55Jay

25 minutes ago, Dolmance said:

Maybe certain people, possibly a majority, are genetically programmed to believe in a higher being, of which I am one.

It's programming alright, but not genetic. More accurately, post-birth conditioning and indoctrination.  Quite often at the hands of the people we, as small children, a captive audience, must rely upon for our basic needs.

There are other paths to religion beyond feeling inadequate or unfullfilled, such as fitting in to a social group.  Shotgun coversion in order to marry a finance and be accepted by his/her family.  Traumatic events.  Drug/alcohol/sexual orientation recoveries.  Incarcerated prisoners - another captive audience.  Calamities in 3rd world countries can be a conversion windfall.

The common thread, and cautionary tale, is these folks are exploitable in some way.  Kids don't have a choice.  In later life, it's the ones at rock bottom in some way, emotional strife, who are most vulnerable to offers without full disclosure.   Ironic that it can wind up feeling like you dun a deal with the devil.  Tough divorce procedures for some, can get nasty.

Genetic?  Naw.  All in your head.  Literally.  Sadly, foolish western society, USA and christianity in particular, still has its arm twisted into equating "Being Religious" with "Being a Good Person". 

The primary reason I am "stuck" here is my own apathy.   I know I should get off my a** as the gap in my CV only gets bigger, obviously.  Whatever network I had before is dead, folks move on, haven't kept in touch.  Coasting along in Thailand has been far too easy.

7 hours ago, hkt83100 said:

Exactly what I was told on the same occasion in Nakhon Ratchasima. "Only when leaving the country."

Was that the girls in the 90-day report office, or the staff assigned to the two TM30 desks inside the main office?  I can only presume those 2 desks are still there, they were middle of last month.

23 hours ago, Snackbar said:

Has always been and will always be hurdles to jump through. Same in every country.

 

Observe the dress code and cultural nuances and they’ll leave you in peace.

 

BTW, Paying tea money is a criminal offense.

It's like you just beamed down from another planet, clueless about recent events here on Earth.

23 hours ago, ballpoint said:

A good piece of advice is never go sticking your nose in the hired help.  No matter what she's worth.

UJ probably didn't see this one yet. 

Sure he'll be weighing in soon. ????

That was my first thought looking at OP.  

Never considered the TM28 requirement to be unreasonable, but the 24 hour leash was unrealsitic and over-controlling.  Most folks are busy unpacking boxes and getting utilities organized after a house move.  Those with jobs are still going to work in and among all that.  But sure, you need to notify relevant government agencies that you've moved..... same in my country. 

I think doing away with this might be tossing a bone to the dogs, while the TM30 remains the elephant in the room.  Or, one of a few things they've worked out and this was just the first........ we'll see. 

Visa Forex looked good enough for me this month so I put this, and Transferwise, on the shelf and did a 30k pull at Krungsi ATM, then dropped it in the BKK Bank ADM next door.  Trip down memory lane from the good old Aeon days.    

Yup, you'll likely get it eventually.  At least it's only 800 Baht but I know, it's the feeling of falling into a black hole.   Similar to the on-line "Pay and Pray" ordering things through Facebook sellers and the like.  I just got done, thankfully only 500 Baht.    Payment on delivery is preferred if possible.

Just now, sunnyboy2018 said:

If the number calling you is not in your contact list then it is usually blocked as potential spam.

Not for the robo-calls I've gotten here. 

More clever in the US, the boiler-rooms do ping calls to see when it is answered, and build a profile for their algorithms. 

16 hours ago, Matzzon said:

Wow, another grown up post. Old one, and have been repeated too much already. Try something new.

If the ironic hypocrisy shoe fits....

You simply can't wrap your head around things that haven't impacted YOU yet.  Because you're a self-absorbed t**t lacking mental elasticity, and empathy.  

Soon as something DOES affect you, you'll be here, registering your outrage, and then get your panties in a twist when you are told it's no big deal, and to suck it up.  Carry on Mr. Wanna Be Moderator.  Next.

Sounds a little off to me.  But don't underestimate it because it was a female I/O.

The one I had 2 weeks ago was right uppity about a very small administrative issue with me, clearly primed and ready to chop my head off with her ninja sword if I ruffled my feathers at her.  

They've been on a roll for nearly 2 years now, going toe to toe with chancers who've been running roughshod for years, and even having a go with a few major foreign embassies.   Immigration has regained the initiative and are feeling their oats.

3 possible scenarios. 

It could be you, approaching all as if they are dumb monkeys, over-explaining simple s**t in your version of pidgen English.  They had you at Hello but you're still babbling, so they ignore you and hope your wife will be more succinct.

Or, they don't speak a lick of English, so the sounds coming out of your mouth sound like the noise you hear coming out of theirs.  But you insist, cause you're a grown man, certainly you can manage shopping for a 7mm screw on your own.  "U Hab Sah-Ka-Roo, 7 Emm Emm Sah-Ka-Roo, peas, you hab?", as their eyes glaze over and they look to your wife for mercy.

Or they are just rude kants, same as you might have back in your country.  Nothing to do with language or Thailand. 

1 hour ago, Huayrat said:

Just get your Girlfriend to check in and sit and have a coffe in the lobby and follow her upstairs after she has the key. 

Yeah, what a life for a man's man, eh? 

Not only an irrelevant minority, no voice, fewer rights to pretty basic s**t, kept in perpetual limbo, having to report our intention to leave the country, when and where we're going, and when we expect to be back, to preserve a delicate immigration status.

And now we've got a new tether, like a dog in a virtual fenced yard that escapes, and the Thais are obliged to report us running around the moo baan - He's here, no, now he's over there, now he's back. I mean really, are we slipping down the slope so that the once unreal sounding proposition of microchip implants, starts to sound appealing? 

But for now, keep yer heads down and stay off the radar even more by avoiding using your name to check in to a bloody hotel.  Pretty soon we'll be The Invisible Man, with a single red button on our chests.  "Push here for cash". 

These babbling dinosaurs down at the Immigration Politburo, a few Leos together after work, might be aware of our little hotel "loop hole", and are letting it go for now, rather enjoying the imagry of the once great ones reduced to hiding in cars and lobbies like a Gik at the boom boom resort.   An amusing state of affairs in the slightly paranoid and kooky Enchanted Kingdom.

14 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

The Daily VDO rext messages are something you get for you, your wife or your kids registered or downloaded something from Internet, sometimes Youtube and it´s Google that gives them the info, or Facebook. Probably registered the phone number somewhere and maybe even saved it for easy fill in forms in computer too.

Thanks for the explanation, but that wasn't the point. 

The point is you don't seem to know either, yet you want to downplay and dismiss someone who's asking a vaild question, because you're worn out and weary about internet whingers. 

Why continue to smash yourself over the head?  Don't click.  Don't weigh in. Save yourself from yourself.

2 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

Why not ask the <deleted> farang yourself.....he’s in front of you!

Yup. True story though.  I slumped further in my chair, all I could see was the top of her head and eyes peering over her computer monitor at me.  It was funny and annoying at the same time.  Bit like Thailand overall.

On 8/26/2019 at 3:11 PM, csmith said:

Today at Chiangmai Immigration … on the 3rd Floor where TM30 are done … I saw the following notice … which seems to indicate you can get TM30 done at weekends and holidays … at least in CM

 

 

The optics of this simple sign taped to a wall captures the essence, don't it.

On a positive note, at least they put up a sign.  With actual tape, not Nok's chewed bubblegum.  ????

15 minutes ago, 10years said:

Seems to me that the question is can a non-thai, non-husband visitor get in the Thai line with any Thai woman?

 

If so, a strategy to avoid long lines is to ask a Thai lady if you can join her.

With the amusing idea that TI keeps tabs on the trending discussions on TVF, FB, etc., if they get wind of a creeping exploit in weak policy enforcement, and we chuckle on-line about getting one over on them, they might bring the hammer down for a while, just to keep the cheeky farangs in their place. ????

Some years ago, in the Thai line at Swampy with the Mrs., noticed one of the minders looking over at me.  Oh gawd, here he comes...... pointed to the blue PP in my hand and asked to see it, which was amusing but I appreciated the effort to avoid the appearance of the obvious assumption.  Sure enough, he escorted me to the nearest Foreigner line.  Wife began to protest, I just waved it off, see you on the other side in baggage claim, no big deal. 

I figured somebody in TI at Swampy had a weed up their nose about it.  The guy was "right", no point in arguing, and ironic (and fortunate) that the foreign line he desposited me in, wasn't that much longer than the one I had been in. 

Hadn't happened before, or since, just that one time.

Nice thread, following.

Some cool stuff on Expat Car Club (FB) for classics spotted around the country, project cars, motor head discussion, etc.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/896773410671489/