likerdup1

15 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

"...that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines."?

That is the underlying principle of AA's solution for members to get recovery from alcoholism. Forgive me but let me point out you didn't answer my question. Why would AA say anyone has to quit drinking? Are you a member? If so I would hope you know AA is NOT a temperance movement. AA is for people who want help.

24 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Comments/gobbledygook like that drive me to drink!

Nobody is stopping you 🙂

20 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

It never says you have to quit drinking either. 

Why would it or should it? And your point is?

On 6/15/2023 at 11:43 AM, Neeranam said:

Regarding doing the step without the belief in God, I have an audio of a workshop somewhere by Santikaro, a famous monk, for Buddhist alcoholics. It's in Thai language. 

No where in the AA 12 step program outlined in both the Big Book and the 12 and 12 does it say you have to believe in God. It never says you HAVE TOO!!

Simply and open mindedness to a have spiritual experience by going through and doing the steps. This spiritual experience amounts to contact with Higher Power, Power Greater, Spirit of the Universe etc etc personal to the individual. A Power Greater of ones own understanding.

It makes me chuckle but also kind of sad to see that "agnostic" or "secular" groups start up when they really don't even need to. All they needed to do is actually study carefully the Big Book Chapter "We Agnostics" and notice a couple simple directions. They jump to conclusions when they see the word God, keep their minds shut clinging to prejudice and write AA off as all about the conventional idea of God.

This is from my blog post extracting the specific instructions found in the program portion of the Big Book (first 164pgs)

Step 2: Information/Directions: Chapters: "There is a Solution" (from page 25 on) and "We Agnostics"

Direction 1: Pg 46: We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God.

Direction 2 Page 47: We needed to ask ourselves but one short question.“Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe,that there is a Power greater than myself?’’ 

Nowhere does it say you HAVE TO believe. Even a willingness to believe is enough to do step 2. If someone isn't even willing to believe than that is nothing but closed mindedness and holding on to old ideas. Something that we see in "How it Works" as being a big warning!

At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

It seems most of the staunch agnostics and atheists that hang around the fellowship (of course they are allowed to and never discouraged from attending due to tradition)  have made a big mistake.

They continue to rely on themselves to try to understand the AA program and rely on themselves to stay sober instead of surrendering to the simple program. Id be curious, since these secular or agnostic AA groups are around and quite small how much success they actually have in producing long term sobriety results. How many actual members are there in this fringe sect of AA and are they staying sober?

37 minutes ago, Celsius said:

It will be a good time to buy in a couple of years when the place s completely ruined. Then you can rent it and actually get a decent return.

 

I was looking to buy Lumpini Park Beach when it was completed I think 10 years ago. Looked beaufiful. Now it's trash.

Doesn't take long. These projects get all hyped up with the sales show room and the prototype rooms built to view.. but things can go south quick after it's opened. If owners don't make their payments to the Jurisitic no money for building maintenance is available.. There are more than a few places like that. Looked great when they started... now a real dump.. Things can go down hill damn quick. But there are some projects that do get managed well. I think some of the View Talay buildings are decent and have been for a number of years.

So many of those condo projects that have gone up since about 2012 are like bee hives. Noisy, small living space. You get what you pay for. Arcadia and those projects in Jomtien beach behind second road.. Not very comfortable. I think Dusit and a couple other projects out there are no go's for me. It looks like the Chinese and Russians love those places but for me.. pass. IMHO, Jomtien 15 20 years ago before the Russians came was really great. Then all the condos built since then just made the place a cheap ghetto tourist destination. I doubt I'd go back and live there unless I found a really sweet property, away from all the noise with some space and privacy. But even then, the beach is way too crowded and I love to walk the beach at least 1 hour each day. Having to dodge all the people picnicking and hanging out is a chore.

My last hurah in Jomtien was during Covid. I found a top floor unit in a 36 floor building on second road. Jomtien was like a ghost town. When they closed the beach it was unbelievably cool again. Felt like I had the place to myself. In a few short weeks after the beach was closed... all the wildlife started returning. It was clean and the water even cleared up a bit. I was lucky to be there during that time. I stayed in Jomtien for pretty much the entire Pandemic. The place will never be like that again.. unless another pandemic hits I would think.

5 minutes ago, BritTim said:

99.99%. In the remaining 0.01% of cases, Immigration will phone you and indicate what you need to do to fix the problem.

cheers, thanks for taking the time to answer. Very much appreciated.

my documents were accepted and I was told to return in 2 weeks for the  "result".. what do you think my chances are of being issued the Visa stamp? when they accept the documents does that more or less mean that I'll be given the visa? I've always done these in Pattaya... there when they accept the documents they keep the passport and ask to return the next day with a stamp in your Visa. if the dragon Lady didn't get the docs she wanted you'd know about it before he even paid the visa fee..

I'm at CW now. I have a USD account  Bangkok bank. That account has the equivalent of more than 800k thb ..I was told I couldn't get a credit advice document unless I transfered my the money into a regular Thai baht savings account.. I'm going to wait and see if immigration will accept my Non O retirement application with the documents I did get from BKK bank.. anyone have experience using a dollar account for proof of funds? I really don't fancy exchanging all my dollars into baht.

1 hour ago, Shocked farang said:

I had the same feeling as I once stayed for about 2 weeks in a condominium in Jomtien that had mostly Russian families as customers. Many of them actually owned units there, I can say that I didn't have any issues with them, except that their English was almost non existent. 

I stayed in a Jomtien high rise for about a year during Covid. It was pretty much empty for most of my stay. Had the place mostly to myself. I left when the mostly Russian tenants started returning. The reason? They love to start cooking that fowl meat stew early in the morning and it stinks everywhere! I couldn't escape it. Apparently it has to be boiled for hours. This particular condo did not have proper isolation of it's venting system. It was unbelievable! LOL!!

The large beach going women are kind of a side show. Hands on your hips ladies!!!

1 hour ago, terryofcrete said:

Putin has been invited to visit Thailand , a wanted man in every country that is signed up to an international arrest warrant agreement . Do we need to even bother looking into the whys really ? The baht knows no morality, 

In this light, I highly suspect their are quite a few favors being exchanged concerning this and I would wager at high levels in the bureaucracy. Brown envelopes flying under desks at a high rate of speed.

6 minutes ago, Denim said:

Careful what you wish for . Things could quickly go pear shaped.

 

Ah, the memories of Jomtien Pattaya, I mean mammarys  .. down to the knees

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourism operators in Pattaya say they are concerned about the Thai government’s visa extension program for Russian tourists as they fear it could bring in an influx of illegal workers who might steal Thai people’s jobs. In contrast, operators in Phuket believe the program will contribute additional revenue to the country.

The Thai Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, on Monday approved for Russian tourists to stay up to 90 days, increased from 30 days, in Thailand on a visa-free program.

 

The new program, aiming to invigorate the number of Russian tourists during the high season, will start on November 1st, 2023, and end on April 30th, 2024.

 

In response to this development, tourism operators in Pattaya shared their concerns stating the program might lead to an uptick in illegal workers.

 

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, former president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council and group executive director of Sunshine Hotels and Resorts, expressed concern that the waiver could lead to an increase in illegal workers from Russia, which could potentially impact Thai tour guides.

 

He explained that since most Thai guides cannot speak Russian, there is a chance that some Russian individuals might exploit the visa-free program to come to Thailand in order to work illegally as guides or drivers in the tourism industry.

 

By Adam Judd

 

Full story: THE PHUKET EXPRESS 2023-10-18

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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This doesn't make sense. If Thailand wants to see some real tourist money give 90 days visa exempt for Scandianvians, Western Europeans, North Americans etc etc. Japananese, Koreans. ( I would not suggest Chinese but hey that's me) Do the Russians really have loads of cash? I mean look at it this way. There are loads of Russian and Eastern European call girls running around LOS. How many German or USA call girls are working Pattaya? 

Is there something a bit more sinister going on here? Dare I say some kind of payola going on? This idea doesn't make sense.. maybe unless someone was passed a brown envelope .. a REALLY big one

TIT ... This is Thailand.. trying to figure out why certain decisions are made is a fruitless effort.

On 10/16/2023 at 12:20 PM, webfact said:

 

 

 

 

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caption reading:

Look Mom, I was in Pattaya and all I got was punched in the face and a tour of the police station. I have pictures to prove it!

I think using the phrase "good samaritan" might be a bit of a rush to judgement. Lucky he didn't get stabbed. I don't think this young lad will be trying to stop anymore fights in Thailand.. unless he's really not done trying to impress his Thai girlfriend.

Meanwhile down the street ladyboy's are busy pick pocketing Indian tourists.

21 minutes ago, timoti said:

Hi,

 

If you have to do ablation procedure for afib which hospital would you recommend from the two? Or is there a better hospital to go in Thailand for this procedure?

 

 

Thanks a lot in advance.

moderators please move this to the appropriate forum. thank you, likerdup1

I would like to know exactly "HOW" they propose to get the money. Automatic deductions from Bank Accounts? This would really be a deal breaker depending on the "tax" hit. How much do the propose to take. If I make bank transfers / wire transfers and get taxed on the money I'm gonna seriously think about other countries.. This is just too over the top.. especially if the tax hit is significant.

8 minutes ago, BritTim said:

There is no requirement for a criminal records check when applying for a Non O visa (whatever the category).

Yea, I see it's required for the Non O-A applied for outside of Thailand.. thanks kindly for the confirmation.

On 10/13/2023 at 9:50 AM, Red Phoenix said:

Looks pretty complete to me, and you should have no problem when applying at CW for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement, with all the above. 

Success!

I was talking to another expat friend, she might confusing something but mentioned a criminal check? I don't see anything about this mentioned in the requirements. And nobody had mentioned it so far on this thread. Is  maybe this is only for Non OA? I think she is confusing the Non O-A with the Non O.. Non O-A looks to require it.. but just checking.. by now you guys now I'm ultra detail oriented about this stuff... I want to make one visit to CW for the Non O retirement

On 10/1/2023 at 8:38 PM, Andy F said:

Look, I don't want what you have, so I'm stepping off this conversation. ????

I have found it very important to understand that the 12 step program urges me to stop being concerned with what I want and more concerned with helping others and in doing so paralleling my will with Gods. God then gives me the grace of a daily reprieve from alcoholism. Spirituality.y the AA way is fundamentally manifesting selflessness in ones life to appease a Higher Powers help with alcoholism and help with living sober.  This is recovery from alcoholism the AA way. Study of he literature reveals this over and over, if one is open minded enough to indeed engage in careful study.

A famous AA circuit speaker likes to say this. It's not what I don't know that will hurt me. It is what I think I know for certain that just ain't so that will. It appears to me this may very well apply to staunch agnostics or atheists who feel the need to bend the AA program to suit them.

To do the second step as outlined in the chapter "We Agnostics"  laying aside prejudice toward spiritual concepts and the possible existence of God or a Higher Power is very important. This is more or less verbatim from the text.

Gang Hed, Som tom Thai pic si met also some ahah J Goyza from 7-11

Just now, Prubangboy said:

I was the day manager of a famous porno theatre in New York circa '76. Show World. Possibly worth a wiki.

 

Still a few hanging on in Japan. I saw a whole film about women in white panties sliding up and down banisters. If I saw a still-existent porn theatre, I might pop in for a half an hour to soak up the sleaze.

 

 

 

The Windmill club in Pattaya will blow your hair back... I've been in there twice and it was debauchery of the highest order. No need for video or cinema. Live and in your face..literally

12 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

I am not young anymore. I just turned 50. I am thinking about future and the problems Thailand will impose on me to be a "guest" in the country. One of my biggest concerns is the everscamming healthcare and I have the first hand account of Thai insurance being completely useless. I have almost 1 million (Canadian) bucks saved and me and wife are saving money every month. I just think Thailand is bad value for money, that is it.

 

And what benefits will the useless "Elite" visa give me? Still 90 day reports, still annual visa renewals, still reporting every time I stay in the hotel? Are you kidding me with this advice?

I am convinced now you're really making mountains out of mole hills here. With your current savings and gainful employment you've got very little to worry about as long as your assets are properly invested. Live where you want and are comfortable. I'm in Thailand for the time being but hey, if it gets uncomfortable or not feasible at some point I'll go elsewhere or back to the USA.

The bet thing I ever did for myself was buy a house in the US and start a proper brokerage investment portfolio about 15  years ago. I'm 61 and have enough to keep me going until I"m dead. Especially if I stay in Thailand where my monthly expenses are about 50% of what they'd be in the USA. BTW I'm single with no kids so that keeps the overhead low too.

27 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

I am not going home because I need money at this moment in time. I have quite a bit of money saved and my wife has a very good job in Thailand including a house and a car and zero loans. I am leaving because of the points I outlined in my original post.

So you leaving because you think Immigration rules are now too strict and hard on young people? Meanwhile you are saying you have "quite a bit" of money? So, let me understand, you are all set financially and the only reason you are leaving is because Immigration is a bit more difficult to navigate? Elite Visa is an option for guys like you with "quite a bit of money"