TheGhostWithin

Have never seen this guy around, I do not live in Udon but have many friends in many circles there. Am I right in assuming this guy was one of the many fly by night trouble makers that do a one off in Udon, have problems with the locals and are reminded never to come back?

This bar is near to the hotel I stay at, and a few mins walk from one of my favourite (ex) night markets in Thailand.

Know the girl before you spend time with her outside of her work, and dont give anything to her that she is not prepared to give to you, this is my general rule of thumb, and it has won me many amazing friends in Udon, Thai and foreigner alike.

Udon is a very different place, many normal people and even couple frequent the bars - it is not like other places that are more orientated to the first time visitor.

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I am a little confused here.. is the idea of a slogan not to be a short and sweet summation of what is offered, in order to entice customers into at least considering the offer on hand? "miracle in amazing Thailand 2012-2013" is a bit of a mouthful, extremely forgettable and grammatically incorrect as already pointed out.

Though, the statement indicates it is no longer Thailand that is the miracle (a-la Miracle Thailand), but Amazing Thailand which is now the miracle.

Where does this list of things that are proposed to be focused on come from? Carefully researched surveys such as those I regularly get when I am at KL airports, bus terminals and other tourist areas? I very much doubt it judging by the slogans communication of complete dysfunction and disconnection with the very tourist market it is established to serve.

I also doubt officially announcing "we need tourists because they make us money" is a good marketing ploy.. "we want tourists because we want to share our culture and grow together" may have worked a little better, perhaps? But her response was a classic response in "Thainess" of a select group of Thais who plunder from others, leaving them poor, homeless and starving with big words but little overall compassion.

Dont think for a second your tourism numbers are going to increase (even though it will be announced they are) when the SEC Chinese Stock Composite has dropped 16% this year, The Euro region (Spain, Italy, France etc) are in Crisis, and you have a bad reputation with Americans and Australians as a dangerous destination for which the government will not protect you from floods, tsunamis, scams, robberies, murders etc. Get with the program Yingluck Government, you are behind the ball.

She would make a nice ambassador for the walking street, or cowboy, or nana.

Really? Have you ever even walked through these places to dinner or on the way to meet friends through Sukhumvit etc?You do know she is not 20 anymore right? Girls in these places are generally young and fairly good looking. Each to his own I guess, but I think they would refuse her on age and weight, though she may get in on factual evidence (as confirmed by her, being previous experience in dealing with men in "private meetings" at 5 star hotels and refusing to disclose what was discussed. Perhaps because discussion did not take place..

I am willing to consider buying your baht. Send me a pm and we can discuss arrangement and a mutually beneficial rate.

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Didn't the alert only last a few hours? I doubt most people that could afford to travel to Phuket (a pricy place even on an international scale now when you factor in the overpriced transport, and expensive tours and western priced beers and dinners) would hardly have been glued to the TV, phone or a news channel at the time of the event. I for one have to save for 6 months to take a 1 month trip in Thailand anymore, its not a trip to empty out pocket change like it used to be but a well considered and planned event. I would not cancel because of a warning of a tsunami unless my travel was very close to the day, or even hour of the warning.

I travel often, and found out about the quake after the warning had been cancelled, because I work in an environment whereby personal communication devices are not permitted, and internet access is heavily restricted (no, I don't live in the Peoples Republic of China!). Those traveling within a few days of the quake may have cancelled, for fear of aftershocks in the region or a second event, but doubtfully would have cancelled because of the warning in effect. Both deadly Tsunamis in recent times (from Indonesia, and from Japan last year), had devastating tsunamis which claimed lives within minutes of the initial quakes. By the time people are warned of an approaching tsunami, it is often too late.

"National security issue" ... Because foreign governments are dying to find out all of Thailand's secrets to running an amazing government.

One may even term it a "Miracle (in) Thailand"..

or does he love the country, climate and food, and dislike the system which profits from it like a cancer, slowly eating away at the future of an entire country? He is not alone.

The Japanese are more than happy to be entertained by a geisha. They will be more focussed on what are the government's detailed plans for flood prevention matters.

Yoshi, as you well know, when she is asked questions about details, or about an issue of which she has not been told how to respond to by her "foreign minister" in Cambodia, she simply smiles and laughs, even during times of natural disasters while her people starve and die.

No government can be truly effective unless it is truly autonomous, and free of interference by both foreign powers and foreign entities - particularly those of organised crime. Vladimir Putin has changed the shape of Russia and kept the country on a single track during his time, however the internal corruption of his regime and meddling by both domestic and foreign mafias (those of ex-soviet countries mostly) has meant that the global mood towards Russia is that of a country whose words do not always mean the truth, and of which the price paid is often much higher than the profits are to be generated (Politically and economically). In some ways, Thailand is very much the same.

Until there is a single leader, who has the power to remove those operating as criminals under the white flag of honest politics and civil service, no leader of Thailand could ever be taken seriously - not even one with an Oxford education, sadly. Details or not, it is only action which will speak louder than the often conflicting words spoken too often in Thai Politics and the civil service. The snake rots from the head.

20 most corrupt countries.

20. Haiti

19. Cambodia

18. Angola

17. Burundi

16. Yemen

15. Iraq

14. Venezuela

13. Côted´Ivoire

12. Syria

11. Chad

10. Ethiopia

9. Iran

8. Swaziland

7. Democratic Republic of the Congo

6. Belarus

5. Equatorial Guinea

4. Afghanistan

3. Laos

2. Eritrea

1. Uzbekistan

Sourced from where, exactly? Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe do not even feature on this list.. I for one have doubts as to the correctness. The snake rots from the head in Thailand, in its present and past forms, they are one and the same. Thaksin speaks, Pheu Thai does. A ruling party that takes orders for a fugitive found guilty in abstentia who resorts to using his funds to protest in a combination non-violent and violent protest to overthrow the then government in power should be more than enough to have the Kingdom included on this list.

We won;t even get into the pre-2008 purchases by Pojamon Shinwatra under the blessings of Thaksin and the FIDC to purchase a huge amount of prime real estate on Ratchadapisek Road, of which was deemed to be illegal. So tell me how Thailand does not make the list of the top 20 most corrupt countries in the present? Sourced:

I'm not suprised at all. There is so much to see and do in this beautiful country and the people are much more warm and welcoming to foriegners than in other parts of Asia - especially China. This is a country with problems like many, and has one of the most corrupt and incompetent governments that exist on the planet. But LOS still has its charms and I see that every time I look at my beautiful wife who embodies the best the Kingdom has to offer.

I see the problem with Thailand's image is Thailand is judged by referencing the people outside Bangkok, Pattaya, etc. where the people are much more friendly and are more of what you expect from Thailand. Bangkok, Pattaya, etc. are horrible examples for Thailand where the people double price, scam, and are incredibly rude.

And how much different is that from many of the other major tourist places around the world? I'd hate to think of all the European cities I've been scammed in...or had scams attempted. Scammers are everywhere there are tourists, unfortunately.

Mark, I think the difference between most tourist scams in developed countries and scams in many Asian, African and sometimes near-east countries is that the authorities turn a blind eye to, and often take part in the scams. Agreed, this must happen in our own home countries too, though I do not often read of it happening. I see it happening in Thailand, and read about it regularly happening in Cambodia too. I think this marks the difference between Say that of Thailand (or Nigeria), and being a tourist in the US, UK, or even somewhere like Australia (who sorry for the Aussies out there, but was founded as a prison colony, however have managed to step foot on the right path fairly quickly). I love Asia, but do worry one day I will fall victim to one of these elaborate scams - you can't always see them coming.

It isn't the best and most popular destination for the head of the Shinawatra family just yet, and may he forever hold his time-piece, as time peace doesn't exist to the scrawny tw@it!

-mel.

Bringing Politics into an unrelated economic article is not cool Mel.. We get enough of this trolling from some of the other long standing members. You like him or you hate him, but this is not his thread - it belongs to a different subject altogether, unless you can prove a link between the awards and Big T.

I wonder how all the additional visitors that are gradually replacing farangs, viz. Arabs and peoples from the sub continent, will view Songkran.

But they are still 'farangs'

Slightly OT, but if you ask a young Thai if an Indian is Farang, they will tell you "he is Indian", or they will tell you "that man is African" - only people with white skin people generally are considered Farangs by most, no matter what the official definition is. I know what the books say, but they do not necessarily meet the mindset of most of the populous. I guess, there is an academic definition and a sociocultural definition.

I went to Chiang Mai with my partner a few years ago, she was very sick after catching a bug in drinking water in Lopburi (she drunk from the tap). We had managed to get through the Ring Road safely, as we were both very well dressed and so clearly not up for "sanuk". I have managed to get through Khao San in the same dress without getting wet, good people do exist.

Then, as we walked towards Wat Phra Singh, a carload of Thais with buckets of ice cold water (it actually had ice in it) came towards us laughing. I shouted "mai au khraab, phu ying mai sabai, she is sick", they just laughed and poured water all over her anyway, stopping to empty all of their buckets on us..

I stopped going to Khao San road after getting burning skin and stinging eyes from people putting boxing linniment inside the wet dust, making my day a misery. I make a point to avoid Songkran now, it is abused, rather than used for what it is meant to be (a day of fun, cultural binding, and a reminder of how close we can be if we just try).

RIP to this couple, it takes a special kind of expat to live in Isaan, quite different to that which you would find in the more western orientated places.

Being so far from home, I would guess that this was not a crime comittied b family or friends, bearing in mind we know few facts. One would assume there was security in place, though sadly several recent events have shown us that the Thai bargain prices for hotels are often a case of "you get what you pay for". this being said, other hotels are simply amazing in comparison tosimilar priced hotels in our home countries.

Certainly one case which cannot be deemed a suicide by any degree, and requires immediate investigation to locate the persons involved to avoid scaring off the very group of tourists that Thailand has been trying to become the "hub" for catering to..

To those accusing the Thai establishment for being unfair for not giving bail, please look at the situation evenhandedly:

The Norwegian expat has committed a very serious crime against a person and appears to be responsible for her death.

The same expat has access to large amounts of funds.

The expat resides in Thailand, where even high standing people can tell you "money will buy most things" - this includes fake passports, and bribery of airport officials.

Money in Thailand, can also buy judges, witnesses, Police officers (maybe not the BIB in this case).

By giving the alleged offender bail, you are not only releasing a flight risk, but also giving him free-reign to attempt to protect himself illegally through bribery or using local mafias to make evidence "disappear". It would be much harder for him to do this from prison.

In my country, we have a very famous case going on with Kim Dotcom (the piracy king). Kim had to prove without a doubt that he was not a flight risk, because he was a foreigner (even though he holds Permanent Residence) and because he has access to sufficient funds to make flight possible.

Come on guys, it is because he is a foreigner that he has not been bailed, but for good reason. Positive discrimination.

The feminist movement in Thailand is picking up pace. If this is a good thing or a bad thing is a personal opinion.

I know for a fact, that the feminist movement is so strong here in NZ, it is actually alienating against men sometimes, to the point that women actually have the upper hand against men. Thailand needs to be careful that they are introducing equality in the future, rather than just turning the tables. Thai men are disadvantaged too, it is about where you come from, not the parts that you have on your body.

15 years ago, I did not have shoes to wear to school, and rarely had lunch to take to school. My mother often went without food so that I could eat and grow. I was a white kid in a brown neighborhood, high crime, drugs and gangs. It was the school I went to, and the men and women who taught me, that made me understand. It is not about the color of your skin, it is not about you being a Male or a Female, but about your determination to succeed and do better than anyone else. With equal tools, everyone has the same opportunities to succeed.

he numerously made the same statements of calling for reconciliation throughout the democrats time in power... don't know where you got that idea from?

If you could point me to relevant news articles, I will stand humbled. Though, I can say with all honesty the only attempts of communication between Thaksin and the government were the read shirt demonstrations, and the rejection of the Democrats gradual acceptance of an early election. This was slow, but eventually negotiated to a very short period of time prior to the shootings. The Red shirt movement refused to stop protesting and the "clean up" of the protests took place. But that is another unrelated issue.

You may like to read these articles for proof:

Abhisit offering to hold elections by July (18/04/2011):

Abhisit offering to dissolve parliament early may for the July elections (11/03/2011):

Yet, the protests continued. This could either be seen as effectively either a rejection of the terms, or treason through disruption of the countries main business and tourist discrict(s). This was the time to accept the terms and reconsile as brothers, not as politicians but as Thais willing to accept win or loss. But as we know, some to this day cannot accept loss, which is the reason for so much political infighting within both camps (but mostly within PTP). There is more to come with Thai Rak Thai party members being eligible to hold positions shortly. Big fish will eat small fish.

However, I admire Abhisit for how he assisted in the floods, and has been a true man by offering bipartisan assistance during the floods. This is the mark of a true leader.

well i suggest you could do some revision if you think that all abhisit did was offer nonpartisan assistance during the floods and there was no politicking involved in some of his statements...

You are wrong.

Here is the link to a meeting between both leaders (12/10/2011), which to my knowledge was the only meeting which took place through official channels with the two:

Here was the head of the Thai army expressing his desires for the Army, Democrats, and PTP (the three groups that could never quite saw eye to eye previously) to act together (27/10/2011):

Here was the offer of bipartisan assistance by Abhisit on 28/10/2011: It does strike me that this was a military idea, rather than either parties idea, judging by the two dates above.

And here is Abhisit having to communicate his concerns politically, after a bi-partisan committee was not formed (22/11/2011):

Having a single meeting between both Abhisit and Yingluck does not equate to a bipartisan think tank, let alone a stand alone flood committee comprising of both parties top leaders and flood specialists.

"No, I do not support the Yellow shirts, I disagree with them for being quite anti-western, but I do not think that the current government is any better either. However, I admire Abhisit for how he assisted in the floods, and has been a true man by offering bipartisan assistance during the floods. This is the mark of a true leader. "

Anti-western? Why would anyone want to follow in America's foot-steps?

And what was it Abhisit did for assisting with the floods? I must have been sleeping that particular moment.

The present Government was voted in by the people so get over it.

If you were in Thailand at the time of the floods (I was), you would have seen Abhisit in gumboots (wellingtons, whatever you want to call them), with a shovel helping out. He was not on the back of a very large dump truck, dry as a tourist in Cuban summer, Wai'ing people in Pathum Thani who were struggling to survive as his counterpart was. This defines the true difference between the two leaders (I did not say the two parties, or the two movements).

America is not the west, never has been, and never will be. America is not the only developed country, and believe it or not things are done very differently in many countries in comparison to the USA. It is said that Americans get quite a culture shock when coming to my home country, or Australia, because we do things so different, and have different expectations for example. The USA should never be considered the west, it is offensive to even state that is the case.

The present government, as the previous government did, and the governments going back as far as you can, had a bidding war rather than a war for hearts, and won the minds of the people. Do not confuse Thai politics with western politics - Thais live for the day, they rarely plan for the future. This is the teaching of buddha.

This is an interesting piece, the first time several things have been said in tandem: the real picture appears to be revealing itself now.

Of concern, is that the Shinawatra clan now desire reconciliation, after they destroyed the system in 2010/2011, because the system did not favor their desires. This suggests cravings for control and power. Why did Thaksin not desire reconciliation when other parties, not aligned to his desires, and not requesting his advice, were in power?

Thaksin does not desire reconciliation, he desires acceptance from his political enemies, and the army, and their yielding bondage in servitude to his strategies.

His sisters ability to deal with the floods, as well as other crisis, have been very much on the boring, predictable, and uninspired side of things, and she is famous among Thais for holding "notes" in her hands, and on her hands for her speeches, and forgetting her conscripted lines. This, as well as not answering pointed questions of which she has not been advised how to answer by her "adviser". Thaksin speaks, already. Thaksin advises, already. It is hurting ALL Thais, it is hurting ALL business in Thailand.

No, I do not support the Yellow shirts, I disagree with them for being quite anti-western, but I do not think that the current government is any better either. However, I admire Abhisit for how he assisted in the floods, and has been a true man by offering bipartisan assistance during the floods. This is the mark of a true leader.

This article appears to summarise all concerns by the publisher with regards to the south in a single article, creating a confusing "dogs breakfast" which fails to clearly define the problem points. Potentially could have been released in several articles titled "problems of the south:issue title" or something similar.

Perhaps the publisher does not feel the south worthy of multiple articles - believe it or not, the south only matters to most Bangkokians because their people are being killed there.

The Buddhists I know from the south are mostly from Yala, and are the most conservative of the Thais that I know. Muslims there speak Yawi, which is virtually the same as Bahasa, the languuage of Malaysia and Indonesia, with slight dialectal differences. I speak Bahasa, and try my best with Thai, though I am far from perfect. The Muslims tend to often speak Thai, though the Buddhists do not understand Yawi, for the most part. Villages and shopping areas are segregated by religion: areas for buddhists, areas for muslims, and the military often acts as a buffer between "trouble spots" or areas where Muslims and Buddhists live close together.

If Muslim women decide to desert the faith they have been raised upon, and try their luck with a soldier of foreign lands (muslims do not see themselves as living in Thailand, and driving through Yala or Pattani you would understand what I mean), it really does say how much of a determination they have to uphold their teachings. Unfortunately, they are probably not well educated in Thai soldier 101 - several of my friends have been screwed around by the same soldiers, who have girlfriends back in the north or north east, and simply use these girls for sex. If they get them pregnant, they are yesterdays news, simply forgotten. Though, Thai culture places a high prestige on posts of risk and responsibility, so Buddhist, and I would assume Muslim women, will continue to "try" their luck. And Buddhist soldiers the kingdom over, will continue to "have" their luck, served to them on a plate.

With regards to the drugs, it is my understanding that some of these privates would actually have the capacity to operate on both sides of the fence, guarding movements of ya ba (the funding tool of the insurgency, and cause of a lot of the violence) in exchange for ya ba to either sell, or consume. Nobody argues with a soldier in the south.

The numbers don't add up... again!

The article states that 8% of businesses are relocating after being hit by the floods, though then goes on in the next paragraph to list the re-launching delay, which adds up to 99% of companies hit. Are 99% of companies re-launching, or only 92%? Deceptive numbers here. Not good for business, not good for investors - which are going the opposite way in Thailand.

I wonder what percentage value this will shave off the Thai economy? This may go to explain some of the recent repatriation movement in the yen that we have seen.

The US and Thai economies both undertook stimulus, the US as we know pumped money into banks and other manufacturers in need.

Thailand increased the minimum wage, attempting to stimulate domestic demand and grow local industry to insulate it from external shocks in the USA and Europe - the floods have effectively run alongside the wage rise to leave big business questioning if bigger profits can be made easier, on other shores (in Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma).

Why are Government officials meeting on any level discussing anything related to financial, legal, or equity during working hours without official mandate, acting without prior knowledge and consent of the cabinet? If they knew, they could have rescheduled the house sitting - they did not know.

Does the PM of Thailand hold the authority to make decisions without entering debate with the house? Can s/he represent the Government without prior consultation? Just a general question.

This is so sad, more industrializing of a beautiful tourist spot, which has remained beautiful because it is hard to reach, so most farang cannot or are not willing to go there. I had actually considered going back this year, so that I could use the climb for my fitness, on a 30 day crash course fitness program.

This kind of industrialization may improve tourist numbers to Phu Kradueng, but it will destroy the legacy of what is truly old-style Thailand in this part of Isaan. You can bet most of the profits will not be put back into keeping things clean, or improving the lives of those making the park a truly special place.

"Thai medical spa business is facing a shortage of masseuse due to the fact that foreign spas would lure them away with double or triple the salaries they are earning in Thailand."

What is not mentioned are the ones returning, the same ones who find out the promise of 30k baht overseas is hardly enough to survive on, never mind save anything.

Lady down the road from me found out the hard way, working is a "spa" in some hotel in New Zealand.

Probably earning less than minimum wage, long hours and couldn't believe how much customers were paying for a one hour massage, all she was doing was making someone else rich.

Please, find out the name of the hotel. This is not the way any respectable business in our country should or is allowed to operate.. there are minimum wages here which should see her far exceeding 30k baht per month. The going rate is 100-180 nzd per hour for massage here.. Name them, shame them!