Will1

you must do a border run effectively leave the Kingdom

Many Thanks

Non Immigrant O Visa multi entry

Would like to know where to go to have the 90 day stamp?

And how much dose it cost?

Chiang Mai immigration or may sai, Myanmar

thank's

yes there are many retired folk living in thailand .

living of their pensions private and goverment ,

along with their hard earned savings / investments .

it is a great life ,, not having to do a lowly job like teaching etc.

to earn a pittance , but there for the grace of ,,,, etc

i think it gives a poor impression , farangs having to work , in LOS..

is the OP , a member of the jealous brigade ??

p.s. i am happy to be a dirty old farang ,,, with money .

LOL :jap:

Yeah so jealous, my life is nearly over. NOT

Well it is sad, has to Happen to everyone unfortunately some sooner than others.

Putting aside the temptation to run off more amusing sides of Thailand's aging expat community and turning to a more serious note, to my mind the single biggest issue facing aging expats is the lack of legal frameworks (in particular Trust Law) to provide them with the protection so many of us need as we loose our memories and mental abilities with age.

It's common enough to hear Expats explain how they keep very close control of the family finances - advice to do so is frequently given here on TV, but what happens when the aging expat can no longer control things, contact banks, pension companies, investment banks etc?

The man who married a woman who lacks the language and skills to deal with things, or married a woman who has never been trusted with the family finances, perhaps married a woman on the basis of a financial transaction or perhaps worst of all is not married, has no family here and has nobody to turn to?

lovelomsak is right of course, the rewards of retirement in Thailand can be enormous, but they come at a very high risk when health or mental abilities eventually fail as they must - There is no safety net, there are no social services to turn to and of course there is no guarantee of a dignified death.

Under these circumstances an expat has to be very very sure of that he can trust those around him to do the right thing when he himself can nolonger help himself.

How many I wonder fail to attain any kind of real trust, let alone the trust required to put one's life, welfare and life savings all into the same basket?!

very thoughtful post

So true, but who can you trust.

My work will take me out of Chiang Mai and to Bangkok in a couple of weeks. Thank you god.

Being in Chiang Mai is like living in one big old peoples home. Grumpy old farangs that look the other way. Perhaps they have past history that they would rather keep to themselves.

A good business in Chiang Mai would be to open a funeral parlour. But they do seem to hang on once they get here.Maybe do better with a hospice, a type of death row while they are waiting for a visit from the grim reaper.

I thought about that at a funeral in Chiang Mai the other week, there isn't a service that leases out funeral cars, it was a bit undignified to put the coffin in the back of a minibus and take it to the crematorium. An Funeral car business would make money in Chiang Mai definatley.

Cremation seems they only way to dispose of a body here, what about a grave yard?

Actually, Thailand needs more retirement homes for expats. We are here and all getting older, the services on offer for the expat elderly are actually quite thin on the ground. Think business opportunity.

I think you are right.

I'm about to fire an email off to the manufacturer's of adult disposable diapers to see if I can collar the Franchise for Thailand - Can you think of any other 'Age' business oportunities?

So lets recap on what is needed for the, Old Boys.

Retirement home

funeral parlour

disposable nappies

lets see if we can think of more things that is needed.

YEs, and the point is ???

Firstly, are you one?

Secondly, that is my point.

Firstly, No at 39 I don't think so.

Secondly, You sound reasonable... Time to up the medication.

Likewise !

Actually, Thailand needs more retirement homes for expats. We are here and all getting older, the services on offer for the expat elderly are actually quite thin on the ground. Think business opportunity.

That would be one of the reason for coming here, so as not to end up in a retirement home?

Yes of course, but care is eventually needed for most people if they live long enough.

You could be on to something, Big

Good idea.

Actually, Thailand needs more retirement homes for expats. We are here and all getting older, the services on offer for the expat elderly are actually quite thin on the ground. Think business opportunity.

That would be one of the reason for coming here, so as not to end up in a retirement home?

YEs, and the point is ???

Firstly, are you one?

Secondly, that is my point.

LMAO

Max2010

Not to a fend anyone, but there dose seem to be more pensioners around of late.

YEs, and the point is ???

Firstly, are you one?

Secondly, that is my point.

Noticing more old people around these days, its like one big retirement home for the elderly.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I don't disagree with what you say about the food or the demographics of the customers, but I think that it needs to be put in perspective. Usually when I go there for lunch it runs me 100 or 110 baht for a meal and a soft drink. Even if that's twice what it costs for the same amount of food at Thai food stand, we're still only talking about a little over $3 for a meal in a friendly & comfortable place.

That's true, but I usually eat with my wife and daughter, so 300bht if I eat there, but less than 100bht if we go to the Thai restaurant 100yds down the road (not a stall) for the same meal. My normal daily food budget is 200bht (to feed 2 adults, 1 teen, 2 dogs, 1 cat) including 1 meal in a restaurant. In CM I eat at small Thai restaurants where lunch is even cheaper 25-30bht, a shake or ice cream another 10 bht. Doi Saket is expensive for Thai food compared to CM. It just seems, to me, daft to pay 3x to 4x the price for the same product just to eat somewhere run by a white person and frequented by elderly white men. I actually prefer to be surrounded by young Thais, who are generally more friendly towards me than are elderly white men.

I can fully understand why many white men surrounded by a totally Thai household (wife, stepchildren, hangers on, etc.) feel the need to escape for a while and mix with like minded guys, this is what Doi Saket is all about ........ let's not pretend it is for the food.

The mooban I live in is jokingly referred to, by my wife and the other Thai ladies living, here as "Ban Mia Farang", which I translate as "Village of white mens wives"

I thought it was a retirement home when I passed by, with a closer look I also noticed a lot of older Thai ladies sitting there trying to find a ATM.

Posted Yesterday, 14:47

I rarely have need to whinge about the usual day to day things that can test you in LOS, but thought id make an exception after visiting a Fitness first gym here in Bangkok. I wont name the particular branch,suffice to say it is was in suburban BK, in a large mall.

I havent even looked at joining a gym here so i thought i would just go along and check out whats on offer and what the facilities were like.

I talked with a very nice polite (thai) girl, not great English but easy enough to understand. She showed me around and I was quite impressed by the new looking gear,cleanliness of of locker rooms, nice lounge ect ect..even had a wall of DVD's you can borrow for two days..give you a few (supposedly) freebies if signing up for a year..all good

So the girl takes me back to a cubicle and talks about the latest promotion and what the possible options were.

I was quite happy at this point and was pondering the five month plan as opposed to the yearly one, as not sure of how long i would be staying in Thailand. I can say i am quite used to usual sales pitch...quote a larger price+ multiple joining fees ect, then scratch out one fee to make you believe you are getting something for nothing..all the usual BS.

At this point the girl asks for my credit card, stating that she will check whether she can offer a special deal for using this particular card.

She wonders off for a little while and returns with another girl. I was not quite sure of her nationality, at first glance she looked like a typical thai but when she spoke it sounded as if she had an American accent, so maybe grew up or uni educated in the US..

I suspect she was wearing those queer contact lenses that makes one look a bit like a cat..quite offputting to me and i dont know why they do that or how they can think its appealing, but each to their own.

Anyway, she goes over all the same details as the other girl has already said, which was a bit tedious. She asks for my passport which i dont have on me. Not sure why she would ask for this but anyway.

Then she says "OK, which deal will you be signing up for today?"

I explain for the second time i am just looking for now, i will not be signing up for anything today. This seems to go way over her head again however, as she goes on about what a great deal it was,how she could only offer this today..ect ect

"SO, supposing you were to sign up today, which option would you take?"

me:..well i guess if were to consider anything, it would be the 5 month plan as i am not yet sure how long i will be staying

"Ok you can sign up today..your credit card please.."

me..well,...err..again.... i am not signing up for anything today

This banter goes on for another 10 minutes with me having to repeat the last line at least another three times.

At this stage ive had enough and just remember they still have my credit card, so it was a strange this girl would ask for it. I tell her they already have my card and id like it back thanks.

She says " but you wait, i will give you a free fitness test for today"

I tell her im not waiting, i dont want any test, and i want my card back.

She goes on to tell me that i am quite stupid for not wanting the free test, it only takes a few minutes...<deleted>!!!

Give me back my card..NOW

The thai girl is watching all this and is clearly quite uncomfortable with it. She nods and hurries of to get my card. Meanwhile the other one practically takes my hand an forces me over to another room with a few scales and stuff..OK whatever.

They note hieght and age and i get on what looks like a typical scale..

Low and behold a spectacular printout is produced... Apart from all the jargon of percentages of body fat and this and that, it tells me that i need to loose 9 kgs...

funny that, as the last time i checked 78kgs for a guy of 180cms was pretty good...perfect in fact.

I dont know how they could claim this machine can tell you all these details, and i may well be stupid as she says, but i am definately stupified as to how anyone, thai or otherwise, could believe the validity of this crap.

The thai girls returns with my card, and asks if she can give me a follow up phone call..I say ok but i wont be talking to the other pushy one. She doesnt understand what ive said but im sure the other one does and she pretends not to hear it and storms off.

With this, the thai girl whais and offers multiple apologies and says i can call her and she will give me one day trial for free ok?

Its a shame as the place had great facilities at not to bad a price, but the behaviour of that lady ruled it out for me and id sooner join up with the local no frills joint nearby at the same price than support the wages of this person.

I wont even be taking up the free day offer,although they reckon its worth 535 baht to go for one day.

If this person or anyone else that works for FF should ever happen to read this i hope they will realise that this sort of crap will turn away many more potential customers than any harrasment or bullying will ever produce..

The thai girl was quite nice and i suspect doing a good job..to bad she has to put up with this other ***** daily.

FF..i can think of a few prime words for those letters

:realangry:

1

• Posted Yesterday, 14:47
  I rarely have need to whinge about the usual day to day things that can test you in LOS, but thought id make an exception after visiting a Fitness first gym here in Bangkok. I wont name the particular branch,suffice to say it is was in suburban BK, in a large mall.
  I havent even looked at joining a gym here so i thought i would just go along and check out whats on offer and what the facilities were like.
  I talked with a very nice polite (thai) girl, not great English but easy enough to understand. She showed me around and I was quite impressed by the new looking gear,cleanliness of of locker rooms, nice lounge ect ect..even had a wall of DVD's you can borrow for two days..give you a few (supposedly) freebies if signing up for a year..all good
  So the girl takes me back to a cubicle and talks about the latest promotion and what the possible options were.
  I was quite happy at this point and was pondering the five month plan as opposed to the yearly one, as not sure of how long i would be staying in Thailand. I can say i am quite used to usual sales pitch...quote a larger price+ multiple joining fees ect, then scratch out one fee to make you believe you are getting something for nothing..all the usual BS.
  At this point the girl asks for my credit card, stating that she will check whether she can offer a special deal for using this particular card.
  She wonders off for a little while and returns with another girl. I was not quite sure of her nationality, at first glance she looked like a typical thai but when she spoke it sounded as if she had an American accent, so maybe grew up or uni educated in the US..
  I suspect she was wearing those queer contact lenses that makes one look a bit like a cat..quite offputting to me and i dont know why they do that or how they can think its appealing, but each to their own.
  Anyway, she goes over all the same details as the other girl has already said, which was a bit tedious. She asks for my passport which i dont have on me. Not sure why she would ask for this but anyway.
  Then she says "OK, which deal will you be signing up for today?"
  I explain for the second time i am just looking for now, i will not be signing up for anything today. This seems to go way over her head again however, as she goes on about what a great deal it was,how she could only offer this today..ect ect
  "SO, supposing you were to sign up today, which option would you take?"
  me:..well i guess if were to consider anything, it would be the 5 month plan as i am not yet sure how long i will be staying
  "Ok you can sign up today..your credit card please.."
  me..well,...err..again.... i am not signing up for anything today
  This banter goes on for another 10 minutes with me having to repeat the last line at least another three times.
  At this stage ive had enough and just remember they still have my credit card, so it was a strange this girl would ask for it. I tell her they already have my card and id like it back thanks.
  She says " but you wait, i will give you a free fitness test for today"
  I tell her im not waiting, i dont want any test, and i want my card back.
  She goes on to tell me that i am quite stupid for not wanting the free test, it only takes a few minutes...<deleted>!!!
  Give me back my card..NOW
  The thai girl is watching all this and is clearly quite uncomfortable with it. She nods and hurries of to get my card. Meanwhile the other one practically takes my hand an forces me over to another room with a few scales and stuff..OK whatever.
  They note hieght and age and i get on what looks like a typical scale..
  Low and behold a spectacular printout is produced... Apart from all the jargon of percentages of body fat and this and that, it tells me that i need to loose 9 kgs...
  funny that, as the last time i checked 78kgs for a guy of 180cms was pretty good...perfect in fact.
  I dont know how they could claim this machine can tell you all these details, and i may well be stupid as she says, but i am definately stupified as to how anyone, thai or otherwise, could believe the validity of this crap.
  The thai girls returns with my card, and asks if she can give me a follow up phone call..I say ok but i wont be talking to the other pushy one. She doesnt understand what ive said but im sure the other one does and she pretends not to hear it and storms off.
  With this, the thai girl whais and offers multiple apologies and says i can call her and she will give me one day trial for free ok?
  Its a shame as the place had great facilities at not to bad a price, but the behaviour of that lady ruled it out for me and id sooner join up with the local no frills joint nearby at the same price than support the wages of this person.
  I wont even be taking up the free day offer,although they reckon its worth 535 baht to go for one day.
  If this person or anyone else that works for FF should ever happen to read this i hope they will realise that this sort of crap will turn away many more potential customers than any harrasment or bullying will ever produce..
  The thai girl was quite nice and i suspect doing a good job..to bad she has to put up with this other ***** daily.
  FF..i can think of a few prime words for those letters
  :realangry:
  This post has been edited by ozzieovaseas: Yesterday, 15:03
  Build a system that even a fool can use and only a fool will want to use it

Man...she is a sales women. Get your balls together.

Yeah, she is just doing her job.

When TOT is working properly, There seems to be hours though out the day when it will not function at all.

My theory is, depending on how many people are using the internet provided by TOT.

There is nothing more annoying than a slow internet, TOT never again.

.

"Yes, Mom. I had sex with my English teacher!"

Was the teacher teaching English or was he a teacher from England? Taking into account the subject of the post, i suspect he was the latter

The person who made this up, was not from England, spelling MOM instead of MUM

wright ulysses?

Orville or Wilbur?

Both

On a more serious note, what a waste of life. days, months and years time spent starring at a screen.

In my opinion this form as one use only, information

North Thailand also Been having problems with TOT for 8 months, what and load of crap.

Thai Assistant needed to help with soup noddle shop, in Doi Saket.

Accommodation provided if needed.

Contact Sairung 0857824553

50.7675

GBP: 50.6723

The Bank of England discussed raising interest rates at their last review - The rate was not raised but the fact that this is being discussed suggests that it is due to happen soon. That will result in a few extra Bht to the pound. But meanwhile the Bht is perhaps still under valued and there's a Grain Fungus impacting wheat production across many producing nations - Rice is inevitably going to go up in price which again will strengthen the Bht.

I'd bet on a slight increase in the exchange rate in the near future but that the trend will continue Bht up, Pound down.

I wouldn't bet on a rate rise if I were you. The BoE may be discussing it but the latest predictions are for interest rates to remain on hold for the next 4 years. Obviously that's to be taken with a pinch of salt but it makes more sense than rising them, which could see millions of feckless borrowers thrown out on the street when they cannot meet their mortgage repayments. That will be too politically damaging, although I for one would love it if the aspirational dickheads that got us into this mess in the first place paid the highest price.

I suspect inflation will be used as a tool to see us out of the financial catastrophe the country faces, so no rate rises. I can't see the pound strengthening against the baht for the foreseeable future, if ever.

GBP: 50.2138

Where did you get your prediction from OP?

The fact that you consider the £ is falling would tell us either:

1) you know naff all about about currency values and what affects their relationship with other currencies.

2) you were reading your charts upside down

or more likely 3) you have been on the Lao Khao again.

Can you enlighten us as to where the figure 65 to the £ came from. I would love to know what indicators gave you that brain wave?

I don't have time to answer the questions, all I can tell you is thing's are about to change.

watch this thread.

OP, try again tomorrow without the LEO or CHANG.

There an old saying, if you can't beat them join them.

Signed

One for the road