Ruthrieston

I wish he was just a stupid clown, but the Putin creature is a war criminal. That is not a joking matter. While the Russian army continues to murder countless numbers of innocent civilians the civilised world must continue to isolate Russia. The rape and murder of a one year old boy is the report that still rings in my head and makes me sick.

So the Russians are not the only war criminals now. The actions of the military junta in Myanmar are escalating, and the attacks on civilians are reprehensible. The world has largely ignored the appalling events in Myanmar and focused on Ukraine, but both deserve far more attention and the innocent people in both countries deserve our support.

I remember my first trip to Thailand in 1998, with a group of friends who included two veterans of many previous visits, the going rate for short time in Pattaya was 600 Baht. Ah, the good old days!

Thank you fedssocr for the link to Better Burma, they need all the help and support we can give.

Certainly not the time to go to Myanmar now. While the world is outraged by the appalling attack by Russia on Ukraine and the news is full of the war crimes committed there every day, the massacre of civilians in Myanmar by the "army" is largely ignored. After all that Aung San su Kyi has been through is her life, defending her people and their freedom, her imprisonment on fake charges is a disgrace that the world doesn't seem to care about.

I would recommend Krabi, by long tail boat round to Railay Beach, a promontory walled off from the mainland by mountains so you have to take a boat around. No roads so no cars or motorbikes, lots of life though, good resorts and many bars and restaurants. Try Sand Sea Resort for lovely rooms. You can even go rock climbing if you fancy it.

Definitely use Bolt taxi service in Pattaya, far cheaper than Grab.

My favourite is Au Bon Coin, off the bottom of Soi 5 Pratumnak. A lovely setting, excellent food and a unique owner.

I have just been reading about the rape and murder of a one year old boy in Ukraine by Russian soldiers. The Russian army cannot sink any lower, this is genocide. Russia must be isolated from the civilised world for decades to come.

Sadly the bars will all closed in Pattaya on Saturday evening as the total alcohol ban starts at 6pm Saturday to 6pm Sunday for the Pattaya Mayoral election.

I have to admit that the last time I wore a kilt with the sporran dangling in front was at my brother's wedding in 1976! (Fake wedding as my older brother/sister was even more of a fairy than me!!).

I am so shocked TotallyOz, you don't recognise the classic Scottish man-bag??

Sporran hanging

Compare the death rate between Covid related deaths in Thailand and the UK. My respect remains with the Thai people who still routinely wear face masks, actually covering their faces, compared with the arrogant stupid farang walking around Pattaya with no mask or placing it under their noses.

Nothing has changed on DongTan beach. I have to admit that I have not been down to sit on my favourite section in front of the White House for a long time now, but when I walk past all is well. Over the long Songkran holiday there were a lot of Thai families sitting along there too, but that was good for business when there are still so few tourists here now.

With the support of China, and the world's attention focused on Ukraine, the junta in Myanmar can carry on committing these vile massacres of innocent civilians. Despicable.

If the Boys in Brown are there to "uphold the good morale of Thailand" then the country is doomed. If it wasn't so sad I would be laughing.

If you are trying to make me jealous, all I can say is that it is working. (Blowing raspberry..)

I definitely will not be visiting while the military junta continues committing war crimes on the people of Myanmar.

Where is Opium Bar? I enjoy a nice cocktail.

I hope the murderers go to prison for a very long time, though I suppose that depends on how rich their families are.

I wait in hope that the ICC investigation can convict Putin of war crimes and he is locked up for the rest of his life.

The Immigration office in Pattaya can be very busy, but I have taken over the past eighteen months or so to going late, 3.30pm (they close at 4.30pm) and I have avoided the queues. In fact the office has usually been empty. As to the 800,000 locked up in my account, I view it as the money I shall use to travel to the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland when it is time to leave. The worst part for me is the exchange rate for the UK pound, The day before the vote to leave the EU I got 56 Baht to the pound, the day after it went down to 36. Now we are struggling to hold around 43, so the loss of almost 30% of my income over these five or more years has been really painful. Another two and a half years till I receive my state pension, but that should help. More than ten years since I retired early and came to live in Thailand and I don't regret it at all.

And here I am, retired to live in Pattaya just over ten years ago now. I was bald at 40, now 63 and although I have worked hard over the past year or so and lost 20 kilos, I still have a belly. So good to be a club member! I have a great deal of respect for Barry Kenyon, and always enjoy reading his articles. Let me assure you that he is in no way trying to belittle expats like me, probably just a little humour, with a hint of sarcasm.

Boring? Never! I am only slightly envious (alright, I am seriously envious) of your wonderful holiday trip. You really know how to make the most of every opportunity, you are also kind and generous, and I am sure the young gentlemen who have kept you company are grateful to have met you too. Thank you for these great reports, you have cheered me up enormously.