simon43

Mea Culpa, yes I mean visa exempt. And thanks for the advice, I just wanted to avoid/plan for any issues with the IO on my 3rd trip 🙂

I hold a UK passport and I currently reside in Laos with a Lao Business (non-working) visa. Last month I visited Bangkok for my Thai son's graduation ceremony. I flew into Swampy and entered using the Visa on Arrival route, returning back to Laos the following day. Next week I will fly into Swampy using a VoA and stay for 1 week of holiday, then flying back to Laos. But then I plan to return to Bangkok a few weeks later for a personal visit, flying into Swampy and using the VoA system. My question: Will I be denied entry into Thailand on my 3rd VoA visit this year? From Laos, it's not possible to apply for an e-visa for tourists - I would have to visit the Thai embassy in Vientiane (which would be a real 'hassle')

You ran huge risk with that rat bite. Suppose it carried rabies? You would be dead now... As to the sticky glue traps, I won't use them. What a horrible way for the rate to die, stuck on the glue. I have a live trap that I use in my home and then release the rats (into my neighbour's garden...!)

Totally off-topic, but yonks ago I did that in Bangkok. Shared a condo with a Thai woman (now ex #3). Every morning "Off to the gym darling" and I would run round to another apartment block and jump into bed with another Thai woman (now ex #2). What on earth was I thinking?! It all ended when #3 found compromising emails on my computer that she thought were from #2, but actually were from #4....... The noughties were fun, to a point!!

I remember having to climb onto the roof of my ex's Isaan house in order to get a mobile phone signal to check my email.... Next time I brought emergency rations in the boot of my car because her mom used to feed me fish heads for lunch (she did actually like me!).

If it is, then it is having the completely wrong effect - I spend little time on this forum now because of d***h***s like him (and he is not the only troll). They add absolutely nothing of positive value to this forum.

I just throw off all my clothes and lie down stark naked! This often attracts some attention and comments, especially since I only asked for a foot massage 🙂

Speaking honestly, I really don't think the 'stock' image that accompanies this news report is appropriate....

Good heavens! The last time I tried a yoga position, I distinctly remember that I was about as far from having an orgasm as the Moon is from Earth - all I could think of is 'this hurts!'

Cannabis should only be legal for those over 65 years old.... 🙂

I am already there 🙂. I left the UK almost 24 years ago. Greetings from Laos

In fairness, his head came within a hair's breadth of being squashed by the bus wheel...

Wow! Good sh*t that you're smoking!!

I'm also with WR Life, (after a bad experience with April International Insurance - see previous threads). I pay 5,700 baht/month (age 65) for my medical cover plus emergency evacuation (I live in Laos) and a $10,000 death policy to pay for a party at my funeral etc. The only exclusion is prostate BPH, UTIs etc, but I'm fully covered for prostate cancer. Never omit any pre-existing condition or medical event when you apply for medical insurance. That's what I did (purely by accident) and it cost me with April Insurance). WR Life has a 2-page list of every single accident/illness since my birth (eg childhood mumps, falling off my bicycle etc etc - they maybe think I was crazy to provide those details, but it also means that they can never claim that I withheld details from them in case I have to make a claim).

[quote] ... If Alexander only reported facts it's not defamation. ... [/quote] Wrong! In Thailand, if you post the truth, but that truth causes the business to suffer, then it's defamation. 'Defamation' is different in Thailand compared to other countries.

Note - my comments are not about the moderation of this forum. AseanNow, or Thaivisa as it was originally known, is decades old. I joined the forum at the start of 2002, more than 22 years ago. Over the years I have seen the original forum grow and develop, then recede and decline and wither until it is just a shadow of it's former self. Perhaps we should ask why that has happened. IMHO, there are 2 reasons: - The growth of social media means that web-based forums are 'old hat'. Now it's mostly mobile-based apps, and this forum ease-of-use is 'appalling' when one tries to use it on a mobile device. I know - I've tried! - The number of trolls, sub-intellect and mentally-ill forum members seems to have increased exponentially since the 'good old days'. They take away the enjoyment of this forum. Apart from that, it's wonderful...

[quote] If it costs £300 to £500 per annum it is still very good and cheap for £10,000,000, [/quote] Cheap? Please be realistic! A healthy person aged say 50 years old would probably have to pay an annual premium of about $2,000 for perhaps $3 million cover. An 'unhealthy person' would either have all his/her pre-existing conditions excluded or would have to pay a hefty extra premium. Please show the company that will insure an expat for 10 million quid at 300 quid a year.

Why are people replying to this guy? He is 100% a troll.

XR150.. sort off! Chinese copy but it works fine.

You forgot the cyclones... 🙂

Yes, there are many radio hams in The Phillipines, so no problem there. I have joined a Facebook group for expats living in The Phillippines and am getting good advice about retiring there.

Luckily for me, ex #3 is absolutely fine 🙂 (She is not the 'mad' ex #2...). We divorced perhaps 10 years ago but stay in regular touch. She is intelligent and hard-working and also rarely visits Ao Nang (the air is too humid for her delicate skin). I am also considering retiring to The Philippines because: - My UK state pension will not be frozen - I can find a rural location with healthy sea air etc - No 'baggage' from ex-wives Whatever I decide to do, I need to visit the location to check out all factors.

Yes indeed! About 18 months ago I rented a nice house in a coconut grove on Koh Phangan. I think I paid 7,000 baht/month with no deposit etc. I only left when I had to return to the UK for hospital tests.

I see that hotel room prices are reasonable right now in Ao Nang. I will see if I can fly down via Bangkok and stay for a week in Ao Nang to 'test' any effect on my lungs and to check how things have changed. Hey, I could stay at this nice-looking little guesthouse on the high street which is currently advertised on trip.com! https://us.trip.com/hotels/krabi-hotel-detail-709741/ao-nang-vip-hotel/ The only problem is that was MY little hotel that I managed with my Thai wife around 2010. It has been closed for at least 14 years.....

I live in Luang Prabang, in north Laos. I like living in Luang Prabang! But I have a problem. I have a lung condition that is exacerbated by the smoke during the burning season. For the past 2 months I have had bronchitis, coughing, litres of phlegm etc etc. It is doing my health no good 😞 and I am spending a fair amount of money on anti-histamine tablets, phlegm thinner tablets and strange brown cough syrup from China (they all help....) I have 2 choices: - Move to a location where the air quality is better. To this end, I have been asking questions in the Krabi forum because my ex has a modern house in Ao Nang which I could rent from her. I lived in Ao Nang many years ago and my lung health was good! or - Try to keep the smoky air out of my house in Luang Prabang, and wear a decent N95 facemask when outside. My house is old and has more holes in the walls than a colander! What would I need to do to achieve clean air in the large, open-plan downstairs area? I guess: - tape up or cover all ventilation grills in the walls - add insulating strips etc to all doors/windows to ensure a good fit when closed - add a suitable filter to the sole air-con unit (I don't use air-von usually, but after closing all air-gaps I assume that I must provide some means for the outside air to actually enter the room via an air filter, or I will suffocate from carbon dioxide poisoning!! - Buy a decent room air purifier. What would you recommend? Stay and try to improve my Lao house or move to a location with clean, sea air all year round? As much as I love living in Laos (and previously in Myanmar), my lung health is telling me that I need to do something about this situation.