thegabster commented : For parcels in either direction to UK, USA & Australia, I find DHL to be excellent, sure you pay a premium but you don't lose the product.

kraxlhuber commented : [quote="Rocks":my1f36id]Does anyone else have a similar problem to me? I frequently expect receipt of mail from UK, USA and Australia and it is a regular occurrence for the mail to go missing and never be delivered. I have tracked most items down to their departure from the consignor country so I can only assume they are missing once they arrive in Thailand.[/quote:my1f36id] Thai " Snail Mail" with a push from the Turtle, happens to me regulary, lucky most mail I request to be sendt by EMS or FedeX-et ( very expensive) faster as the mail travels first class!! (on land at least)

oilyrag commented : America, the land of the free and home of the brave, almost weekly we hear of mass shootings at schools, malls etc in the USA. I was born in UK and have seen many "offensive" T shirts making fun of the Queen and the royal family( lets not even mention the Duchess of York!) It really does not bother me at all so why should it offend or "special friends" if the US flag is used in the way described. We do not have to jump when an American is "offended" I would suggest he does not come to to Thailand but stays at home.

gormenghast commented : Why is "freedom of speech" such an elastic term? I will defend the right to express oneself logically and honestly even if I am totally opposed to what that person says. At the same time, I am appalled that so much space can be used to argue about an allegedly offensive T-shirt. On the historical front, the American determination to disassemble the British Empire at the end of World War II involved a great deal of horse-trading in Southeast Asia, as a result of which Britain regained and retained Hong Kong, Malaya and Singapore, while permitting Thailand to fall within the American "sphere of influence". This was greatly expanded during the Vietnam debacle and resulted in Bangkok delights such as Soi Cowboy, not to mention the preferential status of US commercial enterprises in Thailand. However, Americans are in a minority among the Farang community here, which is probably a blessing today. If they all started issuing [i:3tpnqjfb]ukases[/i:3tpnqjfb] about -- to them -- offensive T-shirts, we would be here for several more pages. Have a wondeful weekend!

Bone Head commented : Majoy, What are you saying? Did you even think for a minute before getting into all this trouble with the neighbors, police etc. and then deciding to post it. This isn't about you being a foreigner. It is about common sense. I have seen, read and heard many similar instances with neighbors in America, UK, Europe etc. And hey being foreign doesn't mean you have descended from heaven...Remember you are (like me) a guest here. We are all guests here and we must respect that. They never requested and pleaded you to come here and take a house. Did they? You came here looking for it. and do visa runs like a rat every 3 months because you like it better here than you 'foreign' land. And now you moan like a spoilt child whose candy has been snatched away? It is about being a sensible person and making relationships come what may. You will NEVER have perfect neighbors any where in the world. BUT you have to learn to adjust where ever you are... If you have a real problem quietly move away to a new location. OR if you are brave enough, get a pet tiger. And learn to be kind to yourself and others. Else, this is a guarantee: Where ever you go...you will have trouble. Good luck

Krumm commented : [quote="MrReciprocal":1gpigr5k]Nothing better than Mr Anuwat's comments highlight the need for all foreign countries, Western, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, etc. to bring in RECIPROCAL laws. I.e. laws which ban nationals of one country which ban nationals of another country from the same buying rights, to themselves be banned. I.e. Thais would be banned from buying in Western countries, Japan, South Korea, China, etc. - because our nationals are banned from buying in Thailand. Switzerland has laws virtually doing this. We should copy Switzerland. Mr Anuwat should be banned from buying in Western countries, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, etc.[/quote:1gpigr5k] That would be great but would never happen countries like the US and UK which regard it as a fundamental freedom for anyone to own land and actually want foreigners to invest in their countries, wherever they come from. Would also love to see Thais not being allowed to own their businesses abroad and being charged 10 times the going rate to enter museums and national parks too. No doubt they would scream blue murder. Anyway it seems that The Bangkok Post did get Anuwat to eventually publish a clarification and he apparently meant to say that it is illegal for Thais married to foreigners to buy land, if the funds are not their own and the couple doesn't sign the Letter of Confirmation. So he was indeed just shooting his mouth off trying to sound tough and score brownies points for foreigner bashing. What a useless old windbag and time waster! Can't they find some one a bit brighter to head up the Land Dept. Oh....I forgot. It's a political appointment.

Somluck commented : I believe it is known as a sovereign state (country). Each country makes its own laws. Some like you might want every country to have the same laws, others don't. Just look at Britain leavin the European Union. I don't find the law in relation to a less than 50% equitable interest property difficult to understand. It is very simple non Thais can only have a less than 50% equitable interest in property. I find it disturbing that people say "I bought the property in my spouse's name" and wonder why they breach the 50% rule. What do the words "I bought the property in my spouse's name" mean? It means to me you actually equitably have a 100% interest in the property and the spouse is simply a bare trustee whose name is on the title. The Thai law is simply normal Anglo Saxon law as practiced in England, USA, Canada, New Zealand, etc etc.. The same can be for the use of Thai companiesfor the same purpose. Both arrangement are simply very legal silly constructs ( that don't work) intended to get around a very simple policy.

boonfah commented : I understand Thais concern on this. I am one of those tourists and am horrified at the lack of respect some tourists show your country as all Thais I have come across are such a respectfull and friendly people. I try to stay away from Bangkok for that reason so i dont have to see drunk English in the bars their. But going up north I love Nakon Sawan and stayed there for a month recently. I love Thailand and I love the poeple (my girlfriend is Thai so am very biased). I only wish that my own country in England that people would have the same respect for others. Unfortunaltley your economy does reley a little too much on tourism which is shame for a country with such vast wealth. Of course without all the world bank and IMF debt that Thailand is in you wouldnt need to be so reliant on tourism or its money. It is only with these loans that countries like the US and the UK steal your vast natural wealth for themseleves as they have done all around the globe.

JPWard commented : My Girlfriend is a teacher in the "New International School Thailand" Asoke and they are linked with Bath University UK and teach I-GCSE. I may be biased but I am forever hearing of special events that reflect both Thai and other Cultures as well as issuing all studients with a table pc making lessons homework more organised! Studients are from UK, America, Japan, Austrillia, Thailand, India to name but a few...... Johny