The Baht won't significantly devalue until exports drop. It dose not matter how bad things get for the average Thai.

Export of agricultural products and manufactured goods may be down and tourism may be struggling, but Thailand is exporting gold and gold is in demand.

Thailand has massive gold reserves, but who is benefiting from the export off gold?

I saw a police officer hit a motorbike killing two men, it was nasty one lad had his leg ripped off. The officer stopped for a second and then just drove away.

The police decided the motorbike was at fault and no compensation was paid. I was shocked as the car was driving crazy fast, my wife was not surprised.

I will always remember after the dead were taken away bits of flesh were on the road and a dog was licking the blood.

 I also live next door to a fine example of law enforcement. Last week he was in our local noodle shop armed and in uniform and was so drunk he had <deleted> his self, it was only 4 in the afternoon and school kids were laughing at him. But being a true professional he still managed to ask if I could get him a beer.

11 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Do we need to state our official name to immigration when reporting an overstayer?

 

If he had a criminal conviction in USA, then most probably he will be dangerous someday.

 

If corruption is so rampant, there won't be cases reported on news where they are deported back.

 

Anyway, unless the highest official is also corrupt, one can always report to the highest official where there is corruption.

I have never reported any one, but I would not give my name. But things have a habit of coming out in the end, maybe the wife tells some one you phoned.

His conviction and prison time was in Thailand (if he is telling the truth it was a set up).

Over the years any one hear will have seen endless story's of corruption, its part of life hear. His case was reported when he was deported.

Every one is corrupt, especially those at the top. Ten years ago my local Immigration office would openly offer every one the opportunity to buy there extension and many did. Things may have changed on the surface but corruption is a part of life in Thailand. 

2 minutes ago, RoiEtDale said:

I actually did once see something it’s a long story but absolutely no reasonable explanation. I didn’t personally see or hear anything but our cat did and it freaked him out really bad and I saw him behave in a way that I’ve never seen before I’ve been seen him act like that before it was crazy if you’d seen it you’d understand what I mean by no reasonable explanation. 

I was once working in the basement of a hospital directly under the mortuary. The heating pipes made it red hot, suddenly it went very cold and a tray on a table fell to the floor. In that moment the only explanation was a ghost.

My alcoholic neighbour was dragged of his bike by three ghost dressed in military uniform. His one armed brother was drowned in a lake after a sexy female ghost made him go swimming.

The locals in our village blame everything on ghosts and black magic, for them it is a constant threat. All illness is blamed on black magic and most accidents are caused by ghosts.

It is one of the reasons I like living hear. I like telling people I have seen ghosts and vampires, it makes me happy.

The last king used to make long television broadcast to the nation, explaining the need to look after the environment and reduce burning. Nobody took any notice off him and he was genuinely loved by Thais. 

The burning will not stop its part of life and death in this country.

I think you can find many circular villages. We have one close to our village ( 14°22'09.3"N 103°08'43.8"E ). Its nothing special I'm told it was set out by the army in the 1980's.

As with most villages along the border very little happens during the day, but terrorised at night by ghosts.

13 hours ago, sateuk said:

Is that 1000 baht for a baby pig? If for a sow or a 80 + kg grower pig people will lose lots of money 

Nothing confirmed yet but the mother in law will get 1000/pig. 

The pigs killed were 3 month old and a good size. 

The family are having a bad time. Last year's sugar made very little the rice has been difficult due to the weather and now the pigs.

I will probably have to help out again.  

Government vets are culling all pigs in our neighbouring villages today. The numbers must be in the hundreds now.

Wife has been told they will be paid 1000 baht/pig.

To be fair to the government they are well organised and are moving fast. 

Yesterday government vets killed my mother in laws 15 pigs. They are killing all pigs in the area, at least 200 so far.

It came to light that a farm in the village had lost over 80 pigs out of the 100 they had on a unregistered farm. They had reported the deaths in hope of getting compensation. 

The vet would not say if any pig had swine flu but said the culling was a preventative measure. The pigs were removed and disinfectant strayed. 

This was in a small village south east of Bankruat, South Buriram.

I have seen nothing reported in the news yet. My wife is going to the government office in the morning to ask about compensation and to find out if it was down to swine flu. 

It's develped fast over the last few years. There's a small tesco, 7 eleven, plenty of ATM's and small shops with a market. 

On the border there is a nice khamer tempal, worth a visit. 

I know of a few westerners living in the village and have spocken to a few when I have been in tesco.

There is a small resort in a neighbouring village, but the closest gathering of westerns are found in bankruats resort some 15-20 minutes along the 224. 

If you are planning a visit I would stay in bankruat,  if you need transport the resort has motorcycles for hire and plenty of western food.

If you have a car prasat is close, with a big tesco, farang bars and nightlife. 

The village always has police road blocks on the main road so if you do visit and drive be careful. 

Following many attempts to register on the new visa application site, with the site endlessly crashing I have managed to register. 

Once registered the site takes you through the application process. I can confirm it is no longer possible to obtain a multiple entry o-visa based on married to a Thai. 

The site gives you the option of where you apply  (China/UK/France), so it looks like it is the same for all using the e-visa system. 

I have spent a couple of hours trying to register on the site. I have now given up after the site keeps crashing. 

This is embarrassing for Thailand and it's government. Someone must be made a scapegoat fast.

I'm surprised not to many people have pointed out it appears this is the end of the multiple entry o visa based on married to a Thai. 

If London will no longer issue a multiple entry, it looks like in time no embassy will issue one.

I guess there must be many thousands of people who work 6 months abroad  then spend 6 months with there Thai family in Thailand. It will now be more difficult to spend more than 3 months in Thailand, without jumping through hoops at immigration.

I know people can apply for a extention once in Thailand, but what happens if they are needed back at work before its granted. 

Working people don't have any problems with the money requirements but may need to be in and out of the country regularly. It may be difficult to comply with immigration. 

The day after I saw this snake eating a frog in our garden I won 8000 baht on the lottery. Just maybe it is a sign of good luck.