ronnie50

I think it's very possible. But it would be a worse disaster than before on a number of levels. First, this time people would fight back - the disenfranchised majority - especially those who had the government they voted for stolen away from them in broad daylight have really now come to understand how the wealthy establishment, the monopolists, the royalists and their rubber stamp courts, and other pliable 'commissions', etc., are designed specifically to work against them. As someone said there is no longer a moral compass or saintly figure to cow them. Second, the economic future is already so bad that a coup would just turn this into another Burma. Third, much of the industrialized world would alienate the coup leaders. And finally, this time, a coup would risk civil war.

Sorry to raise this again. But can someone advise me on my personal circumstance? I have a Non-O Retirement extension and my first in-person reporting is due next week. However, I went to Vietnam earlier this month for a holiday and came back last week. Since I am now back in-situ within the first 90 days of this new extension, am I expected to still attend that first in-person 90 day report at Immigration next week? I am aware that the 90 day clock starts again upon any re-entry from a trip abroad. But I'm wondering, specifically, about the very first in-person report since I am now back in time, should I go, or ignore it and start a re-count? Any advice? Cheers. R.

They like to ignore the fact that more Americans died from, or as a complication of Covid, in a 2 year period than all the Americans that died in every war since Independence. Facts these days are ignored in general it seems.

Was out today in Bangkok at a big shopping center. I'd say around 40% of Thais were wearing masks given the recent spike in new infections from the new variant. As far as I know, the only vaccine available is the same one from last year (XP.1). Dunno if it offers any protection from the new variant. Apparently WHO is meeting this month and next to agree the make-up of the next batch of shots.

I stick with Big-C which seems ok and every other week has a 10% member's discount. They had blueberries on sale earlier this week for 79 baht (half the usual price of other places). We bought 3 pannets. The main thing is to avoid the markets that cater to foreigners (as much as possible), because the prices have always been much higher - particularly the best known one. Their main competitor seems stuck in the 1990s, and never changes/adds anything. Overall, there is less competition in the bigger supermarkets these days. That's too bad. Reflection of how so few seem to own everything and control prices. For those in the Bangkok area, if you ever get a chance, take a trip up to Rangsit and Dalat Thai for some really fresh produce and good prices. Place is massive. Go in the morning. Over 20+ years I've seen HP sauce go from 99 baht to 200+ baht and coconuts in the market go from 10 baht to 50 baht and Walls single serving ice cream at 7-ELEVEN now twice the price. While that's over a long period, the prices have escalated most in the last 5 years or so.

might happen in prison..

Pertty sure you're right - in airports like LHR, JFK and many others. Less sure about Sri Lanka or former Soviet state of Georgia... Then again, places like that might be the ideal airport to give it a go! The check-in at Colombo airport (ever been there? I have) is a complete sh!tshow. Also, one other time flying from there to Bangkok, the guy sitting next to me didn't have a seatbelt.

Good question. I guess the answer might be that they don't have the ability to check the bags in and bar code them in the conveyer room air-side. That coding and tagging happens at check in (landside).

The authorities could have detected the drugs on arrival and grabbed her and the bags - not necessarily together - and the criminals at the air-side in Colombo baggage handling knew they wouldn't be able to grab the bags.

If she's telling the truth (if), then this is what I think happened - and it could have happened on air-side after the bags have been checked in and sent down the conveyer belt. The bags are manually removed from the underground conveyer. Her contents removed, the cannibis take their place, and the bags are then sent on to be loaded onto the plane. There would of course need some baggage handlers in Colombo to also be in on this. They'd just remove her tampered incoming bags from their conveyer belt and her bags would never reappear. Pretty simple really. Just needs some coordination and pay-offs of supervisors for shift changes, and/or broken/unplugged CCTV in the conveyor area.

Okay, so you're a Thai music officiando. You really have attended an average of 40 Thai concerts a year? Anyway, what's your thing against Sek Loso? Loso was a wildly popular act for several years - surely you would agree. I didn't know Carabao was a yellow shirt. I 'thought' he had moved to Philippines for a while to get out of Thailand, but I could be mixing him up with someone else.

Yes, if you have clear annual examples of in excess of 80k USD, like pension income, social security income, bank interest, foreign income tax statement (of at least previous 12 months+), then why not do it yourself? But if very complicated, I guess an agency could help... Or do you just prefer an arms-length transaction with BOI? Everything I've heard so far by people who dealth directly with BOI has been positive and they have been quick to respond to queries, so quite helpful.

I noticed that San Miguel seems to be on draft in a lot of places there. Finding the regular draft beers from Hanoi and Saigon wasn't easy in Da Nang (unfortunately).

Justice is always 'selective' here. Thai TV through the years has shown CCTV of well-connected people gunning down others in broad daylight (shopping center, gas station restroom. etc.). They rarely face any real jail time. You need to be on the 'right' side of the tracks here if you want to act with impunity. Does RedBull kid ring a bell?

You have no idea what you're talking about. Sek Loso and his band LoSo were hugely popular. They sang about the lives of working people (lo-so as opposed to HiSo), and, like Ad Carabao, Loso (he and his band) were the people's favorites. But in Thailand you're not supposed to make the working class seem like they have some prestige - hence the establishment hated this guy (and Carabao for that matter). Just like the cop that everyone liked 'Big Joke' - the establishment went after Sek. Even Carabao was in self-exile for a while too I recall. Another example is Tata Young ('Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy') - she had a big following but the establishment hated her too. Not sweet Thai - and didn't have some long Thai last name - worse still for the snobs, it was a farang name.

The EC is a joke. It's a tool of the establishment to thwart any attempt by the majority of Thai people to elect the government they want. Always has been as far as I can remember - at least 15-20 years. Then there's the 'courts'.. but never mind.

Good point. Maybe because the powers in both countries know very well the people behind this and have threatened before that they want a cut of it - but still haven't received one. So these are messages to the multi-national gang doing this - we won't bust you but you need to pay.

Exactly. Why their outrage? Someone else behind it? The two big players don't want additional local (craft) beer competition - or any foreign competitition either which is taxed to the moon. That's why a pint of Stella (when you can find it) costs 400-500 baht. Instead the bars and restaurants flog Singha and Chang draft - and God-forbid - "Leo". At least this government is doing one of the things the Move Forward party had called for (allowing small micro brewers make and sell draft craft beer). Of course, by now, the oligharcs have probably bought up all the bigger micro brewers, and thus the announcement. As for the real culprit of alcohol-related problems in Thailand - it's the Lhao Khao (rice whisky) - oh and of course no one upcountry buys the 40% alcohol version from 7-ELEVEN. They make their own 80% version! Where is the Thai Alcohol Networks advocacy to ban that practice??

Aside from the 'let her rot in jail' predicatable responses here, there are several other more thoughfrul points made already. I'm assuming they are mules and this is not their product. 1. This comes on the heals of the young British girl arrested in Georgia (the former Soviet state) carring a suitcase loaded with cannibis. Why young British women? Do they meet other Brit chicks while partying on holidays (e.g. a ring of British girls that target others - and have connections with criminals - in other words, part of a gang.). 2. As someone said, why send via airports - it's so easy to get caught at destination with x-ray and sniffer dogs. It seems the dumbest way to send illegal drugs (unless the travelers are unaware of what they're carrying - see next point) 3. Somone also said maybe bags were switched? This raises a point no one has made - maybe at Bangkok on 'air-side' when the bags go through x-rays here, there is a scam of Thai airport workers (e.g. a shift when they are working together), to choose a suitcase(s) to empty and fill with dope? Then those suitcases are photographed and images/tags sent to someone in these other countries' airports (so there are guys involved at the other end to intercept the bags which never show up on the baggage carousel). For that to work, it would be easiest if it is the same outsourced company doing this work in both Bangkok, Colombo, Georgia, etc. 4. As already said we need to hear their side of the story (2 girls) 5. Yes, Thai x-ray could see what's there and simply infrom receiving airport. 6. Why take such a high risk carrying cannibis? The financial compensation for smuggling that must be tiny in comparison with hard drugs (but the jail time could be similar)

Thanks, very useful on 800k rules. Good luck with your purchase and good to know XE still on the transfer scene.

Of course the cyanide story was just an excuse - a convenient bolt-on - to go into detail about Thaksin. as the hate for him has never gone away here, has it? Anyway, sure, there's a fix, that's obvious to anyone - a deal was done between Thaksin and with the people who really control the country for their own self-interest. Thaksin wouldn't be here otherwise. As long as everyone in that one percent sphere and their inner circles get a share, then everyone is happy and all is forgiven (with Thaksin). And we know the Thai majority will never truly have a democratically elected, truly representative government. But look, just hating Thaksin is ignoring the 800 pound gorilla of army, corrupt amart and thai-chinese billionnaires (other than him) in the room.

I guess this is why so many use WISE, because of the frequency of transfering and transactions. I do it only once it a year from my overseas bank for a larger amount and actually get a better rate than WISE - if I need to tap into the 800k here I think I have some leeway as long as it's back up to 800k by 3 months before new extension request (right?). Interesting WISE doesn't have much competition in that style of modality - XE used to do similar but stopped someone said. Don't know why.

I didn't read the whole thread, but here is my experience. Years ago, between contracts in Thailand - and in order to remain in the country until a new one came along - I tried the O visa to marriage extension. This was in the days when they wanted to see photos of the wife and I at our rented house (I hear it's worse now - the IO come to your house, or so I've read). Anyway, they sent us away because they didn't like this or that - but then a new job came along and the marriage visa wasn't required (but I recall another border hop was required to get the new work-related visa). Fast forward to today. Still married, but I find the retirement extension much easier. I have the 800k nested in a Thai bank (my name only) so lucky me I guess. But that's my best advice if you can afford it - retirement visa. Others may/will disagree I guess.

Sorry, thought I replied to this. It worked today and I have the QR (which I will also print out as others have done in case they ask at airline check in.). I must have been making some errors in the departure fields and that wouldn't let me move on to accommodation. Still a bit of a mystery. Anyway, worked in the end - thanks.

Thanks used that link already. On Thai Air Asia - they never sent me any email receipts or any email confirmation at all. Then complained that my name wasn't in order (it was filled in exactly as they requetsed online). I'm in VN now and can't get the TDAC to work - won't get into the accommodation section - the drop downs stays grey - definitely within 3 days window. Tried Edge, Chrome, Iphone - all the same. Onlt get through first two sections