Pinot

Thanks

All my calls are to the US. I don't make many calls but I do need to occasionally call my broker (Schwab) and family. I've been using Skype with never a problem. Now, with Skype being shut down I need an alternative. Doing a small amount of research, it seems Sonetel at under $2/month might be the best alternative. You can get a US phone number that will forward incoming calls and even voicemail where they use AI to send a message. Has anyone found a better alternative?

The over-tourism has pummelled Phuket's environment. Anything that pumps the brakes on this is admirable.

He's dreamy

When my wife was growing she was hit every week for not being properly dressed...the family was very poor and couldn't afford the correct shoes. I always thought that was pathetic.

Thank you. I have an inquiry into Mission. Didn't realize they offered that. It's likely to be less.

I have a Rotorcuff injury and need an MRI for treatment. I live in Phuket. The insurance I have requires I use a public hospital for treatment but it's limited to 5000 baht for the MRI. The insurance does cover 400,000 baht for treatment. The problem is that before I can get the arthroscopic treatment or surgery which will be covered, I need to get the MRI. In Phuket the MRI from Vachera Hospital is 22,000 baht, but it's a two-month wait for the MRI and they're only going to pay the 5000 toward that. There is no wait at Bangkok Hospital which is the same price. I was just going to pay for Bangkok Hospital to do it because I am in a lot of pain and need to get it fixed. Is there a public hospital I can go to for a less expensive MRI anywhere near me or one that's cheaper? Or a less expensive alternative to Bangkok Hospital? I can get a CT scan in PhangNga but that's not the same and I don't know the price yet. I doubt that's an acceptable substitute anyway. Any suggestions?

I've made a point of leaving the county to avoid the mayhem...and the heat this month. I've come to hate this insane drunken water fight. If I was 10 years old it might be fun? I can't imagine coming here to participate in this nonsense.

When the Army took over, the corruption virtually ended. Now that these idiots are in power there is nothing to stop anyone. I loved that dictator which he was still in there.

All we can be sure of is that TAT is lying.

I doubt there is much that can go on that would hurt Pattaya's reputation. "Pattaya Beach, known for its stunning coastline and electrifying nightlife", laughs.

No, I don't know what that is. Something to do with the DTV? Been retire here 15 years.

Living in LOS, I'm wondering if the new e-Visa will benefit me? Maybe faster processing coming in and out? https://thephuketexpress.com/2024/12/25/thai-e-visa-launches-worldwide-on-1-january-2025/

How long would this nonsense have gone on in the USA? 10 seconds?

The BIB doesn't have the training, the equipment or the inclination to do anything about traffic law enforcement. Nothing will change; it will just get worse. There is no money to be made enforcing traffic laws, or they'd be doing it. They go strictly for low-hanging fruit with traffic stops. The way they count traffic accident victims, not including those numbers that get to the hospital and die there, would make Thailand THE worst place to drive in the world. No traffic law or speed enforcement.

It's unbelievable that these grifters are back in power. There's no getting rid of them! What a terrible excuse of a democracy Thailand is. Another incompetent PM takes control. Just a matter of time (hopefully very short) till anarchy forces the military to step in again. Remember what a complete idiot Yingluck was? Same same.

Indians...placeholders for quality tourists. 😎

I have a tourism Facebook page and I was screaming for people to buy cheap baht when it was 37 in April. I brought in enough for a couple of years. Now I don't have anywhere to invest the baht I have except for a measly 2%. That's okay. I still come out way ahead.

I think the most important aspect of regulation is not giving the BIB an opportunity to make easy money. They will selectively enforce any chance they get...to make money. It's one of the only things they do.

He tried to overthrow the US government. He should have been hung. I'm just so looking forward to him going down in flames in November and then...goodbye forever. The long sad story of this POS will end.

It's interesting how defensive the Maga morons are. It's the fake media, blah, blah blah. Come on, he's weird, weak, and an abomination. He tried to overthrow the government. How is he a candidate? Please continue with your gaslighting...trying to explain this death tailspin: Congress and the Senate. Trump keeps on giving.

No money to be made here by the BIB. Why do anything if there's no money to be made?

He never laughs. He has no sense of humor. He doesn't like dogs. He hasn't a friend. He's often confused. He wants to take over the US with some kind of a gestapo army. No more elections, just more Trump. I thought Newsom was the candidate. He was never considered. I live in Thailand. She took it and ran with it and she's the best chance for the western world. Lets go

Wow, that is ridiculous, no? Thanks Tod. Good thing I held off on those Tokyo tickets You have to ask yourself how important is it to only have the 400k in a bank vs. the 800k? All the ridiculous hoops and inconveniences just may not worth it. I don't have any choice at this point. They don't make the rules for you, sir. Your little 10 year proposal for faster service? Don't be making these faster approval suggestions. This is Thailand, my friend. They don't care. Last year was the first for the marriage visa. When I was done I felt like a member of the Maquis after the Gestapo got through with them. We had everything ready, I thought, last year. Oh no, I had the requirements from the year before. Oh, my Buddha. We're going to be ready for them this year and when I say we, I mean her. She did 97% of the talking last year. Two days of talking.

They didn't last year in Phuket