Tropicalevo

Sorry, but please remind me what happened in Tiananmen Square?

Probably because he could not swim. There are not too many Thais taller than 2 metres.

Or desperate.

Most Thai people still love Thaksin. I suspect that it will take another coup or a political court case to remove him.

7/11's selling beer all day today here on Samui.

Apart from the recycling benefit, cans do not shatter and leave broken pieces on the sand where they can cut your feet. Then there are the professional scavengers. These folk go through the bins etc and collect the cans to sell to the scrap people. I had one pool guy who left because he could make more money scavenging - and flexible hours.

Nice one. Well done.

From what we can read, it seems that his mother did nothing wrong

A whole article of waffle when the guy was probably only caught because he was leaving the country. Nobody had to 'swoop' at all.

No mention of fines for not wearing helmets.

Hmm. I wonder where the rest of the money went?

Guy???

Finally, some good news thank you. Well done Israel.

Let's hope that the poachers do not work out where the tigers are.

They have been doing this for a month or two at Fisherman's village here on Samui. People trying to head home only to find that their bike has been chained to all of the others, or that there is a clamp on the car. There is a note taped to the bike/car explaining where the police are and to go and pay the fine. It has become a big money earner for the police. On my last visit there, there were about 30 or more bikes chained up and 20 or so cars with clamps. Not bad for one night. One twit was even trying to drive home with the clamp still attached to the car. It did not end well.

This is a very sad joke. They may as well tell people to buy oxygen cylinders and carry them around. In most of Thailand, restaurants are open air. That one of the things that tourists and visitors love about Thailand How are you going to fix that Mr Government?

Thaksin was the first PM to really push the PR side of the business. That was surpassed by leaps and bounds by the illegal military motley mob. Daughter is only following in Dad's footsteps.

Not much of a sweep then. If they only found 17 individuals, then they are not even scratching the surface of the issue.

Riding the motorbike along the main road as someone set of a 'chain of firecrackers'. Hit by shrapnel all over. Not particularly safe for newbies on a bike.

I went to Phu Quoc a year or three before Covid. Very quiet and underdeveloped. Not helped by the fact that I was attacked by a swarm of Vietnamese Killer Bees. Best thing ever - a motorbike tour off the beaten track. I live on Koh Samui. Phu Quoc was disappointing.

Some good recommendations here. Vietnam is my favourite 'short' break in the region. Especially Hanoi I love the place, people and the culture. The food is OK but I usually take some spicy sauce or green chillis with me. I stay in AirBnb's and rent a scooter. That looks dangerous (especially in Hanoi) but it is a lot safer than the roads here on Samui. In Hanoi I tend to stay in the NE quadrant. One thing that I definitely recommend in Hanoi is the water puppet show. A part of old Vietnamese culture that is dying out. Very touristy now but for me, amazing stuff. I go every time that I am there. HCMC does nothing for me but worth a visit to see the Cu Chi tunnels etc

That will be expensive to rebuild. I looked at having a teak house when I first came to Thailand and 25 years ago, it was 3 - 4 times the price of a regular build.

Another hand out announcement just in time for the POA elections.

And China has known about these gangs and who the leaders are for years.

They missed the bit where UNRWA is also a handy recruiting ground for Hamas and enables Hamas operatives to move about freely.