josephbloggs

26 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Not sure about that, Cambodia charge $300/year, stay as long as you like, no difficult paperwork or visits to immigration.

Right, that may be the normal thing for long termers.  Did they give a blanket amnesty to tourists who were stuck in the country on a one month tourist visa?  Are those tourists still there with no worries several months later?

9 hours ago, YetAnother said:

this thai government are far from friends of non thais, quite the opposite, they want us gone; less than zero empathy for logic such as in this letter

So how do you explain two extended blanket amnesties that are more generous than anywhere else in the region as far as I can tell?

Want us gone?  

You should change you user name to YetAnotherWithAChipOnHisShoulder.

7 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Greed greed greed...there, I feel much better!......But hey, the Thai's are'nt greedy, are they?

Not the ones I know, not at all.  And Toyota is a Japanese company.   Really not sure what the rest of your post is about either, but let's play along.

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Did you ever buy new cars in Thailand, JB? 

Yes, several of them over the years.  And just bought one recently in February.  I have bought a couple that were assembled in Thailand, but most were imported.  And all of them cost way more than I would have paid for the same car in the the UK.  This is all down to taxes and I chose to pay them.  Do I wish the taxes were similar to the UK? On this matter yes, absolutely!!  I can't afford the car I actually want (but I could in the UK).  On other matters, no (20% VAT?).  Is it "THAI GREED"?  No - it is an important revenue source for the government, and imagine how many cars would be on the road without those taxes!
 

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Did you ever pay income tax? 

Not sure what income tax has to do with anything, but yes, been paying income tax here for 25 years.  And I pay less than I would in the UK and many other countries.  THAI GREED!!    What's your point?
 

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Did you ever educate kids to the best level in Thailand?

Yes, I send both my kids to international school.  And yes I pay for it, so what?  They could have a free Thai education.  Private schools in the UK are expensive too.  Your point?  Private schools charging money is THAI GREED??
 

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Did you ever visit a National Park or the Royal Palace in Thailand? 

Yes.  Used to be able to get in for the Thai price using my driving license, but not any more.  Do I like the dual pricing?  No, not really.  Does it bother me?  Not really, it's not a big deal to me and certainly not worth getting worked up about.  If I want to go, I pay.  If I don't think it's worth it, I won't.  Does it make me all angry and bitter?  Nope.

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Greed is just in my imagination, right? It did take an age to come up with this, JB, years of experience!

Mostly it is, yes.  You see greed where I see taxes.  And you let yourself become so consumed by it that it affects your perception of everything - just like the people who see scams everywhere where they don't exist.  

On 8/21/2020 at 3:12 AM, PatOngo said:

GREED!

Brilliant PatOngo, well done!  Must have taken you an age to think that one up.

It's tax though, but never mind, you just enjoy shouting "GREED" if it makes you happy.

8 minutes ago, jadee said:

If covid doesn't kill off Pattaya tourism, this monorail will. I live in Samut Prakarn (south of Bangkok) and they are currently building the yellow line monorail from Lad Phrao, all the way down Srinakarin and then on Theperak to meet with the BTS at Samrong. The traffic is insane - miles-long queues from 7am to 9pm - the only good time to drive is at night. I can see something similar happening in Pattaya if this monorail gets underway in 2024 as it's already extremely congested. 

Something I've wondered is - with all the CO2 pollution caused from construction (99% of the monorail pillars and beams are concrete which is energy intensive to manufacture) and the years of cars stuck in traffic jams during construction and wasting fuel, when does the monorail actually start lowering overall emissions? My guess is after 20+ years of use. 

So what you are saying is that we shouldn't build any of these mass transit lines because they cause traffic jams during construction?  By that logic we shouldn't build flyovers or underpasses either.  During construction of the Pattanakarn underpass the traffic was nasty so I avoided it, but now the underpass has made a huge improvement.  Yes, the construction does cause traffic mess but when it is over you have a benefit.

If you had been in charge we wouldn't have the Skytrain the MRT, the Purple Line, the ARL, or all the other lines that will be open in the next couple of years.

I also live near the yellow line construction and avoid driving down Srinakarin (but then I always did as it is a pig of a road), but will certainly use the yellow line once it is open.  

And let's say your estimate of it taking 20 years to have a positive emissions benefit is true (that's certainly debatable) it's still definitely worth it.  And to think some people criticise the Thais for lack of long term thinking...

14 hours ago, blackcab said:

Buster's Fish and Chip Shop

 

They are open for business. I popped in this evening and ordered Cod and Chips. It came served in a custom take away box with a decent quality disposable knife and fork, even though I was eating in. To be honest I preferred the box; what with the virus situation and everything else.

 

 

The fish definitely was cod. Pacific cod, with a nice, firm and flaky fish inside. Personally I like Pacific cod or Atlantic cod, even though we tend to get Atlantic cod in the UK. The batter was crispy, golden and not oily.

 

The serving came with a wedge of lemon and a pot of tartar sauce. I opted for an extra side of baked beans.

 

 

The chips were great. A hot, firm outside with a soft and moist inner. Just the way I like it.

 

 

The menu also offers Comfort Food, so there's a bit more on offer than the standard fare, which is a great idea.

 

 

The damage was 330 baht for the cod and chips, 50 baht for the baked beans and 40 baht for a coke light.

 

Would I repeat? Yes, definitely.

 

Note: This was not a sponsored or paid promotion. I paid for my dinner just like everyone else.

Thanks for the report, looks decent (if a little small as others have mentioned).  Will definitely give it a try myself next time I'm in the area.

19 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I would certainly never use an underground train service in Thailand, an elevated train has a short drop to the ground at worst, underground can you imagine where all that flood water will go?

The thought of being buried alive or drowned is not on my bucket list of ways to go.

And how many times has the MRT flooded in the 16 years it has been running?

1 hour ago, Isan Farang said:

This is best fresh fish you can find, and good for a cost comparison 

 

https://www.theashvale.com/takeaway/menus.php

What's the point of that?  Comparing the price of a fish and chip place in the north of Scotland with one in the middle of Bangkok.  About as valid a comparison as comparing the price of a pad thai here with one in London.

Also the price is not that different - a cod supper is £8.20, which is around 340 baht.

19 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

.....is trying to destroy Pattaya, it,s charm...

Charm????

21 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

The cement trucks will be assigned the last 2 cars of the monorail....

 

to start displaying a generic survey result is about 15 years behind what is NEEDED today....

 

this propaganda is just to appease the complaining public....using the word “start” allows them to be completed “up to them”

 

so Thai....

I have read and re-read this post several times and I still have no idea what you're on about.

1 hour ago, AlfHuy said:

what's the place called?

Try reading the thread.  It is mentioned several times, the OP posted a picture of the place with its huge sign outside, in his review he posted pictures of the food and the box it came in which has the name on it.  

1 hour ago, gedeon007 said:

And how can we be 120% sure that they haven't committed a suiside ??? 

 

What kind of post is this??  

On 8/10/2020 at 6:29 AM, Colabamumbai said:

7 11 has franchise stores and corporate. If your franchise is real busy, they open a corporate store metres away. 

I have heard this many many times and it could well be true,  But does anyone have any first hand evidence of it?  Not "look at how close together the stores are" as often these are owned by the same franchisee, but "a franchisee opened and did well and CP opened a corporate store nearby to kill them".  Any solid case studies any one has?

It's easy to perpetuate an internet myth.  On one hand I can believe they would do it, but on the other how are they ever going to attract new franchisees if everyone knows within a year of success they will come and screw you?  No one would invest.  So I don't know.  See it repeated often though so surely someone can back it up?

So, you made the comment, what is it based on?  Have you heard any real world examples?

On 8/17/2020 at 9:57 AM, Fex Bluse said:

The Thais deserve a destroyed economy, and they will have it very soon. 

 

Thailand will hurt. ????

Oh great, here comes Fex Bluse again to lighten things up with his random nasty and bitter wishes upon an entire nation of people for no good reason!!

What a horrible outlook you have, truly awful. I wonder what made you like this.   

You hope the economy caves in.  You hope Thailand hurts.  You hope Thai Airways goes under and everyone loses their jobs.  Never come across anyone as bitter and nasty in my life.  How could any one wish to celebrate such catastrophes that effect good common people?  "Thailand will hurt" with a thumbs up.  

I hope one day you can get better, maybe find a friend or a companion, maybe try being nice to someone and see what happens.

Had fish and chips from the Londoner tonight.  I have to say it was pretty good and I would order it again.  They say it is from Lake Toba on the menu but don't say what kind of fish - I am guessing Tilapia.  Fresh, tasty, and flaky.  Nice home made tartar sauce too.

Looking forward to hearing what the new place offers.

12 hours ago, Foghorn said:

Clever people thais are 

So all Thai people leave their dogs tied to cars and drag them along?  What an idiotic and despicable comment.  Whichever country you come from I can declare everyone is a moron.

16 hours ago, blackcab said:

I just went past again. The place looks nearly finished, but they still haven't got a front door.

 

I'm not entirely convinced they will be selling food tomorrow, but I'll give it a go anyway to find out.

 

Intrepid fish and chip hunter, over and out.

I wouldn't expect the first day would be a fair representation of the quality though - surely they should expect some teething issues in the first few days, especially if construction is going up until the last minute?

8 hours ago, thailand49 said:

If the Thai leaders had any shame and brains wouldn't be so fast to brag about it.

Try reading the article before frothing at the mouth.  Who's bragging about what??

"Malaysia’s Malay Mail news agency recently reported that a Berlin-based travel startup, Tourlane, had carried out a study on August 10 to determine safe holiday destinations amid the outbreak"

Honestly, you see headlines on this site and you know before you click on the link it will be full of the usual rabid responses by people reacting to the headline rather than reading anything.  Every single time, it is so predictable.  It's quite sad that some people spend their lives in Thailand in a semi-permanent rage.

8 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Good.  The death penalty is barbaric.  Why doesn't Thailand just join the civilised world and ban it altogether?

It is very rare for Thailand to execute anyone.  One person in the last 11 years.

8 hours ago, bodga said:

Thai media  propaganda at its  best

British media propaganda at it's best.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-53797951

1 hour ago, essox essox said:

they have already had dome days off.....IN JULY !!!

One.  One day in July.

11 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

 

Supply and demand - people love the island and come in greater numbers, more things spring up to accommodate or service them.

Just because people want to come doesn't mean nature has to be destroyed to accommodate them. Look at what happened in Maya Bay; destroyed by Thais bringing too many tourists to the beach because of greed.

Countries like NZ don't allow rampant, unregulated development in areas of exceptional beauty, and still manage to have a tourist industry that enjoys those areas.

Samui was well and truly developed in the 90s, and no one was pooping in a hole in the ground. The only reason for ruining it was greed.

If it continues, it will be like Penang Island, which is really awful.

 

BTW, package tourists don't go anywhere because they love the place. They go because they believe the lies in the travel agent brochures. People used to love the island ( including me ) but no one could love the horrid place it became. They probably love the night life and the parties, but hardly nature. No one that loves nature would go back for a second time.

 

Yes, the flights over where I was staying ruined it for me, along with uncontrolled hawkers on the beach. Thankfully, the jet ski scam had not arrived before I stopped staying on Samui, but the long tails did their best to destroy many other beaches even without jet skis or speedboats.

 

Would you have a vested interest in property on the island, by any chance?

Ok, so you completely ignored my question.  You blame "Thai greed" which is a popular refrain on this forum.  But again, I will ask you, if you were left a valuable area of land on the beach and you were offered a couple of million dollars for it (or more) would you take it and not care about what happened to the plot, or would you resist the "greed" and say no, you like the island like it is, not sell, and leave your coconut plantation alone?  We both know the answer.  Any human would sell the land and retire happy and know their kids are looked after.

So it is not Thai greed, it is human nature.  I would sell the land and I wouldn't give a fig if they built a 50 story monstrosity on it and Samui became Benidorm.  I wouldn't.  You wouldn't.  I would have sold my land on soi 38 and kissed goodbye to the street food.  I would have sold Hemingway's to a hotel chain and laughed all the way to the bank.  And so would you.  Unless you were / are Bill Gates.

Tell me you would resist the money and leave the coconuts to live in peace - and then you can can talk about Thai "greed".  It is so boring to read that term in post after post, along with "brown envelopes" - another "hilarious" TVF favourite.  

So, care to answer the question honestly?  What would you do?  Would you turn down the money?

And no, I have no property interests in Samui, absolutely nilch.