Caspersfriend

There are always those who think they know better what version of the 'truth' should be fed down to the populace:

I can remember a time, not that long ago when the British people were renowned throughout the world for their stiff upper lip and their sterling resolve under adversity. Today they seem to be a nation of spineless, gutless, thin skinned bleeding heart victims who blame everything and anyone apart from themselves for any mistakes and seek compensation for all of life's little falls.

Pathetic in other words !

Don't people know how to just press delete ?

The world when we can press 'delete' and those who live their fantasies in the 'ether' no longer exist is at very least a way off. In the current world some of those who practice on the internet eventually work up the courage to join this list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_serial_killers_by_number_of_victims et al

Deal with those issues before dis-ease turns into disease.

TAT: the hub of weekly silly announcements...

They started early this week, must have been a productive week-end at brainstorming meeting

Question of the day:

How many functioning brains does it take to make a brainstorming session? Is there a Standard?

Some posters don't appear to be clear:

Extension once a year and must [should] be done in person - Immigration fee 1900฿

Ninety day report every 90 days and can be done by anyone you trust with your passport - Immigration fee 0฿

why the sea?

this is the view from my balcony.

Indeed !! This is the view from mine. cables.jpg

Nice! I knew you were gonna say that

I`ll throw in a couple of questions at the OP:

What is the price of living in so-called paradise? Meaning, do we end up giving up more than what we gain?

Apologies for the delayed response:

That was meant to be inferred in my post "paying a premium". There of course being more than one way of doing that.

Oh Dear OP !!! Another brain wave merchant

Tad judgmental. Have we met?

If you believe you live in paradise, where do you go for a holiday?

Or in "Talking Heads" song, "Paradise is a place where nothing ever happens!"

So we are trading quotes now .....

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”

― Henry Ford

Sort of, but not for one up manship.

I have a beautiful home and family, but at times am bored, need a change. Then when away, I can't wait to get home. Another paradox of paradise.

Get you.

If you believe you live in paradise, where do you go for a holiday?

Or in "Talking Heads" song, "Paradise is a place where nothing ever happens!"

So we are trading quotes now .....

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”

― Henry Ford

why the sea?

this is the view from my balcony.

This is the view in my sala; or indeed anywhere.

Well there has to be some non-delusional people around.

You met or know any of them?

Not lately -- but there are certainly people on here who have no problem telling me I'm deluded.

Best form of defense is attack?

On the mainland, mainly cheap and available p***y

But on the islands, mainly cheap and available drugs.

Your personal concept of paradise?

Well there has to be some non-delusional people around.

You met or know any of them?

P.S. Why is it when you simply make a typo [Chang] and correct it within a couple of minutes does the "edited blah blah" appear?

People have a habit of just talking about the negatives. News Headlines and stories are always negative too. Have you ever seen a headline ' Retired couple are happy living beside the seaside in Pattaya'. No. Because headlines like that don't sell do they???

For every negative report about Thailand there's probably 10 conflicting stories that are positive. We just don't hear about them.

Don't let negativity from other people influence your opinion or life. Find out for yourself first....

Good to see that the first response is a positive one and completely agree with "Don't let negativity from other people influence your opinion or life. Find out for yourself first...."

However, what attracts people to the sea and rivers that they will pay such a premium to live there?

Especially as them headlines also tell us that within 'our lifetime' these desirable locations may well be under water due to Global Warming?

"If paradise is half as nice as heaven that you take me to, who needs paradise, I'd rather have you
They say paradise is up in the stars but I needn't sigh because it's so far
'Cos I know it's worth a heaven on earth for me where you are."

Cue the song .....

I was born on an island where you are never far from the sea ... sadly that sea is often grey and the beach is often more clay or pebbles. I do however see [!] the attraction of living by the sea but even if the sea is crystal-clear, the sand is white and pristine, and the weather is warm and sunny, I question why so many will pay a premium [sometimes a massive premium] to live in such a location. I spent the Millennium New Year in the Fiji Islands and some of the locations I stayed at could define the word idyllic. However, Thailand gives the impression of being a very different animal when it comes to beach resorts. Never once did I feel threatened or extorted in any way when in Fiji, never once have I felt concerned during my seven years of living full-time in Northern Thailand. In contrast all I ever seem to hear or read about when it comes to Thailands' beach resorts is negative and I don't need to be specific as the headlines in any form of media do that.

I spent much of my life in sales and marketing and so realise it is indeed possible to sell snow to Eskimos. And so tourism apart, why are many of those who choose to make a permanent [!?] home in LOS willing to pay a high financial price to live surrounded by so many negative vibrations? Paradise is where you make it and whom you share it with; is it not?

All the usual rambling and meandering and wandering off topic:

The OP included:

"He explained that if they cannot prove that they are re-entering the country for tourism (for example by showing hotel bookings, a ticket out of the country or sufficient funds to support themselves while in Thailand), “They won’t be allowed in.”"

"Sufficient funds" has often been quoted [for getting through Immigration] as being something like 20,000฿ in cash.

The options for many Russians who come to Thailand for reasons other than tourism to have that sort of pocket-change are endless.

If your ISP allows you to access this link this is how the story is being reported in the UK http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2760012/Smearing-Britons-murdered-paradise-As-hunt-killers-descends-farce-Thai-prime-minister-insults-Western-girls.html

Maybe already covered [apologies - very busy] but if I was the father/mother or concerned sibling of either of these two I would be hounding the British police to get involved and on the next available plane.

If you approached a producer with a screenplay of this to date it would be rejected as too farcical to consider.

Whatever their virtues or [possibly under the 'influence'] actions these are two young people who were brutally violated and murdered - yet the media and many others involved are turning it into a farce.

"Due to the fact that there is a high number of retired Japanese people who want to live aboard, Chiang Mai Province has become an ideal choice for those who want to reside long stay. The admired Chiang Mai atmosphere has met the customers’ expectations on many levels."

However, you can see so many totally- confused Japanese at CM Immigration every day of the week. If you have some ability to converse with them [which 99% of CM Immigration staff do not] they will say "We were told how easy this would be before we came". Housing costs, living costs, actually having some space! Not difficult to see why affluent Japanese would chose to consider a move to Thailand. One's expectations in life are not always fulfilled after the delusion, so skillfully presented, fades.

"He was high on intellectualism
I've never been there but the brochure looks nice"

Also, something which is not new but is still annoying is the Thai mentality of thinking they are Superior having been brainwashed from birth!

Nothing wrong with being proud of their country but it would be nice if they respected us!

This fellow-Brit agrees with much of your post, however, not the above when it comes to the vast majority of Thais I come across in everyday life.

I agree that some in a uniform or a similar 'position' of 'authority' are not respectful ---- but do you not think that is at least in part due to the way many 'aliens' act towards them every day of their working lives? A generalisation that many aliens adopt when judging Thais!

When I smile at the Thai people I meet they invariably smile back. When I am polite to them they are generally polite back. Never pay dual-pricing when showing a Thai driver license or Yellow Book. Often get better discounts than my Thai lovely simply by approaching the seller on the same level; which I consider myself to be.

Not getting at you English 1 for airing the general view but questioning "Are Thais brainwashed from birth!"? or do they simply see 'us' as [to the regret of most of us] as they perceive us a group?

They who shout the loudest are the most noticed.

Obviously you have not been to Philippines lately then! Tourism there is way down because of so many foreigners being extorted or killed & robbed mostly by serving police.

Cambodia only really attracts those who are on a restricted income and don't mind roughing it.

Thailand is in a state of flux right now but if you stand back and take an objective look, most likely this is where the retirees will be most comfortable. It's cheaper and more secure than Philippines in almost every way. I'm going back to the UK soon after a disastrous attempt to retire in Philippines. When I'm ready to try again, Thailand is top of my list (well, Chiang Mai anyway)

Good to have a view and opinion based on personal experience; rather than hearsay or trolling.

Thanks

........... You'd be better off trying to converse with a monkey or just beat you head against a brick wall.

Irrespective of how valid your input is: Such comments infer you have previous experience in both cases ....

I have, many times, on this forum

We all need external stimuli to avoid stagnating ... to each his or her own

........... You'd be better off trying to converse with a monkey or just beat you head against a brick wall.

Irrespective of how valid your input is: Such comments infer you have previous experience in both cases ....

For me, I will wait a few years, continue with good long holidays, and wait for my right time............

Always interested to have another opinion regarding how they judge that?

For me [?] I didn't know I just knew.

Can we expect some feedback anytime soon ... or did I miss it?

Apologies for being direct but Chiang Mai Immigration should be an embarrassment to the Immigration Bureau!

The buildings and land area are way too small for the number of persons needing to attend.

Vehicle parking is almost non-existent.

According to an interview published in Chaing Mai News last year, Police Colonel Prachak Awaiyawanont admitted that his department was 14 persons understaffed; apparently at the time therefore running at just 80% of required headcount.

The online booking facility for certain visa categories has been a step in the right direction, but with only ten appointments a day they are usually taken up on or close to the 100 day limit. For everyone else there is the need to queue for a ticket. I have known people who arrive more than an hour before the office opens and are so far down the list they can't get an appointment for that day; two years ago arriving at 6am [two and a half hours before operations commence!] would virtually guarantee you would be first in the queue, these days you'll be way down the list. Improved facilities and staffing, plus the consideration of other suggestions here on changes to the 90-day reporting [for example] would make the experience for many less daunting/frustrating, with commensurate benefits to bureau staff who wouldn't have so many confused/frustrated/annoyed 'customers' to deal with. Translations for those who don't read Thai ---- if these could be edited by native speakers of the language, to improve clarity of communication to the reader, a considerable amount of staff time would be saved for more productive work.

Chiang Mai is a very busy division and causing so much frustration to so many who are compelled to attend the offices on a regular basis [some who live quite a distance away], plus the added pressures placed on over-worked bureau staff cannot be in the best interests of anyone. There have been strong rumours for a year or more of a move to larger premises in Chiang Mai, with adequate parking, yet nothing seems to be happening and the staff appear to be as much in the dark about this as we are.

Does the Commissioner have any firm plans, with implementation dates, to improve the standard of service at Chiang Mai Immigration by addressing any of these problems?