to get taken for a ride in the process.

Not a reasonable comment. When customs is out of control, import taxes make no sense, and the division is a law unto itself, we are forced to cheat. Everyone does it. Being honest with customs makes no sense. So, this is not about morality. If anything, the lack of morality is with the customs office.

There are many issues affecting tourism. One is the worst possible tourism minister, that could be selected. How about just admitting that expectations for your performance as tourism minister were not met? You failed. You failed so spectacularly, that there are few comparisons to make. Phiphat is to tourism, what Tim Tebow and Ryan Leaf was to the NFL, Chris Washburn was to the NBA, Paulinho was to Tottenham, and Prayuth is to the office of PM. All dismal failures. All huge disappointments. All incapable of fulfilling hopes or expectations. Tourism is not returning anytime soon. The average Thai seems to attribute this to Covid. And that is a significant factor. But, there were a dozen issues plaguing the industry long before covid reared it's ugly head, income was dropping dramatically, as the "number of arrivals" were up, pointing toward a dramatically lower quality of tourist, that Thailand was able to attract. The heavy hitters, and the wealthy tourists have found many other places that meet their need for a nice bottle of wine with dinner (that is not overpriced to a mind boggling degree), a sommelier at the hotel who knows their wine, reasonable luxury goods, so the wife can shop here while on vacation, law and order that addresses jet ski scammers, sewage being dumped into the ocean in resort areas, control over the taxi goons, and far better transportation options (high speed trains, helicopters available for transport, etc). And I am only getting started, as there were a dozen other things that needed to be addressed, and were not on any level, by anyone. They still have not learned much. This was a great learning opportunity for Phiphat, and the other goombahs. Obstacles and tragedies can be learning experiences, for mature men and women. And they can offer a path toward improvement, and progress. But, apparently that does not apply to these authorities and so called leaders. Phiphat (and Prayuth) you have made history. 100 years from now, in the hospitality industry classes at the university level, they will still be teaching about you, as the man who presided over the once great industry of tourism, the man who helped destroy the industry millions depended upon. They will talk about you when the students are visiting the hollowed out shells, of once formerly great hotels, as the man who helped precipitate the demise and decline of Thailand, from the tiger of SE Asia (and at one time the 21st largest economy in the world) to a whiny, sickly, skinny, disease infested alley cat, on it's last legs. And on par with Burundi, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Yemen, and Sierra Leone.

Wold be a real step up to leave behind the vintage Ford Pinto, and step into a supercar.