Ruthrieston

In Thailand, money talks, and obviously walks too.

For now the army/junta stays in control, definitely not what the people of Thailand want. Time will tell, but I hope the Move Forward Party stays strong and focused towards the next election, if the army allows one.

I have lived in Thailand for almost twelve years now, and I have a work pension of 60,000 Baht a month and next year I can claim my old age pension. What has hurt me a lot was the UK vote to leave the European Union. The day before the vote the exchange rate was 56 Baht to the UK pound, the day after it fell to 36! Currently it is around 44 so still a serious loss of income.

I cannot find any supplies of the vaccine in Pattaya now. Anybody know of anywhere to try?

From what I see in Pattaya the Tom Boy clubs have all closed down. There used to be several on Third Road in Pattaya, but not one to be seen now. The anti gay prejudice is still strong in the Hi So set of Thai society and I have met the sons of rich families who have been forced to marry a woman or be thrown out of the family and cut off financially.

It is virtually impossible to get a covid vaccine in Pattaya now.

I am also reluctant to download my bank app on my phone.

My favourite is Railay Beach, a promontory off Krabi, can only reach by longtail boat, no roads, no cars or motorbikes, plenty of resorts, restaurants and bars.

Sadly I think you are right TotallyOz. At least they haven't got the army out with their guns yet, but I think that is only a matter of time. Here we go again with the "Attitude Adjustment Camps" and protesters disappearing from the streets never to be seen again.

Below 44 again today....

I moved to live in Thailand almost twelve years ago, and have never regretted that decision. In September I shall travel back to the disUnited Kingdom for the first time since I moved, mainly to visit family and friends and visit the place I was born and grew up in Scotland. It is going to eat up half of my savings or more as the costs in the UK are astronomical. Afternoon Tea in my favourite Browns Hotel in London is now 90 quid a head (4,000 Baht)!!!

I use ttb (used to be TMB) for twelve years now, and I use internet banking on my laptop regularly.

It is an improvement, but still nothing like it was before the insane vote to leave the European Union. The day before that stupid vote I got 56 Baht to the pound, and the day after the rate fell to 36 Baht to the pound. That has really hurt my income for these years.

I love going to Railay Beach, the promontory walled off from Krab by mountains, which you can only reach by longtail boat. There are many Rasta bars with Thais wearing their hair in Bob Marley style. Many bars, restaurants and resorts, but no roads, no cars and very few motorbikes. A great place.

The day before the vote to leave the EU I got 56 Baht to the pound, the day after it fell to 36!! A big loss to my income, and now it is just up to 44.5 so still 25% down.

You have to feel sorry for the brown shirt mafia, they must have lost so much income during covid. Some of them even look quite slim these days.

With the world focused on the criminal attack on the Ukraine there is almost no mention of the appalling military junta which is massacring huge numbers of people in Myanmar. Yet more crimes against innocent people.

You are such a cynic Mr Vinapu, love can be real even between vastly wealthy 80 year olds and incredibly sexy 30 year olds, really, good for them and I wish them both great happiness.

Sadly the insanity in Pattaya lasts a full week so I have to hide in my condo for three days and then flee to Bangkok for four nights. Arriving in Bangkok on 16th the city is very quiet, recovering from three days of madness.

Annoyingly now that the tourists are back in numbers the taxi drivers are back to refusing to put on the meter and demanding 200 Baht for a 70 Baht trip, so annoying. It happened to me three times last week when I was in Bangkok. I simply get out and wait for the next one and try again. I always tip well so it is their loss.

I am definitely in the "staying home to chill" group. Pattaya is a mess over New Year and I just can't be bothered with all the chaos and outrageous prices for taxis etc. Happy 2023 to you all!

I really admire the work that Swing does for sex workers in Pattaya, at least those working in the gay sex industry. I don't know how they are funded, but I have heard that they receive government funding. If that is the case then I would be impressed. Anyone know any more?

The best English is spoken by the Scots, specifically in Inverness. 😁

Typical Thailand, all about the money honey. Who cares how many Ukrainian children the Russians have raped and murdered, how many hospitals have been bombed. Utterly disgraceful.

Watching the fireworks last night was a huge disappointment. The first two displays were great, but the huge cloud of black smoke then blocked most of the next displays. Very sad.