BusyB

Thanks for filling in the details ... It will certainly be interesting to see if the Thai state steps in and by how much ... I have a sneaky suspicion there's not much financial depth to the bunch who ran/owned Mountain B.

So 100k - 200k? Don't spend it all at once guys - especially on all the costs you've had since then that you had to borrow for. Let's see. But years later survivors have still not seen any worthwhile compensation whilst those at fault haggle relentlessly. I maintain this is not Thai specific. It's about epic regulatory failure before and after. Happens everywhere.

Doubtful. And any reasonable insurance company would fight tooth and claw against that claim. The building wasn't licensed for what it was being used as. Would invalidate any policy even if everything else was OK.

No insurance would accept liability for that - not one health and safety check or fire procedure in place. And it's not only Thailand. In the UK there was Grenfell ... with dozens of high rises there still using the same cladding that caused that tragedy even now. And in the US something similar happened in California a few years ago I think, where a warehouse or art gallery or something had been converted into a raver club - also a massive death toll. Thailand has many faults but this kind of thing is not specifically Thai.

Considering the state that poor woman must have been in that is truly disgusting.

Grenfell. Also lousy building regulation and fitters cutting cost corners. Believe it or not there are still dozens of those fire traps still left in the UK - they haven't been renovated even after Grenfell. And the authorities move not.

Yes that's what I thought too ... but I suspect no-one will be eating there any more even after they've cleared up the mess. That's the end of their revenue stream. It could well be that they live more or less day to day financially with everything going straight into setting up and running the night club. Wonder if they'll have much cushion tucked away to pay any compensation. They certainly won't be insured and any insurance would refuse to pay anyway.

No road sense at all.

Ask to speak to the Duty Officer. The D/O is God.

(My) Master Card has a facility where I can block transactions in all countries - other than the ones I'm in. When I'm in LOS I free up Thai transactions - transactions in the US would be rejected out of hand because the US is locked down on my card. I could free US transactions up if I was to go there.

Corporate investments I guess looking at the sums involved.

Not only that but CCs are covered against fraud - debit cards usually not in my experience. I'm more worried about ID theft. And I prefer cash for anything in the wild east except big chains and. airlines etc.

It's also telling that he speaks to pub owners, but not to the authorities that accept those backhanders even though they're the ones supposed to be preventing just this kind of disaster.

Not just gay. They used to say AIDS only affected gay men.

Only flown them once internationally - business class paid with premium miles, absolutely super experience. That was 2012. But even back then these threads were full of how bad Thai was. 2008 flew them domestically business class several times, when they were operating the A330s with C cabin. Also most enjoyable. Always found the crews helpful, welcoming and friendly.

Where do I get 'TM7' - what is it for?

That's what I've decided to do for the very reasons OP posts.

How awful! Oh lordy! Just noticed this is from 2008 ...

Yeah it's a good site.

I was on a flight from Vientiane to Luang Prabang near the rear door, which was OPEN! It was low level and I'm sure they were flying Visual rules. This was some 20 years ago. Can't remember the type, but it was a turbo-prop. It reminded me of being choppered into the Malaysian jungle by Hueys when I was in the army. Open doors and steep banking turns that had us looking pretty much straight down into the jungle. Enjoyed both experiences but wouldn't volunteer for them now 555 I took the bus back down, and quite honestly found that far more scary. Baggage piled high on the roof, people sitting all along the aisle on upturned buckets. The driver careering down roads with tight bends at breakneck speed with inches to spare on drops of hundreds of feet into deep gorges. The karst formation scenery was magnificent, the ride was terrifying. I didn't see any serious poverty in LP that I can remember and I usually notice it. It was still quaint and a lovely place to visit. I went on a combined cycle/canoe trip out in the mountains as well. But the place was obviously gearing up for a tourist boom. One hotel would only give me room if I took one of their women as well. I went somewhere else - apart from the dignity aspect, I believe there were (maybe still are) some pretty appalling penalties for unmarried sex with a Lao woman. I found somewhere a short was down the main road into LP, which had just been finished, and was one of many hotels just sprung up. I also had a blazing argument with a bank manager who said he couldn't give me money on my Visa because it was 'maxed out'. I phoned and got the info it wasn't. So I belabored him until he couldn't any more. Took me over half an hour of argument in a pretty full bank foyer. But he didn't serve me - he got an assistant to pay me out so he wouldn't lose face. He withdrew out back. And yes, improved standards of living and prosperity are absolutely welcome. I don't want to travel to poverty stricken museums, but progress can be done tastefully. I hope LP still has some character. Aah the joys of travel ????

Thanks, I'm hoping I'll make it back in while there's still something of old Asia left. Lats there a couple of decades ago. As for the train, this is a cool YT channel:

@ OneMoreFarang 'I know a women who own several bars. She hired many people from her "village" since maybe 20 years.' Seems to be doing OK no?

Korsakoff syndrome? Or DTs.

Seems Imisread but it's not important enough for me top go back to it ????

Fair comment, but I think the demographics of Pattaya are really quite unique even by Thai standards ;D