Homburg

Technically there is no "retirement" visa. What is available is a visa extension based on retirement. For those aged 55 or over the process is (VERY) simple. My passport is UK, there may be slightly different requirements for different nationalities, but I expect it's broadly similar. 1. Enter the country on an Ordinary Visa (NOT a Tourist Visa as that cannot be extended) $35 on arrival, $42 online (Visa on Arrival takes up a full page in your passport, online visa avoids this - so I always apply online). 2. Apply for a retirement extension of 6 months or longer (shorter extensions are available, but you need minimum 6 months to open a bank account). One passport pic required and a screen grab from the FPCS (Foreigners Present in Cambodia System). The extension takes up a full passport page. In July 2023 the cost for a 12 month extension was $290 via an agent (I used Cina Travel - Street 130 in Phnom Penh) - the agent liaised with the hotel to deal with the FPCS. I found it to be a professionally managed and stress-free experience. 3. Receive the extension after about 7 working days and open a bank account. The 12 month extension is multiple entry, no proof of income required, no 90 day reporting, no B800,000 deposit required, no queueing at immigration..... I opened an ABA account (also in July 2023) because, in Phnom Penh, ABA has many branches/ATM's. ABA listed a number of requirements on its site, including proof of residence (rental contract etc.) which looked difficult as I stay in an hotel, but in fact all they were interested in was to see the visa extension. You also need a Cambodian phone number to receive verification texts, but that's no biggie. The bank account was opened in about half an hour and my ATM card arrived at the branch the next day. After a year, when applying to renew a 12 month visa extension, this can be done within the last 30 days of validity of the existing extension. Hope that helps?

Is it possible that he is truly unwell? @villageidiot posted on an earlier thread that in recent candid photographs he "looked ghastly". The pic of him seated in his private jet and looking well, supposedly en route to the LOS may in fact not have been taken that day - or indeed any time recently - this would perhaps explain the change of wristwatch reported between when he was pictured on the jet and when he arrived.

A probable explanation for the change is that the pix from on board the aircraft were staged and taken on a different day, hence the different watch, but a politician staging a photoshoot! Who'd have thought?

You have to admire anyone who could release that statement AND keep a straight face.

Thai politics is just SO entertaining. Finally a new PM, plus "Public General Enemy #1" banged up on the same day! Stay tuned, next week: Who REALLY shot JR.

Just another day in the Land Of Smiles. Nothing to see here, move along....

They seek him here, they seek him there Those generals seek him everywhere Is he in heaven or is he in hell? That damned elusive........

2027? Bit of a long wait. I'll go by bus instead.

RIP poor lady.

This is certainly more entertaining than Thai soaps! If he returns, then unless he's having a breakdown (could be?), I would expect that he has a "deal" and this is not a brown envelope deal - brown envelopes don't come big enough! Maybe he can pressure someone who can ensure his freedom. I shall not speculate on whom that might be, but the list of potential "benefactors" is extremely short. Perhaps it's not what you know, nor even who you know, but it's what you know (and can prove) about who you know! I'm on the edge of my seat awaiting the next thrilling instalment!

They still have the tanks and guns which have proved decisive in the past, so I am not gonna hold my breath on that one.

The dirtiest.

Agree with most of that, not least the really friendly Khmer people, but an alternative to tuktuks is Phnom Penh's "CityBus" service. All buses have aircon and a flat fare of Riel 1,500 (around US$0.35) irrespective of distance with a CityBus app so you can see all the routes, all the stops, and where the buses are. Mostly daylight hours only though. The service officially runs until 20:30, but don't expect to find a bus after 19:00, nevertheless a good way to avoid the airport taxi sharks as there is a #3 bus which stops just oustide the passenger terminal (exit the car park, turn left and walk 150m) and which will take you downtown for US$0.35!

If I don't trust the merchant then I use a WISE virtual card which I delete as soon as I have made the payment so that it cannot be used again.

Hey Pita, I hope you have a "Plan B", because you will never be allowed to become PM if you play by the Junta's rules.

Who'd have thought?

Wow! Who'd have thought?

Anyone sensible in his position would wait until a democratically elected civilian government is installed and a pardon has been granted. What Mr S will do however is anyone's guess!

RIP Mr. Hamad Alblaiher. Surely it cannot be that just the excitement of being in Pattaya's Walking Street at 03:46 induced a heart attack?

RIP Mr. Somkieat Dumklang. 43 is so young, but no-one promises us a "tomorrow".

Would tonight be too late??? I hope not!

I see trouble ahead. It may be wise for those that can to leave The Kingdom until matters are resolved.

It is likely that the Senators would want to block any Pheu Thai PM selection, but that could be a dangerous move as it would become very apparent to voters that the Senators are in control. In reality Pita's offer to "step aside" could be seen as a threat to fully lay bare the extent of the Senators' control over the democratically elected parliament. This possibility could certainly go some way to "win over the hearts and minds" of the Senators.

52? Seriously?

How very sad for the Thai people.