george

Here is that story with the two New Zealand guys: https://aseannow.com/topic/1322598-two-new-zealand-men-arrested-in-phuket-for-alleged-brutal-assault-on-traffic-cop/

This topic continues here: https://aseannow.com/topic/1322598-two-new-zealand-men-arrested-in-phuket-for-alleged-brutal-assault-on-traffic-cop/

VIDEO: Note the newscaster says "Farang again" and the word Farang is the video title.

Read, and please read the full story, before you vote in our Poll! Being an expat in Thailand you’ll go through plenty of phases – from excitement, to astonishment, to bewilderment, to (eventually) acceptance. It’s all an exciting journey, and will rarely go to plan. But that’s why so many of us love living in Thailand. There are some particular sub-sets of Thai expat we can spot a mile away. Far from type-casting a typical expat, we provide these sub-sets as a guide – there are plenty of other varieties of expats floating around Thailand. We should also mention that in 2020 there’s a much broader range of expats living in Thailand. Contrary to popular wisdom (aka. the internet chat rooms), the numbers of expats are growing every year and they are coming from just about everywhere, not just the UK, northern Europe, Australia and the US, as in the past. 1. The search of a wife Looking for love in the West daunting? Or had a few failed marriages? No problem. Head to Asia and find a wife there instead. Right?! Gentlemen still come to Thailand for the sole purpose of finding love and maybe a wife. In the age of the internet where you can conveniently do your ‘shopping’ on line, there are is a sub-set of men who will book a flight and hotel to ‘touch and feel’ before they buy. There seems to be some belief that Asian women are going to be more polite, obedient and submissive than the women in their own country. They’re about to get a shock. Others are looking to ‘trade in’ their older, western model for a younger, slimmer Asian version. And where are you going to find this source of Asian ladies? At an expat bar (or on the internet these days). And so the well-trodden path, litany of perilous adventures, and sad tales begins. We know how most of these relationships end. Of course there are many western men, and women, who do find a Thai partner and live long, happy lives. But they’re vastly out numbered by the stories of love-gone-wrong in the Land of Smiles. Don’t take it too seriously Read a couple of hundred stories on the internet before moving in with the Thai GF Have deep pockets NB. Guys, the bar girls don’t actually love you. 2. The businessman Many professional expats live, mostly in Bangkok, and work for big international companies on salaries that would make them rich in any country. They can afford to, and do, live the high life. Some are single but others bring their family along for the adventure. They rent a big house, have a live-in maid, a driver and live a great life indeed. But, living their life in an artificial bubble in their working years, they rarely transition into a more mundane retired life in ‘normal’ Thailand. 3. Retiring in Thailand The mantra used to be that you could move to Thailand and live off your pension (which would translate to lots and lots of baht), strolling along Phuket beaches, shopping in Bangkok or living a quiet life in Chiang Mai. The perfect retirement lifestyle. Other single, mostly, men would be lured by a carefree life of cheap beer, endless beaches and a equally endless supply of attractive young ladies in the many bars. A lot of this has changed in recent years as the Thai economy has gained strength, along with the Thai Baht, and some international currencies have deflated meaning that people hoping to live off their overseas pensions or savings are not getting the same bargain they once did. Especially living in tourist hubs like Bangkok, Phuket or Pattaya, the cost of living has been rising in recent years pricing them out of the retirement market for many. If you’re contemplating a retired life in Thailand spend some time on the internet and come and spend a few months in selected locations. Try before you buy and don’t start packing the crockery until you’ve done your homework, and your sums. 4. Teaching English The English teacher is found everywhere in the LOS (Land of Smiles) and is still a reasonably sure-fire way to extend your time living in Thailand. These teachers usually break down into four categories…. Some are career educators and love teaching English, others are backpackers trying to extend their stay and top up their travel pocket-money, there are some older guys who have spent their savings and will do anything to stay in Thailand. Finally, there’s the bored wives who want something useful and meaningful to fill their days whilst their husbands work for larger international companies in Thailand. There are numerous TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses around the country. The pay’s not great and you’ll be living a local lifestyle rather than in the lap of luxury. But many former teachers remember their time teaching English in Thailand fondly and say they’ll never forget the smiling Thai children. 5. The entrepreneurial spirit Savvy business people often come to Thailand for some better weather and the chance to make their fortune. The joke used to be that if you wanted to start a small business in Thailand, just invest in a big business and wait a few years. But many actually make a go of it and end up doing well. Like starting a business anywhere else in the world, do your homework and make sure you tick all the right boxes, including a business and marketing plan (in a foreign country). The flashy, brash real estate hacks that sell one property a year and spend the other 364 days sitting at the beach bar spending their commission, are a local cliché and a dime a dozen. Remember that the paperwork and administration requirements of a Thai company can be bewildering and you WILL need some good local advice before you open up shop. Take someone who’s already done it for a few years to dinner and ask lots of questions. 6. The bored wife Many of the categories mentioned so far have been mostly males. Life for a single foreign woman in Thailand can be a challenge. Kudos to those who cut through the cultural issues and make a go of it (and I know many). There’s also the wives and partners of the many, many men who get to work in Thailand and bring their families with them. The live-in maid, driver and shopping trips eventually get boring and they will often be looking for other things to do. In most cases their visas won’t allow them to legally work. So many do end up doing various charity and volunteer work (thought you should be very clear about what your visa will and won’t allow you to do). There are numerous expat groups around the country to provide information, social outings and community for the many mums or spouses who find themselves at a loose end whilst the husband works in the office. Jump on your computer and do some homework and you’ll discover a whole new world of other woman out there. Your next coffee or movie gal-pal is as far away as the internet. 7. The fresh-starter For whatever reason, Thailand seems to attract its fair share of misfits, vagrants and social outcasts that can’t seem to get their act together in their home country. So they come to Thailand where the cheap booze, beaches and travel brochures have lured them. Of course they find a very different culture and an entirely new list of reasons they can’t fit in and get their life established. Some are just running away from 1) bad marriages 2) the law 3) anything-they-don’t-want-to-confront. The long term prognosis for many of these misfits isn’t good. We end up reading about them as over-stayers, drink driving road deaths or victims of balcony falls. 8. Sexpats ‘Sexpats’ are notorious and much-maligned. They come to Thailand, lured by a slightly old-fashioned notions of the Kingdom as an easy place to find sex. And sometimes, in some locations the opportunities are still available, for a price. Sexpats usually hang around other expats who are less likely to frown on their indulgences. The three P’s – Patpong, Patong and Pattaya – sum up most of the popular sexpat locations. In most cases they’re here for a good time, not a long time, and will frequent the sleazier locations in Thailand pursuing their goals and, eventually, running out of money or getting bored. Or getting into trouble. Or contracting any number of available STDs. There’s also a subset of the sexpat that will find themselves on the very outer fringes of society – the pedophile. Thailand, and other south east asian countries, have provided solace for these people in the past but recent crackdowns are now detecting a lot of their activities and they are being increasingly rounded up, arrested and deported. As a pedophile you will get zero sympathy from Thai authorities and your time in a Thai prison will be very unpleasant and probably brief. 9. The serial complainer Nothing, absolutely nothing, will ever be as good in Thailand compared to where they come from. They will find fault in everything from the traffic to the food to the government to the medical system to the culture to the visa system to the corruption to the heat to the roads to the culture to the girls. Surprise. Thailand is a foreign country with a rich, frequently bewildering culture. The longer you spend here, the less it all makes sense. But that’s part of the glorious adventure of living in Thailand. Whilst many expats revel in the wonders and excesses of Thai life, some just wallow in their own self-righteousness. Many of these haters and complainers have never been to Thailand but are happy to share their wisdom, often, in chat rooms and social media. Blah, blah, blah. Worse, there are plenty of haters living amongst us who bore us sideways with their whinging and complaining. They can be directed to the nearest international airport where they are invited to escape the country they so despise and return to their homeland or just go somewhere else… anywhere really. 10. The digital nomads We see them tapping away on their keyboards at cafés and work spaces around the country. As long as they have wifi their business is open. They’re trading stocks and shares, selling property, gambling, posting stories, filing news reports, selling stuff on their Facebook pages – they’re working. If you can run your business outside of a traditional office, hey, why not do it sitting next to a beach or high up in a mountain overlooking Chiang Rai. The digital nomads fall between the cracks in the Thai Immigration system and often have to run the gauntlet of dodgy visas and visa runs although a recently introduced Smart Visa helps as few of them get a proper visa. There is an increasing range of co-working spaces opening around the country and almost every café in Thailand will now have wifi – whether it’s working or not is another matter. Then again you can always tether your phone to your laptop and use your smartphone’s wifi. 10a. The Keyboard Warriors We can’t leave this group out because there seems to be a large contingent of keyboard warriors out there who keep Thai website administrators busy. They respond to everything that’s posted and are keen to share their expert advice on the matter. On ALL matters. They are a virtual Library of Congress when it comes to dispensing their opinions and vast knowledge about all matters relating to life in Thailand, or anywhere really. Web administrators (The Thaiger included) are kept busy ‘hiding’ and deleting some of their extravagant claims, nonsense or thinly-veiled abuse at the writer of the story, the website generally or other commenters. There is one website in Thailand that does a roaring trade based on the clicks of expats that seem to have nothing better to do than whinge, complain, comment and click, click, click on a broad range of matters, particularly those concerning traffic accidents, ladyboys, visa overstayers and police matters. It’s a love-hate relationship: we hate their monotonous drivel but we love their traffic. By Tim Newton (formerly thethaiger.com) Note: Please login and vote in our poll above!!

Thanks a lot for your effort, Mike!

ASEAN NOW is not really the first with this news, or insight, but it is still worth repeating. BANGKOK: — There will be a major layoff of personnel on the automotive workshop side in the future, whether car manufacturers want it or not - but there will also be opportunities for high wages and specialized services for those who educate themselves and dare to invest. The electric car fleet is growing and it is at the expense of fossil-fueled vehicles. As is well known, an electric car does not require regular basic service, but can travel much longer distances without having to visit a workshop. Electric cars do not need regular oil changes, refilling of adblue, spark plug changes or exhaust system replacement, and although electric cars are not really fault-free, workshop visits are much less common than for traditional vehicles. If you pull it hard, it is the brakes, wheel suspension, cabin filters and wiper blades that the electric car needs, even if there are of course individual exceptions. This will inevitably lead to "low-skilled" labor that today works with simpler oil and spark plug changes will have to fight for an ever-decreasing pie. We also know that when vehicles pass 13-14 years, the willingness to pay decreases, which will further reduce the customer base. However, there is salvation, and that is specialized labor. For 20-30 years, cars have become increasingly computerized, and this requires a new type of mechanic who not only replaces parts, but has the ability to make deeper analyzes and more advanced troubleshooting. If you want to be successful in the future, you cannot be an "all-car workshop" that lives on oil changes and brake jobs, because then the customer base will disappear sooner or later - the only way to create profitability in the company is specialization and expertise within its niche (this reasoning applies primarily to independent workshops or other brand-independent chains and not brand-bound chains that also receive a lot of warranty and recall work). What do you think? Will we see a layoff in the automotive workshop sector in the next 15 years? Here are some of the key points from the article: * Electric cars require less maintenance than traditional cars, which will lead to layoffs in the automotive workshop sector. * Specialized mechanics will still be in demand, as electric cars are becoming increasingly complex. * Independent workshops will need to specialize in order to survive. What do you think about the future of the automotive workshop sector? — ASEAN NOW 2024-03-15

During the last months there has been a sharp increase in arrests of foreigners, as mentioned in the daily news, and I believe this will backfire on us expats. Its a worrying situation. Not only Russians, but also Europeans, Scandinavian and American farangs. Plus Chinese and visitors from the subcontinent. Will there be a situation in Thailand like in Europe, where people loudly complain about the "low quality immigrants" coming en masse? Will there be hatred against farangs? I believe so, it's very sad!

Many advertisers and ad agencies are recently specifically targeting this forum with these types of ads (interstitials, not pop-ups). I will ask our ad agency to reduce the number of these ads. The definition of interstitial ad: An interstitial ad is a full-screen ad that covers the entire interface of the host app. These ads are designed to be placed between content, and are typically displayed at transition points in an app flow, such as between activities, during a pause, or between levels in a game.

Different policy at every immigration office it seems. I've been told that by IO if returning to same address after being abroad no need to do a new TM30 if its on the same extension.

What type of device and which browser are you using? Do you have same issue on both desktop and mobile?

This topic already exist: https://aseannow.com/topic/1321660-update-villa-owner’s-violent-act-leads-to-demolition-in-beach-assault-scandal/

Grab added the foreign card fee in February.

I just requested my old journals from Bangkok Hospital HQ Bangkok, since I haven't used them for a long long time, and got this auto-reply. Now it gets a bit complicated... --- Dear Our Value Customers, According to the hospital's policy, you are required to fill out the request for medical records form. You may download the form by pressing on the Download Link. When you have completed filling out the form, kindly check the document for completeness. Please attach the form and a copy of the patient's ID card/copy of passport. The person who is acting on behalf of the patient (if any), kindly attach the evidence of authorization, a copy of your passport and the patient’s. Kindly send all relevant documents to this email. When the medical document personnel received the documents, they will notify you the acceptance of your request or contact you back incase needed additional documents by e-mail. Please note that the service queue starts from the date of receiving complete documents. The medical document personnel will send your documents to you in approximately 7-14 business days. Currently, there many service recipients ask for medical documents. Subsequently, the process may be delayed. In this regard, we truly apologize for the inconvenience in advance. Link The Request Form 00_EN_ConsentDisclose.pdf 00_EN_RequestForm.pdf แผนกบริการเอกสารทางการแพทย์ (Medical Documentation Services) โรงพยาบาลกรุงเทพ สำนักงานใหญ่ (Bangkok Hospital) Tel : 02-755-1203 Fax : 0-2310-3110 E-mail : [email protected] เวลาทำการ: เปิดบริการทุกวัน ตั้งแต่เวลา 8.00 - 16.00 น.

They still have them a bit longer, so better late than never..

Maintenance done, now we are fine adjusting things...

Why do you believe FB is monitoring your PM's? Spam filters, or are they spying on us?

@ukrules Politics?

That would indicate a blocked number series, and as your card is new, it may have not been updated in the number system at Revolut, oir Kbank hasn't provided the data (not a surprise...).

Nobody except for yourself should know the card number. No support team in the world would enter it for you due to security policy. Maybe Revolut's list is incomplete. I can use my very old Kbank debit card without problem, it all depends on the first digits in the card number...

FORUM MAINTENANCE NOTICE We will perform our planned monthly forum maintenance tonight in a window between approx. 9pm and 1am (Bangkok time GMT+7). It will take about approx 2-3 hours. Forum will be down. Sorry for any inconvenience! 🙏🏼

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_card_number