ronnie50

That's about my longest too. Quick stop to eat and pee. As a kid, when my dad was driving around 13 hour as as well.

Here's a prediction (for fun). If the Interior Minister's position is reshuffled away from the Conservative/Military side of the coalition by the governing PM, as rumored, and into the Pheu Thai fold, it could result in a major event or events to counter that. The first could be political. A no-confidence motion against the PM (government), which would trigger an election if the motion is passed. PROBABILITY: Unlikely, as the Conservative/Royalist parties that are there to ensure the status quo of powerful holding back the majority of Thais would probably lose the election decisively this time. The second could be the courts or 'Election Commission'. Some other useful Conservative idiot could file a petition with one of the courts or the Election Commission, both with a track-record of decisions that favor the Conservative elements, and cause further turmoil for the current governing party. PROBABILITY: Very possible. But what would it be? Remains to be seen. But most likely another blow to Thai democracy. Lastly, a coup. While most would recognise a military regime is probably the last thing a country with a failing economy needs, the rich and powerful are less affected by the economy or such a dramatic event like a coup and might even applaud it as "their side" is firmly back in control. There are decades of evidence that these coups are usually opportunistic, regardless of other things like the economy, and there's also evidence that Generals do not have the experience to run a modern nation-state in today's world. PROBABILITY: As usual, you never know. Even so, the surprised fighting with Cambodian army and killing of at least one of its soldiers on the border, puts the army back in the spotlight. Was this the first 'planned' Thai shot fired part of a build up to chaos and eventually a coup? Maybe, maybe not. As for Thaksin, my prediction is Yingluck, Thaksin and the whole clan will end up in the UK. Thai PM's meeting with the UK PM was probably to ensure they'd be ok there and not be pressured to move away, as Thaksin was forced to do some years ago and moved from his place in UK to Dubai.

Sorry to add another Q. But do you mean the hotel enters the arrival date into the TM-30 system, as required by law, but usually doesn't bother inputting the date when you depart (in typical cases of short stay)? Is it not required to do that - because I don't see 'optional' in the copy that was attached. But 'optional' departure date is on the landlord's TM-30 where I rent.

Thanks so checck-out date on TM-30 for a hotel is not optional then?

I said can someone find a Kyodo or Shimbun report on this. Do you even know what they are - or too busy reading the tinfoil hat 'news'?

Maybe the hotel report is a slightly different TM30? Maybe it indicates your check-in and intended check-out?

This is interesting. I wasn't aware of item 2.2 in that order. I also note it is dated 2020. Has it been superceded with a newer order? It says if you go stay somewhere else for a while and then come back within the period (I guess within your rental/tenancy expiration) a new TM30 is NOT required. It doesn't specify whether that's in Thailand or anywhere else actually. Is that your read of it too?

So you 'believe' the boats arrived or you 'saw' the boats arrive BarraMarra ??

Are the 1,000 boats hidden in the tents?

The government(s) don't give a toss about migrants. It's the wealthy business owners in the UK (like the US) that want them. They can pay them peanuts and that way squeeze more profits from their labours. I remember many years ago how security companies were paying migrants 1 pound an hour as security guards at construction sites, etc. These wealthy crooks lean on the politicians - and reward them - Tory or Labour through election and financial support

Well, here is the Government's figures. You can disbelieve if you wish. Let me ask this. If 1,000 small boats were crossing the channel in a single day - a bit like WW2 and Britain's small armada sent to Dunkirk to rescue soldiers trapped on the beaches of France - wouldn't there be aeriel shots from news helicopters, etc? It would fill the camera lens sweeping left to right. Not just a clip showing 15 or so migrants in life vests on a patrol boat? https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-last-7-days Does GBN have a news helicopter? Or just a few sedans?

You realize the GBN network is Britain's version of America One and the like, right? Tinfoil hat reporting..

Think you got that backwards. Putin had been massing troops and heavy equipment on the border with Ukraine for weeks. It was clear he was planning to invade. It's why Biden and other world leaders warned Putin publically, and repeatedly, he would pay a heavy price if he went ahead. The Ukrainians had no choice but to prepare for an invasion so they followed suit wit their own build up at the border (yes, with some weapons provided by the West). Regarding this guy in the video blaming Obama for not attacking Assad after 'he' chemically attacked Syrians, Obama probably didn't do anything because it's unlikely Assad was the culprit. It could easily hage been a false flag done by Israel. The last thing Obama would want is to get stuck in another war where the US has zero goodwill. Especially if the region thinks it's protecting it's little pet in Israel.

Regarding the video interview, the Australian simply glosses over Clinton advocating China's admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Then he says China's economy was turbocharged. What he doesn't mention is that US Corporations and manufactureres wanted access to foreign cheap labor and they pushed Clinton on this, just like they had also pushed the previous Republican presidents. As we know, once China was into the WTO it basically carpetbagged all of the US manufacturing with enabling of the American CEO's that ran those companies and manufacturers. It has done similar to European manufacturers. I don't call that turbocharging an economy, I call it carpetbagging the former US manufacturing base. As much of a crime the corporate-led US Republicans and Democrats have conspired upon, manufacturing is not coming back to US shores (not in any substantial way), so the MAGA economists better look for a plan B.

The US isn't really an 'empire' - more of a world super power that throws its weight around, now more erratically than ever. But to answer the main question, regardless of the video, 'Is this the beginning of the end of the US' as we have known it for decades, then I'd say it's not the beginning of the end. The beginning of that end happened in the late 70s and early 80s with 'Reaganomics' and a 'trickle down efffect' of wealth that never happened. The hate, poverty, the indifference to the working poor and societal division we see now is the predicted slide into the end of the United States internally. So we're maybe 2/3 of the way through it. The US and its society is a shadow of its proud self in the 1960s an early 70s. Unions built a post-war middle class, people were comfortable, kind to their neighbors, and very optomistic - compare that with now - that America is not recognisable today. I highly recommend reading two books by the US author Chris Hedges - 'Empire of Illusion' and "America, the farewell tour" he's a former award-winning journalist, a clergyman, and his books are full of quotes from people he's interviewed that come to the grim conclusions above and there's no going back, it will get worse. The first book was written before Trump's first time in office. So this isn't a Trump bashing guy. He mentions Trump in second book during Trump's first term, but he basically says Trump is just a public symbol of the decay of society.

Probably the two safest countries are Costa Rica (near the above paces) and Uruguay ( a bit far down for you, in southern South America but I hear Montevideo is great). Always wanted to do what you're doing. Argentina would be high on my bucket list. Have relatives in Chile so would go there too from Argentina)

Okay (I agree this is just baiting). Anyway, why are (some) retirees here so grumpy? Well, my own guess is those ones are living in places with not much to do everyday - you, know, like you OP - places like the north of Thailand, where the hills are nice to look at in Chiang Mai province, but the city itself sucks - it's boring, with its endless pollution, stupid one-way main road - and a brick wall in the centre of town which is supposed to be its main tourist attraction and high point. And that's just CM city, what about all those others in places in rural areas and smaller towns like Pai, etc. Anyone retired in a village better have a really happy, harmonious, non-alcoholic relationship with his/her spouse and in-laws, if not it would be torture. They're trapped, sitting in a corner of the house 'they bought' and all they have to do is bang away sh!tty baiting posts on an obscure web board every day for amusement. Howz that for grumpy?

Not sure tipping came from England, I thought it was a US thing. Anyway, in Thailand, I leave a small tip - usually 5-10% depending on service at bars and restaurants. Small tip to a taxi driver (round up if 90 baht he gets 100 baht). Twice a year I give the barber 200 baht for songkran and new year. But nothing for each haircut. A favorite waitress that always pays close attention to us in a decent restaurant, she might get 100 baht in her hand occassionally. That's about it.

According to a couple of Australian news articles I read today on this variant (which is expected to spread quickly in that country as the dominant strain), they said the JN.1 strain of Covid vaccine (the one available now in BKK - if you can find a hospital that still has it) will confer some protection because NB 1.8.1 is an offshout of JN.1

Kind of surprisesd they'd let that prize slip away at the beginning. I guess the coup parties insisted on keeping the interior ministry out of PT hands as a coalition condition.

Quite possibly. Not sure if it has transfer rights upon death for remainder of leasehold.

From Hong Kong, Cathay used to fly to New York with a stop in Vancouver, Canada. At the gate in HKG there was second full security check for liquids, etc. Think that flight no longer exists (nowadays they probably fly non-stop to NYC). But that was around the height of post 9-11 fears

Yeah, the Italians are big on South America. Probably due to the cultural/migration connections with Argentina. Dunno.

Unless you're American, best to avoid going through the States given all the nonsense the US border guards are putting people though (and you probably do need to clear immigration and customs before the next international flight). Why tempt fate and potential hassle or worse.

Apparently there's something called a 'usufruct' I think that's the right spelling that is (apparently) recognised in Thai property law. Basically it doesn't matter who owns the land in a lease, as long as they agree to this thing that means you have full rights to remain in the house, on that land until you die - they can't move you, they can't touch the house, they can't sell the land.. So the same thing applies I guess if you buy a house and land in a Thai wife's name along with a usufruct. There was some guy on the previous version of this web board that seemed to know a lot about this. Years ago.