gk10012001

haha. I cut my teeth on WordPerfect decades ago. Didn't realize it was still around

Yes. I too have used that for a long time now. So far it has been totally compatible with WORD and EXCEL documents both that I generate or that I get from real Office Applications. I still use hotmail.com for my email, and that does not require OFFICE 365 or whatever. Of course one can use all sorts of other email domains such as gmail, yahoo, etc..

If you travel or are already traveling how can you get an email and print it out? How quickly is the email sent after you submit the form using the website? Even if I bring my smartphone, I will NOT have service inside BKK unless or until I buy some new SIM card, or buy some travel connection plan

It did not appear to me that the departure was optional.

Some people actually do work remotely and profitably. Some proof read periodicals as referees or reviewers. Some submit articles for publication in various journals. I exclude the so called influencers as I think that is so presumptious and I look at none of them, but they may count. Some do online teaching of various subjects or even tutor. I myself have multiple technical degrees, BS engineering and MS in Math and when I stop my contracting work I can see me doing about 10 hours of tutoring every week to keep my mind active, make a little extra money, etc. I go by the book with the IRA (USA Citizen). I loath the attempt by Thailand to make visitors of over 180 taxable residents and that guarantees I will not stay that long in country in any given year.

he wasn't asking about how to decrypt an encrypted passport number. He was asking if anybody had figured out which passport number to use as he had multiple things changing

I took a look at the website. It does ask for more information than the old TM paper form did. It now asks for state/city of home. One's passport does NOT include that information and where one lives in their home country, assuming one has a current regular address is really no business of others It asks for phone number. That will not work very well because I get a Thai SIM card and cheap phone when I land in thailand and that will not be known in advance. Another issues is it asks for departure flight information. I typically arrive on an open ended booking on EVA. I guess I could make up some departure information but I prefer to list actual information, but the online form doesn't give that option. And now the mechanics as others have mentioned. I do NOT use my smart phone for literally anything. I never upload any QR thingy because one does not know what that actually contains. The site does allow for printing out the form, supposedly, but that is not always easy to do unless one has a printer at home. One could be traveling, one could be in a foreign country, or any number of other situations where getting to a printer is not trivial or convenient.

I did songkran in Pattaya once back in 2005. It was my third trip to the country since 2004. I found it very unpleasant. Sure an afternoon or a day or two frolicking around in a bathing suit and playing with water is kind of fun, but not for a week. I like to walk around, go out to eat, ride the baht bus around town, go shopping etc. Absolutely a royal pain getting soaked all the time going out. I had no desire to splash water and stand among crowds for 5 or 6 days straight! One thing I noticed, and this is probably a good thing is the way many Thais literally attacked foreigners with water. I think they were venting or releasing some anger. Its probably ok they do that with water than with other ways. No doubt some Thais resent many foreigners, especially ones that brag about their status, or laugh or make fun of some Thai things which of course is horrible to do.

The blurb about inexpensive health insurance is very misleading if not wrong, especially for seniors and older folks. If one ever wants to use medicare back in the USA then you must sign up and pay for Part B when eligible, i.e. age 65 or when you left other qualifying insurance, say from your employer. If you do not start Part B you get charged a 10% penalty every year you do not sign up for Part B so if you ever went back to the USA for Medicare, your premiums would be very high. Basic Part B right now if one makes less than ~ $100,000 USD Modified Adjusted Gross Income a year is $185/month. Suggest that anybody eligible should bite the bullet and pay it, even though it is not usable overseas (with a very few exceptions). In case you ever might return to the USA for health care, consider it insurance you pay along the way that you don't use until you need it Insurance costs in Thailand for senior expats is NOT cheap. And in some cases the plan choices are very limited or not even available. I am a Florida resident and have been to Thailand many times and do plan to semi retire if not fully retire very soon. I am 68. But the recent Tax law issues with staying in country more than 180 days in a calendar year are very concerning.

Years ago, Jomtien down the coast a ways was OK for swimming. Like 2004. I mention 2004 because that was my second trip to Pattaya and we and my friends ended up going to Ko Samet and were there during the tsunami. We had reservations for phuket but for some reason my buddy changed us to Ko Samet. Saved my life as I guarantee I would have been swimming in the morning before the sun gets too hot and I would have been in the water when the Tsunami came. I was aware of tsunamis and there is a good chance I would have made it to high ground in Patong , but you never know

So if they teach for a year, they are then eligible for insurance the rest of their life while living in Thailand? Do they have to stay in Thailand for any special number of months each year after they stop teaching? Can they go back to their home country ad then just fly back to Thailand . say on a visa exempt and get any treatment they want ? Sounds a bit too good to be true.

An interesting plan. Not sure that selling out will benefit you in the long run though. Rents do increase, properties get sold out, you have to move, etc. None of those things are easy to handle the older one gets

They get it for life? I assume you mean as long as they keep teaching? Also, how good and comprehensive is the insurance? I imagine it covers most routine things, some broken bones etc. I would be skeptical if it covers really major surgeries, or has no total cost limits.

Some or many do live on that. But many things are left out. The younger people have no health insurance but many of them still are under the wings of their parents back in their home country. The older ones have no health insurance and are just rolling the dice because they have no choice.

I do, yet don't get it. Four years ago I bought my first smart phone. Yes, a late comer. A moto G7 Power. Long lasting battery, plenty of memory. Has a very large screen. Android apps abound and the few I use do everything I need. Cost was 250. In another year I may replace it with a 5G capable phone, depending on how long they keep 4 G around. The only reason I replaced my previous phone was because they phased out 3 G. And before that, the only reason I replaced my ericcson voice and text phone was because they stopped 2G. The prices I see people paying for Iphones just, well just is not something I would ever do.

Well, being an American in Pattaya will not have any special impact, unless some people there decide to be nasty to the average American that has nothing to do with Trump or his administration. Prices will be about the same as before. The Thai Baht to US dollar ratio may be slightly improving which may help Americans traveling to thailand

All the way back to 2012? My first trip was there in 2004. I thought the entire city was great and just the right size for me. I can't think of any changes since then that I care for. The hatchet chop job on all the trees along beach road is just sinful. remember there used to be a few metal benches one could stop and sit on. There were flower beds. There was the wrap around walkway at the north end of the beach you could walk to Naklua. Never mind the shops that used to burn CDs from your digital camera. I am not getting into the technological changes over the years. But way too much internet has not helped.

Oh and I drove through Palm Beaches Florida today on my way back from Seminole and Hard Rock casinos further South. Apparently Trump has been playing golf regularly during this term.

If you older folks remember the Jimmy Carter administration, one of his speeches was telling Americans something similar.. Like tough it out or something like that. July 15, 1979 Malaise speech. Carter made several specific policy prescriptions. But in a presidency animated by spirituality perhaps more than any other in American history, this speech called more generally for national self-sacrifice and humility.

If they keep the current 60 day visa exempt on arrival and the ability to extend for an additional 30 days, then I am going there very soon. Just wrapping up one of my final engineering contracts. My first visit was in 2004 and I have been 15 times. Last trip was 2019 just before COVID. So many changes in Thailand and Pattaya but most are not a big factor for me. My needs are modest. I enjoy some nightlife, the variety of food, just wandering around Pattaya getting daily exercise, swimming in a decent hotel pool, doing some in country travel to Ao Nang or even Karon Beach in Phuker for a while, etc.

So are saying the converse: Incomplete research in the best of cases, Advising and recommending even mandating an entire technology"

Oh I much prefer to eat Thai instead of Filipino. Much better flavor

Well I think it is stupid. I am semi retiring this year and was definitely planning on heading to Thailand for my 16th trip. A nice long 89 day vacation was my plan starting in October. 60 days on arrival, then a 30 day extension. Easy peasy which is why I first went to thailand so many years ago. Visa exempt on arrival worked great for me as it was very difficult to plan my trips in advance and get visas in advance given the nature of my contract jobs which sometime start and stop unexpectedly

I watched the movie "Ronald Reagan" last weekend on my plane flight. Being of age I joined the US Air Force during the Reagan era and also lived in California so I kind of liked the movie for some of its early history. I didn't think it was a particularly good movie, but I mention it here because Reagan was so convinced he and the USA with his policies could break the soviet union. Did he succeed? Well during his time in office, there were obviously many things that changed. The USA debt did tripe during his presidency. Yes the Soviet Union broke up, more or less. In the movie Reagan said the USA has deeper pockets than the soviets... Well, maybe true but was it worth tripling the USA debt?

I have not been in country since COVID but on all my many previous trips I always stopped into that bar that is on the right just as you walk on to walking street. That bar always had an Issan band playing there. I like that music.