Emster23

Perhaps Syrian should ask for political asylum? Doubtful would get it, as that might open the door a tad for the Rohinga....

I used to live in Phra Kanong, before the condos started going in. Most lived in one room flats. Not really room for kitchen; most didn't have refrigerators or microwaves (including me for quite a while). But the street food was great, wides variety, inexpensive and handy. No reason to go to Lotus for takeaway food.

As far as messing with the free market, appears learned nothing from rice scheme. Please take some econ 101 classes, or maybe look up "supply and demand" on google....

Hope they follow thru in villages like Jomtien. I've gotten it twice while living here (lucky me!). Don't think I was added as statistic as I didn't go to hospital. Prefer to die at home.

Are expats included in the coupon scheme? Or do they figure we spend our time whingeing here and don't watch Thai tv? Would these boxes work or be of any use with the local free cable at my condo? Are the local cable companies going to provide that, or is it just the big boys like True going to do it? Seems fuzzy to me....

Of course Thais can turn up on time if they think it is vitally important, like catching a plane. Perhaps not being "on the dot" is a sign that they think they have a relationship with you? Just a guess. Re: my comments on West. Yes Japan is an on time kind of place, and all the west is not the same. General sort of thing (excluding latin cultures and time). Do you ever Wai someone back? I would hope so. Are you 'selling out" your western handshake? I don't think so. If you think it important someone be somewhere at certain time, then you must stress that several times so that they get the message. Otherwise it may be on the level of "Let's have lunch sometime".

If I hadn't a believed it, I wouldn't have seen it!

If they did see it, then it is no longer a myth. Used to laugh at show "Unsolved Mysteries". Duh. Solved mysteries we call "facts". Maybe it is a hit or myth situation?

CCTV at hotel? Maybe the girls, er boys, whatever.... told them they were getting free viagra in the beers? If they were smart (which is bit stretch, these guys weren't) could give the dosed beer to the girls and open a new one for self. New variation on old switcheroo.

Read the book "The Silent Language" by Edward T Hall. Time is one of the cultural variables that has unwritten expectations, shared beliefs within a culture. I assume you are from West, and like all cultures, think our perception of time is "the right one, the rational one" etc. Adapt or be frustrated, it's up to you. Indonesia has phrase I like: "jam karet" which means "rubber time".... expecting someone to be on time is like expecting Liverpool to win EPL: may happen, may come close, but don't bet the farm on it.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do". Perfectly normal human behavior in any culture. Typical whingeing from Westerners about immigrants is they don't try to assimilate, learn language, etc. Since you are a minority of 1 or 2, you do not have enough of your ilk to form a sub-culture and maintain "the old ways". Look at the number of farangs here who only hang out with farangs, don't learn any Thai.

Now they notice the tourist money flying out of the country. Thailand better be careful. There is potential in other places not so far away. They could steal your tourists.

I would strike the word "steal" and perhaps replace with "invite" or "lure". The Rolling Stones didn't "steal" my money when I bought tickets to a concert. They "enticed" me to part with it willingly.

Seems to me that as long as you can pay a bribe to get a license and not demonstrate you can actually drive a vehicle with even minimum of skill (this includes intercity buses), or pay a bribe because you didn't get a license in the first place and be allowed to continue on your merry way, as long as moving violations and drunk driving are not dealt with firmly, as long as any piece of junk is allowed on the highway regardless of potential danger to driver or others, there will be far more accidents and deaths than countries such as UK where they do take these issues seriously. Stands to reason.

The death rate is much higher than reported also. You have to die at the scene to be counted, unlike countries that count up three months after the accident per international standards.

Thais have morals, but order of importance is different than the west. Yes, they have "Thainess" but you also have "Westernness". As is typical across cultures, each assumes theirs is normal, natural and correct. Others are somehow inferior.

Westerners prefer honesty number one (to a point, however). Face is farther down the line. Thais think face and saying what they think others want to hear is more important (making them comfortable). One behavior to watch out for is "lying by omission", something Clinton would be proud of. Example: "I didn't sleep with him" (No, you had sex with him then went home to sleep).

Punishment from Allah I reckon.

Doesn't matter the vote: we were told No elections for at least a year! Was the promotion managed by same guy who got Qatar the world cup?

This ought to shut up the whingers complaining about "One party rule"!

In Thailand, the danger comes from being in a car, not some hot water in a bottle. Piffle (did I use that right?)

Perhaps had baby because couldn't afford condoms? Really are some heartless types here. Surprise, surprise. If you feel good about it, do it. Try to make so he doesn't know you did help out. And do it because you want to, it's your money, it's your call. Not Karma, not man in the sky. Because it feels right. We never stand as tall as when we bend over to help another person in tough times. If you think it is scam, don't do it. I don't think it is, from what you have posted.

I've had two homeless friends, now down to one as Tony died of a busted liver. RIP. They both said combination of too much booze and getting cleaned out by Thai women reason living on the beach. A word to the hope to be wise.

"a rose is a rose is a rose...." I would not call a 500 lb bomb "huge". Big enough, but not "huge". Then again, gf says parts of me are "huge", so maybe just a Siamese thing?

It is "world class" just didn't specify which world! Euro types think first world, but take a look at the rest of the world a bit. Think Nigeria, Syria, Sudan.... that is part of the world they aspire to one would think.

and it's a hard, and it's a hard..... and it's a hard.... and it's a hard rain..... gonna fall

So do Repubs want Obama to call off the deal, send him back to Taliban? Maybe embed Sean Hannity with him to set example of tough guy? I look at it this way: this is part one, releasing the big bad guys. Would not be sporting to hit with drone strike while at Gitmo in a cage. Get them back on the street where can wipe out with impunity. If bad boys stay in Qatar, maybe they can help with World Cup planning. See who visits them, and boom more targets. If they leave, then it is open season. Being away from Gitmo doesn't mean they are set free, just set up.

Wow. I bet none of us saw something like this coming! How can such things happen with such high safety and driver standards?
"more die in USA than Thailand." got some numbers off Wiki (I know, I know). Thailand 25k per year USA 35k. USA is 5x greater population. Also I don't think they count here if die away from scene, like at hospital.