arithai12

I agree that the retirement extension is a good option. Two comments: a) if you intend, presumably, to renew it year afer year, keep in mind that normally this can be done only in a 30-day window prior to expiration. So you must schedule your trips and stays in Thailand accordingly. b) if money in the bank is a concern to you, why not spouse for 400K? About Jomtien/Udon, I am not sure. Probably hiring an agent to help you the first time is not a bad idea.

Malaysia gives 90d visa exempt instead of 30d like Thailand? Simple: reciprocity. Malaysians are on a completely different league than Thais when they travel e.g. to Europe. Ride down to Malaysia long time ago? Malaysia had very strict covid restrictions in place, borders sealed. Super easy in Malaysia? Sure, try to move there long term. Like every place, the problems hit you only after you actually spend a good amount of time. btw, if you wanted to leave for a long time, what was stopping you? Leaving Thailand for your home country has been easy since last year.

Can't compare traditional tattoos with what goes on today. It is a fashion, period. Personally, they turn me off, especially when I see a girl going around in the cold with shorts or bare shoulders to show them. Then again, it's their choice, if it makes them happy go on.

You posted a picture... what should I see there?

Avoid how? The dog is in the middle of the driveway, there is no going around it if it decides not to move. I don't say it should be run over, but what is definitely ridiculous is the way that dogs own the roads in this country. Driving around them is what people do, and it only reinforces the sense of "my road, my home" in the dog. Also amazing how in case of the dog causing an accident, nobody owns the dog. But if it's the dog being hurt, suddenly half a dozen people appear for compensation.

True ironman here, last week I completed 3 shirts, 2 trousers, 5 t-shirts in 13:25. ps: well said

What the article doesn't say is that damage to the lungs is correlated with the long-term exposure to pollution, not just with extreme but occasional values. Chiang Mai (and others in the area) has absolutely awful values for a couple of months, but the rest of the year is quite ok. In the rainy season, PM2.5 is around 10 or less. It is 15 today at my place, without rain since 2 days. I have measured 0 at times. A place like Bangkok might have the same yearly average as Chiang Mai, but it could be worse for long-term effects on sensitive people. This said, CM in Feb-Apr is indeed a gas chamber and masks are advised - though it was distinctly better this last season.

To each their paradise. btw, can you please remind us why so many elderly canadians move to California and Arizona in the winter, is the air even more clean there?

The same as if they steal your card. With the BKB app, it is necessary to know a personal code without which the app won't work.

Correct, but you need your personal code for the App after you select "Withdraw ATM".

I have used my BKB app for cardless withdrawal from a KTB ATM.

I lost 2 bank cards in ATMs, for my stupidity (forgot to withdraw them, I wish BKB ATM had a sound alarm or something to remind you to take the card back). The second time I realized it within a few seconds, ran to the branch which was 100m away in the shopping mall to open the ATM and give it to me, the answer was the classical "cannot". Since then, I am happily converted to the cardless withdrawal. I save the yearly card fee, and have peace of mind with one card less to carry around. You could say it's a complication to need a smartphone and access wifi, compared to inserting a plastic card. But in fact, I use the BKB banking app for many other things, in primis to pay with Prompt Pay which beats both credit card and cash (IMO). It also gives you an immediate feedback after each payment and withdrawal, so you know what'g going on. So the cardless withdrawal is no extra complication. Note I am not a big fan of smart phones, and I try to use it as little as possible.

At face value you are right and I don't think it's mentioned in the Danish news. But he is Thai, finished first among his countrymen with a very respectable performance, probably the best ever in this country, so it deserves a mention in Thai news. Also consider that sport at the highest levels implies not just talent, but also training opportunities, sponsorships, experienced coaches, in this case also suitable weather. All things which can vary dramatically from a rich western country to other parts of the world, so one should use some perspective. As an example, recently the Thai women volleyball team ended 8th (last of the final round) in the world league, one could say it was a so-so result but in fact it was a great achievement and point of pride for this country.

Kudos to all! Impressive performance. 56 minutes and 16 seconds maybe...

As usual on such occasions, lip service from both sides. As for covid-19 response, I think Thailand started with the wrong foot (Sinovac) and a delay of several months compared to Western countries, including a blunder with the AZ distribution. After that however it did do a good job, and kudos for that. Even as a humble long term guest in this country, I got 4 doses of "good" ones, all for free, without hassle, at convenient times and places, and the paper/electronic documentation to go with it. Appreciated.

So, which of the two, mechanics or gambits? I don't see anything wrong with the IO behaviour. You had about 30 entries in 7-8 years, that IS a lot and she was right. Do get a visa, or be prepared for some obvious questions, including whether you have a relationship in Thailand.

Not a scam, you will feel good from having helped a young worthy person in need. Priceless. Scam, you will have lost a couple of big notes. Easy decision for me, just sent my part.

Good luck with your extensions, but I am not so sure that you are helping the recovery of the tourism industry. You have been here what... 1 year? 2 years? And all this time you stayed in hotels, took tours every day, visited temple after temple, park after park, ate in restaurants every lunch and dinner, changed location every few days travelling by planes and trains, accumulated whole piles of souvenirs and presents to take home? I believe that the average tourist budget is 5000 B/ day / person. That's over 4000USD / month.

Actually Thailand spends on military equipment, as a fraction of GDP, less than most western countries in particular less than USA, UK, Aus, NZ... here is a list. And they do spend on infrastructure, roads are maintained much better here in CM than in many large European cities. The article is about a dirt road used as a short cut in some countryside area. Dirt roads will always have potholes especially in heavy weather. If four fatalities occurred perhaps it had also something to do with how they drive?

We can play this game until the end of the universe. My point is that you have ignored the nightmare that ensues if you are caught out (see link by @skatewash above), not to mention the continuation of corruption in the system. I could also question your assumption that stocks give you a fixed 10% return tax-free and worry-free, or that you ignore that also Thai banks give an interest -small I admit- but that would also be playing a game in which I have no interest. I think every person should be presented with all the facts and make their choice. Calling people's decisions ridiculous when you know nothing about them is, well, ridiculous. Have a nice day.

The situation was similar in CM, Grab drivers took a risk of being beaten up if operating all the way inside the terminal. Now it's better, but already there are legal challenges. About Phuket, you can call it mafia, I won't argue, but it is also true that fully licenced taxi drivers have a lot of extra expenses than a Grab or whatever App driver. They have to maintain their vehicles to some standards of class, year, cleanliness, road-worthiness, etc. They have to pay for the right to operate in the airport. And their return trip is often empty. An App driver is using his personal car, and can be booked both ways. Even so, you can find the official price at the first booths when you leave the arrival area (eg 1000 for Rawai), and some cheaper price at some booth at the exit of the terminal (eg 800 for Rawai). In this case the car is usually inferior, it might stink of smoke, and so on. Frankly, 1000B for 1-1.5 h drive to Rawai is reasonable to me. Sometimes I pay that. And sometimes I pay 100B for a 2.5h Smart Bus (plus some wait for departure).

You need a column in that excel with "risk of being busted", accruing each year.

It is possible, in fact quite common, to have a fixed account of 800k where you never touch the money (well you can transfer away the accrued interest if you want), and in parallel a normal checking account. The "living expenses" would be on the latter. Sometimes the IO asks to see that also, not always. The other configuration is to have a single checking account, where you have to show with a yearly statement that you respected the rules (800k for some months, at least 400k in the rest, speaking for retirement). This is what you have probably chosen, to each their own.

All bank recommendations do not mean much, if one does not specify the branch. The same bank can have friendly staff at one location and not so much at another. As for those recommending to "keep the 800k and pay a reliable agent", know that you would be taking risks. Wasn't there a big bust of exactly such a business recently in Phuket?

I'll stick my neck out and suggest that Michael Bridge now publishes as OPINION.