[Songkran festival sees surge in road accidents across Thailand]

2 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Misdleading.

 

Almost all these accidents and injuries are from motorcycles.  

 

Unfortunately car/truck ownership is out of reach for the majority of Thai's.

 

Lax drinking laws are also a major factor.

Unfortunately cars and trucks are bigger than motorcycles and come off best. Also, if motorcyclists learned the highway code and didn't speed, overload their bikes or get psised, they'd be ok.

[I don't give a hoot]

I quite like the absence of car horn noise in Thailand, the way that I drive, I never use the thing anyway. Don't even know if it works or not.

Prefer it here to say Athens, Greece. I once went there for a holiday and returned my hire car after a couple of hours. Couldn't stand the constant noise of car horns, found it really stressful. Especially at lights. If you didn't pull away the split second they turned green, the whole queue behind you started beeping. Even walking around trying to appreciate the sights, you couldn't escape that constant honking of horns. 

[Root canal quote and need Crown]

12 hours ago, cmjl said:

As already suggested,why not have the tooth taken out,you'll still be able to chew and you would should be able to manage without a denture.

I was quoted 26,000 baht for similar treatment to a front tooth which was broken. Because I'm going on 80 yoa, I decided to live with the occasional pain and save myself the money. The days of me worrying about how I look cosmetically are long gone.

[6 Thai men arrested for attacking 2 foreigners during Songkran]

3 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Oh

Wahhhhh, unfair to falang, wahhhhh. This whining gets old. If you don't like the way Thailand does things go back where you came from. I don't blame Thai people for being angry at foreigners when they misbehave. They have every right to be prejudiced if that's the case, it's just human nature. You're all a bunch of intruders to them, they didn't invite you here. And from where I sit it doesn't look like you have much understanding or respect for them. (I'm not referencing this incident or these particular criminals, only the ones you generally imply are "so unfair") And it's the kettle calling the stove black - you're no less prejudiced, your prejudice against Thais is transparently revealed by all  your remarks. You have no moral authority to preach from. Nor do any of the rest of you. Who cares how the press covers it? There is little or no real journalism left ANYWHERE in the world. The rest of us didn't come here to listen to a bunch of doddering complainers. We know where we're better off - here - and we're grateful. I've managed to get through 10 years here without being treated so unfairly that I have to cry to the newspapers. Imagine that. If you want to change the world join the Peace Corps. And lastly, this is an example to prove all of you wrong - Thai people actually being arrested by Thai police, but that's not good enough, is it? Of course not. You enjoy complaining too much. 

That's the first "If you don't like it here, you should go back to where you come from" of the day. Surprised it was so far into this thread. Still, you can always guarantee there'll be someone that'll utter it.

Saying that, I think these six Thai guys acted like a pack of hyenas when they smell blood and should be treated severely when it's their turn in court.

[Poll: As a Pattaya expat, do you hate the week-long water-splashing Songkran?]

Not so much the mindless water throwing because I tend to stay in over the period, but the loud bass-heavy music every evening jars me off. 

[British tourist found dead in drain following pub crawl on notorious 'Death Island']

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Sad end to a pissy night out....

There but for the grace of God.......

 

RIP young man.

[What happens if old Farang dies in Thailand having made zero preparations? (Better?)]

Told my missus to throw me on the compost heap at the bottom of the garden to save herself a few bob. She looked at me absolutely disgusted. Thais don't joke about death. I know that she'll have a big expensive face-making ceremony with everyone invited that'll cost her a fortune. Up to her.

[Songkran]

17 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

i'm out for the 'festivities' too many idiots, thai and foreign. most of my thai friends dislike the excessive water throwing activities too and hunker down or go abroad on holiday. throwing water is 'fun' for about 30 minutes, after that it just gets repetitive and boring. but, everyone to their own.

I agree. It was unique and interesting for a short while on my first Songkran 17 years back. My intro was my motorbike taxi driver and myself getting buckets of water full in the face on the way to the main Pattaya celebration. Ended up hating the festering thing by the time I'd managed to make my way back to Jomtien. Took me hours and was a miserable experience. Have been caught twice more in my time here, once when I went to pick up my daughter from Bang Saen and got stuck in the procession, the other time was when I went to Kanchanaburi to escape Pattaya Songkran and accidentally ended up in their bar district. Didn't realise it was so close to the war museum and cemetary.

[Paetongtarn criticised for holiday plans during Songkran]

A lady with sense. I'd join her if I could afford it.

[How Much of a trumper are You?]

On 4/8/2024 at 12:34 PM, Walker88 said:

Are You Truly a trumper?

 

In the fever swamps of trumpistan, there are varying degrees of adoration and fanaticism. You might be ‘on the spectrum’, but where? Are you just a dilettante, or are you all the way to a 1-6-21 terrorist? With trump there is precious little ‘little’, and no ‘kind of’. You’re in balls to the wall or you’re out. You’re either committed (or is that should be committed?) or just evidencing a faddish affectation. No room for the latter. Be all-in or be gone, you tino! (trumper in name only).

 

In order to fine tune the degree to which a trumper is a true cult member, the following panel of questions was developed to assess and differentiate. Run through the list and give yourself a point when you agree with the statement or question, and then add up your score. Use a calculator, if you run out of fingers and toes. Dare to find out just how deep in the weeds you are.

 

Here are the grades, depending on your point total:

 

0-5: Ha! That’s it? You must be LGBTQ+

 

6-10: Not naïve and gullible enough; you’re in need of re-education on Fox or Newsmax before you're qualified to put on your China-made red hat again

 

11-15: Congrats! You get placed on a mailing list for those running the Nigerian 419 Scam; you have the kind of credulity they can exploit

 

16-20: I bet you’ll use your SSDI and SNAP to fund a bus ticket to trump’s next rally Hate-in

 

21-25: Be at the Capitol on 8 January 2025; “It’ll be WILD!”

 

25: Step aside Kari Lake, you’re the new VP (just do your ‘duty’ on 8 January 2025 or get hung)

 

---------

 

# 1: You believe trump’s “best economy ever” hyperbole (despite 70% of all Quarters since the end of WWII produced higher GDP growth)

 

# 2: Is trump, “like, really really rich, really really smart, and a stable genius”?

 

#3: At least once you’ve taken your kids’ school lunch money and sent it to trump’s PAC

 

# 4: You believe trump had a right to take TS, SCI, SAP, SITK, Codeword, HCS and RD docs to his country club and wedding planner facility

 

# 5: You believe trump “can declassify with his mind”

 

# 6: trump has ONLY “perfect phone calls”, such as with President Zelenskyy, GA SecState Brad Raffensperger, etc. Some say nobody does a better phone call.

 

# 7: Stormy is lying (and not just about “Not quite freakishly small, but well below average”)

 

# 8: The 2020 election was stolen

 

# 9: The jailed 6 January 2021 terrorists are actually “hostages” and/or “political prisoners”

 

# 10: trump will be reinstated 13 August  2021 2022 2023 2024

 

# 11: Truth (sic) Social is today’s Amazon and Microsoft rolled into one; get in now or regret later

 

# 12: Hugo Chavez rose from the grave, wrote a program he uploaded to an Italian satellite, and had the satellite alter votes on Dominion voting machines (per Sidney Powell, one of trump’s ‘crack’ legal team)

 

# 13: You believe trump is 6’3” and 215 lbs

 

# 14: Q is real and Hillary/Tom Hanks and others run an international cabal that kidnaps, rapes, roasts and eats babies (as trump now says has truth to it)

 

# 15: You bought a thread from his Georgia booking/arrest jacket

 

# 16: You think Jared is actually the biological father of Ivanka’s kids (okay, no points if your answer is “Yes”, as no DNA test has been done)

 

# 17: You own at least one pair of trump’s Golden Sneakers AND you ordered a trump Bible

 

# 18: You believe bone spurs are a more serious affliction than the Bubonic Plague or pancreatic cancer

 

#19: You think trump’s NYC apartment is 33,000 square feet

 

#20: You think trump won many club golf championships and has never cheated

 

# 21: You believe the trump NFT of him as a buffed fighter pilot represents genuine value

 

#22: You think a former softcore porn model (images on Google) deserved her “Einstein Visa” and was the classiest First Lady ever

 

#23: Like trump, you use the term Deep State and actually believe it’s a real thing

 

#24: You’re still impressed to this day by “Man Woman Person Camera TV”

 

#25: While the 2020 election was rigged and stolen, EVERY Republican Congressperson who won on the same ballot in 2020 did so absolutely legitimately

 

#26: You believe a truly innocent man delays delays delays his trials, rather than has his day in court quickly to prove his innocence.

 

#27: You think the recent East Coast earthquake was---as MTG Tweeted---a 'sign from Gawd that US must repent'...(forget this question, as the USGS said the epicenter was close to trump's Bedminster Golf Course)

 

 

Reading that raving, fanatical post just made me more of a Trump supporter than I was before. I'm not even American.

[For Doh: Borneo Living]

Was in the Brit Army in Brunei and Labuan in the early 1960s during the Indonesian insurgency. All our unit were pushing for a transfer to Kuching, but only a lucky few managed it. Don't know if things have changed since then. Brunei was very Muslim, but there were a couple of restaurants where you could get a a beer and Labuan was quite relaxed. Wonder if I'd get a discount for helping to rid the place of Sukarno's lot? 🙂

[When is the actual first day of street water throwing in Pattaya? (Bar streets)]

9 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I think it's Fabolous

We need to get out there and enjoy life.

Having said that I remember back in 2018 joyfully standing outside a bar in Jomtien beach throwing water at passersby .

I had a drunken happy young Irish guy next to me who accidentally threw water on 2 motorcycle taxi drivers who came back to fight him.

 

But other that ,I love it , enjoy life ,embrace it , welcome it, and most of all have safe happy smiling fun 😊

How is it possible to stand amongst a crowd of people all doing the same thing (throwing water), from early morning until evening, without getting bored? Then rinse and repeat the following year, and the year after etc? I was bored ....less after an hour during my first and only Songkran appearance and have stayed at home for the last sixteen.  

[Briton critically injured after impaling himself on iron fence]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Well, in this case a house proved less risky than trying to get in from next door's balcony in a high condo. 

I can't criticise this guy. I remember when I was in the Brit Army in Hong Kong in the late 1960s the wife and I locking ourselves out of our 12th floor flat. We were struggling a bit for cash in those days, so rather than pay someone to gain access, I climbed down from my friend's flat above to our balcony, the door of which was always unlocked. I did take the precaution of tying a rope to his railings and around my waist. After climbing onto dock roofs when I was a kid in Liverpool, I had a good apprenticeship for tasks like this.

Hope this guy has a speedy recovery.

[Culture or Something else?]

What I do hate is waiting outside a shop in the heat for it to open late in the morning. Central Plaza in Pattaya a case in point with an opening time of 11am.  

They can see a large crowd waiting to be admitted, but no way on God's earth will they open those doors even a second early.

[Anutin urges Phuket officials to get tough with foreign offenders]

4 hours ago, 1sickpuppy said:

Does not apply in Australia, when i used to ride home from work on my old hog, i could see police on side of Hwy, im doing speed limit or under, cars flying by me but they pull me over, i ask them why and they call me smart arse, Victorias finest Dip<deleted>s, at least in Thailand the police are fair and treat you like a human being

At least here they have the two-tier policing the right way around. In the UK, the cops tend to favour the incomers. I say that even though I have a daughter and son-in-law-to-be in the Met.

[Do immigration police make it up as the go along.....]

When I applied for C of R at Chonburi for opening a bank account, they said I had to get from my embassy. They only issued them for driving licence.

[Why do super markets insist on re stocking shelves during the day?]

Probably the same reason that you can't get fresh bread early morning, they're too tight to employ a night shift.

[Russian couple’s dine and dash attempt exposed in Phuket restaurant]

5 hours ago, Excogitator said:

90% of russians are.. and they all vote for putin. The remaining 10% are okay.

I've yet to come across any of that 10% here.

[Russian couple’s dine and dash attempt exposed in Phuket restaurant]

21 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

This level of selfishness.

Could end up with big problems for the waitress. Having to pay the bill herself, of criminal accusations, all that for the price of a meal.

How low can anyone go...

They don't go much lower than Putin's lot. Awful people. They hate the world, so the prospect of causing a waitress to lose her job means nothing to them. These two should be instantly deported in my opinion.

[The Pad Thai Index]

I only eat the ones the wife makes. Those you get in restaurants and roadside stalls are usually full of sugar. Taste more like desserts. Same with the curries. 

[Russians in Thailand]

On 3/30/2024 at 3:24 PM, eumenades said:

It will take a heck of a lot of patience to deal with Russians in Thailand. But we have to bear in mind that they have a very difficult history in terms of tolerance and oppression. Their government treats them like <deleted> and they can do the same to other people. Physically, Russians resemble Europeans, but psychologically there are tremendous differences. Be patient and try to explain things. Probably, you will find them isolationists at first sight. But show an appreciation for their history and, especially their famous writers. Tolerance is a keyword, but don't accept chauvinistic bull<deleted>. Solzhenitsyn is probably the best, and most readable, Russian writer. Remember he suffered tremendous persecution and was sentenced to the Gulags. But he got out of it. We can get out of it too!

Call me stupid, but I've tried a couple of famous Soviet writers and found them to be incredibly boring. Never seeming to get to the point. Give me a good modern novel any day.

[Cabinet green lights bills to modify alcohol control law]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

 

The Cabinet has given initial approval to five proposed bills aiming to modify the current alcohol control law, a move that could potentially lead to extended selling hours and more relaxed advertising rules. This decision has, however, sparked controversy among anti-alcohol advocates.

 

The legislation was introduced for its first reading in the House on Wednesday, March 27, and received a majority approval, with 389 voting in favour, nine against, and two abstentions. As a result, a special House committee was formed to review the bills before they proceed to their second and third readings.

 

This special committee comprises 42 members, including seven cabinet ministers, 14 representatives of eligible voters, and representatives from various political parties. The bills were initially proposed by Thiraphat Khanawong and Charoen Charoenchai, eligible voters; Taopipho Limjittrakorn, a Move Forward Party MP from Bangkok; Chanin Rungtanakiat, a Pheu Thai Party list-MP; and the Cabinet. The draft proposed by the Cabinet is likely to serve as the primary version for the House committee’s review.

Meanwhile, a consortium of advocacy groups campaigning for stricter control over alcohol consumption has voiced its concerns to the House through an open letter. The network is concerned about the potential extension of alcohol selling hours and opposes the sale and consumption of alcohol in various places. It also seeks to maintain restrictions on advertising channels and sales promotions.

The open letter was addressed to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and received by Thongchat Rattanawicha, an assistant secretary to Wan, and Chanin. Duangduean Inthanu, representing the anti-alcohol advocacy network, stated that the group sees no necessity for the legislative changes suggested by the bills.

 

Supporters of the bills argue that the proposed changes could stimulate the economy. However, the advocacy network contends that the disadvantages would surpass the benefits of promoting alcoholic beverages, with only alcohol-selling businesses standing to gain.

 

Another representative of the anti-alcohol advocacy network, Santi Chomyong from Ayutthaya, urged the House to prioritise public interest over commercial gains in the face of possible negative impacts of alcohol consumption, reported Bangkok Post.

The government has emphasised the need for a balanced approach, allowing more flexibility in alcohol sales to boost the economy and tourism, while simultaneously safeguarding public health.

 

by Mitch Connor 

Picture courtesy of Sigrun Blix

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-29

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

The only change that I want them to make is to allow the sale of alcohol early morning so that I can buy my booze at the main supermarket along with the groceries early on. It's really annoying when I know that my favourite tipple is within reach, but I have to settle for something else at my local shop later on. 

[Foreign woman criticised for urinating on Bangla Road, Phuket]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

 

A viral video circulating on Thai social media captured a foreign woman, evidently intoxicated, urinating on the footpath of Bangla Road in Phuket on March 26. This incident prompted criticism from netizens directed at both the foreign woman and the Thai government.

 

A Thai man shared a video of the foreign woman on Facebook yesterday, March 27. The 56-second video shows the unidentified woman pulling down her panties and urinating near a sign pole.

 

MGR Online reported that it was the Bangla Road sign pole in the Patong sub-district of Katu district in Phuket. The road is a well-known landmark in the province popular for its vibrant nightlife.

A foreign man, believed to be her boyfriend, was also present and appeared to be drunk himself and unable to help his companion.

Both Thais and foreigners passing by stared at the couple but they appear to be too drunk to care.

 

The Thai man responsible for the video stated that the foreign couple were Japanese. Additionally, his tone conveyed a sense of irony.

 

“Thailand! This is Thailand! Only good foreigners come to Patong, you see. This is Patong! So bad! Quality tourists! Government! Send us more of these tourists! Very good! Bangla don’t have bathroom. Authorities, please build one near Patong Beach!”

 

Quality tourists

 

Thai netizens expressed mixed reactions in the comment section. Many of them criticised the couple for their behaviour and cited potential fines for the act. Some found the video funny and did not cause any serious offence, while others complained to the authorities about the lack of public toilets.

 

“Disgusting!”

“There was not much public bathroom, and they are all closed at night. People don’t use bathroom at night?”

 

“It’s good enough that she managed to take her pants off.”

 

“The land of freedom.”

 

“She must face a fine for this.”

 

Many netizens debated the type of tourists Thailand should attract. They urged the government to focus more on quality tourists as crimes committed by foreigners continue to make headlines.

 

“A lot of money comes from foreign tourists. Thai people need to be patient, right?”

 

“Authorities should take action against this kind of foreign tourist. If only bad tourists come to Thailand, how can we attract good tourists to the country?”

 

A Thai netizen criticised the man who filmed the video, citing damage to Phuket’s reputation. The netizen urged the videographer to decide between witnessing the disruption caused by foreign tourists or returning to the pandemic era, potentially risking their job.

 

Thus far, officers from the Patong Police Station and other relevant departments have not stepped forward to address the issue or pursue legal action against the foreign woman.

 

by Petch Petpailin

Photo via Facebook/ ศูนย์ข้อมูลภูเก็ต Phuket Info Center

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-29

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

I saw a Thai woman doing the same opposite Dongtan Beach in Jomtien at 1030 in the morning and she appeared to be a sober beach vendor. Also, on most days of the week, you're likely to pass a Thai guy having a squirt by the side of the road. I've also seen several guys at various times peeing opposite my house and outside my back gate. However, I think this particular woman should have found a more secluded spot to have a sprinkle.

[Paddy fails badly]

I get a sore ring cycling once around the golf course perimeter, so long distance stuff isn't for me.

[I am amazed]

15 hours ago, couchpotato said:

Oh dear--a misogynist in our midst. I'd rather have a female pilot (or any pilot for that matter) than read ignorant posts like this.

Being that I see and read examples of misandry on an almost daily basis, I don't think men ought to be ashamed of being misogynistic, it tends to even things up a bit. Also, call me old-fashioned (I'm nearly 80 yoa), but as someone who never feels 100% comfortable in a car being driven by a woman, I'd much prefer it if the person flying my aircraft was male.