AmericanSafety

And I want a huge Boris Johnson. 

Their problem is twofold: Falang locals aren’t coming out or have left and the strength of the baht has now affected the tourism industry. Bad policy is hurting the country.

Margin of error is calculated at 10%

Tourism is way down due to the strength of the baht and xenophobic policies of the military government, but let’s continue with a high speed rail to create a rapid transit system to move falangs that are not coming. 

Question: I come back to Thailand 4 times a year for 3 weeks at a time. I fill out a TM30 upon arrival to BKK; do I need to fill out another one or does my wife, eventhough we stay in our house and my name is in the house book?

I’m not concerned about dual pricing; it is far down the list as far as I’m concerned. The retirement visa amounts requirement in the banks is far more of a concern. When none of your neighbors in SE Asia have anything close to that, it instantaneously makes Thailand less desirable. That coupled with a falsely adjusted baht valuation makes anywhere else more desirable. 

Many years ago I invested money in my wife to attend a reputable driving course. The driving instructor was very thorough and I actually feel comfortable with her driving skills.

Genuinely sad. I feel this it only the beginning though.

I only imagine what additional hurtles we must all jump here in the future.

With the new requirements instituted by the Thai government, the neighboring countries look ever more appealing. Imagine retiring in a SE asian country when the struggles are minimal and the local gov't doesn't detest you. Instituting all of these flaming hoops to get through, just to live is a nuisance. Especially, when the countries closest neighbors do not have them. I married a wife and created a family in Thailand, however, greener pastures may lie await elsewhere.

Good luck to all who optimistically invested in Thailand. Surely, as more expats leave, die & simply choose a different destination, the blooms of new real estate will seriously depreciate in value and the boom towns of the past wither on the vine. All due to a stupid and xenophobic gov't.

We had a cure for male obesity when I was young. It was called Boot Camp and it cured you of it 100% of the time.

If that were my kid and a cop tried to strike him, that would be the end of his career, at the least.

7 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

The part about his esophagus cancer was not smoking related was laughable. But I wish him luck with the cancer.

Somtamnication, thank you for your expert medical opinion. Having had another recent friend experience esophageal cancer I can tell you there are other causes. Lung is vastly more common for smoking related. 

I make in excess of this but in Afghanistan and not in Thailand. I have yet to see a company (including foreign owned) which pays stateside salaries in Thailand. The vast majority are only looking for Thais with the equivalent education and certifications, which is a bit of a rarity all unto itself.

Actually, there is a tapas bar in the complex that is quite good, a proper spirits bar and Chez John, which has the best 3 course meal in all of Jomtien.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

I think you are right. I hear there are about five families that control Samui. Also five gangland families on Dark Tao. Samui seems to be pretty well run. The taxis probably pay tribute to the local families. The government has no control at all. None. Dark Tao is completely out of control. 

I was warned by Thais, 15 years ago not to go to Koh Tao.

I was teasing a Thai friend at one point and told him I'd pay for his entire vacation to join us, he told me adamantly, that he would not go there. When a Thai turns down something for free, you know there is a problem.

They have been fleecing people for 10 years that I know of personally. That sign seems way higher than I recall though. A baht bus from one end of Chaweng's main road to the bottom would cost you 300 baht per person (1/2mile, maybe). I know the Svarmabhumi Metered Taxis are back to their old tricks; now asking 1,600 baht to Pattaya.