DLock

Thats very cool. Great story.

I also sponsored a football team in Sukhothai - or at least their shorts, shirts and socks...and the after game refreshments.

My wife arranged it and I didn't give it much thought.

Then I saw the pictures and the team name was actually my full name (e.g. Bill Smith United). I guess they had no clue what it meant in English.

I'm glad your friend made bail.

The court will be holding his passport, so to travel he will need to get necessary documentation and pay a bond to the court to get his passport back and travel. Fail to come back on the agreed dates and a warrant will be issued for his arrest. Means he won't be coming back to Thailand.

His bail is quite small, so it looks like he has been charged with personal use. Distribution would have been much higher.

The key now is to make sure he has a very good lawyer to "work" on his behalf.

It will all come down to the day in court and how the judge feels. Hopefully the Judge doesn't hate farang or want to make an example in court that day. It could be anything from a fine, a fine and deportation or a few years inside. A good lawyer will likely know the outcome before you step in court.

But I cant stress how important that lawyer is. Research. Research. Research. They will all tell you what you want to hear, but they just want the money. Find the right one.

This is not going to end well.

If he had under the amount that is considered "personal use", he likely would have gotten away with a stiff fine after some "negotiation".

Because he has an amount classified as "distribution" it is a totally different matter and he will go before the courts and it will at the discretion of the judge. A good lawyer will definitely help, and will be seriously expensive. He may walk with a fine, or he may do a year or more and then be deported. His business visa will also likely be cancelled. He is likely too deep in the system to have the charges "dropped". Best bet is to try and have the amount reduced to "personal use".

Was it worth the risk?

I had to reread the OP.

I thought you were looking for the Owner of the house to get him to compensate you for his illegal wall build.

Then I realized you were looking for him to pay to fix his wall.

Next time, stop to pick up your bumper and then drive home....and don't drive drunk.

My renewable 1-year visa costs me 1,900 Baht each year, and I pay 3,900 Baht for a multiple re-entry permit. Why would I want to shell out 2 million PLUS 20,000 Baht in annual membership fees? What's the incentive? Can I own land? No. Do I get tax benefits? No. Can I enter national parks free of charge? No. Do I get permanent residency? No. Will the silly 9-day reporting be scrapped? No. Oh yes, they're saying that scam card will entitle me to meet with one or another high-ranking official once a year. To discuss what? As if I would care...

You are obviously not the type of guy who would go for such a product.

You have smartly analyzed the pros and cons of this program and you found out that it did not offer you the benefits you would expect for "such a large amount of money".

You have been absolutely right to do so, it certainly does not offer any advantage to your present lifestyle, compared to the "huge" sum needed to enroll in the program.

You do not mind to queue for a visa, you don't mind a bit of hassle, if you are not old enough you take the opportunity of a visa run to make some cheap shopping or tourism, you don't play golf, you don't need anyone to wait for you at the plane to rush you out of the airport, you, anyway, don't travel enough, or far enough, to even need it, you can very easily find a public taxi and never wanted or even needed a more confortable transfer, you have a simple life so will never need to meet any high ranking official anyway, ... This program does not offer anything interesting for someone like you.

You are very happy like that and don't see the point of spending lots of money just for a bit more comfort. You are absolutely right, this is your lifestyle, it makes you perfectly happy and you make only smart choices that fit your lifstyle, the same as everyone else.

I don't think that any TE member would throw you a stone because you went for the cheap option (convenient and perfectly suited to you).

As a smart, respectful and sensible person, you certainly do not care at all where the other people throw their money in... Up to them !

As you would care other people's lives...

You just passed by this thread by coincidence and quickly posted your opinion, without any sentiment of envy, certainly not anger towards the people who have another lifestyle. For sure you don't care. Everybody has its own life.

I was 36 when I joined the TE program because it suited my lifestyle. You might not believe it, but I am also very happy about my lifestyle and TE helped to make it even more confortable

Happiness is not linked to money. If you are happy with your 1900b option, would you still allow other people to be happy with another option?

Of course you would, you are a nice guy for sure

I see what you did there.

Well done Sir. I like your style.

A+.

Thanks

But I'm afraid that this style is already too sophisticated for the Thaivisa members interested in (should say pissed off by) the Thailand Elite topic.

Short and basic statements, with some insulting words or comments, are more in trend here (The previous post is a great example )

Anyway, be happy

I love TE !

If you didn't own the TE card already, would you invest the TE card today knowing the history and uncertain future of the card?

I can't fault anyone for buying the card if it offers them value, but I just don't trust the Government to be able to hit the fairly low expectations and maintain this card forever.

Sooner or later, it's got to end.

My renewable 1-year visa costs me 1,900 Baht each year, and I pay 3,900 Baht for a multiple re-entry permit. Why would I want to shell out 2 million PLUS 20,000 Baht in annual membership fees? What's the incentive? Can I own land? No. Do I get tax benefits? No. Can I enter national parks free of charge? No. Do I get permanent residency? No. Will the silly 9-day reporting be scrapped? No. Oh yes, they're saying that scam card will entitle me to meet with one or another high-ranking official once a year. To discuss what? As if I would care...

You are obviously not the type of guy who would go for such a product.

You have smartly analyzed the pros and cons of this program and you found out that it did not offer you the benefits you would expect for "such a large amount of money".

You have been absolutely right to do so, it certainly does not offer any advantage to your present lifestyle, compared to the "huge" sum needed to enroll in the program.

You do not mind to queue for a visa, you don't mind a bit of hassle, if you are not old enough you take the opportunity of a visa run to make some cheap shopping or tourism, you don't play golf, you don't need anyone to wait for you at the plane to rush you out of the airport, you, anyway, don't travel enough, or far enough, to even need it, you can very easily find a public taxi and never wanted or even needed a more confortable transfer, you have a simple life so will never need to meet any high ranking official anyway, ... This program does not offer anything interesting for someone like you.

You are very happy like that and don't see the point of spending lots of money just for a bit more comfort. You are absolutely right, this is your lifestyle, it makes you perfectly happy and you make only smart choices that fit your lifstyle, the same as everyone else.

I don't think that any TE member would throw you a stone because you went for the cheap option (convenient and perfectly suited to you).

As a smart, respectful and sensible person, you certainly do not care at all where the other people throw their money in... Up to them !

As you would care other people's lives...

You just passed by this thread by coincidence and quickly posted your opinion, without any sentiment of envy, certainly not anger towards the people who have another lifestyle. For sure you don't care. Everybody has its own life.

I was 36 when I joined the TE program because it suited my lifestyle. You might not believe it, but I am also very happy about my lifestyle and TE helped to make it even more confortable

Happiness is not linked to money. If you are happy with your 1900b option, would you still allow other people to be happy with another option?

Of course you would, you are a nice guy for sure

I see what you did there.

Well done Sir. I like your style.

A+.

Could have been a very worthwhile meeting if it had been less about photo ops and kissing ass and more about the tough tourism issues in Thailand.

Wasted opportunity.

One major problem is that after the complete fiasco of Elite Card part 1, there is absolutley no credibility in Part 2. What is offered today could easily be withdrawn in a few years time with no more than a "We're sorry and here is some complimentary tickets to Loei Pangolin Park."

Agree it could do OK offering a 10 year or permanent visa option.

There's a Pangolin Park in Loei?

If someone presented me with declining forecasts like this, they'd be gone.

And what happens when they fail to meet the forecast at the end of year 1? Shut it down, or throw more money at the problem?

The Thai logic of raising the price to cover fewer sales is counterintuitive. Do they want 10,000 members at 2million baht each or 100,000 members at 200k baht? What is the objective with this card...or is it purely trying to save face and maintain the salary of a few of Thaksin's school friends?

Then again, they probably don't have enough of those electric carts at Suvarnabhumi to cater for many Elite Card holders.

What ever happened to that condo on Ruamrudee - Aetas?

I thought it had clearly violated the law, the complainant was connected to the royal family and it was ordered to come down?

Still standing.

Any update?

I'm interested, but what do people define as a "good girl"?

Expect everyone will have different wants. But what are they?

i will take the bait,virgin,good family,simple if not great job,great job all the better,honest,trustworthy, thats it my definition.

shoot me down, all you want but its my definition,good bj,loves lao,loves it backdoors,loves it all the time,whatever is your definition,but i gave you mine.

Isn't wasn't a bait Mack. I wanted to see if guys can articulate what they want.

It descended pretty quickly into "barfly dreaming".

I'm interested, but what do people define as a "good girl"?

Expect everyone will have different wants. But what are they?

how much thai do you speak dlock? do you read Thai?

I speak reasonable Thai.

Do I read Thai? Yes, some.

But where are you going with this?

just generally curious. in real life i meet very few farang who speak thai at any impressive level but on thai visa i see a ton of users talking about being able to speak Thai but i never know what is their definition of speaking thai.

That's a fair point.

I would grade reasonable Thai as being able to hold a conversation on most topics with a native Thai speaker.

I have friends that speak amazing Thai in a business/legal capacity, and it makes me very envious.

how much thai do you speak dlock? do you read Thai?

I speak reasonable Thai.

Do I read Thai? Yes, some.

But where are you going with this?

to thailand 2012

if my wife did not speak fluent english i would not have gone near her.

her family speak english so why should i learn.

you can and i respect that, but dont judge others and call them stupid for not wanting to learn thai, screw the thai language, learn it for what.

you say to get respect, if they only respect me for that they can kiss my ass.

im not kissing no ass, Im aussie not thai.

Now you are just embarrassing yourself.

What does being an "Aussie" have to do with not learning Thai if you live in Thailand?

Clearly you cannot do much for yourself and are heavily reliant on your wife if you cannot speak Thai.

The "War on Rhino Horns" is a failure. Despite the millions spent by Governments, rhino horns are still easily available.

Why doesn't the Government make it available legally and tax it?

It would reduce the necessity for "rhino horn couriers" and organized street level dealers.

"We have 3 police fiends,

they all say the same thing,

IF a perp is IN YOUR HOUSE,

and you/she shoot him,

don't stop till he is dead.

AND if you do the shooting,

do NOT admit it, let the wife claim she did it." - Howto

Howto, the police gave me the exact same advice. Since then I have gotten a gun license.

However, they did add one thing. Pop a few rounds into the roof and say that you fired a few warning shots first but he kept coming...

If you don't value you or your family's life, have nothing of value and have 100% faith in mankind, then you have no need for a gun...or locks for that matter.

Me, I tick all the boxes. I have guns and pitbulls.

And I sincerely hope these bring you peace of mind.

I myself will pursue other means to achieve that goal, ultimately the only one worth striving for.

Johnny, and I guess that's what it is all about. They do bring me peace of mind.

Where I live and what I have requires I take precautions.

If you don't value you or your family's life, have nothing of value and have 100% faith in mankind, then you have no need for a gun...or locks for that matter.

Me, I tick all the boxes. I have guns and pitbulls.

Civilization is a very thin and fragile veneer, just underneath the surface lurks the animal in each of us, and all it takes is the right set of circumstances for an orderly crowd to become a insane mob raging out of control.

Not any more or less true in one place or culture as opposed to another.

Wow, what an odd observation of the human condition?

First of all, in the OPs narrative there was no insane mob raging out of control.

And how often does this seething animal break loose from your thin and fragile veneer?

Finally, can you share some examples of when an orderly crowd transformed into an insane mob raging out of control? What prompted the transformation? How long did it take?

Yes.

The Thai Visa usual suspects enjoy the mob attack and getting a boot in when they can.

The OP's story was not so unbelievable.

Not saying his choices were ideal, but that's besides the point.

But the irony in this thread is quite amusing.

With all the associated risks, why not just do "Bath Salts". They are perfectly legal.

Then again, you may find yourself behind a dumpster eating the face of some homeless man the following morning.

So, only 26 people showed up huh?

Loser.