sandyf

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

As for slow learner or more to the point poor comrehension skills the poster was talking about 11:00 am and the inability to purchase alcohol before this ridiculous start time.

There has never been an inability to purchase alcohol before 11 am, or during the afternoon, but some want everything their own way.

There is a saying about being in Rome.

4 hours ago, CharlesHolzhauer said:

Because some government officials' misconduct has led to the entire population of the country and their guests being penalized?

I was brought up in the UK when bars were only open from 12-3pm and 5pm-9pm, and only for 6 days a week. No alcohol on or off sales on a Sunday.

A bit puzzling that they were aware of a change yet the start of the rollout of the old age flu vaccine program was delayed. Last year I had the vaccine at a clinic on the 2nd October, this year the same clinics did not start until last week in October.

Before anyone has other ideas, the above statement is based on invitation via the NHS national messaging service, local information may well differ.

On 11/4/2025 at 7:00 PM, Cardano said:

Try reading the full context of my reply instead of selective phrase picking; I said I know all my options regarding a new visa! But my original question was in respect to the options of changing the renewal date of my visa extension, but same as most threads on here it doesn't take long to go off topic.

Agreed. But you ought to have been clearer in the original question that you didn't want to leave the country. An overseas trip is the most obvious option to change your extension date.

I made the statement

"There is no such thing as "starting all over again",  just the same procedure and you get a free 90 day thrown  in."

This  was in response to a poster that had  queried an extension and  indicated a reluctance to get new visa.

My reply indicated there was little difference between extending a new visa or renewing an existing extension, it is the same procedure.

Unfortunately there are always those that want to distort the context.

20 hours ago, Randy99 said:

Last time (6months ago) I renewed my 5 year in Chon Buri.  Hired the owner of a driving school to handle it.  I still had to be there at DMV donating my signature but otherwise nothing to do.  It took less than one hour versus around 4 or 5 hrs if you DIY.  Paid her 1500.  Good value.

I do mine in Chonburi and it has never taken anywhere near that length of time. Previously they never  had anywhere to do the movie so fairly quick, but last time I went the new building had been completed and I had to watch the movie for the first time, but overall took less than 2  hours.

If I remember right foreigners couldn't book online and had to phone up or go and make an appointment. When I went it was late morning and she asked if I wanted to come back at 2pm for the movie or another time. They have facilities in the yard so just waited, finished before 4pm, think they shut then. Better to go there in the afternoon, a lot less people.

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Recycling Thai style

No, she didn't eat them first.

Although waste disposal is one of the downsides throughout Thailand.

22 hours ago, Anthony mellows said:

Compared to the same 9 month period last year.These figures are from the Nation media outlet, so not sure how reliable they are..

Yes indeed there has been annual increases since covid, and on the basis that pre and post figures are unreliable, not back to where they were said to be.

On 11/4/2025 at 4:44 PM, Cardano said:

That's got nothing to do with the question I asked! I know all my options for getting a new visa and starting al over again.

Of course it has, outcome is exactly what you want, done it many times.

There is no such thing as "starting all over again",  just the same procedure and you get a free 90 day thrown  in.

For some strange reason some seem to think that  preserving an extension means something, it doesn't. What does mean something is renewing at a time that suits.

14 hours ago, MarkyM3 said:

£500/$500 Heathrow to BKK?! I think not....

 

I booked a BKK-LHR--BKK flight yesterday for midweek departure late February, return midweek early March and EVA Air economy direct was £900, business which I booked cost £2740. The existing LHR-BKK-LHR I'd I already had booked (Jan-May) were similar priced, just a tad cheaper. 

 

When I looked on Skyscanner at those with connections/long layovers...nothing at that priced. £650 is the cheapest. No-one has offered return flight for £500 in economy for a long time that I know of. 

 

As for tourist numbers, Thailand is not that cheap now and hasn't been for a while. Yes, if you live away from Bangkok or tourist areas and live a quiet life. My grocery and toiletries bill from is more reasonable in the UK than Big C or Foodland and the choice and quality of produce is far better. Vietnam is cheaper (for now) but I found I still prefer the Thai vibe, despite the gripes. I'm glad numbers are dropping though, they have become too high and led to complacency, overcrowding etc.   

I think you misread the post, I took it as $500 single.

I would agree with most of what you said, Thailand is certainly not cheap for tourists and in particular for families, a bit like many other countries. Why the "all inclusive" has become so popular.

18 hours ago, Anthony mellows said:

Uk numbers for 2025 were 13.66 % up.

Up on what?

Increasing year by year but still below the pre covid level. The rise in air fares post covid probably the most significant deterrent, but they are beginning to stabilise, I was the same this year as last.

However I suspect the increasing numbers are singles rather than families.

19 hours ago, redwood1 said:

This tax will do almost nothing to help Thailand....It will only make small purchases cost more.

It depends on how you look at it.

I see the same products being sold by someone in Bangkok and  "comes from overseas" and yes, the latter would normally be cheaper, but with a protracted delivery.

I would normally buy from the domestic source at the higher price as In the past I have had many orders time out and have to be reordered.

I see the outcome as a "normalisation" of prices rather than a price increase on the product. Direct sales from overseas may well become a thing of the past on the large online platforms.

On 11/6/2025 at 7:40 AM, johng said:

Just what everyone needs....yet more taxation !   👎

Keep things in perspective.

Nothing "more" about it, I avoid "comes from overseas".

As they say "up to you".

21 hours ago, bubblegum said:

Wow this topic really shows us the racists on this forum.

Indeed.

Unfortunately other news items fuel the rhetoric.

Reacting to our investigation, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, said: "Illegal working and linked organised criminality creates an incentive for people to come here illegally. We will not stand for it."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mx99ple17o

On 11/4/2025 at 4:59 PM, hotchilli said:

City dwellers maybe not, but the rural Thai will eat wildlife in the blink of an eye

Doesn't get any more rural than where I live, but that's central, bit different  to the north where the population is mainly from neighbouring countries.

My wife's niece, when she lived here, used to go to the market and buy turtles and crabs , to put back in the sea.

On 10/23/2025 at 3:50 PM, ChipButty said:

Who remembers when you was younger Woolworths Pick and Mix sweet counter? 

I was brought up in Morayshire and a trip on the bus to Woolies in Elgin was an exciting day out.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

A lower number of tourists  make the experience a better one for everyone involved, except perhaps the hotels and the people connected to the industry. As far as the tourists are concerned huge numbers are never very pleasant. Just look at Italy and Spain as an example. 

Quite, but there is no pleasing some, they whinge about too many Asian tourists and then whinge about the government if the numbers start falling.

Some European countries are now suffering from the cost of long haul. Brits can get a week's holiday, fully inclusive, in Europe for less than a ticket to Thailand.

In June I went from the UK to Morocco, fully inclusive on BA with all our luggage to a very nice resort for just over £600 per person. Last month I was £650 on Emirates just to get to Gatwick, is it any wonder the numbers are down.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand it runs the risk of ending up on the specials menu

Maybe where you live. Earlier this year we had 3  pythons in the space of a few weeks. My wife and her sister bagged the first  one and released it some distance away. The other 2 were up the trees after the chickens, they got the local authority to take them away.

Despite what many may think the Thais have a reluctance to kill wildlife, may be different for those from neighbouring countries.

On 10/29/2025 at 3:26 PM, Tramboy said:

When big news is no news at all.

Bars are already allowed to open until 4am. This measure was put in place, from memory, when Prayut was in or if not, very shortly after.

For those that don't believe me and are in Pattaya, have a look around Soi Buakhao at 3.30 am any night of the week.

Indeed.

Apart from covid, in 25 years i cannot ever having a problem getting a drink in Pattaya, can't say the same for Bangkok and other places.

I can remember however when mid afternoon you couldn't get near a bar in New Plaza yet Soi 6 was all shut up.

Like many things in Thailand, inconsistancy is rampant, but what is strange is objections to a move that would reduce the inconsistancy around bars.

On 10/26/2025 at 12:42 PM, paddypower said:

SCB says use SICOTHBK. ( I phoned SCB to confirm this). CIBC offers 2 options: SICOTHBKXXX and SICOTHBKTSD.  I have never had a problem for the past 15 years. Now, neither works, for the past 5 months. Any advice? CIBC used to offer a transfer option to WISE Canada. But not any more.  

Swift was initially 8 character codes but time brought about the 11 character code with the last 3 characters being the branch.

However Thailand  only  uses the 11 character for business banking and it is still 8 for retail banking. External institutions now usually require the full 11 characters so the XXX is added to the code which puts it to head office and funds distributed from there.

Glad to see a resolution and it was not code related.

I was a bit surprised that he was selected to represent the Queen at the cremation in 2017.

Wonder how that will be reflected in the history books.

On 11/2/2025 at 10:23 AM, Gaccha said:

 

Since 2012, pensioners' average incomes in the UK have been greater than the incomes of workers. The last group that needs any help is pensioners.

 

For the first time in their lives, Boomers are not seeing everything go their way, and you are shocked.

 

 

 

Always one that wants to distort the context. Can only assume "alignment" went over your head.

The point being that alignment on a singular issue does not equate to justification.

After all, didn't brexit oppose alignment.

On 11/2/2025 at 10:13 AM, TedG said:

Can the UK afford it?

Affordability comes from choices, they can afford freeloaders and migrants.

On 9/20/2025 at 4:21 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Heavy reliance on U turns, the most dangerous maneuver 

 

Quite.

On the road from Chonburi to Bang Saen they have been testing various configurations of a U turn arrangement for at least 10 years. Been a slow and tedious process as the Thai drivers fail to understand what is required.

The fact that it has to be big enough for a lorry to turn allows normal vehicles to go in 2/3 abreast, this blocks the intended exit route, making it no different to the way it was.