CALSinCM

50M THB for a walkway.

Boy, what we could do in our village with that amount of money. Wow.

But, walkways must be very important in Thailand, and rural farming communities are, well, just poor folk. Bad karma brought them to this life of toil...so sad too bad.

That people have nothing better to do than carry on about the Immigration Police says it all.

I bet you don't see the irony in your comment.

"About the on-line queue: Col. Rutjapong said it was discontinued because it can't accommodate two locations and generated many complaints."

If complaining is a reason to discontinue a service then a whole lot of people should shut up before more complaining shuts down more services. HELLO!

Hellooo, if anyone really believes immigrations "online queue system" was discontinued due to expats requesting more appointment slots (complaints) then chances are you still believe in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. There is only one logical reason this vital service was shut down, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

I knew that Santa Claus didn't exist. I caught Mom and Dad eating the cheese and crackers that Sis and I put out for him. And I'm pretty sure they polished off the egg nog too. But the Easter Bunny doesn't exist either? Say it ain't so! No wonder I haven't found any Easter Eggs since I left home 40-some years ago. <tear, sniff>

Truth is it probably ain't Sarc.

Lol Just a little early morning levity.

"About the on-line queue: Col. Rutjapong said it was discontinued because it can't accommodate two locations and generated many complaints."

If complaining is a reason to discontinue a service then a whole lot of people should shut up before more complaining shuts down more services. HELLO!

So we should be good, quiet, compliant, non-questioning sheep, correct? Try going forward and read my last posts http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855742-interview-about-new-chiangmai-immigration-office/?p=9870480.

At some point in the future: near, intermediate, or on a longer timeline, Thailand is going to have to face the facts of existing in a global community. Look at the mass migration happening in the EU, UK, and US. We're just 'guests' of our 'host country'. I think that particular paradigm is going to have a relatively short shelf life and will soon start to break down under the influence of the large, global players. It will start with the implementation of ASEAN when suddenly there is going to be significant global pressure applied to Thailand to conform to immigration policies that, from their highly nationalistic perspective, they are not going to like - at least if they plan to continue to export to the EU, UK, and the US or other nations that can actually buoy their GDP. Once there is enough international pressure applied by entities such as the IMF and various international (Western) NGOs, this closed border policy is eventually going to succumb to the realities of global economics and politics. It will start locally (actually it has already started) with an outcry of indignation over the treatment of workers who legally enter Thailand under immigration policy governing those nations who signed on to ASEAN, including the working conditions they are subject to, and will eventually expand to expats, like ourselves, whose home countries implement immigration policies that are light-years ahead of Thailand. Eventually there will be a call for quid pro quo. or equal application of immigration policy, international law, and human rights. What Thai National who accompanies a spouse or family member to the EU, UK, or US is subjected to the type of demeaning treatment that is the norm for treating foreigners here in Thailand? Even the Buddha said, "Everything changes." Thai immigration policy will eventually be forced to change. Even if they cut ties with the West and attempt to support their country by aligning with China and the BRICs, Thai immigration policy will eventually still be forced to change, most likely by China.

Do I feel like a 'guest' in my 'host country'. No. I make more money than a average middle class family with all members working and earning. I contribute more to the financial benefit of Thailand than the majority of Thais. I pay taxes. In many coherent, sane counties, I'd have a clear path toward Permanent Residency, and if I wanted, possibly Citizenship. If you buy into that 'guest' malarkey, then you accept being a 'classless entity' who simply is a conduit to funnel money into Thailand in return for nothing. Not even a modicum of respect.

But change will happen! Will this happen in my life-time? Maybe. Maybe not. But it will change. For better or for worse? The future is uncertain. Only time will tell.

Fantasy land.

Let's give it ten years and revisit it (Fantasy Land). I'll put in on my calendar

In the meantime, I'll keep the dialog going. Am I going to "Shut-up"? I doubt that. You don't shine light on a problem by turning the flashlight of knowledge off. Lol. You address problems by dragging them out into mid-day sunlight of public opinion.

Are they going to discontinue services due to foreigners voicing their opinions? What other service can they discontinue without making an equal problem for themselves?

Some people will b*tch and moan, some people will simply criticize, and some will offer constructive criticism. They're all valid, particularly when focused on an institution that is so near and dear to our hearts, like Immigration. And especially when the criticism is well-founded. And from what I read from the OPs interview, Thai Immigration is listening to us. I'm sorry to see the Online Queuing system go, but somewhere else in the future, perhaps improvement will actually occur. I have some hope. It's just gonna take time.

I'm baffled by the anger about the move. The airport location was small, cramped and chaotic. There was no parking. The small waiting area was hot and uncomfortable. I find the new office to be better organized, faster and much less stressful.

I guess haters are going to hate, no matter what....

You sound like a progressive liberal. They like to bandy around that word 'hater' when other individuals voice an opinion that is counter to their own. You should just agree that you disagree. It's a much more mature approach to establishing constructive dialog. Tossing out the word 'hater' is simply adding a rude pejorative into the dialog. Name calling is effective (if you're a follower of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radical) but at it's best it is infantile. It's akin to using a sledge hammer to push in a thumb tack.

So, join me in dropping the name calling, like the 'hater' liberal-speak and you'd find we (and others who have voiced opinions counter to yours or those who have expressed frustration with CM Immigration) might actually agree on a number of points. Immigration at the Promenade is a work in progress which is hampered by Thai Immigration in BKK. However, they need to either build an adjoining air conditioned waiting room to at least accommodate the older folk, frail, and elderly from the elements (sitting outside in the Hot Season is pure, uncompassionate BS, and I don't know of any Thai public offices who force their Thai customers, let alone their elderly, to sit in the sun outside), or implement a Promenade wide public-address system to call queue numbers so individuals can seek shelter within the mall proper. Both of these were addressed in the interview, so I see hope. The 90 day reporting seems to be stabilizing, so I see hope, I think that the eventual move to combine both the Airport and Promenade system will be fought with difficulties and will probably be an aggravating mess for a number of weeks (now I'm a 'hater', 'eh?), but over time I see hope for improvement.

So, try lightening up that 'hater speak'. Accept others opinions as just that: opinions. The world becomes a dangerous place once free-speech is replaced by the narrow-minded use of pejoratives and name-calling in order to stifle opinions that you disagree with. Once the majority of the world gets to that point, I'll be looking for John Galt.

Signed,

Concerned Immigration Hater Customer Willing to Voice His Opinion

BTW, a friend of mine who was a psychologist gave me an exercise to try years ago. The exercise: Think of a person or group of people you dislike, and list all the characteristics that you dislike about them. Then take a long hard look at yourself and see how many of those characteristics that you dislike about your target person or group are actually part of your own personality. How much hate do you hold in your own heart, and how does it manifest itself in your speech and actions? It might open your eyes.

Best wishes.

About the on-line queue: Col. Rutjapong said it was discontinued because it can't accommodate two locations and generated many complaints. He said the programming is done in Bangkok.

Well, duh! Two locations? How on earth could that interweb computer thing be able to know how to book at TWO locations? The mind boggles!

And clearly nobody in Chiang Mai could possibly have the skill and knowledge that the computer geniuses in Bangkok have. Making a program to put your name in a queue to go to ONE location is so impossibly complex that only the computer mavens in the nation's capital could possibly make it happen.

It's obvious you don't know a thing about computer systems. This is a centralized system designed and put in place in Bangkok. Of course, they're not going to give local offices the ability to make changes.

/Sarc On

It's probably coded in COBOL with (compatibility patches in C and Perl that no one in Thai Immigration IT services can understand) running on a IBM XT with Window NT 3.51 / IIS 3.0 and coded by an Indian foreign national who has long since left the country due to work permit issues in order to work in Silicon Valley on a H1B visa considering he rather be coding with current programming languages on state of the art computer platforms and making 20x the salary.

/Sarc Off

I'm afraid I gave up believing anything that comes from an Immigration spokesperson a long time ago.

Immigration offices are a gold mine for any ruling Government.CM is no exception.

It takes, on average, an officer 10-15 minutes to process a retirement extension.The online system had 10 slots for a whole day.

CM is Thailands second biggest city with a ratio of expats to Thais that would far exceed Bangkok.Go figure.

Just to clear up a popular fallacy - Chiang Mai is not Thailand's second largest city. It lies number 7 after Korat.

Bangkok 5,104,476 Samut Prakan 388,920 Mueang Nonthaburi 291,555 Udon Thani 247,231 Chon Buri 219,164 Nakhon Ratchasima 208,781 Chiang Mai 200,952

There are lies, damn lies, and statistics.

-attributed to Mark Twain

Muang Chiang Mai 200,952 not counting the other 1,500,000 folks immediately surrounding the downtown area.

I'm sure that applies to Pamut Prakan, Udon Thani, and Korat, and like I said before, I consider Nonthaburi to simply be the suburbs of Bangkok just like Laksi and Rangsit. I've also lived in Korat. Muang Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) 208,781 plus that other 1,800,000 surrounding the downtown area. Lies, damn lies, and...

...Statistics!!! That puts the argument about who deserves the lion's portion of the national budget in perspective. Eh? Everyone else are the proverbial Red-headed step-children (as opposed to the Yellow-haired darling child of the BKK elite).

I'm afraid I gave up believing anything that comes from an Immigration spokesperson a long time ago.

Immigration offices are a gold mine for any ruling Government.CM is no exception.

It takes, on average, an officer 10-15 minutes to process a retirement extension.The online system had 10 slots for a whole day.

CM is Thailands second biggest city with a ratio of expats to Thais that would far exceed Bangkok.Go figure.

CM is Thailand's fourth largest city, behind Bangkok, Udon Thank, and Nonthaburi; or it's seventh largest city, by some whacky calculation I couldn't fathom.

Definitely not second, though...

Saying Nonthaburi isn't part of the greater Bangkok area is like saying Anaheim or Hollywood isn't part of the greater Los Angles area.

You're right, Masuk. This from the NY Times, in an editorial last week: "The Thai state spent more than 72 percent of public funds in greater Bangkok, where only 17 percent of Thais lived, according to 2012 figures from the World Bank, the most recent data available."

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/11/opinion/how-to-save-the-thai-economy.html?_r=0

Of course they need more billion baht bike paths for the elites paid for out of the public coffers.

"About the on-line queue: Col. Rutjapong said it was discontinued because it can't accommodate two locations and generated many complaints."

If complaining is a reason to discontinue a service then a whole lot of people should shut up before more complaining shuts down more services. HELLO!

So we should be good, quiet, compliant, non-questioning sheep, correct? Try going forward and read my last posts http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/855742-interview-about-new-chiangmai-immigration-office/?p=9870480.

At some point in the future: near, intermediate, or on a longer timeline, Thailand is going to have to face the facts of existing in a global community. Look at the mass migration happening in the EU, UK, and US. We're just 'guests' of our 'host country'. I think that particular paradigm is going to have a relatively short shelf life and will soon start to break down under the influence of the large, global players. It will start with the implementation of ASEAN when suddenly there is going to be significant global pressure applied to Thailand to conform to immigration policies that, from their highly nationalistic perspective, they are not going to like - at least if they plan to continue to export to the EU, UK, and the US or other nations that can actually buoy their GDP. Once there is enough international pressure applied by entities such as the IMF and various international (Western) NGOs, this closed border policy is eventually going to succumb to the realities of global economics and politics. It will start locally (actually it has already started) with an outcry of indignation over the treatment of workers who legally enter Thailand under immigration policy governing those nations who signed on to ASEAN, including the working conditions they are subject to, and will eventually expand to expats, like ourselves, whose home countries implement immigration policies that are light-years ahead of Thailand. Eventually there will be a call for quid pro quo. or equal application of immigration policy, international law, and human rights. What Thai National who accompanies a spouse or family member to the EU, UK, or US is subjected to the type of demeaning treatment that is the norm for treating foreigners here in Thailand? Even the Buddha said, "Everything changes." Thai immigration policy will eventually be forced to change. Even if they cut ties with the West and attempt to support their country by aligning with China and the BRICs, Thai immigration policy will eventually still be forced to change, most likely by China.

Do I feel like a 'guest' in my 'host country'. No. I make more money than a average middle class family with all members working and earning. I contribute more to the financial benefit of Thailand than the majority of Thais. I pay taxes. In many coherent, sane counties, I'd have a clear path toward Permanent Residency, and if I wanted, possibly Citizenship. If you buy into that 'guest' malarkey, then you accept being a 'classless entity' who simply is a conduit to funnel money into Thailand in return for nothing. Not even a modicum of respect.

But change will happen! Will this happen in my life-time? Maybe. Maybe not. But it will change. For better or for worse? The future is uncertain. Only time will tell.

the do so called gooders,got on there band wagon,and started to make waves,thinking there way was more important than there hosts,thai culture do not like interference or be dictated to by a outsider,or questioned for that matter

It now seems rse off situation.

How does complaining about having to line up at 4am to maybe get a number to be served that day lead to "an even worse off situation"?

Are you inferring that immigration heard our complaints and are purposefully making things even more difficult? If you are right, it speaks volumes about the integrity of immigration....

Hey, all we are asking here is that this office run itself professionally and give some respect to those who are trying to do the right thing regarding immigration requirements.

I don't know what countries you people are from, but would this sort of behavior be tolerated there? Of course not.

Anyway, please explain what do-gooders are in relation to this situation, and how the immigration situation has worsened because of complaints and the questioning of their "efficiency."

My comment was referring to the fact that the explanation for the cancellation of the online queue for extensions was complaints.

I also thought the move to Promenada was to address the questioning of the old office's efficiency and from the many posts I've read this does not seem to be the case.

Speaking for myself living in another province (Lampang) certainly the cancellation of the online queue for extensions has definitely made things worse!

Fortunately twice a month a couple of Chiangmai immigration officers drive up to Lampang City to process 90 day reports for those of us in the vicinity.

CM Immigration stated the reason they cancelled the "online queue" was because expats complained about it but that isn't the reason it was cancelled. The current sad state of affairs with CM immigration is no way the fault of expat complaints or immigration officials in Bangkok. All fingers point in one direction. Please read some of the earlier posts.

Let me use this analogy for the sake of comparative analysis:

If CM Immigration stated the reason they cancelled the "online queue" was because expats complained about it, then isn't it logical to assume that CM immigration would cancel the current 'stand-in-line' queue system based on the number of complaints about it?

Using the same logic, should they not abandon the 'stand-in-line' queue system and implement a new, revised queue system where they announce over the loud-speaker that an appointment is available, and the individual who is the strongest and most aggressive, and who can push though the doorway first, gets that appointment. Or - you hire an agent.

I mean, they say they cancelled the 'on-line system' based on complaints from expats, and I basically hear nothing but complaints about having to stand in line for one of the 20 retirement extension queue numbers, so the one viable conclusion I can come up with is to scrap the 'stand-in-line' queue system just as they did the 'on-line' queue system and go with the choice between an anarchical free-for-all for each appointment slot, or conversely, the option to hire an agency.

From a rhetorical standpoint, these are the same problems, and hence the same solution should be applied to these two similar problems.

Hegelian Dialectics 101:

If you don't understand, don't worry too much, you're in the majority, your not suppose to understand.

the do so called gooders,got on there band wagon,and started to make waves,thinking there way was more important than there hosts,thai culture do not like interference or be dictated to by a outsider,or questioned for that matter

What is a "do so called gooders"?

It now seems complaints to the immigration department and the questioning of their efficiency have led us to an even worse off situation.

How does complaining about having to line up at 4am to maybe get a number to be served that day lead to "an even worse off situation"?

Are you inferring that immigration heard our complaints and are purposefully making things even more difficult? If you are right, it speaks volumes about the integrity of immigration....

Hey, all we are asking here is that this office run itself professionally and give some respect to those who are trying to do the right thing regarding immigration requirements.

I don't know what countries you people are from, but would this sort of behavior be tolerated there? Of course not.

Anyway, please explain what do-gooders are in relation to this situation, and how the immigration situation has worsened because of complaints and the questioning of their "efficiency."

My comment was referring to the fact that the explanation for the cancellation of the online queue for extensions was complaints.

I also thought the move to Promenada was to address the questioning of the old office's efficiency and from the many posts I've read this does not seem to be the case.

Speaking for myself living in another province (Lampang) certainly the cancellation of the online queue for extensions has definitely made things worse!

Fortunately twice a month a couple of Chiangmai immigration officers drive up to Lampang City to process 90 day reports for those of us in the vicinity.

Habfan, So that still is happening. What days of the month and could you explain the process? Appointment needed, etc.

Well I went in today at 1:30 talked to the girls out side. Was informed they only give out 20 numbers a day. I asked what if it is 3:00 and they had seen all 20 she informed me that they only give out 20 a day. Was like talking to an empty chair. I asked her what number they were on now and she said 11. I thanked her went next door to the outfit that does it for 3,000 baht asked them if they could handle it for me they said yes. I would have to wait a little bit to get my picture taken. Sat there for a bit they called me took me next door took my picture and I was out of there at 2:15. Paid her the 4,900 baht for the registration fee and her services had a bite to eat saw a movie picked up my passport and I am set for another year.

The girl who took me to the immigration office was tired she said she had to get up every day at 4:00 in the morning. As said elsewhere not professionals but then again the final result was just as good as a professional with a masters degree. The best part of it was I didn't have to chase all over town. One stop and I was done. I am not sure how they do it but I think they get tickets for the afternoon regardless if any one is scheduled or not. I was out of there in 45 minutes after I showed up and I noticed the queue tickets on his desk said 15. I doubt he had done 4 in half an hour when she told me 11. Also it was nice to see they had a loudspeaker. Only a few hanging around out side when I got there so I went inside and there was 33 sitting in there waiting. Left after the show a meal and some shopping and noticed their was still about 7 or 8 staff working.

So, my question, which I'm sure others are wondering too, How is it that all the 20 queue numbers for retirement visas have been handed out by the Promenade Immigration opening, but, low and behold, the agency can get right in and get you processed, but the average John or Nancy farang, had to have shown up at Zero-Dark-Thirty and have gotten one of the 20 queue number in order to be seen by an Immigration Officer on that day?

Another thing to consider, don't you need a passport in hand showing you're within the time period to apply for an extension and that you're in valid need of a queue number for a retirement extension. If an agency is given a block of queue numbers, but are not representing an actual client who at that moment is in current need of an extension, how can they get queue number or an 'appointment' slot (if this is actually happening)? If they can get queue numbers for 'potential' clients as opposed to actual clients, and those queue numbers are not used, then the fact is that less then 20 clients are being seen while the agency(ies) are sitting on unused queue numbers. If 20 queue numbers are being handed out, are 20 clients in need of retirement visas being processed each day? And if the agency is not actually obtaining queue numbers like the rest of us, how are they getting appointments?

So tell me, how does that work?

And note - I want to stress this: I am not accusing Immigration or any agency of impropriety. I'm just asking a very simple, valid question. There should be a very simple and valid answer to the question.

I know there's a popular conspiracy theory as to why the on-line queue was discontinued, but the official story is that it was discontinued because there were so many (justified) complaints about how there were only 10 appointment slots on the queue and those would fill up within second of opening, how the queue was always full, how they needed to have more appointment times on the on-line queue, and how some people (maybe some conspiracy theorists?) thought that visa agents booked all the on-line queue appointments. Oh, and some people became angry when Immigration officers assisted people with queue appointments ahead of those who had gotten up early.

Obviously additional programming work is needed. But Bangkok has already let it be known how much they're supporting the Chiang Mai office.

Please read my interview with Prom. and Imm. again. I think we customers of Imm. have a good friend in the management of Prom. mall. Something we didn't have at the old location. I think we need to be supportive of Promenada and show them that it's worth spending money to help improve conditions for the customers at Imm. -- that might just include helping with this on-line queue issue.

Indeed it was a justified reason to shut it down. They couldn't improve on it so it was unfair to the majority of the expats so they shut it down to give all the same chance. Perhaps in the future they will be able to make the proper adjustments to the system. In the mean time we will have to except the fact that we are not living back home where they could solve any problem.

As for how much Bangkok is supporting the Chiang Mai office it is not clear. We know there will be no new building but what about additional staff? Also will they be able to rent another room there?

As I said in my earlier post I went in today at 1:30 talked to the girls at the table out side and proceeded to the agent a few doors down. They said no problem. Some thing about an appointment they had that they could put off until Monday. I think what the agents do is book appointments for the afternoon even if they don't have a client. I recall last week when I first talked to them they said that if I had my passport there by 11:00 in the morning they could have an appointment in the afternoon.

As for the Promenada helping. That is just plain common sense for them. There was still not a lot of people in the mall but defiantly more than before immigration moved in.

Bottom line is they still have a lot of room for improvement and as was mentioned earlier they were starting this is not the end.

So, my question, which I'm sure others are wondering too, is can the agency book appointments, and the average Joe or Nancy farang can't. How is it that all the numbers have been handed out, but, low and behold, the agency can get right in and get you processed? How's that work?

I expect to die in Thailand, It may also happen quicker than I wish , and if you had my prognosis you should be on your way home

I have given all this much thought, in Thailand I have no insurance, I could go to the Uk and get free medical, and free hospice but have no family left there

In this world we have many choices and if you are amongst those who do not wish to die here maybe (very understandable) you should return home sooner rather than later, maybe you want to have your cake and eat it, unrealistic, YOU HAVE CHOICES

I have been out of the Uk for over 20 yrs and the love and care in the hospitals here is very difficult to find elsewhere, my understanding however is pain medication maybe in short supply, so might need plan to to close things on ones own choice, with asking the wife to shoot me like the lame horse

I also have a plan to maybe even die at home, I know the love I get here both from my wife and the nursing community is second to none

There is no shortage of pain medication. But there is reluctance to provide large amounts of narcotic for outpatient use, even in terminal cases, and such meds as are prescribed will only be oral which is a problem for people near death as often unable to swallow. Home hospice care such as in the west, complete with iv morphine at home etc, is not available here.

As a result one has to choose between dying at home (indeed an option provided family members and treating physician are on board and advance directive made out) or dying pain free but in a hospital.

Just curious, but in your advanced directive, can you state that you wish to be placed in a medical induced coma if the pain become too much to bear?

I fully share your concerns re palliative care here and hope it improves before it comes my time as I would much prefer to die in my home here. There is movement in that direction but pace is slow.

I would not however attribute the problems to a lack of compassion on the part of doctors. Rather it is the medico-legal environment combined with ignorance. The situation here is identical to what it was in the US prior to the 1970's.

Both links given were for medical evacuation only policies, though the second one does have to be applied for before taking up foreign residence. The Cigna one does not AFAIK. I did not price it, but suggest you do as a point of comparison with global rescue.

Also still recommend the use of an insurance broker. There may be more options than google search readily discloses, and a broker can also give some feedback on performance.

Given that your concern is the quality of palliative care it will be essential that any policy you get allows evacuation on demand by the patient and not subject to the insurer or treating doctors assessment of need. Otherwise when the time comes there is every risk that the insurer will decide that treatment of what you have can be done in Thailand (and likely it can, just not the way you want it to be).

Given that your concern is the quality of palliative care it will be essential that any policy you get allows evacuation on demand by the patient and not subject to the insurer or treating doctors assessment of need. Otherwise when the time comes there is every risk that the insurer will decide that treatment of what you have can be done in Thailand (and likely it can, just not the way you want it to be).

Good point and one that I had not thought of. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

I was shopping at Promenada this afternoon, & decided to see if I could get my 90 day report done. 15 minute wait. Can't complain about that & quicker than my usual trip to post office

Office was pretty quiet. Maybe a dozen people sitting inside.

About what time did you get your queue number. Obviously they are not running out of 90 Day queue numbers in the morning, although getting one in the afternoon might be 'hit or miss'. So, just curious about the time. By the way - good show! That might actually show some promise.

Does anyone know a local teacher in CM who is a good Bass Guitarist and can teach an old retiree who has a lot of time on his hands to practice and eventually produce song quality music, or at least good enough to jam?

Names and contact info would be good.

I keep meeting people who tell me they watch US and International TV on the Internet using their computer.

I must be as dense as a brick. I can't figure out how to do it. In fact, it seems like places like HBO don't even want an expat with a VPN to subscribe.

Hell, all I want to do is legally watch TV, even if I pay for it. What are options others use?

Lemmings.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha called the bombing "the worst incident" to ever hit the country, saying, "this time they aimed for innocent lives. They want to destroy our economy, our tourism."

You already did that your self with your greed and non safety .... You made the bed, now lie in it ...

Grossly unfair post.

Personally, I think Jimlove is right on target with no punches pulled.

If you think it's a "Grossly unfair post", try using more than three words to explain why - if you have the ability to actually write a comment in excess of 50 to 100 words.

Here: I'll give you a start. Thailand has the second most dangerous roads in the entire world. That's just one example: I can suggest plenty more if you can't come up with any ideas.

"Grossly unfair post" What a pathetic whimper.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha called the bombing "the worst incident" to ever hit the country, saying, "this time they aimed for innocent lives. They want to destroy our economy, our tourism."

You already did that your self with your greed and non safety .... You made the bed, now lie in it ...

And to the PM: You can continue to destroy your financial base of Expats in the Northern Thailand by continuing to implement some of the most humanly degrading Immigration policies and procedures that, personally, are very seriously making myself and others consider leaving the Chiang Mai region, if not the country. Do you realize how much money we pump into the local economy and community though our immediate and extended families ? Yet we are treated lower than Buffalo when it comes to The Thailand Immigration services in Chiang Mai? Or are you so disconnected from reality, sir, that you either can no longer see, or do you simply not care? Best of luck if this type of situation ever happens in Chiang Mai. During major festivals, I stay away from large groups of people.

I don't recommend Thailand as a tourist location to my friends. Three years ago a asked my friends to come; today, I recommend they do not come. Why should I. It they come to Chiang Mai, they're treated like Kee Kwai by your government agencies, especially Immigration. And how long is it going to be before some terrorist decides that Chiang Mai is a good target?

Your country is out of control, and your hubris toward tourists and Expats is inexcusable. Then there is the inability to control the internal national affairs of your country without someone needing to be 'compensated' for their services, i.e., corruption. Amazing Thailand? Amazing, but not in a good way.

Try treating farang and foreigners and Expat with just a little respect.

Best of luck with your tourist industry, and when the thousands of farangs married to you Thai native women start to leave, even better luck. No loss. We're just Bullalo droppings, well that might be true is you can get ฿20000 for a shovel full of Bullalo droppings. I'm personally tired of your xenophobic country, and I'm trying to understand why I should stay - right now, it is ONLY for my Thai family's sake. Otherwise, I'd already be gone.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha called the bombing "the worst incident" to ever hit the country, saying, "this time they aimed for innocent lives. They want to destroy our economy, our tourism."

You already did that your self with your greed and non safety .... You made the bed, now lie in it ...

And to the PM: You can continue to destroy your financial base of Expats in the Northern Thailand by continuing to implement some of the most humanly degrading Immigration policies and procedures that, personally, are very seriously making myself and others consider leaving the Chiang Mai region, if not the country. Do you realize how much money we pump into the local economy and community though our immediate and extended families ? Yet we are treated lower than Buffalo when it comes to The Thailand Immigration services in Chiang Mai? Or are you so disconnected from reality, sir, that you either can no longer see, or do you simply not care? Best of luck if this type of situation ever happens in Chiang Mai. During major festivals, I stay away from large groups of people.

I don't recommend Thailand as a tourist location to my friends. Three years ago a asked my friends to come; today, I recommend they do not come. Why should I. It they come to Chiang Mai, they're treated like Kee Kwai by your government agencies, especially Immigration. And how long is it going to be before some terrorist decides that Chiang Mai is a good target?

Your country is out of control, and your hubris toward tourists and Expats is inexcusable. Then there is the inability to control the internal national affairs of your country without someone needing to be 'compensated' for their services, i.e., corruption. Amazing Thailand? Amazing, but not in a good way.

Try treating farang and foreigners and Expat with just a little respect.

There is no such thing as an "air ambulance" policy. But there are medical evacuation policies which will pay to bring you back to your country of residence or nationality by whatever means is needed under the circumstances. Some examples:

1. http://www.cignaglobal.com/health-insurance-plans/international-emergency-evacuation-insurance

2. https://medjetassist.com/personal-air-medical-transport/rules-regulations (This may be the one you were thinking of, but not that they while they can arrange specially equipped aircraft they will usually make use of commercial aircraft as is usually possibly with escort and appropriate equipment etc. Note also that this plan has to be enrolled in before you leave your country of residence.

There are others as well - suggest you contact an insurance broker.

Another option would be to drop your Thai insurance in favor of an internationally issued plan that includes medical evacuation to your home country. This will cover you both for care in Thailand (i.e. could then drop your Thai policy) and once back home. Need to be sure it is worldwide inc. US.

If sick enough to require medical evacuation you are likely to run up some significant costs first in Thailand. Many Thai based policies have very low caps on coverage so double check yours if you opt to keep it and just add on a medical evacuation policy.

At my age I've done a lot of thinking about this. Not that I'm unhealthy, but I'm getting older and things happen.

After reading the information regarding the woman who died in Chiang Mai of cancer, which does nothing but reinforce my premise that Thailand is a barbaric, dreadful place to die of such a dreaded disease simply due to the fact that they will never give you palliative care that is adequate, well, unless you're rich and connected of which I'm neither.

So if I develop a disease that becomes terminal, I want to go back to Washinton State where I'll access to four things: Medical Majauana, opiates in sufficient quantify to keep me out of pain near terminal death, and should my funds run out - I have the option of legally requesting an 'end of life' prescription so that I can die in dignity and on my own terms, and I have a close extended family and friends. Here in Thailand, I have none of that.

Regarding insurance policies that include the US: They are so far out of my price range as to be literally ridiculous.

At a reasonable cost I can obtain a $500K medical policy that will cover me anywhere - except the US. Health Care in the US is totally messed up beyond repair, and lets say I sign up for ACA, what good does it do me here in Thailand? Just about a good as my Thai policy does me in the US. Or for that matter, considering my age, what will Medicare do for me here in Thailand once I turn 65. Again. Nothing. The one outfit that I did find for "medical evacuation policies" was https://globalrescue.com/signup/signup.xhtml Global+Rescue. I'm looking for options like that, and considering I live here in Thialand, I have no plans to make a trip back to the US just to sign up a medical evacuation policy. (That's one I don't undertand).

Bottom line. I don't want to die of some wasting, painful disease in Thailand where doctors have less compassion than The Marquis de Sade. I want to find an option to JUST get myself home and I'm willing to pay for insurance to get me there. But I don't want to be forced to buy a multi-level health insurance package that has 'medical evacuation' as a rider to a policy that I simply cannot afford because the US is the most expensive place in the world for insurance. Most of these types of policies would financially break me even here in Thailand. I can't afford a policy for $600 to $1000 / month. I wouldn't have enough money to live on. It might be a moot point. At 65 I might just move back to the US. The longer I stay here, the less I like it.