Squeegee

Pictures of soldiers catching naked foreigners with prostitutes is a death knell.

Sex for sale in Thailand will not just go away, but a lot of potential customers and sex workers may do so since they have other options anyway.

The point is this is exactly the sort of thing the Thais would not do if they wanted to turn a blind eye to the sex tourism industry. Image is everything to Thailand and they are making a clear statement here about what that image is from now on.

"Oh, it'll all be back to normal soon..."

You mean like democracy, visa exempt bounces and easy rides on ED visas?

You are deluded!

It's Thailand 2017 now, wake up!

Adapt or die.

23 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I can't really argue with any of the points made in this well written article. I thought an excellent point made, was that by denying that Thailand is dangerous is irresponsible. People who are informed and prepared are less likely to fall victim to such dangers. Those of us who live here know the truth, and all the denials imaginable, will not change that. Clearly the Government are so desperate to maintain face, they are ignoring reality. Again!

There's no helping them.

They don't deserve anything.

Let them fail.

For longer stay there's a yearly option as well as 1 or 3 months for business visa which is also extendable more or less indefinitely, albeit increasing in price the more times you do extend.

As far as I know the tourist visa was tightened up a little last year, so it's less easy and more expensive to extend (ie. still possible depending on which side of the bed someone got out of, who your service provider's contacts are and how much is being paid, etc).

However, it's easier to get initially from outside VN and cheaper (for the paperwork).

If you want to be a short term tourist get a tourist visa, seems to be the word from the Vietnamese, it will be a little cheaper for you.

I believe the business visa is more expensive to get the initial invitation letter, but it offers longer term stay, especially for those who may want to do a little business or a bit of work for someone: better to pay a little more initially for the business visa, then you can stay longer term more conveniently and cheaply with extensions without having to leave town.

Of course, in SE Asia the best advice is have all your ducks in a row, but it seems at the moment the Vietnamese are happy to have foreigners come in and try to be on more or less the right visa with everything looking good (=total whatever cost paid/everyone has face) and it's otherwise pretty relaxed.

Still, always the best advice would be if you intend to work then do your paperwork properly through your employer with a real invitation letter and all that...

You could probably just enter any old how initially, it doesn't matter because staying long term in Viet Nam is better done from inside. The Vietnamese are not like the Thais and they prefer to do as much as possible themselves. They always have their own best advice and can use their contacts so everything goes swimmingly for you.

Who? Research a good travel agent for the local expats. There's info for online services too but I never used them with VN.

Ultimately tourist is cheaper for short stay only, business is better for pretty much anything else.

Specifics are best answered at source. There are many grey areas. Be as legal as possible.

On 5/18/2017 at 9:59 AM, webfact said:

Surasak said the western tourist was terrified when the taxi was laid siege to.

 

Surasak was fined after the taxis surrounded his car and police turned up. His driving licence was seized.

 

Uber service is still illegal in Thailand.

Thailand, a place to live where one is always only so far from the next potential demented thug.

The usual buzzword bull-muck.

Anyone can play:

"The education system must be reformed... A new plan must be blahblahblah.... A special committee will be formed...."

Always the same tedious bandying of words and stale breath but not a jot of real, purposeful action.

This is propaganda no different to telling their tin soldiers they might one day act like actual soldiers: it's all about wrapping the gift of inequality and presenting it fresh like today isn't the same as yesterday.

So cute he should have been on Parkinson.

Worm needs a stampin'.

You don't deserve teachers in your schools. You deserve nothing from us.

You need to work out your problems with your greed and racism for yourselves. Yes the students suffer when Western teachers choose to help other countries instead of Thailand, but the students suffer anyway even when we try to help you.

Eventually we learn to go where we are appreciated and respected. That is not your school. Your advert says it all about Thai education industry greed and disrespect towards the foreigner.

Your prime minister said your old retired teachers can come back to teach, so there you go: employ some old Thai teachers, that will be the solution to raise you off the bottom where every other country in your local area is better than you - and so they should be.

2 hours ago, SABloke said:

 

It's more impressive that senior students voted for a junior. It shows that the students at Chula might be more progressive than the elders thought. :) They're throwing the whole issue of automatic age and status related subservience out the window. >_>

So let's see...is Big P willing to throw a 1st year uni student in jail? Takinh bets....

Good insight. It's not about the kid, it's what he represents and to who. His position is a statement made by others.

Of course the predictable old toads don't have any viable fingers to plug the dam.

“He should respect the rules of the country," [...] Netiwit wrote. “By staging the coup, he did not abide by the rules.”

Awful news for Prayuth, an open expression from a Thai citizen that what he did was illegal and his 'authority' is illegitimate. The junta are officially backed into a corner with nowhere to go as long as it continues.

Basically, a potential foreshadowing that certain toady families are going to need as much of their grubby money as possible to finance their inevitable, upcoming days in court.

Ouch.

Withdrawn.

5 minutes ago, canerandagio said:

a bit of retirement madness

This is just one of the little things in life that make the world a better place.

The successful recolouring of an annoying orangey bit is surely the best remedy for Brexit, Trump, immigrants, nagging wives, or spice in the not-spicy somtam. In fact, it's arguably one of the many answers to the question 'What is the meaning of life?'

Stay passionate, Mr straydog!

Er, what woz the question again?

13 hours ago, PJPom said:

once again a very thorough scrutiny and a lot of punching computer keys and consultations before I was given stamp and allowed to enter.

 

[...]

 

seems like all is OK 

Past tense. All was OK. Enjoy your time. Be Prepared.

Sorry, I misunderstood something. Comment withdrawn.

On 3/16/2017 at 7:37 PM, Thaiwrath said:

To catch Dhammachayo.

That's classic. Someone should do a cartoon.

-

"...legally binding on future governments..."

Aww shucks, you funny Thai announcers, using that quaint, oxymoronic, toadish dialect again.

Oh, forgive me. My mistake: it's Central Puppet Master. Sorry, I'm always getting them confused with so much of their vocabulary being the same.

17 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

"Looks like Vientiane now the only 'hassle free' embassy/consulate for TV left in region"

 

Not for long with such a 'now in the cross-hairs' title......like a MEGAPHONE ?

On 3/16/2017 at 8:17 AM, AlexRich said:

Good that there's enough sensible people left not to fall for it.

That'll be why he's president then.

Agreement of Truth - clearly they are taking on board the ideas of the primary grade children.

17K "Analytics"?

Don't give up the day jo... O, snap!

Thai cops appear to be doing a good job again.

In other news, the sky is dark at night.

Just like smart phones, Facebook is no different from what was once referred to as 'the evil eye in the corner' that 'killed the art of conversation' back in the 20th Century - the TV.

And that was a load of reactionary nonsense as well, as if an AK47 can point itself and shoot people without someone pulling the trigger!

I used the TV to educate myself, and I say that despite having a university education.

"Facebook this, Facebook that..."

Out of touch

Doesn't begin to address the problem

Fails to recognise the wider picture (the real one)

Lazy

24 minutes ago, fruitman said:

Thailand should protect it's outstanding image abroad.

What outstanding image?

All they ever do is try to protect the fake image they portray.

So which banana boat did you just arrive on?

On 03/03/2017 at 8:32 AM, cheapskatesam said:

Ok.. i suggested to her that she can pay for the flights to Singapore.. and i will foot the bill for a really nice hotel and all our tickets to attractions (and no doubt the food and stuff) she replied to me with 

"ok"

But then all enthusiasm dropped about the trip and we moved onto another subject 

 

 

I'm at the age now.. where i'm looking for a future long term girl and maybe even marriage.. 

She is not in that category anymore.. I'll keep paying for everything as long as i'm getting a regular shag but as of now i'm on the market again looking looking for my true wuv.

 

 

Good for you! It's great when a poster comes here for info, especially about something like this, and is able to reach a reasonable conclusion based on any feedback and move forwards.

On 03/03/2017 at 11:02 AM, Ian Maxwell said:

You stupid man it is a two way contract put it this way she does the lady thing by giving you what you want in the bedroom and you are expected to do the gentleman thing by inviting her and paying for food etc !

got it now dumb dumb ! you really are a tight cheap charlie aren't you ! are you not ashamed making statements like thit on here really !

go home and <removed> better still go back home altogether you give us a bad name.

You are actually the stupid man for assuming everybody else's relationships work like yours.

You are also actually the one 'that gives us a bad name' for thinking that all Asian women think transactionally about their bodies.

That last part is backed up by your vulgar language and mindless, inane "Go home" cliche. With an attitude like that, no wonder you have to pay money for your sex. Based on your deeply unintelligent post you have no good name to lose.

3 minutes ago, LazySlipper said:

So, if a ladyboy calls himself she it means that you are having sex with a woman... right???

A spokestoad who wished to remain anonymous said, "Of course they can have their opinions and their polls. They think they're being helpful, but really they must make an effort to understand the difficult situation here in Thailand, and that these kinds of things, like speaking negatively on new social media, can cause many problems in society.

"We are determined not to return to the bombings and that's why we ask people to be patient and think longer term for the necessary reforms and return to democracy. Remember, the PM said himself he is a democratic soldier."

If she didn't contribute her share from the beginning she won't ever contribute.

There is no 'when' until such time as you make it an issue, in which case you'll be needing a new girlfriend.