Still here. Air is still smokey but, for some reason does not bother me.

“Democracy” (utterly lacking in the US) is a Trojan horse: it’s a way of dividing countries and it’s on its way out!

“and 80% of Thais are satisfied with their government. Just let that sink in for a moment:

Is quite bizarre though. My first visit was in 2006 when Thaksin was in power and executing the drug dealers. There were daily protests at Lumphini Park. Then there was the whole yellow shirt/red shirt debacle that lasted almost ten years . Then Yingluck and the rice scandal, then the military coup. None of these are indicative of a people who are enamoured with their government. Most of the population are working their tails off just to get by, and have neither the time nor the energy to bitch about the government.

Your comments about the booming economy are dead on, and even more relevant today with the baht being the strongest currency in the world, but the high tide isn’t raising many boats due to the high rate of inflation.

Are you still up in CM? How’s the air quality?