Michael8511

It's a smart move, the upgraded fleet of A350 are more fuel efficient and will suite good for the European market if SAS now can help them with their safety issues so ICAO can widhdraw the red flag then FAA  will upgrade them to cat I then the new 787 they are getting will be good when they resume flights to the US, I can't wait for Thai to be back. Love their service.

3 hours ago, JAG said:

For many Thais however , millions perhaps,  life is very different. The government which they chose in a free election has been replaced by a military junta (yet again),  fundamental personal freedoms have been removed, the economy, which means their employment and income is in a far from healthy state, and there is no sign of any real change in any of these areas.

 

But hey, no matter. Perhaps you regard the people of this country as mere Helots, there to service the vacations of regular tourists and wintering oldies!

No I don't disregard the people here, I personally think that the junta have done a great job to clean up after taksin X 2, this is the second time the military with approval from the royal household have cleaned up. This time they even swept some royals with that had connection with taksin. I have been in Thailand frequently for 20+ years and don't think the people have suffered except street wendors and people that paid the police to open shops that have been demolished. I enjoy the fact that you now can walk on the street in BKK and Pattaya without having to step on merchandise. Also the cabs in BKK are better today, that's an issue that many tourists have complaint about. In Pattaya for example the beach road is walkable now since some illegal constructions have been moved and the beach is clean, yes the chair vendors have had too tighten up and have a little bir smaller area but all in all its better. The biggest complaint before was that there was no space for people that didn't want to pay around 3000 baht per month so sit on the beach, they can now bring their own chair and refreshment and they are happy. We enjoy our chairs as before and I don't think it's better not worse on the beach now. I don't really know what fundamental freedom you are talking about that are removed. When it comes to the free election just for your information the last taksin paid 500 baht to people outside buriram to vote for her, my partner went to collect his money and a lot of elderly people in that village don't know how to write and read so they took the money as a blessing and woted. I guess you also think what her goverment did with the rice farmers was fair, they were scammed of a lot of money from the goverment that they got paid back by the kingdom and junta. Her goverment are in line with the republicans in Texas that love for the Mexicans to work on their farm as long as they are illegal so they can't complain, if those Mexicans got legal status the farmers have to pay more. We see things different and I guess that's the beauty of a free world

4 hours ago, digibum said:

 

Read the article?  Of course not.  Why get the facts when you can read a headline and start jumping (no pun intended) to conclusions based on bigotry and cynicism?  

 

 

This is so typical here, people don't read and then have there own conclusions and roomers starts. Some people always have to turn it into negativity against Thais and Thailand. Sometimes I wonder why they are here in the first place?

On August 26, 2016 at 7:36 PM, jacko45k said:

Despite the fact you seem happy I doubt I would like to live next door to a condo that is accepting short term rentals with 10 people on holiday in a small studio. One reason condos are not selling perhaps, they were intended for long term residents.

I agree with you, and that's the reason I think buying a condo for investment is not a good idea. The condo association should also have some rules that the realtors have to follow of max occupancy. Russians seems to rent a condo for multiple families and I don't think the owners know how many people stay in their place, we told this owner now when she came with new bed and she said it was only to be rented to max 1 family with kids. And the security deposit should have gone to the broken bed if the realtor had been alert.

To everyone that complain daily about the bad military government, this is a good example why I don't mind them. They have cleaned up some of the corruption, streets, beaches and it's a good start. During the initial cleanup they even touched high police chiefs with billions stocked away. For regular tourists and wintering oldies I think the life is not so much different then before. 

so agree with above poster Donutz. And for me you are not buying a pet or companion. The relation have to be a 2 sided street, you both have to agree with each other's as equal. My partner do the cooking and cleaning since he likes it, otherwise we talk about things and have an open and honest discussion. I don't think he is different just because he's Asian, they may think more about taking care of their elderly and I think it's a good thing that they respect their parents and take care of them since it's almost no security for them. He take care of his mother together with his 3 siblings and contribute 1.500 bath a month for her and a nephew that go to school and live with her. We go once every 2 weeks to Lotus and buy water, beer, juice, cleaning, personal items like shampoo etc. and washing detergent. Food we buy from the local market near Coloseum, eat mostly Fish, vegetables and fruit but they also have meat there and if we need pork we buy it there. All this we do together, otherwise it's mostly I who like to go out once in a while. He have no demand on getting money to buy something or getting something because he's with me. He do that because he like it as any relation in the west.

if your girlfriend starting to demand things it's time to have a serious talk with her and explain that you are not interested in a relation where she takes command and deside about spendings, it have to be a mutual thing otherwise you look for someone else.

its a lot of gold diggers out there and if she's one of those you are worth a better catch. The bars are full.

I don't really care of the Thai politic as a tourist, can only say that as a tourist the clean up of street vendors that occupy all sidewalks in BKK and Pattaya was a great move. Also the cleaning and upgrade of Jomtien beach have been a nice move. Also think the new METV visa is great. Specially for us that uses visa to stay here. Saw on the us consulate in NY that they posted the overstay rules again. Thailand have to long been a paradise for wrong doers from all over the world, take all these Russians that act as guides and clean condos in Pattaya that are here on ED visas.

The new president to be is not a big fan of any trade agreements and like everything to be made in us, just wonder what will happen with Boeing when most of the aircrafts parts are built overseas in Europe and Asia. I think the big contract from ANA was built upon Boeing using Japanese parts for the 787. If trump wins and add on huge taxes for overseas parts the 787 and 737 will be expensive.

19 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

i have a german mate who got PR after alot of faff. i am sure he said he needs to be in the country at he time of renewal each year. he took a big risk putting down the non refundable application fee and got it but said it is not really that beneficial. maybe some one with PR can clarify this.

Just read the previous post and you have your answer, this subject does not need a lot of comments it's quite clear if you read previous post. Good luck

This is out of topic but diamond king mention about the beheading of more people then Isis and unfortunately that's their punishment by law and regardless if we agree we have to accept it. I don't agree with us death penalty either but unfortunately have to accept it. And it's not only ME politics that involve religious belief look at us where the republicans bring up religion to right and left. As I said this was out of topic but liked to comment on the beheading statement.

I have a Filipino friend that got raped by his boss when working in Saudi after recover at the hospital he received a very large settlement and now have a business and a large house beachfront property in Cebu. There are a lot of these cases that are settled outside court and never make the news.

Food mart is enough here, you also have the 2 markets one close to Jomtien immigration and a cheaper one next to colleseum on Thepprasit. They have fresh fruit, vegetables, fish etc. if u need more there is Lotus and BigC no need for one more large place. Use what's there. And for the 20.000 condos how many are empty? (15.000?)

Can't understand why the schools aren't able to secure a visa for their teachers like in other Asian countries. There is a lot of qualified teachers out there, have friends teaching in China, Korea and Vietnam and they have visas and ok pay.

I agree with you. I rent a studio condo with great view and washing machine for a low price at VT 5 and it's good enough for my partner and I. Either of us are heavy tv watchers so it works out great. I see all these empty condos in the 2 VT5 buildings. Was approached by the owner to rent the 1 bedroom next to mine today for a low price, they can't rent it long time and the short time Russians have trashed the place so they had to replace the furniture yesterday. Think they bought it as investment and now can rent it out except short time Russians. The last tenant a few months back they stayed 10 people incl kids in the place and I guess they was the people trashing it. So only buy if you live there your self and it can be a good future place for your partner.

You have the air link to BKK busses to Pattaya and cheap taxis, the new taxi system makes it quicker to get a car. I know most people think 600 Baht taxi fare from airport to BKK is a lot, keep in mind that it's a large international city and compare to other large cities it's quite reasonable. 

There is also thaicalltaxi that are very reasonable and reliable. Have used them for tours and always use them to and from Bangkok and also Suvarnabhumi. Locally in Pattaya I found a bathbus driver that I liked and have his number when I have to go to bigC or lotus plus other errands. He is reliable and don't over charge like most drivers.

I don't know but I always get better and more authentic Thai food here, I'm used to eesan home cooking when it comes to taste and a lot of restaurants here like in us and Europe cater to western taste if you don't tell them. Every time we go out and eat my partner orders and the waitstaff are always surprised that I eat his food. So yes they don't make food for westerner ghost spicy. Also at the beach we eat papaya salad with the crab but if I would go and order and the lady don't recognize me she make it western style. When it comes to presentation I think there is nothing to complain off if you don't eat off the street wendors. I personally like the food at the pine or surf kitchen but there also if they don't know you like spicy food they will prepare it western style as in most other restaurants. "Jingthing" I read most of your posts and 90 % of them have always something negative to bring up. You been here many years so you should be able to find a place that serv you Thai food of your liking. Or you just bored and like to steer the pot.

Last year it was a few incidents when the lift in VT 7 stopped between floors and the passengers had to be released, the lifts in jomtien complex are at age so it would not be a surprise is they have problems once in a while. Over all I think the lifts here are working fine, have more problem in my building back in Europe 

It's always this talk about thai's and Thailand treating tourists bad, I have been visited Thailand frequently for over 20 years and always been treated with respect. You get the proper visas and there is no problem, if you don't have a criminal record from your home country there is no need for overstay and I don't understand the big surprise everyone seems to have when they get deported. Philippines and other nearby country also have immigration laws. I think in the whole most people are happy with the life here it is after all cheaper to live a decent life as retired here then in Europe and USA. When it comes to Thai partners may be male or female you don't have to sign off your bank account to them to have a nice partner. I know many Thai / Western couples of both sexes that have nice and long relations and are happy. It many times come down to your attitude. Yesterday I went to lotus and it was a farang screaming and yelling at check out about the high cost. My partner turned to me and said "didn't the man see what the lady put in the cart" these 2 was arguing the whole way to the parking lot. Keep an open and real relation with your partner outside the bed and you will be happier.its after all not only alcohol and sex that make life good.

it sounds tha president to be Trump have talked to German Media. This is what he have tried to say to media in the US would happen if Clinton will be nominated.

maybe his pal Putin have provided Syrian Rebels with some old stock pile.

Texans have such a double standard and morale, of course the drill sergeant will say so, he love to abuse young gays. There is a very high procentage of S/M interested specially sadistic dominant guys in Texas and they don't mind if it's a male or female they are using. Seems that they get off more using males.

On August 22, 2016 at 1:54 PM, ocddave said:

This brings up a good question, how many pages are possibly needed for a 4-5 year stay on a Non-Immigrant "O" Visa (Marriage)? If I need to go back to the states say once a year, will a normal US passport book fill up too fast? What I do if it does? 

Next time you get a new US passport get extra pages inserted, it save you some headache.

It's nice to joke around. For people that stay in hotels and it's the same amount hotel room in Pattaya as in a big us city it's nice to hear that everyone was safe. Yes they have fire squads here and they are quit effective same as their ambulance service. Very few deaths from heart and brain injuries with such a high age tourist population

Just take out a large amount at one time and pay cash. Better exchange rate. Also u need to notify your us bank that U are traveling. Have a nice stay here

Trump still have to say why he will be the best president. To call Clinton name will not be enough. The other thing with him is that he have a "former" adviser that are very much cut up in the Putin establishment and it may be good for trumps private business but not so much for USA unless he is thinking of turning the Republican Party into a communist party.