Tomtomtom69

Well, there's a surprise...what makes them think they can ban locals from entering "their" premises as guests in a foreign land? Then they're surprised when the local community rises up against them.

Who says you need USD? USD isn't used in Thailand. Depending on where you are coming from, bring that currency, if it is a MAJOR currency. Nearly all major currencies can be exchanged in Thailand. The only ones that are becoming a little more difficult because those countries are essentially cashless now, are Swedish, Danish and Norwegian Kronor. If you're coming from those countries, bring Euros or Swiss Francs instead.

$1000 equivalent in either USD, EUR, AUD or another major currency works well. Good advice.

Except at the Ranong border, where you will be asked but might be able to talk your way out of it. It's a corrupt border down there.

YES, absolutely. The Centara Hotel on the mainland has been closed since December 8th (Monday) and while it is obviously much closer to the border than Koh Chang and Koh Kood are, both are accessible only by passing through areas relatively close to the border in Chanthaburi and mainland Trat. Many people are worried, also because both islands are well within the 50km aerial radius of the border, especially Koh Kood.

Nearly 3 weeks ago, my friend came to Thailand from Cambodia, essentially in transit to Australia (he had to change airports though). He told me that Cambodians were nearly left in tears because they were treated very harshly by Thai immigration, even those who were essentially transiting to other countries. So it's definitely happening in both directions.

Thailand needs more Thai pilots. Foreigners might be able to fill the gap in the meantime, but ultimately, Thailand needs to train more local pilots, who will eventually takeover from the foreign ones in the future.

Thailand, being a developing country largely skipped a lot of things we do/did in the west: Internet banking was never really big here...most Thais don't own computers or laptops (they can't afford them), so when smartphones came out, mobile banking became popular to the point that many banks, including SCB, have now scrapped internet banking. Their mobile banking apps quickly became more sophisticated than their internet banking portals, and since very few people used internet banking (mostly just farang I guess) it was eliminated over a year ago without any fanfare and other banks have since done the same. Due to low incomes / difficulty in accessing credit, credit cards never became very popular in Thailand. The urban middle and upper classes nowadays tend to have one, but probably no more than 15-20% of the entire Thai population has access to a credit card and most establishments that accept them, are corporate owned. Very, very few non-corporate owned businesses accept credit cards in Thailand, hence why someone who's trying to charge their way through the country will, at best, be able to use their card at fewer than 50% of establishments and barely any in remote and rural areas, except for 711s and gas/petrol stations (and then not everywhere either). Credit cards are more widely accepted than 20 years ago for sure, but it's a far, far cry from the west or even Malaysia, where at least in peninsular Malaysia, cards are very widely accepted. Instead, QR codes are all the rage here and have become so popular that there are now a small, but increasing number of QR code only businesses, which accept neither cash nor cards. So far, these seem to be limited to small tea shops selling Taiwanese style bubble tea and similar, but over time, expect Thailand to follow China and accept only QR codes at many businesses. Checks (cheques) - were never a thing here. Account transfers, now via QR code, quickly replaced them. Deposit ATM machines and ATMs which offer the possibility to transfer money, top up your phone balance and even pay bills all became popular before mobile banking and now work in tandem; most people thus use one or the other, although increasingly, it's just phone banking apps nowadays as nearly everyone with a bank account will have one and also, many ATMs have been removed in recent years.

Didn't Cambodia extend a 60 day visa waiver to Thais back in June or July (strange timing, but that's what I heard)? Sounds like they didn't, as you are saying they could offer the 14 day visa waiver.

Rates are usually fine but ATM fees are high, that's the way it is in most countries in the region these days.

Surprised they ever hired white people. He's the first white person I've heard of who ended up in one of these scam centers. He must have distracted all the Asians and Africans, who would have probably said "hello" to him and snickered all day long.

It WILL be implemented by January 1, 2026 when it will be mandatory for everyone. It's currently being used on a trial basis.

You ONLY clear immigration at the arrival airport if your flight has arrived from abroad. If you're on a CONNECTING flight, you clear immigration in Bangkok.

You clear immigration in transit. I did that once on my way to Chiang Mai.

Ok let's see how well you do trying to cross the border. Why don't you test your theory?

Correct. That's what this is all about. It might sound crazy but it could very well be that the borders will never reopen. Thais certainly don't want them to and most Cambodians don't either. I am wondering whether this is a prelude to some larger conflict. Already Poland seems to be getting ready for confrontation with Russia and so are other European nations. The borders between Russia and the EU have been completely closed, save for one lone crossing between Norway and Russia, since 2022 and show no signs of re-opening. Regarding Thailand-Cambodia, eventually they will establish a no human habitation zone along both sides of the border. War or fear of war is a good way of getting people to leave voluntarily. I can foresee a new forest being established along the Thai-Cambodian frontier, the whole way from the Lao border down to Aranyaprathet, that being the only border town that will remain on the actual border.

Just the other day, at a u-turn bay on Rama 9 road prior to the start of the Bangkok-Chonburi motorway, a car blocks the u-turn bay, realizing that they want to go straight instead. This sets off multiple loud horn blasts from several vehicles behind the driver. Those going straight don't want to This kind of reaction is becoming more common now in Thailand, especially in Bangkok. Years ago, such actions would not have led to any horn honking at all.

I was driving a Lao plated car near Phitsanulok a little over 10 years ago. At the time of this incident, my friend was in the driver's seat, though I was driving the other 90% of the time. Local woman was driving behind, her husband in the passenger seat. Both were employees at Bangkok Hospital, Phitsanulok. They rear-ended us at a traffic light. Back then, this section of highway, coming down from the mountains to Phitsanulok, had only one lane in each direction. She caused very little damage to my bumper, only a few scratches, although her hood (bonnet) was badly damaged. Her husband gave me 1000 Baht on the spot without asking and we went our separate ways. I wanted more since the repairs would cost 2000 and this being a Lao rental car, I didn't want to get blamed by the rental company. Anyway, in the end, the matter was finalized after I got a local bodyshop to paint over the scratches, which they did for 2000 Baht. For such a small ordeal, I shouldn't have panicked and been a bit more upfront with the rental company, to be honest.

I hate that, but unless it looks like someone is about to crash into you, the only thing you should do is try to make it clear you won't be yielding to him. You can do that simply by driving past him quickly to make sure you don't get stuck at the lights.

That incident was in the news but the elderly foreigner was aggressive, hence the response. Now I don't condone what happened to him...I'm just not surprised that's all.

Yes, true. No need to do that - use more as a warning to others. If someone cuts you off, honk your horn as a warning, but then let it go.

Yes and that is generally what Thais do. A vehicle blocking traffic is a legitimate reason to honk your horn at it, which I believe is covered under section 14 of the traffic code.

Oh yes road rage never gets deadly in the US or Australia....

Depends entirely on the underlying circumstances, how you honk and to whom. Are you dealing with a poorly educated rice farmer or delivery driver or a wealthy BMW driver of ethnic Chinese stock? They'll react differently. Dare I say the former will react more like an animal whereas the latter is more likely to apply common sense.

Nonsense. It depends on HOW he honked. Thais honk all the time, just that generally they don't do so in an aggressive fashion. I believe he honked in a prolonged and aggressive manner, which is why he was pulled over by the other driver.