Chelseafan

On 8/30/2023 at 7:18 AM, Phil1964 said:

I holidayed in Thailand this month from the UK. While flights out and back, (Eva Air - LHR / BKK), were full, Brits were a minority on both flights.

Here in the UK we have high inflation, GBP exchange rates are rubbish compared to last 20years averages, for many people stagnant / declining wages are a reality, (I was made redundant 2 weeks before flying out), and airfares to SE Asia are ridiculous compared to heading westwards. In my circle the only people I know going to Thailand or long haul are those who have family in Thailand, or who are well-off. People on £40k  / year simply can't afford long haul family holidays anymore...

Travelling westwards, is certainly more expensive particuarly on the business routes. I just booked a business class trip to Seattle for £8k. I flew to Thailand in FC for £5k with Thai who are generally the most expensive.

On 8/30/2023 at 6:51 AM, Jumbo1968 said:

If airfares drop it might encourage more tourists but on my recent trip to the U.K. the flights were more or less full  both ways in economy therefore fares are not going be reduced by airlines.

I travelled Business Class from Dubai to BKK, A380 handful of passengers in Business Class, 2 in First Class no idea how Emirates make money on that flight. On a side note the food was disgusting, economy meal served on plates but it appeared to have been reheated several times over. I have sent a complaint to Emirates but no reply as yet.

As I see it, there's still not nearly enough metal in the sky versus pre-covid. Flights get filled up quickly therefore airlines are able to hike their prices to profit on it. The cost of my flight a few weeks ago was over 100% more expensive than in 2019.

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I don't like the word reform, he says. That kind of says it all, including why he got the position!

 

No progress. No reform. Please, please don't interfere with the gravy train. 

More of the same then. One step forward, two steps back.

While "face" is more important than justice, Thailand will never move forward.

Here is the link to the source. It's a little smoke & mirrors in how they calculate the figures

https://travelness.com/most-visited-cities-in-the-world

Got to say, the gang got a good return of 10million baht

60 bikes = 166,667 baht each. You can buy a new bike, top of the range for 100,000 baht

Buyers beware ????

13 hours ago, DD25 said:

Another way to say it would be that you need to convince the UK authorities that you have emigrated and it's hard to do that if you are on a non-immigrant visa.

And yet the UK Government doesn't increase your pension in line with UK citizens because you're living overseas...

On 7/8/2023 at 11:27 AM, Gecko123 said:

 

Go to Isaan to meet the family if you think it'd be a fun trip, but don't make any rash moves. You need extra time to get to know her when you are crossing cultural and language barriers. Jumping in with all fours usually ends in tears.

 

Good advise and make sure she knows that if the relationship is going to progress you want to get to know her better at a slower pace - Think with the big head not the little one.

If anything, it will be fun but probably boring but also an experience of REAL life in Thailand.

10 hours ago, FriendlyFarang said:

Actually this looks exactly how I imagined it, no surprise.

What did you think how these are made?

Absolutely.

If anyone REALLY wants to be put off their food, watch how they make sausages.

On 7/8/2023 at 10:40 AM, at15 said:

imagine dishing out your hard earned money to a woman that has been impregnated by another mans sperm. unbelievable.

Same as paying for sex, right?????

I assume that the minor is male. All the articles I've read have been careful not to name the sex.

20 hours ago, alex8912 said:

There are blood alcohol level info in British travel insurance policies? 

Nope never seen one....

My policy states that they won't cover for =

"Alcohol, drug or solvent abuse/misuse: such as drinking so
much alcohol that your judgement is seriously affected"

13 hours ago, tgw said:

wrong.

they see them, they are just too lazy to drive properly.

all starts with that motorcycle driver crossing the road like a compleat fool, counting on cars to avoid him.

this is very common in Thailand, sometimes they don't even bother looking before turning on a road.

I guess the red pickup driver expected the motorcycle to stop on that white crisscross line to let priority traffic pass, but then it doesn't and the red pickup trying to avoid the motorcycle at the last minute then causes the rest of the mayhem. should not have tried to avoid the motorcycle.

 

one day I was waiting at a T-intersection for a safe opportunity to turn onto the main road, when on my right a Thai guy with a sidecar stopped too and waited. he looked directly at an oncoming car (like 50-60 meters away) and then he took off, the collision was unavoidable. I couldn't believe my eyes.

While the cyclist was an idiot, I put more blame on the truck. He should have slowed down enough to assess the situation.

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

If you ask me, the airport is already too big to reach from some gates to immigration and luggage collecting areas, they are not taking into considerations that many of the passengers will have difficulties in walking such distances.

True, but you can say the same about most large airports, O'Hare, Heathrow etc.

BKK does at least have moving walkways.

The story seems odd to me, even for Thailand. I wonder if there is more to this tale than she is letting on.

And just be wary of any charges (bad exchange rates, bank fees etc). It pays to shop around.

I assume you are not transferring ALL your finances to Thailand as it's always good to spread your risk.

On 6/12/2023 at 9:38 AM, theoldgit said:

A married couple don’t have to prove they’ve been living together for two years, though an unmarried couple living in a subsisting relationship would need to do so.

So on that note. I've been married for 3 and a half years and will retire in about 5 years to Thailand. We registered with the Amphur and did the affirmation at the British Embassy in Bangkok.

I live in the UK and visit Thailand twice a year and my wife lives in Thailand and travels to UK for 5-6 months a year on a 2 year visa. We've done this visa twice now. This setup works for us as she still has family in Thailand including a 7 year old daughter and wasn't really committed to living in the UK (who can blame her!) mainly because of the weather!

After serious consideration, we've discussed whether we should go through the spouse visa route which will allow her to stay in the UK for 5 years with a indefinte right to remain at the end however we still want the flexibility of her being able to spend time in Thailand through the year and visit me in the UK for longer periods of time. The visa will also allow her to pickup causal work and for me, the added bonus is that we don't have to keep applying for visas every two years

Am I right in saying that she only has to spend more than 180 days in the UK in any given year and will we be penalised if we play the system like this?

Secondly, we cannot prove we have been living together other than the 5-6 months a year she is in the UK, will that go against us ?

22 hours ago, geisha said:

Wow, just wow ! *more than reasonable* to do trade with a murderous regime and it’s crazy dictator ?
 

For clarity, which country are you talking about ?

On 5/23/2023 at 8:09 AM, spidermike007 said:

You are unlikely to get much sympathy here. Most of us would have said <deleted> off the first time he asked. 

 

You cannot feel put upon or disrespected, if you are treating yourself with high regard. You are not, by helping this sluggard. So all this is on you. 

"Sluggard". Love it!