Johpa

People in the South are treated like second class citizens.... killing them will not solve the bigger problem.

People in the South are treated like second class citizens as are peoples up north. And peoples from Isaan are treated much worse than the Southern Thai folks. Jeez, you all know how the Akha are treated, and trust me the Karen and Lahu are trated almost as poorly and they all are treated much worse than Muslims in Pattani.

The fallacy being promoted by the "separatists" is that the second class treatment is connected to the Southern most provinces being Muslim.

But I agree, killing 100 poorly educated disenfranchised kids in a setup ambush without attempting to find alternatives will probably not help matters. But then again, the everyone knows the Royal Thai Police rarely take prisoners.

Happy Trails

Johpa

Johpa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good to see you here too!!! ;-)

I don't think Blue Moon has closed. There's actually some kind of bar in the street-front part of it that I think wasn't used before. But I haven't been to Blue Moon in ages.

Cheers,

Chanchao

Glad to hear such a historical establishment as the Blue Moon has not closed its doors. I am still mourning the loss of the Hennesy Club.

I decided to join here after reading some of the discusions regarding the Matthews arrest and deportation. Alas, the thread had been ended by whoever the powers are in this forum before I arrived.

And it looks like these forums could use another old hand curmudgeon to keep people honest. Besides, I'll be back up in the hills this summer for a visit and hope to get some visitors to come by and alleviate my village fever symptoms. Those who look down upon us Mae Khong drinkers need not apply.

Happy Trails

Johpa

Just curious as to what the collective wisdom here is regarding my daughter's visa into Thailand this summer.  She will be staying about 33 days, just a few days over the free 30 day tourist visa given upon arrival.  Should we just pay the overstay charges at Don Muang when she returns or pay up front a larger sum, after adding mailing fees and photos, for a 60 day tourist visa from a consulate?

Happy Trails

Johpa

What is her age and nationality ?

She is only 12, a US citizen, traveling with her Thai mother. I estimate total expenses for a tourist visa from a local consulate to be around 1,600TB after all expenses here stateside. One use to be able to get a 7 day extension on a 30 day tourist visa at Thai immigration offices, but I do not know if that is still an option or what the cost of such an extension would be. Alas, it has been almost 15 years since I was on first name basis with the folks at immgration in Chiang Mai and I no longer have any personal contacts there and be able to jump to the front of the line, so to speak, as I once was able to do. Look, I know it is all a bit much over a trifling amount, but a penny saved is a penny earned. : )

Happy Trails

Johpa

Just curious as to what the collective wisdom here is regarding my daughter's visa into Thailand this summer. She will be staying about 33 days, just a few days over the free 30 day tourist visa given upon arrival. Should we just pay the overstay charges at Don Muang when she returns or pay up front a larger sum, after adding mailing fees and photos, for a 60 day tourist visa from a consulate?

Happy Trails

Johpa

While on the (assumed) topic, I just have to laugh when driving along Moon Muang on a Saturday night and seeing this huge pile of girls sitting outside some place close to the old Blue Moon..

Having not been in town for a few years, and new to this forum, has the Blue Moon closed its doors?

Happy Trails

Johpa