atpeace

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...

You don't see how a frolicking drunk lady might be treated differently than a sober lady falling into a canal? Do you know how drunk she was? Sad regardless but ignoring reality is silly IMO.

He is joking. yes?

I enjoy drunks and rarely fear them. I rarely get out late at night these days living in the sticks but do miss foolish drunks and the city fun. For me, part of fulfilling life is taking risks but I can respect getting your kicks while not risking potential dangerous situations. In the end - just be happy.

I think you may be correct. I hear to many stories like this all around the world. I can't imagine not jumping in but I'm a good swimmer and have been in a few bad situations that would have made this issue seem not too dangerous. Scan the canal for dangers, look around for something that floats or a rope and jump in. If the water is moving fast then it is much more complicated. Just read the whole article on TG and she she was drinking while swimming in the canal then somehow ended up on the opposite side of the canal hanging onto a branch. A drunk person swimming in a canal then begging for help is a little different than a person falling into the canal. Doesn't deserve to die but there are levels...

Poster should only be allowed to use the word "troll" or that matter "deflection" twice a month. it is sign of intellectual weakness. As for your fighting abilities, good for you. better to be able to defend yourself than not. Also great activity to stay fit.

sorry but nope

In a prefect world you could have turned the other cheek and walked away as gracefully as possible. In this world acting( literally ) brave and deal with the consequences seems to be the best option. Most the time it ends with the aggressor backing down for numerous reasons. You do have to pick your battles though and avoid being beat down hard. At MC D's s I would have made my stand for better or worse because of video cameras and other people around.

That stinks! What happens in a few years? I returned to the USA in 2002 and made the best of it until my return to Thailand in 2008. I got lucky and made enough money to retire here at 41 and haven't regretted the move other than possibly working a few more years. I don't need much money in the USA and even less here which simplifies things.

Why 4 kids? I sensed at 25 that kids would be a huge impediment for my life style. I assume you made the leap before you matured mentally. If had 4 kids , can't imagine living in Thailand now. Congrats on figuring out how to move on assuming you are happy now.

I enjoy your threads. Keep them coming. What happened to you partner in crime Bignok? The complainers seem to quick to bash and that tells more about them than you. Back on topic. My bridges were never burned but their weight capacity has been drastically reduced. Not sure if it would be wise to cross them anymore.

Really? That is a new spin. What are the numbers? Before the popular response was low spending Chinese tourists. Thai tourism has been out of control since 2002 (minus Covid era) and where it ends is scary. 60 million?

Agreed, but the landlord is replaced with neighbors which are much more complicated to deal with because you can't just move. Also had a beautiful view at my condo I owned but a developer paid off someone important and an illegal 30 story building ( 7 floors were the max allowed) was build that blocked much of the view. I gave the condo to my ex in the divorce at the purchase price 🙂