[Wine has now become a real luxury in Thailand]

Bangkok Post used to run a Wine column.  From what I remember it was hobbled by demands it should no longer include copy which might encourage readers to drink the stuff or know where they could buy it.

And then it ended.

[Severe Staff Shortages Reported In Thai Hotels]

A very experienced lady friend of mine is hoping this demand is true. She has been waitress, cashier, receptionist and even manager. She is friendly, good with customers and speaks English well.

She was laid off when Covid struck. She has been looking to get work again at a sensible salary.

Her old place has asked her back, but really 16000 baht a month in a central Bangkok guesthouse is no longer enough. Not even a free meal each day.

But her real problem is that she is an attractive, young looking 39 year old. And they don't even consider you if you are over 35.

[3 weeks or 5 years – how much longer can Prayut legally stay in power?]

5 hours ago, Excel said:

You think it was them ?

I have seen reports 100000 are working, and owe their loyalty, to one who is above the army. The days of the so called Eastern Tigers have been fading.

Best not to be clearer.

[SRT Launches Work on New Carriage Prototype]

8 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

Luxury while cyclists and buffaloes speed past

Stopped using them when the uncomfortable long hours could no longer be relieved by ordering a beer or two to help me sleep.

[PM says legal action already taken against local supplier of fake bomb detectors]

28 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

One wonders why there hasn't been a n unusual wealth investigation among the generals who led the army at the Tim e they bought these pieces of garbage.

Sorry.  No, one does not wonder.  That is the tragedy.

[PM says legal action already taken against local supplier of fake bomb detectors]

9 hours ago, Reigntax said:

Prayuths fingers were truly in that purchasing pie.

I seem to remember his defending how good they worked when the scam first broke.

was it a scam or is the ignorance and stupidity level of the military just an easy target.

Wouldn't we all have loved to see him demonstrate one to his troops at a suspect car in the South.

What do those soldiers think of him?

[Can Thammanat deliver death blow to teetering govt in censure debate?]

3 hours ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

how this  pos  gets  into govt and remains  in govt says  a  lot  about the electorate

More like his sponsors.

[Legalisation of 5 chttps://aseannow.com/topic/1264485-legalisation-of-5-casinos-proposed-in-thailand-with-30-tax-collection/asinos proposed in Thailand with 30% tax collection]

On 6/30/2022 at 1:54 PM, zzzzz said:

Wont ever happen
to many influential people have serious $$$ in the casinos in Burma, Laos & Cambodia

I think you are right. Do we have some names?

[‘Tourism fee’, now for all travellers to Thailand, ready to launch]

40 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

It however only covers a traveler for 30 days. Expats etc. who stay longer than 30 days have no use for it.

And another department is considering extending the 30 day entry on arrival.  Are they talking together?

[Thailand wants to lose its reputation for being ‘cheap’, aims to become premium travel destination]

15 hours ago, Blumpie said:

I know that i'm adding to the rest, but honestly it just won't.  IT's impossible.  The infrastructure, sewers that smell, the rats, and everything else... it just won't happen.  

It's fine that they want to go that way.  I disagree with it but then things change all the time.  Everything does.  

Thailand is a country happy with private wealth and public squalor. It can not be high class. 

[Thailand Tourist Police launches ‘I Lert U’ mobile app for 24-hour assistance]

7 hours ago, mikebell said:

Another doomed hi-tec app in the hands of lazy incompetents with next to no other foreign language skills. 

Will any tourists know what I Lert U means?

'to enjoy peace of mind throughout their travels in Thailand.'

Only tourists who have not had this would ever find and use it.

Confused. Again.

[Thai hoteliers express concerns over government’s proposal of “dual pricing” for foreign tourists]

7 hours ago, shackleton said:

Why is it they come out with these ridiculous schemes dual pricing ect with no idea of the consequences ???? 

They should discuss with the Hoteliers Tourist board Meeting wise 

First have a idea where they all agree a strategy then put out to the Media all singing from the Hym sheet ????

 

There are hotels and guesthouses. There are potential customers. Who needs a Minister's opinion? If anyone does I think there is a Minister for Sports and Tourism as well as the very well resourced people already duplicating that job called TAT.

[Thailand wants to lose its reputation for being ‘cheap’, aims to become premium travel destination]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

Here we go again... yawn.

Yes, can just cut and paste all the expected responses too.

[RTP message to tourists flooding back: We're gonna impress you and make you feel all fuzzy inside]

6 hours ago, Captor said:

A first step would be to address the traffic situation so that the tourists not die when crossing the streets.

Or when cycling on the roads.

[House committee limits household cultivation of cannabis to 10 plants]

45 minutes ago, starky said:

Just say your growing it commercially and you can grow as much as you want.

Another day, another clarification!  Who can keep up?  The department in charge of publishing the rules for this seems to have a job for life.

[Opinion: The president of the senate just said nepotism is not morally wrong; we’re not kidding]

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

Doesn't Thailand have a National Anti-Corruption Commission? Of course they would approve of nepotism, nothing corrupt with that.

They even have an Anti Corruption Museum that signals 'Corruption starts with us and ends with us.' 

Worthy enough, but the people are not often entrusted with  power or responsibility.

[Harrowing scene as Canadian cries for his dead wife at early morning accident in Kanchanaburi]

'If I was a member of the Thai government I would seriously consider not letting any tourists on the roads,for their own good.' BdayPrang

Were your wish to come true the taxi and tuk tuk 'mafias' would be overjoyed and the experience of Thailand severely restricted for sensible tourists.

It would be better if no unsafe drivers were let on the roads instead.

[Tourism Rebound Could Generate 3 Trillion Baht for Thailand]

3 hours ago, Jerno said:

Why not a million billion trillion baht?  These guys simply cannot shut up about these made up numbers that make them feel important by constantly reporting to media.  Utter idiots. 

The media is not obliged to report it.  I wish they wouldn't.

[Pattaya local complains to authorities for painting needless crosswalk in front of his garage]

On 5/28/2022 at 8:46 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

Probably someone received a lot of money to paint that thing. And someone else received a big commission.

And maybe because it is useless sometime soon someone will receive a lot of money to remove it. And obviously there will be another commission.

TiT, all works fine the way it is designed to work.

There has been a rash of these, usually, unnecessary road markings in my town.  Some crossings are only 20m apart and on roads where crossing has never been a problem in the light traffic.

Other crossings are in fashionable LGBT colours.  After just three months some of the colours and paint have eroded so much they will soon need re-doing.

Loadsa money.

[SURVEY: What are your biggest issues in Thailand?]

On 5/20/2022 at 8:20 AM, jacko45k said:

I am of the opinion visitors should respect the country, it's people and it's laws when visiting.  Freedom of speech is not an excuse to deride...

Ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law worldwide!

What if the government does not respect the laws and the rights of the people?

I still respect the people.

[Thai school drops military-style uniforms for kindergarteners after backlash]

When the all the pillars of the country say a good citizen must be ripped of their potential to be a fully developed human being it has all gone wrong.

Praise the state, praise the army. praise the Buddha and praise the........ missing ones.

[Thai PM orders strict discipline and principles adhered to for Buddhist monks nationwide following recent scandalous news]

4 hours ago, Nickelbeer said:

Does the PM imagine that he has any authority over the clergy? I thought they had their own hierarchy.

If only it were so. Since 2016....

'the King of Thailand appoints the Supreme Patriarch directly, with the Thai Prime Minister'

Wikipedia

[Cashless Thai society not on the cards anytime soon, says study]

I went to a new fashionable cafe, which was really a resturaunt.  It even had charging points in the car park for electric cars close to where I parked my bike.

There was no menu, but a QR code on the table number.  I saw cash was not accepted.

It was all so modern I could not order or pay.  I use a tablet when I want it, but do not take it with me when I go out.

How is this all better?

[TAT Showcases Metaverse-based Virtual “ Amazing Durian ” Experience]

18 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Talk about losing the plot!

 

I know that TAT's hold on reality has always been tenuous at best, but this really does take the durian flavoured Kit-Kat!

I am speechless almost...

Would anyone involved in this have thought it was a good idea if they had to pay for it with their own money?

[Thailand to Implement 300-Baht Fee for Foreign Arrivals]

2 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Is Chote related to Pinocchio?

'Chote said the fund will be used to develop tourist sites........'

Why can't the Thais who benefit from tourism do this from their own self interest? I don't believe it. 

And Bangkok is also after another tax from tourists  to maintain the wonders of this beautiful and fascinating city.  Unwise to make a failing business model more expensive for the remaining users.