Marc in Calif

The omission of just a few key words makes a big difference!

Russians behaving badly in Thailand, just like they have on the island of Bali.

Yet you said that the "up-market places are still going strong." So they really don't "need" your business at this moment compared to places that are currently struggling. I know it's fun to splurge and treat yourself, but you have a limited amount of time on the island. Give where it's essential! 🙏

According to you, it's actually the smallest of those 'warung' that really need your business -- not the elite luxury places. And, again, I hope you're paying the boys much more than you used to pay -- even above what they're now asking. Devastation is devastation, and you're megawealthy compared to them. The pandemic has had a devastating effect on them. Pretty much every single restaurant and place of business I remember from before the pandemic is not there anymore. Up-market places (e.g. Bambu, Mauri - these are restaurants if you wonder) are still going strong but they are more an exception to the rule than the rule.

I did actually. And you still happily paid for that perfectly pretentious meal!

The one-time MAGA supporter—and author of In Trump We Trust—became a born-again anti-Trumper in recent years, admitting she was “a very stupid girl” to support Trump in the early days of his ascendance. She’s since flip-flopped in her stance on the former president, calling him “the biggest wimp ever to serve” when he bailed on a total border shutdown plan she advised. “Trump can barely speak English. He’s a gigantic baby,” Coulter told New York Times columnist Frank Bruni before the first Republican debate last August.

I guess if you think you're actually tasting 'local flavours' for £35, then you'll probably not mind sampling 'local boys' for £35 an hour. Sing to? Makes perfect sense to me! ☺️

Don't you mean "not that enjoyable" -- for you?

US$2100 is "rather small" in Thailand? It's most definitely "news."

Who asked you to support China? I didn't. Nor does the Falun Gong represent Taiwan in any way, shape, or form. Your reading skills have a very thick blinder if you got all of that from my comment. 🤣 But if you do decide to purchase tickets for you and your partner, you'll be donating to a very homophobic organization that hates both of you.

Do some research. This annual performance series is sponsored by the Falun Gong cult based in Taiwan. They're rabidly anti-China and pro-Trump. They also publish the notorious Epoch Times newspaper. All the hype is just that. None of the dances they do are "ancient" or authentically "Chinese." They're highly westernized camp. You shouldn't believe that any of their performances represent "five thousand years of civilization reborn." Best not to waste any of your money -- despite the 24/7 TV ads, billboards, and other ubiquitous advertising in every city.

You can see hundreds of those faces on the following site. They appear to be based on a number of typical facial features among Asian ethnicities. The site also enables you to select filters to show specific "types" according to your preferences. AI-generated asian person faces https://generated.photos/faces/asian-race

Have you searched the usual online sites for escots/masseurs in Puerto Rico? I see eight potential guys on one of those sites.

Qin Haiyang, World Aquatics Championships (2023)

Daiya Seto: Asian Swimmer of the Year (2018)

An Indonesian aquatics team:

Yep, the entirety of the GOP -- and especially the MAGA Incels. They're so jealous of real people having real relationships. But do they complain about male celebrities who attend NFL and NBA games? No. Do they complain about any celebrities who make Republican political endorsements? No. Do they complain about Trump's own "friend"-ships with celebrities? No. Are they misogynistic? Do they hate everything that isn't MAGA? YES!

Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd Torches ‘Sad and Lonely’ Men Complaining About Taylor Swift: ‘What Does That Say About Your Life?’ Ahmad Austin Jr. Jan 30, 2024 https://www.mediaite.com/sports/fox-sports-colin-cowherd-torches-sad-and-lonely-men-complaining-about-taylor-swift-what-does-that-say-about-your-life/ “There’s a lot of really weird, lonely, insecure men out there,” Cowherd said. “The fact that a pop star — the world’s biggest pop star — is dating a star tight end who had one of his greatest games ever, and the network puts them on the air briefly, then it bothers you, what does that say about your life? Cowherd also accused critics of lying when they insist they “just want to watch football.” “Did you know, statistically, in a three-and-a-half-hour NFL playoff broadcast — or regular season broadcast — just 18 minutes are actual football,” Cowherd said. “And we have the data. We have the numbers. You don’t turn away. There’s coaches cutaways; they show fans in Buffalo on fire, commercials, reviews… Eighteen minutes of real football. For the record, about the length of five Taylor Swift songs.” He cited a report that revealed Swift’s average screen time is just 25 seconds throughout the entire broadcast. Then, Cowherd called out the double standard he believes exists when it comes to celebrity sightings at games. “Matthew McConaughey — ‘Alright, alright, alright’ — love him!” Cowherd continued. “Drake, on everything; Spike Lee, Knicks games; Eminem, Michigan sporting events. We celebrate it. Eighties, ’90s, Jack Nicholson Lakers games? It’s cool. ‘Saw Jack!’ But a talented and beautiful woman is on the air — one who would never pay attention to lonely men — and it bothers them. “There’s a stat out there — it’s kind of uncomfortable for you sad guys — that 50% of men never have real intimacy with a woman. That means the other 50% have multiple intimate relationships with women; and the ones that don’t are angry and sad and lonely, and they are often misogynistic and resent women who didn’t give them the time they think they deserve.”

Are you the type of traveler who will happily get into the car of a passing stranger? Didn't your mother always tell you not to do this -- ever? Was candy involved? 😘 Daniel, you haven't returned to the forums since your very first post. I fear that you've now been kidnapped by a perverted truck driver in Colombia. Please tell us you're safe!

Thais shorten place names by simply using the first syllable or group of syllables. On the other hand, the Brits make something cute about a name: Pats. In this particular case, there's absolutely no "s" in the name Pattaya. Yet they want it to sound like a place in their home country like Herts, Leics, Lincs, Mons, Notts, Staffs, and Warks. If there isn't a "Wanks," there should be! Simple hint to the Brits: There's no "-shire" at the end of Southeast Asian place names. You're not in Jogs, Mans, Toks, or Vients. 🤣

There you go: places in your own nation, just like I said

Yes -- most definitely! 🥳

But nobody here ever refers to it as "Cali" or "Calif." That's for foreigners! And who wants an online username that's super long? 😎

The Brits and Aussies are so cute with their little nicknames for places. How quaint and colonialist is it to shorten the name of a foreign place just like they say Herts for Hertfordshire? 🤓

This is a "tragedy" only in the sense of Greek drama: Hubris is a frequent theme throughout Greek mythology, often being portrayed as a hero's fatal flaw or tragic flaw, which is the cause of his downfall. The Greeks valued living for honor, and acting in a way that was perceived to be against the divine order or against fate was seen as being dishonorable. Hubris (/ˈhjuːbrɪs/; from Ancient Greek ὕβρις (húbris) 'pride, insolence, outrage') describes a personality quality of extreme or excessive pride or dangerous overconfidence and complacency, often in combination with (or synonymous with) arrogance.