Mudcrab

Not into this fitness thing but I downloaded the Pacer app to my phone for free.

Is it deadly accurate? No idea.

I try and do 10,000 steps every day so I guess it has motivated me a little. I've been in working in a country next door to Thailand for six months and have lost nearly 20kg - down from 113kg when I first got here.

I have to walk everywhere here as the company won't allow us to drive as a matter of policy.

The change of diet probably helps as well.

Had a trip back home for a week recently and checked with my doctor. Cholesterol down to normal levels after having been elevated for 15 years (I ran out of the cholesterol medicine months ago so haven't been taking it). Blood pressure down as well.

I'm averaging about 5 km's a day.....pretty sad for all you fitness freaks...but hey it's working for me with very little effort or commitment.

Should have done it years ago.

When there's nothing in their heads to express or discuss, and nothing in the world that interests them other than themselves. Those are the kinds of people posting selfies everyday on Facebook.

Simple minds are easily entertained.

And some post on TVF

in uk and france they read books, maybe it helps being less stupid than in Asia ?

Taking your comment to its conclusion it means that probably 90% of the world are stupid which when thinking about it would account for a lot

When you're in the top 0.5% like me, 99.5% of the world look a bit simple.

Selfies and reading are no indication of IQ.

Being able to discuss Dark Matter, MOND (Modified Newtonian Dynamics) and GIA (Glacial Isostatic Adjustment) are much better indicators.

Narcissism, Self Obsession and Selfies..........you scored two out of three - well done!

Give it a try. It's fun.

Yes, and some of the whining old gits on here forget that even some of the old cameras used in the days of black and white photos had a timer that could be set to allow the person to move in front of the camera to take a 'selfie'.

Lets face it, it isn't the selfie phenomenon they don't like - it's anything at all that is outside their sphere of experience - Facebook being a prime example.

in uk and france they read books, maybe it helps being less stupid than in Asia ?

Taking your comment to its conclusion it means that probably 90% of the world are stupid which when thinking about it would account for a lot

When you're in the top 0.5% like me, 99.5% of the world look a bit simple.

Selfies and reading are no indication of IQ.

Being able to discuss Dark Matter, MOND (Modified Newtonian Dynamics) and GIA (Glacial Isostatic Adjustment) are much better indicators.

So Dark Energy is beyond you then?

Stick to stealing ladies phones and looking at their photos.....your postings impress nobody. You couldn't handle Thailand and now poor old Shepherds Bush has you all to themselves.

How would one explain to Thai immigration when renewing the retirement extension, etc?

Ah haarr shipmates, shiver me timbers, I come ere to renew me retirement extension. Or a short, hello sailor may suffice.

I will explain nothing, I will just show my Elite card. I do not speak to officials anywhere, they are not my friend, they are here to do the job they are paid for.

Oh dear, another arrogant tough guy full of himself.

You are in for a rude awakening old mate.

Did the Chinese administration hole punch your ears before they accepted the application?

I'll be there next week for my first visit. Hoping it turns into an alternative to living in Thailand, although maybe not HCMC.

HCMC is going all out to improve everything, including the beautiful traffic-free squares, tree-lined streets, canal cleanups and dredging, canal boat tours and simultaneous building of at least 2 rail transit routes (a third is nearing approval) in a 6-line system, bypass expressways, the list goes on and on. In 5-10 years I think HCMC will surpass ugly, mall-obsessed Bangkok, which is destroying many of the things that made it attractive to tourists and expats including most of the night markets and street markets.

The big problem is visas. It's a piecemeal system, and you have to deal with back-door, expensive services for anything more than 3 months -- unless you have a job offer then the visa and work permit are handled by the employer. And there's no such thing as a retirement visa there.

Seems they are learning by other countries mistakes.

If they cut down on the riff raff.......you might not be there....

From what I understand a foreigner having a sexual relationship with a Lao national...let alone having a child is very much frowned upon by the Laos Government.

Tread carefully with this one if your "associate" intends returning to Laos to formalise anything.

Do it all out country if that is possible.

Don't forget to report being out of province for 24 hours as well.

Just trying to be helpful.

The fact that Thailand doesn't have a visa for job hunting tells us everything.

The fact that you don't need a specific visa for job hunting in Thailand is more telling. It's also in line with most other countries requirments.

What?! They ALL must hate us, no?

There is a list of specific reasons for issuing a visa and 'job hunting' isn't included. That tells me that they don't want people coming here looking for work.

Hard to imagine any country welcoming the unemployed and potentially unemployable

If the snake is near or in your house, get somebody to watch it if it tries to move and phone the local snake catchers in your area. In Phuket their number is 076 621 339. I have used them on three occasions and they do a good job of removing the snake and letting it go far away in the jungle. Try not to kill it, this just invites more snakes to arrive for the funeral.

Or lunch around these parts

If you get one of those online visas (easy), Burma is also an option. Went there this past October and they inserted only a small in/out stamps next to each other....same size as the in/out stamps here in Thailand. Didn't even cover half a passport page. Now, whether you need (or have room for) a Thai re-entry stamp is another question. Also, I have no idea if the embassy in Rangoon (Yangon) will handle your new passport needs.

It's probably hotter than hell in Rangoon at the moment (it was very hot in October when it was fairly pleasant here in Chiangmai...and it's currently very hot here in Chiangmai).

Nah...just a balmy 42-43 degrees. No problem. Will get a little interesting when the monsoon hits and it drops to 38 with 100% humidity. Only for a couple of months though...no problem!!!!

Still....hit the Myanmar or Dagon to keep the fluids up.

Sting like a bee,,,

reminds me of my ex

Mine, "kicked like a mule." Good times.

On a few memorable times...bucked like a bronco....hang on till the bell.

Had to use both hands...guess that's cheating.But TIT.

Buy a crossbow,they are legal and kill cobras if you need to kill them.

Just make sure it stands up straight and has an apple on its head.

leave the damn things alone.

keep out of their territory....if you cannot then wear appropriate clothing, boots and long loose pants.

Not that hard. Long grass is snake territory - treat it as such. And learn to look down...that's where the snake that is going to bite you after you tread on it is....not up in the tree.

If you see a snake keep away from it. It wants to attack you as much as you maybe want to attack a rhinoceros - not a lot - too big and ugly and can't be eaten easily.

You pussies from Europe need to do a course in Australia before being let loose in SEA or anywhere else. Or simply stay in Europe.

Do you mean if you originally had a visa, then were married for a period and staying in country on extensions of stay based on marriage and then your long term wife dies? You don't have any Thai children?

A lot of people may find themselves in this position at some time - not everyone has Thai in-laws younger than themselves. I'm 60, the bride is 50 so it could happen to me at some stage.

Thankfully she is not an alcoholic like some Thai ladies. She has many friends her age from school who have passed away at a young age.

I guess the letter of the law may mean you no longer qualify to stay - similar to getting divorced.

If that is the case someone more knowledgeable in these matters may reply.

Look on the bright side though it won't be too hard to find another wife!!!

did you vote in your general/ local elections or did you employ the same philosophy

Indeed it won't. I know sarcasm intended but get this...

..you..won't..make..any..difference..

he did not....and probably will not for quite a while......if ever.

What country wants or needs a bunch of old retired people??

Raise the retirement extension to 10 million baht

Leave the the marriage visa alone;

Sort out the wheat from the chaff

The ones that can marry and and are for real...not a problem,,,, the rest...ooops you <deleted> up ...on your way...marriage over....suckers

i have acquired an automated reaction i am not even consciously aware of doing it. if my space is impinged in any way my hand goes straight to my wallet and stays there till the space is clear

have i ever succumbed? yes once possibly twice both by girl of advanced repute. i didnt feel my space was being impinged. they do staring and murmur while stinking their hand in your pocket.

unsuccessful attempt by various other characters, too may to remember.

Same. If I'm walking through a busy area my hands naturally go into my pockets, making wallet and phone pretty much impossible to be stolen

They can be stolen quite easily in that situation, there are plenty of ways for pickpockets to get your attention where you may have to use your hands.

Anyone walking slowly in ie, a crowded market, with their hand, or hands, in their pockets is a bit of a giveaway to a professional pickpocket.

Please explain how, when I have, and keep, my hands on my cash in my pocket that a thief can grab it?

hasn't happened so far!!

3 more in Vientiane, then 2 more in Penang, then maybe another two in Cambodia, then Bali, etc.

Should your passport get full change it and reset.

And how does that work??

Do you really think that in the modern world that computers don't keep track of everyone?

Didn't you notice that the little facial recognition camera that the passport control guy at Swampy or Don M asked you too at look at was real?

Sure, change your passport.....nobody will notice.

In a country where Monks have smart phones.... the only dumb ones are foreigners.

And i thought the thread was about cricket.

Hopefully some Muslim fundamentalists won't move in next door to the OP and demand he stops eating bacon sandwiches and pork chops as it offends their beliefs, traditions and lifestyle.