I'm sure you've reluctantly shook hands with Apu many times walking down any Soi,

He'll make or tailor anything you want and he knows fashion,
you'll be the bell of the ball ????

On 2/11/2021 at 11:01 PM, kotsak said:

 

Great! 350 ppl loitering the place with no seat to be found for those who want to get a coffee..

 

and don't forget, probably only one bathroom with no toilet paper ????

16 hours ago, RR2020 said:

 

 

 ..... Generally the people who complain over Elite Visa are the people who cannot afford an Elite or O-X visa.

 

In other words............its their money and they can do what they want........if you are jealous of that then your a sad person.

 

Exactly, nicely said,

Once you've managed a revenue stream(s) where the basics have been covered,

the rest can be allocated to anything that makes one's life more comfortable or convenient. 

You can spend your money or be the richest person in the cemetery, each to their own.

Junk surveys can be created by anyone to promote anything.

Did it mention traffic, road fatality rates, corruption, no, but take-away food options was included which has always been a litmus test for a great city ????

On 1/26/2021 at 2:48 AM, WineOh said:

Like throwing your money into a bottomless pit.

 

Anyone who buys into this 'elite' nonsense needs to give their head a serious wobble. 

Yet another person who probably doesn't have the $ for a TE but throws shade at those who do, 

An Elite card is looking more and more attractive, ????

A lot of counterfeiting went on with Traveler Checks in the past which made a lot of the merchants and banks wary of them. 

Most high end hotels will still cash them if you're staying there, 

Good luck.

13 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

That was no 'touchdown' the descent velocity was, clearly, too high and the vehicle crash-landed.

 

Indeed, the way Elon stated it sounds less terrible than  'it crash landed"

15 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

 ...That is one of the fundamental laws .

Nothing is , or will ever be , " forever ' .

Buddhist figured that out long ago,

Everything is temporary.

4 hours ago, swissie said:

 ... At some point in the past, every technological/medical achievement of today was "science fiction" before.  ...
 

Very true,
Science fiction writers, from Verne to Kubiak have predicted the future with alarming accuracy, from submarines, spaceships to AI, 

"If you can imagine it, you can create it"
 William Arthur Ward
 

On 11/18/2020 at 9:25 PM, cormanr7 said:

...  I am not a fan of virtual tourism. Nothing can replace the real thing. 

Agree fully,  that smell of humidity and mildew when hitting a SE airport after a long haul,

then the vivid colors of green, the gentle cackle of island gals in the background while enjoying that first cold beer.  ????

On 6/19/2020 at 7:55 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

...  And then there is of course the question of the motivation. Long time ago "back home" I was young and slim and most of the young and pretty girls were not interested in me. Now, in Thailand, older and fatter, I get all the attention I want. 

I have a feeling it's your wallet that's getting attention  ????

15 hours ago, mauGR1 said:

Honestly, that's the first time i hear this story, but although one may superficially agree with the moral of the story, i think it's most important to understand the source of the suffering.

According to Lord Buddha, pls correct me if i'm wrong, the most powerful source of suffering is attachment, and i find myself in full agreement.

I understood it was more specifically "Personal Desire",

... I can swear there ain't no Heaven,

and I pray there ain't no Hell,

But I won't know by living,

only my dying will tell, ....

And When I Die, (Blood, Sweat and Tears), 

12 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

Yes, at tourist places. As written before, at one Thai place they refused my tip because they had no idea for what and at a second place the owner brought the money I left on the table to me on my way to the car because he thought I forgot it. 

I would then tip them again for bringing my money, ????

Seriously, never saw that happen but if it did I would explain the service was great and it is the custom from where I come from to acknowledge that by leaving a tip, 

I think at that point they would graciously accept.

We tip, because we can, 

Hair is tied to youth, 

youth to fertility,

On a subconscious level females would be attracted to those with hair before those without, IMHO.

Most, but not all,  top movie stars and celebs have full heads of hair, (Pitt, Clooney, Gosling, Cooper), there's a reason for that.

To say a male is more attractive bald then with a full head of hair of course is up to the beholder, but would you find your female mate more attractive bald, I think not.

And those posters who go on about the benefits of not having to get haircuts or shampoo, really, are you that poor getting a haircut is an expense,

Modern hair restoration is probably one of the most perfected office procedures simply because there's so much money in it, albeit still expensive.

As always it's up to one's own confidence on how they're perceived,

but yes, bald along with keeping fit, working out, good grooming, clothing, says alot and would still be attractive to most.

So ask your doctor if the time is right for hair restoration,

as always, your results may very, lol.

Grass over the fence is always greener syndrome could set in sooner than most think.

Everything in moderation, have a rotation plan, take a break every x amount of months and visit somewhere else,

A little perspective of what you may or may not be missing goes a long way.

Altruism and charity aside, we understand the core message,

... look what happened to me, this could be you, thank your God(s) or lucky stars.

I always give and have no illusion it may be a scam.

Missing limbs and gross deformity is hard to fake and one can only imagine the life they're consigned to.

Change that would other wise go in the ash tray for the maid may help slightly and will not be missed.

As I walk away the quiet refrain in my mind,  "that poor sod, glad I'm not him".

Since you're 61 years-old, you probably don't have to worry. I had just turned 30, married a Japanese girl from a "upper-middle class" family in Japan. Took her to the states, (CA,) and had 3 adorable, wonderful, great kids. She met an older Japanese lady and after 16 years of marriage she decided she wanted to "sow her wild oats" again. She became American-ized in all the worst ways imaginable! With her lawyer's expertise, she ended-up with everything! - The kids, (they're all over 18 now but won't talk to me,) the house, the car, and all my money for the rest of my life! - Just sayin, would be different if I was starting out at 61 and she was 49. You probably won't have the same situation at all. Best Wishes to both of you

A cautionary tale indeed,

If one must marry, Prenup.

My wife is joining me in April. We have a bucket list in the first month that includes:

The Grand Canyon- camping and rafting;

Las Vegas- attending a Cirque de Sol show, and, in the casinos, losing money;

Driving north from San Diego through Malibu, sailing to and about Catalina, then taking Hwy 1 up the coast into Washington State and eventually Victoria, B.C. We'll stop at wineries and cheese farms along the way, detouring for camping in Sequoia National Park, and Redwood National Forest. Then Yosemite and back over to the coast ….

Absolutely no way I would consider wasting another precious day of life in LOS.

Your plan is sound,

Did most of the above several times and look forward to doing again.

That's the key, never stop moving, continue to explore, experience and strive to make the next day different than the previous.

I know people who select air travel based solely on price-point.

Who insist business class in ridiculously over priced,

they fail to realize it's simply a matter of real estate.

The foot print a business class lay-flat seat occupies you could fit two to three economy seats.

Add goumet food and beverages and other perks and you'll find it's reasonably priced.

It's all about one's comfort threshold and what they're willing to pay for it.

Agreed, no collars,

tunics or nero jackets only,

I'm sure if you start frequenting adjacent or near by establishments,

eventually subtle inquire may gleam some intel on suspected nefarious activity of said establishment.

Occam's Razor:

Of all possible explanations, the simplest is usually correct.