wwest5829

Familiar with these critters having lived near the New Jersey shore area but not eating them. I seem to remember coming across reports of their blood (blue) being used in the treatment of leukemia..

While I can understand, nonetheless, that fellow passenger held a more frequent flyer customer status and on that basis got the perks accorded to the earned status. When I was flying more regularly before retirement, I also had earned small perks along the way. Ha! Today I am at Disney World in Florida. Those who pay an additional $29.99 per person a day get to go in the fast lane for the rides … grrr, but I have to suck it up. Afterall, as an American, I should be used to money according a different status … in Justice, in education, in healthcare … need I go on?!

The reason foreigners can not buy land is because it will drive up prices for Thai citizens … wait, what?! In all fairness, Thailand is not the only country where I have experienced this. 30 years ago my Czech friends also said if they allowed foreign property ownership the Germans could have bough the country. There was some reason to this outlook.

Yes, my thought also. Send a registered letter showing copies of your Passport exiting Thailand before the Agoda charge. This demonstrates you were not in Thailand to make the commitment for the room. My experience … a speeding ticket in the US on a car I had sold. Sent the Passport entries demonstrating I was not in the USA anywhere near the cited dates on the ticket and further explaining that the car had been previously sold.

Due to the amount of our luggage (3 check-in bags, 3 roll-on bags and 3 day backpacks), I chose to book a van through Booking.com.. We needed a van.

Good god!!! Ah, for the younger years. So refreshing to come to a country (generalized Asian attitude) … as I told my students in western conservative Kentucky … you eat … do you feel guilty? You breathe … do you feel guilty? You make love … why feel guilty … thanks to our Puritan forebear beliefs. (College students when touching on the founding of the country).

Certainly some validity there. Historically, looking at the USA and earlier in England the religious cycles can easily be seen. My Quaker forebears were imprisoned in Leeds and Yo4k Cas5les for not conforming. The Puritans under Cromwell and in Massachusetts would ban the celebration of Christmas due to so many pagan traditions (it would be like Thai Buddhism trying to root out any earlier influences on the current practice. I agree with the poster about coming to try to change native cultures but that is the message of Christianity and Islam … an obligation to bring all to their religious beliefs = cover those breasts in the hot countries! Ha!

Tricky place for China. Lethal Aid results in trade sanctions. Not a good move with its economy right now either domestically nor internationally.

PBS Newshour (US) reported that Russia responded by flying two bombers over the Sea of Japan.

If I recall correctly, there are also rewards at customer service desk if your purchases qualify. I do not know the criteria.

2016, if I recall the year correctly. We were to visit Laos by land crossing. Thai Immigration on exit said, well your Son can leave but we will not let him back in (Visa Exempt) because he will not have 6 months remaining on his US Passport. We had to go back to Chiang Mai and get a temporary Passport ... made the crossing ... returned and applied for his new 10 year Passport.

Starting on our US trip within a week. I fully expect to be accessing my Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank accounts over the internet, usually through the hotels' wifi access. My "Bill Payments" and "Funds Transfer" accounts are already set up at the banks and long used via the internet access here in Thailand. I did the same on my last trip in 2015 (acknowledge things can change).

The story made me recall climbing over a glacier in the Alps on a Scout Exchange with our Czech Scout partners. On the way up I asked how old the oldest person he led over the top … he paused, looked at me and said … well, you’re right up there with them! Ha! I knew it would be my last such excursion.

All I know is that, driving in Thailand is a sure test for Alzheimer's. On the Thai roads, whether bike, motorbike or car, your brain must be firing on all cylinders or ... death/injury awaits.

While I consider myself as an "old friend" of China recognizing its rich history and wishing for China to take its place as one of the world's leading nations, I think the PRC has overstepped in its declaration of sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. Pushback was inevitable against the unilateral action. I support and encourage international navel flotillas regularly freely sailing in these international waters and an outright refusal to acknowledge China's unilateral claim. China has brought the need to defend against China's action. The only deescalation way to save face is an international treaty dealing with the South China Sea claim withdrawal - with multinational rights to the resources and environmental protections. China needs to take the leadership in this to save face and show that increased defenses by surrounding nations is not needed.

As an American citizen I collect monthly Social Security and get any inflation raises no matter which country I reside. I note a difference in treatment with Brit and Aussie retirees.

Recommend you take a look at ("google"): Lanna Care Net - support group for Expats Best Friend Visa - Visa service Assist Thai Visa - Visa service with lawyer

Years ago there was a gold buyer who would make the rounds. He bought all gold, price varied as to purity. I recall selling items I no longer wished to keep. A college ring - 10k, a wedding band - 18k, etc. I suspect independent dealers still exist ... no idea how to find them.

I fondly recall my early visits to Pattaya. I always had "Chin" as my gf for the visits. Yep, a cute bargirl but ... when her Mother came for a visit to take Chin's young Daughter to the sea ... Ching was fully clothed in jeans and a dress to go into the sea. Traditional Isaan Thai culture reflected. I did a lot of reading about Thai society, history, politics, culture so the dichotomy observations did not come as a surprise. As a student of history, it had me reflecting on my home country's seeming dichotomies.

Divorced in USA in 2007. She had a sign on her desk that read, “A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle”. Here in Thailand, I confess, it is like stepping back in time. Male is responsible for financial security, woman takes care of her man. At my age (76) having a wife 26 years my junior works for me.

Well, I’ll be damned. The USA is not only defining “Rights” according to which state you are resident but now … wait for it … local warlords! The USA is catching up with the past of many third world cultures … OK and the present of some still existing today. Congratulation Governor … a leading candidate for the Republican Party!

Problem is we are shooting in the dark here as we are not privy to the statistics of the number of foreigners applying for retirement of marriage visas who do not have the required funds. I am in the process of changing from an O-A Visa I came in on over a decade ago. Have used the monthly income method all this time. Switching to marriage to a Thai spouse. I have the 400K in the savings account for the current switch. Immigration visited the house yesterday. Chiang Mai, I have always used an agency simply as a matter of convenience.

Agree. After 41 years teaching, I would hazard the guess as AI being utilized as ancillary to an educated educator who soon learns to try to make the personal connections and utilize their ability to weave and Bob as needed to deal with a classroom of individuals coming from different backgrounds with different abilities and dealing with various daily realities.

Spent 6 months traveling 23 states in Mexico during my 1979-1980 Sabbatical year of travel and study. Crossed into Mexico on one trip at Matamoros, traveling alone in a VWCamper. Enjoyed my time there (mostly Cuernavaca). Considered retiring there as one option before coming to Thailand. Safety was one of the considerations.

As 11th Cousin, 3 times removed from King Charles (mutual descendants of Alice Wynninge (1483 - 1556) - Wikitree), I may have missed the email asking me to reserve the Coronation date. Ha!