mauRICE

While Pali and classical Sanskrit do not have tones, Vedic or ancient Sanskrit does and here is the tricky part: when Pali is written in Thai script, it follows Thai tone rules. And you don't need a tone mark to indicate a certain tone in Thai. The spelling of the word itself can indicate a certain tone. A good example would be the first word you used above: The word Krung Thep (กรุงเทพฯ) is pronounced with a mid tone on Krung and a falling tone on Thep. To simplify it further: Krung (กรุง): Mid tone (a level, flat tone) Thep (เทพ): Falling tone (starts high and drops down sharply). แขน ขา หู ผม ปาก - arm, leg, ear, hair and mouth are some very common Thai words that bear no tone marks but have a tonal pronunciation determined by the consonant class and whether it's a live or dead syllable. Sigh...this is why I say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. 🙄

Cam will be thrilled to know he reminds you of your father. 😏

Elders card? I didn't know you were a Mormon, @Patanawet. I see them going around town in pairs calling themselves Elder Speth, Elder Jebediah and other funky old-fashioned names and some look like twunk pornstars. Are you Elder Pat?

Ooh I've come across so-called native speakers of English like that; the most memorable was this Kiwi guy from the South Island - I didn't have a fucking clue as to what he was saying and was thinking of ways of getting out of the conversation. Guess what he did for a living? Thaaat's right, he was a teacher of English in Thailand. 🤦

Who's that? His cell mate?

The Sydney Morning Herald, The West Australian, Nine News, among others, reported the exact same thing. I chose to share the story from The Daily Mail as it had the most pictures and the fewest words, which I thought would appeal to our readers.

G's Bangkok has announced that it will open its restaurant in Pattaya on Saturday 15 Aug 2026 at 3 PM (that's later today).

We live in such a performative world where people seem to have forgotten about the things that matter and keep us grounded: love, connection, conversation, decency, kindness and privacy. Instead, everything seems to be performed for an audience, including relationships, especially when they're taken to an ugly end. https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16051727/david-cao-sydney-callum-forbes-intern-pete.html

So one could say you're now a free mason? 😏

Yes, it's as real as the love you find in Pattaya.

No. G's Bangkok in this context is an established brand name/identity associated with a location. For eg Lloyd's of London, Hermes Paris, Yardley of London (which my centenarian granny still uses), Mikimoto of Japan, OD Sydney (a discount brand). Such usage is less fashionable these days as brands would like to appear truly global/international especially when most of their products are made in China. 😏

So they were prepared for your arrival. Excellent.

Because Thais are gentle, equable people. Didn't your boyfriend tell you that?

I'll leave that to you, thanks.

The nerve of that guy. And why did you have to shout at him? Didn't he see the "I'm a total bottom whore" tattoo on your butt?

Sounds like you're suffering from Pattaya fatigue. Yup, a change of air and scenery may do you some good. It may even make you appreciate Thailand better when you get back.

Donny? That would explain the hairspray. I love Rosie. There's talk of her coming back to The View as guest host. Those women take themselves so seriously that it needs someone like Rosie to puncture their bubble, kinda like what we do to Pete...2 here.

What are you feeling guilty about? Growing old isn't a crime. If it were you'd be in prison twenty years ago! Look up "andropause".

Marie? So you're a li'l bit country. 😉

I see what you did there. 😏 Yes! 😂🤣😅

So was Harrison Ford, who later became Hans Solo. So there!

So my previous reply was apropos!

Thank you for sparing me. I knew I was special. 🙏🏻

Oh yes, Rumpole! Keith's English. Now I'm trying to think where I kept Sir John Mortimer's books. I have so many books and can't keep track of them.