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11 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

They give Thais 90 as well.

 

Panama gives 180 days but The Nicest is Georgia - 360 days -:)

I was planing to open an hotel there for love sick farangs who love Thais....

 

 

I just found out about Georgia. US Passport  holders  can be stamped in for 1 year on arrival.  

56 minutes ago, arick said:

Are Canadians on the 90 day entry (visa exempt) like the Europeans and Chinese and Russians?  

There is one country where a Canadian can get 6 months Visa Exempt.  This is in S. Korea.  Americans can get 90 days.  So if you want a really long stay without a visa S Korea is the answer for Canadians.  

Had this recent interaction at a Starbucks at a mall in Chiang Mai.  I said to the employee “tall, hot latte”.  She gave me a puzzled look.  I then said the samd but slowly.  The reply I got was “you want Americano”?  I have been to Starbucks in many countries where English is not the primary language and have always been understood but as they say “TIT”.  Instead I just ordered on the SBUX app. 

9 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Being American/Californian/whatever, of course, you would!

Of course.  You know me so well. 

37 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Some time ago when I was living on Samui I had an issue with an air conditioner that I had just bought from Homepro. I went into Homepro asking for service and got no satisfaction at all. I asked for the manager which is something that I usually do, when I am not getting anywhere, and she had a terrible attitude and was very unhelpful.

 

I got her name, went home, looked up the head office in Bangkok, sent them a quick email explaining the situation calling her out by name and within an hour I got a phone call from a vice president telling me that everything would be addressed, and he said that I should go back into the store the following morning. When I did I got a deep bow from the manager, I'm so sorry I misunderstood yesterday. What can I do to make you happy? It was the exact response I wanted the first time around but that I got after she had been scolded by the VP, and likely her job had been threatened if her attitude didn't improve.

 

Sometimes we just have to escalate things to a more senior employer or manager in order to get things done here, sometimes the fools on the floor just don't know what service looks like.

 

My Thai wife was shocked when I first started doing this, as she tried to explain to me that they do not have customer service in Thailand. I explained to her that they sure do! Now she realizes that service does exist, can exist, and will exist if the right amount of will, force and action is brought to the table.

 

I did not reach out to a VP. I simply sent an articulate note to the email contact on the website. And, it was responded too quickly. Might have helped that I added that I was averaging 100,000 to 200,000 baht a year in Home Pro expenditures with my hilltop villa, at the time. A VP took it upon himself, called me that day, speaking perfect English, and asked me if I would be kind enough to visit the store again tomorrow. 

 

I suppose with any service anywhere, it comes down to the approach one uses, negotiating skill and fortitude. I do not let these things go. You can lay down and die, like a submissive sheep in this life, or you can defend your dignity and put up a fight. 

 

I usually choose the latter. Don't consider myself to be a dog or a doormat, and prefer not to let others that I do business with treat me like either. 

 

My Thai wife has been astonished a dozen times when things like this have come up, and she has seen me wage battle. She just shakes her head and says great job. I had no idea!

I have tried the email escalation tactic several times and I am batting a bout .500.  Had a lengthy exchange with the manager of a high end hotel in CNX this year.  She acknowledged that many of her employees were lacking.  She offered a half ass apology and asked me to come back for another visit.  I have never been back to this hotel.

2 hours ago, JensenZ said:

Dangerous to society how? He's only dangerous to himself and has done his fair share of donating to make others happy. Hopefully, if he finally decides to jump, he'll make sure the ground is clear.

Not everyone that goes Sky Diving without a parachute ensures the impact zone is clear.  This can be a hazard to someone on the ground.  

45 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Anyone who is wealthy or even affluent, would have little interest in retiring here. So, it is mostly about affordability. And I agree with that. It is reasonable here. Most of us live well, on a relatively modest income or pension. I plan to stay. But, a good part of this decision is financial, and ties to my Thai wife and family. If I were wealthy, my time here might be limited to a few months per year. 

There are at least a dozen good reasons why someone without our financial limitations would NOT pick Thailand. Do they need to be repeated? We all know what they are. And these are part of the reasons why there is a mass exodus of expats leaving Thailand over the past few years. No question the number of expats here is dropping.

 

I used to have more issues than I do now. I worked on my attitude, which was getting in the way of appreciating Thailand for what it is, and was clouding my experience here. Used to stress over stupid stuff, as you can see from some of my past posts. Used to allow the politics to make me angry. Now it is not something I take seriously, just something I comment on, without anger or an emotional investment. Now, I just tend to laugh it off. Spent some real time back in the US recently, and it allowed some clarity and perspective, that I am very grateful for. Now, I just chuckle at most of the nonsense. Water off a duck's back, so to speak.

 

Woe is Thailand. Where is the hope for the future? Just a few issues that an ex-pat would consider.


1. Overall, a declining quality of life.

2. An oppressive government that was not sincere about letting go of power. Ever.

3. High prices on most import goods and wine. Crappy selection of beer.

4. Rampant xenophobic on the part of the government goons and immigration.

5. A nation in reverse. No hope for a better future here.

6. Extreme timidity and destruction of the economy, many lives and businesses. Please, don't blame Covid. That was only one element.

7. Little in the way of good education available for kids.

8. The sanitization of Thai society, the elimination of anything that resembles character, and the tired, insincere, increasingly fake purity campaigns.

9. The continued environmental destruction and worsening air quality, coupled with no intent of effort to fix anything.

10. The worsening dependence on China. Will Thailand eventually be a communist colony?

 

11. The dinosaur creeps are moving this nation backwards at a breakneck pace. Truly regressive reptilian leadership.

#12 Poor customer service. 

48 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, it does not, and thank fck, Thailand is not 'kin California, where, presumably, there is a frequent need for that kind of facility!

It's not just CA.  Every state in America has similar laws. I have seen this type of law actually save a life. I would disagree with the term "frequent".  

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

I asked already about:

 

- a state pension payment transferred by the paying government direct to a thai bank account,

- where there's a double tax agreement between the 2 governments,

- and where the paying government classifies state pension payments as tax exempt.

 

Answer was Thai Revenue Dept not focused on such payments, the answer was 'not interested is these payments / transfers into Thailand. 

My State of California pension is not tax exempt in the US.  Was this reply in writing?  How high in the food chain was this Thai official? I only ask because "TIT". 

22 minutes ago, SiamAndy said:

Does anyone know if the sidewalk work on Huay Kaew Road between Maya Mall and CM Ram has been completed or if there is still ongoing work?

Mostly done but in some spots still ongoing.

1 hour ago, Mike Lister said:

Re: 2. US Social Security is exempt by treaty.

Ok.  Then those with SS payments  direct deposited into a Thai Bank are in the clear.  But what about someone who has a pension that is direct deposited into a Thai Bank Account?  My pension from California can only be deposited into a US Bank Account.  Maybe this is a good thing? 

1 hour ago, mfd101 said:

Why would you be (already) using such an expensive transfer method (poor exchange rates + atm costs)?

Why?  Monthly ATM fees have been $10 to $15 dollars a month(reimbursed by the bank)..  Exchanges rates have been ok.  Also, probably going back to the US on a permanent basis next year.  I understand every government in the world needs to generate more revenue but this attempt by the Thai Government appears to have caused more confusion.  The US Government is not alone in trying to generate more revenue:  Anyone remember the reporting of $600 bank transactions that was announced by the esteemed Janet Yellen?  

On 11/11/2023 at 3:25 PM, Dexxter said:

I avoid all these complications and risks by always leaving a couple of days before my permitted stay expires. I know I could have an extra day or two in Thailand but I would rather just not take the risk of a cancelled or delayed flight, or even something unlikely like an accident on the way to the airport.

 

Last year my flight got cancelled and I could not get a replacement flight till about a week after my permission expired. I was lucky because I still had a couple of days left on my Passport stamp so I could go to Immigration and get a 30 day extension. If I cut it too fine and was already on overstay because of the cancelled flight I don't know what the consequences would have been for me, especially if was unlucky enough to be checked by police on the street.

 

I prefer to be safe than sorry.

Doing the same thing.  Leaving a day before my expire date.  

2 hours ago, malibukid said:

i would like to see some L.A. cops here enforcing the traffic laws.  many on the force are Thai in Los Angeles since we have a large Thai community. 

California Highway Patrol would be better.  

1 hour ago, Banana7 said:

You don't understand the Chinese agenda. They will come to control, and spy on anyone they wish, and especially people who are critical of the CCP. They also have pickup squads, where they will detain, with concocted reasons, to deport anyone, especially Chinese citizens, who are critical of CCP. Sometimes they will even get the person back to China illegally.

I do understand the Chinese.  I am just saying foreign police in any sovereign or allegedly soveerig country is usually a bad idea.  I wonder what an RTP officer would feel like having a "Chinese Shadow"? 

Many years ago I was part of the UN Police Mission in Haiti.  It was major a "Charlie Foxtrot". We the UN police had no authority to enforce any laws, detain anyone or even make an arrest.  Most of the time the Haitian Police ignored us.  We were supposed to just advise the local police. I do not see an issue if the Chinese Police are in LOS to act as advisors and to deal strictly with Chinese citizens (this might accelerate the move to get "bad guys out").  This has the potential for a major international incident if a Chinese Police officer has a physical confrontation with a foreign visitor.  Of course it is always peaceful in LOS????

19 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've been drinking the tap water in CM for the past 10 years. Still alive so it must be OK.

Have you had a blood test recently?  I don’t even drink the tap water in Los Angeles County. On the other hand I can’t really vouch for the quality of bottled water or even the water from the 1 bath machines.  So I guess it’s a “crap shoot”? 

8 hours ago, OneZero said:

Do you know the source of the many homeless? Is it the illegal immigration?

Just like in California I think it is a combination of many things.

2 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

Austin is the Asheville of the South West. And CM is the Asheville of Southeast Asia.

 

Rich hippies, a proper selection of restaurants, so Southern Indian restaurants, not just Indian ones. A smattering of culture, not just Methodist tyranny. If I had to live in Texas (at gunpoint), it would be there.

 

The whole southwest's many problems with electricity and water make me grateful to be in Chiang Mai. Mexico might well refuse to take it back.

I prefer San Antonio(specifically the north part beyond 1604).  I found this story on a San Antonio TV station website.  I am considering SA when my time in “paradise” ends in a few months.  

3 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

What about the Austin sound like Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovitt etc. Few places in the world are so musically famous.

The great music part and good food I would agree on.  But when I got off I-35 from San Antonio the first thing I saw was a large homeless encampment.  Then I saw more homeless encampments and then more and more homeless. I thought I was back in downtown Los Angeles.  The first time i was in Austin was back in 1985 and it was great.  Every time I go back it is more and more disappointing. 

3 hours ago, Everyman said:

 

How and why do you have anti virus software on your phone? Is it a windows phone? 

No.  Android.  Been hacked before.  Better than nothing.