Spilornis

When India demonitised its currency the only way you could get value for notes over 500 rupees(US$7) was to open a bank account and deposit your notes. Deposits over 10k rupees or thereabouts got notified to the taxman. Within hours there was a cottage industry providing individuals willing to open a bank account in their name into which you could put the money and then withdraw it in nice clean notes. No one in power in India to my knowledge ever challenged the role of the banks in this charade

Seems to be a reasonable scheme. The health insurance is a pain. In Malaysia no requirement for health insurance over 60 where they recognise local insurers simply don't offer cover

There is little doubt that e gates for foreigners will be rolled out in many countries in the coming years. The traditional methods simply cannot handle the increase in tourist numbers. Malaysia is doing it for many countries albeit a little clumsily at first with a requirement that you first register your biometrics. Australian entry and exit for example is a breeze for many countries (visa process aside). USA still looks stuck in the old world but at least they have no immigration checks on exit. The US security check process is still a nightmare but their "approved traveller" process means that frequent travellers avoid the circus. Baggage delivery seems to often be a problem at several airports. Not sure if it's a system or manpower issue. Singapore sees its airport as a revenue hub and has always done what it can to compete with the more recent Middle Eastern entries (Dubai). There's no reason Bangkok or KL should not compete in the hub market going forward

I based my comment on the linked Man Judd summary of the legislation. As I mentioned these four factors are very similar to the existing tests used for tax residency except that no one or two factors were by themselves determinant of residency (it was a weighting issue and could be contradicted by residency indices in another country). Interesting that membership of a superannuation fund in Australia is not mentioned as that is one of the present indices " The secondary test is a ‘Factor Test’ which applies to individuals who spend more than 45 days but less than 183 days in an income year. The secondary tests focus on four factors, two of which must be satisfied by that person to be deemed as resident for tax purposes. Factors include: The Right to reside permanently in Australia (e.g. citizenship or permanent residency); The ability to access accommodation in Australia (e.g. rights of ownership, leasehold interest, licenses); Whether the individual’s family (spouse or any of their children under 18) are generally located in Australia; The individual’s Australian economic connections (employment, carry on business, interests in Australia)" https://hlb.com.au/tax-residency-changes-for-individuals/

Interesting... it appears to have a secondary test very similar to the old domicile test but you need to have spent 45 days per year in Australia to avail yourself of that aspect of the test. For people residing overseas who don't satisfy either test and who receive Australian income (including the OAP) the inability to avail oneself of the tax free threshold is a big change

Most foreign entries into Singapore these days use the egates. Time for Thailand to do the same. Malaysia has plans to introduce e gates for foreigners (hopefully later this year)

E gates for foreigners is the answer Singapore has done it and Malaysia is about to do it for visitors from a number of countries. Pre-pandemic it was obvious that something has to change from the old face to face immigration clearance. Pre clearance documents, random checks, trusted traveller schemes and e gates are all in the mix going forward

Reminds me of youtubers and durian. They spend their time smelling the fruit and saying it's disgusting. How about going with someone who knows their durian and experiencing the differences in taste, texture, creaminess etc between durians by reference to type and origin. Think of it as a wine tasting. And by the way... you don't nose a durian for its bouquet youtubers !

Going forward watch out for local tax on imported phones. Indonesia has a system that foreign phones can't connect after around 90 days unless you pay the local import tax. Same in Pakistan. They use the phone's IMEI number. All done electronically so once set up the system is a good revenue raiser

Due to limited testing it's hard to get an absolute handle on real numbers but the world trend seems to be downwards including China. Who knows if there will be another wave but at present there's a relative lull so let's enjoy it.

Not sure about others but I am getting tired of filling out forms and queuing in lines for things on arrival. Online forms/payments if they must and e gates are the future. Travelling to India in a few weeks via Singapore which means a PCR test. Seriously wondering if I can be bothered

After this covid interval is finished I hope someone collects all the false information given out. In Malaysia for all of 2020 they ran an ad saying that on arriving home all clothes should go straight into the washing machine, sanitize yourself, shower etc etc. Made it sound like a decontamination unit. Not to mention all those people washing their groceries with bleach before bringing them into the house. Remember the "deep clean" businesses

All of those countries who are requiring tests of travellers from China didn't make the twenty country list. New Zealand made it as did Russia and South Africa. China pressure is real. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202301/1284134.shtml

Many cities in India are limited to electric tuk tuks. (auto rickshaws). They are very slow. Wonder if the newer models are faster Having taken many on the sub continent you become expert at checking out the back suspension to ensure a smoother ride. It's a shame that in Bangkok they have become synonymous with rip offs. If ever in India a good pricing rule... 50 rupees ..short ride...up to 5 minutes. 100 rupees for ten minutes. Anything over 10 minutes= uber/ola

Air charges included in ticket prices are common everywhere. Charges that have to be paid on arrival or departure (visa on arrival is another example) are just a pain and impact on the visitor experience. Malaysia has a 10 ringgit per night tourist tax for foreigners at hotels. Has to be paid in cash usually. An absolute nuisance. If they said they were going to use the money to invest in biometric egates for foreigners I'd be happier

Interesting thing to know. My first thought of a buffalo is "strong and dependable" not to mention a source of wealth through milk and working of fields. Never really thought of monitor lizards beyond the fact that they're... "monitor lizards". While some have made reference to the cow terminology in English the reference to being bullish (as opposed to a bully) in English is not derogatory. A strange thing... language

What in the blazes are "measures". Obviously includes countries that require tests but Malaysia has introduced temperature testing again. Is that a "measure"?

Rules have just been published... " 1. Passengers over 18 years old are required to present vaccination certificate or a letter from a doctor certifying that they have recovered from COVID-19 no longer than 6 months (180 days). 2. Passengers coming from countries with measures to prevent people infected with COVID from returning to the country must have health insurance covering COVID treatment throughout the duration of the trip in Thailand. Expats with Thai social security are exempt. 3. Passengers holding Thai passports are exempt from having documents checked for vaccination and health insurance. 4. Passengers who are in transit are exempt from checking vaccination documents and health insurance documents. 5. The airline must check the documents as mentioned. If the Passenger is unable to present these documents, the carrier should refuse the passenger to board. 6. Airlines must adhere to relevant requirements and follow guidelines as appropriate, such as asking passengers to wear masks throughout the journey. Except during the meal or in an emergency. 7. Passengers with symptoms of COVID-19 during the journey will be advised to undergo a test upon arrival at their destination. This will start from 9th January at 1:00 a.m. until 31 January 31 at 4:59 p.m."

Apparently the inclusion of Singapore on the list was a media error but I'm bewildered as to why Thailand made the list.

With China reportedly lifting quarantine requirements from 8 January brace for an enormous influx of tourists over the next few months. Airfares aren't going down in the next 6 months that's for sure

As Nan Laew says... there's a process (known generally as substituted service). The details vary from case to case but can involve advertising, writing to last known address etc. In simple terms it requires one to take all reasonable steps to contact the ex husband. It may not be cheap but equally it's not mind blowingly expensive. Cost is in proving you have taken all the reasonable steps which may require affidavits from foreign process servers and the like. Good luck

Self drive holidays in Thailand are great. I often mention it to tourists but most are too fearful to try it. The small tourist hotels designed for locals are good quality and great value Driving in Malaysia is even easier but I find the off route hotels okay but not as good as Thailand. Border crossing is a pain with the car permits etc

Nothing against mask wearing (personal choice) but I find the level of mask wearing by locals in South East Asia bewilderingly high. I would think between 25 and 50% high in a non mandated setting but here we are months after mandates are lifted and it's more like 90%. Sure one can point to culture, history etc but the adherence levels are still difficult to explain. I no longer wear one except for the occasional trip by Grab and I've not had any issues or looks that I've noticed

When removing indoor masks in Singapore and Malaysia both governments emphasised how important it was to get masks off children in schools. Message ignored with almost 100% of school children still in masks a month later

Travel Agents have been able to make bookings and pay later for years. Not sure how many times they can refresh a booking but I recall that the booking was good for around five days and that it could be refreshed for around a month before payment. Perhaps this is how the phantom ticket agencies work