Kenny202

I don't get involved in any of that stuff anymore....I don't do temples, weddings, funerals, villages. I don't hand money out or go out of my way to help anyone to much. It never got me anywhere before ....if anything helping people here seems to give them either the idea you are stupid or causes jealousy or some other issues. As far as living with a woman I am kind, generous and considerate etc but I am 100% capable of taking care of myself in every respect re cooking, cleaning the home....taking care of my son. I don't play this ridiculous Thai game of "opposite world" where I am expected to be handing out money, allowances, buying homes etc to support someone who is capable of very little generally and who is getting a much better life / future than she previously had. Usually all I ask for in a relationship these days is happiness / companionship. And I don't mean this in a derogatory way or have an "if you don't like it <deleted> off" attitude. It just doesn't make sense to me to have someone that isn't enriching your life in some respect...putting up with bad moods, an entitled attitude and be paying for the privilege as well. If her family cold shoulder me or gives the silent treatment because I am not kickin the money tin to support their gambling and other vices who cares? Means they wont be asking for anything else aka their never ending list of problems they have that can all be solved by money (ours). Have asked a few girls what am I getting out of this arrangement and they normally say something like I live with you every day" or "you get my body". I always remind them easy for foreigners to find sex here and I was getting more of that when I was single...What else are you bringing to the table?

Ive never been there 10 yrs living in Thailand. Only thing about Patpong I ever read where ping pong shows and people going in for one or two drinks and getting stitched up for several hundred dollars. Maybe not like that anymore

Kinda sums most of it up for me living in Thailand with a Thai. "I'm too old for this shet!" Find myself saying it every day

Thanks for the replies guys but the opening words to my post were "leaving portability aside", meaning not particularly interested in that atm. I am more concerned with basic criteria to actually get the pension in Australia

Leaving portability aside, apart from means testing...was just wondering what is the basic criteria for being eligible for the old age pension? (My eligibility age is 67yo). I was under the impression you would have had to work in Australia for a minimum of 35 years but I looked on their site tonight and the only thing I see is that you have had to be a resident for at least 10 years. I am Australian born, resident there for 50 odd years and have been living in Thailand (without return) for about 10 years and am a non resident for tax purposes. I have no property in Australia and when I am eligible for the pension will pass the means test. If I was of qualifying pension age now, and after being out of the country so long, and returned to Australia tomorrow would I be immediately eligible for the pension? Are my qualifying criteria correct ie resident 10 years or do you have to show you worked in Australia at least 35 years or other things I have missed? Thanks in advance

The way things are going you will be lucky to get BB guns soon. I believe they are catching people that have converted them to firing real bullets lol.

You wont find a .177 lever style air rifle / pellet gun. Well like I said you can but they are usually really poor quality Chinese made ones sold under the table at year fairs and festivals and from memory near 8000 baht. There was a BB seller in our local Big C mall selling long barrel revolvers that fired .177 but were incredibly expensive and they have gone now. If you have a look on Lazada you cant even buy pellets and these sort of air rifles pistols need fairly regular maintenance repair which may be difficult if not impossible. I also have a gas BB revolver (hammer / cocking) fairly high power and I was shooting steel BBs out of it (though they are not designed for it) and they pack a punch but accuracy is awful. One of my reasons was good to have something like that in the house for security but the issue with the gas guns (all types) is if you leave the gas bomb / refill in them they leak over a few weeks and doesn't do the seals much good either. If it is purely target practice and maybe bird / rat control you should give the plastic BBs a go. I was of the exact feeling as you but they are pretty awesome. I hear you though. I would love a good quality proper 22 air rifle / pellet gun with a scope but not only has it been impossible to find they are I believe as illegal as a normal firearm and having one in the home may not be such a good idea. Just my thoughts

I got a gas target pistol. Dont get the ones with the little soda bombs. Best ones these days you fill the magazine with air like you would refill a lighter. I dont think you will find spring compression pistols / rifles here..they are available but under the table and usually expensive and low quality. One I got is a KJ Works Mk1. Google the reviews on it. They are very powerful at 450 fps and extremely accurate and consistent up to 30-50m. We regularly shoot cans and easily pierces aluminum. Usually about 3000-3500 on Lazada but I got mine for 2500 with BBs and gas. Very happy with it. Do a google search to find them on Lazada. Get a lot more results than Lazadas crappy search engine.

I have heard this is true also, which makes it a bit hard to keep it from your ex missus

Be very interested in this myself. As far as I know if you purchase a house in your child's name it can not be sold by anyone until the child is 19yo? You are also unable to place a Usefruct / lease on a minors property. My GF left not long after my son was born and I raised him myself since then. He is now 6yo. I have had 100% care of him since then with only very infrequent visits from her for a few super mum selfies. I would like to buy is a house in his name though I fear if she got wind she would want to become his new best friend. I am the legal father by paternity already registered with the courts but I have never applied for full custody though it should only be a formality. I know she can't sell the house but I guess there is a chance she could return and want to live in the house with him. I wonder who holds the land title on a sale to a minor like this? Even if the property cant be sold it could I imagine be borrowed against with loan sharks. My current GF Aunty took my GF land deeds and borrowed money against the land, and the loan agent was well aware it was not her property...even encouraged her to forge my GF signature.

What planet are they on or how do they measure it. Pork and chicken come down a bit but everything else relentlessly increasing, and mostly on products have the least reason to increase, apart from monopolies and they can

That is par for the course. Tesco and Tops the masters. Oh the price tomorrow. What you also need to be careful of is the hand is quicker than the eye trick with 7 and Lotus cashiers. Counting out your money. Often shorted 100 baht particularly if cashing 1000

Its not Grab food. The vendor can supply descriptions in English also if the choose

You know you can translate from a photo? Just take a screen shot of the page...open google translate and select the camera / photo icon. Then select the photo from your gallery.

Im not sure about the road numbers but from Khon Kaen I go down through Burriram. Other way for me is via Korat. I hate belting along on motorways so going inland a much more pleasant and scenic choice for me. Dont think there is even any real time saving going down the motorway either. Once you are past Burriram area go through some beautiful national park and mountains. Very easy safe drive and seldom much traffic. Lots of places you can buy fruit on the way too. Done the trip at least 5 times and always enjoy it...and I hate driving lol

I dont know about Isaan men, I just dont think we have enough in common with them for anything other than a superficial nod of the head relationship...but have quite a few really good Thai mates in Bangkok...all University educated middle income type people. Met them through buying and selling musical gear...super honest to a fault I might say. Been camping and other outings with them and their families. Great down to earth guys, pretty much like us. Love a beer and a bbq and great sense of humour. All very intelligent and consciencious about everything they do. International travel does the world of good for a Thai, as it does for anyone for that matter

Thais seem to always want Kudos for stuff they havent even done yet and promised to do 20 times already. Gets old reading the news here

Poetic license lol, and yes you are indeed correct. I had a Chinese girl friend back home...her father very high up in the military in China. She was under the opinion (taught) that Vietnam had repeatedly attacked and invaded China over the last 2 centuries lol. I love Vietnam and its people. She used to refer to it as "that horrible little country you are so fond of"

One thing you may not have considered is you may not have the whole story if she is gambling. Things could be far worse than you know. Seen it repeated over and over again here, usually involving loan sharks. I know you are in Oz but do you have any property or assets in Thailand? Don't want to be negative or add to your woes but unfortunately they get themselves (and you) into financial difficulty all the time. My missus Aunty just died of brain cancer, husband working in Korea sending money back ten years for a nest egg when he gets back. Not only had that all long gone but she had taken out loans on the mother in laws farms, homes and a brother. Other person had been sending money back to what she thought pay off a 500k student loan. When the smoke cleared about 7 million baht blown to the winds

10000000% they do. Didn't you hear recently a country had 1200+ fake twitter accounts? And as as far as product reviews now, particularly for Chinese products can not believe any of them. The bogger companies and govts pump millions into this sort of stuff. And works both ways too having people doing negative reviews on competitors products

Had a bit of experience here with a Thai girl. Any reason for a Thai psychiatrist? They are very behind in their knowledge / treatment. We did eventually find a decent psychiatrist here and he told me there is huge problem here with not bi polar but borderline personality disorder. Abandonment, broken home. Abuse etc which is very common among the rural poor. Usually manifests itself in absolute selfishness, lack of consideration for consequences of actions and more often than not violent outbursts. He said treatment was difficult and often unsuccessful and best treated with drugs. Google it and see what you think. Otherwise if possible would think u would be much better off with an Aussie doctor. Good luck with it all

I think Ho Chi Minh summed it up when he refused assistance from China in the US war. He said better to sniff US shet for a few years than EAT Chinese shet forever

Just wondering if they have a Visa / set up / restrictions for Expats (Australian) to live in Laos? Is it easier or harder than Thailand? Do you need to do border runs or there is some sort of yearly visa. I am retired and 59yo. I usually cook for myself, don't need restaurants etc but I am guessing if you want any sort of conveniences / Farang food, supplies etc you would not want to be far away from Vientiane? Can you order from Lazada Thailand and have stuff sent across the border easily?

I had tiny little flies in my bathroom, looked all the world like little fruit flies. Only a few mm. Guys on here told me they were drain flies and to pour boiling water down the drain everyday for a week, kills the lavae. May be different in a condo tho. One way to check pull your shower drain insert / filter out and give it a tap, see of any tiny worms come out

Bit like small businesses, restaurants etc. If I could buy property here much better to be a landlord renting shop houses. Most new small businesses seem to go bust here within 3 - 6 months. Lack of capital, planning and any sort of business sense. Never seems to be a shortage of new comers stepping up to the plate though and any shop fronts in a good area rarely without tenants