khunjeff

"The right needs to stop falsely claiming that the Nazis were socialists" https://wapo.st/400GoQw

As another posted has already noted, Anutin has nothing to do with the law going into effect. But even if he did, embassies can issue whatever documents they want, regardless of what Thai laws may or may not be in effect - and they also don't "give the permission to get marry", they just give documentation that their citizen is free to marry (or claims to be so).

Not in one fell swoop, no, but we regularly see stories in the media about people whose accounts are emptied by the scammers in a dozen consecutive 49k transfers, and the banks apparently don't recognize that as suspicious. The problem is that so many victims absolutely believe that they know better, and will continue to transfer money even after the bank has explained to them that they're being scammed. And people complain about government restrictions, but after they've been scammed will demand to know "why didn't the government do anything to protect me?" So there are no easy answers.

This is actually far more interesting than the part about airports. There are already a number of small brew pubs illegally selling draft beer from small producers and home brewers, some of which is of very high quality. Legalizing this will hopefully lead to more production and more venues selling these artisanal brews.

Yes, they're gone - a really poorly thought-out idea that will accomplish pretty much nothing. No and no. I've never been clear on what exactly this measure was meant to address, since even convenience stores at international airports were already exempt from the alcohol sales hours restrictions. Did the 7-11s have to halt sales on that small number of religious days? Maybe, but getting rid of that wouldn't seem to merit this grand announcement.

They don't even have enforcement on the much-publicized "special occasions" - they just have hundreds of extra checkpoints, most of which are filled with people sitting around drinking coffee and playing with their phones while not even looking at the road. And since I've never seen anyone pulled over for driving erratically or dangerously - the drunk driving measures are only enforced at checkpoints - I don't see what difference these increased penalties will make.

I've noticed those, and had the same thought as you did. But they light up (a blue light, I think?) with every person who passes through, so I'm not sure...it's certainly possible that an RFID tag would generate a light of a different color, or a sound, but I have yet to see that happen 🤷

I remember the announcement that they were "going to" implement that system, and had wondered whether it ever really happened. Since typically no new system is put in place at any AoT airport without a dozen press releases, speeches, demonstrations, and announcements that the event makes Thailand the best in the world, however, and given that there has been no such circus, I'm inclined to think that the system hasn't been implemented. Inline baggage x-ray systems do exist, and are largely automated. At Incheon in Korea, I've had my bag come out with a little device bolted to the handle and playing music. When you go past the customs officer with that device, you're sent to a nearby station where another officer looks at the number on the device and pulls up the x-ray image that triggered the inquiry. (In my case, it was a few bottles of wine which I was permitted to bring in, so the guy simply removed the music box and sent me on my way.) So yes, it's not unrealistic to believe that BKK could also install and operate a similar system - though whether they've actually done so is still unclear.

Ya think so???

That's entirely dependent on your individual bank and its policies, so other people's experiences won't tell you what might happen in your particular case. If your card has no foreign transaction fees, there shouldn't be any additional charge.

Your case isn't unusual at all - many people have done exactly what you're planning to do, and there is no requirement for you to get the visa at an embassy instead of at BoI. That shouldn't be an issue. They will likely give the final approval within a couple of days after you upload the information, and the appointment schedule is usually wide open. Don't overthink this, and don't bother trying to upload your passport pages until you're actually here - they want to see your entry stamp into Thailand.

Those were the only mass market Thai beers that I ever liked, so naturally they disappeared after a very short time 😞

No, it doesn't. They made exactly the same complaint before the visa exemption policies were changed, so clearly someone who wants to be an illegal guide can do so just fine on a 30 day stay. Hundreds of billions? Seriously? Pull the other one, Paisarn! Sounds like the Russian was doing just what Paisarn suggested was "feasible"...

The transit lines themselves don't charge anything extra, but the card-issuing bank abroad might have foreign transaction fees.

You can use any Visa or Master Card. This works on the Blue, Purple, Yellow, Pink, and Red lines, but unfortunately not on the Green (BTS) lines or the ARL.

Since when do they have any interest in violations of traffic laws?

Indeed, which is why I'm baffled when they talk about turning it into an international airport - what was it when it had flights to Malaysia, if not international?

The fact that anti-coup legislation is even remotely controversial tells you a lot about Thailand, and none of it good.

And actually US immigration at most ports of entry stopped routinely stamping passports for visitors a couple of years ago, though those people still have to see an officer.

A distribution network that only sells to teenagers. Uh huh. They cleverly disguised their vape-selling operations as sidewalk tables openly selling vapes. Fiendish!

Yes, because civilian overreach has been the real issue behind Thailand's political instability 🙄 What on earth does this paragraph mean? 🤔

Talkatone lets you call US landlines and cell numbers for free, and will give you a virtual number that you can maintain as long as you use it once in a while.

Clearly AI, and they should set the software to tone down the overuse of "clever" and "cute" modifiers. If this was a drug raid, so be it, but otherwise these were consenting adults whose activities and proclivities are irrelevant and almost certainly legal, even in Thailand.

This almost certainly means that a foreign police or intelligence agency knew about these two and informed the Thais - there is essentially zero chance that local authorities would have paid any attention to transit passengers otherwise.

Always good to give the criminals a schedule in advance 👍