wwest5829

The alternative?

Yes, the Chinese characters, especially in combination can be interpreted different ways. Going to study in Shanghai in the summer of 1986, Chinese friends wrote out the characters. Then he said, he thought of slightly different, more polite characters. The first characters could be seen as, "Powerful Mandarin from the West". Yea, right ... ha! Over the top.

I have found my AIS plan allows my GPS to function throughout Thailand. It includes unlimited wifi access. But that is the limit to my experience as I am not working online.

We will be using Koran Air (Delta designation flights to earn airmiles) for a trip stateside for the month of March 24-April 24. Price was $1388 flying BKK-ATL with return from DWI (so "open jaw" tickets).

Agree with Eaglehawk. I keep a bottle os Cab, Shiraz and Merlot at hand.

A major reason as to why I am here.

I would anticipate the commonality will be avoiding the war.

Thailand certainly not alone in this debate. I recall facing the same in the Czech Republic. The Czechs felt like after the Wall fell and they once again could determine their own fate, that the German money would overpower Czech ownership of land. In the US, I recall the reaction in business when the Japanese car manufacturers moved in … and now the Chinese companies are seen as the big threat. Thais are not the only ones to get caught up in ethnocentric thinking. As a student of US history … mixed thoughts as my forebears came into the British colonies and bought up land from the Lenni Lenape.

Isn't USA style "freedom"/independence great?! In large measure I retired to a lower cost country because I cannot afford a working middle class retirement in my own country. It has worked out well for me here in Thailand but I know others struggle ... and still others can, evidently afford the millions of baht homes/condos and Long Stay Visas for the wealthy.

I just included the service to the extension service, any re-entry permit that they got for me. As was responded to elsewhere, some of us find it convenient to use an agency. Some prefer not ... to each their own.

I used to pay the agency who takes care of my extensions 1500 baht a year to do the 90 Day Report. now, with the drive up window here in Chiang Mai, I just do it myself. In fact, just did it yesterday.

A year of 65,000 a month transfers should do it (been here over a decade on this method). At least that is what I have been told by one Chiang Mai Immigration officer. I anticipate no issue. I also have 400,000+ baht in a separate account and could go the marriage reason for the “O” Visa as a fallback.

I won’t be testing my plan until April 2023 when I return to Thailand. Currently O-A Visa (Retirement) for over a decade with monthly income method over the required 65,000 baht. Plan is to fly for a visit to US with Thai Wife and Stepdaughter. Returning to Thailand on April 24, as it is a RT ticket, I do not anticipate any “onward ticket”. Arrive Visa Exempt (purposely allowing O-A Visa to expire as there is no re-entry permit). Go through the Visa Exempt, 90 day, year extension for the “O” Visa (retirement). I’ll report on this upon return (as we cannot tell what changes may take place, in the meantime)..

Yes, while I would prefer a bottle, my imbibing and budget are taken into consideration. If you are volunteering to subsidize … great.

Agree, and allowing that we all can have different experiences due to many variables. The only return incident with Makro for me concerned returning 3 boxes of Red Monte Clair wine. Taste was very bad. Perhaps the bottom of the barrel or having been too long subjected to heat but ... yuck. I explained that I had also tasted a second box with the same result ... undrinkable. Return price was immediate ... We don't know, perhaps they had been told of a bad batch, or others had the same complaint ... anyway. My one time return, no issue.

Faced with the age, I shipped two plastic trunks filled with collected items from my travels. Bubble wrapped all and Chiang Mai Removals arranged the shipping through DHL. Ceramics were involved and very few things could be replaces. One piece broken upon arrival, a corner of one of the trunks was broken. DHL compensated. I would recommend shipping in a hard sided container with lots of bubble wrap.

This I do not know. There are a number of Aussies who are members of the Chiang Mai Expats Club. Perhaps your best answer would come from them by asking on the club’s website. Wish you well.

I use it on Wise every month. Retirement monthly income method. Always check that box and FTT transfer noted by Bangkok Bank.

Sorry to hear. I have my US Social Security deposited into my American bank. From there I transfer $2200.00 through Wise pulled from my bank and transferred into my Bangkok Bank Account like clockwork every month to meet the required monthly deposit transferred from abroad. Ordering the transfer via Wise, you are asked for the reason of the transfer. Scroll down through the reasons and you will see “for long term stay”. Check that box and it comes directly as an FTT transfer. Do not check the box and it can come through an intermediary bank not meeting the FTT notation.

I have just gone to HomePro here in Chiang Mai. They use subcontractors but, my thinking is that they have already vetted.

Each of us are subject to different experiences. My ex was trained and went through 3 levels of certification. I enjoyed the massage practice at home as I am a foot massage addict.

I find Thailand’s abstention vote consistent historically in its trying to balance the interests of competing world powers. As to whether there is ever a cause to fight over territory? History does report that there are times when people do decide to defend their country (I am thinking WWII Czechoslovakia here). Philosophically, the debate has been with countries/empires for a long time. I have not found any one “right” conclusion.

Once again “having peace in our time” - a la Chamberlain as Hitler demanded the German speaking Sudetenland from sovereign Czechoslovakia.

Earned Medicare for retired civilians is useable only on US territory (Guam is the closest). Earned military retired are globally covered through Tricare but they also are required to pay the monthly Part B premiums.

Entitled to you opinion … but it is only that … your opinion not to be mistaken as fact.