Scouse123

In Kalasin, where I am, immigration is generally excellent, unlike the nightmares I've read about here. I have been in Thailand for 30 years, although I have been here for 20 years. I am on a retirement extension until next month, when I will switch to DTV. Throughout all that time, I have had only one immigration visit. They phoned in advance, but it was around the time of all that trouble when the doctor had her back kicked by the Austrian who ran the elephant sanctuary, I think it was in Phuket or somewhere, and they were conducting checks on foreigners. They did speak to the neighbours, which was the MIL. We don't have any other neighbours. The immigration staff knew friends of my partner, and everything was done pleasantly in 15 minutes. One of the perks of living upcountry, everyone knows everyone. They even took photos of us in the driveway; my MIL insisted on being included as well.

He still manages to dye his hair, even that little bit that he has left. What a waste of colour.

All I will say is any offerings and suggestions above are bound to be better than what I bought for steak this last week from Lotus's. Absolutely lousy, my jaw hurt, and I gave up and passed it to the dogs. The second piece, I tried slow cooking, still tough as shoe leather but not as tasty. I'll try some of the above suggestions.

Significantly grown-up responses I see.

Have you had any claims?

And that is what scared me and why I didn't move to them. If it sounds too good to be true...... Plus, I am hearing very mixed reports about this company.

With all these explosive devices being planted, we might need the military to come in and take over to save the country! Didn't we have a similar problem last time, shortly before the military took over?

Any talk about exhibitions and events is to ' flower up ' and make casinos palatable in the application, which is the true nature of what they are seeking, to benefit a ' FEW ' and certainly not the Thai people.

It's about time they either passed it or binned it forever. Instead, it just keeps coming up every year or so, a bit like the one rai of land for foreign investors to own and build a house on.

I think there are limits on the amount of time you can spend in Thailand on a travel insurance plan. To my knowledge, it isn't open-ended, nor was it intended to be.

It wasn't a firm called Global investments in Bangkok, was it?

No, It's now a family friendly, vibrant tourist destination

That is not correct. Many of the life and death sentence for drug cases are sent to Bang Kwang prison. It goes on the sentence, not the offence.

Makes the Swedish guy look like he only stole lunch money compared to this .

I care about as much of the unwashed as I do about your boring, predictable, baiting posts.

No, it isn't. That border is shut.

Picked on the easy targets as he was annoyed that the rival group would give him a good hiding and so desperate to show his manhood chooses to attack weaker, non-aggressive opponents. In simple terms..... A THUG, A COWARD AND A BULLY.

Same in the supermarkets.

Not my style: riding along in a bus with two heavy suitcases, hand luggage, and an iPad, and being seated with the great unwashed.

These are the same type of drivers that refuse to open a meter and demand a fixed price, which is all well and good FOR THEM, until something like this happens, and then they spit the dummy out. I quit with these taxi meters a long time ago and now pay a bit extra, but I get polite drivers, fully insured decent cars and the fare includes all tolls and unforeseen hiccups. I also don't have arguments or discussions about paying extra dependent on the amount of luggage I am carrying. A ride in an SUV from Suvarnabhumi to Don Muang airport costs me 900 baht. I do, however, make sure I have CASH with me. Now and again, due to an unforeseen event, I have stopped at an ATM, but it's never taken me thirty minutes, more like 3 or 4 minutes.

I was thinking the same as you, it's not in the least bit amusing for the victims.

They all seem to find it highly amusing from the photograph. These scams can cause immense anxiety to the victims, especially the elderly.

That's a true statement. The UK was a great place in the 70s and 80s. Look at it now.

I remember the early nineties onwards. I visited here in the late eighties, I was a short two week stay visitor with Kuoni, so irt was basically a package holiday. But, in the Nineties, when I just got a flight and found my way around, Thailand was absolutely fantastic.

I agree with you. I'm up in Isaan, and many people on the forums say it's boring. Up here, you really need a car to get to the best spots, or you can fly out from the nearest local airport. I moved here because of my partner, and honestly, when I first arrived, there was nothing. I was recovering from surgery at the time, so the peace and quiet actually helped a lot. These days, it’s a busy and thriving little town. Still rural, but we have banks, large shopping centres (though not quite malls), some decent eateries, and plenty of food and drink spots that have opened up. What I like most is that it’s non-touristy. Life moves at a normal, slow pace — typical rural Isaan. Lately, more foreigners have been moving up this way. Many are people who can no longer afford to live in Pattaya and are trying their luck in the countryside. That is what one or two have said. There's also a noticeable number of African schoolteachers here as well now. They are a nice bunch of people. That said, most foreigners don’t stick around long. Some are just visiting with their Thai partners from other parts of the country, while others give it a try living here. But many eventually leave — they miss the lights, energy, and excitement of the more touristy areas. I should imagine in another ten years, it will still be Isaarn as we know it with a few minor changes. However, it won't be the money grabbing and gouging that is found in tourist hot spots.