atpeace

Seems plausible - about the same total weight as the average xpat here.

I almost bought one years ago. Thought it would be a good way of getting around while travelling by bus. I hate driving the car and oddly enough have no issues with bus travel but once I arrived at many destinations, transport was very difficult without having wheels. In Thailand speed while cycling has put me in many emergency rooms the last 20 years and finally decided they u-cycles were ridiculously dangerous. One of the main recommendations on u-cycle forums was wrist guards because of the falls that would inevitably happen. All fine but then I started to think about it, my wrists would be my least concern if I fell in traffic which would most likely happen.

Probably right to some extent. I'm far from perfect and in the end just want to live a satisfying life. To each his own and if hating on locals makes you happy then I guess I need to accept it. Not that you are "one" of the Thai haters on this forum - just saying. I do understand how some are frustrated with their existence here in Thailand and should show more empathy.

My friends did crash quite often but they aren't stupid enough to drive in busy roads with fast moving traffic and in the fast lane. I moved miles out in nowhere Thailand now but I think most if not all are not even using the u-cycles anymore.

What is your point exactly? Thais are idiots? Farang are wicked smart? I see both Farangs and Thais driving like fools and to be honest I do many things on my scooter that are stupid. Maybe I redeem myself a little while in the car but regardless, given the current lack of traffic violations being enforced, most of us drive dangerously. It is an enforcement and infrastructure that is the issue and Thais and non Thais as a whole drive like fools because we want to get from point a to b as quick as possible.

In the slow lane and not hindering traffic vs fools in the fast lane on one wheel cycles that crash often. So what happens when they fall in front of car travelling at 100 km/hr? I could only imagine the vulgarities coming out of your mouth if you were rushing home on the loop road and these two cyclists were in front of you.

Interesting! I have been messing around with solar for a few years and could do this for much less but it wouldn't be pretty and probably electrocute myself in the process. Interesting times...

Like the other poster stated, definitely BigNok. Agree with the above post. Why would anybody buy a bar here with VERY few exceptions.

Roughly 40% of Americans don't pay federal taxes. Why ? I don't know exactly or really care 🙂 Sorry - I don't understand your second question. Had a couple drinks with the wife so probably me.

The concern is that almost 50% Americans, myself included, pay little to no tax on their federal tax. Most to many Americans through legal tax deductions/credits pay little to nothing for the first 50K dollars each year. In Thailand that number is reduced to around $4kand theoretically retirees would have to pay taxes on the amount above 4k that was never taxed if brought into Thailand. All this is a guessing came but interesting nonetheless. Very little concern on my end and doing things to reduce the risk. For example, drawing down my 800k retire visa amount so I don't bring much money into the country this year seems wise? We will have a better idea in the coming year but why take risks that can be avoided with little effort. This is why this thread is interesting - easy to plan for something with more info.

I'm very confident this is the case and retirees might have substantial tax due that wasn't the intention. My bet is it will have little to no impact once it is implemented and the government excludes or provides loop holes for expats. On paper the new regs are a definite concern especially for younger and unmarried retirees that have fewer means to reduce their tax bill vs the 65 up crowd. I seriously doubt the intention of the new regs is to squeeze xpats for little gain in the end. Governments throughout the world are trying to implement tax schemes that are more fair for everybody considering the current ease of working abroad or investing abroad. Seems like a good idea and everybody should contribute but not be double taxed.

I just gave the pre 2024 income some more thought. They don't state that other income isn't taxable. If you have substantial saving and have investment income(eg, usa stocks) while you are in Thailand, it will be taxed in the same manner as income for those without savings. Loophole closed! Honestly, the pre 2024 seems to good to be true but Oh I hope it is true. It is still a wonderful loophole for wealthy Thais which why it was included probably. Thais can repatriate all their money tax free. In addition, I wouldn't be surprised to see an amendment excluding assets purchased prior to 2024 are excluded that would for example eliminate tax for wealthy Thais on real estate sold after 2024.

If this ends up being how taxes on pre 2024 income is treated then I would think many retirees have nothing to worry about at least for the next 5-10 years. For example if you have 400k US dollars in savings prior to 2024 and transfer 25k each year, disregarding inflation, you are cool for 16 years. I'm a US citizen and FACTA is a mutual agreement that requires foreign banks to provide account balances as well as other info. Here is KrungThai's FACTA link - https://krungthai.com/en/content/about-ktb/corporate-governance/fatca#:~:text=FATCA requires foreign financial institutions,and US-Owned Foreign Entity. . I've read many of your posts on this subject and appreciate all the personal effort you have put into providing factual info. I'm still uncomfortable a little with what will be implemented because I sense even you are only guessing on the outcome. If pre 2024 earned income can be brought to Thailand without having to mess with current investment earning, I'm as happy as a clam.

I was one of those people. Took me some time to let go of my hate which I only have felt for a few people in the past. A person would have to be a terrible person IMO for me to hate them. many of my friends respected him which to this day I don't get. With time I became more level headed and started to see some of the good he was doing that transcended his horrendous character. In the end, his presidency was bearable and I could deal with another 4 years of Trump this time around without the meltdown. Live and learn I guess.

What does short have to with anything? I'm not short but not how I would rate people. He is funny IMO but to each his own. It's comedy and have fun with it and by all means don't take it personally 🙂

I have had fun during Songkran water hurling but mostly dread the experience. A 1-2 should be the limit IMO with the exception of Pattaya. Now that I no longer live there, I would be fine with making it the only place water can be used to douse people. Hell, extend it a month and possibly allow mud cannons and clothing optional zones for those with a BMI <30 which sadly would exclude 90% of x-pats but they could still enjoy albeit without exposing what nobody really wants to see.

and choke on the smog. spent 7 years in Chiang Mai and going back during the pollution peak months seems ludicrous. Do you live in Chiang Mai and know the PM 2.5 numbers the first 2 weeks of April? I had to waste a few days recovering in a hospital 10 years ago after a fun Songkran day and the hospital was full with people hacking and spatting - disgusting experience.

Must be reading a different thread. Most posters from the NE have stated it is bad but better than most areas. Lived in Chiang Mai for example and the PM 2.5 was "MUCH" worse than the NE. It is terrible everywhere but living in cities with bad inversion that just keeps the bad air in the same place is not a healthy choice. Also cities produce more of the pm 1.0 and less that "might" be the main contributor to health issues. Lots of new research coming out and my bet is that scientists will conclude that the PM < .1 is the real concern.

My viewpoint exactly. The air in the far east is bad but most years is manageable. Air filters and indoor exercise on the treadmill while watching youtube during the worst weeks. The far eastern parts of Thailand can be lonely but with some adjustments can be quite satisfying.

Look for areas without severe air inversion. I also have asthma and exercise everyday outdoors. Finally had to give up on Chiang Mai after 6 years and multiple hospital visits. Without inversion in the last 3 cities I have lived in the last 8 years the pollution fluctuates daily and usually I can adapt my outside activities. Chiang Mai is basically a toilet bowl for 3 months each year which can be seen from Doi Suthep and is atrocious near the city center all year. Looking down on the city from any of the surrounding mountains is depressing.

10% per month is no longer the norm ( much lower now) and 5% a day doesn't happen excluding the extremally rare exception. Who is telling you this?

How often are you getting boosted? No plans for myself since I can now do anything without proof of vaccination now but it might be a good idea for my 84 yo mother in law.

Sure I'm going to get trashed here for not being 100% into bashing Thais but oh well. I seem to be a magnet for accidents and have been in many in the USA and Thailand. Never claimed to be the brightest tool in the shed plus I was a cyclist which puts you at great risk here more so than America. I really don't think there is much of a difference in wanting to help. In reality most don't know how to address the situation but with luck at least one person figures out the correct response. In America there is much more focus on teaching people how to respond which increases your odds of surviving but very little is done here to prepare individuals but they do get the benefit of witnessing more tragic situations. I'm not saying all Thais act appropriately and have also witnessed strange behavior. A drunk hit me head-on and I escaped with broken ribs and a collarbone. The drunks head was a mess with blood coming out of his ears. Nothing was done to help him. Strange but things like this happen in every country. In another worse accident, A Thai lady at 11pm found me in a ditch after seeing my shattered helmet on the side of the road. I have the GPS showing I had been there for 4 hours( I think). As for a drunk lady that was swimming in a canal, from the poorly written article it is hard to determine what went down. Where is the video? Many are making some big assumptions. Sad for her and the family.

And you get YouTube music thrown in which is good as Spotify. Still adds though because they embed them in the videos.

Good for you and I always the respect the guys that react so quickly in scary situations Do you think this was a Thai thing or just a human being a fool. For the life of me, I don't sense Thais are ethically any different than westerners. I've been here decades so it is not a newbie viewpoint Obviously there is more corruption and I don't know how that plays into ethics for the society as a whole. Also, Thai hustlers in tourist town are a product of their environment and don't reflect the average Thai's ethics. Done rambling and off to hug some random Thais...