ronnie50

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

I'm outside of Thailand trying to fill in this thing and I cannot get into the section on accommodation. At accommodation section, all fields stay grey and will not offer any drop down. It keeps sending sytax error 502 and 503. No idea what that means. Tried Edge, Chrome, my iPhone - nothing works to get me into that section. I'm definitely within the 3 day window for arrival. Anyone else encountered this or have advice?

Compared to where FFS? I'd say almost every southern city of any size would be ahead of Chicago in the weirdness category. Not to mention those in the so-called 'Heartland.'

Wife and I contracted Influenza A/H1N1 3 weeks ago. We had the flu shot a few months earlier. So I looked up some medical journals. According to one study U of Arizona, it said a controlled study found that the flu shot was 60-70% affective for most age groups and most of the subsets of Flu A. However, it also discovered that it provided virtually no protection against A/H1N1 in the 50 - 64 age group. What??

They can do that already. NETFLIX seems to have cornered the market on 35 year old box office 'hits'. In fact, that's all NETFLIX seems to offer on its platform these days! Time to cancel it again.

This may seem rhetorical, but it's not really. If I have an 'end date' for the lease (2 years from now) from the Thai landlady, surely she doesn't need to do a new TM30 each and every time I go away and come back (holiday, work out of country, etc.).? I've gone away, but I have come back to the same place and in any case, Immigration can SEE on their computer screen when I left and when I re-entered when I go for 90 day reporting. So what on earth is the purpose of doing a new TM30 each and every time if I don't change my local residence and there is an end date clkearly marked on original TM30?

Hate to say it, but a tariff could be placed on movies shot outside of the US. The fact they are assembled/voiced/post in the US is unlikely to prevent a tariff of some kind. Chump means he wants the movies to be 'shot' in the USA (as near as I can figure his little brain's thought process). I can't count the number of times I've recognized Canadian cities in blockbuster US movies that are supposed to be DC or LA.

Hopefully not adding to the confusion, but is it really necessary for my landlady to input a new TM30 every time I come back from abroad - or even from another Thai city? Clearly the IO at the 90 day reporting will see the exit and entries to Thailand and they may ask questions. While I understand it is the the landlady's obligation to do this each time, what if she simply won't? If I take the same old TM30 with same address with a move-out date of next year, is that going to be ok?

Great very useful will do that. I will be out of the country for ten days before my first 90 day (in person) report. I understand when I get back the clock restarts at 90 and I can ignore the initial 90 day report? Or if I get back before it, do I still go?

Thanks for reply and advice - I already have the e-visa (it says valid from and valid to), so there;s no indication I must arrive on the beginning date of the visa. Yes, it sounds like a scam, not unusual for VN. The airline (Air Asia) is giving me the gears because the e-visa (like every visa in the world) has my last name first (family name), followed by my given names - same as passport of course - exactly what the VN Gov told me to do, but the airline has my first name followed by family name on the ticket and says therefore they don't match. I know better than to fly with this airline but they are one of only two that have direct flights from BKK. And VN visas must indicate first arrival port of entry - don't think that can change, must arrive at the airport indicated on the e-visa.

Implant materials have advanced quite a bit over the past 15 years or so. Straumann are one of the top brands - but there are others. Best to go to a dentist who does implants almost every day. Not some little clinic (every clinic offers them). I go to one of the most established places for mine in Bangkok (but not the most expensive places). You will first need a full mouth xray (a CT scan while you stand), which will help to determine the amount of bone available. They can use a powdered artificial bone graft to augment the area of the implant - but really, if you don't have much bone left after decades of no teeth there, then it's risky business getting implants. The place I go to is quite advanced. They don't even do the gooey impressions anymore - it's all done by a high tech wand - a sort of gum/bone ultrasound. (also, if you are on blood thinners, aspirin, etc., you need to tell the dentist well in advance so they can develop a response if there is a lot of bleeding).

A bit more detail and background on this from Forbes.. https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/05/02/trump-administration-plans-massive-military-parade-on-presidents-79th-birthday

I got my COR at Chaengwattana IO Building B. It was straihgtforward. Queue number. Wait your turn. Show your passport and TM30 to the IO who deals with issuing the CORs, fill in the form, check the box for driving license and pay the fee. (I always bring 'everything' with me, all previous visa documents, residence map, etc. the whole folder). They mail it to your posted residence. Takes a few days I recall. Note you cannot renew your current license unless it is within 6 months of expiry (I got my COR too early). The COR is good for only 30 days. I will ask for another one when I go for the 90 day reporting.

My wife was around 36 Kg at 5ft2 when she was early 30s - smoking hot. After 2 kids she snapped back to around 38 kg and didn't gain much into early 40s (but time takes its toll on everyone's weight eventually).

True. It also depends on where you've been looking and what you want from them. The old Nana/Cowboy haunts are a tatooed chubby mess - had been going like that for some years, but Covid changed things for good I think. If those places are his frame or baseline, then yes, pretty dire. Many of the younger attractive types - those that might have been on a stage had Covid never happened - learned that advertizing on the Internet was a much more lucrative way to pull in customers, without the need to work all night in a bar and become a drug addict or alcoholic. Beautiful Thai women are everywhere (someone mentioned hospitals), shopping centres, offices, etc., and some do smile if you look at them - so different from the West.

I quite fondly recall/miss the 'Tiger Beer Girls'. Now they were hot. I don't go to pubs that often any more, but the Tiger Girls and their blue dresses seem to have disappeared. The Singh Beer promotion girls are still here and there. And although they can be quite sweet and nice, they look, well, 'mummsy'. Youngish - still mummsy. As for Leo girls... they can barely squeeze into the costume. Heineken doesn't even bother anymore. No need I guess, it's the premium beer on tap.