todlad

Thai driving is what gets to me. I learned a valuable lesson a couple of weeks ago, like this: at the recent Elephant Roundup Fair, my daughter and her cousin, both five years old, went on a ride. The ride was to self drive mini motorbikes around a small track.

The way these girls rode their bikes was of exactly the same standard as the lunatic in this video.

I now have a number for the average mental age of a Thai motorbike rider: five!

Since that Roundup, I have saved the lives of something like five motorcyclists as i have avoided crashing into them in spite of their best death wish efforts. You know i am not joking or exaggerating.

9 hours ago, brianthainess said:

That's belittling 5yr old's 

Many a true word ... at the recent Elephant Roundup fair, my 5 year old daughter and her 5 year old cousin went on a self drive 3 wheel motor bike ride. It dawned on me then what the development age is for a Thai motorcyclist.

I wish I were joking but everything I see every time I drive here was being done by these 5 year olds!

These people beggar belief, don'y they. They know what they have done but I suppose there is a chance that they have the level of understanding of the consequences of their actions of a five year old.

44 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I was only pointing out that not everything is free on the NHS.

Being old I would get it free. I get flu vaccine free.

Someone else can have mine the first year. So long as they keep the NZ border closed I should be safe enough. Never been a single case of corona in the district I live in.

I left the UK just in time for my lifetime free prescription bonus to kick in! I think I got one free prescription out of it!

19 hours ago, Rancid said:

The last time I looked the UK death toll was pretty much within the same parameters it was expected to be, and in line with previous years.

 

But then there is the carnage in the US. Or rather there isn't despite some politicians talking it up. Latest study by John Hopkins University shows that the US death toll is also just what was expected, and in line with previous years.

 

In Australia you are more likely to die falling off a roof, which makes the lock downs even more absurd there.

 

In other words with this deadly pandemic, there has been no rise in the expected death toll in at least some, and probably most, western countries. So why did we destroy so many economies and inflict so much pain on mainly the poor and middle classes as the rich continued to travel and party?

 

 

In case you haven't done it yet, take a look at the excess deaths that have ben reported for many countries. I use Our World in Data as a good and reliable source of covid-19 data but they do not show Australia's excess deaths, unfortunately. For the UK, though, it is significant.

Can you give me the source for the Johns Hopkins study you mentioned? I would doubt they said that: I know, I can be wrong since I don't know that, just assume it at this stage.

Also, don't forget that lockdowns are there to prevent as much as anything. Thailand, for example, has been locked down for a long time now and yet the number of reported cases is tiny ... I am sure their data are not 100% watertight but, like everyone I meet, I know of no one anywhere near where I live that has had it or knows anyone who has had it.

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

No. When I wanted rabies jabs I would have had to pay ( quite a lot ). Even if it's prescribed there is a charge for that, unless exempt for age etc.

That doesn't mean the government won't borrow money to give it free if they decide to do so. After all, it's not their money, is it?

Compare like with like, though.

Rabies is exceptionally rare in the UK whereas covid-19 has given us 1.5 million cases and 67,000 deaths this year alone.

On the other hand, i think it should be free for you.

Admittedly a sample of one but ... private school with native English speakers as teachers ... all teachers. Good!

Ah but, every classroom has an assistant, Thai speaking, teacher. Lazy children learn no English! I wonder why many parents pay school fees but are happy to waste so much of them.

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Um. Government doesn't have any money. It all comes from tax, and people that work. So what you are advocating, IMO, is that people already broke because of lockdowns should be screwed even more to pay for the vaccine for all.

 

That's a common argument and yes, governments rely on Joe Soap for their dosh. There is the concept of permanent debt, of course and the UK certainly has a lot of that.

However, the UK government has spaffed billions up the wall, to quote Johnson himself. That money could have paid for the vaccines, no doubt. Still, that cash has gone so here are a couple of points as to why the vaccines should be free.

A proportion of people would never pay for the jab and many of them probably could not. They may then pose a health risk, fall sick and require expensive treatment. Opportunity cost.

The anti vaxxers are also a potential threat but i have seen some of the work being done to help those people.

The UK's healthcare service is free at the point of use so shouldn't all Brits expect a free jab? In other countries, i would expect the vaccine to be free, too, because of the opportunity costs I have already alluded to.

1 hour ago, Surelynot said:

This should read..........."How the Tory government and Boris Johnson failed to stop the first and second wave"

 

Complete and utter dereliction of duty....the epitome of incompetence......who would have guessed a stuck up, third rate journalist would struggle to lead a country through tough times.

Johnson would also have failed in the sunniest of sunlit uplands.

It is tragic that populism had led such a country down such a road. Incompetence, dithering and, to cap it all, corruption.

The history of pandemics in general shows that a second and even third wave will happen and history is repeating itself.

I have just been to a government office here in Isaan and everyone there was wearing a mask. In the UK, as with many other countries, masks can be rejected and yet, however effective masks really are, they do afford at least some protection. Lucky or managed, the Thai covid-19 experience has been better than most.

I still find it really difficult to believe the GBP 12 billion figure for test, track and trace in the UK but it seems to be true. And yet, incompetence and corruption rear their heads in this context too.

The vaccines will probably save many lives and bring back certainty to livelihoods. Then again, the anti vaxxers are already decrying them. The cost of the vaccines could well be a significant factor for many but I would say that any government that truly cares for its people and its safety will absorb that cost and take great steps to ensure as near to 100% take up as possible.

Overall, in spite of everything, lessons are not being learned as the likes of Johnson, Trump and Belsonaro were, de facto, put in charge of the management of the pandemic in their respective countries.

1 minute ago, Tagged said:

I did digging dikes the first year, but not doing any physiacal work here anymore, just small things, the others cant do as I like to have it done, I will do. So I would say at least 4 months it is to hot for me to comfortable work outside, unless it is early in the morning, and the last hour before sunset. We pay her parents to work 4 days a week each and pay them 10 000,-

 

If he come here to think he is going to work like a thai, then good luck, Im 52 in good shape, but I do my workout in the gym, and pay people to do the rest. Managing is a full day job to, and pay attention to the bank account, take care of the animals, read news and tv forum, and make new routes for the next motorbike trips as well. 

 

Hehehe 

I volunteer for digging as an excellent way to keep active. You are right about the weather, of course ... dripping sweat in the high season!

9 hours ago, IsaanAussie said:

My situation is different in detail but I agree with the thoughts.

I have been in Thailand 20 years and perhaps have mellowed. I do think that we go through stages of believes dependant on the time we are here. Many of the comments here align with that. Perhaps I could offer a few thoughts.

Firstly, yes we are expected to help financially with family members problems. Just as it is expected of every other member of the family. If you want to be part of it then play the role as others do. The answer does not have to be yes all the time. Thai people love locks and are careful with sharing financial information with anyone, they have limits on how much they will chip in. But they also value family above finance, a cultural difference.

Secondly, my wife and I have been together a long time and we have an open and honest relationship. It has always been that way between us. If you don't have that to start with, forget dreams of building a future or investing in a house or a living in Isaan. It is not about you and what you want. Isaan villages are small extended family groups. Its a club, your choices are in or out!

Money: you are right that you will become part of the money go round. I have only been bitten once in this respect and that made me much less willing to stay on the list of helpers. I am very choosy now. It happens that sometimes i cannot help ... they take it personally!!

Many people have said living in Isaan is boring: life everywhere can be boring.

There are no hills where i live so walking is not so challenging but open your eyes as you walk. Look beyond the rice fields.

Within an hour of our village there are thousands of things to visit, see and do.

Since i have been unable to leave Thailand since February, I am happy to spend more time in the kitchen as a cook and bottle washer. We have a kitchen garden at home and i have just started one at the farm.

I have a hobby, too! My work and my hobby coincide in spreadsheets. I spend some time, 5 days a week, keeping up to date, creating spreadsheet models, answering questions on www.quora.com or adding to my Excel blog.

Then there are the kids ...

5 minutes ago, Cod Face said:

 

You didn't see "beserk" used in this OP either, what does it mean?

I think he was pointing out that it is berserk not beserk.

19 hours ago, Mavideol said:

how stupid, what type of business man does pay in advance

The UK government paid in advance many many GBP millions in advance for Covid-19 goods and services that proved useless.

21 minutes ago, Huckenfell said:

Seeing as how Red Bull is such a big product name world wide, the world's media should inform the rest of the world.

I don't know about anyone else here but whenever I see a Red Bull related story, I post a comment as to the murderous past of this nasty piece of work. I include UK newspapers, my twitter account, Facebook and others.

Every little helps.

Let him return. Karma might work.

On 7/16/2020 at 2:49 PM, Peter Denis said:

MY APOLOGIES > I made a mistake in my original response to you, but luckily it makes things easier for you.

I wrote >

You would need to apply when you have at least 15 days left (some IOs require 23 days) before the permission to stay from that 60-day extension expires.  It will also give you the time to meet the 2 month seasoning requirements of your funds when applying for the 1-year extension of stay.

This is not correct > When applying for the 1-year permission to stay based on your original Non Imm O Visa, you can do this till the last day before the permission to stay from your 60-day extension expires.

It is only when applying for the Non Imm O Visa (from a VisaExempt or TouristVisa entry) that you need to do the application 15 (or) 23 days before the permission to stay expires from that Visa Entry or 60-day extension you applied for.  But you are not in that case.

So you will have no problem whatsoever meeting the 2-months seasoning requirement of the funds when applying applying for the 1-year permission to stay.

Once again my apologies, for the possible confusion I created...

 

Apologies for the delay in thanking you for this response, too. Good of you to take the trouble to do it.

4 hours ago, PoodThaiMaiDai said:

I am sure they received a payout to keep them quiet.

I read recently that he paid the family 1 million Baht. All warrants and red notices were a sham.

On 7/14/2020 at 5:21 PM, Peter Denis said:

You would have to enquire at you Khap Cheong IO whether they would accept your application for a 1-year extension of stay based on your Non Imm O Visa for reason of marriage, with your current permission to stay expired.

Some offices will do it, others will not.

In case your Khap Cheong IO is not willing to accept your application for the 1-year extension, you could ask whether they would be willing to accept an application for a 60-day extension of stay for reason of visiting your wife.  That is of course, if you did not already 'use up' that 60-day extension, as you are only allowed one per entry.

In case they accept such application, your problems are over.  Because you would then be able to apply for the 1-year extension of stay, because you would then do it from a 'valid' permission to stay you got from the 60 day extension (instead of doing it from the Amnesty extension, which they might refuse).

You would need to apply when you have at least 15 days left (some IOs require 23 days) before the permission to stay from that 60-day extension expires.  It will also give you the time to meet the 2 month seasoning requirements of your funds when applying for the 1-year extension of stay.

In case Khap Cheong IO is a 'hardliner' IO and does NOT accept ANY extension of stay application, when your permission to stay has expired, you could consider temporary relocating to a province that is more accomodating.

You would then need a 'rental agreement' from the place where you are temporary relocating, as IO will not accept a 'night before Hotel booking' application.  But you would not be forced to physically relocate if you prefer staying at your current location, and only need the rental agreement to secure the 60-day extension of stay application.

Hope this helps and success!

 

 

Thanks for that detailed and informative response. When we went there around the time of the amnesty, the IO were helpful and friendly but advised me to wait ... I will go back tomorrow and see what's what. A friend of mine uses the same office and he seems always to have 60 day visas ... your answer might help me to understand why he does that!

On 7/14/2020 at 5:11 PM, Myran said:

I wouldn't call it "simply", but yes, you can extend it at the immigration office for the location your staying in (or should be able to, if your current extension of stay hasn't expired yet. Otherwise, you'll have to check with your immigration office).

 

You need to have 400k baht in the bank for at least two months or an income of 40k per month. You'll also need a bunch of documents, like the original marriage certificate, an up-to-date kor ror 2 (varies from office to office), copies of your wife's tabian baan, etc., as well as pictures of yourself and your wife at home. Make sure to look up the requirements for your specific office.

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I will be testing it out tomorrow!

I have been here for a few years, on an annual non immigration O multiple entry visa. Renewed every year in Laos. Nice trip, family always went.

Now, though, I would like to extend my visa rather than leave Thailand and come back in again. I have been here since February, non stop.

Can I simply extend my visa for a year at the immigration office in Khap Cheong, my nearest office?

Just a thought from someone who will not be parading on any beach anywhere: are these punishments lawful? Has there been an act or order duly signed by the appropriate authorities?

I know some of you are well up on these things so your thoughts welcomed!