hotandsticky

A friend is planning for his daughters to visit relatives in the UK next year. They will be 17 and 14 at the time of travel.

I understand that an airline MAY require a parental letter of consent, but are there any other considerations from Immigration, for example.

I also imagine that they will exit/enter Thailand on their Thai passports and enter/exit the UK on their British passports.

12 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

So you have to take your eyes off the road to look at a tv screen in order to drive safely? Hmm.........

So, you never look in your rear view mirror? Side mirrors?

14 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

I would not be too worried about most of that list.  My bigger concern is that Thailand will continue to become increasingly chummy with the USA, because Thailand's leadership is weak on independent thinking and could end up becoming essentially a vassal state of America.  If so, it's Big Brother overlording us all for sure.

 

I see Thaksin as being perhaps the most misrepresented and maligned Thai politician of all time.  Yingluk was not far behind.  Her brother, though, was more capable, and the Thai economy flourished during his time in office.  That is a matter of record that even Thaksin's opponents will generally admit.  He was an excellent businessman, and it was precisely because of his popularity and success that he was forced out--too intimidating for certain others.  Thailand has a track record of this, known to anyone who has studied Thai history: political prisoners have been common. 

 

Someday the truth will come out, but I doubt Thaksin will live to see that day.  I just hope he is soon allowed to return, without being troubled, to his beloved homeland.

He was free to come back and serve his 2 years.

4 hours ago, sandyf said:

It is not the moving on but the moving away that would be the concern.

Ah, yes. I understand.

Several friends are in a similar situation.

If my partner passed before me, I would not want to live in what was 'our' house.

33 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I'm not saying Thaksin is my hero, perish the thought. I'm recounting what northern Thais have told me.

I can certainly understand that, the whole area being a Thaksin stronghold.

It doesn’t matter what I think, I am a Farang - but I think many Thais see Thaksin as a God/saviour and overlook his corruption etc because they felt he did good for them……phone boxes in every village, the 30 Baht health scheme (Abhisit later abolishing the 30 Baht because it cost more to administer than collect), mobile phone inducements, war on drugs.

He was a good salesman. 

26 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

 

Tell me, when the red shirts and yellow shirts were going at each other, how did it personally affect you? Didn't make a jot or tittle of difference to me.

It gave me an extra 7 days holiday, paid for by the Thai government.

Sometimes the choice has to be the best of two evils. You need to take off your rose-tinted glasses where Thaksin is concerned.

Look what happened when that nice man Khun Abhisit was put in charge.

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

Please explain.

If you need it explaining to you, you will never understand it.

24 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I think anything is better than illiterate soldiers running the country the way things are now.

Unfortunately not, as the evidence shows.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I would say entirely the opposite,

It's those without wit that need to spend a lot of money to keep themselves occupied.

I'm happy enough sitting around reading a book, listening to music with a beer in my hand.

The books and music are all free (thanks internet), and I can't manage more than 3 beers in a day.

You only post nonsense ????…..and spoken like one who has lived on a small budget!

I certainly agree that wit is a great advantage when making best use of time when funds are limited; I, and several friend, have done just that.

However, that same wit can/should be used in the event of a windfall/improved circumstances to enhance the quality of life further.

When you refer to those who ‘need’ to spend money to keep occupied, you are talking about the witless……… don’t confuse the two. 

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The title of this thread is: "What are your greatest concerns living in Thailand over the next years?"

And I answered that question.

And, believe it or not, this is really my greatest concern. Because he divided Thailand like nobody else. And when he was outside of Thailand his sister did his work - dividing the nation.

So we can guess what might happen if next maybe his daughter becomes PM. Would she reunite Thailand? Or would she more likely (try) to bring her criminal father back to Thailand, and without him going to jail. And if he would return and if he would not go to jail for all the crimes he committed, what would happen then? More political protests. And likely more opposite protests. More of yellow against red, or maybe different colors this time. And maybe more fires and looting and dead people on the streets. Unfortunately, such a scenario is not such a remote possibility. I would guess there is at least a 20% chance that it could happen.

Am I concerned about that? Yes. That's why I mentioned the criminal fugitive and the risk.

And even people who support him should realize that he is like a powder-keg. Ready to blow up and destroy half the country at the same time.

Your concerns are not unfounded.

Thaksin had/(has?) a great ability to manipulate Thailand’s gullible citizens, whilst raping the country’s finances for the benefit himself and his family.

I saw him at a rally in Siem Reap and there is no doubt that he is a good orator. Whilst the claimed attendance of 20,000 was nearer to 7,000 they were nonetheless roused by his passionate speech. 
 

Personally, I think (and hope) that his time has gone. However, many people in authority are still on his payroll. The much feared return after the death of Rama 1X never looked like happening and I can’t see a pitchfork revolution happening now. 
 

Whilst I am no fan of the Junta they do seem to have provided stability and the red vs yellow shirt battles are a distant memory. 

Slightly off topic but I noticed in Spain this year that smoking is no longer allowed on many outside terraces. Specific smoking areas are provided but no longer the free for all open on one side smoke fest in Thailand.

Maybe in 10 years Thailand will have followed the Spanish.

5 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

Fit airbags to the motorbike ?

That was Plan B……

24 minutes ago, sandyf said:

That my wife dies before I do.

Whilst devastating, I would hate to be so dependent on one person that I couldn’t move on in the event of their demise.

3 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

My no. 1 - Getting flattened on these roads on my motorbike by some slovenly idiot. Evasive action on a daily basis ...up to about 5 times per day to avoid crashes.

There is a very simple solution to that if you are genuinely fearful for your life. 

10 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Currency exchange rate is my greatest cause for concern. My income is 100% in GBP and has reduced by around 40% since I moved here.

 

Luckily I have a decent occupational pension plus (recently) a UK state pension, so I'm still doing okay.

 

I regret not buying a few cheap condos here when I had the opportunity. That could have given me a rental income in THB - protected from the dwindling exchange rate.

 

 

Interesting perspective on ‘dwindling’ exchange rates.

Before you arrived I think they were around the 30 mark. Too many people set their benchmark when rates were around 70 with little consideration that the 1997-2007 highs were not ‘normal’.

71, on my first visit, 63 when I paid for some land then 55 a year later when I moved permanently to Thailand. I calculated longer term budgets @GBP/THB 50…………I would be happy to see that rate again.

10 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Never heard of an office NOT checking.

Aso pretty meticulous about it. 

 

Buriram, Surin, Khon Kaen (plus several others) do NOT do a check at 3 months after your application.

Jomtien, for example, do.

Just now, hoopmonk said:

GoFundMe page coming...

Wrong!

Read the article!

2 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

I dont eat plastic food. Happy to fast. Food is overpriced for such junk. 

Good for you, but Irrelevant.

Services were not provided 

1 minute ago, Sparktrader said:

Flown Scoot twice, service was good, good planes. Better than Air Asia.

 

Their website is the best place to book.

I flew SCOOT premium economy on price.

I won't be flying with them again........certainly not long-haul. Budget does not work for long haul. 

Whilst the cabin crew were good - which prat thought up the name Scooties!; SCOOT  managed to screw up my food order both ways and the internet did not work. 

1 minute ago, NorthernRyland said:

That website said they will conduct random checks in Thailand but maybe that's not true.

 

What COVID "records"? were they looking for. It sounds like Japan is the problem here and not even Thailand!

My flight from Pnohm Penh was checked in July, my flight from Siem Reap in August - luck of the draw.   (both flights into Cambodia were fully checked).

The check is for evidence of vaccination. Two shots is deemed to be sufficient and paper or digital evidence is acceptable.