Briggsy

Add badminton, fruit carving and remarkably being understood on the phone whilst speaking at very low volume.

Is this related to the spate of accidents involving Chinese drivers?

Of course, it is the people that don't wash (you?) that wander around in their own funk and thus fail to notice pongs from other sources. It is time for that shower, sir.

One of the main drivers of Chinese immigration in the late 19th and early 20th century into Thailand was famine in China. They knew they could never starve in Thailand. It is very sad that a child has died. However the underlying reason for his death was not a lack of food. There is absolutely a huge part of this story missing. Could be sickness, maltreatment, very strange parental beliefs, anorexia or many more. Until there is a thorough investigation, the reason will not be known.

Does anybody else think Friendship smells?

What country are you calling? What technology can your recipient use? What numbers are you calling, landlines, mobiles or VOIP users? Give us that info and there will be a solution.

You have the uncle ... apparently relating the tale told to him by the father.... apparently telling him the money had run out.... and as a result, the 14-year-old nephew, his own son, had starved to death. No mention at any point of police or local government asking any questions. This story as it stands has more holes in it than a Swiss cheese. A lot more information is required before we start to approach anything like the truth.

There is something very wrong with this story. This sounds like incredible spin. Nobody will starve to death in Thailand without external factors. Thailand is a tropical country and a food exporter. In other countries, the death of a 14-year-old under these very strange circumstances would lead to an extensive investigation and probably the prosecution of the parents. Don't take these things at face value.

The "agreement" was time-limited so it would have expired by now.

The police have to 'generate revenue'. Each month money has to be passed up the chain at every level. Checkpoints are a relatively inefficient way to generate revenue. More reliable, steady and lucrative revenue streams exist. It is best for the station commander to allocate his resources effectively. However, unforeseen events happen and other revenue can stop overnight. So, checkpoints may reappear. Everything is on the whim of the minister in a top-down decision-making process. Just to share, I stopped at the traffic lights in the centre of Sri Racha one time on my motorbike and a cop jumped out and stuck his hand in my trouser pocket without any preamble. It was the middle of the day!

It means their eyes are bulging. It could be related to sex.

Phuket Airport. "You can check in but you can never leave."

Thanks for the reminder. Does this mean 'agents'?

This area has become transplant China. They have dormitories for Chinese, working in factories, presumably legally. But who builds the dormitories and factories? Illegal Chinese workers!

Pattaya Neua not really running. You have to get lucky and just see one perhaps going to or from the bus station or Sukhumvit. If you do happen to see one, it will still be 10 Baht.