JulesMad

I don't have the "problem" of owning that much money, but I would check, double-check and triple-check if I would go anywhere with that amount of cash on me!!!

I doubt also very much if I would bring that money to the police (or other Thai officials) if I found it (just being very honest here)

In this case, the very honest taxi driver should have gotten a much bigger reward (10% sounds quite right)

pass the sugar please

one or two lumps, sir?

There is NO country in the world that would admit that they are involved with CIA torture. USA repercussions would be too serious for all countries involved.

And of course, Thailand just can not be involved, as everybody knows: Thai(land) can not be bought off

"Proof" of success in the USA War on Drugs:

The year 2012 was the first ever that death by overdose of prescription drugs surpassed the death toll by illegal narcotics in the United States, addiction specialist Dr Drew Pinsky said in a recent episode of the acclaimed Adam Carolla podcast.

Now more people die of overdose of LEGAL drugs than ILLEGAL drugs;

Add that to the fact that people who OD on ILLEGAL drugs mostly don't want to commit suicide (at least not in the short run!).....

Makes you think, huh?!?

1. There is NO prostitution in Thailand, by (Thai) definition. Just lots of really friendly women

2. It is my strong believe that anyone (Thai men for sure!) can have sex anywhere in Thailand, within 10 minutes, if so desired.

3. FACT: Farang sex business is just 5% of the total; that leaves 95% to the Thai

4. Prostitution is the OLDEST profession in the world

The red-light district in Amsterdam is just for the tourists; rarely you will see Dutch people there (unless they come from the province for a day Amsterdam) We just laugh about them

Embarrassing or not, it is just a fact of life in Thailand.

And embarrassing for who??? For the girls? For the punters? For a thru and thru corrupt society and government?

Take your pick

My 5 cents.... I went last week to Ranong on a border run, and this time I rented a real motorbike (650 cc). Great fun! The road to Ranong is beautiful and it is relaxed driving, as I started early (before the minivans).

On the way back, there were loads of minivans returning to Phucket (pronounce Phuck-it), and it was not so relaxed anymore. These minivan drivers were competing with each other like crazy, and they were even trying to crawl in my exhaust. I ALWAYS keep a safe distance from whatever is in front of me, definitely NOT thai style.... The acceleration and speed of a 650 Kawa is no match for a minivan, but I let 2 or 3 pass me, just because they were way too close to my rear to be comfortable.

They drive even faster than what I think is fast AND safe on the bike.... they deserve to have a (serious) accident, but it is the passengers that are really at risk! These guys do it every day, they know the road by heart, but everybody in thai traffic knows that ANYTHING can happen at ANYTIME. These guys have NO safety margins at all!!

Best thing would be if we all boycot the minivans....but that is not going to happen

My advice to any border runners: get a couple of guys together and rent a car! It is faster, safer, cheaper, more fun and you can have a bit of a day out on a boring visa/border run. On my next border run I will rent a bike again, little bit more expensive but a lot safer and I get to drive a real bike all day

something very strange:

"None of the passengers were injured, and by the time police arrived on the scene, they had all been picked up by another bus."

and

"Luckily, Thalang Traffic Police officer Sen Sgt Maj Sayumphu Nhucharoen saw it coming. “I was on duty at the U-turn and I saw a wheel coming right at me at high speed. I managed to jump out of the way in time, but it hit my motorcycle which was parked by the road,” he said."

This makes me think that the police was already there, right at the scene......

Food for Thought or TIT?!?

Can only be explained by the ever-increasing number of INVISIBLE tourists, that only spend INVISIBLE baht.... For sure more pi (=thai ghosts) around

Well...a big part of the problem is how difficult it is to form a company and or obtain a work permit.

Because of the "Thai Way" of doing things many foreigners simply take the chance and operate a business or work illegally while knowing that something can be "arranged" if and when they are arrested.

If the means of getting a work permit and or forming a company was not so dam_n frustrating and bureaucratic and considerably costly then less foreigners would be operating a business illegally or working illegally.

Meantime, like another person pointed out...this will involve some cash payments made to the police to smooth things out...as always.

Better than kicking everyone out of town and or throwing them in jail.

You have hit the nail.........smack in the middle.

Absolutely right!!! Today I was offered a new Work Permit for 'only' 95,000 THB (45,000 THB for making false accounts and fake accounting papers, 25,000 THB for the Thai lawyer, and 20,000 THB for 'under the table'. Normally I pay 3000 THB at the Labour office... It is better to work without WP, because if they want to fukc you over (with or without WP), they WILL fukc you over!

The Thai protestors were not concerned about whether the Russians were operating legally or not – they just wanted them out

I suppose these greedy morons also want the Russian tourists who pay their rip off charges out as well? Idiots.

There are a surprising number of Thai businesses including restaurants etc operating in Russia. I would imagine some of this money makes its way back to Phuket. How about if the Russians decide to kick out all the hardworking Thais in Russia in retaliation because they want them out?

Third world mentality at its worst.

If they close down all the Russian companies, then I suspect that all the Russian tourists will disappear as well. They protesters haven't though this one through. If the Russian companies can't work in Phuket, they will work somewhere else, and take the tourists with them. But there probably needs to be some sort of crackdown on illegal workers.

Great! Let's do it!

Som Nam Na!

If people want to be stupid, they should be allowed to be stupid!!!

But do NOT start complaining or moaning to other people, when things go wrong.... My compassion stops right here....

Easiest solution, very easy to control and enforce by BIB, not subject to any form of corruption (because everybody will know about the "tea"-money (double pun intended as I have drunk a lot of alcohol in tea cups, during 'dry' days), clear for everybody, no mis-understandings or confusion and I can go on for a while more.....

Added advantages, as we are talking about a HARD drug with the most addicts in the world (except for smoking), no more new alcohol addicts in Thailand and many more....

Just forbid alcohol completely in Thailand! Every drunk goes to jail! End of Discussion

I know this is never going to happen, because no tax (from alcohol) to government, BIB looses out big, few tourists will come to Thailand (the country where drinking is illegal) and most expats will leave Thailand and Thai Visa goes broke , but just think about it for a second....... A lot less traffic accidents, less stupid fights and killings, more relaxed people all over Thailand, hospitals have an easier time, BIB can concentrate on more important things (don't know though ) and more and more good things!

It is just a thought....

Thailand investigating Thailand....

Who will ever believe they will come with an "independent" conclusion???? (other that Thailand did nothing wrong, as usual )

Dream on

many of the dutch are angry with her now because of the broadcast meant the cancellation of a popular soap series for one day no "goede tijden slechte tijden "

Another Endemol production, maybe the speech was as well.

I know ONE thing for sure: Media Mafia Endemol did DEFINITELY NOT write even one syllable in Bea's speech!!!!!

Unfortunately many (not too smart) people love this soap shit, even in The Netherlands. These (not too smart) people don't realize that the media mafia did not CANCEL the episode, they just postpone till tomorrow....

IF IT AIN'T DUTCH, IT AIN'T MUCH (even "goede tijden slechte tijden" is better than much other (english) soaps!)

Good move and wise decision, Bea

For you, WillemAlexander, good luck and may you be as good a King as your mom was a queen

I am Dutch and proud of it. We do not have all that british karabow-poo with their royal family.... O my Buddha, they are soooo stiff, that they break when they bow

IF IT AIN'T DUTCH, IT AIN'T MUCH

Is this bike still for sale?

I am interested, but the full article does not work ? Isthe bike still for sale? How much? where? Any details (and pics) are highly appreciated

I checked before with the sellers, and one of them cracked me up, as he said:"I not sell fake copy, I only sell ORIGINAL copy"

Nobody died, THAT is most important!!!

For the rest, yes it is a nuisance to buy new stuf, but they were all "smart" tourists and the insureance will pay. Next please....

Quote main article: “Phuket is planning to build a light-rail system that will be able to support the transport demands of the local people and tourists in the future,” he added.

Last year, many international construction companies sent teams of engineers to Phuket last year to assess the island’s need for a light-rail system and to formally offer their “expression of interest” to to build a light-rail in Phuket the then Phuket Governor, Tri Augkaradacha.

However, at last report, officials in Bangkok decided to ignore all such actions until a government agency had completed its own feasibility study.

All present readers of TV will be dead and burried, if and when that happens Why not give everyone a private helicopter, same nonsense solution...

Mark my words: NOTHING will happen!

“First we need to find out whether it is a Thai crocodile. If it is, we might be able to return it to its likely original habitat such as Pang Sida National Park in Sa Kaeo province or send it to the wildlife breeding centre,” he said.

While they're checking its papers, I suggest an urine test for drugs - just in case.....

And paw prints taken for the database too!

If it is NOT a Thai croc, please check his Work Permit as well... Don't forget the mandatory syphilis test!

BUT of course, the tourists are right... it is very dangerous to have 'wild' animals in a National Park, that is supposed to protect the animals from the humans

Innocent question: who does own these bars anyway? BIB ?

Namaste Ravi! May you have gone to a better place... I have enjoyed your music tremendously over the years. I will never forget the sessions at Monterrey, just amazing!

Rest in Peace, Brother! You are missed...