ronnie50

I'd be willing to get one for both countries - and go back and forth.

Good post and lots of good points. But one minor point - almost all cars are actually more expensive here (bought new). Most cars are assembled at factories not far from where you live. Thailand did a deal with the automakers that helps them keep the sticker price higher than it normally would to recover the costs of building assembly plants here. Most of the Japanese brands are assembled here - but not all models. Pick up trucks seem the cheapest. Importing a car (to get the model you want) is very expensive due to the duties. Great point about assisted living business opportunities. I've seen a couple of them advertised, but it's in its infancy really.

Yes and no. Thailand could put the brakes on anything it wants too. It's the uncertainty many members are pointing too - and the Thai habit of hoping to discover two (rich tourists) in the bush instead of rewarding the one (retiree) in the hand. Also, maybe you weren't here, but for years many members on this board who lived here as retirees or just hangers-on did monthly or bi-monthly visa runs to Cambodia (mostly) before Thailand started regularizing retirement visas. And things could still change. The tax thing unresolved bugs many as one example.

So did Shakey's Pizza last time I was in Manila for work. I would never consider retirement in the Philippines - even a holiday is a bit risky.

Here come the yellow shirts again - and their servants - if place-holding in the hot sun during the day is required. They probably still have their yellow plastic 'hand clappers.'

Actually, I shave my face 2-3 times per week (but voted daily). And you? How often do you trim the bikini lines? One of those pink Bic things?

I guess we can still make a large bill payment (over 50k) in one go? I looked at 'terms and conditions' and it still says up to 2 million. Also to clarify, the 'facial recognition' was for transfering to someone else's bank account (not a bill, etc.), higher than 50k right? Not just to log in to the app?

They (TAT) just can't rid themselves of this notion - this fixation - that somehow, with some trick or new announcement - that well-healed and rich tourists will flock here with the right incentives and replace the revenue lost by the drop in mass tourism from China. It's a fantasy. Rich and well-healed international tourists come and go everywhere, all countries, every day. They are not - ever - going to 'flock' to Thailand any more than they 'flock' anywhere else. "Oh look Stanley," said Rachel from the couple's Chicago Lakeshore Drive Penthouse. "The Orxxntal Hotel in Bangkok has a new promotion: 'Come to the OrXXntal and get one night free when staying two nights (in October) and enjoy a free dinner and two free umbrellas.' "Should we book a flight?" Rachel wondered. "I also see this wonderful beach resort Pat-TAY-ya is advertised - it says it has five star resorts near the beach and some place called Soi 6. We could stay there for a week too - it sounds just lovely," Rachel told Stanley as she gazed out her 43rd floor window across Lake Michigan. "October is a good time to get out of Chicagoland, Stanley!"

The tiny minroity 'hidden hands' that run everything in Thailand (for their own benefit) won't allow her to dissolve Parliament and call an election. They're afraid the progressive People's Party (Move Forward) that won most seats last time, could sweep into a majority win this time. If she does dissolve Parliament, and election is automatically triggered, the chances of a coup before the election are extremely high to prevent the progressives from winning power (a bit like the coup they launched immediately after Yingluck's party won a majority some years ago, precceded by the ugly yellow shirt events). Old fashioned military take downs. Nothing changes - the tiny rich minority/oligarchs don't even bat an eye. It's all done for them - as always.

Actually, many people in high positions, rich, politicians, etc., don't drink alcohol. It's quite common.

Whatever draft beer they had - or if at nightclubs, rye and seven. I got into my first pub/tavern at 15 with two same-age friends. We saw our first stripper that afternoon too. Age limit was 19 at the time - so of course the place was pretty rundown and sketchy.. but we thought it was great! Once of legal age I used to go with friends to a rough joint that was sometimes also patronised by biker gangs (Angels). Some were throwing their empties up to the ceiling to smash them...

Did you actually read the news article? "Dozens of prospective employees, many of them Spanish speakers, had been coming in and out of the plant all day. Some were hoping to land a new job; others were coming in for training." Nebraska meat packing jobs average $15/hr (Google). So is Larry Smith, unemployed, uneducated obese 50 year old taking advantage of this raid?

I think her conversation is very telling, because it almost confirms what I've been hinting at - that the government wasn't calling the shots nor authorized the exchange of gunfire. That raises big suspicions that this is a manufactured border crisis by hidden hands to make the government look bad - maybe with a coup very much the pre-intended outcome (soon?). Pretty shocking that she would hint at such with Hun Sen though! Hard to image the people who run this country for themselves (hidden hands) would allow her to disolve parliament and call an election - they are afraid a Move Forward style party could sweep the board this time - they are very afraid of that. So they won't let it happen

Glad I never purchased a place (renting cheaper anyway - so the math tells). But I do empathise with those who have bought places here - especially the older retirees now in their mid to late 70s. Many (including some on this board) came here many, many years ago and are surviving only on their State Pensions (Brits and Europeans - Social Security for Americans) - and purchased apartments years ago in Pattaya, or Hua Hin. As the landscape is changing, some members with no financial ties (like ownership here) could well leave and go to more welcoming places - maybe move around every 4 months or so and pay no taxes. But older guys on a meagre fixed income - with an apartment here already (though maybe paid off) - would find it very difficult to move away and start over in VN or RP, etc. Those with Thai families also discouraged from multiple countries.

Apparently the THC in today's harvests of marijuana is multiple times higher than the ganja we smoked 30 years ago. I guess you could argue therefore that you need less to purchase and get high, anyway I'll pass.

Like most coalitions, they fall apart eventually. Beginning of the end for this one - hope Move Forward can recast and get a majority this time. If the hidden hands tried (again) to deny a majority (e.g. for a party with more than 50% of seats) from taking office they'd be really asking for trouble this time from the voters.

Russia's inclusion in the first place was the mistake. Major miscalculation back then about Russia's 'new' leaders.

Because they aren't that interested in smoking weed or tried it as a kid and don't want any more? Why are there some many optical shops and dental clinics - one on almost every corner of Bangkok. I have a Thai friend who isn't shy about saying why there are so many optical shops - but I wouldn't repeat it here.

Trump dreams of the Moscow hotel nights. And that's why he wants a 'Golden Dome'.. The name was probably Putin's idea.. or Netanyahu's, because you just know he has the photos/video too..

So you are saying the Biden presidency should have been warning Ukraine to back off the Nato idea and the EU/European idea/aspiration and be more like the former Finland, is that right? Or do you mean something else..

Could say exactly the same about latinos in the US.

Some of the hottest looking Indian girls/women are everywhere in London.

Don't ike the 'Jack the Lad' prose? He's 'a bit ov this, a bit ov that' Don't get your knickers in a twist. More to come I'm sure. It's funny.

Ok, so what should Biden have done instead?

Unless King Power is intending to go into a completely different direction - like retail, shopping centers or hotels - I don't see the logic. Without the duty free on arrival though, I can understand why they might want to renegotiate the contract and leases. So this might just be a bargaining ploy. Real duty free would involve opening the airports up to several duty free competitors (e.g. not a one player monopoly).