richard_smith237

My son is still in single digits, I have a motorcycle. My Son going on my motorcycle with me (on the road) is simply a no-go... ever !... We are already planting the seed that he will never have a motorcycle and will not be permitted to travel pillion on a motorcycle if any of his friends have one. What we will do though is get another car once he is of the legal age to drive and he can 'share' our cars. Obviously there is a financial decision and motorcycles are simply a lot more convenient for getting around towns such as Chiang Mai... however... the risks of a teen on a motorcycle by far outweigh any convenience. IF the op can go that far - 18 is the legal age of driving, get her something she can't fall off that offers better protection - i.e. get a her a small car.

Are they hanging around hotels waiting for the receptionist to knock off work ???

One could end up married to a hotel receptionist??? ????

And the environmental damage associated with mining the raw materials for Perovskite ? Life span ? recyclability ? etc etc... A lot of the discussion of these renewables does not account for the 'source' impact of such materials and only measure their environmental friendly from 'start of use' rather than life span from sourcing and transportation of raw-materials to manufacturing processes, to maintenance to disposal... These issues are so politicised its difficult to get hold of trustable unbiased facts.

Isn't it obvious ??? That buffalo clearly holds a grudge against farangs.... Its been forced to get sick numerous times.....

Eh? Having your bank account suspended means you can't carry out digital payments. It also means you can't go to an ATM or walk into a bank and withdraw 'cash'..... Thus - the 'suspended bank account argument' you are using to argue against 'cashless society' is a completely flawed approach to the discussion.

Beware... There is as the NDID issue. As of 4th July, any transaction over 50,000 baht requires 'facial ID' which needs to be set up at an SCB Branch and tied to a National ID card. The issue of course is that SCB has no such system for foreigners, so you are unable to register for their 'facial ID' thingy... So, the Thai Banking systems have increased their security (as per a new law), but SCB can't do this for foreigners, if you want to transfer more than 50,000 baht you have to contact your branch and sign some sort of disclaimer that if fraud occurs on your account you'll accept it !!!...

You simply 'slipped through the gaps', as did I. And you are correct, the Thai Elite statement (posted by Major Tom) contains an inaccuracy. I've been with Thai Elite for 15 years and on occasion have found their advice inaccurate - I don't trust their information at all.

Maybe yes... maybe no.... I am in exactly the same situation as you.... (Thai Elite & Yellow Book & Pink ID). A number of years ago I was only permitted to renew my 2 year license for another 2 year licence. Then last time I renewed I was permitted to renew the 2 year for a 5 year full license. As I understand it... only those on 'resident visas' can get a 5 year Thai Driving license and while the 5 Year renewable S.E. Visa (or 1 year renewable P.E.) visa can be considered a 'long term visa' it's not a Resident Visa as the 'Non-Immigrant' Visa's are. As always in Thailand, mileage varies and a lot of the time it simply comes down to the individual we are dealing with at the time - one time it didn't work out in my favour, another time it did !!!

The examples you provided have nothing to do with 'digital payment'... A person would have to store their cash under their mattress to avoid being inconvenienced by authorities 'suspending' their account (as per your Farage PEP argument).

Agreed..... Ordering food in etc.... having a maid etc.... is not the end of the world at all. But... thats the 'thin end of the wedge' there... she's abandoning her home life for gambling, neglecting the son, not contributing to supporting the family by helping out in the house, taking son to school etc... My Wife's friends are great.... as are mine... But I would expect that even without any gambling or anything like that IF my Wife's friends were round my house most days I'd put my foot down and say no.... If my friends were round most days I'd expect my Wife to put her foot down and say no. The same if either of us were going out all day / all night multiple times per-week... thats not a marriage at all... thats hardly co-habitation. Something needs to be done to trigger the Wife's respect for her husband so that it over-rides her want or need to play cards. The Wife needs to first understand and accept that there is an issue or she'll never want to or try to fix something she doesn't believe is a problem.

Yes... Put your foot down and put it down extremely hard - she's already a gambling addict. Does she also drink while playing cards ? Temple for a few days ?? a week ? Then line up job for her if you can. Tell her no more visitors to play cards - tell her friends no more cards. Ask her (cos you cant exactly lock her up) not to go anyone else's house to play cards. Tell her exactly how you feel. Don't avoid the conversation because of the risk of conflict. Obviously try to avoid the conversation escalating into conflict, stay calm, you can't control how she will feel or react though... She sounds like she takes any form of criticism badly, but unfortunately you will have to go there. Tell her - No more Cards (especially if its gambling).... tell her its destroying you, its destroying the relationship, its destroying the family. Tell her she's neglecting her son. Sadly, if its that bad you have to be prepared to walk away and she has to understand this. So..... You have a potential custody battle, so take any evidence of her Gambling at all hours etc. You can play this game, hard tough and potentially win your Wife back.... or slow, tolerant, long, drawn out and she'll slowly get more and more addicted to her friends and cards and stop caring about you and her family.... but she'll end up losing money and costing you money... Best case scenario then is she gives up custody for some cash and you will simply be happy to free of her by then.... There are also financial concerns: Ensure you have all the car documents (if the car is in her name). Keep your passport safe (and your sons). Keep the house documents safe.

Provinces perhaps... Market vendors here take direct QR payment... But, that also seems pointless is just paying 20 or 50 baht for some veggies.... or 40 baht for a MC or taxi ride. Yup, absolutely agree - my argument is more one of balance, both have their uses and ideal times for use where as at other times one method is less convenient than another. My argument is more against those cherry-picking and making up ridiculous excuses against cashless methods of payment while completely ignoring the pit-falls of the cash system they prefer - there are pro's and con's - not one solution is perfect. To be fair - we're there now.... nothing works without 'digital technology'... and even now, if the day comes that digital technology fails what cash we have in hand is the least of our problems.

You won't be able to use your debit or credit card. Would you be able to access your ATM to get cash if the internet goes down ??? I think IF using the Banks own ATM in the Bank, then it relies in a hardwire Eithernet internal Bank network.... However, I think ATM's in shopping mall etc rely on an internet connection. That said an internet outage in Canada last year shut down ATM's (amongst many other things). So... keep that 'cash in your safe'.... then take the gamble on whether you'll need it or someone will walk out the door with your safe while you are enjoying your hols !!! IF the global internet goes down, the likely cause is something so significant 'money' is no longer a priority.

Do they exist? I know some very intelligent women, and I know some very attractive women. But I don't think I know any very intelligent women who is also attractive. It seems to me that very intelligent women don't even try to be attractive. But to be fair I met so few very intelligent women that statistically it's not likely that they are also attractive. Respectfully.... it seems you spend so much of time browsing the web for photos of attractive women you'd miss the chance to engage with attractive & intelligent women. But, to answer your question directly... Yes, there are loads of highly intelligent women here in Thailand who are also knock-out stunners.... (and back in the day in my 20's and early 30's, I'd date em).... I want to deal with this separately - because 'attractive' is in the eye of the beholder. A very intelligent attractive female in Thailand is unlikely to be dressing in the manner shown by the vast majority of the photos of females you post on this forum.... Not in public (in private its a very different matter !), neither do they dress like mormons, they dress with a degree of attractive subtlety many may overlook and consider conservative compared to the 'amount of skin on show in the bars'... thats simply a facet of society where the conservative pendulum over-compensates.... I guess some, such as yourself OMF may not recognise this as readily or simply see such females as 'off-limits' so don't even entertain the possibility.

One of the issues with this forum is that there is a significant degree of cynicism towards those who'd suggest they are dating well educated women from a 'well to do' background.... I wonder if thats more to do with the area's in which most of such 'commentators' are hanging out, where and to whom in Thailand they have been exposed. The vast majority of my friends are married to well educated women here - Masters Graduates from Overseas or Chula / Thammarsat... Such females are not unicorns at all IMO... they just tend not to hang out in the area's most expats are hanging out in, perhaps because their interests differ from those 'occupational farang hunters' of Sukhumvit Soi 11 (Bangkok) who are out solely to attract a 'western boyfriend'... or others simply searching for economic security and or course, everything in between covering the whole spectrum of relationships in Thailand.... (in the post above) The females (unicorns) you mention who you suspect may prefer a 'Thai man' may well do so, some may be open minded enough to date a westerner who passes muster, most are well travelled and educated enough to evaluate the wheat from the chaff, many have numerous 'potential' Thai suitors... But, if you have 'good game' the door is open, just as it is in any nation. The fortunate thing for many here is that for those for whom 'that door' is closed, there is another open door into which they can step and continue to enjoy a life of fun - that is something wonderful about Thailand and although it does create somewhat of an illusion thats not a bad thing, but for some, that becomes the delusion that a life outside of their own boundaries of experience in Thailand is not possible and those who suggest otherwise are simply not being truthful.

Most of us probably couldn't even if 'she could'.... ... the reality for most is perhaps far more depressing.... Many men just don't have the game to attract incredibly intelligent women who are also incredibly attractive.... 'thats a level of game' that most older expats here just don't have..... It used to be our 'looks' (part of which is age) that gets us in the door and our 'game' (intelligence, charm, humour) etc takes the rest of the way with such intelligent & attractive women.... as we age that door is hardly ajar..... For others, that door was locked cards stacked against them... its just life. So... after your 5 minute or 2 hour romp or whatever it is with a stunner..... what you do ???... talk about which shop has the best som-tam ???...

I don't think dentist did go ahead with the extraction. He was obviously well aware of the risk involved if he had. Why on earth would he proceed? Dentists have to swear the same Hippocratic oath as doctors do. Agreed... re-reading the report, it would appear the tooth extraction did not take place. As usual - instead of offering clarity, the waters are muddied by shoddy reporting. I think the report should be reading.... 'The dentist noticed several unordinary blood spots on the patient’s arm before while preparing to extract a tooth, compelling the patient to take a blood test'

I agree with your point... but some folks could easily 'evolve' with the times... but they seem so stubborn they just refuse to and get angry that they are being forced to, then we hear the 'conspiracy theories and excuses' come out..... ... Its just a form of payment... I know I know.... << counter conspiracy argument fits here >> But really... its just digital payment and its easy to get used to, it's not some economic apocalypse. You used to watch VHS videos, then Laser Disks, then CD's, then BlueRay.... now its all online streaming, NetFlix, Prime, Hulu etc.... You didn't just stop watching TV, right???? you went digital... I get it, each to their own, people have a right to make their own free choices etc and I support that, but what flumoxes me in this 'cashless / e-payment debate' is how some take major issue with making a cashless payment when they've already being doing the same thing with Debit and Credit Cards for decades ????.... It seems like just an excuse to be stubborn because you think you are being 'forced' to do something... so you look for arguments not to use such methods.

What do you mean?... You've already been a 'tourist' twice this year already and we're only half way through !!!! Op... have you managed to get through to the Thai Embassy to ask questions ? (always difficult with Embassies I know). As others have written... Just provide 'anything you can' and if something is completely 'not applicable' just post something else instead. Number 8: Just put your overseas employer - or if not employed at all - just put a JPG stating Self Employed as 'whatever it is you used to do'. Number 9: Just put a copy of the hotel booking (Again) - my guess this is just a computer thing and once loaded the application will 'go through' for submission. .... If you haven't already done so. ---------- I had similar issues when applying for a Non-Imm O *(travel to Thailand immediately as soon as Thailand opened to non-Thai's during Covid)... ... much of the 'submission' it wasn't relevant to me.... I just downloaded 'anything' nearly close... that seemed to do the trick... I suspect they are just interested in the 'key documents' and no one can be bothered to 'streamline the system' to make it perfectly applicable to those in differing circumstances.

Its a complete gamble... Nov 2021 - 3 weeks (they stated up to 8 weeks). April 2023 - 7 weeks (they stated up to 11 weeks). Thai's can get it done within a couple of days. So can we (in the UK) but we have to book an appointment well in advance, state a valid reason (i.e. imminent travel) and pay through the nose for 'fast track'.... it can even be done the same day paying more through a 'bigger nose' for 'faster fast track'.....

Yeah... agreed.... been there a few times. Worked there, been out with Expats and separately with local friends. There's definitely a more 'dangerous' edge to the place than Thailand..... .... not more dangerous as in 'getting hit crossing a road, or electrocuted by a lamp-post'... but as in... 'getting clobbered and / or mugged'.... ... natural instinct just puts my guard up on higher alert in the Phils than a lot of other places....

I haven't noticed a particular time... However, of late I have noticed Bangkok Bank App becoming notably unreliable about half of the time I have attempted to make a QR payment. A minor inconvenience, simple enough to switch to another Bank and and use their App.... still quickly than waiting for change in many cases etc.... but really this 'stuff' shouldn't be happening...

What's so dangerous about food in the Philippines ?

So you were not of retirement age and couldn't apply for a retirement visa. Didn't want to apply for Elite Visa because someone scared you that you could lose it if you didn't pay for your Wife's mortgage ? Couldn't get a visa based on Parent of a Thai child because the immigration officer didn't beleive the child was living with you, but you found that out while applying for a retirement visa you were apparently too young for just a paragraph earlier. Confusing stuff.... Some guys get themselves in such a muddle.